Notice2025-18500

National Institute of Mental Health, Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Call for Committee Membership Nominations

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Published
September 24, 2025

Issuing agencies

Health and Human Services DepartmentNational Institutes of Health

Abstract

The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve as non-federal public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 183 (Wednesday, September 24, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 24, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45952-45954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18500]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Institute of Mental Health, Interagency Autism 
Coordinating Committee Call for Committee Membership Nominations

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve as 
non-federal public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating 
Committee (IACC).

DATES: Nominations will be accepted through Monday, November 10, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Nominations are due by Monday, November 10, 2025 and may be 
sent to Dr. Susan Daniels, Director, Office of National Autism 
Coordination/NIMH/NIH, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6119, Bethesda, 
Maryland 20892 by standard or express mail, or via email to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#61282022223114030d0802280f10140813080412210c00080d4f0f08094f060e17"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="226b6361617257404e4b416b4c53574b504b4751624f434b4e0c4c4b4a0c454d54">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include full contact 
information (address, phone number, and email). Electronic confirmation 
of receipt will be provided. More information about the IACC is 
available at <a href="https://iacc.hhs.gov/">https://iacc.hhs.gov/</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Daniels/Office of National 
Autism Coordination via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9e0e8eaeaf9dccbc5c0cae0c7d8dcc0dbc0ccdae9c4c8c0c587c7c0c187cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="044d454747547166686d674d6a75716d766d61774469656d682a6a6d6c2a636b72">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As specified in the Combating Autism Act of 
2006 (Pub. L. 109-416) and reauthorized by the Autism Collaboration, 
Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2024 (Pub. L. 
118-180).
    The Office of National Autism Coordination (ONAC) of the National 
Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health is assisting 
the Department in conducting an open nomination process. Appointments 
of non-federal public members to the committee shall be made by the

[[Page 45953]]

Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Eligibility Requirements

    Nominations of new non-federal public members are encouraged, and 
previous non-federal public members may also be re-nominated to serve 
if they have served only one term previously, in accordance with 42 
U.S.C. 280i-2(c)(3). Self-nominations and nominations of other 
individuals are both permitted. Only one nomination per individual is 
required. Multiple nominations of the same individual will not increase 
likelihood of selection. The Secretary may select non-federal public 
members from the pool of submitted nominations and other sources as 
needed to meet statutory requirements and to form a balanced committee 
that represents a broad range of expertise and perspectives within the 
autism community in the United States and its territories.
    Those eligible for nomination include individuals on the autism 
spectrum; parents, guardians, or family members of individuals on the 
autism spectrum; leaders or representatives of major autism research, 
advocacy, and service organizations; healthcare and service providers; 
educators; researchers; and other individuals with professional or 
personal experience with autism. Nominations of individuals from all 
U.S. states and territories, and individuals representing a range of 
lived experience, community service perspectives, and/or professional 
expertise within the autism community are encouraged. Nominations of 
individuals with a variety of disability and support needs are 
encouraged; requests for reasonable accommodation to enable 
participation on the Committee should be indicated in the nomination 
submission.
    IACC non-federal public members are appointed as special government 
employees (SGEs) and are required to be at least 18 years old and U.S. 
citizens. Male non-federal public members must have signed up for the 
U.S. Selective Service in order to be eligible. To serve, SGEs must 
submit an annual confidential financial disclosure report used to 
determine conflicts of interest as well as a foreign activities 
questionnaire. Prohibited foreign activities include holding a position 
or title with a foreign governmental entity (including certain 
universities), and from receiving compensation and certain gifts from a 
foreign government. In accordance with White House Office of Management 
and Budget guidelines (<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/08/13/2014-19140/revised-guidance-on-appointment-of-lobbyists-to-federal-advisory-committees-boards-and-commissions">https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/08/13/2014-19140/revised-guidance-on-appointment-of-lobbyists-to-federal-advisory-committees-boards-and-commissions</a>), federally-
registered lobbyists are not eligible. Federal employees may not serve 
as non-federal public members. IACC non-federal public members may be 
restricted from serving on other federal advisory committees while 
serving on the IACC and are subject to standard background checks 
associated with federal employment.

