Presidential Documents

5361 

Federal Register 

Vol. 81, No. 20 

Monday, February 1, 2016 

Title 3— 

The President 

Memorandum of January 28, 2016 

White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force 

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies 

Cancer is a leading cause of death, and cancer incidence is expected to 

increase worldwide in the coming decades. But today, cancer research is 

on the cusp of major breakthroughs. It is of critical national importance 

that we accelerate progress towards prevention, treatment, and a cure— 

to double the rate of progress in the fight against cancer—and put ourselves 

on a path to achieve in just 5 years research and treatment gains that 

otherwise might take a decade or more. To that end, I hereby direct the 

following: 

Section 1. White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force. There is established, 

within the Office of the Vice President, a White House Cancer Moonshot 

Task Force (Task Force), which will focus on making the most of Federal 

investments, targeted incentives, private sector efforts from industry and 

philanthropy, patient engagement initiatives, and other mechanisms to support cancer research and enable progress in treatment and care. The Vice 

President shall serve as Chair of the Task Force. 

(a) Membership of the Task Force. In addition to the Vice President, 

the Task Force shall consist of the heads of the executive branch departments, 

agencies, and offices listed below: 

(i) the Department of Defense; 

(ii) the Department of Commerce; 

(iii) the Department of Health and Human Services; 

(iv) the Department of Energy; 

(v) the Department of Veterans Affairs; 

(vi) the Office of Management and Budget; 

(vii) the National Economic Council; 

(viii) the Domestic Policy Council; 

(ix) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; 

(x) the Food and Drug Administration; 

(xi) the National Cancer Institute (NCI); 

(xii) the National Institutes of Health (NIH); 

(xiii) the National Science Foundation; and 

(xiv) such other executive branch departments, agencies, or offices as 

the President may designate. 

A member of the Task Force may designate, to perform the Task Force 

functions of the member, any person who is a part of the member’s department, agency, or office, and who is a full time officer or employee of 

the Federal Government. At the direction of the Chair, the Task Force 

may establish subgroups consisting exclusively of Task Force members or 

their designees under this section, as appropriate. 

(b) Administration of the Task Force. The NIH shall provide funding 

and administrative support for the Task Force to the extent permitted by 

law and within existing appropriations. The Vice President shall designate 


rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with MISCELLANEOUS
5362 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 20 / Monday, February 1, 2016 / Presidential Documents 

an officer or employee of the executive branch as the Executive Director 

of the Task Force, who shall coordinate the work of the Task Force. 

Sec. 2. Mission and Functions of the Task Force. The Task Force shall 

work with a wide array of executive departments and agencies that have 

responsibility for key issues related to basic, translational, and clinical research, therapy development, regulation of medical products, and medical 

care related to cancer. Consistent with applicable law, the Task Force also 

will consult with external experts from relevant scientific sectors, including 

the Presidentially appointed National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB). The 

NCAB shall advise the Director of NCI on its recommendations respecting 

the future direction and program and policy emphasis of NCI as it relates 

to the work of the Task Force. To assist the NCAB in providing this advice, 

the NCAB is strongly encouraged to establish a working group consisting 

of a Blue Ribbon Panel of scientific experts. The Director shall relay the 

advice of the NCAB to the Task Force, as appropriate. The functions of 

the Task Force are advisory only and shall include, but shall not be limited 

to, producing a detailed set of findings and recommendations to: 

(a) accelerate our understanding of cancer, and its prevention, early detection, treatment, and cure; 

(b) improve patient access and care; 

(c) support greater access to new research, data, and computational capabilities; 

(d) encourage development of cancer treatments; 

(e) identify and address any unnecessary regulatory barriers and consider 

ways to expedite administrative reforms; 

(f) ensure optimal investment of Federal resources; and 

(g) identify opportunities to develop public-private partnerships and increase coordination of the Federal Government’s efforts with the private 

sector, as appropriate. 

Sec. 3. Outreach. Consistent with the objectives set out in section 2 of 

this memorandum, the Task Force, in accordance with applicable law, in 

addition to regular meetings, shall conduct outreach with representatives 

of the cancer patient community, academia, business, nonprofit organizations, 

State and local government agencies, the research community, and other 

interested persons that will assist with the Task Force’s development of 

a detailed set of recommendations. 

Sec. 4. Transparency and Reports. The Task Force shall facilitate the posting 

on the Internet of reports and engage in an open, reciprocal dialogue with 

the American people. The Task Force shall present to the President a report 

before December 31, 2016, on its findings and recommendations, which 

shall be made available to the public and posted on the Internet. 

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive departments and 

agencies shall assist and provide information to the Task Force, consistent 

with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of 

the Task Force. Each executive department and agency shall bear its own 

expense for participating in the Task Force. 

(b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise 

affect: 

(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the 

head thereof; or 

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 

relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. 

(c) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable 

law and subject to the availability of appropriations. 

(d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right 

or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by 


rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with MISCELLANEOUS
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 20 / Monday, February 1, 2016 / Presidential Documents 5363 

any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, 

its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. 

Sec. 6. Publication. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized 

and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. 

THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, January 28, 2016 

[FR Doc. 2016–01939 

Filed 1–29–16; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 4150–42–P 


rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with MISCELLANEOUSOB#1.EPS</GPH>