[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 151 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 151

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 25, 2005

Mr. Coleman (for himself and Mr. Pryor) 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.

    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 
2005''.

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.
    ``(e) Incorporation of Recommendations to Improve Outreach and 
Awareness.--In developing an annual plan under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall incorporate the recommendations for the improvement of 
veterans outreach and awareness activities included in the report 
submitted to Congress by the Secretary pursuant to section 805 of the 
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-454).''.
    (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.''.
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