I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7557 
To protect members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault and harassment 
and increase transparency within the Coast Guard, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 5, 2024 
Mr. WEBSTER of Florida (for himself, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. GRAVES of Mis-
souri, and Mr. LARSEN of Washington) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture 
A BILL 
To protect members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault 
and harassment and increase transparency within the 
Coast Guard, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Coast Guard Protection and Accountability Act of 
2024’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Implementation status of directed actions. 
Sec. 4. Independent review of Coast Guard reforms. 
Sec. 5. Requirement to maintain certain records. 
Sec. 6. Study on Coast Guard Academy oversight. 
Sec. 7. Providing for the transfer of a cadet who is the victim of a sexual as-
sault or related offense. 
Sec. 8. Designation of officers with particular expertise in military justice or 
healthcare. 
Sec. 9. Direct hire authority for certain personnel of Coast Guard. 
Sec. 10. Safe-to-report policy for Coast Guard. 
Sec. 11. Modification of delivery date of Coast Guard sexual assault report. 
Sec. 12. Higher-level review of board of determination decisions. 
Sec. 13. Review of discharge or dismissal. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 2014, the Coast Guard initiated Oper-
ation Fouled Anchor, an investigation that revealed 
reports of rapes, sexual assaults, and other forms of 
harassment at the Coast Guard Academy from the 
1990s until 2006. 
(2) During the period investigated, and partly 
driven by efforts to protect the reputation of the 
Coast Guard, the Coast Guard repeatedly mis-
handled cases of sexual assault, failed to protect vic-
tims, and did not hold perpetrators properly ac-
countable. 
(3) Furthermore, until prompted by a news re-
port published in 2023, the Coast Guard buried the 
findings of Operation Fouled Anchor by failing to 
share the findings with Congress and the public, and 
neglected to make needed reforms and cultural 
changes within the service. 
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(4) In November 2023, the Coast Guard pub-
lished an Accountability and Transparency Review. 
As a result of the review, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard directed the implementation of actions 
in support of the Accountability and Transparency 
Review. The directed actions include structural 
changes, training improvements, and greater support 
and guidance for members of the Coast Guard who 
are victims of sexual assault and harassment. 
(5) To ensure public confidence in the service, 
the Coast Guard requires additional oversight and 
accountability to affect the improvements and pro-
tections deserved by service members of the Coast 
Guard. 
SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF DIRECTED ACTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 5116. Implementation status of directed actions 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2025, 
and not later than March 1 of each of the 3 subsequent 
years thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
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on the status of the implementation of each directed action 
outlined in enclosure 1 of the memorandum of the Com-
mandant titled ‘Commandant’s Directed Actions—Ac-
countability and Transparency’, dated November 27, 
2023. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under section 
(a) shall contain the following: 
‘‘(1) The status of the implementation of each 
directed action from enclosure 1 of the memorandum 
titled ‘Commandant’s Directed Actions—Account-
ability and Transparency’ dated November 27, 2023. 
‘‘(2) A plan and timeline for the next steps to 
be taken to complete outstanding directed actions in 
enclosure 1 of the memorandum titled ‘Com-
mandant’s Directed Actions—Accountability and 
Transparency’ dated November 27, 2023, including 
identifying the individual the Commandant has se-
lected to ensure the successful completion of each di-
rected action. 
‘‘(3) Metrics to determine the effectiveness of 
each directed action in such enclosure. 
‘‘(4) Any additional actions the Commandant is 
taking to mitigate instances of sexual assault and 
sexual harassment within the Coast Guard.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 51 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘5116. Implementation status of directed actions.’’. 
SEC. 4. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF COAST GUARD RE-
FORMS. 
