(b) 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. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) APPOINTED MEMBERS.— 
(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: 
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(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. 
(v) At least 2 representatives of State 
and local health departments and national 
organizations that represent State and 
local health professionals. 
(C) DIVERSITY.—In appointing members 
under this paragraph, the Secretary shall en-
sure that such members, as a group, represent 
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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. 
(F) Such additional Federal agencies as 
the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
(3) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The Secretary shall 
designate the Assistant Secretary of 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. 
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