I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1492 

To establish the Commission on America and its Veterans. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 11, 2013 

Mr. MCDERMOTT (for himself, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. FARR, 

Ms. NORTON, Mr. JONES, Mr. RUSH, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. RYAN

of Ohio, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. ENYART, Mr. CICILLINE, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. 

LOWENTHAL, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LEE of California, and 

Mr. MCNERNEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 

Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish the Commission on America and its 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. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

4 There is established an independent commission in 

5 the executive branch to be known as the ‘‘Commission on 

6 America and its Veterans’’ (referred to in this Act as the 

7 ‘‘Commission’’). 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) After more than a decade of war, and much 

4 work to help members of the Armed Forces return5 ing home from the battlefield, the United States 

6 needs a wider and more thorough process for wel7 coming members back, taking care of their needs, 

8 and reintegrating them into society. 

9 (2) Many initiatives exist that provide help for 

10 the men and women who have fought, but there are 

11 gaps in our support for veterans that need to be ad12 dressed. 

13 (3) The United States has waged wars, but not 

14 all are involved in fighting those wars, and the 

15 United States needs to be more deeply and regularly 

16 connected with members and their experiences in 

17 war and returning from war. 

18 (4) Veterans contribute mightily to the society 

19 of the United States but many veterans endure on20 going psychological trauma, challenges with employ21 ment, crime and dislocation, and veterans’ families 

22 and communities are also faced with the after-effects 

23 of war in ways that need to be publicly addressed. 

24 (5) The Nation needs a whole-of-society ap25 proach to improving the veteran’s position in society, 

26 and improving how we welcome veterans when they 


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1 return, and improving veterans’ experience when 

2 they come back, and do so in a way that helps vet3 erans, their families, and their communities. 

4 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 

6 (1) not later than January 31, 2014, submit to 

7 the President and Congress a report suggesting 

8 ceremonies and events to be held throughout the 

9 United States to acknowledge the wars recently 

10 fought and for the heroism displayed by members of 

11 the Armed Forces and the costs in lives and injuries 

12 paid by members, families, and communities; 

13 (2) not later than December 31, 2014, submit 

14 to the President and Congress a report on the find15 ings, conclusions, and legislative or other rec16 ommendations of the Commission with respect to 

17 any deficiency in how the United States welcomes 

18 back members of the Armed Forces returning home, 

19 including— 

20 (A) by studying the entirety of the re21 integration experience on the member, the fam22 ily of the member, and the community of the 

23 member to identify any such deficiencies that 

24 can be addressed to make such reintegration a 

25 complete and positive experience; and 


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1 (B) with a particular emphasis on the ef2 fects of post-traumatic stress and the other so3 cial and health issues of members and veterans; 

4 (3) not later than 120 days after the date of 

5 the enactment of this Act, begin convening conversa6 tions throughout the United States— 

7 (A) on the effect of war on members, the 

8 families of members, and the communities of 

9 members; and 

10 (B) addressing the reintegration experience 

11 and the gap between the military, veterans, and 

12 civilian life; and 

13 (4) beginning on the date that is 180 days after 

14 the date of the enactment of this Act, and at regular 

15 intervals thereafter during the life of the Commis16 sion, including a final report at the end of such life, 

17 submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs rec18 ommendations regarding the Office of Armed Serv19 ices and Veterans Public Outreach established under 

20 section 9, including how to best conduct an ongoing 

21 interaction between members of the Armed Forces, 

22 veterans, and civilians, particularly with young peo23 ple, in which members and veterans share their sto24 ries and the effect of their service and reintegration 


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1 experience directly with civilians and for recorded 

2 history. 

3 (b) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may sub4 mit to the President and Congress interim reports con5 taining such findings, conclusions, and recommendations 

6 as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission mem7 bers. 

8 SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. 

9 (a) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall be composed 

10 of 18 members as follows: 

11 (1) One member, who shall serve as chairman 

12 of the Commission, shall be appointed by the Presi13 dent. 

14 (2) One member, who shall serve as vice chair15 man of the Commission, shall be appointed by the 

16 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

17 (3) Four members shall be appointed by the 

18 majority leader of the Senate. 

19 (4) Four members shall be appointed by the 

20 Speaker of the House of Representatives (in addition 

21 to the one member appointed under paragraph (2)). 

22 (5) Four members shall be appointed by the mi23 nority leader of the Senate. 

24 (6) Four members shall be appointed by the mi25 nority leader of the House of Representatives. 


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1 (b) QUALIFICATIONS.— 

2 (1) EXPERTISE.—Members of the Commission 

3 shall be appointed from among individuals who have 

4 personally and professionally experienced the effects 

5 of war on the Armed Forces, families, and society. 

6 (2) NONGOVERNMENTAL APPOINTEES.—Mem7 bers of the Commission may not be an officer or em8 ployee of the Federal Government. 

9 (3) VETERANS INCLUDED.—Not less than one 

10 member of the Commission appointed under each of 

11 paragraphs (3) through (6) of subsection (a) shall be 

12 a veteran. 

13 (4) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Members 

14 of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 

15 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

16 (c) VACANCIES.—Except as provided in subsection 

17 (e)(3) with respect to a quorum, any vacancy in the Com18 mission shall not affect its powers. A vacancy in the Com19 mission shall be filled in the manner in which the original 

20 appointment was made. 

21 (d) COMPENSATION.— 

22 (1) PAY.—Except as provided by paragraph 

23 (2), members of the Commission shall serve without 

24 pay. 


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1 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 

2 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

3 subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 

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

5 States Code, including section 5703. 

6 (e) INITIAL MEETING; RULES OF PROCEDURE; 

7 QUORUM.— 

8 (1) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall 

9 hold the initial meeting of the Commission not later 

10 than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this 

11 Act. 

12 (2) MEETINGS.—After the initial meeting under 

13 paragraph (1), the Commission shall meet at the call 

14 of the chairman or a majority of members. 

15 (3) QUORUM.—Ten members of the Commis16 sion shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number 

17 may hold hearings. 

18 (4) RULES OF PROCEDURE.—The Commission 

19 may establish rules for the conduct of the business 

20 of the Commission, if such rules are not inconsistent 

21 with this Act or other applicable law. 

22 SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 

23 (a) HEARINGS.—For the purpose of carrying out this 

24 Act, the Commission (or on the authority of the Commis25 sion, any subcommittee, member, or designated staff 


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1 thereof), may hold such hearings and sit and act at such 

2 times and places, take such testimony, receive such evi3 dence, and administer such oaths as the Commission con4 siders appropriate. The Commission shall hold not less 

5 than one hearing in each of the several States and the 

6 District of Columbia and may hold hearings in any com7 monwealth, territory, or possession of the United States 

8 as the Commission determines appropriate. 

9 (b) CONTRACTING.—To the extent or in the amounts 

10 provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commis11 sion may enter into contracts to enable the Commission 

12 to carry out the responsibilities of the Commission under 

13 this Act. 

14 (c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 

15 Commission may secure directly from any department or 

16 agency of the United States information necessary to en17 able it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the chairman 

18 of the Commission, the chairman of any subcommittee cre19 ated by a majority of the Commission, or any member des20 ignated by a majority of the Commission, the head of that 

21 department or agency shall furnish that information to the 

22 Commission. 

23 (d) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

24 (1) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.— 

25 Upon the request of the Commission, the AdminisVerDate Mar 15 2010 05:03 Apr 18, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1492.IH H1492

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1 trator of General Services shall provide to the Com2 mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 

3 support services and other services necessary for the 

4 Commission to carry out the responsibilities of the 

5 Commission under this Act. 

6 (2) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—In 

7 addition to the assistance described in paragraph 

8 (1), the head of any department or agency of the 

9 United States may provide to the Commission such 

10 services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support 

11 services as they may determine advisable and as may 

12 be authorized by law. 

