[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22015-22016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07628]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Establishment of Department of Defense Federal Advisory 
Committees--Armed Forces Retirement Home Advisory Council

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Establishment of Federal advisory committee.

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SUMMARY: The DoD gives notice that it is establishing the Armed Forces 
Retirement Home Advisory Council (AFRHAC) as a non-discretionary 
Federal advisory committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, DoD Advisory Committee 
Management Officer, 703-697-1411.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DoD gives notice that it is establishing 
the AFRHAC as a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee in 
accordance with chapter 10 of title 5 United States Code (U.S.C.) 
(formerly the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C., App.)). 
The AFRHAC, required by 24 U.S.C. 416, provides guidance and 
recommendations on the administration of the Armed Forces Retirement 
Home (AFRH) and the quality of care provided to residents of the AFRH. 
Pursuant to 24 U.S.C. 411(b), the purpose of the AFRH is to provide, 
through the AFRH-Washington [Washington, DC] and AFRH-Gulfport 
[Gulfport, Mississippi], residences and related services for certain 
retired and former members of the Armed Forces.
    In carrying out its objectives and activities, the AFRHAC provides 
to the Secretary of Defense, the AFRH Chief Operating Officer, and the 
Administrator of each facility such guidance and recommendations on the 
administration of the facility and the quality of care provided to 
residents as the AFRHAC considers appropriate. In carrying outs its 
functions, the AFRHAC provides for participation in its activities by a 
representative of the Resident Advisory Committee of each facility of 
the AFRH; and may make recommendations to the DoD Inspector General 
regarding issues that the Inspector General should investigate. Not 
less often than annually, the AFRHAC shall submit to the Secretary of 
Defense a report summarizing its activities during the preceding year 
and providing such observations and recommendations with respect to the 
AFRH as the AFRHAC considers appropriate.
    In reviewing the mission/scope of the AFRHAC, the Secretary of 
Defense directed that the AFRHAC membership should include appropriate 
individuals from both the private and public sectors to promote 
diversity of background, experience, and thought in support of the 
AFRHAC mission. Based upon the Secretary's decision, the AFRHAC will be 
established in accordance with chapter 10 of title 5 U.S.C. and 41 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) 102-3.50(a). The charter and contact 
information for the AFRHAC's Designated Federal Officer (DFO) can be 
found at https://www.facadatabase.gov/FACA/apex/FACAPublicAgencyNavigation.
    Pursuant to 24 U.S.C. 416(c), the AFRHAC shall be composed of at 
least 15 members. Members of the AFRHAC shall be appointed by the 
Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense (``the DoD 
Appointing Authority''), or in the case of employees of other Federal 
departments or agencies, appointed in consultation with the DoD 
Appointing Authority by their respective departments and agencies. 
Membership shall consist of (1) one member who is an expert in nursing 
home or retirement home administration and financing; (2) one member 
who is an expert in gerontology; (3) one member who is an expert in 
financial management; (4) two representatives of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, one to be designated from each of the regional 
offices nearest in proximity to the facilities of the AFRH; (5) the 
chairpersons of the AFRH Resident Advisory Committees; (6) one enlisted 
representative of the Services' Retiree Advisory Council; (7) the 
senior noncommissioned officer of one of the Armed Forces; (8) two 
senior representatives of military medical treatment facilities, one to 
be designated from each of the military hospitals nearest in proximity 
to the facilities of the AFRH; (9) one senior judge advocate from one 
the Armed Forces; (10) one senior representative of one of the chief 
personnel officers of the Armed Forces; (11) such other members as the 
Secretary of Defense may designate; and (12) the Administrator of each 
facility of the AFRH, who shall be a nonvoting member of the AFRHAC.
    In accordance with 24 U.S.C. 416(d)(1) and DoD policy, members 
shall serve a two-year term of service, with annual renewal, and the 
DoD Appointing Authority may designate a member to serve one additional 
term of service. Pursuant to 24 U.S.C. 416(e), a vacancy in the AFRHAC 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original designation was 
made. An AFRHAC member designated to fill a vacancy occurring before 
the end of the term of the predecessor shall be designated for the 
remainder of the term of the predecessor.
    Pursuant to 24 U.S.C. 416(d)(2) through (4), a member of the AFRHAC 
member, unless earlier terminated by the DoD Appointing Authority, may 
continue to serve as a member of the AFRHAC after the expiration of the 
member's term until a successor is designated; the DoD Appointing 
Authority may terminate the term of service of a member of the AFRHAC 
before the expiration of the member's term; and a member of the AFRHAC 
serves as a member of the AFRHAC only for as long as the member is 
assigned to or serving in a position for which the duties include the 
duty to serve as a member of the AFRHAC.
    The DoD Appointing Authority shall appoint the AFRHAC's Chair from 
among the membership previously approved, in accordance with DoD policy 
and procedures, for a term of service of one-to-two years, with annual 
renewal, which shall not exceed the member's approved AFRHAC 
appointment. Pursuant to 24 U.S.C. 416(c)(5), the AFRHAC's Chair shall 
conduct the meetings of the AFRHAC.
    AFRHAC members who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal 
civilian officers or employees, or active-duty members of the Uniformed 
Services, are appointed as experts or consultants, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
3109, to serve as special government employee members. AFRHAC members 
who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or 
employees, or active-duty members of the Uniformed Services, are 
designated pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a) to serve as regular 
government employee members.
    All AFRHAC members are appointed to exercise their own best 
judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a 
manner that is

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free from conflict of interest. While away from home or regular place 
of business in the performance of services for the AFRHAC, each member 
shall be allowed reimbursement for official AFRHAC-related travel and 
per diem. Pursuant to 24 U.S.C. 416(f)(1)(A) and (2), the DoD 
Appointing Authority may provide a stipend consistent with the daily 
government consultant fee for each day on which an AFRHAC member is 
engaged in the performance of services for the AFRHAC unless the member 
is a full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officer or 
employee, or active-duty member of the Uniformed Services.
    The public or interested organizations may submit written 
statements about the AFRHAC's mission and functions. Written statements 
may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of 
planned meeting of the AFRHAC. All written statements shall be 
submitted to the DFO for the AFRHAC, who will ensure that the written 
statements are provided to the membership for their consideration.

    Dated: April 6, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2023-07628 Filed 4-11-23; 8:45 am]
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