[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79049-79050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31837]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Announcement of Intent To Establish the 2018 Physical Activity
Guidelines Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for
Appointment to the Committee Membership
AGENCY: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, Department
of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
announces the intent to establish a Physical Activity Guidelines
Advisory Committee (Committee). It is planned for the Committee to be
established in calendar year 2016. This notice also serves to announce
that an invitation is being extended for nominations of qualified
candidates to be considered for appointment as a member of the
Committee.
DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be submitted by
6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, February 5, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted by email to
[email protected]. This address can be accessed online at the
following address: www.health.gov/paguidelines. Nominations may also be
sent to the following address: Richard D. Olson, M.D., M.P.H.,
Designated Program Official, 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory
Committee; HHS/OASH/ODPHP; 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL-100;
Rockville, MD 20852; Telephone: (240) 453-8280.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Designated Program Official, 2018
Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, Richard D. Olson and/
or Alternate Designated Program Official, Katrina L. Piercy, Ph.D.,
R.D., HHS/OASH/ODPHP; 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL-100; Rockville, MD
20852; Telephone: (240) 453-8280. Additional information is available
at www.health.gov/paguidelines.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose: The inaugural Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
(PAG), issued in 2008, represents the first major federal review of the
benefits of physical activity. The PAG provides science-based advice on
how physical activity can help promote health and reduce the risk of
chronic disease. The PAG serves as the benchmark and primary,
authoritative voice of the federal government for providing science-
based guidance on physical activity, fitness, and health in the United
States. Five years after the first edition of the PAG was released,
ODPHP, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the
President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition (PCFSN) led
development of the PAG Midcourse Report: Strategies to Increase
Physical Activity Among Youth. The 2nd edition of the Physical Activity
Guidelines will build upon the 1st edition and provide a foundation for
federal recommendations and education for physical activity programs
for Americans, including those at risk for chronic disease.
The Committee will be established as a discretionary federal
advisory committee and governed by the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C.,
App.). The work of the Committee will be solely advisory in nature and
time-limited. Formation of the Committee is necessary and in the public
interest. The Committee will examine the current PAG, take into
consideration new scientific evidence and current resource documents,
and then develop a scientific advisory report to be submitted to the
Secretary of HHS that outlines its science-based recommendations and
rationale. The scientific report will be used by the federal government
to develop the 2nd edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans. The Committee's duties do not include developing the policy,
a draft of the policy, or determining how future policy might be
implemented by the federal government. For those interested in
reviewing the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the 2008
Advisory Committee Scientific Report, or the PAG Midcourse Report, they
are available at www.health.gov/paguidelines.
The Committee is expected to begin meeting in summer of 2016. The
Committee is expected to meet approximately five times during the
course of its operation. Pursuant to FACA, all meetings of the full
Committee will be open to the public.
Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee will be
invited to serve as members until the charter expires or the Committee
accomplishes its mission. In keeping with FACA, the charter will expire
two years from the date it is established. The Committee will operate
until its report is delivered to the Secretary or the charter expires,
whichever comes first. There will be no
[[Page 79050]]
stipend authorized to be paid to the members for performance of their
official duties. However, Committee members will be authorized to
receive per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for
attending public meetings.
Structure: It is proposed that the Committee will consist of 11-17
members; one or two members will be selected to serve as the Chair,
Vice Chair, and/or Co-Chairs. To be eligible for consideration of
appointment to the Committee, individuals should be knowledgeable of
current scientific research in human physical activity and be respected
and published experts in their fields. They should be familiar with the
purpose, communication, and application of federal physical activity
guidelines and have demonstrated interest in the public's health and
well-being through their research and/or educational endeavors.
Expertise is sought in specific specialty areas related to physical
activity and health promotion or disease prevention, including but not
limited to: Health promotion and chronic disease prevention; bone,
joint, and muscle health and performance; obesity and weight
management; physical activity and risk of musculoskeletal injury;
physical activity and cognition; physical activity within specific
settings, such as preschool/childcare, schools (e.g., activity breaks,
physical education), or the community/built environment; physical
activity dose-response; sedentary behavior; behavior change; systematic
reviews; and special populations including children, older adults,
individuals with disabilities, or women who are pregnant.
Nominations: HHS will consider nominations, including self-
nominations, for Committee membership of individuals qualified to carry
out the above-mentioned tasks. The following information should be
included in the package of material submitted for each individual being
nominated for consideration: (1) The name, address, daytime telephone
number, and email address of the nominator and the individual being
nominated; (2) a letter of nomination that clearly states the name and
affiliation of the nominee, the basis for the nomination (i.e.,
specific attributes which qualify the nominee for service in this
capacity), and a statement from the nominee that the nominee is willing
to serve as a member of the Committee; and (3) a current copy of the
nominee's curriculum vitae (CV) no more than 10 pages in length.
Inclusion of the following is requested in the CV: (1) Current and/or
past grant awards; (2) publications showing both breadth and experience
in areas of specialization; (3) paid and non-paid board and advisory
appointments; and (4) education and occupational history.
All nominations must include the required information. Incomplete
nominations will not be processed for consideration. Federal employees
should not be nominated for consideration of appointment to this
Committee.
Equal opportunity practices regarding membership appointments to
the Committee will be aligned with HHS policies. When possible, every
effort will be made to ensure that the Committee is a diverse group of
individuals with representation from various geographic locations,
racial and ethnic minorities, all genders, and persons with
disabilities. Individuals will be appointed to serve as members of the
Committee to represent balanced viewpoints of the scientific evidence,
not to represent the viewpoints of any specific group.
Members of the Committee will be classified as special government
employees (SGEs) during their term of appointment to the Committee, and
as such are subject to the ethical standards of conduct for federal
employees. Upon entering the position and annually throughout the term
of appointment, members of the Committee will be required to complete
and submit a report of their financial holdings, consultancies, and
research grants and/or contracts. The purpose of this report is to
determine if the individual has any interest and/or activities in the
private sector that may conflict with performance of their official
duties as a member of the Committee.
Dated: December 15, 2015.
Don Wright,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion.
[FR Doc. 2015-31837 Filed 12-17-15; 8:45 am]
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