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[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4060 Introduced in House (IH)]

104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4060

   To establish the Commission on the Future for America's Veterans.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 11, 1996

  Mr. Solomon (for himself, Mr. Stump, Mr. Watts of Oklahoma, and Mr. 
   Longley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on 
     Rules, and National Security, 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 the Future for America's Veterans.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on the Future for 
America's Veterans Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established a commission to be known as 
the Commission on the Future for America's Veterans (hereinafter in 
this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Establishment of Panels.--There are established within the 
Commission two panels as follows:
            (1) The Panel on Veterans' Employment Opportunities 
        (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Opportunities 
        Panel'').
            (2) The Panel on Veterans' Health Benefits (hereinafter in 
        this Act referred to as the ``Health Panel'').

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed 
initially of 25 members. Upon termination of the Opportunities Panel, 
the Commission shall be composed of 13 members, of whom one is the 
chairman of the Commission and 12 are the members of the Health Panel. 
The initial composition of the Commission is as follows:
            (1) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate, 
        jointly, in consultation with the chairman of the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the chairman of the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
            (2) Six members shall be appointed as follows:
                    (A) One member shall be the Under Secretary for 
                Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department 
                of Veterans Affairs, or his designee.
                    (B) One member shall be the Assistant Secretary of 
                Defense for Force Management Personnel, Department of 
                Defense, or his designee.
                    (C) One member shall be the Assistant Secretary for 
                Veterans Employment and Training, Department of Labor, 
                or his designee.
                    (D) One member shall be the Under Secretary for 
                Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, or his 
                designee.
                    (E) One member shall be the Assistant Secretary of 
                Defense for Health Affairs, Department of Defense, or 
                his designee.
                    (F) One member shall be the Assistant Secretary for 
                Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human 
                Services, or his designee.
            (3)(A) 16 members shall be appointed as follows:
                    (i) Six members, of whom one shall be a 
                representative of a veterans service organization, 
                shall be appointed by the chairman of the Committee on 
                Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, in consultation with 
                the ranking member of that committee.
                    (ii) Six members, of whom one shall be a 
                representative of a veterans service organization, 
                shall be appointed by the chairman of the Committee on 
                Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, in 
                consultation with the ranking member of that committee.
                    (iii) Two members shall be appointed by the 
                chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
                Senate, in consultation with the ranking member of that 
                committee.
                    (iv) Two members shall be appointed by the chairman 
                of the Committee on National Security of the House of 
                Representatives, in consultation with the ranking 
                member of that committee.
            (B) The appointments of such members under this paragraph 
        shall be made from among individuals who are not full-time 
        officers or employees of the United States and who have 
        appropriate and diverse experience, expertise, and historical 
        perspectives on veterans, military, organizational, and 
        management matters. To the maximum extent practicable, such 
        individuals shall be veterans.
            (C) The appointments of such members shall, to the maximum 
        extent practicable, be made after consultation with 
        representatives of veterans service organizations.
            (D)(i) Each appointing authority under this paragraph shall 
        designate one half of the members such authority appoints to 
        serve on the Opportunities Panel and the other half of the 
        members such authority appoints to serve on the Health Panel.
            (ii) In the case of the representatives of a veterans 
        service organization described in clauses (i) and (ii) of 
        paragraph (A), the appointing authorities under such clauses 
        shall designate such representatives to serve on the 
        Opportunities Panel.
    (b) Designation of the Chairman and Vice Chairmen.--The Speaker of 
the House of Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate, 
jointly, in consultation with the chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives shall, from the 
members appointed in subsection (a)(1), designate--
            (1) one as chairman of the Commission;
            (2) one as vice chairman of the Commission to serve as 
        chairman of the Opportunities Panel; and
            (3) one as vice chairman of the Commission to serve as 
        chairman of the Health Panel.
    (c) Opportunities Panel.--The Opportunities Panel shall be composed 
of 13 members of the Commission as follows:
            (1) The chairman of the Commission.
            (2) The vice chairman of the Commission designated as the 
        chairman of the Opportunities Panel.
            (3) The members of the Commission appointed in 
        subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of subsection (a)(2).
            (4) The members appointed in subsection (a)(3) designated 
        to serve on the Opportunities Panel.
    (d) Health Panel.--The Health Panel shall be composed of 13 members 
of the Commission as follows:
            (1) The chairman of the Commission.
            (2) The vice chairman of the Commission designated as the 
        chairman of the Health Panel.
            (3) The members of the Commission appointed in 
        subparagraphs (D), (E), and (F) of subsection (a)(2).
            (4) The members appointed in subsection (a)(3) designated 
        to serve on the Health Panel.
    (e) Time of Appointment.--The members of the Commission shall be 
appointed not later than December 1, 1996.
    (f) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--
            (1) Chairman.--The chairman of the Commission shall be 
        appointed for the life of the Commission.
            (2) Opportunities panel.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (1), a member of the Commission who serves on the Opportunities 
        Panel shall be appointed for the life of the Opportunities 
        Panel.
            (3) Health panel.--Except as provided in paragraph (1), a 
        member of the Commission who serves on the Health Panel shall 
        be appointed for the life of the Health Panel.
            (4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 
        affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner as the 
        original appointment.
    (g) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission 
shall hold its first meeting.
    (h) Quorum.--
            (1) Commission.--A majority of the members of the 
        Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may 
        hold hearings.
            (2) Panels.--A majority of the members of a panel shall 
        constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (i) Meetings.--
            (1) Commission.--The Commission shall meet at the call of 
        the chairman of the Commission.
            (2) Panels.--A panel shall meet at the call of the chairman 
        of such panel.
    (j) Majority Vote.--
            (1) Commission.--The Commission shall make no 
        recommendation unless approved by the affirmative vote of a 
        majority of the members of the Commission.
            (2) Panels.--(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a 
        panel shall make no recommendation, report, or legislative 
        proposal unless approved by the affirmative vote of a majority 
        of the members of the Panel.
            (B) In the case of a report described in section 5(d)(3) or 
        section 6(e)(2), no vote shall be required to submit such 
        report.
    (k) Authority of Individuals To Act for Commission.--Any member or 
agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any 
action which the Commission is authorized to take under this Act.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION.

