[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 111 (Friday, June 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31372-31373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12299]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Veterans' 
Family, Caregiver and Survivor Advisory Committee

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking nominations 
of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the 
Veterans' Family, Caregiver and Survivor Advisory Committee 
(hereinafter in this section referred to as ``the Committee'').

DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be received no 
later than 5:00 p.m. EST on June 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be emailed to the VA Advisory 
Committee Management Office mailbox at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Betty Moseley Brown, Designated 
Federal Officer, Veterans Experience Office, Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 240-291-4700 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Veterans' Family, Caregiver and Survivor 
Advisory Committee was established to advise the Secretary of VA on 
issues related to:
    (1) Veterans' families, caregivers and survivors across all 
generations, relationships and Veteran status;
    (2) The use of VA care, benefit and memorial services by Veterans' 
families, caregivers and survivors, and possible adjustments to such 
care, benefits and memorial services;
    (3) Veterans' family, caregiver and survivor experiences and VA 
policies, regulations and administrative requirements related to the 
transition of Service members from the Department of Defense (DoD) to 
enrollment in VA that impact Veterans' families, caregivers and 
survivors; and
    (4) Factors that influence access to, quality of and accountability 
for care, and benefits for Veterans' families, caregivers and 
survivors.
    Authority: The Committee was established by the directive of the 
Secretary of VA, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2. The 
Committee responsibilities include:
    (1) Advising the Secretary on how VA can assist and represent 
Veterans' families, caregivers and survivors, including recommendations 
regarding expanding services and benefits to Veterans' families, 
caregivers and survivors who are not currently served by VA, and 
related policy, administrative, legislative, and/or regulatory actions.
    (2) Advising the Secretary on incorporating lessons learned from 
current, and previous, successful family research and outreach efforts 
that measure the impact of provided care benefits and memorial services 
on Veterans' families, caregivers and/or survivors;
    (3) Advising the Secretary on collaborating with family support 
programs within VA and engaging with other VA and non-VA advisory 
committees focused on specific demographics of Veterans' families, 
caregivers and survivors;
    (4) Advising the Secretary on working with interagency, 
intergovernmental, private/non-profit, community and faith-based 
organizations to identify and address gaps in service;
    (5) Advising the Secretary on utilizing journey mapping or other 
means to depict the life experience cycle of families, caregivers and 
survivors of Veterans to create a more holistic understanding of 
important life cycle events and their impacts to ensure accountability;
    (6) Advising the Secretary on Veterans' family, caregiver and 
survivors' experiences and VA policies, regulations and administrative 
requirements related to the transition of Service members from DoD to 
enrollment in VA;
    (7) Advising the Secretary on integrating Veterans' families, 
caregivers and survivors into key VA initiatives such as access to 
care, suicide prevention and homelessness; and
    (8) Providing such reports as the Committee deems necessary, but 
not less than one report per year, to the Secretary, through the Chief 
Veterans Experience Officer, Veterans Experience Office to describe the 
Committee's activities, deliberations, and findings, which may include 
but are not limited

[[Page 31373]]

to: (1) Identification of current challenges and recommendations for 
remediation related to access of care and benefit services and of 
Veterans' families, caregivers, and survivors; and (2) identification 
of current best practices in care, benefit and memorial service 
delivery to Veterans' families, caregivers and survivors, and the 
impact on such best practices.
    Membership Criteria and Qualifications: VA is requesting 
nominations for Committee membership. The Committee is composed of up 
to 20 members and several ex-officio members. The members of the 
Committee are appointed by the Secretary of Veteran Affairs from the 
general public, from various sectors and organizations, including but 
not limited to:
    (1) Veteran's family members, caregivers and survivors;
    (2) Veteran-focused organizations;
    (3) Military history and academic communities;
    (4) National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs;
    (5) The Federal Executive Branch;
    (6) Research experts and service providers; and
    (7) Leaders of key stakeholder associations and organizations.
    In accordance with the Committee Charter, the Secretary shall 
determine the number (up to 20), terms of service, and pay and 
allowances of Committee members, except that a term of service of any 
such member may not exceed two years. The Secretary may reappoint any 
Committee member for additional terms of service.
    To the extent possible, the Secretary seeks members who have 
diverse professional and personal qualifications including but not 
limited to subject matter experts in the areas described above. We ask 
that nominations include any relevant experience information so that VA 
can ensure diverse Committee membership.
    Requirements for Nomination Submission:
    Nominations should be typed (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, not to exceed three pages and a 
one-page cover letter; and
    (4) A summary of the nominee's experience and qualifications 
relative to the membership consideration described above.
    Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee shall be 
invited to serve a two-year term. Committee members will receive per 
diem and reimbursement for eligible travel expenses incurred.
    The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of 
VA Federal advisory committees is diverse in terms of points of view 
represented and the committee's capabilities. Appointments to this 
Committee shall be made without discrimination because of a person's 
race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 
national origin, age, disability or genetic information. Nominations 
must state that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the 
Committee and appears to have no conflict of interest that would 
preclude membership. An ethics review is conducted for each selected 
nominee.

    Dated: June 8, 2021.
Jelessa M. Burney,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-12299 Filed 6-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P