1.Commission to review benefits
provided by each State to disabled veterans
(a)There is established a commission to be
known as the State Veterans’ Benefits Commission
.
(b)The Commission shall evaluate—
(1)the total amount
of benefits provided by each State to a covered veteran residing in such State
(including those benefits that a State provides to a resident regardless of
whether the resident is a covered veteran); and
(2)the method in
which each State establishes the amount of benefits for veterans based on the
disability rating of the veteran.
(c)
(1)The Commission shall be composed of seven members
appointed as follows:
(A)One individual appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
(B)One individual appointed jointly by the
President of the Senate and the President pro tempore of the Senate.
(C)One individual appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(D)One individual
appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
(E)Three individuals appointed by the
President.
(2)Appointments
under paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(3)Of
the seven individuals appointed under paragraph (1)—
(A)not less than
three shall be disabled veterans; and
(B)not less than one
shall be a medical doctor.
(4)Chairperson and
Vice ChairpersonThe
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission shall be elected by the
members.
(5)Each member shall be appointed for the life
of the Commission.
(6)A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d)
(1)Not later than 30
days after each member is appointed under subsection (c)(1), the Commission
shall hold its initial meeting.
(2)The
Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its
members.
(3)A
majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may
hold hearings.
(e)
(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), members shall serve
without pay.
(2)Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(f)
(1)The
Commission shall have a director who shall be appointed by the
Chairperson.
(2)Subject
to rules prescribed by the Commission, the Chairperson may appoint additional
personnel as the Chairperson considers appropriate.
(3)Applicability of
certain civil service lawsThe director and staff of the
Commission shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall be
paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of
chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay
rates.
(4)Subject to rules prescribed by the Commission, the
Chairperson may procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(5)Staff to federal
agenciesUpon request of the Chairperson, the head of any Federal
department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel
of that department or agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its
duties under this section.
(g)
(1)The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this
Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and
receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may
administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.
(2)Powers of
Members and agentsAny member or agent of the Commission may, if
authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is
authorized to take by this section.
(3)The Commission
may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States
information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall
furnish that information to the Commission.
(4)The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and
agencies of the United States.
(5)Administrative
support servicesUpon the
request of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide
to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services
necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this
Act.
(h)Not later than 60 days after the initial
meeting under subsection (d)(1), the Commission shall submit to the Committee
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate a report on the evaluation made under
subsection (b), including—
(1)the results of the evaluation;
(2)a
list of States ranked in order of the amount of benefits provided to covered
veterans residing in the State;
(3)the recommended
amount of benefits the Commission determines necessary for a State to provide
covered veterans residing in the State to ensure that such veterans have
adequate care, assistance, and financial security;
(4)recommendations as to how States can
improve the benefits provided to covered veterans residing in the State;
(5)relevant
background and statistical information associated with the recommendations
under paragraphs (3) and (4); and
(6)other information
the Commission determines appropriate.
(i)The Commission shall terminate on the date
that is two months after the date on which the Commission submits the report
pursuant to subsection (h).
(j)In this section, the term covered veteran
means a veteran with a disability that is—
(1)rated total for
the purposes of disability compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United
States Code; and
(2)based upon an
impairment reasonably certain to continue throughout the life of the
veteran.