7462 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 17 / Thursday, January 28, 2021 / Notices 

applicant’s continued eligibility to 

educational assistance administered by 

VA when a change of program or place 

of training occur. 

An agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to a collection of information 

unless it displays a currently valid OMB 

control number. The Federal Register 

Notice with a 60-day comment period 

soliciting comments on this collection 

of information was published at 85 FR 

221 on November 16, 2020, page 73134. 

Affected Public: Institutions of Higher 

Learning. 

Estimated Annual Burden: 57,009. 

Estimated Average Burden per 

Respondent: 20 minutes paper; 14 

minutes electronic. 

Frequency of Response: Once. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

184,895. 

By direction of the Secretary. 

Danny S. Green, 

VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, 

Performance and Risk, Department of 

Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2021–01842 Filed 1–27–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Research Advisory Committee on Gulf 

War Veterans’ Illnesses, Notice of 

Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under the Federal 

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

2, that the Research Advisory 

Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ 

Illnesses will meet by teleconference on 

March 10, 2021. The open session will 

convene at 11:00 a.m. (EST) and end at 

2:00 p.m. (EST). The open session will 

be available to the public by dialing the 

toll-free telephone number for audio 

(800) 767–1750; access code 56978# and 

connecting to Adobe Connect URL for 

visual: http://va-eercees.adobeconnect.com/racgwvimar2021/. 

The purpose of the Committee is to 

provide advice and make 

recommendations to the Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs on proposed research 

studies, research plans, and research 

strategies relating to the health 

consequences of military service in the 

Southwest Asia Theater of operations 

during the Gulf War in 1990–1991. 

The Committee will review VA 

program activities related to Gulf War 

Veterans’ illnesses and updates on 

relevant scientific research published 

since the last Committee meeting. This 

meeting will include presentations from 

the 2020 VA-DoD Gulf War Illness State 

of the Science Conference and 

recommend next steps. 

The meeting will include time 

reserved for public comments 30 

minutes before the meeting closes. 

Individuals who wish to address the 

Committee may submit a 1–2 page 

summary of their comments for 

inclusion in the official meeting record. 

Members of the public may submit 

written statements for the Committee’s 

review or seek additional information 

by contacting Dr. Karen Block, 

Designated Federal Officer, at (202) 

443–5600, or Karen.Block@va.gov. 

Dated: January 22, 2021. 

LaTonya L. Small, 

Federal Advisory Committee Management 

Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–01820 Filed 1–27–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Solicitation of Nomination for 

Appointment to the Veterans’ Advisory 

Committee on Rehabilitation 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits 

Administration (VBA), is seeking 

nominations of qualified candidates to 

be considered for appointment as 

members of the Veterans’ Advisory 

Committee on Rehabilitation 

(hereinafter referred to as ‘‘the 

Committee’’). 

DATES: Nominations for membership on 

the Committee must be received by 

February 8, 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 the Designated 

Federal Officer, Latrese Thompson at 

Latrese.Thompson@va.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

carrying out the duties set forth, the 

Committee responsibilities include, but 

are not limited to, submitting to the 

Secretary an annual report on the 

rehabilitation programs and activities of 

the VA. 

Membership Criteria: VBA is 

requesting nominations for upcoming 

vacancies on the Committee. Members 

of the Committee are appointed by the 

Secretary from the general public, 

including but not limited to: 

(1) Veterans with service-connected 

disabilities; 

(2) Persons who have distinguished 

themselves in the public and private 

sectors in the fields of rehabilitation 

medicine, vocational guidance, 

vocational rehabilitation, and 

employment and training programs 

(3) Ex officio members of the 

Committee shall include one 

representative from the Veterans Health 

Administration and one from the 

Veterans Benefits Administration; one 

representative each from the 

Rehabilitation Services Administration 

of the Department of Education, and the 

National Institute for Handicapped 

Research of the Department of 

Education; and one representative of the 

Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ 

Employment and Training of the 

Department of Labor. 

Authority: The Committee was 

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

to advise the Secretary of VA with 

respect to the administration of 

Veterans’ rehabilitation programs. 

Nominations of qualified candidates are 

being sought to fill upcoming vacancies 

on the Committee. 

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 

the Committee by the Secretary shall be 

invited to serve a three-year term. The 

Secretary may reappoint a member for 

an additional term of service. In 

accordance with Federal Travel 

Regulation, Committee members will 

receive travel expenses and a per diem 

allowance for any travel made in 

association with duties as members of 

the Committee and within federal travel 

guidelines. Self-nominations are 

acceptable. Any letters of nomination 

from organizations or other individuals 

should accompany the package when it 

is submitted. Non-Veterans are also 

eligible for nomination. 

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 that he/she is a U.S. 

citizen and is 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; 

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