FACACLASSIC

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 - 84689 - Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States	Agency Name	Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	84689
Original Establishment Date	6/15/2023	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	18
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	VSO Liaison / Strategic Advisor
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mr.
Current Charter Date	7/24/2025	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Bernard
Date Of Renewal Charter	7/24/2027	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Johnson
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	P.L. 117-263 § 5102 and 38 USC 548	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(404) 210-1680
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	P.L. 117-263 § 5102 and 38 USC 548	Designated Federal Officer Email*	bernard.johnson2@va.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/23/2022
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
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?*	On June 15, 2023, the Secretary signed the charter that established the Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States’, to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary on matters relating to covered Veterans. The duties of the Committee shall be the following: Advises the Secretary on matters relating to covered Veterans, including how the Secretary may improve the programs and services of the Department to better serve such Veterans; Identify for the Secretary evolving issues of relevance to covered Veterans; Proposes clarifications, recommendations, and solutions to address issues raised by covered Veterans; Provides a forum for covered Veterans, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) serving covered Veterans, and the Department to discuss issues and proposals for changes to regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department; Identifies priorities for and provide advice to the Secretary on appropriate strategies for consultation with Veterans service organizations serving covered Veterans. Additionally, not later than 120 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a report, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate Congressional committees a written response to the report after giving the Committee an opportunity to review such written response; and including in such written response any comments the Committee considers appropriate. The Committee is expected to deliver its first (unvetted) Biennial Report no later than June 15, 2025.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee shall be comprised of 15 voting members appointed by the Secretary. In appointing members, the Secretary shall ensure the following: the Secretary will appoint the Chair from the Committee members; at least one member is appointed to represent covered Veterans in each of the areas specified in section 3 of this charter; not fewer than half of the members appointed are covered Veterans, unless the Secretary determines that an insufficient number of qualified covered Veterans are available; each member appointed resides 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; in appointing members, the Secretary may consult with any Member of Congress who represents a specified area; in addition the Committee shall be comprised of such Ex-officio members as the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint from among employees of the Department of State and the Department of the Interior, respectively. Currently, the Committee has a total of three Ex-officio members (one from Department of State; and two members from Department of Interior).
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee shall meet in-person with the Secretary not less frequently than once each year and hold monthly conference calls as necessary. In FY 2024, the Committee held its first inaugural meeting on December 12 - 14, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Also during FY 2024, the subcommittees hosted monthly meeting.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Secretary shall consult with Veterans Service Organizations serving covered Veterans.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Committee meetings are open to the public. However, Committee activities, such as tours in a medical environment where there could be patients interaction, will be closed to the public to respect patient privacy. The site visit usually includes several closed sessions, to protect patient privacy during tours of medical facilities, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(6).
Recommendation Remarks	The Committee's second annual meeting is scheduled to be held on December 10 - 12, 2024 in Guam.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	Yes
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	N/A
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Under $100,000	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	For the inaugural meeting, we saved 47 percent of our estimated budget.	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	0	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This is a total of recommendations for FY 2023 through FY 2024.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Unable to determine at this time.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Unable to determine at this time.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_u_s_outlying_areas_and_freely_associated_states.asp
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Committee will receive briefings by VA leadership on recommendations. Additionally, the biennial report that the Committee will provide to Congress will be addressed by the Secretary in a transmittal letter which responds to all recommendations made by the Committee. When available, these responses are shared with the Committee: https://www.va.gov/ADVISORY/Advisory_Committee_on_U_S_Outlying_Areas_and_Freely_Associated_States.asp	Narrative Description*	The Committee advises the Secretary on matters relating to covered Veterans, including how the Secretary may improve the programs and services of the Department to better serve such Veterans.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/19/2025 9:22 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Education Education Sports Eligibility Eligibility Programs Government Federal Government Internal Federal Government State Government Tribal Government Health Aging Biodefense Health Care Hospitals Medical Education Medical Practitioners Nutrition Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children Physical Fitness Public Health Radiation Protection Safety Sports Treatment

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