I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5226 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional 
Commission to carry out a program of outreach for veterans who reside 
in Appalachia, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 5, 2010 
Mr. WILSON of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Appa-
lachian Regional Commission to carry out a program 
of outreach for veterans who reside in Appalachia, 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 ‘‘Appalachian Veterans 
Outreach Improvement Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. OUTREACH FOR VETERANS WHO RESIDE IN APPA-
LACHIA. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional Commission 
shall jointly carry out a program of outreach to veterans 
who reside in the Appalachian region for the purpose de-
scribed in subsection (b). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose described in this sub-
section is to increase the following: 
(1) The access to and use by veterans of Fed-
eral, State, and local programs providing compensa-
tion and other benefits for service in the Armed 
Forces. 
(2) Awareness of such programs, and their eli-
gibility for such programs, by veterans who reside in 
the Appalachian region. 
(c) PROJECTS.— 
(1) DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—In 
carrying out the program required by subsection (a), 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into 
agreements with other Federal and State agencies to 
carry out projects under the jurisdiction of such 
agencies to further the purpose described in sub-
section (b). 
(2) APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION.—In 
carrying out the program required by subsection (a), 
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the Appalachian Regional Commission may provide 
technical assistance, award grants, enter into con-
tracts, or otherwise provide amounts to persons or 
entities in the Appalachian region for projects and 
activities that— 
(A) increase outreach with respect to, 
awareness of, and use by veterans of programs 
described in subsection (b)(1); 
(B) provide incentives for State and local 
governments and veterans service organizations 
to assist veterans in utilizing facilities and re-
sources available to veterans through the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs; 
(C) provide incentives for State and local 
governments and veterans service organizations 
to assist veterans in utilizing resources available 
through government programs and veterans 
service organizations for veterans; 
(D) educate communities and State and 
local governments about the employment rights 
of veterans, including the employment and re-
employment of members of the uniformed serv-
ices under chapter 43 of title 38, United States 
Code; 
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