[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]



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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
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 20 / Monday, February 1, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 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