I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2190 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to establish the Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 7, 2007 
Mr. DONNELLY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Advisory Com-
mittee on Rural Veterans. 
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 ‘‘Advisory Committee 
on Rural Veterans Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RURAL VETERANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.—Subchapter 
III of chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section: 
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‘‘§ 546. Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) The Secretary shall es-
tablish an advisory committee to be known as the ‘Advi-
sory Committee on Rural Veterans’ (hereinafter in this 
section referred to as ‘the Committee’). 
‘‘(2)(A) The Committee shall consist of members ap-
pointed by the Secretary from the general public, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) representatives of rural veterans; 
‘‘(ii) individuals who are recognized authorities 
in fields pertinent to the needs of rural veterans, in-
cluding specific or unique health-care needs of rural 
veterans and access issues of rural veterans; 
‘‘(iii) individuals who have expertise in the de-
livery of mental health care in rural areas; 
‘‘(iv) individuals who have expertise in the deliv-
ery of long-term care in rural areas; 
‘‘(v) at least one veterans service organization 
representative from a rural State; and 
‘‘(vi) representatives of rural veterans with 
service-connected disabilities. 
‘‘(B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio mem-
bers— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices (or a representative of the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services designated by that Secretary); 
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‘‘(ii) the Director of the Indian Health Service 
(or a representative of that Director); and 
‘‘(iii) the Under Secretary for Health and the 
Under Secretary for Benefits, or their designees. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary may invite representatives of 
other departments and agencies of the United States to 
participate in the meetings and other activities of the 
Committee. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall determine the number, 
terms of service, and pay and allowances of members of 
the Committee appointed by the Secretary, except that a 
term of service of any such member may not exceed three 
years. The Secretary may reappoint any such member for 
additional terms of service. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMITTEE.—The Sec-
retary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the 
advice of the Committee with respect to the administration 
of benefits by the Department for rural veterans, reports 
and studies pertaining to rural veterans, and the needs 
of rural veterans with respect to primary care, mental 
health care, and long-term care needs of rural veterans. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—(1) Not later than September 1 of 
each odd-numbered year until 2013, the Committee shall 
submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and ac-
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tivities of the Department that pertain to rural veterans. 
Each such report shall include— 
‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of rural vet-
erans with respect to primary care, mental health 
care, and long-term care needs of rural veterans and 
other benefits and programs administered by the 
Department; 
‘‘(B) a review of the programs and activities of 
the Department designed to meet such needs; and 
‘‘(C) such recommendations (including rec-
ommendations for administrative and legislative ac-
tion) as the Committee considers appropriate. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, within 60 days after receiv-
ing each report under paragraph (1), submit to Congress 
a copy of the report, together with any comments con-
cerning the report that the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
‘‘(3) The Committee may also submit to the Sec-
retary such other reports and recommendations as the 
Committee considers appropriate. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual re-
port submitted to Congress pursuant to section 529 of this 
title a summary of all reports and recommendations of the 
Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous 
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annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to that 
section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘546. Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans.’’. 
Æ 
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