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National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council

The Council advises the Secretary, HHS; the Director, NIH; and the Director, NIDCD, on matters relating to the conduct and support of research and research training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.

Authority

Established February 15, 1989, by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under Section 406 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 284a). This Advisory Council is governed by the provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2).

Structure

Consists of eighteen members, appointed by the Secretary, HHS, and six nonvoting ex officio members: the Secretary; the Director, NIH; the Director, NIDCD; the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Chief Medical Director, Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (or the designees of these officers). Twelve of the appointed members are selected from among the leading representatives of the health and scientific disciplines (including not less than two individuals who are leaders in the fields of public health and the behavioral or social sciences) relevant to the areas of deafness and other communication disorders. Six members are appointed by the Secretary from the general public and include leaders in the fields of public policy, law, health policy, economics and management. Members are appointed for overlapping terms of four years. The Chair of the Council is selected by the Secretary from among the appointed members or the Secretary may select the Director, NIDCD.

Function

Advises the Secretary, HHS; the Director, NIH; and the Director, NIDCD, on matters relating to the conduct and support of research and research training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.

Meetings

Meetings are held not less than three times a year as called by the Chair, or upon request of the Director of the Institute, with the advance approval of a government official who also approved the agenda. A government official is present at all meetings. A quorum for the conduct of business is one more than one-half of the authorized membership.

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