[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45717-45718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18808]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Veterans Rural
Health Advisory Committee
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Rural
Health, is seeking nominations of qualified
[[Page 45718]]
candidates to be considered for appointment to the Veterans Rural
Health Advisory Committee (VRHAC). The Committee advises the Secretary
on ways to improve and enhance access to VA healthcare services for
enrolled Veterans residing in rural areas and the identification of
barriers to providing services. The Committee makes recommendations to
the Secretary regarding such activities. Nominations of qualified
candidates are being sought to fill upcoming vacancies on the
Committee.
Authority: The Committee was established in accordance with 5
U.S.C. 2.
DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be received no
later than 5:00 p.m. EST on December 15, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted to the VA Office of Rural
Health by email at [email protected] or United States Postal Service to VA
Office of Rural Health, 810 Vermont Ave., Mail Code 10P1R, Washington,
DC 20420.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Elmer D. Clark, VA Office of Rural
Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Mail Code
10P1R, Washington, DC 20420, Telephone (202) 632-8578. A copy of the
Committee charter and list of the current membership can be obtained by
contacting Mr. Clark or by accessing the Web site: http://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/VRHAC/index.asp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee was established by direction
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and operates under the provisions
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 2. The
Committee consists of 12 appointed members and 4 appointed ex-officio
members, appointed by the Secretary of VA. The Committee is tasked with
examining ways to enhance health care services for Veterans in rural
areas. The Committee works in collaboration with the VA Office of Rural
Health (ORH) to discuss programs and policies that impact the provision
of VA health care services to Veterans in rural areas. The Committee
hosts a minimum of two committee meetings a year and provides a written
summary of committee activities to the VA Secretary on an annual basis.
Membership Criteria: Nominee must understand how policy affects
rural Veterans, their families, and the rural communities where they
live and be familiar with services, provisions, and benefits issues as
they pertain to rural Veterans. The Committee currently meets in person
twice a year and may meet at other times by teleconference as needed.
Members serve an initial three-year term and the Secretary may
reappoint members for additional terms of service. During the course of
their terms, Committee members are expected to attend all meetings and
to contribute their time and expertise to Committee projects. It is the
potential candidate's responsibility to identify possible conflict(s)
of interest that might affect their objectivity and recommendations
submitted to the Secretary. If a potential conflict is identified,
detailed information about the possible conflict such as employment,
research grants and/or contracts must be provided to permit evaluation
of possible conflicts of interest.
Professional Qualifications: Nominee must have experience working
on Veterans' policy issues at the local, state, and regional level and
have a thorough understanding of how the rural national policy arena
operates.
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, and (4) a summary of
the nominee's experience and qualification relative to the professional
qualifications criteria listed above. Self-nominations are welcome.
Third-party nominations must indicate that the nominee has been
contacted and is willing to serve.
Membership Terms: Individuals selected for appointment to the
Committee shall be invited to serve a three-year term. Committee
members will receive a stipend for attending Committee meetings,
including per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses incurred.
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, males and
females, 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. An ethics review is conducted for each selected
nominee.
Dated: July 28, 2015.
Rebecca Schiller,
Committee Management Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-18808 Filed 7-30-15; 8:45 am]
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