[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53172-53173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22830]


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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 the 
following: SARS; Smallpox Vaccination Program; Monkeypox; State and 
Local Programs including Hospital Programs; R&D Initiatives including 
Bioshield; and Modeling Initiatives.
    Name of Committee: Secretary's Council on Public Health 
Preparedness.
    Date: September 22-23, 2003.
    Time: September 22 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; September 23 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
    Place: Sheraton National Hotel Arlington, Columbia Pike & 
Washington Blvd., 900 South Orme Street, Arlington, Virginia 22204, 
Telephone: (703) 521-1900.
    Contact Person: Dr. Judy Blumenthal, Executive Director, 
Secretary's Council on Public Health Preparedness, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, 200 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 638G, Washington, DC 20201, 202-401-
4848.

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 the authorization of section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); section 222 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a). The purpose of the Secretary's 
Council on 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 e-mailing 
[email protected] no later than close of business, Monday, 
September 15, 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 
Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at approximately 11:30 a.m. Oral comments 
will be limited to 5 minutes, three minutes to make a 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 e-mailing [email protected] no later than close 
of business, Monday, September 15, 2003. All requests to present oral 
comments should include the name, address, telephone number, and 
business or professional affiliation of the interested party, and 
should indicate the areas of interest or issue to be addressed.

[[Page 53173]]

    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 close of business, Monday, September 15, 2003.
    When mailing written comments, please provide your comments, if 
possible, as an 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, 
September 15, 2003.
    Because of the need to provide advice and recommendations on 
bioterrorism, this notice is being published at the earliest possible 
time.

    Dated: August 26, 2003.
LaVerne Y. Stringfield,
Director, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 03-22830 Filed 9-8-03; 8:45 am]
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