Make your voice heard! Last chance to give comments to TBDWG
The Tick-Borne Disease Working Group will come to a close this December, after submitting its 2022 Report to Congress.
If YOU want to give your opinion about how the federal government should address Lyme disease and other tick-related conditions, the time is now.
The panel’s next meeting will be held online Oct. 4-5. Ten people will be selected to give verbal comments during the October 4 meeting. Requests to speak must be submitted by September 26.
Anyone can submit written comments, which will be posted to the website and become part of the official record. Those comments must also be received by Sept. 26.
The following instructions are from the Department of Health and Human Services website:
Public Comment – Information and Instructions
The public will have an opportunity to present their views to the Working Group by sharing their views through verbal public comment or written public comment. Comments should be pertinent to the meeting discussion.
Verbal Public Comment
Verbal remarks will be provided by the public through Zoom during the live webcast and become part of the archived recording and meeting summary posted on this website.
- Date and time: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 (Exact time forthcoming)
To sign-up for verbal public comment:
- Submit an email to tickbornedisease@hhs.gov
- Use the email subject line: Verbal Public Comment – October 4-5, 2022
- Deadline: All sign-up requests must be received by 11:59 p.m., ET, Monday, September 26
Next steps: If more requests to provide verbal public comment are received than can be accommodated during this meeting, preference will be given to those who have not addressed the committee in the 2021-2022 TBDWG cycle. The remaining speakers will be randomly selected. You will receive notification on the status of your request on Tuesday, September 27.
Written Public Comment
Written public comments are shared with Working Group members and posted on this webpage and made accessible to the public in advance of the meeting.
To submit a written public comment:
- Submit an email to tickbornedisease@hhs.gov
- Use the email subject line: Written Public Comment – October 4-5, 2022 Meeting
- Provide your preferred identification: Tell us how you prefer to be identified with your comment. We cannot post your comment without this information. For example, you may choose to:
- Use your name
- Be listed as anonymous
- Include your city and/or state
- Provide comments on behalf of an organization (please include the organization’s full name)
- Deadline: All sign-up requests must be received by 11:59 p.m., ET, Monday, September 26.
Writing your public comment:
- Format: Comments must be in the body of your email or in an attached Word document
- Page Limit: Comments must not exceed four (4) pages in Calibri or Times New Roman, 11 point font (text that exceeds four pages will be deleted).
- Graphics: Do not include graphics, images, text boxes, or tables. If included, they will not be retained.
- Links: Hyperlinks will only be added for “.gov” sites (local, state, or federal). For all other reference sites, please insert the full URL (e.g., http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics).
- Attachments: Do not include any attachments. We are also unable to include attachments as supporting documentation to written comments.
Next steps: Your written comment will be posted to this website before the meeting. If you have any questions or concerns about submitting your comment, contact us at tickbornedisease@hhs.gov.
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