Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 17 / Thursday, January 28, 2021 / Notices 7463 

(4) a summary of the nominee’s 

experience and qualifications relative to 

the membership considerations 

described above; and 

(5) a statement confirming that he/she 

is not a federally-registered lobbyist. 

The Department makes every effort to 

ensure that the membership of VA 

Federal advisory committees is balanced 

in terms of points of view represented 

and the committee’s function. 

Appointments to this Committee 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. An ethics review 

is conducted for each selected nominee. 

Dated: January 22, 2021. 

LaTonya L. Small, 

Advisory Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–01818 Filed 1–27–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Health Services Research and 

Development Service Scientific Merit 

Review Board, Notice of Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 

2, that a meeting of the Health Services 

Research and Development Service 

Scientific Merit Review Board will be 

held March 11, 2021, via WebEx. The 

meeting will be held between noon and 

1:00 p.m. EST. The meeting will be 

partially closed to the public from 

12:15–1:00 p.m. EST for the discussion, 

examination and reference to the 

research applications and scientific 

review. Discussions will involve 

reference to staff and consultant 

critiques of research proposals. 

Discussions will deal with scientific 

merit of each proposal and 

qualifications of personnel conducting 

the studies, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy. 

Additionally, premature disclosure of 

research information could significantly 

obstruct implementation of proposed 

agency action regarding the research 

proposals. As provided by Public Law 

92–463 subsection 10(d), as amended by 

Public Law 94–409, closing the 

committee meeting is in accordance 

with 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(6) and (9)(B). 

The objective of the Board is to 

provide for the fair and equitable 

selection of the most meritorious 

research projects for support by VA 

research funds and to offer advice for 

research program officials on program 

priorities and policies. The ultimate 

objective of the Board is to ensure the 

high quality and mission relevance of 

VA’s legislatively mandated Health 

Services Research and Development 

program. 

Board members advise the Director, 

Health Services Research and 

Development Service and the Chief 

Research and Development Officer on 

the scientific and technical merit, the 

mission relevance and the protection of 

human subjects of Health Services 

Research and Development proposals. 

The Board does not consider grants, 

contracts or other forms of extramural 

research. 

Members of the public who wish to 

attend the open portion of the 

teleconference session from 12:00–12:15 

p.m. EST may join via WebEx at: 

https://veteransaffairs.webex.com/ 

veteransaffairs/j.php?MTID=

mb034716dbeb422f45

8d27b50411aabe7, Meeting Number 199 

716 2612; or by phone 1–404–397–1596 

USA Toll Number, Access Code 199 716 

2612. 

Written comments from the public 

must be sent to Liza Catucci, Designated 

Federal Officer, Health Services 

Research and Development Service, 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

(14RDH), 810 Vermont Avenue NW, 

Washington, DC 20420, or to 

Liza.Catucci@va.gov prior to the 

meeting. Those who plan to attend the 

open portion of the meeting must 

contact Ms. Catucci at least five days 

before the meeting. For further 

information, please call Ms. Catucci at 

202–443–5797. 

Dated: January 22, 2021. 

LaTonya L. Small, 

Federal Advisory Committee Management 

Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–01817 Filed 1–27–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Solicitation of Nomination for 

Appointment to the Veterans’ Rural 

Health Advisory Committee 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA), Veterans Health 

Administration (VHA), is seeking 

nominations of qualified candidates to 

be considered for appointment as 

members of the Veterans’ Rural Health 

Advisory Committee (VRHAC) 

(hereinafter referred to as ‘‘the 

VRHAC’’). 

DATES: Nominations for membership on 

the Committee must be received by 

February 19, 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 Ms. Judy Bowie, 

Committee Manager at judy.bowie@

va.gov and cc: Dr. Thomas Klobucar, 

Designated Federal Officer at 

Thomas.Klobucar@va.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

carrying out the duties set forth, the 

Committee responsibilities include, but 

are not limited to, 

• Providing a letter to the Secretary 

and Congress outlining 

recommendations to improve and 

enhance VA’s delivery of services to 

rural Veterans. 

• Meeting with VA officials, Veteran 

Service Organizations, and other 

stakeholders to assess the Department’s 

efforts in providing access to healthcare, 

outreach and education services offered 

to rural Veterans. 

• Making annual site visits and 

holding town hall meetings with 

Veterans to address their concerns. 

Management and support services for 

the Committee are provided by the 

Office of Rural Health (ORH). 

Authority: The Committee was 

established pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 3121, 

to advise the Secretary through the 

Under Secretary for Health on ways to 

improve and enhance access to VA 

healthcare services for enrolled Veterans 

residing in rural areas by reviewing 

current program activities and 

identifying barriers to accessing care 

and services. 

Membership Criteria: The VRHAC is 

requesting nominations for upcoming 

vacancies on the Committee. The 

committee is composed of 12 members, 

in addition to ex-officio members. As 

required by statute, the members of the 

Committee are appointed by the 

Secretary from the general public, 

including, but not limited to: 

• Representatives of Veterans Service 

Organizations. 

• Persons who have distinguished 

themselves in the public, academic 

affiliation, community healthcare 

organizations, and private sector. 

To the extent possible, the Secretary 

seeks members who have diverse 

professional and personal qualifications. 

We ask that nominations include 

information of this type so that VA can 

ensure a balanced Committee 

membership. Individuals appointed to