[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 81 (Friday, April 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19740-19742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08383]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


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

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

[[Page 19741]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC) is one 
of the federal advisory committees for which the Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS) provides management support. The Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), a staff division in the Office 
of the Secretary, HHS, is assigned responsibility to provide management 
support for CFSAC activities. The CFSAC is authorized to have three 
non-voting liaison representative positions. The organizations 
designated to fill these positions will be selected from those 
concerned with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/
CFS). The Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for CFSAC will select the 
organizations from which the representative will be selected to fill 
these vacant positions. The representatives selected to fill these 
positions will serve a two-year term as a non-voting liaison 
representative. Details of nomination requirements are provided below.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 5 p.m. ET on May 30, 
2017, at the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be sent to Commander Gustavo Ceinos, 
Designated Federal Officer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory 
Committee, Office on Women's Health, Department of Health and Human 
Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Room 728F.6, Washington, DC 
20201. Nomination materials, including attachments, may be submitted 
electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commander Gustavo Ceinos, Designated 
Federal Officer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee, Office on 
Women's Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 728F.6, Washington, DC 20201. The 
telephone number is: 202-401-9545. 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 Assistant Secretary for Health, on 
issues related to ME/CFS. CFSAC advises and makes recommendations on a 
broad range of topics including: (1) Opportunities to improve knowledge 
and research about the epidemiology, etiologies, biomarkers and risk 
factors for ME/CFS; (2) research on the diagnosis, treatment, and 
management of ME/CFS and potential impact of treatment options; (3) 
strategies to inform the public, health care professionals, and the 
biomedical academic and research communities about ME/CFS advances; (4) 
partnerships to improve the quality of life of ME/CFS patients; and (5) 
strategies to insure that input from ME/CFS patients and caregivers is 
incorporated into HHS policy and research. 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 https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/cfsac/about-cfsac/charter/index.html.
    CFSAC meetings are held not less than two times per year. The CFSAC 
membership consists of 13 voting members, including the Chair. The 
voting members are composed of seven biomedical research scientists 
with demonstrated expertise in biomedical research applicable to ME/
CFS; three individuals with expertise in health care delivery, private 
health care services or insurers, or voluntary organizations concerned 
with the problems of individuals with ME/CFS, and three are either 
patients or caregivers affected by ME/CFS.
    CFSAC also includes eight non-voting ex-officio representatives 
from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, National Institutes of Health, 
Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, and 
the Department of Defense.
    In 2012, the CFSAC structure was expanded to include three non-
voting liaison representative positions. These positions are occupied 
by representatives from organizations that are concerned with ME/CFS. 
The terms of the current non-voting liaison representative positions 
expire in May. The selected organizations will occupy the position for 
a two-year term.
    Nominations: The OASH is requesting nominations of organizations to 
fill the three non-voting liaison representative positions for the 
CFSAC. The organizations will be selected by the DFO or designee.
    Selection of the three organizations which will serve as non-voting 
liaison representatives will be based on the organizations' 
qualifications to contribute to the accomplishment of the CFSAC 
mission, as described in the Committee charter. In selecting the 
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 individuals designated by the selected organizations to serve 
as the official liaison representative will perform the associated 
duties without compensation, and will not receive per diem or 
reimbursement for travel expenses. The organizations selected will 
cover expenses for their 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) two to four letters of recommendation that clearly state why 
the organization is qualified to serve on CFSAC in a liaison 
representative position. These letters should be from individuals who 
are not part of the organization.
    (3) A statement that the organization is willing to serve as a non-
voting liaison representative of the Committee and will cover expenses 
for their 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 its 
representative to attend in-person, at a minimum, one CFSAC meeting per 
year in Washington, DC, during the term of appointment.
    Submitted nominations must include these critical elements in order 
for the organization to be considered for one of the liaison 
representative positions.
    Nomination materials should be typewritten, using a 12-point font 
and

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double-spaced. All nomination materials should be submitted (postmarked 
or received) by May 30, 2017.
    Electronic submissions: Nomination materials, including 
attachments, may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. An email 
from the CFSAC Support Team will be sent to the nominating organization 
and/or nominator to confirm receipt of the nomination. If the email 
confirmation is not received within two working days, please call 202-
690-7650. Telephone and facsimile submissions cannot be accepted.
    Regular, Express, or Overnight Mail: Written documents may be 
submitted to the following addressee only: Commander Gustavo Ceinos, 
Designated Federal Officer, CFSAC, Office on Women's Health, Department 
of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Room 728F.6, 
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.

    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.

    Dated: April 18, 2017.
Nicole Greene,
Acting Director, Office on Women's Health.
[FR Doc. 2017-08383 Filed 4-27-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-42-P