Calendar No. 386

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1226

[Report No. 103–236]

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide

counseling, and for other purposes.gibility for readjustment counseling and relatedReadjustment Counseling Service, to improve elifor the organization and administration of the

MARCH 15 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 22), 1994

Reported with an amendment
II

Calendar No. 386

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1226

[Report No. 103–236]

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the organization

and administration of the Readjustment Counseling Service, to improve

eligibility for readjustment counseling and related counseling, and for

other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JULY 14 (legislative day, JUNE 30), 1993

Mr. AKAKA introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

MARCH 15 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 22), 1994

Reported by Mr. ROCKEFELLER, with an amendment

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the

organization and administration of the Readjustment

Counseling Service, to improve eligibility for readjustment counseling and related counseling, and for other

purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2

•S 1226 RS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Readjustment Counsel3 ing Service Amendments of 1993’’.

4 SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSEL5 ING SERVICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VET6 ERANS AFFAIRS.

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7305 of title 38, United

8 States Code, is amended—

9 (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para10 graph (8); and

11 (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the follow12 ing new paragraph (7):

13 ‘‘(7) A Readjustment Counseling Service.’’.

14 (b) ORGANIZATION.—The Readjustment Counseling

15 Service shall have the organizational structure and admin16 istrative structure of that service as such structures were

17 in existence on January 1, 1993.

18 (c) REVISION OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.—

19 (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not alter or

20 revise the organizational structure or the administrative

21 structure of the Readjustment Counseling Service until—

22 (A) the Secretary has submitted to the Commit23 tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House

24 of Representatives a report containing a full and

25 complete statement of the proposed alteration or re26 vision; and
3

•S 1226 RS

1 (B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the

2 date on which the report is received by the commit3 tees.

4 (2) In the computation of the 60-day period under

5 paragraph (1)(B), there shall be excluded any day on

6 which either House of Congress is not in session because

7 of an adjournment of more than 3 calendar days to a day

8 certain.

9 (d) BUDGET INFORMATION RELATING TO THE SERV10 ICE.—Each budget submitted to the Congress by the

11 President under section 1105 of title 31, United States

12 Code, shall set forth the amount requested in the budget

13 for the operation of the Readjustment Counseling Service

14 in the fiscal year covered by the budget and shall set forth

15 separately the amount requested for administrative over16 sight of the activities of the service (including the amount

17 requested for funding of the Advisory Committee on Vet18 eran Readjustment Counseling).

19 SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING

20 SERVICE.

21 (a) DIRECTOR.—Section 7306(b) of title 38, United

22 States Code, is amended—

23 (1) by striking out ‘‘and’’ at the end of para24 graph (2);
4

•S 1226 RS

1 (2) by striking out the period at the end of

2 paragraph (3) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘; and’’;

3 and

4 (3) by adding at the end the following:

5 ‘‘(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a quali6 fied psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist hold7 ing a diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling

8 psychology from an authority approved by the Amer9 ican Psychological Association and has successfully

10 undergone an internship approved by that associa11 tion, (iii) is a qualified holder of a master in social

12 work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse holding a

13 master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric

14 nursing or any other mental-health related degree

15 approved by the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3

16 years of clinical experience and 2 years of adminis17 trative experience in the Readjustment Counseling

18 Service or other comparable mental health care

19 counseling service (as determined by the Secretary),

20 who shall be the director of the Readjustment Coun21 seling Service.’’.

22 (b) ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENT.—The Director

23 of the Readjustment Counseling Service shall report to the

24 Under Secretary for Health through the Associate Deputy

25 Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Programs.
5

•S 1226 RS

1 SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT

2 COUNSELING AND CERTAIN RELATED COUN3 SELING SERVICES.

4 (a) READJUSTMENT COUNSELING.—(1) Subsection

5 (c) of section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, is

6 amended to read as follows:

7 ‘‘(a) Upon the request of any veteran, the Secretary

8 shall, within the limits of Department facilities, furnish

9 counseling to such veteran to assist such veteran in read10 justing to civilian life. Such counseling shall include a gen11 eral mental and psychological assessment to ascertain

12 whether such veteran has mental or psychological prob13 lems associated with readjustment to civilian life.’’.

