[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5916-S5917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6394. Ms. HIRONO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) 
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. 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).
       ``(4) In addition to members appointed under paragraph (1), 
     the Committee shall be comprised of such ex-officio members 
     from the Department of State and the Department of the 
     Interior as the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the 
     Interior, respectively, shall appoint.
       ``(d) Terms; Vacancies.--(1) A member of the Committee--
       ``(A) shall be appointed for a term of two years; and
       ``(B) may be reappointed to serve an additional 2-year 
     term.
       ``(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 once each year and hold 
     monthly conference calls as necessary.
       ``(2) Meetings held under paragraph (1) may be conducted 
     virtually if determined necessary based on--
       ``(A) Department protocols; and
       ``(B) timing and budget considerations.
       ``(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 every 2 
     years, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report--
       ``(A) containing such recommendations as the Committee may 
     have for legislative or administrative action; and
       ``(B) describing the activities of the Committee during the 
     previous two years.
       ``(2) Not later than 120 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--

[[Page S5917]]

       ``(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) 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) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on the 
     date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this 
     section.
       ``(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 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 180 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.
                                 ______