13 (e) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 

14 dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or prop15 erty, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or 

16 facilitating the work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, 

17 or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other prop18 erty received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be depos19 ited in the Treasury and shall be available for disburse20 ment upon order of the chairman, vice chairman, or des21 ignee. 

22 (f) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 

23 States mails in the same manner and under the same con24 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 

25 States. 


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1 SEC. 6. STAFF. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.— 

3 (1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION.—The 

4 chairman, in accordance with rules agreed upon by 

5 the Commission, shall appoint and fix the compensa6 tion of a staff director and such other personnel as 

7 may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry 

8 out the responsibilities of the Commission, without 

9 regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 

10 Code, governing appointments in the competitive 

11 service, and without regard to the provisions of 

12 chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such 

13 title relating to classification and General Schedule 

14 pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this 

15 subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable 

16 for a position at level III of the Executive Schedule 

17 under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 

18 (2) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 

19 The executive director and any employee of the 

20 Commission (not including members appointed 

21 under section 4(a)) shall be employees under section 

22 2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of 

23 chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that 

24 title. 

25 (b) DETAILEES.—Any employee of the Federal Gov26 ernment may be detailed by the head of the department 


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1 or agency of the employee to the Commission without re2 imbursement from the Commission, and such detailee 

3 shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of the 

4 detailee’s regular employment without interruption. 

5 (c) EXPERT AND CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The 

6 Commission may procure the services of experts and con7 sultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United 

8 States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid 

9 a person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive 

10 Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 

11 Code. 

12 (d) VOLUNTEER SERVICES.—Notwithstanding sec13 tion 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission 

14 may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services 

15 as the Commission determines necessary. 

16 SEC. 7. NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM17 MITTEE ACT. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Advisory Committee 

19 Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission. 

20 (b) PUBLIC MEETINGS AND RELEASE OF PUBLIC

21 VERSIONS OF REPORTS.—The Commission shall— 

22 (1) hold public hearings and meetings to the ex23 tent appropriate; and 

24 (2) release public versions of the reports re25 quired under section 3. 


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1 (c) PUBLIC HEARINGS.—Any public hearings of the 

2 Commission shall be conducted in a manner consistent 

3 with the protection of information provided to or developed 

4 for or by the Commission as required by any applicable 

5 law, regulation, or Executive order. 

6 SEC. 8. TERMINATION. 

7 (a) TERMINATION.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall termi9 nate on May 31, 2016. 

10 (2) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES BEFORE TER11 MINATION.—The Commission may use the 60-day 

12 period preceding the date on which it terminates 

13 under paragraph (1) for the purpose of concluding 

14 its activities, including providing testimony to com15 mittees of Congress concerning its reports and dis16 seminating the final report. 

17 SEC. 9. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF ARMED SERVICES 

18 AND VETERANS PUBLIC OUTREACH. 

19 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 

20 Affairs shall establish within the Department of Veterans 

21 Affairs an Office of Armed Services and Veterans Public 

22 Outreach (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Office’’). 

23 (b) DUTIES.—The Office shall work with the Armed 

24 Forces, veterans service organizations, the private and 

25 public sectors, nonprofit organizations, local educational 


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1 agencies, and other organizations to help match veterans 

2 and members of the Armed Forces with civilian audiences 

3 in order for private and nonprofit organizations to conduct 

4 ongoing interactions between members, veterans, and civil5 ians, particularly with young people, in which members 

6 and veterans share their stories and the effect of their 

7 service and reintegration experience directly with civilians 

8 and for recorded history. 

9 SEC. 10. FUNDING. 

10 This Act shall not be construed to increase the 

11 amount of appropriations that are authorized to be appro12 priated for any fiscal year. 

13 SEC. 11. VETERAN DEFINED. 

14 In this section, the term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning 

15 given that term in section 101(2) of title 38, United States 

16 Code. 

Æ 


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