14 (2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.

15 (b) OTHER COUNSELING.—Such section is further

16 amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following

17 new subsection (c):

18 ‘‘(c) The Secretary may provide the counseling serv19 ices described in section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to the

20 surviving parents, spouse, and children of any member of

21 the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty

22 or from a condition (as determined by the Secretary) in23 curred in or aggravated by such service.’’.

24 (c) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT FOR COUNSELING

25 SERVICES.—Subsection (e) of such section is amended by

26 striking out ‘‘subsections (a) and (b)’’ each place it ap-
6

•S 1226 RS

1 pears and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘subsections (a), (b),

2 and (c)’’.

3 SEC. 5. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATIENT RECORDS IN THE

4 READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE.

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi6 sion of law, the records of the identity, diagnosis, progno7 sis, or treatment of any patient or subject of the Readjust8 ment Counseling Service of the Department of Veterans

9 Affairs, or of any patient or subject provided readjustment

10 counseling services under a contract with the Department,

11 may be disclosed only as follows:

12 (1) By written consent of the patient or subject,

13 only for the purpose for which such consent is grant14 ed.

15 (2) To medical personnel to the extent nec16 essary to meet a bona fide medical emergency.

17 (3) To personnel of the Department other than

18 personnel of the service, if such disclosure is deter19 mined by an appropriate member of the service to be

20 necessary to avert an imminent danger to the pa21 tient or subject, or to another person.

22 (4) If authorized by an appropriate order of a

23 court of competent jurisdiction granted after appli24 cation showing good cause therefor (with such cause

25 to be determined according to the elements set forth
7

•S 1226 RS

1 in section 7332(b)(2)(D) of title 38, United States

2 Code).

3 (b) FINES.—Any person who violates a provision of

4 subsection (a) shall be fined in accordance with sub5 sections (f) and (g) of section 7332 of title 38, United

6 States Code.

7 SEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF

8 VETERANS.

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17

10 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting

11 after section 1712B the following:

12 ‘‘§ 1712C. Advisory Committee on Veteran Readjust13 ment Counseling

14 ‘‘(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory

15 Committee on Veteran Readjustment Counseling (herein16 after in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’).

17 ‘‘(2) The Committee shall consist of 18 members ap18 pointed by the Secretary from among veterans—

19 ‘‘(A) who have demonstrated significant civic or

20 professional achievement;

21 ‘‘(B) at least 12 of whom are veterans of the

22 Vietnam era or other period of war; and

23 ‘‘(C) who have experience with the provision of

24 veterans benefits and services by the Department.
8

•S 1226 RS

1 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members

2 appointed to the Committee include persons from a wide

3 variety of geographic areas and ethnic backgrounds, per4 sons from veterans service organizations, and women.

5 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of serv6 ice and pay and allowances of the members of the Commit7 tee, except that a term of service may not exceed 2 years.

8 The Secretary may reappoint any member for additional

9 terms of service.

10 ‘‘(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, con11 sult with and seek the advice of the Committee with re12 spect to the provision by the Department of benefits and

13 services to veterans in order to assist veterans in the read14 justment to civilian life.

15 ‘‘(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under

16 this subsection, the Committee shall—

17 ‘‘(i) assemble and review information relating to

18 the needs of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;

19 ‘‘(ii) provide information relating to the nature

20 and character of psychological problems arising from

21 military service;

22 ‘‘(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the ef23 fectiveness of the policies, organizational structures,

24 and services of the Department in assisting veterans

25 in readjusting to civilian life; and
9

•S 1226 RS

1 ‘‘(iv) provide on-going advice on the most ap2 propriate means of responding to the readjustment

3 needs of future veterans.

4 ‘‘(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph

5 (A), the Committee shall take into special account veter6 ans of the Vietnam era, and the readjustment needs of

7 such veterans.

8 ‘‘(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the

9 Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the

10 programs and activities of the Department that relate to

11 the readjustment of veterans to civilian life. Each such

12 report shall include—

13 ‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans

14 with respect to readjustment to civilian life;

15 ‘‘(B) a review of the programs and activities of

16 the Department designed to meet such needs; and

17 ‘‘(C) such recommendations (including rec18 ommendations for administrative and legislative ac19 tion) as the Committee considers appropriate.

