Federal Regulations Significant to Veterans [April 2007]

• Semiannual Regulatory Agenda - The Department of Veterans Affairs published its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda in the Federal Register, on April 30, 2007. This agenda announces the regulations that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will have under development or review during the 12-month period beginning in the spring 2007. The purpose in publishing the Department's regulatory agenda is to allow all interested persons the opportunity to participate in VA's regulatory planning.
  Interested persons are invited to comment on the entries listed in the agenda by contacting the individual agency contact listed for each entry or by writing to: Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420.
  Contact: Janet Coleman: (202) 273-9145

• Advisory Committee on Veterans' Employment Training and Employer Outreach; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service published a notice in the Federal Register on April 26, 2007, that the Advisory Committee on Veterans' Employment Training and Employer Outreach scheduled a meeting for May 15, 2007, in Washington, DC. The Committee will discuss programs assisting veterans seeking employment and raising employer awareness as to the advantages of hiring veterans.
  Department of Labor Contact: Bill Offutt , Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004; telephone: (202) 693-4717.

• Administration of VA Educational Benefits--Centralized Certification - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on April 25, 2007, to amend the rules governing certification of enrollment in approved courses for the training of veterans and other eligible persons under the education benefit programs the Department administers. Under this rule, educational institutions with multi-state campuses may submit certifications to the Department from a centralized location.
  Effective Date: This final rule is effective June 25, 2007.
  Contact: Lynn Nelson, Education Advisor (225C), Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

• Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials, Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on April 20, 2007, that the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials scheduled a meeting on May 16 and 17, 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Committee will receive updates on National Cemetery Administration issues; the Committee will tour Georgia and Marietta National Cemeteries and then reconvene at the hotel for a business session in the afternoon, which will include discussions of Committee recommendations, future meeting sites, and potential agenda topics at future meetings.
  Contact: Michael Nacincik, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5221; e-mail: michael.n@va.gov.

• National Research Advisory Council; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on April 20, 2007, that the National Research Advisory Council will meet on May 7, 2007, in Washington, DC. The agenda will include a review of the Department of Veterans Affairs research portfolio, a summary of current budget allocations and a discussion of information security. The Council will also provide feedback on the direction and focus of the Department's research initiatives.
  Contact: Jay Freedman, PhD, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (352) 392-8066; e-mail: jay.freedman@va.gov.

• Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on April 20, 2007, that the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education will meet on May 16 and 17, 2007, in Washington, DC. The agenda will include opening remarks and an overview by Mr. James Bombard, Committee Chair; this session will include discussion on proposed and new legislation, a total force GI Bill, chapter 1606 eligibility extension, on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs and the contract call center. oral statements from the public will be heard at 4 p.m.
  Contact: Salminio Garner, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, Education Service (225B), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

• Special Medical Advisory Group; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on April 17, 2007, that the Special Medical Advisory Group will meet at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Washington, DC, on May 14, 2007. The agenda for the meeting will include discussion of environment of care, polytrauma/medical evaluations, an update on information technology, and women veterans health.
  Contact: Juanita Leslie, Office of Administrative Operations (10B2), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5882.

• Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on April 17, 2007, that the subcommittees of the Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Sciences Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board will meet during May and June 2007, in Washington, DC. The purpose of the Merit Review Board is to provide advice on the scientific quality, budget, safety and mission relevance of investigator-initiated research proposals submitted for VA merit review consideration. Proposals submitted for review by the Board involve a wide range of medical specialties within the general areas of biomedical, behavioral and clinic science research.
  Contact: LeRoy Frey, PhD, Chief, Program Review (121F), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 254-0288.

