[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86903-86904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-29036]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

[Docket No. 201228-0359]
RIN 0694-XC068


Change in Deadline for Public Comments on Condition of the Public 
Health Industrial Base and Recommend Policies and Actions To Strengthen 
the Public Health Industrial Base To Ensure Essential Medicines, 
Medical Countermeasures, and Critical Inputs Are Made in the United 
States

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Technology 
Evaluation, U.S. Department of Commerce.
    ACTIONS: Notice on reopening comment period for previously 
published notice of request for public comments.
SUMMARY: On December 2, 2020, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 
within the Department of Commerce (Commerce), published the Notice of 
Request for Public Comments on Condition of the Public Health 
Industrial Base and Recommend Policies and Actions to Strengthen the 
Public Health Industrial Base to Ensure Essential Medicines, Medical 
Countermeasures, and Critical Inputs Are Made in the United States. The 
December 2 notice invited interested parties to submit written 
comments, data, analyses, or other information pertinent to the 
investigation to BIS. The deadline for written comments was December 
23, 2020. In response to requests from the public for additional time, 
this notice reopens the deadline for the submission of public comment 
until January 15, 2021. Comments previously submitted need not be 
resubmitted and will be fully considered.

DATES: The comment period for the document published at 85 FR 77428 on 
December 2, 2020, is reopened. The due date for filing comments is 
January 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submissions: All written comments on the notice must be 
addressed to PHIB Study and filed through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via http://www.regulations.gov, enter docket number BIS-2020-0034 on the home page 
and click ``search.'' The site will provide a search results page 
listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to 
this notice and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' (For 
further information on using http://www.regulations.gov, please consult 
the

[[Page 86904]]

resources provided on the website by clicking on ``How to Use This 
Site.'')

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Bolton at 202-482-5936 or via 
email [email protected]; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 2, 2020, BIS published the Notice of Request for Public 
Comments on Condition of the Public Health Industrial Base and 
Recommend Policies and Actions to Strengthen the Public Health 
Industrial Base to Ensure Essential Medicines, Medical Countermeasures, 
and Critical Inputs Are Made in the United States (85 FR 77428) 
(December 2 notice). The December 2 notice specified that on August 6, 
2020, President Trump issued Executive Order 13944, Combating Public 
Health Emergencies and Strengthening National Security by Ensuring 
Essential Medicines, Medical Countermeasures, and Critical Inputs Are 
Made in the United States (E.O. 13944). Among other directives, E.O. 
13944 directed that, by February 2, 2021, the Secretary of Commerce 
shall submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, 
the Director of the National Economic Council, and the Director of the 
Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, describing any change in the 
status of the Public Health Industrial Base (PHIB) and recommending 
initiatives to strengthen the PHIB. The December 2 notice requested 
comments from the public to assist Commerce in preparing this report on 
the status and condition of the PHIB and recommending policies and 
actions to strengthen it. (See the December 2 notice for additional 
details on E.O. 13944 and the request for public comments.)

Change in Public Comment Deadline

    The December 2 notice included a comment period deadline of 
December 23, 2020. Commerce has determined that an extension of the 
comment period is warranted, following requests from the public on the 
matter. While comments may be submitted at any time, this notice 
specifies that comments must be received by January 15, 2021, to be 
considered in the drafting of the final report. This notice reopens the 
comment period to allow for additional time for the public to submit 
comments. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and 
will be fully considered.

Matthew S. Borman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-29036 Filed 12-29-20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P