20 ‘‘(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of each

21 report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit

22 to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and

23 House of Representatives a copy of the report, together

24 with any comments and recommendations concerning the

25 report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
10

•S 1226 RS

1 ‘‘(3) The Committee may also submit to the Sec2 retary such other reports and recommendations as the

3 Committee considers appropriate.

4 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual re5 port submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529

6 of this title a summary of all reports and recommendations

7 of the Committee submitted to the Secretary since the pre8 vious annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant

9 to that section.

10 ‘‘(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the pro11 visions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.

12 App.) shall apply to the activities of the Committee under

13 this section.

14 ‘‘(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the

15 Committee.’’.

16 (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter

17 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item

18 relating to section 1712B the following:

‘‘1712C. Advisory Committee on Veteran Readjustment Counseling.’’.

19 (b) ORIGINAL MEMBERS.—(1) Notwithstanding sub20 section (a)(2) of section 1712C(a)(2) of such title (as

21 added by subsection (a)), the members of the Advisory

22 Committee on the Readjustment of Vietnam and Other

23 War Veterans on the date of the enactment of this Act

24 shall be the original members of the advisory committee

25 recognized under such section.
11

•S 1226 RS

1 (2) The original members shall so serve until the Sec2 retary of Veterans Affairs carries out appointments under

3 such subsection (a)(2). The Secretary shall carry out such

4 appointments as soon after such date as is practicable.

5 The Secretary may make such appointments from among

6 such original members.

7 SEC. 7. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RE8 SOURCE CENTER PILOT PROGRAM.

9 (a) REQUIREMENT.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans

10 Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af11 fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan

12 for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center

13 program established pursuant to the amendment made by

14 section 105 of the Veterans’ Administration Health-Care

15 Amendments of 1985 (Public Law 99–166; 99 Stat. 944).

16 The plan shall include a schedule for the implementation

17 of the program at or through all Department of Veterans

18 Affairs readjustment counseling centers.

19 (2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later

20 than 4 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

21 (b) DEFINITION.—In this section the term ‘‘Depart22 ment of Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling cen23 ters’’ has the same meaning given the term ‘‘center’’ in

24 section 1712A(i)(1) of title 38, United States Code.
12

•S 1226 RS

1 SEC. 8. VETERAN CENTER HEALTH-CARE PILOT PROGRAM.

2 (a) PROGRAM.—(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of

3 title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the

4 end the following:

5 ‘‘§ 1720E. Veteran center health-care pilot program

6 ‘‘(a) The Secretary shall carry out a pilot program

7 for the provision of health-related services to eligible veter8 ans at readjustment counseling centers. The Secretary

9 shall carry out the pilot program in accordance with this

10 section.

11 ‘‘(b)(1) In carrying out the pilot program, the Sec12 retary shall—

13 ‘‘(A) identify not less than 12 or more than 15

14 readjustment counseling centers at which to provide

15 health-related services under the pilot program; and

16 ‘‘(B) provide such services to eligible veterans

17 at such centers in accordance with paragraph (2).

18 ‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary shall provide health-related

19 services under the pilot program as follows:

20 ‘‘(i) At 5 or more readjustment counseling cen21 ters identified under paragraph (1)(A), by providing

22 not less than 20 hours per week of basic ambulatory

23 services and health-care screening through qualified

24 personnel.
13

•S 1226 RS

1 ‘‘(ii) At 5 or more such centers, by providing

2 not less than 40 hours per week of full-range ambu3 latory services through qualified personnel.

4 ‘‘(iii) At 2 or more such centers, by providing

5 not less than 120 hours per week of physician serv6 ices through qualified personnel.

7 ‘‘(B) In determining the location of the readjustment

8 counseling centers at which to provide health-related serv9 ices under the pilot program, the Secretary shall select

10 centers that are located in a variety of geographic areas

11 and that serve veterans of a variety of economic, social,

12 and ethnic backgrounds.

13 ‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary shall commence the provision

14 of health-related services at readjustment counseling cen15 ters under this section not later than 6 months after the

16 date of the enactment of the Readjustment Counseling

17 Service Amendments of 1993.

18 ‘‘(2) The pilot program shall terminate 2 years after

19 the date on which the Secretary commences the provision

20 of services under paragraph (1).

21 ‘‘(d) For the purposes of this section—

22 ‘‘(1) The term ‘Department general health-care

23 facility’ has the meaning given such term in section

24 1712A(i)(2) of this title.
14

•S 1226 RS

1 ‘‘(2) The term ‘eligible veteran’ means any vet2 eran eligible for outpatient services under paragraph

3 (1), (2), or (3) of section 1712(a) of this title.

4 ‘‘(3) The term ‘readjustment counseling center’

5 has the same meaning given the term ‘center’ in sec6 tion 1712A(i)(1) of this title.’’.

7 (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such

8 chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating

9 to section 1720D the following:

‘‘1720E. Veteran center health-care pilot program.’’.

10 (b) REPORT.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs

11 shall submit to Congress a report on the veteran center

12 health-care pilot program established under section 1720E

13 of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection

14 (a)). The report shall include the following:

15 (A) A description of the program, including in16 formation on—

17 (i) the number of veterans provided health18 related services under the program;

19 (ii) the number of such veterans referred

20 to Department of Veterans Affairs general

21 health-care facilities in order to provide health

22 care services to such veterans; and

23 (iii) the cost to the Department of the pro24 gram.
15

•S 1226 RS

1 (B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the

2 health-related services provided to veterans under

3 the program.

4 (C) The recommendations of the Secretary for

5 means of improving the program, and an estimate of

6 the cost to the Department of implementing such

7 recommendations.

8 (D) Such other information as the Secretary

9 considers appropriate.

10 (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later

11 than 3 months after the termination of the pilot program.

12 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

13 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Readjustment Counsel14 ing Service Amendments of 1994’’.

15 SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSEL16 ING SERVICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VET17 ERANS AFFAIRS.

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7305 of title 38, United

19 States Code, is amended—

20 (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para21 graph (8); and

22 (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the follow23 ing new paragraph (7):

24 ‘‘(7) A Readjustment Counseling Service.’’.
16

•S 1226 RS

1 (b) ORGANIZATION.—The Readjustment Counseling

2 Service shall have the organizational structure and admin3 istrative structure of that service as such structures were

4 in existence on January 1, 1993.

5 (c) REVISION OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.—(1)

6 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not alter or revise

7 the organizational structure or the administrative structure

8 of the Readjustment Counseling Service until—

9 (A) the Secretary has submitted to the Commit10 tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of

11 Representatives a report containing a full and com12 plete statement of the proposed alteration or revision;

13 and

14 (B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the

15 date on which the report is received by the commit16 tees.

17 (2) In the computation of the 60-day period under

18 paragraph (1)(B), there shall be excluded any day on which

19 either House of Congress is not in session because of an

20 adjournment of more than 3 calendar days to a day certain.

21 (d) BUDGET INFORMATION RELATING TO THE SERV22 ICE.—Each budget submitted to Congress by the President

23 under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, shall

24 set forth the amount requested in the budget for the oper25 ation of the Readjustment Counseling Service in the fiscal
17

•S 1226 RS

1 year covered by the budget and shall set forth separately

2 the amount requested for administrative oversight of the ac3 tivities of the service (including the amount requested for

4 funding of the Advisory Committee on Readjustment of Vet5 erans).

6 SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING

7 SERVICE.

8 (a) DIRECTOR.—Section 7306(b) of title 38, United

9 States Code, is amended—

10 (1) by striking out ‘‘and’’ at the end of para11 graph (2);

12 (2) by striking out the period at the end of para13 graph (3) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘; and’’; and

14 (3) by adding at the end the following:

15 ‘‘(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a quali16 fied psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist hold17 ing a diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling

18 psychology from an authority approved by the Amer19 ican Psychological Association and has successfully

20 undergone an internship approved by that associa21 tion, (iii) is a qualified holder of a master in social

22 work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse holding a

23 master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric

24 nursing or any other mental-health related degree ap25 proved by the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3 years
18

•S 1226 RS

1 of clinical experience and 2 years of administrative

2 experience in the Readjustment Counseling Service or

3 other comparable mental health care counseling serv4 ice (as determined by the Secretary), who shall be the

5 director of the Readjustment Counseling Service.’’.

