1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement
Act
.
(b)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. Study of barriers for women veterans to health care
from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 102. Comprehensive assessment of women’s health care
programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Title II—IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR WOMEN VETERANS
Sec. 201. Medical 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 and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sec. 203. Pilot program for provision of child care assistance
to certain veterans receiving certain types of health care services at
Department facilities.
Sec. 204. Addition of recently separated women and minority
veterans to serve on advisory committees.
<enum>I</enum><header>STUDIES AND
ASSESSMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN
VETERANS</header>
<section id="H23F9D63130574A7CB4D2CF04040705DF"><enum>101.</enum><header>Study of
barriers for women veterans to health care from the Department of Veterans
Affairs</header>
<subsection id="HD2348C8F1DAE4F2F9548E0CFFBFB0036"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study
required</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a
comprehensive study of the barriers to the provision of comprehensive health
care by the Department of Veterans Affairs encountered by women who are
veterans. In conducting the study, the Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HCB3121341ACD4EFCBD00F62D5DEC6308"><enum>(1)</enum><text>survey women
veterans who seek or receive hospital care or medical services provided by the
Department of Veterans Affairs as well as women veterans who do not seek or
receive such care or services;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H23E3E1A87B534DE3B1EEC99B3E9C060"><enum>(2)</enum><text>build on the work
of the study of the Department of Veterans Affairs entitled <quote>National
Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year 2007–2008</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCEE8757BA0584227BF00C5C6865C27ED"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">administer the survey to a representative
sample of women veterans from each Veterans Integrated Service Network;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD90F99DF011C4E6F8D99FD0241DBB95C"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure that the sample of women veterans
surveyed is of sufficient size for the study results to be statistically
significant and is a larger sample than that of the study of the Department of
Veterans Affairs entitled <quote>National Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal
Year 2007–2008</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CC5A94EF83544DB91094B296DAAF608"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements of
study</header><text>In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct research on the effects of the
following on the women veterans surveyed in the study:</text>
<paragraph id="H9ED134C653AB44759F5CA9CD75BB64A8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The perceived
stigma associated with seeking mental health care services.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6D4EC151391E4F32A4ED5FAD7939E278"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The effect of
driving distance or availability of other forms of transportation to the
nearest medical facility on access to care.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H38FAA74150014BC688DA119136C10774"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The availability
of child care.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD34909E60C1049F2816CC27C105755F9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The acceptability
of integrated primary care, women’s health clinics, or both.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0743EB71C9E74B6FA825F80815211E19"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The comprehension
of eligibility requirements for, and the scope of services available under,
hospital care and medical services.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H96EEBC44B21D43A7A8CA10CC0069D2FF"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The perception of
the personal safety and comfort of women veterans in inpatient, outpatient, and
behavioral health facilities of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB682059F314340088F28455B39713544"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The gender
sensitivity of health care providers and staff to issues that particularly
affect women.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H785781E9A40740A2BC81752EC4A9C500"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The effectiveness
of outreach for health care services available to women veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC4283E4D233A4DDBBBBCFF8307EE7846"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The location and
operating hours of health care facilities that provide services to women
veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBE8B70F221E845DCA7129E00DE6CFCCF"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Such other
significant barriers as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may identify.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE6FE3631F90E42AF82122DE8CE432367"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authority To
enter into contracts</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity or organization to
carry out the studies and research required under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H99ADD661823C458199A57734707C5D91"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Mandatory review
of data by certain divisions within the Department</header>
<paragraph id="H68C32E17495342FC875288D1D6A7AFD8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the
head of each division of the Department of Veterans Affairs specified in
paragraph (2) reviews the results of the study conducted under this section.