(a) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE RE-
PORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall report to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate on the efforts of the Coast Guard to mitigate 
cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment within 
the service. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) evaluate— 
(i) the efforts of the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard to implement the directed 
actions from enclosure 1 of the memo-
randum titled ‘‘Commandant’s Directed 
Actions—Accountability 
and 
Trans-
parency’’ dated November 27, 2023; 
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(ii) whether the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard met the reporting require-
ments under section 5112 of title 14, 
United States Code; and 
(iii) the effectiveness of the actions of 
the Coast Guard, including efforts outside 
of the actions described in the memo-
randum titled ‘‘Commandant’s Directed 
Actions—Accountability 
and 
Trans-
parency’’ dated November 27, 2023, to 
mitigate instances of sexual assault and 
sexual harassment and improve the en-
forcement relating to such instances within 
the Coast Guard, and how the Coast 
Guard is overcoming challenges in imple-
menting such actions; 
(B) make recommendations to the Com-
mandant for improvements to the efforts of the 
service to mitigate instances of sexual assault 
and sexual harassment and improve the en-
forcement relating to such instances within the 
Coast Guard; and 
(C) make recommendations to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Com-
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SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN RECORDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 9 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 955. Requirement to maintain certain records 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall maintain all work product related to final ac-
tion documenting a disposition decision on an investiga-
tion by the Coast Guard Investigative Service or other law 
enforcement entity investigating a Coast Guard member 
accused of misconduct for not less than 7 years from date 
of the disposition decision. 
‘‘(b) FINAL ACTION MEMO.—Upon a final action 
documenting a disposition decision described in subsection 
(a), the convening authority or final decision-making au-
thority, as applicable, shall sign a final action memo that 
includes the following: 
‘‘(1) A reference section listing the materials re-
viewed in making a disposition decision. 
‘‘(2) The Coast Guard Investigative Service re-
port of investigation listed as either a reference or 
an enclosure. 
‘‘(3) The prosecution memo, signed by the con-
vening authority or the final decision-making author-
ity, listed and included as an enclosure. 
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‘‘(4) The completed Coast Guard Investigative 
Service report of adjudication listed and included as 
an enclosure. 
‘‘(5) The disposition decision. 
‘‘(c) WORK PRODUCT.—In this section, the term 
‘work product’ includes— 
‘‘(1) a prosecution memo; 
‘‘(2) emails, notes, and other correspondence re-
lated to a disposition decision; and 
‘‘(3) the content described in paragraphs (1) 
through (5) of subsection (b).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 9 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘955. Requirement to maintain certain records.’’. 
SEC. 6. STUDY ON COAST GUARD ACADEMY OVERSIGHT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, 
shall conduct a study on the governance of the Coast 
Guard Academy, including examining the roles, respon-
sibilities, authorities, advisory functions, and membership 
qualifications and expertise of the Board of Visitors and 
Board of Trustees of such Academy. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit 
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to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
written report that contains— 
(1) the results of the study required under sub-
section (a); and 
(2) recommendations to improve governance at 
the Coast Guard Academy. 
SEC. 7. PROVIDING FOR THE TRANSFER OF A CADET WHO 
IS THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT OR RE-
LATED OFFENSE. 
Section 1902 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR TRANSFER 
OF CADET WHO IS THE VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR 
RELATED OFFENSE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant shall 
provide for timely consideration of and action on a 
request submitted by a cadet appointed to the Coast 
Guard Academy who is the victim of an alleged sex-
ual assault or other offense covered by section 920, 
920c, or 930 of title 10 (article 120, 120c, or 130 
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) for transfer 
to a Service Academy or to enroll in a Senior Re-
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serve Officers’ Training Corps program affiliated 
with another institution of higher education. 
