[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 119 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40928-40929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13291]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Advisory Committee on U.S. Outlying Areas and Freely Associated 
States; Notice of Establishment

    As required by section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs hereby gives notice of the 
establishment of the Advisory Committee on U.S. Outlying Areas and 
Freely Associated States. The Advisory Committee on U.S. Outlying Areas 
and Freely Associated States (Committee) is a statutory committee 
established as required by subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 38, 
U.S.C., amended to include section 548. The Committee operates in 
accordance with provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended, 5 U.S.C. Ch. 10.
    The Committee provides advice and guidance to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs on all matters relating to covered Veterans residing 
in: American Samoa; Guam; Puerto Rico; The Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands; The Virgin Islands of the United States; The Federated 
States of Micronesia; The Republic of the Marshall Islands; and The 
Republic of Palau.
    The Committee shall be comprised of 15 voting Members selected by 
the Secretary from among individuals nominated as specified under the 
subsection below and shall be designated as Special Government 
Employees, Regular Government Employees or Representatives:
    A. Appointment Authority
    i. At least one member of the Committee represents the American 
Samoa; Guam; Puerto Rico; The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana

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Islands; The Virgin Islands of the United States; The Federated States 
of Micronesia; The Republic of the Marshall Islands; and The Republic 
of Palau.
    ii. The Secretary may consult with any Member of Congress who 
represents an area specified.
    iii. Not fewer than half of the members appointed are covered 
Veterans, unless the Secretary determines that an insufficient number 
of qualified covered Veterans are available.
    B. Terms/Vacancies: The Chair and Committee members shall be 
appointed for a term of two years; and may be reappointed to serve an 
additional 2-year term. Not later than 180 days after the Secretary (or 
in the case of Ex-officio member, the Secretary of State or the 
Secretary of the Interior, as the case may be) receives notice of a 
vacancy in the Committee, the vacancy shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment. Additionally, a member may be 
reappointed for one additional term at the Secretary's discretion.
    The Committee shall be comprised of such Ex-officio members as the 
Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint from 
among employees of the Department of State and the Department of the 
Interior.
    Any member of the public seeking additional information should 
contact Mr. Bernard Johnson, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration--
Outreach, Transition and Economic Development, via email at 
[email protected], or (404) 210-1680.

    Dated: June 16, 2023.
Jelessa M. Burney,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-13291 Filed 6-21-23; 8:45 am]
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