The head of each such division shall submit findings with respect to the study
to the Under Secretary for Health and to other pertinent program offices within
the Department of Veterans Affairs with duties relating to health care services
for women veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H774C40952A154972AEEDC683FC57DF9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Specified
divisions of the Department</header><text>The divisions of the Department of
Veterans Affairs specified in this paragraph are—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBCB385C50C52440CB7FD54BAAD2B99F9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Center for
Women Veterans, established under
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/318">section
318</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F334BA80A6A4F96B15185CE027E316F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Advisory
Committee on Women Veterans, established under
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/542">section
542</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9806AFDD5CAD49E8B1C036757817FAA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reports</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H214F728C2CA24E24B1071B2E47FF84F7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Report on
implementation</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date on which
the Department of Veterans Affairs publishes a final report on the study
entitled <quote>National Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year
2007–2008</quote>, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a
report on the status of the implementation of the section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5981C01AD0E647F992C690F17C48B8E2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report on
study</header><text>Not later than 30 months after the date on which the
Department publishes such final report, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
submit to Congress a report on the study required under this section. The
report shall include recommendations for such administrative and legislative
action as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to be appropriate. The
report shall also include the findings of the head of each specified division
of the Department and of the Under Secretary for Health.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H56672908CB6F4674933CF05868FE93CA"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definition of
facility of the Department</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In
this section the term <quote>facility of the Department</quote> has the meaning
given that term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1701">section 1701(3)</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7A88A1BADA634F148BEECDD9CBF8F5CF"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs $4,000,000 to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H150EB8AC58794304AD35BBA871375CA3"><enum>102.</enum><header>Comprehensive
assessment of women’s health care programs of the Department of Veterans
Affairs</header>
<subsection id="H77CAF71D81A94CB2BD233F25D57699DE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a
comprehensive assessment of all health care services and programs provided by
the Department of Veterans Affairs for the health care needs of women veterans.
Such comprehensive assessment shall include assessments of specialized programs
for women with post-traumatic stress disorder, for women who are homeless, for
women who require care for substance abuse or mental illnesses, and for women
who require obstetric and gynecologic care.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB4F001A641574917A8D9CC26BB516E49"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Specific matters
studied</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H466FE8522C75478FBCAE8DBD9110314B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Identification
of programs</header><text>For each medical facility of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall identify each of the
following types of programs for women veterans provided by the Department and
determine whether effective health care services, including evidenced-based
health care services, are readily available to and easily accessed by women
veterans:</text>
<subparagraph id="HEA8DEBCE06C149A0BC80FBB7D7175100"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Health promotion
programs, including reproductive health promotion programs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEEA4D0370771459D00C9D966BB13B796"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Disease prevention
programs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8793610C8F2B4DFD93B4DE370063F715"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Health care
programs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8BA319972D7443FA9921F725824B16E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Identification of
relevant issues</header><text>In making such determination, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall identify, for each medical facility of the Department of
Veterans Affairs—</text>
<subparagraph id="H548E0584AAF643C6A597C2D065D84714"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the frequency with
which such services are available and provided,</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA966CEB823AF422ABF2C1E184D987000"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the demographics
of the women veterans population,</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF5B7D226CAD14F05A6D100E58005BA9F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the sites where
such services are available and provided, and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H261A1F0D759F4F4D9FFE838B05BB1684"><enum>(D)</enum><text>whether, and to
what extent, waiting lists, geographic distance, and other factors obstruct the
receipt of any of such services at any such site.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0A6EAD42AB014AE9AFC78E832640F6E7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authority To
enter into a contract</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity or organization to
carry out the studies and research required under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE23087C7234A41238500FB84DCA8BB8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Development of
plan To improve services</header>
<paragraph id="HADA38B712956496CBF39E7506811C410"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Plan
required</header><text>After conducting the comprehensive assessment required
by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan to
improve the provision of health care services to women veterans and to project
