Charter Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY:

Department of Defense.

ACTION:

Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the Advisory Committee on Arlington National Cemetery (“the Committee”).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Committee's charter is being renewed pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4723 and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended) and 41 CFR 102-3.50(d). The Committee's charter and contact information for the Committee's Designated Federal Officer (DFO) can be found at http://www.facadatabase.gov/.

The Committee will make periodic reports and recommendations to the Secretary of the Army with respect to the administration of Arlington National Cemetery, the erection of memorials at the cemetery, and master planning for the cemetery. Any and all advice and recommendations will also be forwarded to the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense. The Committee will be composed of no more than nine members, who are eminent authorities in their respective fields of interest or expertise, specifically bereavement practices and administrative oversight, the erection of memorials, and master planning for extending the life of the cemetery, including one member nominated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, one member nominated by the Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission, and no more than seven members nominated by the Secretary of the Army. All members are appointed to provide advice on behalf of the Government on the basis of their best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner free from conflict of interest. Except for reimbursement of official Committee-related travel and per diem, members serve without compensation.

The DoD may establish subcommittees, task forces, or working groups to support the Committee. All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA and the Government in the Sunshine Act, will not work independently of the Committee, report all findings to the Committee for full deliberation and discussion, and have no authority to make decisions and recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Committee. No subcommittee or any of its members can update or report, verbally or in writing, directly to the DoD or any Federal officers or employees.

The Committee's DFO, pursuant to DoD policy, must be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and must be in attendance for the duration of each and every Committee or subcommittee meeting. The public or interested organizations may submit written statements to the Committee membership about the Committee's mission and functions. Such statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned Committee meetings. All written statements must be submitted to the Committee's DFO who will ensure the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration.