[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29329-29330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11103]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Advisory Committee Charter Renewals

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Advisory Committee Charter Renewals.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee ACT (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and after consultation with the 
General Services Administration, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has 
determined that the following Federal advisory committees are vital to 
the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and renewing 
their charters would be in the public interest. Consequently, the 
charters for the following Federal advisory committees are renewed for 
a two-year period, beginning on the dates listed below:

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            Committee name                           Committee description                  Charter renewed on
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Genomic Medicine Program Advisory      Provides advice on the scientific and ethical     March 28, 2016.
 Committee.                             issues related to the establishment,
                                        development, and operation of a genomic
                                        medicine program within VA.
VA National Academic Affiliations      Provides advice to the Secretary regarding        April 29, 2016.
 Council.                               partnerships between VA and its academic
                                        affiliates.
Veterans' Rural Health Advisory        Provides advice to the Secretary on health care   May 2, 2016.
 Committee.                             issues affecting enrolled Veterans residing in
                                        rural areas.
* Cooperative Studies Scientific       Provides advice on VA cooperative studies, multi- May 4, 2016.
 Evaluation Committee.                  site clinical research activities, and policies
                                        related to conducting and managing these
                                        efforts; ensures that new and ongoing projects
                                        maintain high quality, are based upon
                                        scientific merit, mission relevance, and are
                                        efficiently and economically conducted.

[[Page 29330]]

 
Health Services Research and           Provides advice on the fair and equitable         May 4, 2016.
 Development Service Scientific Merit   selection of the most meritorious research
 Review Board.                          projects for support by VA research funds and
                                        ensures the high quality and mission relevance
                                        of VA's legislatively mandated research and
                                        development program. Also advises on the
                                        adequacy of protection of human and animal
                                        subjects.
Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research   Provides advice on the scientific quality,        May 4, 2016.
 and Development and Clinical Science   budget, safety, and mission relevance of
 Research and Development Services      investigator-initiated research proposals
 Scientific Merit Review Board.         submitted for VA merit review consideration.
                                        The proposals may address research questions
                                        within the general areas of biomedical and
                                        behavioral research or clinical science
                                        research.
Rehabilitation Research and            Provides advice on the fair and equitable         May 4, 2016.
 Development Service Scientific Merit   selection of the most meritorious research
 Review Board.                          projects for support by VA research funds;
                                        provides advice for research programs officials
                                        on program priorities and policies; and ensures
                                        that the VA Rehabilitation Research and
                                        Development program promotes functional
                                        independence and improves the quality of life
                                        for impaired and disabled Veterans.
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* Note: The Cooperative Studies Scientific Evaluation Committee was formerly named Clinical Science Research and
  Development Service Cooperative Studies Scientific Evaluation Committee.

    The Secretary has also renewed the charters for the following 
statutorily authorized Federal advisory committees for a two-year 
period, beginning on the dates listed below:

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            Committee name                           Committee description                  Charter renewed on
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Advisory Committee on Minority         Authorized by 38 U.S.C. Sec.   544. Provides      March 7, 2016.
 Veterans.                              advice on the administration of VA benefits for
                                        Veterans who are minority group members in the
                                        areas of compensation, health care,
                                        rehabilitation, outreach, and other services.
Advisory Committee on the              Authorized by 38 U.S.C. Sec.   545. Provides      April 16, 2016.
 Readjustment of Veterans.              advice to the Secretary on policies,
                                        organizational structures, and the provision
                                        and coordination of services to address
                                        Veterans' post-war readjustment to civilian
                                        life, with particular emphasis on post-
                                        traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, other
                                        substance abuse, post-war employment, and
                                        family adjustment.
Special Medical Advisory Group.......  Authorized by 38 U.S.C. Sec.   7312. Provides     April 16, 2016.
                                        advice to the Secretary and the Under Secretary
                                        for Health on matters relating to the care and
                                        treatment of Veterans and other matters
                                        pertinent to the operations of the Veterans
                                        Health Administration, such as research,
                                        education, training of health manpower, and VA/
                                        DoD contingency planning.
Advisory Committee on Former           Authorized by 38 U.S.C. Sec.   541. Provides      April 18, 2016.
 Prisoners of War.                      advice to the Secretary on the administration
                                        of benefits for Veterans who are former
                                        prisoners of war, and to assess the needs of
                                        such Veterans in the areas of service-connected
                                        compensation, health care, and rehabilitation.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Moragne, Committee Management 
Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Advisory Committee Management 
Office (00AC), 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420; telephone 
(202) 266-4660; or email at [email protected]. To view a copy of a 
VA Federal advisory committee charter, visit http://www.va.gov/advisory.

    Dated: May 6, 2016.
Jelessa Burney,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-11103 Filed 5-10-16; 8:45 am]
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