I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 665 
To provide for the establishment of the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory 
Committee. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 2, 2015 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. PETERSON) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide for the establishment of the Tick-Borne Diseases 
Advisory Committee. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF A TICK-BORNE DISEASES 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as 
the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall establish within the Office of the 
Secretary an advisory committee to be known as the Tick- 
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Borne Diseases Advisory Committee (referred to in this 
section as the ‘‘Committee’’). 
(b) APPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Tick-Borne Dis-
eases Advisory Committee shall be treated as an advisory 
committee subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall advise the Sec-
retary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding 
the manner in which such officials can— 
(1) ensure interagency coordination and com-
munication and minimize overlap regarding efforts 
to address tick-borne diseases; 
(2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts 
with other Federal agencies and private organiza-
tions addressing such diseases; 
(3) ensure interagency coordination and com-
munication with constituency groups; 
(4) ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific 
viewpoints is represented in public health policy deci-
sions and that information disseminated to the pub-
lic and physicians is balanced; and 
(5) advise relevant Federal agencies on prior-
ities related to the Lyme and tick-borne diseases. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) APPOINTED MEMBERS.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
point the voting members of the Committee 
from among individuals who are not officers or 
employees of the Federal Government. 
(B) GROUPS.—The voting members of the 
Committee shall include the following: 
(i) At least 4 members from the sci-
entific community representing the broad 
spectrum of viewpoints held within the sci-
entific community related to Lyme and 
other tick-borne diseases. 
(ii) At least 2 representatives of tick- 
borne disease voluntary organizations. 
(iii) At least 2 health care providers, 
including at least 1 full-time practicing 
physician, with relevant experience pro-
viding care for individuals with a broad 
range of acute and chronic tick-borne dis-
eases. 
(iv) At least 2 patient representatives 
who are individuals who have been diag-
nosed with a tick-borne disease or who 
have had an immediate family member di-
agnosed with such a disease. 
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(v) At least 2 representatives of State 
and local health departments from States 
with the highest incidence of Lyme disease 
or where Lyme disease is recognized as an 
emerging threat, or national organizations 
that represent State and local health pro-
fessionals. 
(C) DIVERSITY.—In appointing members 
under this paragraph, the Secretary shall en-
sure that such members, as a group, represent 
a diversity of scientific perspectives relevant to 
the duties of the Committee. 
(2) EX
OFFICIO
MEMBERS.—The Secretary 
shall designate, as nonvoting, ex officio members of 
the Committee, representatives overseeing tick-borne 
disease activities from each of the following Federal 
agencies: 
(A) The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention. 
(B) The National Institutes of Health. 
(C) The Agency for Healthcare Research 
and Quality. 
(D) The Food and Drug Administration. 
(E) The Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Health. 
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(F) Such additional Federal agencies as 
the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
(3) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The Secretary shall 
designate the Assistant Secretary for Health as the 
co-chairperson of the Committee. The appointed 
members of the Committee shall also elect a public 
co-chairperson. The public co-chairperson shall serve 
a 2-year term. 
(4) TERM
OF
APPOINTMENT.—The term of 
service for each member of the Committee appointed 
under paragraph (1) shall be 4 years. 
(5) VACANCY.—A vacancy in the membership of 
the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment. Any member appointed to 
fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be ap-
pointed for the remainder of that term. Members 
may serve after the expiration of their terms until 
their successors have taken office. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall hold public 
meetings after providing notice to the public of such meet-
ings, and shall meet at least twice a year with additional 
meetings subject to the call of the co-chairpersons. Agenda 
items with respect to such meetings may be added at the 
request of the members of the Committee, including the 
co-chairpersons. Meetings shall be conducted, and records 
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of the proceedings shall be maintained, as required by ap-
plicable law and by regulations of the Secretary. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Committee, through the Director of the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention and the Director of the Na-
tional Institutes of Health, shall submit a report to the 
Secretary. Each such report shall contain, at a min-
imum— 
(1) a description of the Committee’s functions; 
(2) a list of the Committee’s members and their 
affiliations; and 
(3) a summary of the Committee’s activities 
and recommendations during the previous year, in-
cluding any significant issues regarding the func-
tioning of the Committee. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 
amounts made available to the Department of Health and 
Human Services for general departmental management 
for fiscal years 2015 through 2019, there is authorized 
to be appropriated $250,000 for each of such fiscal years 
to carry out this Act. Amounts made available to carry 
out this Act shall be used for the expenses and per diem 
costs incurred by the Committee under this section in ac-
cordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, except 
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