[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 5361-5363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01939]
[[Page 5359]]
Vol. 81
Monday,
No. 20
February 1, 2016
Part III
The President
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Memorandum of January 28, 2016--White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 20 / Monday, February 1, 2016 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
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Memorandum of January 28, 2016
White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and
Agencies
Cancer is a leading cause of death, and cancer
incidence is expected to increase worldwide in the
coming decades. But today, cancer research is on the
cusp of major breakthroughs. It is of critical national
importance that we accelerate progress towards
prevention, treatment, and a cure--to double the rate
of progress in the fight against cancer--and put
ourselves on a path to achieve in just 5 years research
and treatment gains that otherwise might take a decade
or more. To that end, I hereby direct the following:
Section 1. White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force.
There is established, within the Office of the Vice
President, a White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force
(Task Force), which will focus on making the most of
Federal investments, targeted incentives, private
sector efforts from industry and philanthropy, patient
engagement initiatives, and other mechanisms to support
cancer research and enable progress in treatment and
care. The Vice President shall serve as Chair of the
Task Force.
(a) Membership of the Task Force. In addition to
the Vice President, the Task Force shall consist of the
heads of the executive branch departments, agencies,
and offices listed below:
(i) the Department of Defense;
(ii) the Department of Commerce;
(iii) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(iv) the Department of Energy;
(v) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(vi) the Office of Management and Budget;
(vii) the National Economic Council;
(viii) the Domestic Policy Council;
(ix) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(x) the Food and Drug Administration;
(xi) the National Cancer Institute (NCI);
(xii) the National Institutes of Health (NIH);
(xiii) the National Science Foundation; and
(xiv) such other executive branch departments, agencies, or offices as the
President may designate.
A member of the Task Force may designate, to perform
the Task Force functions of the member, any person who
is a part of the member's department, agency, or
office, and who is a full time officer or employee of
the Federal Government. At the direction of the Chair,
the Task Force may establish subgroups consisting
exclusively of Task Force members or their designees
under this section, as appropriate.
(b) Administration of the Task Force. The NIH shall
provide funding and administrative support for the Task
Force to the extent permitted by law and within
existing appropriations. The Vice President shall
designate
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an officer or employee of the executive branch as the
Executive Director of the Task Force, who shall
coordinate the work of the Task Force.
Sec. 2. Mission and Functions of the Task Force. The
Task Force shall work with a wide array of executive
departments and agencies that have responsibility for
key issues related to basic, translational, and
clinical research, therapy development, regulation of
medical products, and medical care related to cancer.
Consistent with applicable law, the Task Force also
will consult with external experts from relevant
scientific sectors, including the Presidentially
appointed National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB). The
NCAB shall advise the Director of NCI on its
recommendations respecting the future direction and
program and policy emphasis of NCI as it relates to the
work of the Task Force. To assist the NCAB in providing
this advice, the NCAB is strongly encouraged to
establish a working group consisting of a Blue Ribbon
Panel of scientific experts. The Director shall relay
the advice of the NCAB to the Task Force, as
appropriate. The functions of the Task Force are
advisory only and shall include, but shall not be
limited to, producing a detailed set of findings and
recommendations to:
(a) accelerate our understanding of cancer, and its
prevention, early detection, treatment, and cure;
(b) improve patient access and care;
(c) support greater access to new research, data,
and computational capabilities;
(d) encourage development of cancer treatments;
(e) identify and address any unnecessary regulatory
barriers and consider ways to expedite administrative
reforms;
(f) ensure optimal investment of Federal resources;
and
(g) identify opportunities to develop public-
private partnerships and increase coordination of the
Federal Government's efforts with the private sector,
as appropriate.
Sec. 3. Outreach. Consistent with the objectives set
out in section 2 of this memorandum, the Task Force, in
accordance with applicable law, in addition to regular
meetings, shall conduct outreach with representatives
of the cancer patient community, academia, business,
nonprofit organizations, State and local government
agencies, the research community, and other interested
persons that will assist with the Task Force's
development of a detailed set of recommendations.
Sec. 4. Transparency and Reports. The Task Force shall
facilitate the posting on the Internet of reports and
engage in an open, reciprocal dialogue with the
American people. The Task Force shall present to the
President a report before December 31, 2016, on its
findings and recommendations, which shall be made
available to the public and posted on the Internet.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive
departments and agencies shall assist and provide
information to the Task Force, consistent with
applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the
functions of the Task Force. Each executive department
and agency shall bear its own expense for participating
in the Task Force.
(b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent
with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by
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any party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.
Sec. 6. Publication. The Secretary of Health and Human
Services is authorized and directed to publish this
memorandum in the Federal Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, January 28, 2016
[FR Doc. 2016-01939
Filed 1-29-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 4150-42-P