[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57739-57740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25082]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Tick-Borne 
Disease Working Group

AGENCY: Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, Department of 
Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice will serve to announce that the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of non-federal 
individuals who represent diverse scientific disciplines and views and 
are interested in being considered for appointment to the Tick-Borne 
Disease Working Group (Working Group). Resumes or curricula vitae from 
qualified individuals who wish to be considered for appointment as a 
member of the Working Group are currently being accepted.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, on 
December 14, 2018.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be sent to the Tick-Borne Disease 
Working Group email address at [email protected]. Alternately, 
nominations can be sent by mail to:

[[Page 57740]]

James Berger, MS, MT (ASCP), SBB, Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue 
Policy, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, 330 C Street SW, Room L001 Switzer Building, Washington, DC 
20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Berger, MS, MT (ASCP), SBB, 
Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy; Telephone: (202) 795-7608; 
Fax: (202) 691-2101; Email address: [email protected]. Website 
information about activities of the Working Group, as well as the 
charter for the Working Group, which has been filed with the Library of 
Congress, can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/tickbornedisease/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2062 of the 21st Century Cures Act 
requires establishment of the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group. The 
Working Group is governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), which 
sets forth standards for the formation and use of federal advisory 
committees. The 21st Century Cures Act is intended to advance the 
research and development of new therapies and diagnostics and make 
substantial federal investments in a wide range of health priorities. 
The Working Group is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee.
    Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services is responsible for ensuring the conduct of and support 
for epidemiological, basic, translational, and clinical research 
related to vector-borne diseases, including tick-borne diseases. The 
Working Group provides assistance for this effort. The Working Group 
membership provides expertise and reviews all efforts within the 
Department of Health and Human Services related to all tick-borne 
diseases, to help ensure interagency coordination and minimize overlap, 
and to examine research priorities.
    Membership and Designation. The Working Group consists of 14 voting 
members who represent diverse scientific disciplines and views. The 
composition includes seven federal members and seven public members. 
The federal members consist of one or more representatives of each of 
the following HHS agencies: Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health. The non-
federal public members consist of representatives of the following 
categories: Physicians and other medical providers with experience in 
diagnosing and treating tick-borne diseases; scientists or researchers 
with expertise; patients and their family members; and nonprofit 
organizations that advocate for patients with respect to tick-borne 
disease. Individuals who are appointed to represent federal entities 
are classified as regular government employees. The public members are 
classified as special government employees. Invitations of membership 
is extended to other agencies and offices of the Department of Health 
and Human Services and other individuals as determined by the Secretary 
to be appropriate and beneficial for accomplishing the mission of the 
Working Group.
    The federal members are appointed to serve for the duration of time 
that the Working Group is authorized to operate. Participation of the 
appointed federal members is at the discretion of their respective 
agency head. The public members are invited to serve overlapping terms 
of up to four years. Any public member who is appointed to fill the 
vacancy of an unexpired term will be appointed to serve for the 
remainder of that term. A non-federal public member may serve after the 
expiration of their term until their successor has taken office, but no 
longer than 180 days. Terms of more than two years are contingent upon 
renewal of the charter of the Working Group. Pursuant to advance 
written agreement, public members of the Working Group will receive no 
stipend for the advisory service that they render as members of the 
Working Group. However, public members will receive per diem and 
reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in relation to performing 
duties for the Working Group, as authorized by law under 5 U.S.C. 5703 
for persons who are employed intermittently to perform services for the 
federal government and in accordance with federal travel regulations.
    Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The Working Group will 
meet not less than twice a year. The meetings will be open to the 
public, except as determined otherwise by the Secretary, or another 
official to whom authority has been delegated, in accordance with the 
guidelines under Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).
    Nominations: Nominations, including self-nominations, of 
individuals who have the specified expertise and knowledge will be 
considered for appointment as public voting members of the Working 
Group. A nomination should include, at a minimum, the following for 
each nominee: (1) A letter of nomination that clearly states the name 
and affiliation of the nominee, the basis for the nomination, and a 
statement from the nominee that indicates that the individual is 
willing to serve as a member of the Working Group, if selected; (2) the 
nominator's name, address, and daytime telephone number, and the 
address, telephone number, and email address of the individual being 
nominated; and (3) a current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae or 
resume, which must be limited to no more than 10 pages.
    Every effort will be made to ensure that the Working Group is a 
diverse group of individuals with representation from various 
geographic locations, racial and ethnic minorities, all genders, and 
persons living with disabilities.
    Individuals being considered for appointment as public voting 
members will be required to complete and submit a report of their 
financial holdings. An ethics review must be conducted to ensure that 
individuals appointed as public voting members of the Working Group are 
not involved in any activity that may pose a potential conflict of 
interest for the official duties that are to be performed. This is a 
federal ethics requirement that must be satisfied upon entering the 
position and annually throughout the established term of appointment on 
the Working Group.

    Dated: November 5, 2018.
James J. Berger,
Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy, Designated Federal Officer, 
Tick-Borne Disease Working Group.
[FR Doc. 2018-25082 Filed 11-15-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P