National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Draft 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, 60370-60371 [2016-20905]

Download as PDF 60370 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 170 / Thursday, September 1, 2016 / Notices facsimile to (301) 443–6622, send via facsimile to (301) 443–6048, or send your email requests, and return address to: Robert.Pittman@ihs.gov. Direct Your Comments to OMB: Send your comments and suggestions regarding the proposed information collection contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time to: Office of Management and Budget, Office of Regulatory Affairs, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for IHS. Comment Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having full effect if received within 30 days of the date of this publication. Dated: August 24, 2016. Elizabeth A. Fowler, Deputy Director for Management Operations, Indian Health Service. [FR Doc. 2016–21048 Filed 8–31–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165–16–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Draft 2017–2021 Strategic Plan National Institutes of Health. Request for comment. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH) is requesting public comment on the draft 2017–2021 NIDCD Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan serves as a guide to the NIDCD in prioritizing its research investment, illustrates the current state-of-the-science, and highlights recent advances in the communication sciences. The draft Plan presents a series of goals and objectives that represent the most promising research needs within the NIDCD’s mission areas. DATES: Comments will be accepted through September 30, 2016. ADDRESSES: The draft Plan is available for download at: https:// www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/strategicplan/2017-2021/public-comment. Comments must be submitted electronically via the web-based form at: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/ strategic-plan/2017-2021/publiccomment. The web-based form accepts text but cannot accept attachments. You will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response, asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Aug 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 but will not receive individualized feedback from NIDCD on any comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Specific questions regarding the NIDCD draft Strategic Plan should be directed to: NIDCDStrategicPlan@mail.nih.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NIDCD mission is to conduct and support biomedical research, behavioral research, and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. The institute also conducts and supports research and research training related to disease prevention and health promotion; addresses special biomedical and behavioral problems associated with people who have communication impairments or disorders; and supports efforts to create devices that substitute for lost and impaired sensory and communication function. To accomplish these goals, the NIDCD manages a broad portfolio of both basic and clinical research. The portfolio is organized into three program areas: Hearing and balance; taste and smell; and voice, speech, and language. The three program areas seek to answer fundamental scientific questions about normal function and disorders and to identify patient-oriented scientific discoveries for preventing, screening, diagnosing, and treating disorders of human communication. The draft 2017–2021 NIDCD Strategic Plan has been developed over the past 12 months by NIDCD staff in consultation with scientific experts and the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council. (Details of the development process are included in Appendix B of the draft Plan.) The goals listed in the draft Plan are an assessment of research areas that present the greatest scientific opportunities and public health needs over the next five years for the three program areas: Hearing and balance; taste and smell; and voice, speech and language. The NIDCD has identified four Priority Areas that have the potential to increase our understanding of the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language and to further our knowledge in human communication sciences. They are: • Priority Area 1—Understanding Normal Function: Deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying normal function of the systems of human communication. By defining what is normal in both animal models and humans, we can better understand mechanisms of disease. PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Priority Area 2—Understanding Diseases and Disorders: Increase our knowledge of the mechanisms of diseases, disorders, and dysfunctions that impair human communication and health. Understanding mechanisms that underlie diseases and disorders is an important step in developing better prevention and treatment strategies. • Priority Area 3—Improving Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention: Develop, test, and improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, disorders, and dysfunctions of human communication and health. Diagnosis considers normal function and provides targets for prevention and treatment. Improvements in prevention and treatment lead to better outcomes with fewer side effects. • Priority Area 4—Improving Outcomes for Human Communication: Accelerate the translation of research discoveries into practice; increase access to health care; and enhance the delivery, quality, and effectiveness of care to improve personal and public health. Scientifically-validated prevention and treatment models will lead to better personal and public health only if they are translated effectively into routine practice. The goals presented in the Plan are a guide for: • Scientists: To better understand the directions that NIDCD research may take in the future; • The NIDCD: To assist in developing funding opportunity announcements and to identify projects for high program priority nomination; and • The Public: To understand the state of communication sciences and to discover the scientific breakthroughs that are possible with sustained investments in biomedical research. Responses to this request for comments are voluntary. Any personal identifiers (e.g., names, addresses, email addresses, etc.) will be removed when responses are compiled. Only the deidentified comments will be made publicly available. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any nonproprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). This request for comment is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, or the NIH. The NIH does not intend to award a grant or contract to pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the NIH’s use of such information. No basis for claims against E:\FR\FM\01SEN1.SGM 01SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 170 / Thursday, September 1, 2016 / Notices the NIH shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or the NIH’s use of such information as part of the NIDCD Strategic Plan. The NIDCD anticipates that the finalized plan will be published on the NIDCD Web site in January 2017. Dated: August 24, 2016. James F. Battey, Jr., Director, NIDCD, National Institutes of Health. [FR Doc. 2016–20905 Filed 8–31–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Office of the Secretary [Docket No. DHS–2016–0063] Privacy Act of 1974; Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP)–022 Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) System of Records Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: Notice of Privacy Act System of Records. AGENCY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to establish a new DHS system of records titled, ‘‘Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Customs and Border Protection—DHS/CBP–022 Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) System of Records.’’ At the same time, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(j) and (k), DHS proposes to claim certain exemptions for this system. At the same time, in accordance with Privacy Act of 1974, DHS proposes to claim certain exemptions for this system. This system of records will allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect and maintain records on nonimmigrant aliens who hold a passport that was issued by an identified country approved for inclusion in the EVUS program and have been issued a U.S. nonimmigrant visa of a designated category seeking to travel to the United States. The system of records will also cover records of other persons, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, whose name is provided to DHS as part of a nonimmigrant alien’s EVUS enrollment. Requiring aliens holding passports of identified countries containing U.S. nonimmigrant visas of a designated category with multiple year validity will allow DHS/CBP to collect updated asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Aug 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 information. The system is used to ensure a visa holder’s information remains current. The information is also used to separately determine whether any admissibility issues may need to be addressed outside the EVUS enrollment process by vetting the information against selected security and law enforcement databases at DHS, including the use of CBP’s TECS (not an acronym) (DHS/CBP–011 U.S. Customs and Border Protection TECS, December 19, 2008, 73 FR 77778) and the Automated Targeting System (ATS) (DHS/CBP–006 Automated Targeting System, May 22, 2012, 77 FR 30297). In addition, ATS retains a copy of EVUS enrollment data to identify EVUS enrollees who may pose a security risk to the United States. The ATS maintains copies of key elements of certain databases in order to minimize the impact of processing searches on the operational systems and to act as a backup for certain operational systems. DHS may also vet EVUS enrollment information against security and law enforcement databases at other Federal agencies to enhance DHS’s ability to determine whether the enrollee poses a security risk to the United States or, although addressed through a separate process, is admissible to the United States. The results of this vetting may inform DHS’s assessment of whether the enrollee’s travel poses a law enforcement or security risk and whether the proposed travel should be permitted. This newly established system will be included in the Department of Homeland Security’s inventory of record systems. DATES: This system will be effective October 3, 2016. Comments must be received on or before October 3, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number DHS– 2016–0063 by one of the following methods: • Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 202–343–4010. • Mail: Jonathan R. Cantor, Acting Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528–0655. INSTRUCTIONS: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. DOCKET: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60371 received, please visit https:// www.regulations.gov. For general questions, please contact: Debra L. Danisek, (202) 344–1610, Acting CBP Privacy Officer, Privacy and Diversity Office, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20229. For privacy questions, please contact: Jonathan R. Cantor, (202) 343–1717, Acting Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: I. Background In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, DHS/CBP proposes to establish a new DHS/CBP system of records titled, ‘‘DHS/CBP–022 Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) System of Records.’’ DHS has developed a fully automated electronic system that enables DHS to collect biographic and other information from certain nonimmigrant aliens on a periodic basis as determined by the Secretary. Specifically, EVUS enables DHS to obtain information from individuals who hold U.S. nonimmigrant visas of a designated category in a passport issued by an identified country. By requiring nonimmigrant aliens who hold a passport issued by an identified country containing a U.S. nonimmigrant visa of a designated category to enroll in EVUS, CBP will be able to collect periodic updates of biographical and other information over the length of the visa period that would otherwise not be obtained, which may assist in identifying persons who may pose a risk to the United States. The Electronic Visa Update System is a web-based system developed to collect updated information from visa holders subject to the EVUS program. The EVUS does not change the process for obtaining a visa. However, after issuance of a visa, nonimmigrant aliens subject to the EVUS requirements would need to successfully enroll in EVUS online every two years to ensure their visa remains valid for travel to the United States. The online enrollment will be designed as a user-friendly interface that would allow other persons to assist the traveler in completing the enrollment. Enrollees are able to submit and update biographic information and answer eligibility questions using the EVUS Web site. Successful EVUS enrollment is required for nonimmigrant aliens who hold a passport issued by an identified country containing a U.S. nonimmigrant visa of a designated category. In most cases, the enrollee will E:\FR\FM\01SEN1.SGM 01SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60370-60371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20905]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 
Draft 2017-2021 Strategic Plan

