[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 69 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MAKE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS PERMANENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 1999

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
is vital to the interests of minority veterans in our nation. Current 
law mandates the termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority 
Veterans (ACMV) as of December 31, 1999. My bill would simply repeal 
the provision of law that discontinues this important committee's 
mandate so that its critical work on behalf of minority veterans can 
continue into the next century. Saving the Advisory Committee will 
require no additional taxpayer funding.
  The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans operates in conjunction 
with the VA Center for Minority Veterans. This committee consists of 
members appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and includes 
minority veterans, representatives of minority veterans and individuals 
who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of 
minority veterans. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans helps 
the VA Center for Minority Veterans primarily by advising the Secretary 
on the adoption and implementation of policies and programs affecting 
minority veterans, and by making recommendations to the VA for the 
establishment or improvement of programs in the Department for which 
minority veterans are eligible.
  The unique concerns of minority veterans will become increasingly 
important for our nation during the next decade. The majority of 
African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American and Native American 
veterans served in the armed forces during Vietnam and post-Vietnam 
eras. The percentage of U.S. veterans who are minorities is expected to 
continue to increase as we enter the 21st century.
  The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans has helped to ensure that 
our veterans programs address the unique concerns of these men and 
women. Outreach to diverse veterans communities, from Native American 
reservations to inner-city neighborhoods, has helped inform thousands 
of minority veterans about opportunities for assistance at the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. I believe that these tasks are 
essential to the success of the VA in serving all veterans in our 
nation.
  Nevertheless, many specific issues of concern to minority veterans 
need to be addressed further. Minority veterans confront the 
debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 
substance abuse in greater numbers. Minority veterans suffer from a 
higher incidence of homelessness. Access to health care for Native 
Americans is a common problem. In addition, access to adequate job 
training is a difficulty for many minority veterans, a high percentage 
of whom qualify as low-income, category A veterans. Unfortunately, 
discrimination and cultural insensitivity remain problematic for 
minority veterans at many VA facilities.
  This is the only advisory committee in the VA that is not permanent. 
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a VA Center for Women Veterans 
and an advisory committee on women veterans. We should act now to 
assure that the VA Center for Minority Veterans maintains its own 
advisory committee.
  Mr. Speaker, the specific issues of importance to minority veterans 
will not disappear on December 31, 1999. I ask my colleague to support 
this vital legislation.

                                 H.R.--

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REPEAL OF SUNSET PROVISION FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
                   ON MINORITY VETERANS.

       Subsection (e) of section 554 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is repealed.

     

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