    The chairman of the Commission shall oversee the progress of each 
panel, review weekly progress reports from each panel, and allocate the 
Commission's resources to enable each panel to carry out its duties.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF OPPORTUNITIES PANEL.

    (a) In General.--The Opportunities Panel shall--
            (1) review the efficacy and appropriateness of veterans 
        transition and assistance programs in providing assistance to 
        members of the Armed Forces in making the transition and 
        adjustment to civilian life upon their separation from the 
        Armed Forces and in providing assistance to veterans in 
        adjusting to civilian life;
            (2) evaluate proposals for improving such programs, 
        including proposals to consolidate, streamline, and enhance the 
        provision of such assistance and proposals for alternative 
        means of providing such assistance; and
            (3) make recommendations to Congress regarding means of 
        ensuring the continuing utility of such programs and assistance 
        and of otherwise improving such programs and the provision of 
        such assistance.
    (b) Review of Programs To Assist Members of the Armed Forces at 
Separation.--(1) While carrying out the general duties specified in 
subsection (a), the members of the Opportunities Panel appointed under 
clauses (iii) and (iv) of section 3(a)(3)(A) shall review primarily the 
programs intended to assist members of the Armed Forces at the time of 
their separation from service in the Armed Forces, including programs 
designed to assist families of such members in preparing for the 
transition of such members from military life to civilian life and to 
facilitate that transition.
    (2) In carrying out the review, such members of the Opportunities 
Panel shall determine the following:
            (A) The adequacy of the programs referred to in paragraph 
        (1) for their purposes.
            (B) The adequacy of the support of the Armed Forces for 
        such programs.
            (C) The effect, if any, of the existence of such programs 
        on military readiness.
            (D) The extent to which such programs provide members of 
        the Armed Forces with job-search skills.
            (E) The extent to which such programs prepare such members 
        for employment in the private sector and in the public sector.
            (F) The effectiveness of such programs in assisting such 
        members in finding employment in the public sector upon their 
        separation from service.
            (G) The ways in which such programs could be improved in 
        order to assist such members in securing meaningful employment 
        in the private sector upon their separation from service.
    (c) Review of Programs To Assist Veterans.--(1) While carrying out 
the general duties specified in subsection (a), the members of the 
Opportunities Panel appointed under clauses (i) and (ii) of section 
3(a)(3)(A) shall review primarily the adequacy of programs intended to 
assist veterans (including disabled veterans, homeless veterans, and 
economically disadvantaged veterans) in adjusting to civilian life, 
including the programs referred to in paragraph (2).
    (2) The programs referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
            (A) Educational assistance programs.
            (B) Job counseling, job training, and job placement 
        services programs.
            (C) Rehabilitation and training programs.
            (D) Housing loan programs.
            (E) Small business loan and small business assistance 
        programs.
            (F) Employment and employment training programs for 
        employment in the public sector and the private sector, 
        including employer training programs and union apprenticeship 
        programs.
            (G) Federal Government personnel policies (including 
        veterans' preference policies) and the enforcement of such 
        policies.
            (H) Programs that prepare the families of members of the 
        Armed Forces for their transition from military life to 
        civilian life and facilitate that transition.
    (d) Reports.--(1) Not later than 90 days after the date on which 
all members of the Opportunities Panel have been appointed, the 
Opportunities Panel shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
and Armed Services of the Senate and the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs and National Security of the House of Representatives a report 
setting forth a plan for the work of the Opportunities Panel. The 
Opportunities Panel shall develop the plan in consultation with the 
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the heads 
of other appropriate departments and agencies of the Federal 
Government.
    (2)(A) Not later than one year after the date of the first meeting 
of the Opportunities Panel, the Opportunities Panel shall submit to the 
committees referred to in paragraph (1), and to the Secretary of 
Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, and 
the Secretary of Education, a report setting forth the activities, 
findings, and recommendations of the Opportunities Panel, including any 
recommendations for legislative action and administrative action as the 
Opportunities Panel considers appropriate.
    (B) Not later than 90 days after receiving the report referred to 
in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall jointly transmit the report to Congress, 
together with the Secretaries' comments on the report.
    (3) The chairman of the Opportunities Panel shall submit to the 
chairman of the Commission a weekly report setting forth the activities 
of the Opportunities Panel for the preceding week.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF HEALTH PANEL.

