[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 2 (Friday, January 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 376-377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-42]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Secretary's Council on Public Health Preparedness; Notice of 
Meeting

    Pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice is given of a meeting of the 
Secretary's Council on Public Health Preparedness.
    The purpose of this public meeting is to convene the Council to 
discuss issues related to preparing the nation to respond to public 
health emergencies in general and bioterrorism in particular. Major 
areas to be considered by the Council at this meeting may include but 
are not restricted to the following: a status report on the CDC and 
HRSA cooperative agreements awarded to states and other jurisdictions 
for bioterrorism preparedness and response programs, overview of 
states' smallpox vaccination programs, update on the development of 
vaccines, and discussions of the role of academic health centers in 
local/regional public health preparedness.
    Name of Committee: Secretary's Council on Public Health 
Preparedness.
    Date: January 14-15, 2003.
    Time: January 14, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., January 15, 9 a.m. to 3:30 
p.m.
    Place: Marriott Key Bridge, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia 
22209, 703-524-6400.
    Contact Person: Lily Engstrom, Executive Director, Secretary's 
Council on Public Health Preparedness, Office of the Assistance 
Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, 200 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 638G, Washington, DC 20201, 202-690-6629.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary's Council on Public Health 
Preparedness was established on October 22, 2001, by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services under authorization of Section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.  247d); Section 222 of the 
Public Health Preparedness will be to advise the Secretary on 
appropriate actions to prepare for and respond to public health 
emergencies including acts of bioterrorism. The function of the Council 
is to advise the Secretary regarding steps that the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services can take to (1) improve the public health and 
health care infrastructure to better enable Federal, State, and local 
governments to respond to a public health emergency and, specifically, 
a bio-terrorism event; (2) ensure that there are comprehensive 
contingency plans in place at the Federal, State, and local levels to 
respond to a public health emergency and, specifically, a bio-terrorism 
event; and (3) improve public health preparedness at the Federal, 
State, and local levels.

Public Participation

    The meeting is open to the public with attendance limited by the 
availability of space on a first come, first served basis. Members of 
the public who wish to attend the meeting may register by emailing 
[email protected] no later than close of business, Monday, 
January 6, 2003. All requests should include the name, address, 
telephone number, and business or professional affiliation of those 
registering.
    Opportunities for oral statements by the public will be provided on 
January 14 at 4:30 p.m. (Time approximate). Oral comments will be 
limited to five minutes, three minutes to make a

[[Page 377]]

statement and two minutes to respond to questions from Council members. 
Due to time constraints, only one representative from each organization 
will be allotted time for oral testimony. The number of speakers and 
the time allotment may also be limited by the number of registrants. 
Members of the public who wish to present oral comments at the meeting 
may register by emailing [email protected] no later than 
close of business, Monday, January 6, 2003. All requests to present 
oral comments should include the name, addressed, telephone number, and 
business or professional affiliation of the interested party, and 
should indicate the areas of interest or issue to be addressed.
    Any person attending the meeting who has not registered to speak in 
advance of the meeting will be allowed to make a brief oral statement 
during the time set aside for public comment if time permits and at the 
Chairperson's discretion. Individuals unable to attend the meeting, or 
any interested parties, may send written comments by e-mail to 
[email protected] for inclusion in the public record no 
later than close of business, Monday, January 6, 2003.
    When mailing written comments, please provide your comments, if 
possible, as electronic version or on a diskette. Persons needing 
special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other 
special accommodations, should contact staff at the address and 
telephone number listed above no later than close of business, Monday, 
January 6, 2003.

    Dated: December 26, 2002.
Anna Snouffer,
Acting Director, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy.

    This notice is being published less than 15 days in advance of the 
meeting due to scheduling conflicts.

[FR Doc. 03-42 Filed 1-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M