ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR ELIMINATION OF TUBERCULOSIS AND THE FEDERAL TUBERCULOSIS TASK FORCE.

SEC. 111. ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR ELIMINATION OF TUBERCULOSIS AND THE FEDERAL TUBERCULOSIS TASK FORCE.(a) In General.—Section 317E(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–6(f)) is amended—(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and(2) by striking paragraphs (2) through (4), and inserting the following:“(2) Duties.—The Council shall provide advice and recommendations regarding the elimination of tuberculosis to the Secretary. In addition, the Council shall, with respect to eliminating such disease, provide to the Secretary and other appropriate Federal officials advice on—“(A) coordinating the activities of the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies that relate to the disease, including activities under subsection (b);“(B) responding rapidly and effectively to emerging issues in tuberculosis; and122 STAT. 4198“(C) efficiently utilizing the Federal resources involved.“(3) Comprehensive plan.—“(A) In general.—In carrying out paragraph (2), the Council shall make or update recommendations on the development, revision, and implementation of a comprehensive plan to eliminate tuberculosis in the United States.“(B) Consultation.—In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Council may consult with appropriate public and private entities, which may, subject to the direction or discretion of the Secretary, include—“(i) individuals who are scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals, who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government and who represent the disciplines relevant to tuberculosis elimination;“(ii) members of public-private partnerships or private entities established to address the elimination of tuberculosis;“(iii) members of national and international nongovernmental organizations whose purpose is to eliminate tuberculosis;“(iv) members from the general public who are knowledgeable with respect to tuberculosis elimination including individuals who have or have had tuberculosis; and“(v) scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals who reside in a foreign country with a substantial incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis, and who represent the specialties and disciplines relevant to the research under consideration.“(C) Certain components of plan.—In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Council shall, subject to the direction or discretion of the Secretary—“(i) consider recommendations for the involvement of the United States in continuing global and cross-border tuberculosis control activities in countries where a high incidence of tuberculosis directly affects the United States; and“(ii) review the extent to which progress has been made toward eliminating tuberculosis.“(4) Biennial report.—“(A) In general.—The Council shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary, as determined necessary by the Secretary, on the activities carried under this section. Each such report shall include the opinion of the Council on the extent to which its recommendations regarding the elimination of tuberculosis have been implemented, including with respect to—“(i) activities under subsection (b); and“(ii) the national plan referred to in paragraph (3).“(B) Public.—The Secretary shall make a report submitted under subparagraph (A) public.“(5) Composition.—The Council shall be composed of—“(A) ex officio representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the United States Agency for International 122 STAT. 4199 Development, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, and other Federal departments and agencies that carry out significant activities related to tuberculosis;“(B) State and local tuberculosis control and public health officials;“(C) individuals who are scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals who represent disciplines relevant to tuberculosis elimination; and“(D) members of national and international nongovernmental organizations established to address the elimination of tuberculosis.”.(b) Rule of Construction Regarding Current Membership.—With respect to the advisory council under section 317E(f) of the Public Health Service Act, the amendments made by subsection (a) may not be construed as terminating the membership on such council of any individual serving as such a member as of the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.(c) Federal Tuberculosis Task Force.—Section 317E of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–6) is amended—(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following subsection:“(g) Federal Tuberculosis Task Force.—“(1) Duties.—The Federal Tuberculosis Task Force (in this subsection referred to as the ‘Task Force’) shall provide to the Secretary and other appropriate Federal officials advice on research into new tools under subsection (b)(2), including advice regarding the efficient utilization of the Federal resources involved.“(2) Comprehensive plan for new tools development.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the Task Force shall make recommendations on the development of a comprehensive plan for the creation of new tools for the elimination of tuberculosis, including drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines.“(3) Consultation.—In developing the comprehensive plan under paragraph (1), the Task Force shall consult with external parties including representatives from groups such as—“(A) scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals who represent the specialties and disciplines relevant to the research under consideration;“(B) members from public-private partnerships, private entities, or foundations (or both) engaged in activities relevant to research under consideration;“(C) members of national and international nongovernmental organizations established to address tuberculosis elimination;“(D) members from the general public who are knowledgeable with respect to tuberculosis including individuals who have or have had tuberculosis; and“(E) scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals who reside in a foreign country with a substantial incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis, and who represent the specialties and disciplines relevant to the research under consideration.”.122 STAT. 4200