[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5454-5456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01456]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Solicitation of Nominations for Organizations To Serve as Non-
Voting Liaison Representatives to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory 
Committee (CFSAC)

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 217a, section 222 of the Public Health 
Service (PHS) Act, as amended. The committee is governed by the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 
U.S.C. App 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use 
of advisory committees.

SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), 
within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is soliciting 
nominations from qualified organizations to be considered for non-
voting liaison representative positions

[[Page 5455]]

on the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC). CFSAC 
provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS, through 
the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), on a broad range of issues 
and topics related to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue 
syndrome (ME/CFS). The issues can include factors affecting access and 
care for persons with ME/CFS; the science and definition of ME/CFS; and 
public health, clinical, research, and educational issues related to 
ME/CFS. These three non-voting liaison representative positions will be 
occupied by individuals who are selected by their organizations to 
serve as representatives of organizations concerned with ME/CFS. 
Organizations will be designated to occupy the positions for a two-year 
term to commence during the 2013 calendar year. Nominations of 
qualified organizations are being sought for these three non-voting 
liaison representative positions. The organizations chosen for 
representation on CFSAC will be selected by the Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO) or designee during the 2013 calendar year. Details of 
nomination requirements are provided below.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 5 p.m. EDT on 
February 22, 2013, at the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be mailed or delivered to Nancy C. 
Lee, M.D., Designated Federal Officer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 
Advisory Committee, Office on Women's Health, Department of Health and 
Human Services, 200 Independence Ave. SW., Room 712E, Washington, DC 
20201. Nomination materials, including attachments, may be submitted 
electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy C. Lee, M.D., Designated Federal 
Officer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee, Office on Women's 
Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave. 
SW., Room 712E, Washington, DC 20201. Inquiries can be sent to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CFSAC was established on September 5, 2002. 
The purpose of the CFSAC is to provide advice and recommendations to 
the Secretary of HHS, through the ASH, on issues related to ME/CFS. 
CFSAC advises and makes recommendations on a broad range of topics 
including: (1) The current state of knowledge and research; the 
relevant gaps in knowledge and research about the epidemiology, 
etiologies, biomarkers and risk factors relating to ME/CFS; and 
potential opportunities in these areas; (2) impact and implications of 
current and proposed diagnostic and treatment methods for ME/CFS; (3) 
development and implementation of programs to inform the public, health 
care professionals, and the biomedical research communities about ME/
CFS advances; and (4) strategies to improve the quality of life of ME/
CFS patients. Management and support services for Committee activities 
are provided by staff from the HHS Office on Women's Health, within the 
OASH. The CFSAC charter is available at http://www.hhs.gov/advcomcfs/charter/index.html.
    CFSAC meetings are held not less than two times per year. The CFSAC 
membership consists of 11 voting members, including the Chair. The 
voting members are composed of seven biomedical research scientists, 
and four individuals with expertise in health insurance, health care 
delivery, private health care services, or representatives of voluntary 
organizations concerned with the problems of individuals with ME/CFS. 
CFSAC also includes seven non-voting ex officio member representatives 
from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services, Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, National Institutes of Health, and Social Security 
Administration.
    The CFSAC structure has been expanded to include three non-voting 
liaison representative positions. Authorization was given for the 
Committee structure to include the three non-voting liaison 
representative positions when the charter was renewed on September 5, 
2012. These positions will be occupied by individuals who are selected 
by their organizations to serve as the official representative for 
organizations that are concerned with ME/CFS. Organizations will occupy 
these representative positions for a two-year term.

Nominations

    The OASH is requesting nominations of organizations to fill three 
non-voting liaison representative positions for the CFSAC. The 
represented organizations will be selected by the DFO or designee 
during the 2013 calendar year.
    Selection of organizations that will serve as non-voting liaison 
representatives will be based on the organization's qualifications to 
contribute to the accomplishment of the CFSAC mission, as described in 
the Committee charter. In selecting organizations to be considered for 
these positions, the OASH will give close attention to equitable 
geographic distribution and give priority to U.S.-chartered 501(c)(3) 
organizations that operate within the United States and have membership 
with demonstrated expertise in ME/CFS and related research, clinical 
services, or advocacy and outreach on issues concerning ME/CFS.
    The individual designated to serve as the official non-voting 
liaison representative will perform the associated duties without 
compensation, and will not receive per diem or reimbursement for travel 
expenses. The organizations that are selected to be represented will 
cover expenses for the designated representative to attend, at a 
minimum, one in-person CFSAC meeting per year during the designated 
term of appointment.
    To qualify for consideration of selection to the Committee, an 
organization should submit the following items:
    (1) A statement of the organization's history, mission, and focus, 
including information that demonstrates the organization's experience 
and expertise in ME/CFS and related research, clinical services, or 
advocacy and outreach on issues of ME/CFS, as well as expert knowledge 
of the broad issues and topics pertinent to ME/CFS. This information 
should demonstrate the organization's proven ability to work and 
communicate with the ME/CFS patient and advocacy community, and other 
public/private organizations concerned with ME/CFS, including public 
health agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
    (2) One to three letters of recommendation that clearly state why 
the organization is qualified to serve on CFSAC in a representative 
position. These letters should be from individuals who are not part of 
the organization's leadership.
    (3) A statement that the organization is willing to serve as a non-
voting liaison representative of the Committee and will cover expenses 
for an individual representative to attend in-person, at a minimum, one 
CFSAC meeting per year in Washington, DC during the designated term of 
appointment.
    (4) A current financial disclosure statement (or annual report) 
demonstrating the organization's ability to cover expenses for an 
individual to attend, at a minimum, one CFSAC meeting per year in 
Washington, DC, during the term of appointment.

[[Page 5456]]

    Submitted nominations must include these critical elements in order 
for the organization to be considered for one of the non-voting liaison 
representative positions.
    Nomination materials should be typewritten, 12-point type and 
double-spaced. All nomination materials should be submitted (postmarked 
or received) by February 22, 2013.
    Electronic submissions: Nomination materials, including 
attachments, may be submitted electronically to [email protected].
    Telephone and facsimile submissions cannot be accepted.
    Regular, Express, or Overnight Mail: Written documents may be 
submitted to the following addressee only: Nancy C. Lee, Designated 
Federal Officer, CFSAC, Office on Women's Health, Department of Health 
and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave. SW., Room 712E, Washington, 
DC 20201.
    HHS makes every effort to ensure that the membership of Federal 
advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points of view 
represented. Every effort is made to ensure that a broad representation 
of geographic areas, sex, ethnic and minority groups, and people with 
disabilities are given consideration for membership on Federal advisory 
committees. Selection of the represented organizations shall be made 
without discrimination against the composition of an organization's 
membership on the basis of age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual 
orientation, disability, and cultural, religious, or socioeconomic 
status.

    Dated: January 18, 2013.
Nancy C. Lee,
Designated Federal Officer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory 
Committee.
[FR Doc. 2013-01456 Filed 1-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-42-P