the future health care needs, including the mental health care needs of women
serving in the combat theaters of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation
Iraqi Freedom.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB7B004D17A674511A0C6E6E1003E1C0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>List of
services</header><text>In developing the plan under this subsection, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall list the types of services available for
women veterans at each medical center of the Department.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFDD0922091CC4A0FBDC10710C15BFDBB"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the assessment
conducted pursuant to subsection (a) and the plan required under subsection
(d). The report shall include recommendations for such administrative and
legislative action as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to be
appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBBE0235D94C149C19D9F2430BA0014C8"><enum>(f)</enum><header>GAO
report</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date on which the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs submits the report required under subsection (e),
the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the
findings of the Comptroller General with respect to the report of the
Secretary, which may include such recommendations for administrative or
legislative actions as the Comptroller General determines to be
appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0C0F8AEDF8A4457F9350B81DE19FB35"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000
to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>IMPROVEMENT AND
EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR
WOMEN VETERANS</header>
<section id="HD0BD42BA46134EB5A86C5D88FD39C8F5"><enum>201.</enum><header>Medical care
for newborn children of women veterans receiving maternity care</header>
<subsection id="H45797E5D05D44806BEC0F7E0C09CAC13"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Newborn
Care</header><text>Subchapter VIII of
<external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/17">chapter 17</external-xref> of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block id="H7A0BF13F9C81456683D5B9E3A4098368" style="USC">
<section id="HB43DDE3F58E54F82886F6D36B8F87C91"><enum>1786.</enum><header>Hospital care
and medical services for newborn children of women veterans receiving maternity
care</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In the case of a child of
a woman veteran who is receiving hospital care or medical services at a
Department facility (or in another facility pursuant to a contract entered into
by the Secretary) relating to the birth of that child, the Secretary may
furnish hospital care and medical services to that child at that facility
during the seven-day period beginning on the date of the birth of the
child.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H9C33E6F233D44CF2BE1F5BA864C8B600"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
Amendment</header><text>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:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF6E3097525384FFCAFFC739B4B6E7EF7" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">1786. Hospital care and medical services
for newborn children of women veterans receiving maternity
care.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H61EE4F8618B547F7870077E3B34431C6"><enum>202.</enum><header>Training and
certification for mental health care providers of the Department of Veterans
Affairs on care for veterans suffering from sexual trauma and post-traumatic
stress disorder</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1720D">Section 1720D</external-xref> of
title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HB6B2D2A5329B4364A83754D6C619E2A3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (d) as subsection (f); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE487A4067D7C4AD6001D9C1365109DA5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (c) the following new subsections:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1C959BEE8E3A4190AB6CDECF0264137" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H565D761DA026418C88F8053C333F80D6"><enum>(d)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall carry out a program to provide graduate medical education, training,
certification, and continuing medical education for mental health professionals
who provide counseling, care, and services under subsection (a). In carrying
out such 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 and
post-traumatic stress disorder.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H800BE9A439804B628352C1DCD55E55CB"><enum>(e)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall submit to Congress an annual report on the counseling, care, and services
provided to veterans pursuant to this section. Each report shall include data
for the year covered by the report with respect to each of the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="H6678E956B4124F68A5297FB4D028F385"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The number of
mental health professionals, graduate medical education trainees, and primary
care providers who have been certified under the program required by subsection
(d) and the amount and nature of continuing medical education provided under
such program to such professionals, trainees, and providers who are so
certified.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H21E8910CC31B45A39595602737D33175"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The number of
women veterans who received counseling and care and services under subsection
(a) from professionals and providers who received training under subsection
(d).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H60EA4597BCF94145AC64035BA2707813"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The number of
graduate medical education, training, certification, and continuing medical
education courses provided by reason of subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H82854C763C744C14BCAFF2EE4062DFE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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 and post-traumatic stress disorder.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H510C1BE147504532A3AF65EC809E52A7"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Any recommended
improvements for treating women veterans with sexual trauma and post-traumatic
stress disorder.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H86DE4EF2813F4F45977220C876356600"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Such other
information as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="HC3EA762F07ED4CAEA9BF15DD5E746BCA"><enum>203.</enum><header>Pilot program
for provision of child care assistance to certain veterans receiving certain
