IB 
Union Calendar No. 572 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7342 
[Report No. 118–676] 
To establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2024 
Mr. VALADAO (for himself and Mr. MCGARVEY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 
Additional sponsors: Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. 
NEGUSE, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. PETTERSEN, Ms. BROWNLEY, Mr. LAWLER, 
and Mr. CROW 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 13, 2024] 
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A BILL 
To establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal 
Access, and for other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘Veterans Accessibility 
Advisory Committee Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL AC-
CESS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall establish within the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs an advisory committee on 
matters relating to accessibility of the Department for 
individuals with disabilities. 
(2) DESIGNATION.—The advisory committee es-
tablished by paragraph (1) shall be known as the 
‘‘Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access’’ (in 
this section the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of 15 voting members, appointed by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In appointing such 
members, the Secretary shall ensure the following: 
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(A) Four are veterans with disabilities, in-
cluding mobility impairment, hearing, visual, 
and mental or cognitive disabilities. 
(B) Four are experts on issues described in 
subsection (f)(1)(A) or the provisions of law set 
forth under subsection (f)(1)(B). 
(C) Two are employees of the Department, 
one from the Section 508 Office and one from the 
Architectural Accessibility Program, who oversee 
the compliance of the Department with Federal 
accessibility laws. 
(D) Five are representatives nominated by 
national veterans service organizations that ad-
vocate for veterans with physical, sensory, men-
tal, or cognitive disabilities. 
(2) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall also include four ex officio members (or 
their designees): 
(A) The Under Secretary for Health. 
(B) The Under Secretary for Benefits. 
(C) The Under Secretary for Memorial Af-
fairs. 
(D) The chairperson of the Architectural 
and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
(known as the ‘‘Access Board’’). 
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(c) TERMS; VACANCIES.— 
(1) TERMS.—A member of the Advisory Com-
mittee shall be appointed for a term of two years. The 
Secretary may reappoint members to the Advisory 
Committee for such additional two-year terms as the 
Secretary determines appropriate. 
(2) VACANCIES.—The Secretary shall fill a va-
cancy in the Advisory Committee in the same manner 
as the original appointment not later than 180 days 
after such vacancy occurs. 
(d) MEETINGS.— 
(1) FREQUENCY.—The Advisory Committee shall 
meet not less frequently than twice each year. 
(2) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Advisory Committee 
may form subcommittees, which shall meet as often as 
required. 
(3) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum. 
(e) CHAIRPERSON.—Members of the Advisory Com-
mittee shall select a Chairperson from among the members 
of the Advisory Committee. If the position of Chairperson 
becomes vacant, the members of the Advisory Committee 
shall select a new Chairperson not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the position became vacant. 
(f) DUTIES.— 
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(1) REQUIREMENT TO CONSULT AND SEEK AD-
VICE.—On a regular basis, the Secretary shall consult 
with and seek the advice of the Advisory Committee— 
(A) on improving the accessibility of the 
Department for individuals with disabilities, in-
cluding improving— 
(i) the accessibility of information of 
the Department, including electronic infor-
mation; 
(ii) the accessibility of the services and 
benefits furnished by the Department; 
(iii) the accessibility of the facilities of 
the Department; 
(iv) the accessibility of facilities of 
health care providers furnishing care or 
services under the Veterans Community 
Care Program under section 1703 of title 
38, United States Code; and 
(v) the acquisition process of the De-
partment to ensure that products and serv-
ices, including information technology and 
information and communication technology 
(as defined in the standards issued by the 
Architectural and Transportation Barriers 
Compliance Board pursuant to section 508 
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of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
794d)), are accessible when purchased; and 
(B) for ensuring the compliance of the De-
partment with provisions of law relating to dis-
ability and accessibility, including— 
(i) the Americans with Disabilities Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12184 et seq.); 
(ii) sections 504 and 508 of the Reha-
bilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791, 794, 
and 794d); 
(iii) the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (5 
U.S.C. 301 note); 
(iv) the 21st Century Integrated Dig-
ital Experience Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 note); 
(v) the Architectural Barriers Act of 
1968 (Public Law 90–480); and 
(vi) such other provisions of Federal 
law as may be that ensure equal access to 
Federal facilities, benefits, or services for in-
dividuals with disabilities. 