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health.

ACTION: Request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication 
Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH) is requesting 
public comment on the draft 2017-2021 NIDCD Strategic Plan. The 
Strategic Plan serves as a guide to the NIDCD in prioritizing its 
research investment, illustrates the current state-of-the-science, and 
highlights recent advances in the communication sciences. The draft 
Plan presents a series of goals and objectives that represent the most 
promising research needs within the NIDCD's mission areas.

DATES: Comments will be accepted through September 30, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The draft Plan is available for download at: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/strategic-plan/2017-2021/public-comment. 
Comments must be submitted electronically via the web-based form at: 
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/strategic-plan/2017-2021/public-comment. The web-based form accepts text but cannot accept attachments. 
You will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of 
your response, but will not receive individualized feedback from NIDCD 
on any comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Specific questions regarding the NIDCD 
draft Strategic Plan should be directed to: 
NIDCDStrategicPlan@mail.nih.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NIDCD mission is to conduct and support 
biomedical research, behavioral research, and research training in the 
normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, 
voice, speech, and language. The institute also conducts and supports 
research and research training related to disease prevention and health 
promotion; addresses special biomedical and behavioral problems 
associated with people who have communication impairments or disorders; 
and supports efforts to create devices that substitute for lost and 
impaired sensory and communication function. To accomplish these goals, 
the NIDCD manages a broad portfolio of both basic and clinical 
research. The portfolio is organized into three program areas: Hearing 
and balance; taste and smell; and voice, speech, and language. The 
three program areas seek to answer fundamental scientific questions 
about normal function and disorders and to identify patient-oriented 
scientific discoveries for preventing, screening, diagnosing, and 
treating disorders of human communication.
    The draft 2017-2021 NIDCD Strategic Plan has been developed over 
the past 12 months by NIDCD staff in consultation with scientific 
experts and the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 
Advisory Council. (Details of the development process are included in 
Appendix B of the draft Plan.) The goals listed in the draft Plan are 
an assessment of research areas that present the greatest scientific 
opportunities and public health needs over the next five years for the 
three program areas: Hearing and balance; taste and smell; and voice, 
speech and language.
    The NIDCD has identified four Priority Areas that have the 
potential to increase our understanding of the normal and disordered 
processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and 
language and to further our knowledge in human communication sciences. 
They are:
     Priority Area 1--Understanding Normal Function: Deepen our 
understanding of the mechanisms underlying normal function of the 
systems of human communication. By defining what is normal in both 
animal models and humans, we can better understand mechanisms of 
disease.
     Priority Area 2--Understanding Diseases and Disorders: 
Increase our knowledge of the mechanisms of diseases, disorders, and 
dysfunctions that impair human communication and health. Understanding 
mechanisms that underlie diseases and disorders is an important step in 
developing better prevention and treatment strategies.
     Priority Area 3--Improving Diagnosis, Treatment, and 
Prevention: Develop, test, and improve diagnosis, treatment, and 
prevention of diseases, disorders, and dysfunctions of human 
communication and health. Diagnosis considers normal function and 
provides targets for prevention and treatment. Improvements in 
prevention and treatment lead to better outcomes with fewer side 
effects.
     Priority Area 4--Improving Outcomes for Human 
Communication: Accelerate the translation of research discoveries into 
practice; increase access to health care; and enhance the delivery, 
quality, and effectiveness of care to improve personal and public 
health. Scientifically-validated prevention and treatment models will 
lead to better personal and public health only if they are translated 
effectively into routine practice.
    The goals presented in the Plan are a guide for:
     Scientists: To better understand the directions that NIDCD 
research may take in the future;
     The NIDCD: To assist in developing funding opportunity 
announcements and to identify projects for high program priority 
nomination; and
     The Public: To understand the state of communication 
sciences and to discover the scientific breakthroughs that are possible 
with sustained investments in biomedical research.
    Responses to this request for comments are voluntary. Any personal 
identifiers (e.g., names, addresses, email addresses, etc.) will be 
removed when responses are compiled. Only the de-identified comments 
will be made publicly available. Proprietary, classified, confidential, 
or sensitive information should not be included in your response. The 
Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical 
information in any resultant solicitation(s).
    This request for comment is for information and planning purposes 
only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation 
on the part of the Federal Government, or the NIH. The NIH does not 
intend to award a grant or contract to pay for the preparation of any 
information submitted or for the NIH's use of such information. No 
basis for claims against

[[Page 60371]]

the NIH shall arise as a result of a response to this request for 
information or the NIH's use of such information as part of the NIDCD 
Strategic Plan.
    The NIDCD anticipates that the finalized plan will be published on 
the NIDCD Web site in January 2017.

    Dated: August 24, 2016.
James F. Battey, Jr.,
Director, NIDCD, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2016-20905 Filed 8-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
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