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partment and make recommendations on how the De-
partment can meet such requirements. 
(5) To review and make recommendations re-
garding the feasibility and advisability of providing 
direct services or contracting for community-based 
services for veterans in response to a sexual assault, 
including through the use of sexual assault nurse ex-
aminers, particularly in underserved or remote areas, 
including services for Native American veterans. 
(6) To review the availability of counseling serv-
ices provided by the Department and through peer 
network support, and to provide recommendations for 
the enhancement of such services, to address— 
(A) the perpetration of intimate partner vi-
olence and sexual assault; and 
(B) the recovery of veterans, particularly 
women veterans, from intimate partner violence 
and sexual assault. 
(7) To review and make recommendations to ex-
pand services available for veterans at risk of perpe-
trating intimate partner violence. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
annually thereafter by October 1 of each year, the Task 
Force shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and
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Congress a report on the activities of the Task Force, includ-
ing any recommendations for legislative or administrative 
action. 
(f) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Task Force 
shall not be subject to the requirements of the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) NATIVE
AMERICAN
VETERAN.—The term 
‘‘Native American veteran’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 3765 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 101 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
Subtitle D—Data Collection and 
Reporting 
SEC. 5401. REQUIREMENT FOR COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS 
OF DATA ON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS 
BENEFITS 
AND 
SERVICES 
AND 
DISAGGREGATION OF SUCH DATA BY GEN-
DER, RACE, AND ETHNICITY. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(1) collect and analyze data on each program of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides a 
service or benefit to a veteran, including the program
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carried out under section 1144 of title 10, United 
States Code; 
(2) disaggregate such data by gender, race, and 
ethnicity, when the data lends itself to such 
disaggregation; and 
(3) publish the data collected and analyzed 
under paragraph (1), except for such cases in which 
the Secretary determines that some portions of the 
data would undermine the anonymity of a veteran. 
SEC. 5402. STUDY ON BARRIERS FOR WOMEN VETERANS TO 
RECEIPT OF HEALTH CARE FROM DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall conduct a comprehensive study of the barriers 
to the provision of health care by the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs encountered by women who are veterans. 
(b) SURVEY.—In conducting the study required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) survey women veterans who seek or receive 
hospital care or medical services provided by the De-
partment as well as women veterans who do not seek 
or receive such care or services; 
(2) administer the survey to a representative 
sample of women veterans from each Veterans Inte-
grated Service Network; and
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(3) ensure that the sample of women veterans 
surveyed is of sufficient size for the study results to 
be statistically significant and is a larger sample 
than that of the study specified in subsection (c)(1). 
(c) USE OF PREVIOUS STUDIES.—In conducting the 
study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall build 
on the work of the studies of the Department titled— 
(1) ‘‘National Survey of Women Veterans in Fis-
cal Year 2007–2008’’; and 
(2) ‘‘Study of Barriers for Women Veterans to 
VA Health Care 2015’’. 
(d) ELEMENTS OF STUDY.—In conducting the study 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct re-
search on the effects of the following on the women veterans 
surveyed in the study: 
(1) The barriers associated with seeking mental 
health care services, including with respect to pro-
vider availability, telehealth access, and family, work, 
and school obligations. 
(2) The effect of driving distance or availability 
of other forms of transportation to the nearest medical 
facility on access to care. 
(3) The effect of access to care from non-Depart-
ment providers. 
(4) The availability of child care.
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(5) The satisfaction of such veterans with the 
provision by the Department of integrated primary 
care, women’s health clinics, or both, including per-
ceptions of quality of care, safety, and comfort. 
(6) The understanding and perceived accessi-
bility among such veterans of eligibility requirements 
for, and the scope of services available under, hospital 
care and medical services. 
(7) The perception of such veterans of personal 
safety and comfort in inpatient, outpatient, and be-
havioral health facilities. 
(8) The gender sensitivity of health care pro-
viders and staff to issues that particularly affect 
women. 
(9) The effectiveness of outreach for health care 
services available to women veterans. 
