II 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2638 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require an annual plan on outreach 

activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 12, 2004 

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

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require an annual 

plan on outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ‘‘Veterans Benefits Out5 reach Act of 2004’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ANNUAL PLAN ON OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. 

7 (a) ANNUAL PLAN REQUIRED.—Subchapter II of 

8 chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 

9 inserting after section 523 the following new section: 
2 

•S 2638 IS 

1 ‘‘§ 523A. Annual plan on outreach activities 

2 ‘‘(a) ANNUAL PLAN REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall 

3 prepare each year a plan for the outreach activities of the 

4 Department for the following year. 

5 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—Each annual plan under sub6 section (a) shall include the following: 

7 ‘‘(1) Plans for efforts to identify veterans who 

8 are not enrolled or registered with the Department 

9 for benefits or services under the programs adminis10 tered by the Secretary. 

11 ‘‘(2) Plans for informing veterans and their de12 pendents of modifications of the benefits and serv13 ices under the programs administered by the Sec14 retary, including eligibility for medical and nursing 

15 care and services. 

16 ‘‘(c) COORDINATION IN DEVELOPMENT.—In devel17 oping an annual plan under subsection (a), the Secretary 

18 shall consult with the following: 

19 ‘‘(1) Directors or other appropriate officials of 

20 organizations recognized by the Secretary under sec21 tion 5902 of this title. 

22 ‘‘(2) Directors or other appropriate officials of 

23 State and local education and training programs. 

24 ‘‘(3) Representatives of non-governmental orga25 nizations that carry out veterans outreach programs. 
3 

•S 2638 IS 

1 ‘‘(4) Representatives of State and local veterans 

2 employment organizations. 

3 ‘‘(5) Businesses and professional organizations. 

4 ‘‘(6) Other individuals and organizations that 

5 assist veterans in adjusting to civilian life. 

6 ‘‘(d) INCORPORATION OF ASSESSMENT OF PREVIOUS

7 ANNUAL PLANS.—In developing an annual plan under 

8 subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into account the 

9 lessons learned from the implementation of previous an10 nual plans under such subsection.’’. 

11 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

12 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

13 after the item relating to section 523 the following new 

14 item: 

‘‘523A. Annual plan on outreach activities.’’. 

15 SEC. 3. APPEAL OF CLAIMS DENIED BECAUSE OF LOSS OF 

16 RECORDS RESULTING FROM 1973 FIRE AT 

17 THE NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CEN18 TER. 

19 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and 

20 implement procedures by which veterans may appeal 

21 claims denied by the Secretary on the basis that records 

22 destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel 

23 Records Center could substantiate such claims. 

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