[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.
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