I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4559 

To establish a commission to review benefits provided by each State to 

disabled veterans. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 2, 2010 

Mr. KISSELL (for himself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Ms. FUDGE, Mrs. 

MALONEY, Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas, Ms. GIFFORDS, Mr. MASSA, Ms. 

KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. OWENS, Mr. MCMAHON, and Ms. PINGREE

of Maine) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish a commission to review benefits provided by 

each State to disabled veterans. 

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

3 SECTION 1. COMMISSION TO REVIEW BENEFITS PROVIDED 

4 BY EACH STATE TO DISABLED VETERANS. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com6 mission to be known as the ‘‘State Veterans’ Benefits 

7 Commission’’. 

8 (b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall evaluate— 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4559 IH

1 (1) the total amount of benefits provided by 

2 each State to a covered veteran residing in such 

3 State (including those benefits that a State provides 

4 to a resident regardless of whether the resident is a 

5 covered veteran); and 

6 (2) the method in which each State establishes 

7 the amount of benefits for veterans based on the dis8 ability rating of the veteran. 

9 (c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 

11 composed of seven members appointed as follows: 

12 (A) One individual appointed by the 

13 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

14 (B) One individual appointed jointly by the 

15 President of the Senate and the President pro 

16 tempore of the Senate. 

17 (C) One individual appointed by the minor18 ity leader of the House of Representatives. 

19 (D) One individual appointed by the mi20 nority leader of the Senate. 

21 (E) Three individuals appointed by the 

22 President. 

23 (2) APPOINTMENTS.—Appointments under 

24 paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 30 days 

25 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4559 IH

1 (3) QUALIFICATIONS.—Of the seven individuals 

2 appointed under paragraph (1)— 

3 (A) not less than three shall be disabled 

4 veterans; and 

5 (B) not less than one shall be a medical 

6 doctor. 

7 (4) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 

8 The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Com9 mission shall be elected by the members. 

10 (5) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 

11 for the life of the Commission. 

12 (6) VACANCY.—A vacancy in the Commission 

13 shall be filled in the manner in which the original 

14 appointment was made. 

15 (d) MEETINGS.— 

16 (1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days 

17 after each member is appointed under subsection 

18 (c)(1), the Commission shall hold its initial meeting. 

19 (2) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 

20 the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its mem21 bers. 

22 (3) QUORUM.—A majority of the Commission 

23 shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may 

24 hold hearings. 

25 (e) PAY.— 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4559 IH

1 (1) RATES OF PAY.—Except as provided in 

2 paragraph (2), members shall serve without pay. 

3 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSE.—Each member shall re4 ceive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

5 subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 

6 under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 

7 States Code. 

8 (f) STAFF.— 

9 (1) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a 

10 director who shall be appointed by the Chairperson. 

11 (2) STAFF.—Subject to rules prescribed by the 

12 Commission, the Chairperson may appoint additional 

13 personnel as the Chairperson considers appropriate. 

14 (3) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE

15 LAWS.—The director and staff of the Commission 

16 shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 

17 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 

18 the competitive service, and shall be paid in accord19 ance with the provisions of chapter 51 and sub20 chapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to 

21 classification and General Schedule pay rates. 

22 (4) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—Subject to 

23 rules prescribed by the Commission, the Chairperson 

24 may procure temporary and intermittent services 

25 under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 4559 IH

1 (5) STAFF TO FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re2 quest of the Chairperson, the head of any Federal 

3 department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 

4 basis, any of the personnel of that department or 

5 agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out 

6 its duties under this section. 

7 (g) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— 

8 (1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commis9 sion may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, 

10 hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 

11 testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 

12 considers appropriate. The Commission may admin13 ister oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing 

14 before it. 

15 (2) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any 

16 member or agent of the Commission may, if author17 ized by the Commission, take any action which the 

18 Commission is authorized to take by this section. 

19 (3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis20 sion may secure directly from any department or 

21 agency of the United States information necessary 

22 to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of 

23 the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that 

24 department or agency shall furnish that information 

25 to the Commission. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 4559 IH

1 (4) MAILS.—The Commission may use the 

2 United States mails in the same manner and under 

3 the same conditions as other departments and agen4 cies of the United States. 

5 (5) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.— 

6 Upon the request of the Commission, the Adminis7 trator of General Services shall provide to the Com8 mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 

9 support services necessary for the Commission to 

10 carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 

11 (h) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the initial 

12 meeting under subsection (d)(1), the Commission shall 

13 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

14 House of Representatives and the Committee on Veterans’ 

15 Affairs of the Senate a report on the evaluation made 

16 under subsection (b), including— 

17 (1) the results of the evaluation; 

18 (2) a list of States ranked in order of the 

19 amount of benefits provided to covered veterans re20 siding in the State; 

21 (3) the recommended amount of benefits the 

22 Commission determines necessary for a State to pro23 vide covered veterans residing in the State to ensure 

24 that such veterans have adequate care, assistance, 

25 and financial security; 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 4559 IH

1 (4) recommendations as to how States can im2 prove the benefits provided to covered veterans re3 siding in the State; 

4 (5) relevant background and statistical informa5 tion associated with the recommendations under 

6 paragraphs (3) and (4); and 

7 (6) other information the Commission deter8 mines appropriate. 

9 (i) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

10 on the date that is two months after the date on which 

11 the Commission submits the report pursuant to subsection 

12 (h). 

13 (j) COVERED VETERAN DEFINED.—In this section, 

14 the term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a veteran with a dis15 ability that is— 

16 (1) rated total for the purposes of disability 

17 compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United 

18 States Code; and 

19 (2) based upon an impairment reasonably cer20 tain to continue throughout the life of the veteran. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS