[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 121 (Monday, June 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41468-41469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13422]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory 
Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking nominations 
of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the 
Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely 
Associated States (hereinafter referred to alternatively as FAS or 
``the Committee'').

DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be received no 
later than 5:00 p.m. EST on July 31, 2023.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be emailed to [email protected]. 
Please write Nomination for FAS Membership in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bernard Johnson, Outreach, 
Transition and Economic Development (OTED), VA, via email at 
[email protected] or telephone at (404) 210-1680. A copy of the 
Committee charter can be obtained by contacting Mr. Johnson or by 
accessing the website: https://www.va.gov/advisory.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee was established to provide 
advice to the Secretary of the Veterans Affairs (Secretary) on matters 
relating to covered Veterans. Covered Veteran is defined as a Veteran 
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 responsibilities are to:
    1. Advise the Secretary on matters relating to covered Veterans, 
including how the Secretary may improve the programs and services of 
the Department to better serve such Veterans.
    2. Identify for the Secretary evolving issues of relevance to 
covered Veterans.
    3. Propose clarifications, recommendations, and solutions to 
address issues raised by covered Veterans.

[[Page 41469]]

    4. Provide a forum for covered Veterans, Veterans Service 
Organizations (VSO) serving covered Veterans and the Department to 
discuss issues and proposals for changes to regulations, policies, and 
procedures of the Department.
    5. Identify priorities for and provide advice to the Secretary on 
appropriate strategies for consultation with VSOs serving covered 
Veterans.
    6. Encourage the Secretary to work with the heads of other Federal 
departments and agencies, and Congress, to ensure covered Veterans are 
provided the full benefits of their status as covered Veterans.
    7. Highlight contributions of covered Veterans in the Armed Forces.
    8. Conduct other duties as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    Authority: The Committee is authorized by statute, 38 U.S.C. 548 
Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely 
Associated States. The Committee operates under the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. ch. 10.
    Membership Criteria: VA is requesting nominations for upcoming 
vacancies on the Committee. The Committee shall be comprised of not 
more than 15 members. The Secretary will select the Committee Chair 
from among the Committee members. The Committee is required to appoint 
at least one member to represent covered Veterans as specified in and 
stipulated under Supplementary Information. Further, at all times, 
unless an insufficient number of qualified covered Veterans are 
available, not fewer than half of the members shall be covered 
Veterans. Each appointed member must reside in an area specified in and 
stipulated under Supplementary Information. Additionally, the Committee 
shall incorporate such ex-officio members as the Secretary of State and 
the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint from their Departments, 
respectively.
    Membership Terms: Individuals selected for appointment to the 
Committee shall be invited to serve a two-year term. At the Secretary's 
discretion, members may be reappointed to serve an additional term. All 
members will receive travel expenses and a per diem allowance in 
accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation for any travel made in 
connection with their duties as members of the Committee.
    Requirements for Nomination Submission: Nominations should be type 
written (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 five 
pages and (4) a summary of the nominee's experience and qualification 
relative to the membership criteria listed above. 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.
    The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of 
its Federal advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points 
of view represented and the Committee's function. Every effort is made 
to ensure that a broad representation of geographic areas, gender, 
racial and ethnic minority groups, and the disabled are given 
consideration for membership. Appointment to this Committee shall be 
made without discrimination because of a person's race, color, 
religion, sex (including gender identity, transgender status, sexual 
orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or 
genetic information.

    Dated: June 20, 2023.
Jelessa M. Burney,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-13422 Filed 6-23-23; 8:45 am]
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