    (a) Study.--The Health Panel shall conduct a comprehensive study of 
health care services available under the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.
    (b) Matters Studied.--The matters studied by the Health Panel shall 
include--
            (1) previous and current legislative proposals to improve 
        delivery of health care to veterans, including H.R. 1767 of the 
        104th Congress, H.R. 3117 of the 104th Congress, H.R. 3119 of 
        the 104th Congress, and the G.I. Bill of Health (H.R. 3950 of 
        the 104th Congress);
            (2) alternative means for delivery of health care to 
        veterans (such as managed care); and
            (3) eligibility reform.
    (c) Demonstration Project Bill.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than June 1, 1997, the Health 
        Panel shall submit a legislative proposal in the form of a 
        draft bill (hereinafter in this Act referred to as a 
        ``demonstration project bill'') to the Congress.
            (2) Content of bill.--
                    (A) Authority of secretary.--A demonstration 
                project bill shall authorize the Secretary of Veterans' 
                Affairs to implement temporary demonstration projects 
                to improve health care services under the Department of 
                Veterans' Affairs.
                    (B) Implementation at medical centers; 
                termination.--A demonstration project bill shall 
                provide that the temporary demonstration projects be 
                implemented at no fewer than 20 and no greater than 40 
                Department of Veterans' Affairs medical centers 
                specified in the demonstration project bill and that 
                such projects terminate not later than April 1, 1999.
                    (C) Selection of centers.--In selecting the centers 
                to be specified in the demonstration project bill, the 
                chairman of the Health Panel in consultation with the 
                Secretary of Veterans' Affairs shall assure a diversity 
                of centers according to geographic areas, demographic 
                characteristics of, and specialized medical services 
                provided by individual centers.
    (d) Evaluation Of Projects; Audit.--The Health Panel shall monitor 
and evaluate the temporary demonstration projects, and the chairman of 
the Commission shall arrange for audits of such projects.
    (e) Reports.--(1) Not later than October 1, 1998, the Health Panel 
and the chairman of the Commission shall submit a report to Congress 
which shall contain a detailed statement of findings and conclusions of 
the Health Panel and such chairman with respect to the temporary 
demonstration projects together with recommendations for such 
legislation and administrative actions as the Health Panel and such 
chairman consider appropriate.
    (2) The chairman of the Health Panel shall submit to the chairman 
of the Commission a weekly report setting forth the activities of the 
Health Panel for the preceding week.

SEC. 7. EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL PROCEDURE.

