[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2799 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2799

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health 
care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in 
   Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 2, 2008

Mrs. Murray (for herself, Mrs. Hutchison, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Lincoln, 
 Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Schumer) 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 expand and improve health 
care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in 
   Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Women Veterans 
Health Care Improvement Act of 2008''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
  TITLE I--STUDIES AND ASSESSMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS

Sec. 101. Long-term study of health of women members of the Armed 
                            Forces serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom 
                            and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sec. 102. Assessment of barriers to women veterans to health care from 
                            the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 103. Comprehensive assessment of womens' health care programs of 
                            the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 104. Institute of Medicine study on health consequences for women 
                            veterans of military service in Operation 
                            Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
                            Freedom.
 TITLE II--IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN VETERANS

Sec. 201. Care for newborn children of women veterans receiving 
                            maternity care.
Sec. 202. Training and certification for mental health care providers 
                            of the Department of Veterans Affairs on 
                            care for veterans suffering from sexual 
                            trauma.
Sec. 203. Training and certification for health care professionals on 
                            effective treatment of women veterans with 
                            post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sec. 204. Pilot program on child care for certain veterans receiving 
                            health care from the Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs.
Sec. 205. Pilot program on for counseling in retreat settings for women 
                            veterans newly separated from service in 
                            the Armed Forces.
Sec. 206. Requirement for full-time women veterans program managers at 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
                            centers.
Sec. 207. Service on certain Department of Veterans Affairs advisory 
                            committees of women recently separated from 
                            service in the Armed Forces.

  TITLE I--STUDIES AND ASSESSMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS

SEC. 101. LONG-TERM STUDY OF HEALTH OF WOMEN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES SERVING IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION 
              ENDURING FREEDOM.

    (a) Prospective, Population-Based Long-Term Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        enter in contracts with one or more qualified entities or 
        organizations to conduct a long-term epidemiologic study on the 
        health of women veterans who served on active duty in the Armed 
        Forces in the combat theaters of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
        Operation Enduring Freedom.
            (2) Scope.--The study shall include information on general 
        health, mental health, reproductive health, and mortality of 
        such women veterans, and shall include physical examinations 
        and diagnostic testing of a representative sample of such women 
        veterans.
            (3) Collaboration.--The entities or organizations 
        conducting the study shall conduct the study in collaboration 
        with the War-Related Injury and Illness Study Centers of the 
        Veterans Health Administration.
    (b) Cohort; Length.--
            (1) Cohort.--The study required by this section shall 
        utilize a cohort of women veterans sufficiently large to 
        provide meaningful data for purposes of the study.
            (2) Follow-up period.--The follow-up period under the study 
        shall be such period not less than 10 years as the Secretary 
        shall specify for purposes of the study.
    (c) Arrangements With Department of Defense.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        enter into arrangements with the Secretary of Defense to carry 
        out this section.
            (2) Elements.--As part of the arrangements under this 
        subsection, the Secretary of Defense shall make available to 
        the Secretary of Veterans Affairs health care data in the 
        possession of the Department of Defense with respect to women 
        veterans covered by the study required by this section, and 
        shall provide access to the members of the cohort of such women 
        who are still serving in the Armed Forces. The health care data 
        so provided shall include relevant predeployment health and 
        health risk assessments with respect to such women veterans.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Initial report.--Not later than six months after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall submit to Congress an initial report on the 
        status of the implementation of this section.
            (2) Annual reports.--Not later than one year after the date 
        of the submittal to Congress of the report required by 
        paragraph (1), and annually thereafter through 2018, the 
        Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the progress and 
        results of the study required by this section as of the date of 
        such report. The final report under this paragraph shall 
        include a detailed description of the cumulative findings of 
        the study, and shall include such recommendations for 
        administrative and legislative action as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate in light of the study.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such sums as are 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

