Meet the Committee
National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters
The National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and guidance to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and to the HHS Secretary. The Committee provides expert advice and guidance to enhance all-hazards public health and medical preparedness, response, and recovery aimed at meeting the unique needs of older adults.
The Committee has at least 7 voting members with a broad range of expertise in science, medicine and public health including geriatric emergency medicine, treatment for impacts from chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents including emerging infectious diseases; disaster planning, preparedness, response and recovery; mental health-and care facilities, older adults with special health care needs.
NACSC Committee Member Requirements
The NACSD consists of at least
seven non-federal voting members, including a Chairperson, including:
- At least two non-federal health care professionals with expertise in geriatric medical disaster planning, preparedness, response, or recovery; and
- At least two representatives from State, local, Tribal, or territorial agencies with expertise in geriatric disaster planning, preparedness, response, or recovery.
A voting member of the NACSD serves for a term of three years, except that the Secretary may adjust the terms of appointees who are initially appointed after the date of enacted of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 (June 24, 2019) in order to provide for a staggered term of appointment for all members.
A voting member may serve not more than three terms on the NACSD, and not more than two terms consecutively. Voting members may not be full-time or permanent part-time federal employees but will be appointed by the Secretary as Special Government Employees (5 U.S.C. § 3109). A member may serve after the expiration of his/her term until a successor has been appointed. Vacancies will be filled as members rotate out or resign using the same procedures as the initial selection process.
A quorum for the NACSD shall consist of a majority of the appointed voting members. Of the voting members, any who are disqualified from participating in an action on a particular issue shall not count toward the quorum.
The NACSD has up to 10 federal, non-voting members (ex officio), including the following officials or their designees:
- The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response;
- The Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority;
- The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
- The Commissioner of Food and Drugs;
- The Director of the National Institutes of Health;
- The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
- The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living;
- The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
- The Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
- Representatives of such other Federal agencies (such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security) as the Secretary determines necessary to fulfill the duties of the Advisory Committee.
A quorum for the NACSD consists of a majority of the appointed voting members. Of the voting members, any who are disqualified from participating in an action on an issue will not count toward the quorum.
The Secretary may establish subcommittees and working groups to assist the NACSD explore topics within its purview. Subcommittees and working groups report directly to the NACSD and their findings and recommendations must be deliberated by the NACSD in a public meeting unless otherwise exempted. Subcommittees and working groups do not report directly to the HHS Secretary or the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
Subcommittee membership may be drawn in whole or in part from the NACSD, but must include at least one of the designated voting members. The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified upon establishment of each subcommittee and will be provided information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meeting.