CFS Advisory Committee
Charter
Media Alert:
12/10/2002
Information about the Department of Health and Human Services'
(HHS) CFS Advisory Committee has been posted on the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (FACA) Web site. HHS has yet not issued a call for nominations, although we
will let C-ACT members know once nominations are sought.
The text of the charter is below. To visit the Web site where
information about the Advisory Committee is posted, follow these
instructions:
1. Go to
http://fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp
2.
Choose Fiscal Year 2002 and select "Explore data"
3. Scroll down and click
on "Department of Health and Human Services"
4. Scroll down and click on "Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome Advisory Committee"
Vicki Walker
The CFIDS Association of America
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARTER
Purpose
The
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (formerly known as Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome Coordinating Committee) shall provide expert advice and recommendations
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) on a broad range of
issues and topics pertaining to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Authority
42 U.S.C. 217a, section 222 of the Public
Health Service Act, as amended. The Committee is governed by the provisions of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets
forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.
Function
The Committee shall advise, consult with, and
make recommendations to the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for
Health, on a broad range of topics including: (1) the current state of knowledge
and research about the epidemiology and risk factors relating to chronic fatigue
syndrome, and identifying potential opportunities in these areas; (2) current
and proposed diagnosis and treatment methods for chronic fatigue syndrome, and;
(3) development and implementation of programs to inform the public, health care
professionals, and the biomedical, academic and research community about chronic
fatigue syndrome advances.
Structure
The Committee shall consist of 11 members,
including the Chair, appointed by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. Of
the 11 members, 7 shall be biomedical research scientists with demonstrated
expertise in biomedical research applicable to chronic fatigue syndrome; 4 shall
be individuals with expertise in health care delivery, private health care
services or insurers, or voluntary organizations concerned with the problems of
individuals with CFS.
In addition, the Committee shall include 5 non voting ex officio
members: a representative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Social
Security Administration (SSA); and any additional employees of the United States
Government the Secretary (or designee) determines necessary for the Committee to
effectively carry out its function.
Members shall be invited to serve overlapping terms for a maximum
of three-year terms, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an
unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. A member may
serve up to 180 days after the expiration of the member’s term if a successor
has not taken office. A quorum for the conduct of business by the full Committee
shall consist of a majority of the Committee’s voting members. A quorum for each
subcommittee shall be three.
Terms of more than two years are contingent upon the renewal of
the Committee’s charter by appropriate action prior to its expiration. A member
who has served in this committee may not be reappointed to this Committee before
one year from the date of expiration of that member’s term of office, including
any extensions. If a vacancy occurs among the appointed members, the Secretary
shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy within 90 days from the date the
vacancy occurs.
As necessary, the Committee may establish standing and ad hoc
subcommittees composed of members of the parent committee, assemble ad hoc
working groups, convene conferences and workshops, and call upon special
consultants. The DHHS Committee Management Officer shall be notified upon
establishment of each standing subcommittee and shall be provided with
information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of
meetings.
The advice of a subcommittee shall be reported to the full
committee. The full committee shall review reports and any recommendations and
discuss them at a public meeting, at which time the full committee will
determine the appropriate action.
Management and support services shall be provided within the
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), with direction and guidance from the
Assistant Secretary for Health. The OPHS with its expertise in coordinating
federal activities and its advisory role to the Secretary will:
-
Assure coordination and communication
for the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee and HHS agencies.
-
In coordination with the Committee Chair, act as
the Committee liaison to HHS; other government agencies; the CFS biomedical,
academic, and research communities; the public; and other non-governmental entities.
Meetings
Meetings of the full Committee shall be held
approximately two times a year at the call of the Chair, with the advance
approval of a Government official, who shall also approve the agenda. A
Government official shall be present at all meetings of the full committee or of
any subcommittee.
Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined
otherwise by the Secretary or by the Secretary’s designee. Notice of all
meetings shall be given to the public.
Meetings shall be conducted and records of the proceedings kept,
as required by applicable laws and Departmental policies.
Compensation
Members shall be paid at the rate of $150
per day, plus per diem and travel expenses as authorized by section 5703, Title
5 U.S.C., as amended, for persons employed intermittently in the Government
service. Members who are officers or employees of the United States Government
shall not receive compensation for service on the Committee.
Annual Cost Estimate
Estimated annual cost for
operating the Committee, including compensation and travel expenses for members,
but excluding staff support is $127,246. The estimate of annual person-years of
staff support required is .7, at an estimated annual cost of $71,014.
Report
In the event a portion of a meeting is closed to
the public, a report shall be prepared which shall contain, as a minimum, a list
of members and their business addresses, the Committee’s functions, dates,
places of meetings, and a summary of committee activities and recommendations
made during the fiscal year. A copy of the report shall be provided to the
Department Committee Management Officer.
Termination Date
Unless renewed by appropriate action
prior to its expiration, the Charter for the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory
Committee will expire on September 5, 2004.
