2900-AP51 201610 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 2900 Department of Veterans Affairs VA Recognition of Tribal Organizations for Representation of VA Claimants

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its regulations concerning recognition of certain national, State, and regional or local organizations for purposes of VA claims representation. Specifically, this rule would allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize Tribal organizations in a similar manner as the Secretary recognizes State organizations. The rule would allow a Tribal organization that is established and funded by one or more Tribal governments to be recognized for the purpose of providing assistance on VA benefit claims. In addition, the rule would allow an employee of a Tribal government to become accredited through a recognized State organization in a similar manner as a County Veterans’ Service Officer (CVSO) may become accredited through a recognized State organization. The intended effect of this proposed rule is to improve access of Native American veterans to VA recognized organizations and VA-accredited individuals who may assist them on their benefit claims.

]]> Substantive, Nonsignificant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No 38 CFR 14.627 38 CFR 14.628 38 CFR 14.629 38 CFR 14.635 28 CFR 14 28 CFR 14 Appendix 5 U.S.C. 301 28 U.S.C. 2671 to 2680 38 U.S.C. 501(a) 38 U.S.C. 512 38 U.S.C. 515 38 U.S.C. 5502 38 U.S.C. 5901 to 5905 No NPRM 07/20/2016 81 FR 47087 NPRM Comment Period End 09/19/2016 Final Action 02/00/2017 No No Tribal No No www.regulations.gov No No Dana Raffaelli Staff Attorney (022O) 2900 Department of Veterans Affairs VA 202 461-7699 dana.raffaelli@va.gov Office of the General Counsel, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington DC 20420