[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65165-65166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25668]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


2019 Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Call for 
Nominations Announcement

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve as 
non-federal public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating 
Committee (IACC).

DATES: Nominations will be accepted between Wednesday, November 13, 
2019 and Friday, January 17, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Nominations are due by Friday January 17, 2020 and may be 
sent to Dr. Susan Daniels, Director, Office of Autism Research 
Coordination/NIMH/NIH, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7220, Bethesda, 
Maryland 20892 by standard or express mail, or via email to 
[email protected]. Confirmation of receipt will be 
provided. More information about the IACC is available at iacc.hhs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Daniels at 301-827-1437 or email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As specified in the Combating Autism Act of 
2006 (Pub. L. 109-416) and reauthorized by the Autism Collaboration, 
Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 
116-60). The Office of the Secretary has directed the Office of Autism 
Research Coordination (OARC) of the National Institute of Mental 
Health, National Institutes of Health to assist the Department in 
conducting an open nomination process. Appointments of non-federal 
public members to the committee shall be made by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services.

Eligibility Requirements

    Nominations of new non-federal public members are encouraged, and 
current non-federal public members may also be re-nominated to continue 
to serve if they have served only one term previously, in accordance 
with the provisions of the Autism CARES Act of 2019. Self-nominations 
and nominations of other individuals are both permitted. Only one 
nomination per individual is required. Multiple nominations of the same 
individual will not increase likelihood of selection. The Secretary may 
select non-federal public members from the pool of submitted 
nominations and other sources as needed to meet statutory requirements 
and to form a balanced committee that represents the diversity within 
the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) community.
    Those eligible for nomination include individuals on the autism 
spectrum, parents or guardians of individuals with ASD, leaders or 
representatives of major ASD research, advocacy and service 
organizations, healthcare and service providers, educators, researchers 
and other individuals with professional or personal experience with 
ASD. Nominations of individuals with a variety of disability and 
support needs, individuals from all U.S. states and territories, and 
individuals representing diverse populations within the autism 
community, including all genders and gender identities, cultural, 
ethnic and racial groups are encouraged. Requests for reasonable 
accommodation to enable participation on the Committee should be 
indicated in the nomination submission.
    IACC non-federal public members are appointed as special government 
employees and are required to be U.S. citizens. To serve, they must 
submit an annual confidential financial disclosure report used to 
determine conflicts of interest as well as a foreign activities 
questionnaire. Prohibited foreign activities include holding a position 
or title with a foreign governmental entity (including certain 
universities), and from receiving compensation and certain gifts from a 
foreign government. In accordance with White House Office of Management 
and Budget guidelines (FR Doc. 2014-19140), federally-registered 
lobbyists are not eligible. Federal employees may not serve as non-
federal public members. IACC non-federal public members may be 
restricted from serving on other federal advisory committees while 
serving on the IACC. Male non-federal public members must have signed 
up for the U.S. Selective Service in order to be eligible.

Responsibilities of Appointed Non-Federal Public Members

    As specified in the Committee's authorizing statute (section 399CC 
of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 280i-2, as amended), the 
Committee will carry out the following responsibilities: (1) Monitor 
autism spectrum disorder research, and to the extent practicable, 
services and support activities, across all relevant Federal 
departments and agencies, including coordination of Federal activities 
with respect to autism spectrum disorder; (2) develop a summary of 
advances in autism spectrum disorder research related to causes, 
prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or ruling out a 
diagnosis; interventions, including school and community-based 
interventions, and access to services and supports for individuals with 
autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan of such individuals; (3) 
make recommendations to the Secretary regarding any appropriate changes 
to such activities, including with respect to the strategic plan; (4) 
make recommendations to the Secretary regarding public participation in 
decisions relating to autism spectrum disorder, and the process by 
which public feedback can be better integrated into such decisions; (5) 
develop a strategic plan for the conduct of, and support for, autism 
spectrum disorder research, including, as practicable, for services and 
supports, for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder across the 
lifespan of such individuals and the families of such individuals, 
which shall include (A) proposed budgetary requirements; and (B) 
recommendations to ensure that autism spectrum disorder research, and 
services and support activities to the extent practicable, of the 
Department of Health and Human Services and of other Federal 
departments and agencies are not unnecessarily duplicative; and (6) 
submit to Congress and the President: (A) An annual update on the 
summary of advances; and (B) an annual update to the strategic plan, 
including any progress made in achieving the goals outlined in such 
strategic plan.

Committee Composition

    In accordance with the Committee's authorizing statute, ``Not more 
than \1/2\, but not fewer than \1/3\, of the total membership of the 
Committee shall be composed of non-Federal public members appointed by 
the Secretary.''
    All non-Federal public members are appointed as Special Government 
Employees for their service on the IACC, of which:
     At least three such members shall be individuals with a 
diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder;
     At least three such members shall be parents or legal 
guardians of an individual with an autism spectrum disorder; and
     At least three such members shall be representatives of 
leading research, advocacy, and service organizations for individuals 
with autism spectrum disorder.
    The Department strives to ensure that the membership of HHS Federal 
advisory committees is balanced in

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terms of points of view represented and the committee's function. Every 
effort is made to ensure that diverse views and perspectives are 
represented on HHS Federal advisory committees and, therefore, the 
Department encourages nominations of qualified candidates of all 
genders, cultural, ethnic, and racial groups, people with disabilities, 
and individuals who may belong to other underrepresented groups. The 
Department also seeks geographic diversity in the composition of the 
Committee. Appointment to this Committee shall be made without 
discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual 
orientation, disability, and cultural, religious, or socioeconomic 
status. Requests for reasonable accommodation to enable participation 
on the Committee should be indicated in the nomination submission.

Member Terms

    Non-Federal public members of the Committee ``shall serve for a 
term of 4 years, and may be reappointed for one additional 4-year term. 
Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be 
appointed for the remainder of such term. A member [with a valid 
appointment] may serve after the expiration of the member's term until 
a successor has been appointed.''

Meetings and Travel

    ``The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon 
the request of the Secretary. The Committee shall meet not fewer than 2 
times each year.''
    In the years 2014-2019, the IACC held an average of 4 meetings, 1 
workshop and 2 phone conferences per year, including full committee, 
subcommittee, working and planning group meetings, and workshops. 
Travel expenses are provided for non-federal public Committee members 
to facilitate attendance at in-person meetings. Members are expected to 
be committed to making every effort to attend all full committee 
meetings and workshops in person and relevant subcommittee, working and 
planning group meetings by phone. For those who occasionally cannot 
travel or for individuals with a disability that prevents travel, 
remote access options are provided.

Submission Instructions and Deadline

    Nominations should include a cover letter of no longer than 3 pages 
describing the candidate's interest in seeking appointment to the IACC, 
including relevant personal and professional experience with ASD, 
indication of any membership eligibility requirements met, disability 
accommodation requests, and an indication of commitment to attend IACC 
meetings if selected, as well as full contact information and a current 
resume or curriculum vitae. Up to 2 letters of support are permitted in 
addition to the nomination, with a page limit of 3 pages per letter. 
Please do not include other materials unless requested.
    Nominations are due by Friday January 17, 2020 and may be sent to 
Dr. Susan Daniels, Director, Office of Autism Research Coordination/
NIMH/NIH, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7220, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 
by standard or express mail, or via email to 
[email protected]. Confirmation of receipt will be 
provided.
    More information about the IACC is available at iacc.hhs.gov.

    Dated: November 20, 2019.
Susan A. Daniels,
Director, Office of Autism Research Coordination, National Institute of 
Mental Health, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2019-25668 Filed 11-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P