HR 610 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

113th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 610CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for the establishment of the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 12, 2013CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. WOLF, Mr. GIBSON, and Mr. PETERSON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for the establishment of the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF A TICK-BORNE DISEASES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

(a) Establishment- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the ‘Secretary’) shall establish within the Office of the Secretary an advisory committee to be known as the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the ‘Committee’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Duties- The Committee shall advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding the manner in which such officials can--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ensure interagency coordination and communication and minimize overlap regarding efforts to address tick-borne diseases;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts with other Federal agencies and private organizations addressing such diseases;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ensure interagency coordination and communication with constituency groups;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints is represented in public health policy decisions and that information disseminated to the public and physicians is balanced; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) advise relevant Federal agencies on priorities related to the Lyme and tick-borne diseases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Membership-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) APPOINTED MEMBERS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall appoint the voting members of the Committee from among individuals who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) GROUPS- The voting members of the Committee shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) At least 4 members from the scientific community representing the broad spectrum of viewpoints held within the scientific community related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) At least 2 representatives of tick-borne disease voluntary organizations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) At least 2 health care providers, including at least 1 full-time practicing physician, with relevant experience providing care for individuals with a broad range of acute and chronic tick-borne diseases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) At least 2 patient representatives who are individuals who have been diagnosed with a tick-borne disease or who have had an immediate family member diagnosed with such a disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) At least 2 representatives of State and local health departments and national organizations that represent State and local health professionals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) DIVERSITY- In appointing members under this paragraph, the Secretary shall ensure that such members, as a group, represent a diversity of scientific perspectives relevant to the duties of the Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS- The Secretary shall designate, as nonvoting, ex officio members of the Committee, representatives overseeing tick-borne disease activities from each of the following Federal agencies:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) The National Institutes of Health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) The Food and Drug Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) Such additional Federal agencies as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) CO-CHAIRPERSONS- The Secretary shall designate the Assistant Secretary for Health as the co-chairperson of the Committee. The appointed members of the Committee shall also elect a public co-chairperson. The public co-chairperson shall serve a 2-year term.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) TERM OF APPOINTMENT- The term of service for each member of the Committee appointed under paragraph (1) shall be 4 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) VACANCY- A vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. Members may serve after the expiration of their terms until their successors have taken office.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Meetings- The Committee shall hold public meetings, except as otherwise determined by the Secretary, after providing notice to the public of such meetings, and shall meet at least twice a year with additional meetings subject to the call of the co-chairpersons. Agenda items with respect to such meetings may be added at the request of the members of the Committee, including the co-chairpersons. Meetings shall be conducted, and records of the proceedings shall be maintained, as required by applicable law and by regulations of the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Committee, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall submit a report to the Secretary. Each such report shall contain, at a minimum--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) a description of the Committee’s functions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) a list of the Committee’s members and their affiliations; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) a summary of the Committee’s activities and recommendations during the previous year, including any significant issues regarding the functioning of the Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Authorization of Appropriations- Of the amounts made available to the Department of Health and Human Services for general departmental management for fiscal years 2013 through 2017, there is authorized to be appropriated $250,000 for each of such fiscal years to carry out this Act. Amounts made available to carry out this Act shall be used for the expenses and per diem costs incurred by the Committee under this section in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, except that no voting member of the Committee shall be a permanent salaried employee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink