[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21792-21794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09969]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Establishment of the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders 
Coordinating Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Committee 
Members

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hereby 
announces the establishment of the Interdepartmental Substance Use 
Disorders Coordinating Committee (Committee) pursuant to Section 7022 
of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery 
and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act. The Committee will 
consist of representatives of specific federal agencies and non-federal 
individuals and entities who represent diverse disciplines and views. 
The Committee will identify areas for improved coordination related to 
substance abuse, including research, services, supports and prevention 
activities across all relevant Federal agencies. In identifying areas 
for coordination, the committee will provide recommendations for 
improving Federal programs for the prevention and treatment of, and 
recovery from, substance use disorders, including by expanding access 
to prevention, treatment and recovery services. They will also analyze 
substance use disorder prevention and treatment strategies in different 
regions of and populations in the United States and evaluate the extent 
to which Federal substance use disorder and treatment strategies are 
aligned with State and local substance disorder and treatment 
strategies.
    Through this notice, HHS is also requesting nominations of 
individuals who are interested in being considered for appointment to 
the Committee. Resumes or curricula vitae from qualified individuals 
who wish to be considered for appointment as a member of the Committee 
are currently being accepted.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. June 14, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: All nominations must be submitted via email at 
[email protected] with the subject line: Interdepartmental SUD 
Coordinating Committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roula K. Sweis, Psy.D., M.A., Chief, 
Operations and Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Telephone: 202-
260-6619; Fax: 202-690-4631; Email address: [email protected] 
(please indicate in the subject line: Interdepartmental SUD 
Coordinating Committee). The Committee charter may be accessed online 
at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/substance-use-disorders/index.html. The charter includes detailed information about the 
purpose, function, and structure of the Committee.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7022 of the Substance Use-Disorder 
Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and 
Communities Act (SUPPORT Act, Pub. L. 115-271) requires the HHS 
Secretary, in coordination with the Director of National Drug Control 
Policy, to establish the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders 
Coordinating Committee. The Committee will consist of representatives 
of specific federal agencies and non-federal individuals and entities 
who represent diverse disciplines and views. The Committee will 
identify areas for improved coordination related to substance abuse, 
including research, services, supports and prevention activities across 
all relevant Federal agencies. In identifying areas for coordination, 
the committee will provide recommendations for improving Federal 
programs for the prevention and treatment of, and recovery from, 
substance use disorders, including by expanding access to prevention, 
treatment and recovery services. They will also analyze substance use 
disorder prevention and treatment strategies in different regions of 
and populations in the United States and evaluate the extent to which 
Federal substance use disorder and treatment strategies are aligned 
with State and local substance disorder and treatment strategies.
    Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Committee will perform the 
following duties:

[[Page 21793]]