• Urban and Non-Urban Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program Grants for Program Year (PY) 2007 Solicitation for Grant Applications 07-07, Period of Performance Is PY 2007, July 1, 2007 Through June 30, 2008; Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 17.805 - The Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 13, 2007, to announce a grant competition under 38 U.S.C. Section 2021, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001. Section 2021 requires the Secretary of Labor to conduct, directly or through grant or contract, such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.
  Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program grants are intended to address two objectives: (1) To provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force, and (2) to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. Successful applicants will design programs that assist eligible veterans by providing job placement services, job training, counseling, supportive services, and other assistance to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. Successful programs will also be designed to be flexible in addressing the universal as well as the local or regional problems that have had a negative impact on homeless veterans reentering the workforce
  Application Deadline: May 14, 2007.
  Application Process On-Line: Applicants are encouraged to apply online at: http://www.grants.gov, and to immediately initiate and complete the ``Get Started'' registration steps at: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp
  Application Address if not submitted On-Line: Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Mitchell, Reference SGA 07-07, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-4307, Washington, DC 20210 http://www.dol.gov/vets/grants/main.htm
  VETS VETS Contact: Cassandra Mitchell, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-4570; TDD: 800-670-7008; e-mail: mitchell.cassandra@dol.gov; website: http://www.dol.gov/vets/.

• Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program National Technical Assistance Center Cooperative Agreements for Program Year 2007 Solicitation for Cooperative Agreements Solicitation 07-08 Period of Performance is Program Year 2007, July 1, 2007 Through June 30, 2008 - The Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 13, 2007, to announce a cooperative agreement competition under 38 U.S.C. Section 2021, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001. Section 2021 authorizes programs to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. The availability of funds is for a cooperative agreement to assist in developing a National Technical Assistance Center for the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program.
  Application Deadline: May 14, 2007.
  Application Process On-Line: Applicants are encouraged to apply online at: http://www.grants.gov, and to immediately initiate and complete the ``Get Started'' registration steps at: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp
  Application Address if not submitted On-Line: Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Mitchell, Reference Solicitation 07-08, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-4307, Washington, DC 20210 http://www.dol.gov/vets/grants/main.htm
  VETS VETS Contact: Cassandra Mitchell, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-4570; TDD: 800-670-7008; website: http://www.dol.gov/vets/.

• Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 10, 2007, that the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses will meet on April 24 and 25, 2007 in Washington, DC. The Committee will review VA program activities relating to Gulf War veterans' illnesses and updates on relevant scientific research published since the last Committee meeting. Additionally, there will be presentations and discussion of background information on the Gulf War and Gulf War veterans' illnesses, mechanisms potentially underlying chronic symptoms affecting Gulf War veterans, and discussion of Committee business and activities. The Committee will also discuss the recommendations to be included in its 2007 report.
  Contact: Dr. William Goldberg, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 254-0294.

• Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs; Public Meeting - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) published a notice in the Federal Register on April 10, 2007, that the Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs has scheduled a public meeting on April 24, 2007. The meeting will be held at the SBA, 409 3rd Street, SW, Washington, DC.
  SBA Contact:: Cheryl Clark, Program Liaison, in the Office of Veterans Business Development, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 205-6773; e-mail: cheryl.clark@sba.gov; fax: (202) 254-0473.

• Veterans and Dependents Education: Topping-Up Tuition Assistance; Licensing and Certification Tests; Duty To Assist Education Claimants - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006, to amend the regulations governing various aspects of the education program VA administers. The final rule includes provisions for the payment of educational assistance under Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance, the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program, and the Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty for the cost of taking tests for licensure or certification; provisions for the payment of Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty to individuals on active duty for the difference between the portion of tuition and expenses covered by off-duty military tuition assistance programs and the actual charges made by educational institutions; provisions regarding VA's duty to assist claimants filing claims for educational assistance under the education programs VA administers; and nonsubstantive changes for the purpose of clarity, technical changes, or restatements of statutory provisions.
  Effective Date: This final rule is effective May 7, 2007.
  Contact: Lynn Nelson, Education Advisor (225C), Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

The numbers listed in this document are not toll-free.

Search the Federal Register on GPO Access