Fauci Awards Package (Redacted) — page 19

NAM's Gustov Lienhard Award - this is the most challenging package. After receiving additional information from NAM (I personally made the request to Victor in November), the completed package was submitted to HHS OGC in December. They determined that you cannot receive the cash prize based on a broad reading of an applicable regulation. We propose to appeal that interpretation to the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE) but we have arrived at a strategy that we think maximizes our chance at succeeding. We think our argument is reasonable, but the USG OGE still may reject it if they take a more conservative approach. If they do, we have no other recourse. In addition, the USG OGE is neck deep in vetting appointments for the new administration and once it gets to USG OGE it may get hung up for some time. So to get "two turns at bat", we are first trying to convince the acting HHS OGC DAEO, Randy Hall, who serves as the HHS' subject matter expert and is the POC for the USG OGE, to agree to our interpretation. If he does it won't have to go to the USG OGE. If he doesn't, we can still appeal directly to the USG OGE as a final attempt. Now the bad news: Vanderbilt University's Nichols-Chancellor Medal and GA Institute of Technology's Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage - unfortunately, you will not be able to accept the cash prizes associated with either of these awards because both award sponsors (Vanderbilt and GA Tech) are NIAID grantees. We did consider asking for an exception for these awards; however, neither award appears to comport with the exception for awards which "confer an exceptionally high honor in the fields of medicine or scientific research." Vanderbilt's Nichols-Chancellor's Medal is awarded "to those persons who define the 21st century and exemplify the best qualities of the human spirit." Previous winners were Caroline Kennedy, Venus Williams, Amal Clooney and Ken Burns. GA Tech's Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage "shines a light on those around the world who bravely act to improve the human condition, often in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges." Previous winners were Hamilton E. Homes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Andrew Young and Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter As neither award focuses on achievements in medicine or scientific research we must unfortunately deny the request to accept these awards' cash prizes. As you know you can accept the honor of being these awards' 2021 recipients, and I understand that you are proceeding along those lines. Also, the award sponsors may donate the cash prizes in your honor to charities of their choosing. I understand GA Tech is proceeding with such a designation and we will inform Vanderbilt of that option. Holli plays the seminal role in assembling of the award packages, drafting follow-up correspondence with the award sponsors, and legal discussions with OGC. She will continue to monitor the developments with respect to each package and keep me informed of any change in status. Please let me know if you have any questions. Larry