[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 13985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6790]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War, Notice of Meeting

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under Public 
Law 92-463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) that a meeting of the 
Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War (FPOW) will be held on 
April 28-30, 2003, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central 
Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. On April 28, the 
meeting will be held in the Omar Bradley Conference Room and on April 
29 and 30, the Committee will meet in Room 230. Each day the meeting 
will convene at 9 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the 
public.
    The purpose of the committee is to advise the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs on the administration of benefits under title 38, United States 
Code, for veterans who are former prisoners of war, and to make 
recommendations on the needs of such veterans for compensation, health 
care and rehabilitation.
    The agenda for April 28 will begin with an introduction of 
Committee members, remarks from dignitaries, a review of Committee 
reports, an update of activities since the last meeting, and a period 
for FPOW veterans and/or the public to address the committee. The 
Committee will also discuss future plans for the VA FPOW Learning 
Seminars, and conclude with a report on the development of Special FPOW 
Care and Benefits Teams. The agenda on April 29 will include a review 
of VA's Compensation and Pension Service activities, including new 
outreach initiatives to FPOWs, initiatives to reduce the number of old 
pending disability claims, as well as a progress report from VA's FPOW 
Medical Presumptions Workgroup. The Committee will also hear 
presentations on the activities of the Veterans Health Administration, 
including a report on priority for FPOWs in Long-Term Health Care 
programs. The Committee will then hear a presentation from the Robert 
E. Mitchell Center for Prisoner of War Studies. The day will conclude 
with new business and general discussion. On April 30, the Committee's 
Medical and Administrative work groups will break out to discuss their 
activities and report back to the Committee. Additionally, the 
Committee will review and analyze the comments discussed throughout the 
meeting for the purpose of assisting and compiling a final report to be 
sent to the Secretary.
    Members of the public may direct questions or submit prepared 
statements for review by the Committee in advance of the meeting, in 
writing only, to Mr. Ronald J. Henke, Director, Compensation and 
Pension Service (21), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. Submitted materials must be received 
by April 18, 2003.

    Dated: March 14, 2003.

    By Direction of the Secretary.
E. Philip Riggin,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-6790 Filed 3-20-03; 8:45 am]
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