SEC. 102. ASSESSMENT OF BARRIERS TO WOMEN VETERANS TO HEALTH CARE FROM 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        conduct a comprehensive assessment of the barriers to the 
        receipt of comprehensive health care through the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs that are encountered by women veterans, 
        especially veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation 
        Enduring Freedom.
            (2) Utilization of surveys.--The studies carried out for 
        purposes of the assessment should include surveys of women 
        veterans who seek or receive health care services from the 
        Department and of women veterans who do not seek or receive 
        such services.
    (b) Elements.--In conducting the assessment required by subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall conduct research on the effects of the 
following:
            (1) Any stigma perceived or associated with seeking mental 
        health care services through the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs.
            (2) The effect on access to care through the Department of 
        driving distance or availability of other forms of 
        transportation to the nearest appropriate facility of the 
        Department.
            (3) The availability of child care.
            (4) The receipt of health care through women's health 
        clinics, integrated primary care clinics, or both.
            (5) The extent of comprehension of eligibility requirements 
        for health care through the Department, and the scope of health 
        care services available through the Department.
            (6) The quality and nature of the reception of women 
        veterans by Department health care providers and other staff.
            (7) The perception of personal safety and comfort of women 
        veterans in inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health 
        facilities of the Department.
            (8) The sensitivity of Department health care providers and 
        other staff to issues that particularly affect women.
            (9) The effectiveness of outreach on health care services 
        of the Department that are available to women veterans.
            (10) Such other matters as the Secretary identifies for 
        purposes of the assessment.
    (c) Review of Data Within the Department.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the head 
        of each element of the Department of the Veterans Affairs 
        specified in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) reviews the results of the assessment conducted 
                under subsection (a); and
                    (B) submits to the Under Secretary for Health, and 
                to such other offices of the Department having 
                responsibilities relating to health care services for 
                women veterans as the Secretary shall specify for 
                purposes of this subsection, the findings of such 
                element with respect to the assessment.
            (2) Covered elements.--The elements of the Department 
        specified in this paragraph are the following:
                    (A) The Center for Women Veterans under section 318 
                of title 38, United States Code.
                    (B) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans under 
                section 542 of title 38, United States Code.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Initial report.--Not later than six months after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
        to Congress a report on the status of the implementation of the 
        section.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 30 months after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a report on the assessment conducted under this 
        section. The report shall include the following:
                    (A) Such recommendations for administrative and 
                legislative action as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate in light of the assessment.
                    (B) The findings of each element of the Department 
                under subsection (c)(1)(B), and of the Under Secretary 
                for Health, with respect to the assessment.
    (e) Facility of the Department Defined.--In this section, the term 
``facility of the Department'' has the meaning given that term in 
section 1701(3) of title 38, United States Code.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such sums as are 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

SEC. 103. COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF WOMENS' HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS OF 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Assessment Required.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        carry out a comprehensive assessment of all services and 
        programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs intended to 
        address the health care needs of women veterans.
            (2) Focus on certain specialized programs.--The assessment 
        shall include a study of the specialized health care programs 
        of the Department as follows:
                    (A) Programs for women veterans with post-traumatic 
                stress disorder (PTSD).
                    (B) Programs for women veterans who are homeless.
                    (C) Programs for women veterans who require care 
                for substance abuse or mental illnesses.
                    (D) Programs for women veterans who require 
                pregnancy care.
            (3) Contract authority.--The Secretary may enter into one 
        or more contracts with a qualified independent entity or 
        organization having expertise in matters relating to women's 
        health to carry out the assessment, or any study conducted as 
        part of the assessment.
    (b) Specific Elements.--
            (1) Ready access to effective services.--The assessment 
        required by subsection (a) shall include a determination 
        whether effective health care services (including evidenced-
        based health care services) are readily available to and easily 
        accessed by women veterans under each category of programs as 
        follows:
                    (A) Health promotion programs.
                    (B) Disease prevention programs.
                    (C) Reproductive health programs.
                    (D) Such other health care programs as the 
                Secretary shall specify for purposes of this 
                subsection.
            (2) Scope of determinations on access.--In making a 
        determination under paragraph (1) with respect to a category of 
        programs, the assessment shall address--
                    (A) the frequency with which such services are 
                available and provided to women veterans under such 
                category of programs;
                    (B) the demographics of the women veteran 
                population, including the population of women veterans 
                who would seeks health care services under such 
                category of programs;
                    (C) the sites where services under such category of 
                programs are available and provided to women veterans; 
                and
                    (D) whether, and to what extent, waiting lists, 
                geographic distance, and other factors obstruct the 
                receipt by women veterans of any services under such 
                category of programs at any site covered by 
                subparagraph (C).
    (c) Program to Improve Services.--
            (1) In general.--After completion of the assessment 
        required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop a 
        program to--
                    (A) improve the provision of health care services 
                to women veterans; and
                    (B) plan appropriately for the future health care 
                needs, including mental health care needs, of women 
                serving on active duty in the Armed Forces in the 
                combat theaters of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
                Operation Enduring Freedom.
            (2) Required actions.--In developing the program required 
        by this subsection, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) identify the types of health care services to 
                be available to women veterans under the program at 
                each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center; and
                    (B) identify the personnel and other resources 
                required to provide such services to women veterans 
                under the program as each such medical center.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
on the assessment conducted under this section. The report shall 
include such recommendations for administrative and legislative action 
as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of the assessment.
    (e) GAO Report.--Not later than six months after the date on which 
the Secretary submits to Congress the report required by subsection 
(d), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 
Congress a report containing the findings of the Comptroller General 
with respect to the report of the Secretary under subsection (d), 
including such recommendations for administrative or legislative 
actions as the Comptroller General considers appropriate.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such sums as are 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

SEC. 104. INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE STUDY ON HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN 
              VETERANS OF MILITARY SERVICE IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 
              AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter 
into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine of the National 
Academy of Sciences for the purpose of conducting a study on health 
consequences for women veterans of service on active duty in the Armed 
Forces in deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
Freedom.
    (b) Specific Matters Studied.--The study under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) A determination of any association of environmental and 
        occupational exposures and combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom or 
        Operation Enduring Freedom with the general health, mental 
        health, or reproductive health of women who served on active 
        duty in the Armed Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom or 
        Operation Enduring Freedom.
            (2) A review and analysis of published literature on 
        environmental and occupational exposures of women while serving 
        in the Armed Forces, including combat trauma, military sexual 
        trauma, and exposure to potential teratogens associated with 
        reproductive problems and birth defects.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after entering 
        into the agreement for the study under subsection (a), the 
        Institute of Medicine shall submit to Congress, and to the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a report on the study containing 
        such findings and determinations as the Institute of Medicine 
        considers appropriate.
            (2) Responsive report.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        receipt of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        submit to Congress a report setting forth the response of the 
        Secretary to the findings and determinations of the Institute 
        of Medicine in the report under paragraph (1).

 TITLE II--IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN VETERANS

SEC. 201. CARE FOR NEWBORN CHILDREN OF WOMEN VETERANS RECEIVING 
              MATERNITY CARE.

    (a) Newborn Care.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:
``Sec. 1786. Care for newborn children of women veterans receiving 
              maternity care
    ``The Secretary may furnish care to a newborn child of a woman 
veteran who is receiving maternity care furnished by the Department for 
not more than 30 days after the birth of the child if the veteran 
delivered the child in a Department facility or in another facility 
pursuant to a Department contract for the delivery services.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1785 the following new item:

``1786. Care for newborn children of women veterans receiving maternity 
                            care.''.

SEC. 202. TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS 
              OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON CARE FOR 
              VETERANS SUFFERING FROM SEXUAL TRAUMA.

    (a) Program Required.--Section 1720D of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(d)(1) The Secretary shall implement a program for education, 
training, certification, and continuing medical education for mental 
health professionals to specialize in the provision of counseling and 
care to veterans eligible for services under subsection (a). In 
carrying out the program, the Secretary shall ensure that all such 
mental health professionals have been trained in a consistent manner 
and that such training includes principles of evidence-based treatment 
and care for sexual trauma.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall determine the minimum qualifications 
necessary for mental health professionals certified by the program 
under paragraph (1) to provide evidence-based treatment and therapy to 
veterans eligible for services under subsection (a) in facilities of 
the Department.
    ``(e) The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on 
the counseling and care and services provided to veterans under this 
section. Each report shall include data for the year involved with 
respect to the following:
            ``(1) The number of mental health professionals and primary 
        care providers who have been certified under the program under 
        subsection (d), and the amount and nature of continuing medical 
        education provided under such program to professionals and 
        providers who have been so certified.
            ``(2) The number of women veterans who received counseling 
        and care and services under subsection (a) from professionals 
        and providers who have been trained or certified under the 
        program under subsection (d).
            ``(3) The number of training, certification, and continuing 
        medical education programs operating under subsection (d).
            ``(4) The number of trained full-time equivalent employees 
        required in each facility of the Department to meet the needs 
        of veterans requiring treatment and care for sexual trauma.
            ``(5) Such other information as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.''.
    (b) Standards for Personnel Providing Treatment for Sexual 
Trauma.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish education, 
training, certification, and staffing standards for Department of 
Veterans Affairs health-care facilities for full-time equivalent 
employees who are trained to provide treatment and care to veterans for 
sexual trauma.

SEC. 203. TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ON 
              EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF WOMEN VETERANS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC 
              STRESS DISORDER (PTSD).

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop 
and implement a program of education, training, and certification for 
health care professionals of the Veterans Health Administration for the 
treatment, including evidence-based treatment, of post-traumatic stress 
disorder (PTSD) and other comorbid conditions (attributable to combat 
or sexual trauma) that are proven effective for women veterans. The 
Secretary shall develop and implement the plan through the National 
Center for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.
    (b) Continuing Medical Education.--As part of the program developed 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that health care 
professionals who participate in the program--
            (1) are provided continuing medical education on matters 
        covered by the program;
            (2) are regularly evaluated for competency in such matters; 
        and
            (3) have regular and effective mentoring on such matters.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) Report required.--Not later than two years after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
        to Congress a report on the program required by subsection (a).
            (2) Elements.--The report shall include the following:
                    (A) A description of the methodology and results of 
                the program of training, certification, and continuing 
                medical education of personnel involved in the program.
                    (B) An assessment of the effect of the program on 
                the counseling and treatment of women veterans 
                suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; and
                    (C) Such recommendations at the Secretary considers 
                appropriate for improvements to the program or to the 
                treatment of women veterans suffering from post-
                traumatic stress disorder.
            (3) Additional findings and recommendations.--In preparing 
        the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall also 
        include any findings or recommendations of the Director of the 
        Center for Women Veterans under section 318 of title 38, United 
        States Code, and of the Under Secretary for Health, with 
        respect to the program and treatment of women veterans 
        suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