(10) The location and operating hours of health 
care facilities that provide services to women veterans. 
(11) The perception of such veterans of the motto 
of the Department. 
(12) Such other significant barriers as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(e) DISCHARGE BY CONTRACT.—The Secretary shall 
enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity
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or organization to carry out the study and research re-
quired under this section. 
(f) MANDATORY REVIEW OF DATA BY CERTAIN DE-
PARTMENT DIVISIONS.— 
(1) REVIEW.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that the head of each division of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs specified in paragraph 
(2) reviews the results of the study conducted 
under this section. 
(B) SUBMITTAL OF FINDINGS.—The head of 
each division specified in paragraph (2) shall 
submit findings with respect to the study under 
this section to the Under Secretary of the De-
partment with responsibilities relating to health 
care services for women veterans. 
(2) SPECIFIED DIVISIONS.—The divisions of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs specified in this para-
graph are the following: 
(A) The Office of the Under Secretary for 
Health. 
(B) The Office of Women’s Health estab-
lished under section 7310 of title 38, United 
States Code.
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(C) The Center for Women Veterans under 
section 318 of such title. 
(D) The Advisory Committee on Women 
Veterans established under section 542 of such 
title. 
(g) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 30 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report on the study 
required under this section. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall include— 
(A) the findings of the head of each division 
of the Department specified under subsection 
(f)(2); and 
(B) recommendations for such administra-
tive and legislative action as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
SEC. 5403. STUDY ON FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF 
OFFERING PARENTING STAIR PROGRAM AT 
ALL MEDICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of 
expanding the Parenting STAIR program to all medical
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centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs and including 
such program as part of care for military sexual trauma 
for affected members and former members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—In conducting the study under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall assess— 
(1) staffing needed to offer the Parenting STAIR 
program at all medical centers of the Department; 
(2) any additional infrastructure or resources 
(such as child care during the program) needed for 
the expansion of the program; and 
(3) such other factors relevant to the expansion 
of the program as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(c) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report de-
tailing— 
(A) the current number and locations of all 
facilities of the Department offering the Par-
enting STAIR program; and
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(B) the number of veterans served by such 
program in the most recent fiscal year or cal-
endar year for which data is available. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than three years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report de-
tailing— 
(A) the results of the study conducted under 
subsection (a); 
(B) an update on how many veterans have 
used the Parenting STAIR program since its de-
velopment in fiscal year 2017, disaggregated by 
year, including the locations in which veterans 
have used such program; and 
(C) a determination on the feasibility and 
advisability of expanding the Parenting STAIR 
program to all medical facilities of the Depart-
ment offering care for military sexual trauma. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AFFECTED MEMBERS AND FORMER MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES.—The term ‘‘affected mem-
bers and former members of the Armed Forces’’ means 
members and former members of the Armed Forces
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who are parents and have experienced military sexual 
trauma. 
(2) MILITARY
SEXUAL
TRAUMA.—The term 
‘‘military sexual trauma’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 1164(c) of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by section 5501(a) of this title. 
(3) PARENTING
STAIR
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Parenting STAIR program’’ means the program of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs that consists of a 
five-session, parenting-specific treatment protocol 
based on skills training in affective and interpersonal 
regulation (commonly referred to as ‘‘STAIR’’), which 
is a cognitive behavioral therapy that has been identi-
fied as a promising practice for treating post-trau-
matic stress disorder, including chronic and com-
plicated forms, among individuals with co-occurring 
disorders. 
Subtitle E—Benefits Matters 
SEC. 5501. EVALUATION OF SERVICE-CONNECTION OF MEN-
TAL HEALTH CONDITIONS RELATING TO MILI-
TARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. 
(a) SPECIALIZED TEAMS TO EVALUATE CLAIMS IN-
VOLVING MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—subchapter VI of chapter 11 of 
such title is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 1164. Specialized teams to evaluate claims involv-
ing military sexual trauma 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish spe-
cialized teams to process claims for compensation for a cov-
ered mental health condition based on military sexual trau-
ma experienced by a veteran during active military, naval, 
or air service. 
‘‘(b) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall ensure that mem-
bers of teams established under subsection (a) are trained 
to identify markers indicating military sexual trauma. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘covered mental health condition’ 
means post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depres-
sion, or other mental health diagnosis described in the 
current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical 
Manual of Mental Disorders published by the Amer-
ican Psychiatric Association that the Secretary deter-
mines to be related to military sexual trauma. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘military sexual trauma’ means, 
with respect to a veteran, a physical assault of a sex-
ual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual har-
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assment during active military, naval, or air serv-
ice.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 
adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘1164. Specialized teams to evaluate claims involving military sexual trauma.’’. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS ON CLAIMS FOR DISABILITIES 
INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED BY MILITARY SEXUAL TRAU-
MA.— 
(1) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than March 
1, 2021, and not less frequently than once each year 
thereafter through 2027, the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall submit to Congress a report on covered 
claims submitted during the previous fiscal year to 
identify and track the consistency of decisions across 
regional offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
(A) The number of covered claims submitted 
to or considered by the Secretary during the fis-
cal year covered by the report. 
(B) Of the covered claims listed under sub-
paragraph (A), the number and percentage of 
such claims— 
(i) submitted by each sex;
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(ii) that were approved, including the 
number and percentage of such approved 
claims submitted by each sex; 
(iii) that were denied, including the 
number and percentage of such denied 
claims submitted by each sex; and 
(iv) that were developed and reviewed 
by a specialized team established under sec-
tion 1164(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a). 
(C) Of the covered claims listed under sub-
paragraph (A) that were approved, the number 
and percentage, disaggregated by sex, of claims 
assigned to each rating percentage. 
(D) Of the covered claims listed under sub-
paragraph (A) that were denied— 
(i) the three most common reasons 
given by the Secretary under section 
5104(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, 
for such denials; and 
(ii) the number of denials that were 
based on the failure of a veteran to report 
for a medical examination. 
(E) The number of covered claims that, as 
of the end of the fiscal year covered by the report,
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are pending and, separately, the number of such 
claims on appeal. 
(F) For the fiscal year covered by the re-
port, the average number of days that covered 
claims take to complete, beginning on the date on 
which the claim is submitted. 
(G) A description of the training that the 
Secretary provides to employees of the Veterans 
Benefits Administration, or such contractors or 
other individuals as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate, specifically with respect to covered 
claims, including the frequency, length, and con-
tent of such training. 
(H) Whether all covered claims are subject 
to second level review until the individual rater 
of the Veterans Benefits Administration adjudi-
cating such covered claims achieves an accuracy 
rate of 90 percent on decisions of such covered 
claims. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) COVERED CLAIMS.—The term ‘‘covered 
claims’’ means claims for disability compensa-
tion submitted to the Secretary based on a cov-
ered mental health condition alleged to have been
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incurred or aggravated by military sexual trau-
ma. 
(B) COVERED
MENTAL
HEALTH
CONDI-
TION.—The term ‘‘covered mental health condi-
tion’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
1164(c) of title 38, United States Code. 
(C) MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.—The term 
‘‘military sexual trauma’’ has the meaning given 
such term in such section. 
SEC. 5502. CHOICE OF SEX OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS MEDICAL EXAMINER FOR ASSESS-
MENT OF CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION RE-
LATING TO DISABILITY RESULTING FROM 
PHYSICAL ASSAULT OF A SEXUAL NATURE, 
BATTERY OF A SEXUAL NATURE, OR SEXUAL 
HARASSMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter VI of chapter 11 of title 
38, United States Code, as amended by section 5501 of this 
title, is further amended by inserting after section 1164, 
as added by section 5501, the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1165. Choice of sex of medical examiner for certain 
disabilities 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure that a 
veteran who requires a medical examination from a covered 
medical provider in support of a claim for compensation
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under this chapter for a mental or physical health condition 
that resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, 
battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment may des-
ignate the sex of the medical provider who provides such 
medical examination. 
