[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 4293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2085]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Office of the Secretary; Statement of Organization, Functions, 
and Delegation of Authority

    Part A (Office of the Secretary), Chapter AE (Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (OASPE), of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegation of Authority for 
the Department of Health and Human Services (most recently amended at 
61 FR 24499 on May 15, 1996) is amended to establish the Office of 
Science Policy within OASPE.
    I. Chapter AE, add the following as paragraph F:
    F. The Office of Science Policy (OSP) is responsible for guiding 
and coordinating the development of science policy throughout the 
Department. As directed by the Secretary or the ASPE, OSP establishes 
and leads broadly representative, multi-office working groups to 
develop policy initiatives related to complex science and technology 
issues that cut across the missions of several entities within the 
Department. The Director, OSP frequently serves as the spokesperson for 
these working groups in presentations to the Secretary, other senior 
DHHS staff, to members and/or staff of the Congress, and to others 
outside DHHS.
    OSP is responsible for guiding and coordinating the incorporation 
of science-policy considerations within regulatory proposals, 
legislative proposals, Congressional testimony, press releases, and 
other public documents describing major Departmental initiatives. OSP 
staff provide critique and advice regarding the science-policy content 
of such documents, which typically originate from DHHS Operating 
Divisions or other units within the Office of the Secretary. In 
selected instances, OSP initiates and directs the development of such 
documents.
    OSP is responsible for creating and maintaining effective 
communication with scientific and technical communities outside the 
Department regarding science-policy issues. This may include liaison 
with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of 
the President. It also includes active participation in inter-agency 
science and technology activities (such as those sponsored by the 
National Science and Technology Council) and government/private sector 
collaborations related to science policy (such as those sponsored by 
the National Academy of Sciences). These duties may include service as 
the Secretary's representative in meetings with leaders of research 
universities, scientific societies, professional associations, and 
industrial organizations involved in biomedical, behavioral, or social-
science research or in the delivery of health and human services.
    In all of these areas, OSP staff coordinate their activities as 
appropriate with those of other components within OASPE, with other 
components of the Office of the Secretary, and with the Operating 
Divisions of the Department. The Director, OSP consults regularly with 
the Assistant Secretary for Health in his/her role as the Secretary's 
senior advisor on public health and science.

    Dated: January 17, 1997.
John J. Callahan,
Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget.
[FR Doc. 97-2085 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
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