II 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 151 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require an annual plan on outreach 

activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 25, 2005 

Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Mr. PRYOR) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require an annual 

plan on outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Benefits Out5 reach Act of 2005’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ANNUAL PLAN ON OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. 

7 (a) ANNUAL PLAN REQUIRED.—Subchapter II of 

8 chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 

9 inserting after section 523 the following new section: 
2 

•S 151 IS 

1 ‘‘§ 523A. Annual plan on outreach activities 

2 ‘‘(a) ANNUAL PLAN REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall 

3 prepare each year a plan for the outreach activities of the 

4 Department for the following year. 

5 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—Each annual plan under sub6 section (a) shall include the following: 

7 ‘‘(1) Plans for efforts to identify veterans who 

8 are not enrolled or registered with the Department 

9 for benefits or services under the programs adminis10 tered by the Secretary. 

11 ‘‘(2) Plans for informing veterans and their de12 pendents of modifications of the benefits and serv13 ices under the programs administered by the Sec14 retary, including eligibility for medical and nursing 

15 care and services. 

16 ‘‘(c) COORDINATION IN DEVELOPMENT.—In devel17 oping an annual plan under subsection (a), the Secretary 

18 shall consult with the following: 

19 ‘‘(1) Directors or other appropriate officials of 

20 organizations recognized by the Secretary under sec21 tion 5902 of this title. 

22 ‘‘(2) Directors or other appropriate officials of 

23 State and local education and training programs. 

24 ‘‘(3) Representatives of non-governmental orga25 nizations that carry out veterans outreach programs. 
3 

•S 151 IS 

1 ‘‘(4) Representatives of State and local veterans 

2 employment organizations. 

3 ‘‘(5) Businesses and professional organizations. 

4 ‘‘(6) Other individuals and organizations that 

5 assist veterans in adjusting to civilian life. 

6 ‘‘(d) INCORPORATION OF ASSESSMENT OF PREVIOUS

7 ANNUAL PLANS.—In developing an annual plan under 

8 subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into account the 

9 lessons learned from the implementation of previous an10 nual plans under such subsection. 

11 ‘‘(e) INCORPORATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO IM12 PROVE OUTREACH AND AWARENESS.—In developing an 

13 annual plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall in14 corporate the recommendations for the improvement of 

15 veterans outreach and awareness activities included in the 

16 report submitted to Congress by the Secretary pursuant 

17 to section 805 of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act 

18 of 2004 (Public Law 108–454).’’. 

19 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

20 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

21 after the item relating to section 523 the following new 

22 item: 

‘‘523A. Annual plan on outreach activities.’’. 

Æ