‘‘(b) COVERED MEDICAL PROVIDERS.—For purposes of 
this section, a covered medical provider is any medical pro-
vider who is employed by the Department or is under any 
contract with the Department to provide a medical exam-
ination or a medical opinion when such an examination 
or opinion is necessary to make a decision on a claim. 
‘‘(c) NOTICE.—Before providing any medical exam-
ination for a veteran in support for a claim described in 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall notify the veteran of the 
veteran’s rights under subsection (a).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 11 of such title, as amended by 
section 5501 of this title, is further amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1164 the following new 
item: 
‘‘1165. Choice of sex of medical examiner for certain disabilities.’’.
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SEC. 5503. SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REPORT ON 
IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF IN-
SPECTOR GENERAL OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS IN CERTAIN REPORT ON DE-
NIED POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER 
CLAIMS 
RELATED 
TO 
MILITARY 
SEXUAL 
TRAUMA. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House a report 
on the progress of the Secretary in implementing the rec-
ommendations from the report of the Inspector General of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs entitled ‘‘Denied 
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Claims Related to Military 
Sexual Trauma’’ (17–05248–241). 
TITLE 
VI—REPRESENTATION 
AND 
FINANCIAL 
EXPLOI-
TATION MATTERS 
SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Financial Refuge for 
Every Elderly Veteran Act of 2020’’ or the ‘‘FREE Veteran 
Act of 2020’’.
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SEC. 6002. PLAN TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL EXPLOI-
TATION OF VETERANS RECEIVING PENSION 
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF METHOD FOR SOLICITATION 
AND COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a method for system-
atically soliciting and collecting information on complaints 
received, referrals made, and actions taken by the pension 
management centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
and any other relevant components of the Department, in 
cases of potential financial exploitation of individuals re-
ceiving pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(b) PLAN TO ASSESS AND ADDRESS FINANCIAL EX-
PLOITATION OF VETERANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop 
and periodically update a plan— 
(A) to regularly assess the information so-
licited and collected under subsection (a) to iden-
tify trends of potential financial exploitation of 
the individuals described in subsection (a) across 
the Department; and
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(B) to outline actions that the Department 
can take to improve education and training to 
address those trends. 
(2) SUBMISSION OF PLAN.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
not less frequently than once every two years there-
after until the date that is six years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
the plan most recently developed or updated under 
paragraph (1) to— 
(A) the Comptroller General of the United 
States; and 
(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and 
the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate 
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives. 
SEC. 6003. OVERPAYMENTS OF PENSION TO VETERANS RE-
CEIVING PENSION FROM THE DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) GUIDANCE
AND TRAINING
FOR CLAIMS PROC-
ESSORS.—As the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers 
necessary, but not less frequently than once every three 
years until the date that is 10 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Benefits of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs shall update guidance
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and training curriculum for the processors of claims for 
pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, 
regarding the evaluation of questionable medical expenses 
on applications for pension, including by updating such 
guidance with respect to what constitutes a questionable 
medical expense and by including examples of such ex-
penses. 
(b) IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING.—The Under Sec-
retary shall develop a method for identifying and tracking 
the number of individuals who have received overpayments 
of pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and not later than 
October 31 of each fiscal year beginning thereafter until the 
date that is four years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
report that includes, for the period covered by the report, 
the following: 
(1) The number of individuals who received over-
payments of pension under chapter 15 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(2) The five most common reasons for overpay-
ments described in paragraph (1). 
(3) The number of veterans who had to repay 
overpayments described in paragraph (1).
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(4) The number of veterans for whom the Sec-
retary waived a requirement to repay an overpay-
ment described in paragraph (1). 
(5) The total dollar amount of overpayments de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(6) The total dollar amount of repayments of vet-
erans for overpayments described in paragraph (1). 
