I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2797 
To establish an interagency committee on the development of green alert 
systems that would be activated when a veteran goes missing, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 22, 2021 
Mr. PAPPAS (for himself, Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS, and Mr. BANKS) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish an interagency committee on the development 
of green alert systems that would be activated when 
a veteran goes missing, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Green Alert 
Act of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON 
DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN ALERT SYSTEMS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 
Green Alert System Advisory and Support Committee (re-
ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Committee’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Committee shall be 
composed of members appointed by the President, of 
whom— 
(A) not fewer than one shall be an em-
ployee of the Department of Justice with expe-
rience in coordinating the AMBER Alert com-
munications network, as that term is used in 
subtitle A of title III of the PROTECT Act (34 
U.S.C. 20501 et seq.); 
(B) not fewer than one shall be an em-
ployee of the Department of Health and 
Human Services, of which not fewer than one 
shall be an employee of the Substance Abuse 
and Mental Health Services Administration of 
the Department of Health and Human Services; 
(C) not fewer than one shall be an em-
ployee of the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
(D) not fewer than one shall be an em-
ployee of the Department of Transportation; 
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(E) not fewer than one shall be a veteran 
(as defined in section 101 of title 38, United 
States Code) who— 
(i) is not eligible for appointment to 
the Committee under subparagraph (A), 
(B), (C), or (D); and 
(ii) retired or otherwise honorably sep-
arated from the Armed Forces with a mili-
tary pay grade of O–7 or higher; and 
(F) not fewer than one shall be a member 
of a veterans service organization who can dem-
onstrate familiarity with, or experience in, the 
development of an alert or support system in a 
State for either missing veterans or veteran 
mental health. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS.—The President 
shall appoint additional members of the Committee 
from among individuals at the State, local, and trib-
al level who are experts in alert systems, such as the 
AMBER Alert, as that term is used in subtitle A of 
title III of the PROTECT Act (34 U.S.C. 20501 et 
seq.). 
(3) DATE.—The appointments of the members 
of the Committee shall be made not later than 120 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
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(c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A member of the Committee 
shall be appointed for the life of the Committee. 
(2) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Com-
mittee— 
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Com-
mittee; and 
(B) shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment. 
(d) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date on which all members of the Committee have been 
appointed, the Committee shall hold the first meeting of 
the Committee. 
(e) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall meet 
not less frequently than twice each year. 
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Committee shall constitute a quorum, but a less-
er number of members may hold hearings. 
(f) CHAIRPERSON
AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Committee shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair-
person from among the members of the Committee. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any 
State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 
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the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United 
States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
and any possession of the United States. 
(2) VETERANS
SERVICE
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means an orga-
nization recognized by the Secretary for the rep-
resentation of veterans under section 5902 of title 
38, United States Code. 
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall develop best 
practices and provide technical assistance to States to es-
tablish State systems, to be known as ‘‘green alert’’ sys-
tems, that would be activated when a veteran with a his-
tory of mental health issues, including neurocognitive dis-
orders, suicide attempts or impulses, or substance use dis-
order goes missing. 
(b) MISSING VETERAN DETERMINATION.—The Com-
mittee shall determine the circumstances under which a 
veteran is considered missing for purposes of this section. 
(c) COMPLIANCE WITH PRIVACY LAWS.—The Com-
mittee shall ensure that the State systems described in 
subsection (a) comply with applicable Federal and State 
privacy laws. 
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(d) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Committee shall submit 
to the President and Congress a report that contains a 
detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the 
Committee, together with the recommendations of the 
Committee for such legislative and administrative action 
as the Committee considers appropriate. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 2(g). 
(2) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ means— 
(A) a veteran as defined in section 101 of 
title 38, United States Code; and 
(B) any former member of the Armed 
Forces, including any individual who received a 
discharge under conditions other than honor-
able that is determined by the Secretary of De-
fense to have resulted from substance use dis-
order, a mental health issue, or a suicide at-
tempt. 
SEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMITTEE. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Committee may hold such hear-
ings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testi-
mony, and receive such evidence as the Committee con-
siders advisable to carry out this Act. 
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(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee may secure 
directly from any Federal agency such information 
as the Committee considers necessary to carry out 
this Act. 
(2) FURNISHING INFORMATION.—On request of 
the Chairperson of the Committee, the head of the 
Federal agency shall furnish the information to the 
Committee. 
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Committee may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other Federal agencies. 
(d) GIFTS.—The Committee may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 
SEC. 5. COMMITTEE PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A member of the Committee 
who is not an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government 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 the 
member is engaged in the performance of the duties 
of the Committee. 
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(2) FEDERAL
MEMBERS.—A member of the 
Committee who is an officer or employee of the 
United States shall serve without compensation in 
addition to that received for service as an officer or 
employee of the United States. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Com-
mittee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees 
of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code, while away from their home or reg-
ular places of business in the performance of services for 
the Committee. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Committee may, without regard to the civil service 
laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate 
an executive director and such other additional per-
sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Committee 
to perform the duties of the Committee, except that 
the employment of an executive director shall be 
subject to confirmation by the Committee. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson of the 
Committee may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard to 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 
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