FACACLASSIC

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VA - 5294 - Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses	Agency Name	Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	5294
Original Establishment Date	6/23/1998	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.va.gov/RAC-GWVI/index.asp
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	16
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Health Science Officer
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Dr.
Current Charter Date	1/11/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Karen
Date Of Renewal Charter	1/11/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	L.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Block
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 443-5791
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	202-495-6156
Specific Establishment Authority*	Public Law 105-368	Designated Federal Officer Email*	karen.block@va.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	6/23/1998
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical 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 Research Advisory on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Committee (RACGWVI) provides advice and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (SECVA) on proposed research studies, research plans, and research strategies relating to the health consequences of military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the 1990-91 Gulf War. The Committee reviews all relevant research previously conducted and assesses their methods, results, and implications as a starting point. In addition, it tracks other federal and non-federal research and other activities in support of research projects on Gulf War-associated illnesses. It also assesses the overall effectiveness of government research to answer the central questions on the nature, causes, and treatments of Gulf War-associated illnesses. In FY24, the RACGWVI parent and subcommittee successfully held 4 open public meetings. One parent meeting was held virtually, the others were hybrid, held both in-person and virtually to increase accessibility and transparency for the public. Parent meetings included subject matter expert presentations and discussion to inform future committee recommendations around the science of Gulf War illness. Time was also included for public comment. Subcommittee Veteran Engagement Sessions (VES) allow a safe platform for Veterans and their family members to voice new and existing health concerns related to their military service and VA health care needs and concerns. The subcommittee also included representatives from Health Outcomes Military Exposures and VBA to address questions and concerns outside of the committee’s area of expertise. RACGWVI meetings and VES are a clear demonstration that VA ICARE and WECARE values have enabled trustful relationships between RACGWVI and GWV, and that the Committee accomplishes it's mission in alignment with the following VA Strategic Goals: • Goal 1: VA consistently communicates with its customers and partners to assess and maximize performance, evaluate needs and build long-term relationships and trust • Goal 2: VA delivers timely, accessible and high-quality benefits, care and services to meet the unique needs of Veterans and all those we serve • Goal 3: VA builds and maintains trust with Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors—as well as our employees and partners—through proven stewardship, transparency and accountability; and • Goal 4: VA strives toward excellence in all business operations—including governance, systems, data and management—to improve experiences, satisfaction rates, accountability and security for Veterans.
How is membership balanced?*	The balanced membership plan crosses all aspects of the Veterans who served during the 1990-91 Gulf War. This ensures all voices and concerns are included in all discussion. The RACGWVI has sought to attract diverse candidates for nomination to the Committee in accordance with its Charter and Membership Balance Plan. The diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) of the RACGWVI is defined as a membership that parallels the diversity of the 1990-91 Gulf War Veterans the Committee serves that account for: gender, race, geographical reach, branch of service, service occupation and deployment and non-deployment status. RACGWVI will be composed of approximately 14 members appointed by the Secretary. Committee members may include regular Government employees, but most of the Committee’s membership are special Government employees. Marketing of RACGWVI nominations to attract and maintain DEI membership include: 1. Language posted in the Federal Register Solicitation of Nominations: The Committee makes every effort to ensure that the membership of this VA Federal Advisory Committee is 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 identity, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. The VA Secretary seeks members who have diverse professional and personal qualifications including but not limited to subject matter experts in representation of 1990-91 Gulf War Veterans, members of the medical and scientific communities representing appropriate disciplines such as, but not limited to, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, environmental health, neurology, and toxicology. 2. DEI Work Group (DEI WG): Solicitations for RACGWVI nominations are shared with the Office of Research & Development DEI WG who send notice to their DEI contacts which include leadership of Historically Black Colleges & Universities and other diverse leadership partners. To enhance unbiased communication, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health Equity Style Guide will be consulted. This guide provides overarching principles and considerations for communicating with select populations, groups and communities using a health equity lens in order to emphasize inclusivity, recognize and respect diversity and strengthen best practices. 3. VA Advisory Committee Management Office (ACMO): ACMO has a large contact list of community and business leaders with diverse demographic characteristics. Solicitations for RACGWVI nominations are shared with ACMO for wide distribution. 4. RACGWVI outreach. Requests for new members are announced at RACGWVI parent and subcommittee open meetings as Gulf War Veteran and subject matter expert participants match the diverse landscape of the representative population of focus, 1990-91 Gulf War Veterans.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	RACGWVI held a total of 4 open public meetings in FY24: 2 full committee meetings and 2 subcommittee VES. One parent meeting was held virtually, the others were hybrid, held both in-person and virtually to increase openness and transparency for the public. RACGWVI is critical for VHA and the VA Office of Research and Development’s (ORD) mission and strategic priorities, staying current on published research on GWI, VA and non-VA research and health initiatives, and VA and ORD program initiatives. All parent committee meetings begin with a Gulf War Veteran shared experience as a reminder of the importance of the cohort the committee serves. In addition to the required annual FACA training, the first RACGWVI meeting in FY24 included information presented by the Senior Advisor to the VHA Deputy Under Secretary for Health on the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act Sections 103 and 405 and their relevance to Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War illness, discussion of the RACGWVI charter, and Committee deliberation on proposed recommendations to the VA Secretary and restructuring of the subcommittee VES. The second committee meeting, held in Denver, Colorado, focused in part on the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and women’s health in research. PACT Act Section 405 in relation to Gulf War Veterans was presented to the committee, and research project updates were provided on the task of developing a clinical case definition of GWI, and leveraging research from diseases with similar symptoms to inform GWI, such as Post-Infectious Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long-COVID-19. Updates were provided on committee membership and recommendations, and a report from the VES subcommittee was provided to the parent committee. The VES were held in person in Phoenix, Arizona and Tampa, Florida. The subcommittee was welcomed by local VA leadership and leaders in VA policy and benefits were invited to answer questions and concerns in this area, as mentioned above. Gulf War Veterans and other interested stakeholders are informed of the importance of participating in research and the numerous benefits that VA research has accomplished globally. The VES are a chance for Gulf War Veteran voices to be heard, with topics ranging from new health concerns to guide future committee recommendations, as well as their concerns about health care access and delivery.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The formation of this Committee is required under Section 104 of Public Law 105-368. The Committee's revered expert membership provides a strategic mix of public/private scientific expertise and advocacy for Gulf War Veterans that is not available within or outside the Department.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings are open to the public.
Recommendation Remarks	RACGWVI submitted 3 recommendations in FY24. Recommendation 1 included subcategories of which two received concurrence and three received concur-in-principle. Recommendation 2 received concur-in-principle, and recommendation 3 received concurrence. A request to the SECVA for a letter of support for an ICD-DM diagnostic code for GWI was submitted in FY23, however, this was later re-categorized as a Recommendation and is still pending.

