Veterans identification card

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Currently, veteran identification cards are issued to veterans who have either completed the statutory time-in-service requirement for retirement from the Armed Forces or who have received a medical-related discharge from the Armed Forces. (2)A veteran who has served a minimum obligated time in service, but who does not meet the criteria described in paragraph (1), does not receive a means of identifying the veteran’s status as a veteran other than using the official DD–214 discharge papers of the veteran. (3)Goods, services, and promotional activities are often offered by public and private institutions to veterans who demonstrate proof of service in the military, but it is impractical for a veteran to always carry official DD–214 discharge papers to demonstrate such proof. (4)A general purpose veteran identification card made available to a veteran who does not meet the criteria described in paragraph (1) would be useful to such veteran in order to demonstrate the status of the veteran without having to carry and use official DD–214 discharge papers. (5)The Department of Veterans Affairs has the infrastructure in place across the United States to produce photographic identification cards and accept a small payment to cover the cost of these cards. (b)

Provision of veteran identification cards

Chapter 57 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 5705 the following new section:

5706.

Veterans identification card

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall issue an identification card described in subsection (b) to any covered veteran who— (1)requests such card; (2)was discharged from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions; (3)presents a copy of the DD–214 form or other official document from the official military personnel file of the veteran that describes the service of the veteran; and (4)pays the fee under subsection (c)(1). (b)

Identification card

An identification card described in this subsection is a card that— (1)displays a photograph of the covered veteran; (2)displays the name of the covered veteran; (3)explains that such card is not proof of any benefits to which the veteran is entitled to; (4)contains an identification number that is not a social security number; and (5)serves as proof that such veteran— (A)honorably served in the Armed Forces; and (B)has a DD–214 form or other official document in the official military personnel file of the veteran that describes the service of the veteran. (c)

Costs of card

(1)The Secretary shall charge a fee to each veteran who receives an identification card issued under this section, including a replacement identification card. (2) (A)The fee charged under paragraph (1) shall equal an amount that the Secretary determines is necessary to issue an identification card under this section. (B)In determining the amount of the fee under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that the total amount of fees collected under paragraph (1) equals an amount necessary to carry out this section, including costs related to any additional equipment or personnel required to carry out this section. (C)The Secretary shall review and reassess the determination under subparagraph (A) during each 5-year period in which the Secretary issues an identification card under this section. (3)Amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited in an account of the Department available to carry out this section. Amounts so deposited shall be— (A)merged with amounts in such account; (B)available in such amounts as may be provided in appropriation Acts; and (C)subject to the same conditions and limitations as amounts otherwise in such account. (d)

Effect of card on benefits

(1)An identification card issued under this section shall not serve as proof of any benefits that the veteran may be entitled to under this title. (2)A covered veteran who is issued an identification card under this section shall not be entitled to any benefits under this title by reason of possessing such card. (e)

Administrative measures

(1)The Secretary shall ensure that any information collected or used with respect to an identification card issued under this section is appropriately secured. (2)The Secretary may determine any appropriate procedures with respect to issuing a replacement identification card. (3)In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall coordinate with the National Personnel Records Center. (4)The Secretary may conduct such outreach to advertise the identification card under this section as the Secretary considers appropriate. (f)

Construction

This section shall not be construed to affect identification cards otherwise provided by the Secretary to veterans enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of this title. (g)

Covered veteran defined

In this section, the term covered veteran means a veteran who— (1)is not entitled to retired pay under chapter 1223 of title 10; and (2)is not enrolled in the system of patient enrollment under section 1705 of this title.

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5705 the following new item:

5706. Veterans identification card.

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.