‘‘(2) RULEMAKING.—The Commandant shall 
prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection 
that— 
‘‘(A) ensure that any cadet who has been 
appointed to the Coast Guard Academy is in-
formed of the right to request a transfer pursu-
ant to this subsection, and that any formal re-
quest submitted by a cadet is processed as ex-
peditiously as practicable for review and action 
by the Superintendent; 
‘‘(B) direct the Superintendent of the 
Coast Guard Academy, in coordination with the 
Superintendent of the Service Academy to 
which the cadet requests to transfer— 
‘‘(i) to act on a request for transfer 
under this subsection not later than 72 
hours after receiving the formal request 
from the cadet; 
‘‘(ii) to approve such request for 
transfer unless there are exceptional cir-
cumstances that require denial of the re-
quest; and 
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‘‘(iii) upon approval of such request, 
to take all necessary and appropriate ac-
tion to effectuate the transfer of the cadet 
to the Service Academy concerned as expe-
ditiously as possible; and 
‘‘(C) direct the Superintendent of the 
Coast Guard Academy, in coordination with the 
Secretary of the military department that spon-
sors the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps program at the institution of higher edu-
cation to which the cadet requests to transfer— 
‘‘(i) to act on a request for transfer 
under this subsection not later than 72 
hours after receiving the formal request 
from the cadet; 
‘‘(ii) subject to the cadet’s acceptance 
for admission to the institution of higher 
education to which the cadet wishes to 
transfer, to approve such request for trans-
fer unless there are exceptional cir-
cumstances that require denial of the re-
quest; and 
‘‘(iii) to take all necessary and appro-
priate action to effectuate the cadet’s en-
rollment in the institution of higher edu-
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cation to which the cadet wishes to trans-
fer and to process the cadet for participa-
tion in the relevant Senior Reserve Offi-
cers’ Training Corps program as expedi-
tiously as possible. 
‘‘(3) DENIAL OF TRANSFER REQUEST.—If the 
Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy denies 
a request for transfer under this subsection, the 
cadet may request review of the denial by the Sec-
retary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating, who shall act on such request not later 
than 72 hours after receipt of the formal request for 
review. 
‘‘(4) CONFIDENTIALITY
OF
RECORDS.—The 
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall ensure that all records of 
any request, determination, transfer, or other action 
under this subsection remain confidential, consistent 
with applicable law and regulation. 
‘‘(5) APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE ACADEMY.—A 
cadet who transfers under this subsection may retain 
the cadet’s appointment to the Coast Guard Acad-
emy or may be appointed to the Service Academy to 
which the cadet transfers without regard to the limi-
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tations and requirements described in sections 7442, 
8454, and 9442 of title 10. 
‘‘(6) APPOINTMENT UPON GRADUATION.— 
‘‘(A) PREFERENCE.—A cadet who trans-
fers under this subsection to a Service Acad-
emy, is entitled, before graduating from such 
Academy, to state the preference of the cadet 
for appointment, upon graduation, as a com-
missioned officer in the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(B) MANNER
OF
APPOINTMENT.—Upon 
graduation, a cadet described in subparagraph 
(A) is entitled to be accepted for appointment 
as a permanent commissioned officer in the 
Regular Coast Guard in the same manner as 
graduates of the Coast Guard Academy as de-
scribed in section 2101. 
‘‘(7) COMMISSION
INTO
COAST
GUARD.—A 
cadet who transfers under this subsection to a Sen-
ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program affili-
ated with another institution of higher education is 
entitled upon graduation from the Senior Reserve 
Officers’ Training program to commission into the 
Coast Guard as described in section 3738a. 
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‘‘(8) SERVICE
ACADEMY
DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘Service Academy’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 347 of title 10.’’. 
SEC. 8. DESIGNATION OF OFFICERS WITH PARTICULAR EX-
PERTISE 
IN 
MILITARY 
JUSTICE 
OR 
HEALTHCARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 
14, United States Code is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2132. Designation of officers with particular exper-
tise in military justice or healthcare 
‘‘(a) SECRETARY DESIGNATION.—The Secretary may 
designate a limited number of officers of the Coast Guard 
as having particular expertise in— 
‘‘(1) military justice; or 
‘‘(2) healthcare. 