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	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	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*	None	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	209	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This is a total of recommendations for FY 2003 through FY 2024.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	80.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	It should be noted a substantial portion of the recommendations from 2024 were received in Q4, therefore, they will not be implemented until next FY. 2022 recommendations were concurred. 50% of the four 2022 recommendations have been fully implemented.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	20.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Recommendations from 2024 were received in Q4, therefore, they will not be implemented until next FY. 50% (2 of 4) of the 2022 recommendations are partially implemented.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Feedback is provided to the Committee through a variety of mechanisms, including written responses, follow up briefings by senior VA officials and other federal program managers, oral presentations at Committee meetings, and telephone conference calls.	Narrative Description*	The Committee provides on-going information to VA leadership regarding research findings related to Gulf War Veterans' illnesses and quality of life issues. This process takes place through Committee meetings where recommendations are adopted, through communication between the Committee and VA officials where the content of these meetings is discussed, and through formal reports. This material informs and advises VA leadership with the goal of improving patient care of ill Gulf War Veterans through evidence- and implementation-research. The reporting also addresses lessons learned from Gulf War Veterans' illnesses that are applicable to current and future troop deployments and thus the future execution of the Department's mission. In addition, the Committee provides a channel for Gulf War Veterans and other members of the public to communicate their views and insights into Gulf War research and the experience of living with Gulf War illness.

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 9:23 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Government Federal Government Health Health Care Hospitals Medical Education Medical Practitioners Public Health Treatment Medicine Diseases Health and Health Research Illnesses Medicine and Dentistry Veterans Veterans and Veterans' Medical Care

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