Notice2025-15104
Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States
Primary source
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Published
August 8, 2025
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration, 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 "OAFAS" or "the Committee").
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 151 (Friday, August 8, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 151 (Friday, August 8, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 38593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15104]
[[Page 38593]]
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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
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice of solicitations for nominations.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits
Administration, 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 ``OAFAS'' or ``the Committee'').
DATES: Nominations for membership of the Committee must be received no
later than 5:00 p.m. EST on September 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: All nomination packages should be emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0f796e6e6b79667c607d766c627b6a4f796e21686079"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a4d2c5c5c0d2cdd7cbd6ddc7c9d0c1e4d2c58ac3cbd2">[email protected]</span></a>. In the subject line, please write ``Nomination
for OAFAS Membership.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bernard Johnson, Outreach,
Transition, and Economic Development (OTED), VA, via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d5b7b0a7bbb4a7b1fbbfbabdbba6babbe795a3b4fbb2baa3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d4b6b1a6bab5a6b0fabebbbcbaa7bbbae694a2b5fab3bba2">[email protected]</span></a> or via telephone at 404-210-1680. A copy of the
Committee charter can be obtained by contacting Mr. Johnson or by
accessing the website: <a href="https://department.va.gov/advisory-committee-management/2025/03/10/advisory-committee-on-u-s-outlying-areas-and-freely-associated-states/">https://department.va.gov/advisory-committee-management/2025/03/10/advisory-committee-on-u-s-outlying-areas-and-freely-associated-states/</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In carrying out the duties set forth, the
Committee was established to provide advice to the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs (the Secretary) on matters related 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's responsibilities are to:
1. Advise the Secretary on matters relating to covered Veterans,
including how the Secretary may improve the Department's programs and
services 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.
4. Provide a forum for covered Veterans, Veterans Service
Organizations (VSOs) serving covered Veterans, and the Department to
discuss issues and proposals for changes to the Department's
regulations, policies, and procedures.
5. Identify priorities for and advise 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 that covered Veterans
are provided the full benefits of their status as covered Veterans.
7. Highlight contributions of covered Veterans who served in the
Armed Forces.
8. Conduct other duties as determined appropriately 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 fifteen
(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 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 as 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 an 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 per diem allowance in
accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations for any travel made in
connection with their duties as members of the Committee.
Requirements for Nomination Submission: Nominations should be
typewritten (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 strives to fairly balance committee membership
through consideration of points of view represented and functions to be
performed by the advisory committee, consistent with section 1004(b),
title 5 U.S.C. 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: August 6, 2025.
Jelessa M. Burney,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-15104 Filed 8-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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