[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45717-45718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18808]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Veterans Rural 
Health Advisory Committee

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Rural 
Health, is seeking nominations of qualified

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candidates to be considered for appointment to the Veterans Rural 
Health Advisory Committee (VRHAC). The Committee advises the Secretary 
on ways to improve and enhance access to VA healthcare services for 
enrolled Veterans residing in rural areas and the identification of 
barriers to providing services. The Committee makes recommendations to 
the Secretary regarding such activities. Nominations of qualified 
candidates are being sought to fill upcoming vacancies on the 
Committee.
    Authority: The Committee was established in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 2.

DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be received no 
later than 5:00 p.m. EST on December 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted to the VA Office of Rural 
Health by email at [email protected] or United States Postal Service to VA 
Office of Rural Health, 810 Vermont Ave., Mail Code 10P1R, Washington, 
DC 20420.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Elmer D. Clark, VA Office of Rural 
Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Mail Code 
10P1R, Washington, DC 20420, Telephone (202) 632-8578. A copy of the 
Committee charter and list of the current membership can be obtained by 
contacting Mr. Clark or by accessing the Web site: http://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/VRHAC/index.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee was established by direction 
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and operates under the provisions 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 2. The 
Committee consists of 12 appointed members and 4 appointed ex-officio 
members, appointed by the Secretary of VA. The Committee is tasked with 
examining ways to enhance health care services for Veterans in rural 
areas. The Committee works in collaboration with the VA Office of Rural 
Health (ORH) to discuss programs and policies that impact the provision 
of VA health care services to Veterans in rural areas. The Committee 
hosts a minimum of two committee meetings a year and provides a written 
summary of committee activities to the VA Secretary on an annual basis.
    Membership Criteria: Nominee must understand how policy affects 
rural Veterans, their families, and the rural communities where they 
live and be familiar with services, provisions, and benefits issues as 
they pertain to rural Veterans. The Committee currently meets in person 
twice a year and may meet at other times by teleconference as needed. 
Members serve an initial three-year term and the Secretary may 
reappoint members for additional terms of service. During the course of 
their terms, Committee members are expected to attend all meetings and 
to contribute their time and expertise to Committee projects. It is the 
potential candidate's responsibility to identify possible conflict(s) 
of interest that might affect their objectivity and recommendations 
submitted to the Secretary. If a potential conflict is identified, 
detailed information about the possible conflict such as employment, 
research grants and/or contracts must be provided to permit evaluation 
of possible conflicts of interest.
    Professional Qualifications: Nominee must have experience working 
on Veterans' policy issues at the local, state, and regional level and 
have a thorough understanding of how the rural national policy arena 
operates.
    Requirements for Nomination Submission: Nominations should be type 
written (one nomination per nominator). Nomination package should 
include: (1) A letter of nomination that clearly states the name and 
affiliation of the nominee, the basis for the nomination (i.e., 
specific attributes which qualify the nominee for service in this 
capacity), and a statement from the nominee indicating a willingness to 
serve as a member of the Committee; (2) the nominee's contact 
information, including name, mailing address, telephone numbers, and 
email address; (3) the nominee's curriculum vitae, and (4) a summary of 
the nominee's experience and qualification relative to the professional 
qualifications criteria listed above. Self-nominations are welcome. 
Third-party nominations must indicate that the nominee has been 
contacted and is willing to serve.
    Membership Terms: Individuals selected for appointment to the 
Committee shall be invited to serve a three-year term. Committee 
members will receive a stipend for attending Committee meetings, 
including per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses incurred.
    The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of 
its Federal advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points 
of view represented and the committee's function. Every effort is made 
to ensure that a broad representation of geographic areas, males and 
females, racial and ethnic minority groups, and the disabled are given 
consideration for membership. Appointment to this Committee shall be 
made without discrimination because of a person's race, color, 
religion, sex (including gender identity, transgender status, sexual 
orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or 
genetic information. An ethics review is conducted for each selected 
nominee.

    Dated: July 28, 2015.
Rebecca Schiller,
Committee Management Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-18808 Filed 7-30-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P