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 - 84628 - Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs	Agency Name	Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	84628
Original Establishment Date	4/23/2021	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 Specialist
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	4/23/2021	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Veronica
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Duncan
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 905-7294
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	PL 116-315 and 38 USC 547	Designated Federal Officer Email*	veronica.duncan@va.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	1/5/2021
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?*	By statute, the Committee is not required to renew its Charter. The Committee provides advice and guidance to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all matters relating to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations and Native American Veterans. The Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the activities of the Committee during the previous two years. During FY 2024, the Committee membership continued its work it had begun when it was first chartered in 2021. The Committee accomplished its purpose by crafting its first annual report (in FY 2023) as well as providing recommendations to the Secretary of the VA. It held meetings with Secretary, Senior Leaders, and attended site visits at VA (and other) facilities with Native Americans. The results and findings from these combined activities translated into 13 overarching recommendations that advised the Secretary on issues, concerns and gaps in the service that directly impact Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations. The Committee’s recommendations aligned with and supported three VA Strategic goals: improving the Veterans experience, improving the employee’s experience and increase Veterans’ access to health care.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee is comprised of 15 voting members appointed by the Secretary from among individuals nominated and shall be designated as Special Government Employees. All but one members are Native American, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian. Nominations for memberships were solicited from federally recognized tribes and national tribal organizations for each of the 12 Indian Health Service areas. At least one member of the Committee represents the Native Hawaiian Veteran community nominated by a Native Hawaiian Organization and at least one member of the Committee represents urban Indian organizations nominated by a national urban Indian organization. All members are Veterans. This is a requirement unless the Secretary determines that an insufficient number of qualified Veterans were nominated. No member of the Committee may be an employee of the Federal Government. None are. A member may be reappointed for one additional term at the Secretary’s discretion.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee is required to meet in-person with the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, not less frequently than twice each year and hold conference calls as necessary. In FY 2024, the Committee convened two meetings: Durant, OK (February 2024) and Washington DC (September 2024).
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This Committee provides a unique representation of a broad cross section of the Veteran population as a whole. The members bring varied and distinguished background and experience working with Native American Veterans and are well connected to minority Veteran serving organizations. Some of this experience are in the fields of medicine, public health, Indian health, law, labor, community organizations, tribal Veterans programs/organizations and business. All of these individuals believe there is a need for the advice and counsel they provide to the Secretary. The Committee provides an impartial and independent review of VA programs. Department of Defense demographics indicate a continually increasing minority population make up of our armed forces. Therefore, realigning policies and programs to meet the changing demographics in our Veteran population is crucial to ensuring the Department provides the best care and services in a culturally competent manner.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Full Committee meetings are open to the public.
Recommendation Remarks

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	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	N/A
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	N/A	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	13	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This is a total of recommendations for FY 2021 through FY 2024.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	30.70%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	4 of 13	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	30.70%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	4 of 13	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	To access the Committee's website, click here: https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_tribal_and_indian_affairs.asp
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Committee convened an in-person meeting in April 2023, four months after the Committee submitted its report. At this meeting, the Committee received feedback on the report from the Program Office (Office of Tribal Government Relations) and VA's Advisory Committee Management Office. https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_tribal_and_indian_affairs.asp	Narrative Description*	The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all matters relating to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations and Native American 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 Civil Rights Disabled Minorities Native Americans Women Computer Technology Artificial Intelligence Technology Computers Information Technology Education Education Training Eligibility Eligibility Programs Federal Employment Federal Employees and Personnel Public Services Government Federal Government Tribal Government Health Health Care Hospitals Medical Education Public Health Treatment Legislation Legislation Regulations Medicine Health and Health Research Veterans Benchmark and Clinical Trials Research Studies Veterans and Veterans' Medical Care

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