types of health care services at Department facilities</header>
<subsection id="HAF27FA8807C44C3D00212D8E14E20113"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC6464E07229441FDA7CBD844A2BA8F89"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Pilot program
required</header><text>Not later than six months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a
two-year pilot program under which, subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall provide child care assistance to a qualified veteran child care needed by
the veteran during the period of time described in paragraph (3).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB346FBEDD65B4FDF9D028C583371FD7D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Form of child
care assistance</header><text>Child care assistance under this section may
include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0933CEFACF4748BEA97952435F26635E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>stipends for the
payment of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly
or through a voucher program);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB5591218AB4F43BCBEF983479F3216C0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the development of
partnerships with private agencies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB45146EDCEB4221AFC48F3D4C18E2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>collaboration with
facilities or programs of other Federal departments or agencies; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB454D49B7807438FA08C09253D963910"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the arrangement of
after-school care.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD1A05E6A0CF74A5B99A5059686409547"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Period of
time</header><text>Child care assistance under the pilot program may only be
provided for the period of time that the qualified veteran—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBA0E5C4D1346468C86242F092B12A3D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>receives a health
care service referred to in paragraph (4) at a facility of the Department;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H799E8DB95F9C4F9DA5FE92787E5BBD96"><enum>(B)</enum><text>requires to travel
to and return from such facility for the receipt of such health care
service.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H832E575C2BE34CC1AC11BF1200A85E25"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Qualified
veteran defined</header><text>In this section, the term <quote>qualified
veteran</quote> means a veteran who is the primary caretaker of a child and who
is receiving from the Department of Veterans Affairs one or more of the
following health care services:</text>
<subparagraph id="H2611783F4FF64BC293F73317D97CF011"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Regular mental
health care services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBB2E8774AC394618BEC03C2D52A0A9B7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Intensive mental
health care services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3446BAB7151F41E8A0CFC09BFB2B477F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Any other
intensive health care services for which the Secretary determines that the
provision of child care would improve access by qualified veterans.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H613AC865CDD64D0C8B452738205DB880"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Location of
pilot program</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at
no fewer than three Veterans Integrated Service Networks.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1C284706390941E7A0D21200ED5E7805"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and 2011
to carry out the pilot program under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H82D73F487CA74A64BFE45551AA755B00"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than six months after the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program and shall include
recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot program.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC27D934B8E7146DF945C6DCA4307EC1D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header>Addition of recently
separated women and minority veterans to serve on advisory committees</header>
<subsection id="HF3EE476A6E64408D912AE63AA0AD5C59"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Advisory
committee on women veterans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a)(2)(A) of
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/542">section
542</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H3C96C1F95578420FA255959FE37543EA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>and</quote> at the end of clause (ii);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H04E8854756D54D86BAD129A1AB1E4F5E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
period at the end of clause (iii) and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA1DBEF53F8F64AD7B6E1EF2CB1061CE4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after
clause (iii) the following new clause:</text>
<quoted-block id="H11D2107F5B2E493E9F849586F8E4A5B7" style="USC">
<clause id="HF624F50BB8D7443F819B53F6F6EC5EA1" indent="up2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>women who are recently separated
veterans.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H58A2E42841E8407C8FC7123D7E23B754"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Advisory
committee on minority veterans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a)(2)(A) of
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/544">section
544</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H38F5D213150E41328B22CDDA44C607F3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>and</quote> at the end of clause (iii);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE5EE3867D80A40689A531E6B49059BC6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
period at the end of clause (iv) and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA7808BCB7C664EEA8BC50C8BBD290732"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after
clause (iv) the following new clause:</text>
<quoted-block id="H8135E41CCDBC40C99B2798C8783B60CB" style="USC">
<clause id="HA100E7D023C44B8DB1FF57C7128556AD" indent="up2"><enum>(v)</enum><text>recently separated veterans who are
minority group
members.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H27F1A5C5EE5740829E319B15436C6C07"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall first apply to
appointments made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section>
Passed the House of
Representatives June 23, 2009.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.