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.

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VA - 1331 - Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans	Agency Name	Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1331
Original Establishment Date	10/9/1996	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*	Designated Federal Officer
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	4/16/2016	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Joshua
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Mathis
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	Mr.
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(313) 310-3891
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 273-9071
Specific Establishment Authority*	38 U.S.C. 545	Designated Federal Officer Email*	joshua.mathis@va.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	10/9/1996
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?*	To fully map the readjustment service needs of Veterans returning from military service in a combat theater, the Committee strives to understand the psychological, social, familial, economic and educational needs critical for a successful post-war readjustment to civilian life, as well as the psychosocial readjustment needs that accompany the physical wounds of war such as TBI, and family supportive counseling. In conjunction with its needs assessments, the Committee reviews VHA’s services available to meet these war-related readjustment needs. The Committee has identified several VA programs that are of value to Veterans' post-military readjustment to include: Readjustment Counseling Service Vet Centers; Mental Health with particular attention to VHA's Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Care Management and Social Work Services, PTSD and substance use treatment programs; Primary Care; polytrauma systems of care; homeless programs; and VBA's employment, education and service connection programs. Based on the unique needs of combat theater Veterans, Service members and their families, the Committee will focus on critical readjustment service functions that not only match VA’s priorities of: Goal 1: Veterans choose VA for easy access, greater choices, and clear information to make informed decisions, Goal 2: Veterans receive timely and integrated care and support that emphasizes their well-being and independence throughout their life journey, Goal 3: Veterans trust VA to be consistently accountable and transparent, Goal 4: VA will modernize systems and focus resources more efficiently to be competitive and to provide World Class capabilities to Veterans and its employees; but also those that correspond with VHA’s priorities and RCS's strategic goals of 1) building the trust of Veterans and the American people; 2) fostering our organizational learning; and 3) modernizing our systems. The Committee's reports will be widely distributed within VA, to Congressional leaders, and to the major Veterans service organizations.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee is composed of a diverse group of individuals with a vested interest in the readjustment of Veterans. Members include war-zone Veterans, non-combat Veterans, and family members of Veterans and Service members, all of whom have shown significant post-military career accomplishments in their respective communities or significant contributions to the Veteran community. Among the membership are attorneys, health care and mental health providers, state directors of Veterans' services, and other various professionals, all of whom collectivity represent the various branches of the U.S. Military. The Committee membership also maintains a diversity of gender, ethnicity, and geographical representation. The Committee provides a diversity of perspectives and expertise indispensable to its function as a Veteran consumer representative body that reinforces VA's efforts to Improve the Veteran Experience and build their trust.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee conducts at least two meetings each year. The input of this Committee continues to be positive, constructive, and helpful in informing VA's understanding of post-war readjustment problems and in advising the management of service delivery systems to meet the needs of returning war Veterans. The Committee contributes to quality improvements in VA programs in readjustment counseling, medical facility PTSD services, Veterans employment and family issues pertaining to readjustment, and resolving difficulties regarding compensation and disability for PTSD. The Committee's input also provides substantive contributions to improving Veterans' trust in and access to VA services. The significant level of utilization of VA programs in readjustment counseling, mental health and health care among the new Veteran populations who served in Afghanistan and Iraq suggests that this Committee's activities will be tremendously valuable to VA for the foreseeable future. In FY 2024, the Committee was able to meet three times, twice in person: November 2023 (Washington D.C.); February 2024 (Tampa FL ); and virtually in March 2024.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Committee provides an organized forum of motivated Veterans, and family of Veterans, of various backgrounds, demographics and areas of expertise who review VA services and benefits, and provide recommendations to the Secretary. The Committee's input represents that of well-informed and thoughtful consumer representatives who focus their attention on the effectiveness and coordination of VA and other agency services, with particular attention to the readjustment needs of Veterans returning from combat. The Committee's conclusions and recommendations are generated from testimonies of Veteran consumers, VA, other agency service providers, and various other program officials. The Committee also conducts thoughtful reviews of relevant research findings and program policy positions significant to Veteran services. VA service providers and management officials are sufficiently involved with ongoing issues of direct service delivery and program management to preclude this type of careful attention and review provided by the Committee regarding the interface between VA service providers and Veteran consumers. The Committee is the only organized external body that provides systematic review of Veterans' readjustment problems to include war-related PTSD. The Committee's input is directly relevant to building trust and positive experiences, and is of significant value for Suicide Prevention.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The Committee's meetings are open to the public, unless the Committee meets directly with Veteran consumers which would be closed in order to protect the patient privacy and in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. section 552b).
Recommendation Remarks	The Committee's twenty fourth Annual Report contained two recommendations, however, Recommendation 1 contained four parts, and Recommendation 2 contained two parts. Primarily focused on the post war readjustment of Veterans, and the further organizational development of the Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) and Women's Health. Recommendations included areas of recruitment and retention efforts within RCS, increasing access, safety, and privacy for Women's Health. The response to report recommendations has been published and the committee will begin work toward composing the 25th report when they meet in November of 2024. The Committee recently submitted a membership package and is awaiting the approval and appointment of five new members. Note: The following members were erroneously captured after the approved termination date of 9/30/2024: Colonel Larry Herke, Dave Duren, and Nate Tyler. These members should not be included in the FY 2025 Annual Reporting.

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	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	The Committee's conclusions and recommendations have been referenced by the agency in Congressional reports and hearing statements.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Based on the Committee membership being composed of Veteran leaders in their home communities, a positive outcome is enhancement of public relations for VA.	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*	227	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This is a total of recommendations that VA concurred with or concurred-in-principle with on reports submitted from FY 2003 through FY 2024.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	95.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Partial implementation of some recommendations is considered a positive outcome by the Committee.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	5.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	All of the Committee's recommendations are given serious consideration by the agency and implemented to the extent feasible.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Visit website here: https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_the_readjusment_of_veterans_statutory.asp
Agency Feedback Comment*	Agency feedback is provided in writing in response to the Committee's reports. Feedback is also provided verbally from participating VA officials during the course of the Committee's meetings each year. To view reports, https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_the_readjusment_of_veterans_statutory.asp	Narrative Description*	The Congressional mandate of this Committee to assist VA to improve the post-war readjustment of Veterans who served in combat is central to VA. The Committee's recommendations contribute to facilitating Veterans' post-war transition to civilian life and to the successful recovery of war-wounded 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 Education Education Eligibility Eligibility Programs Social Services Health Aging Health Care Treatment Labor Employment Job Training Legislation Legislation Regulations Medicine Health and Health Research National Defense National Security and Defense Rehabilitation Rehabilitation and Disability Veterans Veterans and Veterans' Medical Care

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