6 (b) STATUS OF DIRECTOR.—Section 7306(a)(3) of

7 such title is amended by striking out ‘‘eight’’ and inserting

8 in lieu thereof ‘‘nine’’.

9 (c) ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENT.—The Director of

10 the Readjustment Counseling Service shall report to the

11 Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans

12 Affairs through the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for

13 Health for Clinical Programs.

14 SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT

15 COUNSELING AND CERTAIN RELATED COUN16 SELING SERVICES.

17 (a) READJUSTMENT COUNSELING.—(1) Subsection (a)

18 of section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, is amended

19 to read as follows:

20 ‘‘(a)(1)(A) Upon the request of any veteran referred

21 to in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary

22 shall furnish counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran

23 in readjusting to civilian life.

24 ‘‘(B) A veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this

25 paragraph is any veteran who—
19

•S 1226 RS

1 ‘‘(i) served on active duty during the Vietnam

2 era; or

3 ‘‘(ii) served on active military, naval, or air

4 service in a theater of combat operations (as deter5 mined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec6 retary of Defense) during a period of war or in any

7 other area during a period in which hostilities (as de8 fined in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph) oc9 curred in such area.

10 ‘‘(C) Upon the request of any veteran other than a vet11 eran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the

12 Secretary may furnish counseling to the veteran to assist

13 the veteran in readjusting to civilian life.

14 ‘‘(D) For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this

15 paragraph, the term ‘hostilities’ means an armed conflict

16 in which the members of the Armed Forces are subjected

17 to danger comparable to the danger to which members of

18 the Armed Forces have been subjected in combat with enemy

19 armed forces during a period of war, as determined by the

20 Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense.

21 ‘‘(2) The counseling referred to in paragraph (1) shall

22 include a general mental and psychological assessment of

23 a covered veteran to ascertain whether such veteran has

24 mental or psychological problems associated with readjust25 ment to civilian life.’’.
20

•S 1226 RS

1 (2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.

2 (b) OTHER COUNSELING.—Such section is further

3 amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following new

4 subsection (c):

5 ‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary shall provide the counseling serv6 ices described in section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to the

7 surviving parents, spouse, and children of any member of

8 the Armed Forces who is killed during service on active

9 military, naval, or air service in a theater of combat oper10 ations (as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with

11 the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war or in any

12 other area during a period in which hostilities (as defined

13 in subsection (a)(1)(D) of this section) occurred in such

14 area.

15 ‘‘(2) The Secretary may provide the counseling services

16 referred to in paragraph (1) to the surviving parents,

17 spouse, and children of any member of the Armed Forces

18 who dies while serving on active duty or from a condition

19 (as determined by the Secretary) incurred in or aggravated

20 by such service.’’.

21 (c) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT FOR COUNSELING SERV22 ICES.—Subsection (e) of such section is amended by striking

23 out ‘‘subsections (a) and (b)’’ each place it appears and in24 serting in lieu thereof ‘‘subsections (a), (b), and (c)’’.
21

•S 1226 RS

1 SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF

2 VETERANS.

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of

4 title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after

5 section 1712B the following:

6 ‘‘§ 1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of

7 Veterans

8 ‘‘(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Com9 mittee on the Readjustment of Veterans (hereafter in this

10 section referred to as the ‘Committee’).

11 ‘‘(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 18

12 members appointed by the Secretary from among veterans

13 who—

14 ‘‘(A) have demonstrated significant civic or pro15 fessional achievement; and

16 ‘‘(B) have experience with the provision of veter17 ans benefits and services by the Department.

18 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members

19 appointed to the Committee include persons from a wide

20 variety of geographic areas and ethnic backgrounds, persons

21 from veterans service organizations, and women.

22 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service

23 and pay and allowances of the members of the Committee,

24 except that a term of service may not exceed 2 years. The

25 Secretary may reappoint any member for additional terms

26 of service.
22

•S 1226 RS

1 ‘‘(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult

2 with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to

3 the provision by the Department of benefits and services to

4 veterans in order to assist veterans in the readjustment to

5 civilian life.

6 ‘‘(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under

7 this subsection, the Committee shall—

8 ‘‘(i) assemble and review information relating to

9 the needs of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;

10 ‘‘(ii) provide information relating to the nature

11 and character of psychological problems arising from

12 service in the Armed Forces;

13 ‘‘(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the ef14 fectiveness of the policies, organizational structures,

15 and services of the Department in assisting veterans

16 in readjusting to civilian life; and

17 ‘‘(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appro18 priate means of responding to the readjustment needs

19 of veterans in the future.

20 ‘‘(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph

21 (A), the Committee shall take into special account veterans

22 of the Vietnam era, and the readjustment needs of such

23 veterans.

24 ‘‘(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Com25 mittee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the pro-
23

•S 1226 RS

1 grams and activities of the Department that relate to the

2 readjustment of veterans to civilian life. Each such report

3 shall include—

4 ‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with

5 respect to readjustment to civilian life;

6 ‘‘(B) a review of the programs and activities of

7 the Department designed to meet such needs; and

8 ‘‘(C) such recommendations (including rec9 ommendations for administrative and legislative ac10 tion) as the Committee considers appropriate.

11 ‘‘(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of each

12 report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit

13 to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and

14 House of Representatives a copy of the report, together with

15 any comments and recommendations concerning the report

16 that the Secretary considers appropriate.

17 ‘‘(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary

18 such other reports and recommendations as the Committee

19 considers appropriate.

20 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual re21 port submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of

22 this title a summary of all reports and recommendations

23 of the Committee submitted to the Secretary since the pre24 vious annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant

25 to that section.
24

•S 1226 RS

1 ‘‘(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the pro2 visions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.

3 App.) shall apply to the activities of the Committee under

4 this section.

5 ‘‘(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the

6 Committee.’’.

7 (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter

8 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relat9 ing to section 1712B the following:

‘‘1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans.’’.

10 (b) ORIGINAL MEMBERS.—(1) Notwithstanding sub11 section (a)(2) of section 1712C of such title (as added by

12 subsection (a)), the members of the Advisory Committee on

13 the Readjustment of Vietnam and Other War Veterans on

14 the date of the enactment of this Act shall be the original

15 members of the advisory committee recognized under such

16 section.

17 (2) The original members shall so serve until the Sec18 retary of Veterans Affairs carries out appointments under

19 such subsection (a)(2). The Secretary shall carry out such

20 appointments as soon after such date as is practicable. The

21 Secretary may make such appointments from among such

22 original members.
25

•S 1226 RS

1 SEC. 6. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RE2 SOURCE CENTER PILOT PROGRAM.

3 (a) REQUIREMENT.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans Af4 fairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs

5 of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan for the

6 expansion of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center program

7 established pursuant to the amendment made by section 105

8 of the Veterans’ Administration Health-Care Amendments

9 of 1985 (Public Law 99–166; 99 Stat. 944). The plan shall

10 include a schedule for, and an assessment of the cost of,

11 the implementation of the program at or through all De12 partment of Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling cen13 ters.

14 (2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later than

15 4 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

16 (b) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘Depart17 ment of Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling centers’’

18 has the same meaning given the term ‘‘center’’ in section

19 1712A(i)(1) of title 38, United States Code.

20 SEC. 7. REPORT ON COLLOCATION OF VET CENTERS AND

21 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUT22 PATIENT CLINICS.

23 (a) REQUIREMENT.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans Af24 fairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs

25 of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the

26 feasibility and desirability of the collocation of Vet Centers
26

•S 1226 RS

1 and outpatient clinics (including rural mobile clinics) of

2 the Department of Veterans Affairs as current leases for

3 such centers and clinics expire.

4 (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later

5 than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

6 (b) COVERED MATTERS.—The report under this sec7 tion shall include an assessment of the following:

8 (1) The results of any collocation of Vet Centers

9 and outpatient clinics carried out by the Secretary

10 before the date of the enactment of this Act, including

11 the effects of such collocation on the quality of care

12 provided at such centers and clinics.

