I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5226 

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional 

Commission to carry out a program of outreach for veterans who reside 

in Appalachia, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 5, 2010 

Mr. WILSON of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

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

Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional Commission to carry out a program 

of outreach for veterans who reside in Appalachia, 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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Appalachian Veterans 

5 Outreach Improvement Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. OUTREACH FOR VETERANS WHO RESIDE IN APPA2 LACHIA. 

3 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet4 erans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional Commission 

5 shall jointly carry out a program of outreach to veterans 

6 who reside in the Appalachian region for the purpose de7 scribed in subsection (b). 

8 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose described in this sub9 section is to increase the following: 

10 (1) The access to and use by veterans of Fed11 eral, State, and local programs providing compensa12 tion and other benefits for service in the Armed 

13 Forces. 

14 (2) Awareness of such programs, and their eli15 gibility for such programs, by veterans who reside in 

16 the Appalachian region. 

17 (c) PROJECTS.— 

18 (1) DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—In 

19 carrying out the program required by subsection (a), 

20 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into 

21 agreements with other Federal and State agencies to 

22 carry out projects under the jurisdiction of such 

23 agencies to further the purpose described in sub24 section (b). 

25 (2) APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION.—In 

26 carrying out the program required by subsection (a), 


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1 the Appalachian Regional Commission may provide 

2 technical assistance, award grants, enter into con3 tracts, or otherwise provide amounts to persons or 

4 entities in the Appalachian region for projects and 

5 activities that— 

6 (A) increase outreach with respect to, 

7 awareness of, and use by veterans of programs 

8 described in subsection (b)(1); 

9 (B) provide incentives for State and local 

10 governments and veterans service organizations 

11 to assist veterans in utilizing facilities and re12 sources available to veterans through the De13 partment of Veterans Affairs; 

14 (C) provide incentives for State and local 

15 governments and veterans service organizations 

16 to assist veterans in utilizing resources available 

17 through government programs and veterans 

18 service organizations for veterans; 

19 (D) educate communities and State and 

20 local governments about the employment rights 

21 of veterans, including the employment and re22 employment of members of the uniformed serv23 ices under chapter 43 of title 38, United States 

24 Code; 


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1 (E) provide technical assistance to busi2 nesses owned by veterans; and 

3 (F) encourage and assist nonprofit organi4 zations, businesses, and institutions of higher 

5 education to carry out programs of assistance 

6 designed for veterans. 

7 (d) INFORMATION, ADVICE, AND TECHNICAL ASSIST8 ANCE.—In carrying out the program required by sub9 section (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Ap10 palachian Regional Commission may provide, or may enter 

11 into contracts with public or private organizations to pro12 vide, information, advice, and technical assistance to non13 profit organizations that provide services to communities 

14 in the Appalachian region in order to increase the number 

15 of veterans receiving such services in the Appalachian re16 gion. 

17 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

18 (1) The term ‘‘Appalachian region’’ has the 

19 meaning given the term in section 14102(a) of title 

20 40, United States Code. 

21 (2) The term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ 

22 means any organization recognized by the Secretary 

23 of Veterans Affairs for the representation of vetVerDate Mar 15 2010 05:14 May 06, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5226.IH H5226

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1 erans under section 5902 of title 38, United States 

2 Code. 

Æ 


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