[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79049-79050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31837]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Intent To Establish the 2018 Physical Activity 
Guidelines Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for 
Appointment to the Committee Membership

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
announces the intent to establish a Physical Activity Guidelines 
Advisory Committee (Committee). It is planned for the Committee to be 
established in calendar year 2016. This notice also serves to announce 
that an invitation is being extended for nominations of qualified 
candidates to be considered for appointment as a member of the 
Committee.

DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be submitted by 
6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, February 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted by email to 
[email protected]. This address can be accessed online at the 
following address: www.health.gov/paguidelines. Nominations may also be 
sent to the following address: Richard D. Olson, M.D., M.P.H., 
Designated Program Official, 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory 
Committee; HHS/OASH/ODPHP; 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL-100; 
Rockville, MD 20852; Telephone: (240) 453-8280.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Designated Program Official, 2018 
Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, Richard D. Olson and/
or Alternate Designated Program Official, Katrina L. Piercy, Ph.D., 
R.D., HHS/OASH/ODPHP; 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL-100; Rockville, MD 
20852; Telephone: (240) 453-8280. Additional information is available 
at www.health.gov/paguidelines.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose: The inaugural Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 
(PAG), issued in 2008, represents the first major federal review of the 
benefits of physical activity. The PAG provides science-based advice on 
how physical activity can help promote health and reduce the risk of 
chronic disease. The PAG serves as the benchmark and primary, 
authoritative voice of the federal government for providing science-
based guidance on physical activity, fitness, and health in the United 
States. Five years after the first edition of the PAG was released, 
ODPHP, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the 
President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition (PCFSN) led 
development of the PAG Midcourse Report: Strategies to Increase 
Physical Activity Among Youth. The 2nd edition of the Physical Activity 
Guidelines will build upon the 1st edition and provide a foundation for 
federal recommendations and education for physical activity programs 
for Americans, including those at risk for chronic disease.
    The Committee will be established as a discretionary federal 
advisory committee and governed by the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C., 
App.). The work of the Committee will be solely advisory in nature and 
time-limited. Formation of the Committee is necessary and in the public 
interest. The Committee will examine the current PAG, take into 
consideration new scientific evidence and current resource documents, 
and then develop a scientific advisory report to be submitted to the 
Secretary of HHS that outlines its science-based recommendations and 
rationale. The scientific report will be used by the federal government 
to develop the 2nd edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for 
Americans. The Committee's duties do not include developing the policy, 
a draft of the policy, or determining how future policy might be 
implemented by the federal government. For those interested in 
reviewing the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the 2008 
Advisory Committee Scientific Report, or the PAG Midcourse Report, they 
are available at www.health.gov/paguidelines.
    The Committee is expected to begin meeting in summer of 2016. The 
Committee is expected to meet approximately five times during the 
course of its operation. Pursuant to FACA, all meetings of the full 
Committee will be open to the public.
    Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee will be 
invited to serve as members until the charter expires or the Committee 
accomplishes its mission. In keeping with FACA, the charter will expire 
two years from the date it is established. The Committee will operate 
until its report is delivered to the Secretary or the charter expires, 
whichever comes first. There will be no

[[Page 79050]]

stipend authorized to be paid to the members for performance of their 
official duties. However, Committee members will be authorized to 
receive per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for 
attending public meetings.
    Structure: It is proposed that the Committee will consist of 11-17 
members; one or two members will be selected to serve as the Chair, 
Vice Chair, and/or Co-Chairs. To be eligible for consideration of 
appointment to the Committee, individuals should be knowledgeable of 
current scientific research in human physical activity and be respected 
and published experts in their fields. They should be familiar with the 
purpose, communication, and application of federal physical activity 
guidelines and have demonstrated interest in the public's health and 
well-being through their research and/or educational endeavors. 
Expertise is sought in specific specialty areas related to physical 
activity and health promotion or disease prevention, including but not 
limited to: Health promotion and chronic disease prevention; bone, 
joint, and muscle health and performance; obesity and weight 
management; physical activity and risk of musculoskeletal injury; 
physical activity and cognition; physical activity within specific 
settings, such as preschool/childcare, schools (e.g., activity breaks, 
physical education), or the community/built environment; physical 
activity dose-response; sedentary behavior; behavior change; systematic 
reviews; and special populations including children, older adults, 
individuals with disabilities, or women who are pregnant.
    Nominations: HHS will consider nominations, including self-
nominations, for Committee membership of individuals qualified to carry 
out the above-mentioned tasks. The following information should be 
included in the package of material submitted for each individual being 
nominated for consideration: (1) The name, address, daytime telephone 
number, and email address of the nominator and the individual being 
nominated; (2) 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 from the nominee that the nominee is willing 
to serve as a member of the Committee; and (3) a current copy of the 
nominee's curriculum vitae (CV) no more than 10 pages in length. 
Inclusion of the following is requested in the CV: (1) Current and/or 
past grant awards; (2) publications showing both breadth and experience 
in areas of specialization; (3) paid and non-paid board and advisory 
appointments; and (4) education and occupational history.
    All nominations must include the required information. Incomplete 
nominations will not be processed for consideration. Federal employees 
should not be nominated for consideration of appointment to this 
Committee.
    Equal opportunity practices regarding membership appointments to 
the Committee will be aligned with HHS policies. When possible, every 
effort will be made to ensure that the Committee is a diverse group of 
individuals with representation from various geographic locations, 
racial and ethnic minorities, all genders, and persons with 
disabilities. Individuals will be appointed to serve as members of the 
Committee to represent balanced viewpoints of the scientific evidence, 
not to represent the viewpoints of any specific group.
    Members of the Committee will be classified as special government 
employees (SGEs) during their term of appointment to the Committee, and 
as such are subject to the ethical standards of conduct for federal 
employees. Upon entering the position and annually throughout the term 
of appointment, members of the Committee will be required to complete 
and submit a report of their financial holdings, consultancies, and 
research grants and/or contracts. The purpose of this report is to 
determine if the individual has any interest and/or activities in the 
private sector that may conflict with performance of their official 
duties as a member of the Committee.

    Dated: December 15, 2015.
Don Wright,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Disease Prevention and 
Health Promotion.
[FR Doc. 2015-31837 Filed 12-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-32-P