(7) The average dollar amount of repayments de-
scribed in paragraph (6). 
SEC. 6004. EVALUATION OF ADDITIONAL ACTIONS FOR 
VERIFYING DIRECT DEPOSIT INFORMATION 
PROVIDED BY VETERANS ON APPLICATIONS 
FOR VETERANS PENSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary for Benefits 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(1) conduct an evaluation of the feasibility and 
advisability of requiring the processors of claims for 
pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States 
Code, to take additional actions to verify that the di-
rect deposit information provided by an individual 
on an application for pension is for the appropriate 
recipient; and 
(2) identify such legislative or administrative ac-
tions as the Under Secretary considers appropriate to
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ensure that payments of pension are provided to the 
correct recipients. 
(b) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 240 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report on the eval-
uation and identification under subsection (a). 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The findings of the Under Secretary 
with respect to the evaluation conducted under 
subsection (a)(1). 
(B) The actions identified under subsection 
(a)(2). 
(C) A plan for implementing any adminis-
trative actions identified under subsection (a)(2). 
(D) A rationale for not implementing any 
actions evaluated under paragraph (1) of sub-
section (a) but not identified under paragraph 
(2) of such subsection.
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SEC. 6005. ANNUAL REPORT ON EFFORTS OF DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ADDRESS THE FI-
NANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF VETERANS RE-
CEIVING PENSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently 
than once each year thereafter until the date that is four 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on efforts to address the financial exploitation of individ-
uals receiving pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
(b) CONTENTS.—Each report required by subsection 
(a) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the 
following: 
(1) The number of individuals who received pen-
sion under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, 
who have been referred by any component of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs to the Office of Inspector 
General of the Department as likely or proven victims 
of financial exploitation. 
(2) The number of referrals and reports relating 
to the financial exploitation of such individuals made 
by the Department of Veterans Affairs to—
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(A) the Consumer Sentinel Network of the 
Federal Trade Commission; and 
(B) the Department of Justice. 
(3) A description of the actions taken as a result 
of such referrals and reports against— 
(A) individuals recognized by the Secretary 
as agents or attorneys under section 5904 of title 
38, United States Code; and 
(B) individuals not so recognized. 
SEC. 6006. NOTICE REGARDING FEES CHARGED IN CONNEC-
TION WITH FILING AN APPLICATION FOR VET-
ERANS PENSION. 
The Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that every paper or elec-
tronic document relating to the receipt of pension under 
chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, that is available 
to individuals who apply for such pension, including edu-
cational forms about or applications for such pension, in-
cludes a notice that the Department does not charge any 
fee in connection with the filing of an application for such 
pension.
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SEC. 6007. OUTREACH PLAN FOR EDUCATING VULNERABLE 
VETERANS ABOUT POTENTIAL FINANCIAL EX-
PLOITATION RELATING TO THE RECEIPT OF 
PENSION. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN.—The Under Secretary 
for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall de-
velop, in collaboration with veterans service organizations, 
an outreach plan for educating vulnerable individuals 
about potential financial exploitation relating to the receipt 
of pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code. 
(b) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate 
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives the plan developed under subsection (a). 
(c) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means 
an organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 
of title 38, United States Code.
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TITLE VII—OTHER MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Administrative and 
Other Matters 
SEC. 7001. MEDICAL EXAMINATION PROTOCOL FOR VOLUN-
TEER DRIVERS PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAM 
OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR VET-
ERANS. 
Section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(2)(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. 
Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 
2020, the Secretary shall develop and establish a national 
protocol for the administration of medical examinations for 
volunteer drivers to participate in the program described 
in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) In developing the protocol required by subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall consult with such persons as 
the Secretary determines have an interest in the program 
described in paragraph (1).
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‘‘(C)(i) The Secretary shall implement the protocol by 
first conducting a one-year pilot program using the pro-
tocol. 
‘‘(ii) After conducting the pilot program required by 
clause (i), the Secretary shall assess the pilot program and 
make such changes to the protocol as the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
‘‘(iii) After making changes to the protocol under 
clause (ii), the Secretary shall implement the protocol in 
phases during the course of one year.’’. 
