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 - 1328 - Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials	Agency Name	Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1328
Original Establishment Date	6/18/1973	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*	15
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Program Analyst/Outreach Coordinator
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	7/24/2025	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Faith
Date Of Renewal Charter	7/24/2027	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Hopkins
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 603-4499
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 273-6709
Specific Establishment Authority*	38 U.S.C. 2401	Designated Federal Officer Email*	faith.hopkins@va.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	6/18/1973
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?*	The Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials is authorized by title 38 U.S.C. § 2401 and charged with providing advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the administration of national cemeteries, the selection of cemetery sites, erection of appropriate memorials and adequacy of Federal burial benefits. The Committee also submits reports and recommendations to the Secretary and Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, as appropriate, that may call for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operational changes and/or other measures designed to positively impact the burial benefits program, cemetery administration, and the delivery of benefits. The Secretary takes such reports and recommendations under advisement for possible action. The Committee is comprised of members from diverse backgrounds and Ex-Officios from the National Park Service, American Battle Monuments Commission, and Army National Military Cemeteries. To accomplish its goals, the Committee holds two, semi-annual meetings (open to the public), and monthly/bi-monthly meetings to discuss administrative items. For Fiscal Year 2024, the Committee focused on Unclaimed Veterans Remains, Outreach, and issues impacting the utilization of tribal cemeteries.
How is membership balanced?*	This Committee is uniquely qualified to provide guidance and advice to the National Cemetery Administration management and staff. Its composition includes representatives of Veterans' Service Organizations, military retirees, and business and community activists. The Department strives to develop a Committee membership that represents members with diverse professional and personal qualifications; experience in military service, military deployments, working with Veterans; committee subject matter expertise; and working in large and complex organizations. The Committee shall represent to the extent possible, Veterans of diverse eras and branches of service, as well as diversity in race/ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, and geographical background. Ex-officio members represent Arlington National Cemetery, National Park Service, and the American Battle Monuments Commission and are familiar with administering cemetery operations and Federal government service.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee usually meets two times per year at the call of the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs and in accordance with its charter. Committee members receive timely updates and briefings at each meeting from the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, the National Cemetery Administration's senior leadership, and VA management. Agenda items are reviewed by the Committee Chair and Designated Federal Officer to ensure their relevance to current and emerging issues. In FY 2024, the Committee met October 25-26, 2023 and May 8-9, 2024. The Fall meeting was held October 25-26, 2023, in Billings, Montana. The committee received remarks from Mr. Matthew Quinn, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs who discussed the Vision for NCA and shared two of his top priorities as the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs: Pre-Need Eligibility and Veteran Cemetery Grant Funding. The Committee visited Yellowstone National Cemetery and discussed operations at Little Bighorn Battlefield - Custer National Cemetery and Apsalooke Tribal Veterans Cemetery. Ms. Renea Yates and Karen Durham-Aguilera presented on Carlisle Barracks disinterment project. Mr. James LaPaglia provided an update on the Veterans Legacy Memorial Program. The committee reviewed the content and discussed recommendations to present to the VA Secretary. The Spring meeting was held May 8-9, 2024, in Columbus, Georgia. The Committee visited Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia; Fort Moore Post Cemetery, Fort Moore, Georgia; and Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Alabama. The Committee received updates to the November 2022 recommendations from National Cemetery Administration, Chief of Staff Jennifer Jessup; Veterans Cemetery Grants Director, James Earp; Pension and Fiduciary Deputy Director, Kevin Friehl; and Director, Training and Safety, Andrea Massey. The Committee also received an update on the American Battle Monuments Commission from Ex-Officio, Thomas Sole, Chief of Engineering.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Committee is required by section 2401 of title 38 U.S.C. The Committee assists the Secretary in ensuring that plans and programs are meeting the needs of Veterans and their eligible family members and meeting the mandate to maintain our national cemeteries and national shrines. Committee members also provide outreach by providing information about burial benefits to the public. It is the only public body in which all federal agencies charged with administration of a national cemeteries program are represented.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The Committee meetings are open to the public unless except when the Committee is conducting tours of VA facilities. Tours of VA facilities are closed, to protect Veterans’ privacy and personal information.
Recommendation Remarks	The Committee developed nine recommendations at the October 2023. The VA Secretary concurred on 6 of the 9 recommendations in FY2024. In FY 2024, total members shows an overlap because terms ended for one member (Eric Brown) on 3/31/2024 and one ex-officio member (Thomas Sole) on 8/27/2024.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	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	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*	141	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*	92.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Subject to budget constraints, NCA attempts to implement committee recommendations. The Committee closed 3 of the 2022 recommendations and 1 from 2023.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	8.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The Committee closed and is monitoring 8 of the 2022 recommendations and 5 from 2023.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_cemeteries_and_memorials.asp
Agency Feedback Comment*	The feedback is provided in written format that is mailed to the members and discussed as a part of the agenda during each advisory committee meeting. The Committee's report are located and can viewed at: https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_cemeteries_and_memorials.asp.	Narrative Description*	The Committee provides advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the VA's administration of national cemeteries and makes recommendations to the Secretary on issues related to the selection of cemetery sites, erection of appropriate memorials and the adequacy of Federal burial benefits for all eligible 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 9:24 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Eligibility Eligibility Programs Government Federal Government State Government Tribal Government Land Conservation and Preservation Land Management and Use Veterans Veterans and Veterans' Medical Care

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports