President Clinton Signs Executive Order for Creation of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and Announces Twenty-Three Members of the Council

Page Two
January 3, 1996
o The President obviously seeks cross talk between in and out of
government folks, something to be commended.
o Bruce is very good about making it clear that he does not speak for
CDC nor represent it officially.
o The Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 and its subsequent
amendments under which the Council was created, as with dozens
of other such advisory bodies, does not preclude Federal employees
from serving in such capacity. Indeed, two other HIV/AIDS
Council members are Federal employees; one is a commissioned
officer in the Urited States Navy.
o Bruce holds no AIDS policy-making role at CDC, making it easier for
him to avoid conflicts of interest.
My letter is motivated by concern that Bruce might not be able to continue to serve on this
Presidential Advisory Council if some of the persons lobbying against vaccine trials and
increased prevention funding (redirecting treatment research dollars!) get their way. Bruce
has been such an effective prevention advocate that I am anticipating that there may be letters
to you giving the opposite viewpoint. rT any case, an excuse to complement Bruce on his
work is appreciated.
Dr. Satcher, I enjoyed meeting you for the first time. And Helene, I hope your holidays were
most enjoyable. Good luck in your search for a new Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS.
Let me know if I can be of assistance to you in your search.
Cordially,
Sten H. Vermund, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Div. of Geographic Medicine
School of Medicine
and
Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Epidemiology
School of Public Health

cc: Dr. Walter Orenstein, Dr. Stevenx Hadler, Robert Chen