SEC. 7002. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL AND INDIAN AF-
FAIRS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 5 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 547. Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Af-
fairs 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) The Secretary shall estab-
lish an advisory committee to provide advice and guidance 
to the Secretary on matters relating to Indian tribes, tribal 
organizations, and Native American veterans. 
‘‘(2) The advisory committee established under para-
graph (1) shall be known as the ‘Advisory Committee on
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Tribal and Indian Affairs’ (in this section referred to as 
the ‘Committee’). 
‘‘(3) The Committee shall facilitate, but not supplant, 
government-to-government consultation between the Depart-
ment and Indian tribes or tribal organizations. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall consult with Indian tribes or 
tribal organizations in developing a charter for the Com-
mittee. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—(1) The Committee shall be com-
prised of 15 voting members selected by the Secretary from 
among individuals nominated as specified under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(2) In selecting members under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall ensure that— 
‘‘(A) at least one member of each of the 12 serv-
ice areas of the Indian Health Service is represented 
in the membership of the Committee nominated by 
Indian tribes or tribal organizations; 
‘‘(B) at least one member of the Committee rep-
resents the Native Hawaiian veteran community 
nominated by a Native Hawaiian Organization; 
‘‘(C) at least one member of the Committee rep-
resents urban Indian organizations nominated by a 
national urban Indian organization; and
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‘‘(D) not fewer than half of the members are vet-
erans, unless the Secretary determines that an insuffi-
cient number of qualified veterans were nominated 
under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) No member of the Committee may be an employee 
of the Federal Government. 
‘‘(c) TERMS; VACANCIES.—(1) A member of the Com-
mittee shall be appointed for a term of two years. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall fill a vacancy in the Com-
mittee in the same manner as the original appointment 
within 180 days. 
‘‘(d) MEETINGS.—(1)(A) Except as provided in sub-
paragraph (B), the Committee shall meet in-person with 
the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, not less frequently 
than twice each year and hold monthly conference calls as 
necessary. 
‘‘(B) During a public health emergency (as defined in 
section 20003 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic 
Security Act (Public Law 116–136)), meetings under sub-
paragraph (A) may be conducted virtually. 
‘‘(2)(A) Representatives of relevant Federal agencies 
may attend meetings of the Committee and provide infor-
mation to the Committee.
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‘‘(B) One representative of the Office of Tribal Govern-
ment Relations of the Department shall attend at each meet-
ing of the Committee. 
‘‘(C) Representatives attending meetings under this 
paragraph shall not be considered voting members of the 
Committee. 
‘‘(D) A representative attending a meeting or pro-
viding information under this paragraph may not receive 
additional compensation for services performed with respect 
to the Committee. 
‘‘(e) SUBCOMMITTEES.—(1) The Committee may estab-
lish subcommittees. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may, in consultation with the Com-
mittee, appoint a member to a subcommittee established 
under paragraph (1) who is not a member of the Committee. 
‘‘(3) Such subcommittees may enhance the function of 
the Committee, but may not supersede the authority of the 
Committee or provide direct advice or work products to the 
Department. 
‘‘(f) DUTIES.—The duties of the Committee are as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) To advise the Secretary on ways the De-
partment can improve the programs and services of 
the Department to better serve Native American vet-
erans.
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‘‘(2) To identify for the Department evolving 
issues of relevance to Indian tribes, tribal organiza-
tions, and Native American veterans relating to pro-
grams and services of the Department. 
‘‘(3) To propose clarifications, recommendations, 
and solutions to address issues raised at tribal, re-
gional, and national levels, especially regarding any 
tribal consultation reports. 
‘‘(4) To provide a forum for Indian tribes, tribal 
organizations, urban Indian organizations, Native 
Hawaiian organizations, and the Department to dis-
cuss issues and proposals for changes to Department 
regulations, policies, and procedures. 
