§300hh–10c National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters

Summary

The Secretary, working with the Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs Secretaries, must create the National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters. The committee must give advice on programs under section 300hh–16, look at seniors’ medical and public health needs for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from all-hazard emergencies, and advise on State emergency preparedness and related drills under section 300hh–1(b). It may also advise about grants and cooperative agreements tied to preparedness and response. The Secretary must appoint no more than 17 members, and the total number must be odd. The group includes certain Federal health and emergency leaders (such as heads of BARDA, CDC, FDA, NIH, CMS, ACL, FEMA, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the VA Under Secretary for Health), at least 2 non‑Federal geriatric health professionals, at least 2 State/local/Tribal/territorial representatives, and other agencies as needed. The committee must meet at least twice a year, with at least one in-person meeting each year, must coordinate as required under section 300hh–10e, will end on December 31, 2026, and the Secretary had to tell Congress by October 1, 2022 whether to extend it.