‘‘§ 1712C. Pilot program for delivery of readjustment 
counseling
and
mental
health
services 
through mobile Vet Centers Pilot pro-
gram for delivery of certain services 
through mobile vet centers 
‘‘(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—To improve access to mental 
health services in rural areas, the Secretary shall carry 
out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall pro-
vide readjustment counseling and related mental health 
services readjustment counseling, related mental health 
services, benefits outreach, and, to the extent practicable, as-
sistance with claims for benefits under this title through 
the use of mobile centers (as that term is defined in sec-
tion 1712A(i)(1)), to be known as ‘mobile Vet Centers’. 
In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall de-
termine the most effective manner in which to operate the 
mobile Vet Centers. 
‘‘(b) SCOPE AND LOCATION.—(1) The Secretary shall 
establish two mobile Vet Centers in each of the following 
five Veterans Integrated Service Networks: 
‘‘(A) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
1. 
‘‘(B) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
16. 
‘‘(C) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
19. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:23 May 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2199.RH
H2199
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
‘‘(D) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
20. 
‘‘(E) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
23. 
‘‘(2) Within each Veterans Integrated Service Net-
work under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine 
the area to be serviced by each mobile Vet Center. In mak-
ing that determination, the Secretary shall give priority 
to areas in which limited mental health and outreach serv-
ices are available. 
‘‘(3) If the Secretary determines that mobile Vet Cen-
ters in addition to such centers required under paragraph 
(1) are warranted, the Secretary may establish additional 
mobile Vet Centers and may establish such centers in Vet-
erans Integrated Service Networks other than the Vet-
erans Integrated Service Networks referred to in that 
paragraph. Upon such a determination by the Secretary, 
the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives of such 
determination. 
‘‘(c) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 
pilot program under this section shall terminate on the 
date that is three years after the date of the enactment 
of this section. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:23 May 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2199.RH
H2199
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the pilot program terminates under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a report on the pilot program. Such report shall describe 
how the Secretary established and carried out the pilot 
program and include an evaluation of the Secretary of the 
benefits and disadvantages of providing readjustment 
counseling and related mental health services readjustment 
counseling, related mental health services, benefits outreach, 
and claims assistance through the use of mobile Vets Cen-
ters. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$7,500,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal 
year.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item related to section 1712B the following new 
item: 
‘‘1712C. Pilot program for delivery of readjustment counseling and mental 
health services through mobile Vet Centers. 1712C. Pilot pro-
gram for delivery of certain services through mobile Vet Cen-
ters.’’. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:23 May 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H2199.RH
H2199
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
SEC. 4. 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: 
‘‘§ 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. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:23 May 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2199.RH
H2199
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
‘‘(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); 
‘‘(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 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:23 May 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2199.RH
H2199
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
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-
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. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:23 May 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2199.RH
H2199
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS