I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5719 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 13, 2010 Mr. Cardoza (for himself and Mr. Putnam) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop, and the Secretary of Defense to distribute to members of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active duty, information in a compact disk read-only memory format or other appropriate digital format that lists and explains the health, education, and other benefits for which veterans are eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans’ Information Act.

2.

Veterans health, education, and other benefits information in compact disk read-only memory format or other appropriate digital format for members of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active duty

(a)

Development and distribution of information

Section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (b)(17), by inserting before the period at the end the following: , including, once available, a copy of the compact disk or other appropriate digital format developed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under subsection (d) that contains the information described in such subsection; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsections: (d)

Veterans health, education, and other benefits information in digital format

(1)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and maintain in a compact disk read-only memory format, or other appropriate digital format, certain information that the Secretary determines would be helpful to veterans. The information shall include the following: (A)A listing and explanation of every benefit for which veterans may be eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and any other applicable law, and the eligibility criteria for receiving each such benefit, including the range of compensation and benefits available under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are based on grade, length of service, degree of disability, at separation or retirement, and other factors affecting compensation and benefits. (B)A comprehensive explanation of how veterans may apply for such benefits, including procedures, requirements, and locations for submitting applications for such benefits. (C)A listing of all facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and contact information for such facilities. (D)Contact information for State and local veterans agencies. (2)The compact disk or other digital format developed under this subsection shall be distributed to members of the Armed Forces pursuant to subsection (b) and, upon request, to family members of members of the armed forces. If a member of the armed forces is unable to receive the compact disk or other digital format, the compact disk or other digital format shall be distributed to a family member of that member of the Armed Forces, as determined by the Secretary concerned pursuant to regulations prescribed for such purpose, whether the family member requests the compact disk or other format or not. (e)

Internet website

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and the head of any other relevant Government agency shall each maintain an Internet website on which information shall be made available at all times that clearly explains the benefits administered by that Secretary or agency head to which veterans are entitled and how veterans can secure those benefits. The website shall include all of the information contained on the compact disk or other digital format described in subsection (d) and information about how family members of veterans may request a compact disk or other digital format pursuant to subsection (d)(2). The information provided on the Internet website shall be updated not later than 30 days after any change affecting a benefit for which veterans may be eligible goes into effect. . (b)

Deadline

The compact disk or other digital format required by section 1142(d) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall be developed and ready for distribution to members of the Armed Forces not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.