[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53428-53429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22954]


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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 Pub. L. 
92-463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act), that a meeting of the Advisory 
Committee on Former Prisoners of War (FPOW) will be held on October 20-
22, 2003, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles 
Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., West Los Angeles, CA 90073. 
The meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Auditorium, Bldg. 500, 
Room 1281, and is open to the public. Each day the meeting 
will convene at 9 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.
    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 on October 20 will begin with an introduction of 
Committee members, remarks from dignitaries, a

[[Page 53429]]

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 October 21 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 also 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 October 22, 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 October 13, 2003.

    Dated: September 3, 2003.

    By Direction of the Secretary.
E. Philip Riggin,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-22954 Filed 9-9-03; 8:45 am]
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