‘‘(5) To identify priorities and provide advice on 
appropriate strategies for tribal consultation and 
urban Indian organizations conferring on issues at 
the tribal, regional, or national levels. 
‘‘(6) To ensure that pertinent issues are brought 
to the attention of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, 
urban Indian organizations, and Native Hawaiian 
organizations in a timely manner, so that feedback 
can be obtained. 
‘‘(7) To encourage the Secretary to work with 
other Federal agencies and Congress so that Native
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American veterans are not denied the full benefit of 
their status as both Native Americans and veterans. 
‘‘(8) To highlight contributions of Native Amer-
ican veterans in the Armed Forces. 
‘‘(9) To make recommendations on the consulta-
tion policy of the Department on tribal matters. 
‘‘(10) To support a process to develop an urban 
Indian organization confer policy to ensure the Sec-
retary confers, to the maximum extent practicable, 
with urban Indian organizations. 
‘‘(11) To conduct other duties as recommended 
by the Committee. 
‘‘(g) REPORTS.—(1) Not less frequently than once each 
year, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the 
appropriate committees of Congress such recommendations 
as the Committee may have for legislative or administrative 
action for the upcoming year. 
‘‘(2) Not later than 90 days after the date on which 
the Secretary receives a recommendation under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a written response to the recommendation. 
‘‘(3) Not less frequently than once every two years, the 
Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the appro-
priate committees of Congress a report describing the activi-
ties of the Committee during the previous two years.
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‘‘(4) The Secretary shall make publicly available on 
an Internet website of the Department— 
‘‘(A) each recommendation the Secretary receives 
under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) each response the Secretary submits under 
paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(C) each report the Secretary receives under 
paragraph (3). 
‘‘(h) COMMITTEE PERSONNEL MATTERS.—A member 
of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an 
employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 
of title 5 while away from the home or regular place of 
business of the member in the performance of the duties of 
the Committee. 
‘‘(i) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT EXEMP-
TION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Committee. 
‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Sen-
ate; and
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‘‘(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘Indian tribe’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Deter-
mination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304). 
‘‘(3) The term ‘Native Hawaiian organization’ 
means any organization that— 
‘‘(A) serves the interests of Native Hawai-
ians; 
‘‘(B) has Native Hawaiians in substantive 
and policymaking positions within the organiza-
tion; 
‘‘(C) has demonstrated experience working 
with Native Hawaiian veterans; and 
‘‘(D) shall include the Office of Hawaiian 
Affairs. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘Native American veteran’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3765 of this title. 
‘‘(5) The term ‘Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ 
means the Office of Hawaiian Affairs established by 
the constitution of the State of Hawaii.’’. 
‘‘(6) The term ‘tribal organization’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3765 of this title.
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‘‘(7) The term ‘urban Indian organization’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 4 of the In-
dian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 
1603).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 5 of such title is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 546 the following new item: 
‘‘547. Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall establish the advisory committee 
required by section 547 of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a)(1), not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary estab-
lishes the advisory committee required by such section, the 
Secretary shall appoint members under subsection (b)(1) of 
such section. 
(d) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date on which the Secretary establishes the advisory 
committee required by such section, such advisory com-
mittee shall hold its first meeting. 
(e) REPORT ON RELATION TO OFFICE OF TRIBAL AND 
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after 
the date of the first meeting held by the advisory com-
mittee required by such section, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on whether and to what 
extent the activities of the advisory committee im-
prove the function of the Office of Tribal and Govern-
ment Relations of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
aid the decisions of the Secretary, and whether and 
to what extent the activities of the advisory committee 
duplicate function of the Department performed before 
the enactment of this Act. 
(2) REVIEW BY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Sec-
retary shall— 
(A) give the advisory committee an oppor-
tunity to review the report required by para-
graph (1) before submitting the report under 
such paragraph; and 
(B) include in the report submitted under 
such paragraph such comments as the advisory 
committee considers appropriate regarding the 
views of the advisory committee with respect to 
the report.