Responsibilities of Appointed Non-Federal Public Members

    As specified in the Committee's authorizing statute (section 399CC 
of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 280i-2, as amended), the 
Committee will carry out the following responsibilities: (1) on a 
regular basis, monitor autism spectrum disorder research, and to the 
extent practicable, services and support activities, across all 
relevant Federal departments and agencies, including coordination of 
Federal activities with respect to autism spectrum disorder; (2) 
summarize advances in autism spectrum disorder research related to 
causes, prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or ruling out 
a diagnosis; interventions, including school and community-based 
interventions, and access to services and supports for individuals with 
autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan of such individuals; (3) 
make recommendations to the Secretary regarding any appropriate changes 
to such activities, including with respect to the strategic plan; (4) 
make recommendations to the Secretary regarding public participation in 
decisions relating to autism spectrum disorder, and the process by 
which public feedback can be better integrated into such decisions; (5) 
develop a strategic plan for the conduct of, and support for, autism 
spectrum disorder research, which shall include (A) proposed budgetary 
requirements; and (B) recommendations to ensure that autism spectrum 
disorder research, and services and support activities to the extent 
practicable, of the Department of Health and Human Services and of 
other Federal departments and agencies are not unnecessarily 
duplicative; and (6) submit to Congress and the President: (A) an 
annual update on the summary of advances; and (B) a biennial update to 
the strategic plan, including progress made in achieving the goals 
outlined in such strategic plan and any specific measures taken 
pursuant to such strategic plan.

Committee Composition

    In accordance with the Committee's authorizing statute, ``Not more 
than \1/2\, but not fewer than \1/3\, of the total membership of the 
Committee shall be composed of non-Federal public members appointed by 
the Secretary.''
    All non-Federal public members are appointed as Special Government 
Employees for their service on the IACC, of which:
    <bullet> At least three such members shall be individuals with a 
diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder; and
    <bullet> At least three such members shall be parents or legal 
guardians of an individual with an autism spectrum disorder; and
    <bullet> At least three such members shall be representatives of 
leading research, advocacy, and service organizations for individuals 
with autism spectrum disorder.
    The Department strives to ensure that the membership of HHS Federal 
advisory committees is balanced in terms of points of view represented 
and the committee's function. Every effort is made to ensure that a 
range of perspectives and expertise are represented on HHS Federal 
advisory committees and, therefore, the Department encourages 
nominations of qualified candidates, including individuals with 
disabilities, from across the United States and its territories. 
Appointment to this Committee shall be made free from all forms of 
discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, 
age, disability, or sex.

Member Terms

    Non-Federal public members of the Committee ``shall serve for a 
term of 4 years and may be reappointed for one additional 4-year term. 
Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be 
appointed for the remainder of such term. A member [with a valid 
appointment] may serve after the expiration of the member's term until 
a successor has been appointed.''

Meetings and Travel

    ``The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon 
the request of the Secretary. The Committee shall meet not fewer than 2 
times each year.'' In the years 2021-2024, the IACC typically held 3-4 
meetings per year, including full committee, subcommittee, working and 
planning group meetings, and workshops. Meetings were held as either 
hybrid meetings with both in-person and videoconference accessibility, 
or as

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videoconference only. Travel expenses are provided for non-federal 
public Committee members to facilitate in-person attendance at hybrid 
meetings. Members are expected to be committed to making every effort 
to attend, either in-person or by video conference, all IACC full 
committee meetings and workshops and relevant subcommittee, working and 
planning group meetings. Accessible meeting design is employed, and 
reasonable accommodations are provided to facilitate full participation 
of individuals with disabilities.

Submission Instructions and Deadline

    Nominations should include a cover letter of no longer than 3 pages 
describing the candidate's interest in seeking appointment to the IACC, 
including relevant personal/lived, professional, and/or community 
service experience with autism; indication of any membership 
eligibility requirements met; disability accommodation requests; and an 
indication of commitment to attend IACC meetings if selected; as well 
as full contact information and a current resume or curriculum vitae. 
Up to 2 letters of support are permitted in addition to the nomination, 
with a page limit of 3 pages per letter. Please do not include other 
materials unless requested.
    Nominations are due by Monday, November 10, 2025. Nominations may 
be sent to Dr. Susan Daniels, Director, Office of National Autism 
Coordination/NIMH/NIH, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6119, Bethesda, 
Maryland 20892 by standard or express mail, or via email to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bff6fefcfcefcaddd3d6dcf6d1cecad6cdd6daccffd2ded6d391d1d6d791d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdf4fcfefeedc8dfd1d4def4d3ccc8d4cfd4d8cefdd0dcd4d193d3d4d593dad2cb">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include full contact 
information (address, phone number, and email). Electronic confirmation 
of receipt will be provided. More information about the IACC is 
available at <a href="https://iacc.hhs.gov/">https://iacc.hhs.gov/</a>.

Susan A. Daniels,
Director, Office of National Autism Coordination, National Institute of 
Mental Health, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2025-18500 Filed 9-23-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P


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