‘‘(b) PROMOTION AND GRADE.—An individual des-
ignated under this section— 
‘‘(1) shall not be included on the active duty 
promotion list; 
‘‘(2) shall be promoted under section 2126; and 
‘‘(3) may not be promoted to a grade higher 
than captain.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 21 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 2131 the following: 
‘‘2132. Designation of officers with particular expertise in military justice or 
healthcare.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 2102(a) of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended, in the second sentence, by strik-
ing ‘‘and officers of the permanent commissioned 
teaching staff of the Coast Guard Academy’’ and in-
serting ‘‘officers of the permanent commissioned 
teaching staff of the Coast Guard Academy, and of-
ficers designated by the Secretary pursuant to sec-
tion 2132’’. 
(2) Subsection (e) of section 2103 of such title 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) SECRETARY TO PRESCRIBE NUMBERS FOR CER-
TAIN OFFICERS.—The Secretary shall prescribe the num-
ber of officers authorized to be serving on active duty in 
each grade of— 
‘‘(1) the permanent commissioned teaching 
staff of the Coast Guard Academy; 
‘‘(2) the officers designated by the Secretary 
pursuant to section 2132; and 
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‘‘(3) the officers of the Reserve serving in con-
nection with organizing, administering, recruiting, 
instructing, or training the reserve components.’’. 
(3) Section 2126 of such title is amended, in 
the second sentence, by inserting ‘‘and as to officers 
designated by the Secretary pursuant to section 
2132’’ after ‘‘reserve components’’. 
(4) Section 3736(a) of such title is amended— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘pro-
motion list and the’’ inserting ‘‘promotion list, 
officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to 
section 2132, and the officers on the’’; and 
(B) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘promotion list or the’’ and inserting ‘‘pro-
motion list, officers designated by the Secretary 
pursuant to section 2132, or the officers on 
the’’. 
SEC. 9. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PER-
SONNEL OF COAST GUARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘§ 2517. Direct hire authority for certain personnel of 
Coast Guard 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard may appoint, without regard to the provisions of 
subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5 (other than section 
3303 and 3328 of such chapter), qualified candidates to 
any non-clinical specialist intended to engage in the inte-
grated primary prevention of harmful behaviors, including 
suicide, sexual assault, harassment, domestic abuse, and 
child abuse and qualified candidates to any criminal inves-
tigative law enforcement position of the Coast Guard 
Criminal Investigative Service intended to engage in the 
primary response to such harmful behaviors. 
‘‘(b) SUNSET.—Effective on September 30, 2034, the 
authority provided under subsection (a) shall cease.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis of chap-
ter 25 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
related to section 2516 the following: 
‘‘2517. Direct hire authority for certain personnel of United States Coast 
Guard.’’. 
SEC. 10. SAFE-TO-REPORT POLICY FOR COAST GUARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 19 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘§ 1907. Safe-to-report policy for Coast Guard 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall, in consulta-
tion with the Secretaries of the military departments, issue 
such regulations as are necessary to establish the safe-to- 
report policy described in subsection (b) that applies with 
respect to all members of the Coast Guard (including 
members of the reserve and auxiliary components of the 
Coast Guard) and cadets at the Coast Guard Academy. 
‘‘(b) SAFE-TO-REPORT POLICY.—The safe-to-report 
policy described in this subsection is a policy that pre-
scribes the handling of minor collateral misconduct involv-
ing a member of the Coast Guard who is the alleged victim 
or reporting witness of a sexual assault. 
‘‘(c) 
MITIGATING
AND
AGGRAVATING
CIR-
CUMSTANCES.—In issuing regulations under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall specify mitigating circumstances 
that decrease the gravity of minor collateral misconduct 
or the impact of such misconduct on good order and dis-
cipline and aggravating circumstances that increase the 
gravity of minor collateral misconduct or the impact of 
such misconduct on good order and discipline for purposes 
of the safe-to-report policy. 
