[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 221 (Friday, November 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67489-67490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27086]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Establishment of Department of Defense Federal Advisory 
Committees

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice; Establishment of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of section 581 of Public Law 110-181, the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as 
amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as 
amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the Department of Defense gives notice 
that it is establishing the Department of Defense Military Family 
Readiness Council (hereafter referred to as the Council).
    The Council is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee 
established under the authority of section 581 of Public Law 110-181 
and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a) to: (a) Review and make recommendations to the 
Secretary of Defense regarding the policy and plans required under 10 
U.S.C. 1781b; (b) monitor requirements for the support of military 
family readiness by the

[[Page 67490]]

Department of Defense; and (c) evaluate and assess the effectiveness of 
the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department 
of Defense.
    The Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council is 
required by statute to submit an annual report to the Secretary of 
Defense and the congressional oversight committees on military family 
readiness. This report must be submitted no later than February 1st of 
each year.
    The Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council shall 
be composed of a chairperson and no more than eleven additional 
members. Pursuant to federal statute, the membership shall be:
    1. The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, who 
shall serve as the chair of the Council;
    2. One representative of each Military Service;
    3. Three individuals appoint by the Secretary of Defense from among 
representatives of military family organizations; and
    4. The senior enlisted advisors of each Military Service.
    With regard to the representatives from each Military Service, the 
Secretary of Defense has appointed the deputies of each Military 
Service to serve on the Council; their appointment will be based upon 
their ex-officio position in the Department of Defense. As for the 
representatives of the military family organizations, these individuals 
will be appointed as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 
U.S.C. 3109, and they will serve as special government employees. With 
the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, the special 
government employees shall serve without compensation.
    The Department of Defense intends to authorize the Department of 
Defense Military Family Readiness Council to establish and use 
subcommittees, and the Council, to include any subcommittees, will 
operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 
1972, the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as 
amended), and 41 CFR, Parts 102-3 through 102-3.185.
    Such subcommittees or workgroups shall not work independently of 
the chartered Council, and shall report all their recommendations and 
advice to the Council for full deliberation and discussion. 
Subcommittees or workgroups have no authority to make decisions on 
behalf of the chartered Council nor can they report directly to the 
Department of Defense or any federal officers or employees who are not 
Council Members.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Jim Freeman, Deputy Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-601-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council shall meet at the call of the 
Council's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the 
Council's chairperson. The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to DoD 
policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and 
shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and 
procedures. The Designated Federal Officer or duly appointed Alternate 
Designated Federal Officer shall attend all committee meetings and 
subcommittee meetings.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to the 
Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council membership 
about the Council's mission and functions. Written statements may be 
submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned 
meeting of the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness 
Council, and this individual will ensure that the written statements 
are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact 
information for the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness 
Council's Designated Federal Officer, once appointed, may be obtained 
from the GSA's FACA Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
    The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will 
announce planned meetings of the Department of Defense Military Family 
Readiness Council. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may 
provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements 
that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in 
question.

    Dated: November 6, 2008.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
 [FR Doc. E8-27086 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
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