[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 199 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6291-H6292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1330
  DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON UNITED STATES 
              OUTLYING AREAS AND FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3730) to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in 
the Department of Veterans Affairs an Advisory Committee on United 
States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3730

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

     SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
                   ON UNITED STATES OUTLYING AREAS AND FREELY 
                   ASSOCIATED STATES.

       (a) Establishment of Advisory Committee.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 548. Advisory Committee on United States Outlying 
       Areas and Freely Associated States

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an 
     advisory committee, to be known as the `Advisory Committee on 
     United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States', 
     to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary on matters 
     relating to covered veterans.
       ``(b) Duties.--The duties of the Committee shall be the 
     following:
       ``(1) To advise the Secretary on matters relating to 
     covered veterans, including how the Secretary can improve the 
     programs and services of the Department to better serve such 
     veterans.
       ``(2) To identify for the Secretary evolving issues of 
     relevance to covered veterans.
       ``(3) To propose clarifications, recommendations, and 
     solutions to address issues raised by covered veterans.
       ``(4) To provide a forum for covered veterans, veterans 
     service organizations serving covered veterans, and the 
     Department to discuss issues and proposals for changes to 
     regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department.
       ``(5) To identify priorities for and provide advice to the 
     Secretary on appropriate strategies for consultation with 
     veterans service organizations serving covered veterans.
       ``(6) To encourage the Secretary to work with other 
     departments and agencies of the Federal Government and 
     Congress to ensure covered veterans are provided the full 
     benefits of their status as covered veterans.
       ``(7) To highlight contributions of covered veterans in the 
     Armed Forces.
       ``(8) To conduct other duties as determined appropriate by 
     the Secretary.
       ``(c) Membership.--(1) The Committee shall be comprised of 
     15 voting members appointed by the Secretary.
       ``(2) In appointing members pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
     Secretary shall ensure the following:
       ``(A) At least one member is appointed to represent covered 
     veterans in each of the following areas:
       ``(i) American Samoa.
       ``(ii) Guam.
       ``(iii) Puerto Rico.
       ``(iv) The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
       ``(v) The Virgin Islands of the United States.
       ``(vi) The Federated States of Micronesia.
       ``(vii) The Republic of the Marshall Islands.
       ``(viii) The Republic of Palau.
       ``(B) Not fewer than half of the members appointed are 
     covered veterans, unless the Secretary determines that an 
     insufficient number of qualified covered veterans are 
     available.
       ``(C) Each member appointed resides in an area specified in 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(3) In appointing members pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
     Secretary may consult with any Member of Congress who 
     represents an area specified in paragraph (2)(A).
       ``(d) Terms; Vacancies.--(1) A member of the Committee 
     shall be appointed for a term of two years.
       ``(2) Not later than 180 days after receiving notice of a 
     vacancy in the Committee, the Secretary shall fill the 
     vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment.
       ``(e) Meeting Format and Frequency.--(1) Except as provided 
     in paragraph (2), the Committee shall meet in-person with the 
     Secretary not less frequently than twice each year and hold 
     monthly conference calls as necessary.
       ``(2) Meetings held under paragraph (1) may be conducted 
     virtually during a public health emergency declared by the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 
     319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) or any 
     renewal of such declaration.
       ``(f) Additional Representation.--(1) Representatives of 
     relevant departments and agencies of the Federal Government 
     may attend meetings of the Committee and provide information 
     to the Committee.
       ``(2) One representative of the Department shall attend 
     each meeting of the Committee.
       ``(3) Representatives attending meetings under this 
     subsection--
       ``(A) shall not be considered voting members of the 
     Committee; and
       ``(B) may not receive additional compensation for services 
     performed with respect to the Committee.
       ``(g) Subcommittees.--(1) The Committee may establish 
     subcommittees.
       ``(2) The Secretary may, in consultation with the 
     Committee, appoint a member to a subcommittee established 
     under paragraph (1) who is not a member of the Committee.
       ``(3) A subcommittee established under paragraph (1) may 
     enhance the function of the Committee, but may not supersede 
     the authority of the Committee or provide direct advice or 
     work products to the Secretary.
       ``(h) Reports.--(1) Not less frequently than once each 
     year, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report containing such 
     recommendations as the Committee may have for legislative or 
     administrative action.
       ``(2) Not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
     Secretary receives a report under paragraph (1), the 
     Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a written response to the report after--
       ``(A) giving the Committee an opportunity to review such 
     written response; and
       ``(B) including in such written response any comments the 
     Committee considers appropriate.
       ``(3) Not less frequently than once every two years, the 
     Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate 
     committees of Congress a report describing the activities of 
     the Committee during the previous two years.
       ``(4) The Secretary shall make publicly available on an 
     internet website of the Department--
       ``(A) each report the Secretary receives under paragraph 
     (1);
       ``(B) each written response the Secretary submits under 
     paragraph (2); and
       ``(C) each report the Secretary receives under paragraph 
     (3).
       ``(i) Committee Personnel Matters.--A member of the 
     Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
     diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an 
     employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
     title 5 while away from the home or regular place of business 
     of the member in the performance of the duties of the 
     Committee.
       ``(j) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Secretary shall consult with veterans service organizations 
     serving covered veterans.
       ``(k) Federal Advisory Committee Act Exemption.--Section 14 
     of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall 
     not apply to the Committee.
       ``(l) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
       ``(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       ``(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
       ``(2) The term `Committee' means the Advisory Committee on 
     United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States 
     established under subsection (a).
       ``(3) The term `covered veteran' means a veteran residing 
     in an area specified in subsection (c)(2)(A).
       ``(4) The term `veterans service organization serving 
     covered veterans' means any organization that--
       ``(A) serves the interests of covered veterans;
       ``(B) has covered veterans in substantive and policymaking 
     positions within the organization; and
       ``(C) has demonstrated experience working with covered 
     veterans.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 5 of such title is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 547 the following new 
     item:

