[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 169 (Friday, September 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49551-49552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19027]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Meetings of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating 
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

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 two meetings are scheduled to be held for the Presidential 
Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB). 
The meetings will be open to the public via WebEx and teleconference; a 
pre-registered public comment session will be held during both 
meetings. Pre-registration is required for members of the public who 
wish to attend the meetings via WebEx/teleconference. Individuals who 
wish to send in their written public comment should send an email to 
[email protected]. Registration information is available on the website 
http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb and must be completed by October 1, 2021 for 
the October 6, 2021 virtual Public Meeting; and, by November 29, 2021 
for the November 30-December 1, 2021 virtual Public Meeting. Additional 
information about registering for the meeting and providing public 
comment can be obtained at http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb on the Upcoming 
Meetings page.

DATES: The October meeting is scheduled to be held on October 6, 2021, 
from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET (times are tentative and subject to 
change). The November/December meeting is scheduled to be held on 
November 30, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and December 1, 2021, 
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET (times are tentative and subject to 
change). The confirmed times and agenda items for both meetings will be 
posted on the website for the PACCARB at http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb 
when this information becomes available. Pre-registration for attending 
the meeting is strongly suggested and should be completed no later than 
October 1, 2021 for the October meeting and November 29, 2021 for the 
November/December meeting.

ADDRESSES: Instructions regarding attending this meeting virtually will 
be posted at least one week prior to the meeting at: http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jomana Musmar, M.S., Ph.D., Designated 
Federal Officer, Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-
Resistant Bacteria, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Room L616, Switzer Building, 
330 C St. SW, Washington, DC 20024. Phone: 202-746-1512; Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Presidential Advisory Council on 
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB), established by 
Executive Order 13676, is continued by Section 505 of Public Law 116-
22, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation 
Act of 2019 (PAHPAIA). Activities and duties of the Advisory Council 
are governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), 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 PACCARB shall advise and provide information and 
recommendations to the Secretary regarding programs and policies 
intended to reduce or combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may 
present a public health threat and improve capabilities to prevent, 
diagnose, mitigate, or treat such resistance. The PACCARB shall 
function solely for advisory purposes.
    Such advice, information, and recommendations may be related to 
improving: The effectiveness of antibiotics; research and advanced 
research on, and the development of, improved and innovative methods 
for combating or reducing antibiotic resistance, including new 
treatments, rapid point-of-care diagnostics, alternatives to 
antibiotics, including alternatives to animal antibiotics, and 
antimicrobial stewardship activities; surveillance of antibiotic-
resistant bacterial infections, including publicly available and up-to-
date information on resistance to antibiotics; education for health 
care providers and the public with respect to up-to-date information on 
antibiotic resistance and ways to reduce or combat such resistance to 
antibiotics related to humans and animals; methods to prevent or reduce 
the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections; 
including stewardship programs; and coordination with respect to 
international efforts in order to inform and advance the United States 
capabilities to combat antibiotic resistance.
    The October 6, 2021 public meeting will be held virtually and is 
dedicated to deliberation and vote of the letter with recommendations 
from the Immediate Action Subcommittee of the Advisory Council. The 
meeting agenda will be posted on the PACCARB website at http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb when it has been finalized. All agenda items are 
tentative and subject to change.
    The November 31, 2021 and December 1, 2021 public meeting will be 
held virtually and will be dedicated to addressing the current 
situation regarding antimicrobial resistance as well as to a 
presentation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine on their report, Examining the Long-term Health and Economic 
Effects of Antimicrobial Resistance in the United States. The meeting 
agenda will be posted on the PACCARB website at http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb when it has been finalized. All agenda items are tentative and 
subject to change.
    Instructions regarding attending both meetings virtually will be 
posted one

[[Page 49552]]

week prior to each meeting at: http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb.
    Members of the public will have the opportunity to provide comments 
live during the October meeting via conference line by pre-registering 
online at http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb. Pre-registration is required for 
participation in this session with limited spots available. Written 
public comments can also be emailed to [email protected] by midnight October 
1, 2021 and should be limited to no more than one page. All public 
comments received prior to October 1, 2021, will be provided to 
Advisory Council members.
    Members of the public will have the opportunity to provide comments 
live during the November 30, 2021 and December 1, 2021 public meeting 
via conference line by pre-registering online at http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb. There will be two separate sessions available for public 
comment: An Innovation Spotlight will be held on November 30, 2021 
where companies and/or organizations involved in combating antibiotic 
resistance have an opportunity to present their work to members of the 
Advisory Council; and on December 1, 2021, where all members of the 
general public are welcome to provide oral comment during this separate 
session. Pre-registration is required for participation in these 
sessions with limited spots available. Further information about these 
two sessions can be found online at http://www.hhs.gov/paccarb. Written 
public comments can also be emailed to [email protected] by midnight 
November 29, 2021 and should be limited to no more than one page. All 
public comments received prior to November 29, 2021, will be provided 
to Advisory Council members.

    Dated: August 26, 2021.
Jomana F. Musmar,
Designated Federal Officer, Presidential Advisory Council on Combating 
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Health.
[FR Doc. 2021-19027 Filed 9-2-21; 8:45 am]
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