‘‘(d) TRACKING OF COLLATERAL MISCONDUCT INCI-
DENTS.—In conjunction with the issuance of regulations 
under subsection (a), Secretary shall develop and imple-
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ment a process to anonymously track incidents of minor 
collateral misconduct that are subject to the safe-to-report 
policy established under such regulations. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITION
OF MINOR COLLATERAL MIS-
CONDUCT.—In this section, the term ‘minor collateral mis-
conduct’ means any minor misconduct that is punishable 
under chapter 47 of title 10 that— 
‘‘(1) is committed close in time to or during a 
sexual assault and directly related to the incident 
that formed the basis of the sexual assault allega-
tion; 
‘‘(2) is discovered as a direct result of the re-
port of sexual assault or the ensuing investigation 
into such sexual assault; and 
‘‘(3) does not involve aggravating circumstances 
(as specified in the regulations issued under sub-
section (a)) that increase the gravity of the minor 
misconduct or the impact of such misconduct on 
good order and discipline.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 19 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 1906 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘1907. Safe-to-report policy for Coast Guard.’’. 
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SEC. 11. MODIFICATION OF DELIVERY DATE OF COAST 
GUARD SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORT. 
Section 5112(a) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘January 15’’ and inserting ‘‘March 
1’’. 
SEC. 12. HIGHER-LEVEL REVIEW OF BOARD OF DETER-
MINATION DECISIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2158 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) HIGHER-LEVEL REVIEW OF SEXUAL ASSAULT 
CASES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a board convened under 
this section determines that the officer should be re-
tained when the officer’s record indicates that the 
officer has committed a sexual assault offense, the 
board shall forward the record of the proceedings 
and recommendation of the board for higher-level re-
view, in accordance with regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The official exercising high-
er-level review shall have authority to forward the 
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case for consideration by a Board of Inquiry in ac-
cordance with section 2159. 
‘‘(c) SEXUAL ASSAULT OFFENSE.—In this section, 
the term ‘sexual assault offense’ means a violation of sec-
tion 920 or 920b of title 10, United States Code (article 
120 or 120b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) or 
attempt to commit an offense specified under section 920 
or 920b as punishable under section 880 of such title (ar-
ticle 80 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice).’’. 
SEC. 13. REVIEW OF DISCHARGE OR DISMISSAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2517. Review of discharge or dismissal 
‘‘(a) DOWNGRADE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the require-
ments of section 1553 of title 10, a board of review 
for a former member of the Coast Guard established 
pursuant to such section may, upon a motion of the 
board and subject to review by the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating, 
downgrade an honorable discharge or dismissal to a 
general (under honorable conditions) discharge or 
dismissal upon a finding that a former member of 
the Coast Guard, while serving on active duty as a 
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member of the armed forces, committed sexual as-
sault or sexual harassment in violation of section 
920, 920b, or 934 of this title (article 120, 120b, or 
134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). 
‘‘(2) EVIDENCE.—Any downgrade under para-
graph (1) shall be supported by clear and convincing 
evidence. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The review board under 
paragraph (1) may not downgrade a discharge or 
dismissal of a former member of the Coast Guard if 
the same action described in paragraph (1) was con-
sidered prior to separation from active duty by an 
administrative board in determining the character-
ization of discharge as otherwise provided by law 
and in accordance with regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating. 
‘‘(b) PROCEDURAL RIGHTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A review by a board estab-
lished under section 1553 of title 10 shall be based 
on the records of the armed forces concerned and 
such other evidence as may be presented to the 
board. 
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‘‘(2) EVIDENCE BY WITNESS.—A witness may 
present evidence to the board in person or by affi-
davit. 
‘‘(3) APPEARANCE BEFORE BOARD.—A person 
who requests a review under this section may appear 
before the board in person or by counsel or an ac-
credited representative of an organization recognized 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under chapter 
59 of title 38. 
‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION.—A former member of the 
Coast Guard who is subject to a downgrade in dis-
charge characterization review under subsection 
(b)(3) shall be notified in writing of such pro-
ceedings, afforded the right to obtain copies of 
records and documents relevant to the proceedings, 
and the right to appear before the board in person 
or by counsel or an accredited representative of an 
organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs under chapter 59 of title 38.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 25 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 2516 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘2517. Review of discharge or dismissal.’’. 
Æ 
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