(2) PROVISION OF ADVICE.—In providing advice 
to the Secretary, the Advisory Committee shall, focus-
ing on the areas of greatest need for the Depart-
ment— 
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(A) assess the disability access needs of vet-
erans, the public, and Department employees for 
full access to the Department’s information, serv-
ices, and benefits by reviewing relevant informa-
tion, such as filed complaints by people with dis-
abilities or physical assessments of the Depart-
ment’s facilities; 
(B) provide assessments of accessibility at 
the Department and the compliance of the De-
partment with applicable provisions of law relat-
ing to disability and accessibility; and 
(C) provide advice on improving accessi-
bility at the Department, including the accessi-
bility of all— 
(i) communications, including internal 
and public facing; 
(ii) services and benefits; and 
(iii) facilities. 
(3) REPORTS.— 
(A) REPORTS
TO
THE
SECRETARY.—Not 
later than two years after the date of the first 
meeting of the Advisory Committee, and not less 
frequently than once every two years thereafter, 
the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Sec-
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retary a report that, focusing on areas of greatest 
need for the Department— 
(i) identifies and assesses access bar-
riers affecting veterans, the public, and em-
ployees of the Department; 
(ii) determines the extent to which the 
programs and activities of the Department 
address the barriers identified in clause (i), 
including compliance of the Department 
with provisions of law relating to accessi-
bility law and reporting; 
(iii) provides recommendations and ac-
cess priorities to improve the accessibility of 
the Department’s services, benefits, informa-
tion, technology, and facilities; 
(iv) provides a description of access 
improvements and assesses the Department’s 
implementation of recommendations from 
previous reports of the Advisory Committee, 
including any unmet recommendations that 
remain necessary for improving accessi-
bility for the Department; and 
(v) provides any recommendations for 
legislation, administrative action, or other 
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actions that the Advisory Committee deter-
mines appropriate. 
(B) REPORTS TO CONGRESS AND FEDERAL 
AGENCIES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 
days after the receipt of a report required 
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a copy of such report and any 
comments and recommendations of the Sec-
retary concerning such report that the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
(ii) AVAILABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.— 
The Secretary shall publish on a publicly 
accessible website of the Department such 
report 
and 
such 
comments 
and 
rec-
ommendations as may have been submitted 
along with such report. 
(iii) 
APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL 
COMMITTEES.—In this subparagraph, the 
term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit-
tees’’ means— 
(I) the Committees on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives; 
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(II) the Special Committee on 
Aging of the Senate; and 
(III) the Committee on Education 
and the Workforce of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(g) ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
PERSONNEL
AND
RE-
SOURCE MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—A member of 
the Commission who is not an officer or employee of 
the Federal Government shall not be compensated for 
the performance of the duties of the Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Advi-
sory Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates au-
thorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I 
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business 
in the performance of services for the Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(3) RESOURCES.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that such personnel, funding, and other resources are 
made available to the Advisory Committee as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate to carry out the duties 
of the Advisory Committee. 
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(4) INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall furnish 
to the Advisory Committee such information as the 
Advisory Committee may request from the Secretary, 
subject to applicable provisions of law. 
(h) TERMINATION
OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The 
Advisory Committee shall terminate on the date that is 10 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. ABOLITION OF INACTIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and before establishing the Veterans Advisory 
Committee on Equal Access under section 2, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(1) abolish an advisory committee of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs that— 
(A) was not established by an Act of Con-
gress; and 
(B) is inactive; 
(2) consolidate two advisory committees de-
scribed in paragraph (1); or 
(3) submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
recommendation to abolish an advisory committee of 
the Department that— 
(A) was established by an Act of Congress; 
and 
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(B) is inactive. 
SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES. 
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘November 15, 
2031’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘November 29, 
2031’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 572 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7342 
[Report No. 118–676] 
A BILL 
To establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on 
Equal Access, and for other purposes. 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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00:16 Sep 17, 2024
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