2024-07849. Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis

AGENCY:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking nominations for membership on the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET). ACET consists of 10 experts including the Chair in fields associated with public health, epidemiology, immunology, infectious diseases, pulmonary disease, pediatrics, tuberculosis, microbiology, and preventive health care delivery.

DATES:

Nominations for membership on ACET must be received no later than September 30, 2024. Packages received after this time will not be considered for the current membership cycle.

ADDRESSES:

All nominations should be emailed to [e-mail] with the subject line “ACET 2025 Nomination.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marah Condit, M.S., Committee Management Lead, Office of Policy, Planning, and Partnerships, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop US8-6, Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4027. Telephone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET) provides advice and recommendations regarding the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) to the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); the Assistant Secretary for Health, HHS; and the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ACET (a) makes recommendations on policies, strategies, objectives, and priorities; (b) addresses development and application of new technologies; (c) provides guidance and review of CDC's TB prevention research portfolio and program priorities; and (d) reviews the extent to which progress has been made toward eliminating TB.

Nominations are sought for persons who have expertise and qualifications necessary to contribute to the accomplishment of the objectives of ACET. Nominees will be selected on the basis of their expertise in public health, epidemiology, immunology, infectious diseases, pulmonary disease, pediatrics, tuberculosis, microbiology, or preventive health care delivery. Federal employees will not be considered for membership. Members may be invited to serve for up to four-year terms. Selection of members is based on candidates' qualifications to contribute to the accomplishment of ACET objectives.

HHS policy stipulates that committee membership be balanced in terms of points of view represented and the committee's function. Appointments shall be made without discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, disability, and cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status. Nominees must be U.S. citizens and cannot be full-time employees of the U.S. Government. Current participation on Federal workgroups or prior experience serving on a Federal advisory committee does not disqualify a candidate; however, HHS policy is to avoid excessive individual service on advisory committees and multiple committee memberships. Committee members are Special Government Employees, requiring the filing of financial disclosure reports at the beginning of and annually during their terms. CDC reviews potential candidates for ACET membership each year and provides a slate of nominees for consideration to the Secretary of HHS for final selection. HHS notifies selected candidates of their appointment near the start of the term in July 2025, or as soon as the HHS selection process is completed. Note that the need for different expertise varies from year to year and a candidate who is not selected in one year may be reconsidered in a subsequent year.

Candidates should submit the following items:

Current curriculum vitae, including complete contact information (telephone numbers, mailing address, and email address)

At least one letter of recommendation from person(s) not employed by HHS. Candidates may submit letter(s) from current HHS employees if they wish, but at least one letter must be submitted by a person not employed by an HHS agency ( e.g., CDC, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration).

Nominations may be submitted by the candidate or by the person/organization recommending the candidate. CDC will collect and retain nominations received for up to two years to create a pool of potential ACET nominees. When a vacancy occurs, CDC will review nominations and may contact nominees at that time.

The Director, Office of Strategic Business Initiatives, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Kalwant Smagh,

Director, Office of Strategic Business Initiatives, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.