[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 42934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17689]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Meeting of the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hereby giving notice 
that the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (TBDWG) will hold a meeting. 
The meeting will be open to the public. For this meeting, the Working 
Group will receive updates from the eight subcommittees formed at the 
June 4, 2019, meeting and continue to focus on plans to develop the 
next report to the HHS Secretary and Congress on federal tick-borne 
activities and research, taking into consideration the 2018 report. The 
2020 report will address a wide range of federal activities and 
research related to tick-borne diseases, such as, surveillance, 
prevention, diagnosis, diagnostics, and treatment; identify gaps in 
tick-borne disease research; and provide recommendations to the HHS 
Secretary regarding changes or improvements to such activities and 
research. In developing the report, the TBDWG will solicit stakeholder 
input.

DATES: The meeting will be online via webcast and will be held on 
September 12, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET (times are tentative 
and subject to change). The confirmed times and agenda items for the 
meeting will be posted on the website for the TBDWG at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/tickbornedisease/meetings/2019-9-12/index.html when this information becomes available.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public may also attend the meeting via 
webcast. Instructions for attending the virtual meeting will be posted 
one week prior to the meeting at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/tickbornedisease/meetings/2019-9-12/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Berger, Designated Federal 
Officer for the TBDWG; Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS 
Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of 
Health and Human Services, Mary E Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW, 
Suite L100, Washington, DC 20024. Email: [email protected]; 
Phone: 202-795-7697.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public will have an opportunity to 
present their views to the TBDWG during the meeting's public comment 
session or by submitting their views in writing. Comments should be 
pertinent to the meeting discussion. Persons who wish to provide verbal 
or written public comment should review instructions at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/tickbornedisease/meetings/2019-9-12/index.html and respond by midnight Wednesday, September 4, 2019, ET. 
Verbal comments will be limited to three minutes each to accommodate as 
many speakers as possible during the 30 minute session. Written public 
comments will be accessible to the TBDWG members and public on the 
TBDWG web page prior to the meeting.
    Background and Authority: The Tick-Borne Disease Working Group was 
established on August 10, 2017, in accordance with Section 2062 of the 
21st Century Cures Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App., as amended, to provide expertise and review federal 
efforts related to tick-borne diseases to help ensure interagency 
coordination and minimize overlap, examine research priorities, and 
identify and address unmet needs. The TBDWG is required to submit a 
report to the HHS Secretary and Congress on their findings and any 
recommendations for the federal response to tick-borne disease every 
two years.

    Dated: August 6, 2019.
James Berger,
Designated Federal Officer, Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, Senior 
Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy, Office of Infectious Disease and 
HIV/AIDS Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-17689 Filed 8-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-28-P