FACA

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

VA - 48 - Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation	Agency Name	Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year	2022	Committee Number	48
Original Establishment Date	10/1/1980	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL
New Committee This FY	No	Presidential Appointments*	No
Terminated This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	20 Total (15 Members and 5 Ex-Officio Members)
Current Charter Date	1/18/2022	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Designated Federal Officer
Date Of Renewal Charter	1/18/2024	Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Latrese
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Thompson
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Establishment Authority*	38 U.S.C. 3121	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 461-9773
Effective Date Of Authority*	10/1/1980	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 275-5122
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable	Designated Federal Officer Email*	latrese.thompson@va.gov
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Committee is in alignment with VA Strategic Goals, whereby the Committee assesses the rehabilitation needs of Veterans with disabilities and reviews the programs and activities within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that are designed to meet those needs. During the April meeting, the Committee was advised on the recruitment and employment of new VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC) which is aligned with goal #1 as Veterans choose VA for easy access, greater choices, and clear information to make informed decisions. The Committee also focused on higher education and federal partnerships to improve VRCs recruitment challenges, equitable VRC positions, and retention of VRCs, which is in alignment with goal #2 to ensure Veterans receive timely and integrated care and support that emphasizes their well-being and independence throughout their life journey. Overall, the Committee meetings were in alignment with goal #3, which Veterans will trust VA to be consistently accountable and transparent. An annual report is prepared each calendar year offering recommendations to the Secretary concerning the administration of Veterans' rehabilitation programs under Title 38, United States Code. The Secretary takes such reports under advisement and includes them in his annual report to Congress.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee is comprised of members with diverse professional and personal backgrounds and experiences: military service, rehabilitation subject matter experts, and working in the private and public sectors for individuals including Veterans. The Committee also represents diversity in race/ethnicity such as qualified protected class (African American, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American), gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and geographical backgrounds. A reasonable effort has been made to appoint candidates who work in the areas of rehabilitation medicine, vocational guidance, vocational rehabilitation, employment, and training. The Committee also includes female Veterans and a Veterans with disabilities. The diversity of the Committee is highly valued. The Committee's diverse demographics are representative of the target population they serve as they identify the needs of a diverse Veteran population.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee meets a minimum of two times per year. The meetings provide briefings on VA and community rehabilitation related programs and innovative services for Veterans with disabilities. The Committee members are provided with relevant and detailed information on trends in rehabilitation, current disability issues and VA rehabilitation programs.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	VA has no other method of obtaining this level of expertise on rehabilitation issues. The Committee is able to cross divisional boundaries and examine how Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration operate in providing rehabilitation services. The Committee can point out duplication of services, communication issues, and suggest improvements in service delivery between various VA components without bias or motivation for professional gain. Additionally, the Committee is comprised of individuals with diverse, extensive, and nationally recognized knowledge of rehabilitation that allows them to bring to the Secretary's attention general trends and state-of-the art practices in the rehabilitation field. This type of expertise is particularly useful in recommending solutions to some of VA's challenges in meeting the rehabilitation needs of Veterans with disabilities.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The Committee meetings are open to the public. However, partially closed committee meetings have been conducted when topics discussed could disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Therefore, closing the meeting would be in compliance with 5 U.S.C. 552b (c) (6).
Recommendation Remarks	As the management program office, Veteran Readiness and Employment Service recommends that the Committee continue its mission to ensure that the needs of Veterans with disabilities are addressed in the VA’s policies, benefits and services. The Committee’s recommendations are instrumental in helping VA maintain awareness of the needs encountered by Veterans with disabilities.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	44	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This is a total of recommendations for FY 2003 through FY 2022.	Access Agency Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	80.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	NA	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	20.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	The Committee's website can be accessed at: https://www.va.gov/ADVISORY/Veterans_Advisory_Committee_on_Rehabilitation_Statutory.asp
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Department submits a formal response to each Committee recommendation, and Department officials brief the Committee on actions taken to implement recommendations. Published Annual Reports can be found online: https://www.va.gov/ADVISORY/Veterans_Advisory_Committee_on_Rehabilitation_Statutory.asp	Narrative Description*	The Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation has the charge to assess the rehabilitation needs of Veterans with disabilities and to address those needs holistically. This Committee continues to support the mission of the agency to serve the needs of Veterans and their families. The first VA strategic goal states that the VA shall restore the capability of Veterans with disabilities to the greatest extent possible and improve the quality of their lives and that of their families. The work of the Committee is to improve the administration of services to Veterans with disabilities.

COSTS

Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	Est Payments to Non-Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
Payments to Federal Members*	$8,000.00	Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$8,200.00
Payments to Federal Staff*	$139,435.55	Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$139,435.55
Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Members nextFY*	$12,000.00
Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$8,000.00
Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staff Next FY*	$4,600.00
Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	Est Travel Reimb to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
Other Costs	$2,000.00	Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$2,000.00
Total Costs	$149,435.55	Est. Total Next FY*	$174,235.55
Date Cost Last Modified	3/9/2023 11:58 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	1.20
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	1.20	Est Cost Remarks	travel for one meeting included
Cost Remarks

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