``548. Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely 
              Associated States.''.
       (b) Deadline for Establishment.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall establish the advisory

[[Page H6292]]

     committee required by section 548 of title 38, United States 
     Code, as added by subsection (a)(1) of this section.
       (c) Deadline for Initial Appointments.--Not later than 90 
     days after the date on which the Secretary establishes the 
     advisory committee required by such section 548, the 
     Secretary shall appoint the members of such advisory 
     committee.
       (d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 120 days after the 
     date on which the Secretary establishes the advisory 
     committee required by such section 548, such advisory 
     committee shall hold its first meeting.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 3730, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, H.R. 3730, sponsored by Mr. 
Sablan and Mrs. Radewagen, which would create an advisory committee on 
veterans living in outlying areas and freely associated States, 
including island territories.
  The advisory committee would have a variety of members, including 
experts from the covered geographic areas. The Secretary will be able 
to consult regularly with, and receive the input of, this advisory 
committee regarding the administration of benefits and VA programs. 
Once established, the advisory committee will report annually on the 
needs of the covered veterans and provide much-needed recommendations.
  This bipartisan legislation is supported by the American Legion, 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Minority Veterans of America, Iraq and 
Afghanistan Veterans of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3730, to create a VA 
advisory committee on better serving veterans' needs in the 
territories. For a number of Congresses, Congresswoman Radewagen, 
Congresswoman Gonzalez-Colon, Congressman Sablan, and other delegates 
from the territories have honorably served their veterans and 
constituents.
  Committee staff has traveled with many of our delegates and 
colleagues to the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Puerto 
Rico. We have seen firsthand the disparities and the difficulties that 
their veterans face when trying to access healthcare and benefits from 
the VA.
  The combination of limited transportation options, the lack of local 
resources, the overlapping Federal agency jurisdictions, and the 
complexities around VA care in neighboring foreign nations make the 
territories different from the rest of the Nation and difficult to work 
in.
  Unfortunately, the challenges that the veterans in the territories 
face always seem to slide down to the bottom of VA's priority list.
  While I am generally skeptical of new advisory committees, I believe 
the voices of the veterans in the territories are not being heard, and 
I share Congresswoman Radewagen's and Congressman Sablan's goal of 
elevating their needs.
  For those reasons, I support the bill, and I encourage my colleagues 
to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from the 
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan), my good friend and valued member 
of the Committee on Veteran Affairs, who serves on the Health 
Subcommittee.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3730, 
creates a VA advisory committee for marginalized veterans living in the 
Marianas, the other United States insular areas, and in the freely 
associated States. Veterans in my district, especially, and in the 
other insular areas, too, face barriers to VA services no vet should be 
forced to endure.
  In Northern Marianas, there are no VA clinics and no Vet Centers.
  Veterans in my district sometimes fly 3,700 miles to Hawaii or over 
6,000 miles to California to access VA services. And that is why my 
bill, establishing a committee to educate the Secretary on the 
obstacles insular area veterans face, is so important.
  Each U.S. insular area and each of the freely associated States would 
have a seat on the advisory committee. Each would be able to describe 
the barriers their veterans face in receiving VA services.
  Establishing an advisory committee will not solve every logistical 
problem for veterans who live in geographically remote areas of 
America, but at least those veterans on the margins will have a way to 
communicate directly with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. And when 
the Secretary hears about the barriers to service these insular 
veterans face, maybe, just maybe, change will occur.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minority Veterans of America, the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans 
of America for their support of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 3730.
  I also thank Chairman Takano, Ranking Member Bost, Congresswoman 
Radewagen, and my fellow members of the Committee on Veterans Affairs 
for their unanimous support to report my bill favorably to the House of 
Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3730 to give 
marginalized veterans in the insular areas a voice in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 3730, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3730, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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