    (1) Identify areas for improved coordination of activities, if any, 
related to substance use disorders, including research, services, 
supports, and prevention activities across all relevant Federal 
agencies;
    (2) identify and provide to the Secretary recommendations for 
improving Federal programs for the prevention and treatment of, and 
recovery from, substance use disorders, including by expanding access 
to prevention, treatment, and recovery services;
    (3) analyze substance use disorder prevention and treatment 
strategies in different regions of and populations in the United States 
and evaluate the extent to which Federal substance use disorder 
prevention and treatment strategies are aligned with State and local 
substance use disorder prevention and treatment strategies;
    (4) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding any appropriate 
changes with respect to the activities and strategies described in 
paragraphs (1) through (3);
    (5) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding public 
participation in decisions relating to substance use disorders and the 
process by which public feedback can be better integrated into such 
decisions; and
    (6) make recommendations to ensure that substance use disorder 
research, services, supports, and prevention activities of the 
Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies are 
not unnecessarily duplicative.
    Membership and Designation. The Committee shall be composed of the 
following Federal (ex-officio) members: The Secretary of HHS or 
designee, who shall serve as the Chair of the Committee; the Attorney 
General of the United States or designee; the Secretary of Labor or 
designee; the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or designee; 
the Secretary of Education or designee; the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs or designee; the Commissioner of Social Security or designee; 
the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use or 
designee; and the Director of National Drug Control Policy or designee. 
Representatives of other Federal agencies that support or conduct 
activities or programs related to substance abuse disorders, as 
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    The Committee shall include a minimum of 15 non-Federal members 
appointed by the Secretary as special government employees (SGEs). 
These members will be appointed to terms of three years and may be 
reappointed for one or more additional three-year terms. A vacancy on 
the Committee will be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy for an 
unexpired term will be appointed for the remainder of such a term and 
may serve after the expiration of such term until a successor has been 
appointed. No member of the Committee shall serve as a Representative 
member.
    At least two members shall be individuals who have received 
treatment for a diagnosis of substance use disorder; at least two 
members shall be directors of State substance abuse agencies; at least 
two members shall be representatives of leading research, advocacy or 
service organizations for individuals with substance use disorders; at 
least two members shall be a physician, licensed mental health 
professional, advance practice registered nurse, or physician 
assistant; and have experience in treating individuals with substance 
use disorders; at least one member shall be a substance use disorder 
treatment professional who provides treatment services at a certified 
opioid treatment program; at least one member shall be a substance use 
disorder treatment professional who has research or clinical experience 
in working with racial and ethnic minority populations; at least one 
member shall be a substance use disorder treatment professional who has 
research or clinical mental health experience in working with medically 
underserved populations; at least one member shall be a State certified 
substance use disorder peer support specialist; at least one member 
shall be a drug court judge or judge with experience in adjudicating 
cases related to substance use disorders; and at least one member shall 
be an individual with experience providing services for homeless 
individuals with a substance use disorder.
    Pursuant to advance written agreement, each non-federal member of 
the Committee will waive his or her right to compensation for 
performing services as a member of the Committee. However, non-federal 
members shall receive per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses 
incurred in relation to performing duties for the Commission, as 
authorized by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and 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. Ex-officio members of the Commission remain covered under 
their current compensation system.
    Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The Committee will meet 
not less than two times a year each year, and these may be conducted by 
teleconference or video conference at the discretion of the DFO. The 
meetings will be open to the public, except as determined otherwise by 
the Secretary, or other official to whom authority has been delegated, 
in accordance with the guidelines under Government in the Sunshine Act, 
5 U.S.C. 552b(c). Notice of all meetings will be provided to the public 
in accordance with the FACA. Meetings will be conducted and records of 
the proceedings will be kept, as required by applicable laws and 
departmental policies. A quorum for the conduct of business by the full 
Committee will consist of a majority of current appointed members.
    When the Secretary or Secretary's designee determines that a 
meeting will be closed or partially closed to the public, in accordance 
with stipulations of Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), 
then a report will be prepared by the DFO that includes, at a minimum, 
a list of members and their business addresses, the Committee's 
functions, date and place of the meeting, and a summary of the 
Committee's activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year. 
A copy of the report will be provided to the Department Committee 
Management Officer.
    Nominations. Nominations, including self-nominations, of 
individuals who have the specified expertise and knowledge will be 
considered for appointment as members of the Committee. 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 would be willing to serve as 
a member of the Committee (if being nominated by someone else); (2) the 
address, telephone number, and email address of the individual being 
nominated and the nominator (if applicable); and (3) a current copy of 
the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume, which should be limited to no 
more than 10 pages. Incomplete nomination packages will not be 
reviewed.
    Every effort will be made to ensure that the composition of the 
Committee includes individuals from various geographic locations, 
including rural and underserved areas; racial and ethnic minorities; 
genders, and persons living with disabilities. Individuals other than 
officers or employees of the United States government being considered 
for

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appointment as members of the Committee 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 members of the 
Committee 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 Committee.
    Authority: The Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders 
Coordinating Committee (hereafter referred to as the Committee) is 
required under Section 7022 of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention 
that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and 
Communities Act (SUPPORT Act, Pub. L. 115-271). The Committee is 
governed by the 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.

    Dated: May 6, 2019.
Roula K. Sweis,
Designated Federal Official.
[FR Doc. 2019-09969 Filed 5-14-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P