[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2638 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2638

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to require an annual plan on 
  outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 12, 2004

  Mr. Coleman introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to require an annual plan on 
  outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Benefits Outreach Act of 
2004''.

SEC. 2. ANNUAL PLAN ON OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Annual Plan Required.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 523 the 
following new section:
``Sec. 523A. Annual plan on outreach activities
    ``(a) Annual Plan Required.--The Secretary shall prepare each year 
a plan for the outreach activities of the Department for the following 
year.
    ``(b) Elements.--Each annual plan under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            ``(1) Plans for efforts to identify veterans who are not 
        enrolled or registered with the Department for benefits or 
        services under the programs administered by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Plans for informing veterans and their dependents of 
        modifications of the benefits and services under the programs 
        administered by the Secretary, including eligibility for 
        medical and nursing care and services.
    ``(c) Coordination in Development.--In developing an annual plan 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the following:
            ``(1) Directors or other appropriate officials of 
        organizations recognized by the Secretary under section 5902 of 
        this title.
            ``(2) Directors or other appropriate officials of State and 
        local education and training programs.
            ``(3) Representatives of non-governmental organizations 
        that carry out veterans outreach programs.
            ``(4) Representatives of State and local veterans 
        employment organizations.
            ``(5) Businesses and professional organizations.
            ``(6) Other individuals and organizations that assist 
        veterans in adjusting to civilian life.
    ``(d) Incorporation of Assessment of Previous Annual Plans.--In 
developing an annual plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
take into account the lessons learned from the implementation of 
previous annual plans under such subsection.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
523 the following new item:

``523A. Annual plan on outreach activities.''.

SEC. 3. APPEAL OF CLAIMS DENIED BECAUSE OF LOSS OF RECORDS RESULTING 
              FROM 1973 FIRE AT THE NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement 
procedures by which veterans may appeal claims denied by the Secretary 
on the basis that records destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National 
Personnel Records Center could substantiate such claims.
                                 <all>