SEC. 204. PILOT PROGRAM ON CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS RECEIVING 
              HEALTH CARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Pilot Program Required.--Commencing not later than six months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall carry out a pilot program under which, subject to 
subsection (b), payment is made to a qualified veteran for the costs of 
child care incurred by the veteran in order for the veteran to receive 
one or more of the health care services described in subsection (c).
    (b) Limitation on Period of Payments.--Payment for child care under 
the pilot program may only be made for the period of time that the 
qualified veteran--
            (1) receives the types of health care services referred to 
        in subsection (c) at a facility of the Department; and
            (2) requires to travel to and return from such facility for 
        the receipt of such health care services.
    (c) Qualified Veterans.--In this section, the term ``qualified 
veteran'' means a veteran who is the primary caretaker of a child or 
children and who is receiving from the Department one or more of the 
following health care services:
            (1) Regular mental health care services.
            (2) Intensive mental health care services.
            (3) Such other intensive health care services that the 
        Secretary determines that payment to the veteran for the 
        provision of child care would improve access to those health 
        care services by the veteran.
    (d) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in 
no fewer than three Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) 
selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program.
    (e) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out during the 
two-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot 
program.
    (f) Report.--Not later than six months after the completion of the 
pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
pilot program. The report shall include the findings and conclusions of 
the Secretary as a result of the pilot program, and shall include such 
recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot program 
as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal 
years 2009 and 2010, $1,500,000 to carry out the pilot program.

SEC. 205. PILOT PROGRAM ON FOR COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN 
              VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE IN THE ARMED 
              FORCES.

    (a) Pilot Program Required.--
            (1) In general.--Commencing not later than six months after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs shall carry out, through the Readjustment 
        Counseling Service of the Veterans Health Administration, a 
        pilot program to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of 
        providing reintegration and readjustment services described in 
        subsection (b) to women veterans who are recently separated 
        from service in the Armed Forces after a prolonged deployment 
        in group retreat settings.
            (2) Participation at election of veteran.--The 
        participation of a veteran in the pilot program under this 
        section shall be at the election of the veteran.
    (b) Covered Services.--The services provided to a women veteran 
under the pilot program shall include the following:
            (1) Information on reintegration into the veteran's family, 
        employment, and community.
            (2) Financial counseling.
            (3) Occupational counseling.
            (4) Information and counseling on stress reduction.
            (5) Information and counseling on conflict resolution.
            (6) Such other information and counseling as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate to assist women veterans under the pilot 
        program in reintegration into the veteran's family and 
        community.
    (c) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at 
not fewer than five locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of 
the pilot program.
    (d) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out during the 
two-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot 
program.
    (e) Report.--Not later than six months after the completion of the 
pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
pilot program. The report shall contain the findings and conclusions of 
the Secretary as a result of the pilot program, and shall include such 
recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot program 
as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal 
years 2009 and 2010, $2,000,000 to carry out the pilot program.

SEC. 206. REQUIREMENT FOR FULL-TIME WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM MANAGERS AT 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7330A. Women veterans program managers
    ``The Secretary shall, acting through the Under Secretary for 
Health, ensure that there is at least one full-time employee at each 
Department medical center who is a women veterans program manager. Each 
such employee shall meet such qualifications as the Secretary may 
specify for appointment to such position in the Veterans Health 
Administration to ensure that health care needs of women veterans are 
met.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 73 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 7330 the following new item:

``7330A. Women veterans program managers.''.

SEC. 207. SERVICE ON CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ADVISORY 
              COMMITTEES OF WOMEN RECENTLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE IN 
              THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.--Section 542(a)(2)(A) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after clause (iii) the following new 
        clause:
            ``(iv) women veterans who are recently separated from 
        service in the Armed Forces.''.
    (b) Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.--Section 544(a)(2)(A) 
of such title is amended--
            (1) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after clause (iv) the following new 
        clause:
            ``(v) women veterans who are minority group members and are 
        recently separated from service in the Armed Forces.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to appointments made on or after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
                                 <all>