[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 16127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7232]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Establishment of the Presidential Commission for the Study of 
Bioethical Issues

AGENCY: Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, 
Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Authority: Executive Order 13251, dated November 24, 2009. The 
Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues will be 
governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public 
Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), which sets forth standards 
for the formation and use of advisory committees.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces 
establishment of the Presidential Commission for the Study of 
Bioethical Issues (the ``Commission''), as directed by Executive Order 
13521.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Diane M. Gianelli, Acting 
Executive Director, Presidential Commission on the Study of Bioethical 
Issues; Department of Health and Human Services; and/or Ms. Judith E. 
Crawford, Administrative Director, Presidential Commission on the Study 
of Bioethical Issues; Department of Health and Human Services. Both Ms. 
Gianelli and Ms. Crawford work in the Commission's office located at: 
1425 New York Avenue, NW., Suite C100; Washington, DC 20005; Telephone: 
(202) 233-3960; Fax: (202) 233-3990.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Executive Order 13521, the President 
directed that the Commission shall be established within the Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS). To comply with the authorizing 
directive and guidelines under the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), a charter has been filed with the Committee Management 
Secretariat in the General Services Administration (GSA), the 
appropriate committees in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, 
and the Library of Congress to establish the Commission as a non-
discretionary Federal advisory committee. The charter was filed on 
March 10, 2010.
    Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Commission shall advise the 
President on bioethical issues that may emerge as consequences of 
advances in biomedicine and related areas of science and technology. 
The Commission shall pursue its work with the goal of identifying and 
promoting policies and practices that ensure scientific research, 
healthcare delivery, and technological innovation are conducted in an 
ethically responsible manner. The Commission shall not be responsible 
for the review and approval of specific projects. The Commission may 
accept suggestions of issues for consideration from executive 
departments and agencies and the public as it deems appropriate to 
support its mission.
    Membership and Designation. The Commission shall be an expert panel 
composed of not more than 13 members, who will be drawn from fields of 
bioethics, science, medicine, technology, engineering, law, philosophy, 
theology, and other areas of the humanities or social sciences. 
Commission members shall be appointed by the President. The President 
shall designate a Chair and Vice Chair from among the members of the 
Commission. At least one, and not more than three members, may be 
bioethicists or scientists drawn from the executive branch, as 
designated by the President; members who are selected from the Federal 
sector to fill these positions on the Commission will be classified as 
regular government employees. The Commission members who are selected 
from the public and/or private sector will be classified as special 
government employees.
    Administrative Management and Support. HHS will provide funding and 
administrative support for the Commission to the extent permitted by 
law within existing appropriations. Staff will be assigned to a program 
office established to support the activities of the Commission. 
Management and oversight for support services provided to the 
Commission will be the responsibility of the Office of Public Health 
and Science, which is a staff division within HHS Office of the 
Secretary. All executive departments and agencies and all entities 
within the Executive Office of the President shall provide information 
and assistance to the Commission as the Chair may request for purposes 
of carrying out the Commission's functions, to the extent permitted by 
law.
    The Commission has been established to replace the President's 
Council on Bioethics. The Council was established by Executive Order 
13237, dated November 28, 2001. Council operations were terminated on 
September 30, 2009. The authorizing directive for the Commission, 
Executive Order 13521, supersedes Executive Order 13237.
    A copy of the Commission charter can be obtained from the 
designated contacts or by accessing the FACA database that is 
maintained by the GSA Committee Management Secretariat. The Web site 
for the FACA database is http://fido.gov/facadatabase/.

    Dated: March 25, 2010.
Howard K. Koh,
Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Public Health and Science.
[FR Doc. 2010-7232 Filed 3-30-10; 8:45 am]
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