13 (2) The effect of such collocation on the capacity

14 of such centers to carry out their primary mission.

15 (3) The extent to which such collocation will im16 pair the operational independence or administrative

17 integrity of such centers.

18 (4) The feasibility of combining the services pro19 vided by such centers and clinics in the course of the

20 collocation of such centers and clinics.

21 (5) The advisability of the collocation of centers

22 and clinics of significantly different size.

23 (6) The effect of the locations (including urban

24 and rural locations) of the centers and clinics on the

25 feasibility and desirability of such collocation.
27

•S 1226 RS

1 (7) The amount of any costs savings to be

2 achieved by Department as a result of such colloca3 tion.

4 (8) The desirability of such collocation in light

5 of plans for the provision of health care services by

6 the Department under national health care reform.

7 (9) Any other matters that the Secretary deter8 mines appropriate.

9 SEC. 8. VET CENTER HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM.

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs

11 shall carry out a pilot program for the provision of health12 related services to eligible veterans at readjustment counsel13 ing centers. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program

14 in accordance with this section.

15 (b) SERVICES.—(1) In carrying out the pilot program,

16 the Secretary shall provide the services referred to in para17 graph (2) at not less than 10 readjustment counseling cen18 ters in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act.

19 (2) The Secretary shall provide basic ambulatory serv20 ices and health care screening services by such personnel

21 as the Secretary considers appropriate at each readjustment

22 counseling center under the pilot program. The Secretary

23 shall assign not less than one-half of a full-time employee

24 equivalent at each such center in order to provide such serv25 ices under the pilot program.
28

•S 1226 RS

1 (3) In determining the location of the readjustment

2 counseling centers at which to provide services under the

3 pilot program, the Secretary shall select centers that are

4 located in a variety of geographic areas and that serve vet5 erans of a variety of economic, social, and ethnic back6 grounds.

7 (c) PERIOD OF OPERATION.—(1) The Secretary shall

8 commence the provision of health-related services at read9 justment counseling centers under the pilot program not

10 later than 4 months after the date of the enactment of this

11 Act.

12 (2) The pilot program shall terminate 2 years after

13 the date on which the Secretary commences the provision

14 of services under paragraph (1).

15 (d) REPORT.—(1) The Secretary shall submit to Con16 gress a report on the pilot program established under this

17 section. The report shall include the following:

18 (A) A description of the program, including in19 formation on—

20 (i) the number of veterans provided basic

21 ambulatory services and health care screening

22 services under the pilot program;

23 (ii) the number of such veterans referred to

24 Department of Veterans Affairs general health-
29

•S 1226 RS

1 care facilities in order to provide such services to

2 such veterans; and

3 (iii) the cost to the Department of Veterans

4 Affairs of the pilot program.

5 (B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the services

6 provided to veterans under the pilot program.

7 (C) The recommendations of the Secretary for

8 means of improving the pilot program, and an esti9 mate of the cost to the Department of implementing

10 such recommendations.

11 (D) An assessment of the desirability of expand12 ing the type or nature of services provided under the

13 pilot program in light of plans for the provision of

14 health care services by the Department under national

15 health care reform.

16 (E) An assessment of the extent to which the pro17 vision of services under the pilot program impairs the

18 operational or administrative independence of the re19 adjustment counseling centers at which such services

20 are provided.

21 (F) An assessment of the effect of the location of

22 the centers on the effectiveness for the Department and

23 for veterans of the services provided under the pilot

24 program.
30

•S 1226 RS

1 (G) Such other information as the Secretary con2 siders appropriate.

3 (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later

4 than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

5 (e) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section:

6 (1) The term ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs

7 general health-care facility’’ has the meaning given

8 such term in section 1712A(i)(2) of title 38, United

9 States Code.

10 (2) The term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means any vet11 eran eligible for outpatient services under paragraph

12 (1), (2), or (3) of section 1712(a) of such title.

13 (3) The term ‘‘readjustment counseling center’’

14 has the same meaning given the term ‘‘center’’ in sec15 tion 1712A(i)(1) of such title.

S 1226 RS——2