[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78096-78097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25020]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory 
Committee on Former Prisoners of War

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 (Committee) on Former Prisoners of War (FPOW).

DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. EST on December 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be mailed to Outreach, Transition and 
Economic Development (OTED), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 1800 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20006 or 
emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82e8f7eeebe3ecacf5f0ebe5eaf6b0c2f4e3ace5edf4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6a001f06030b04441d18030d021e582a1c0b440d051c">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julian Wright, Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO), OTED, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1800 G St. NW, 
Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 302-8629.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In carrying out the duties set forth, the 
activities of the Committee include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Advising the Secretary on how VA can assist and represent 
FPOWs', including recommendations regarding expanding services and 
benefits to FPOWs' and related policy. Administrative, legislative and/
or regulatory actions;
    (2) Advising the Secretary on incorporating lessons learned from 
current, and previous, successful family research and outreach efforts 
that measure the impact of provided care and benefits services on 
FPOWs;
    (3) Advising the Secretary on collaborating with family support 
programs within VA and engaging with other VA and non-VA advisory 
committees focused on specific demographics of FPOWs;
    (4) Advising the Secretary on working with interagency, 
intergovernmental, private/non-profit, community, and Veteran service 
organizations to identify and address gaps in services for FPOWs;
    (5) Providing such reports as the Committee deems necessary, but 
not less than one report per year, to the Secretary, through the DFO/
VBA to describe the Committee's activities, deliberations, and 
findings, which may include but are not limited to: (1) identification 
of current challenges and recommendations for remediation related to 
access to care and benefits services of FPOWs; and (2) identification 
of current best practices in care and benefits delivery to FPOWs, and 
the impact of such best practices.
    Authority: The Committee is authorized by statute and operates 
under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The 
Committee advises the Secretary on the following:
    (1) The administration of benefits for Veterans who are FPOW, in 
the areas of service-connected compensation, dependency and indemnity 
compensation, health care, and rehabilitation.
    (2) The use of VA care and benefits services by FPOWs, and possible 
adjustments to such care and benefits services.

[[Page 78097]]

    (3) Factors that influence access to, quality of, and 
accountability for services and benefits for FPOWs.
    Membership Criteria and Qualifications:
    VA is seeking nominations for Committee membership. The Committee 
is composed of up to 12 members and several ex-officio members.
    The members of the Committee are appointed by the Secretary of 
Veteran Affairs from the general public, from various sectors and 
organizations, including but not limited to:
    (1) Veterans who are FPOWs;
    (2) Appropriate representatives of Veterans who are former 
prisoners of war;
    (3) Individuals who are recognized authorities in fields of 
pertinent to disabilities prevalent among former prisoners of war, 
including authorities in epidemiology, mental health, nutrition, 
geriatrics and internal medicine; and
    (4) Appropriate representatives of disabled Veterans.
    In accordance with the Committee Charter, the Secretary shall 
determine the number, terms of service, and pay and allowances of 
Committee members. The term of service for any member may not exceed 
three years. The Secretary may reappoint any Committee member for 
additional terms of service.
    To the extent possible, the Secretary seeks members who have 
diverse professional and personal qualifications including but not 
limited to subject matter experts in the areas described above. We ask 
that nominations include any relevant experience information so that VA 
can ensure diverse Committee membership.
    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 the 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 resume or curriculum vitae; and
    (4) A summary of the nominee's experience and qualifications 
relative to the membership considerations described above.
    Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee shall be 
invited to serve a two-year term. Committee members will receive a 
stipend for attending Committee meetings, including per diem and 
reimbursement for eligible travel expenses incurred.
    The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of 
VA Federal advisory committees are diverse in terms of points of view 
represented and the committee's capabilities. Appointments to this 
Committee shall be made without discrimination because of a person's 
race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, 
national origin, age, disability or genetic information. 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.

    Dated: November 8, 2023.
Jelessa M. Burney,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-25020 Filed 11-13-23; 8:45 am]
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