[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 86 (Thursday, May 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24440-24441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09540]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Sexual 
Assault/Sexual Harassment Working Group

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking nominations 
of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as members of 
the VA Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response Working 
Group.

DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be received by 
June 7, 2021, no later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Packages 
received after this time will not be considered for the current 
membership cycle.

ADDRESSES: All nomination packages should be emailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret B. Kabat, LCSW-C, CCM, Senior 
Advisor for Families, Caregivers and Survivors, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420; 
[email protected]; 202-577-4331. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In carrying out the duties set forth, the 
Working Group responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
     Development of an action plan for addressing changes at 
all levels of VA to reduce instances of harassment and sexual assault;
     Development of standardized media for VA, Veterans Service 
Organizations and other stakeholders to use in print and on the 
internet to reduce sexual harassment and sexual assault; and
     Development of bystander intervention training for 
Veterans.
    Authority: The Working Group was established pursuant to the Johnny 
Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D., Veterans Health Care and Benefits 
Improvement Act of 2020, Title V, Deborah Sampson, Subtitle III, 
Eliminating Harassment and Assault, Section 5303, Anti-harassment and 
anti-sexual assault policy of Department of Veterans Affairs, to advise 
the Secretary on specific VA policies to eliminate harassment and 
assault in VA facilities. By statute, this Working Group is not 
considered a Federal Advisory Committee and therefore is not subject to 
the rules under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
    Membership Criteria: The Working Group is requesting nominations 
for specific membership. As required by statute, the members of the 
Committee are appointed by the Secretary, from the general public, 
including:
     Veterans Service Organizations; and
     State, local and Tribal Veterans agencies.
    To the extent possible, the Secretary seeks members who have 
diverse

[[Page 24441]]

professional and personal qualifications who are motivated to advance 
VA's leadership on issues of sexual harassment and assault prevention 
and survivor care and support. We ask that nominations include 
information of this type so that VA can ensure a balanced Committee 
membership. Individuals appointed to the Working Group by the Secretary 
shall be invited to serve a 1-year term. The Secretary may reappoint a 
member for an additional term of service. Committee members will not be 
compensated for their time or expenses incurred. Self-nominations are 
acceptable. Any letters of nomination from organizations or other 
individuals should accompany the package when it is submitted. Members 
of the public are also eligible for nomination, including Veterans' 
families, caregivers and survivors.

Requirements for Nomination Submission

    Nominations should be typed (one nomination per nominator). 
Nomination packages should include:
    (1) A letter of nomination (maximum of 2 pages) 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, as listed above) and a statement from the nominee 
indicating that he or she is willing to serve as a member of the 
Working Group;
    (2) the nominee's contact information, including name, mailing 
address, telephone number and email address;
    (3) the nominee's curriculum vitae;
    (4) letter(s) of recommendation (optional); and
    (5) a statement confirming that he or she is not a federally-
registered lobbyist.
    The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of 
Working Groups is balanced in terms of points of view represented and 
the committee's function. Appointments to this Working Group shall be 
made without discrimination based on a person's race, color, religion, 
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, 
disability or genetic information. Nominations must state that the 
nominee appears to have no conflict of interest that would preclude 
membership.

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on April 30, 2021, and authorized the undersigned to sign and 
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for 
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.

Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-09540 Filed 5-5-21; 8:45 am]
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