[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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