    (a) Procedure in the House of Representatives.--
            (1) Introduction.--The provisions of this subsection shall 
        only apply to a demonstration project bill that is introduced 
        by the majority leader of the House of Representatives for 
        himself and the minority leader of the House of 
        Representatives, or by Members designated jointly by the 
        majority leader and the minority leader of the House of 
        Representatives, not later than the close of the 15th day after 
        the date on which such bill is submitted to the House of 
        Representatives under section 6(c).
            (2) Committee consideration.--If a committee to which a 
        demonstration project bill has been referred has not reported 
        such bill at the close of the 10th day after the date of the 
        bill's introduction, such committee shall be automatically 
        discharged from further consideration of the bill, and the bill 
        shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
            (3) Computation of days.--For purposes of this subsection, 
        in computing the number of days, there shall be excluded any 
        day on which the House of Representatives is not in session.
    (b) Procedure in the Senate.--
    (c) Rules of the House of Representatives and Senate.--This section 
is enacted by the Congress--
            (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of 
        Representatives and the Senate, respectively, and as such it 
        shall be considered as part of the rules of each House, 
        respectively, or of that House to which it specifically 
        applies, and such rules shall supersede other rules only to the 
        extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and
            (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
        either House to change the rules (so far as relating to such 
        House) at any time, in the same manner and to the same extent 
        as in the case of any other rule of that House.

SEC. 8. POWERS.

    (a) Hearings.--Each panel may hold such hearings, sit and act at 
such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence 
as the such panel considers advisable to carry out the purposes of this 
Act.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The chairman of the 
Commission may secure directly from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
Department of Defense, and any other department or agency of the 
Federal Government such information as the chairman of the Commission 
considers necessary to carry out the duties under this Act. Upon 
request of the chairman of the Commission, the head of such department 
or agency shall furnish such information expeditiously to the 
Commission.
    (c) Contract Authority.--The Commission may contract with and 
compensate government and private agencies or persons for supplies or 
services, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 
U.S.C. 5).

SEC. 9. MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (b) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property.
    (c) Miscellaneous Administrative Support.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall, upon the request 
of the chairman of the Commission, furnish the Commission or a panel, 
on a reimbursable basis, such administrative and support services as 
the Commission may require.

SEC. 10. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each 
        member of the Commission shall be compensated at a rate equal 
        to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
        prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 
        5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including 
        travel time) during which such member is engaged in performing 
        the duties of the Commission.
            (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
        Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or 
        employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not 
        receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of 
        their service on the Commission.
    (b) Travel.--Members and personnel of the Commission may travel on 
military aircraft, military vehicles, or other military conveyances 
when travel is necessary in the performance of a duty of the Commission 
except when the cost of commercial transportation is less expensive.
    (c) Staff.--
            (1) Appointment.--The chairman of the Commission, with 
        respect to the Commission, the chairman of the Opportunities 
        Panel with respect to such panel, and the chairman of the 
        Health Panel, with respect to such panel, respectively may 
        appoint, without regard to civil service laws and regulations, 
        an executive director and such additional personnel as may be 
        necessary to enable the Commission and each panel to perform 
        the duties under this Act. Each executive director shall be a 
        veteran, and in appointing additional personnel the chairmen 
        shall give preference to veterans.
            (2) Compensation.--The chairman of the Commission may fix 
        the compensation of the executive directors and other personnel 
        without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
        III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to 
        classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, 
        except that the rate of pay for the executive director and 
        other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of 
        the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the chairman 
of the Commission, the head of any department or agency of the Federal 
Government may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any personnel of the 
department or agency to the Commission to assist the Commission and 
each panel in carrying out the duties under this Act.
    (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
chairman of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 
for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title.

SEC. 11. FUNDING.

    Of the amounts appropriated for the Department of Veterans' Affairs 
for fiscal year 1997 or subsequent fiscal years, the Secretary of 
Veterans' Affairs shall make available to the Commission such amounts 
as may be necessary for the Commission to carry out its duties under 
this Act.

SEC. 12. TERMINATIONS.

    (a) Opportunities Panel.--The Opportunities Panel shall terminate 
30 days after the date on which the panel submits its report under 
section 5(d)(2).
    (b) Health Panel.--The Health Panel shall terminate 30 days after 
the date of the termination of the temporary demonstration projects 
under section 6(c).
    (c) Commission.--The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the 
later of the date of termination of the Opportunities Panel or of the 
date of termination of the Health Panel.

SEC. 13. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) The term ``veterans transition and assistance program'' 
        means any program of the Federal Government the purpose of 
        which is--
                    (A) to assist, by rehabilitation or other means, 
                members of the Armed Forces in readjusting or otherwise 
                making the transition to civilian life upon their 
                separation from service in the Armed Forces; or
                    (B) to assist veterans in civilian life.
            (3) The term ``veterans service organization'' means any 
        organization covered by section 5902(a) of title 38, United 
        States Code.
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