[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6737-6738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2362]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in 
Newborns and Children

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is 
requesting nominations to fill eight (8) vacancies on the Advisory 
Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and 
Children.

    Authority: Section 1111 of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. 300b-10. The 
Committee is governed by the provisions of Public Law 92-463, as 
amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), and 41 CFR Part 102-3, which sets forth 
standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

DATES: The agency must receive nominations on or before March 15, 2007.

ADDRESSES: All nominations are to be submitted to Michele A. Lloyd-
Puryear, M.D., Ph.D., Designated Federal Official and Executive 
Secretary, Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic 
Diseases in Newborns and Children, and Chief, Genetic Services Branch, 
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, Room 18A-19, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857. Nominations will not be accepted by e-mail 
or facsimilie.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jill F. Shuger, Genetic Services 
Branch, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, at [email protected] or 
(301) 443-1080. A copy of the Committee Charter and list of the current 
membership can be obtained by contacting Ms. Shuger or by accessing the 
Advisory Committee Web site at http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/genetics/committee.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title XXVI of the Children's Health Act of 
2000, ``Screening for Heritable Disorders,'' established a program to 
improve the ability of States to provide newborn and child screening 
for heritable disorders. Title XXVI enacts three sections of the Public 
Health Service (PHS) Act: Sections 1109, 1110, and 1111. The Secretary 
of Health and Human Services (HHS) is directed under section 1111 of 
the PHS Act to establish an Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders 
in Newborns and Children (Committee). HHS has expanded the Committee to 
include genetic diseases and has renamed the Committee accordingly.
    The Committee is established to advise and guide the Secretary 
regarding the most appropriate application of universal newborn 
screening tests, technologies, policies, guidelines and programs for 
effectively reducing morbidity and mortality in newborns and children 
having or at risk for heritable disorders. In addition, the Committee 
provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary concerning the 
grants and projects authorized under section 1109 and technical 
information to develop policies and priorities for this Program that 
will enhance the ability of the State and local health agencies to 
provide for newborn and child screening, counseling and health care 
services for newborns and children having or at risk for heritable 
disorders.
    Specifically, HRSA is requesting nominations for eight voting 
members to serve on the Committee. Members shall be selected from 
medical, technical, public health or scientific professionals with 
special expertise in the field of heritable disorders or in providing 
screening, counseling, testing or specialty services for newborns and 
children at risk for heritable disorders and from members of the public 
having

[[Page 6738]]

special expertise about or concern with heritable disorders.
    The individuals selected for appointment to the Committee can be 
invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to 4 years. However, any 
member appointed to fill a vacancy of an unexpired term shall be 
appointed for the remainder of such term. Members may serve after the 
expiration of their term until their successors have taken office. 
Terms of more than 2 years are contingent upon the renewal of the 
Committee by appropriate action prior to its expiration. Members who 
are not Federal employees will receive a stipend for each day they are 
engaged in the performance of their duties as members of the Committee. 
Members shall receive per diem and travel expenses as authorized by 
Section 5 U.S.C. 5703 for persons employed intermittently in Government 
service. Members who are officers or employees of the United States 
Government shall not receive compensation for service on the Committee. 
Nominees will be invited to serve beginning from September 30, 2007.
    To allow the Secretary to choose from a highly qualified list of 
potential candidates, more than one nomination is requested per open 
position. Nominations should be typewritten. The following information 
should be included in the package of material submitted for each 
individual being nominated for consideration: (1) A letter of 
nomination that clearly states the name and affiliation of the nominee, 
the basis for the nomination (i.e., specific attributes which qualify 
the nominee for service in this capacity), and a statement that the 
nominee is willing to serve as a member of the Committee and appears to 
have no conflict of interest that would preclude the Committee 
membership--potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed 
information concerning consultancies, research grants, or contracts to 
permit evaluation of possible sources of conflicts of interest; (2) the 
nominator's name, address, and daytime telephone number, and the home/
or work address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the individual 
being nominated; and (3) a current copy of the nominee's curriculum 
vitae. Please submit nominations no later than March 15, 2007.
    To the extent practicable, members of the Committee should have 
expertise in dealing with heritable disorders and genetic diseases that 
affect the racial and ethnic and geographical diversity of newborns 
served by the State newborn screening programs. The Department of 
Health and Human Services will ensure that the membership of the 
Committee reflects an equitable geographical and gender distribution, 
provided that the effectiveness of the Committee would not be impaired. 
Appointments shall be made without discrimination on the basis of age, 
ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural, religious, or 
socioeconomic status.

    Dated: February 6, 2007.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E7-2362 Filed 2-12-07; 8:45 am]
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