I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4845 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Advisory Committee 
on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Veterans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 29, 2021 
Mr. PAPPAS (for himself, Ms. SCANLON, Ms. NORTON, Mr. TONKO, Mr. 
AUCHINCLOSS, Mrs. MURPHY of Florida, Mr. PETERS, Mr. COURTNEY, 
Mr. SOTO, Mrs. HAYES, and Ms. CHU) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the 
Advisory 
Committee 
on 
Lesbian, 
Gay, 
Bisexual, 
Transgender, and Queer Veterans. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
LESBIAN, 
GAY, 
BISEXUAL, 
TRANSGENDER, 
AND QUEER VETERANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subchapter III of chapter 5 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
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‘‘§ 548. Advisory Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisex-
ual, Transgender, and Queer Veterans 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Department 
the Advisory Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, 
Transgender, and Queer Veterans (in this section referred 
to as ‘the Committee’). 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—(1) The Committee shall consist 
of members appointed by the Secretary from the general 
public, including— 
‘‘(A) representatives of LGBTQ veterans; 
‘‘(B) individuals who are recognized authorities 
in fields pertinent to the needs of LGBTQ veterans, 
including the specific health-care needs of LGBTQ 
veterans; 
‘‘(C) representatives of LGBTQ veterans with 
service-connected disabilities, including at least one 
lesbian, gay, or bisexual veteran with a service-con-
nected disability, and at least one transgender vet-
eran with a service-connected disability; 
‘‘(D) veterans who are minority group mem-
bers, as defined in section 544 of this title; and 
‘‘(E) LGBTQ veterans who are recently sepa-
rated from service in the Armed Forces, including 
veterans who were involuntarily separated from the 
Armed Forces due to being LGBTQ. 
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‘‘(2) The Committee shall include, as ex officio mem-
bers— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Labor (or the designee of 
the Secretary of Labor after consultation with the 
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employ-
ment); 
‘‘(B) the Secretary of Defense (or the designee 
of the Secretary of Defense); 
‘‘(C) the Under Secretary for Health (or the 
designee of such Under Secretary); and 
‘‘(D) the Under Secretary for Benefits (or the 
designee of such Under Secretary). 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may invite representatives of 
other Federal departments and agencies to participate in 
the meetings and other activities of the Committee. 
‘‘(4) 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. 
‘‘(5) The Committee shall meet as often as the Sec-
retary determines necessary or appropriate, but not less 
often than twice each fiscal year. 
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‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 
regularly with and seek the advice of the Committee with 
respect to the administration of benefits by the Secretary 
for LGBTQ veterans, reports and studies pertaining to 
LGBTQ veterans and the needs of LGBTQ veterans with 
respect to compensation, health care, rehabilitation, out-
reach, and other benefits and programs administered by 
the Secretary, including the Center for Women Veterans 
and Center for Minority Veterans. 
‘‘(d) REPORTING.—(1) Not later than July 1 of each 
even-numbered year, the Committee shall submit to the 
Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the 
Department that pertain to LGBTQ veterans. Each such 
report shall include— 
‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of LGBTQ 
veterans with respect to compensation, health care, 
rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and pro-
grams administered by the Secretary; 
‘‘(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 determines appropriate. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, not later than 60 days after 
receiving each report under paragraph (1), submit to the 
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Congress a copy of the report, together with any com-
ments concerning the report that the Secretary determines 
appropriate. 
‘‘(3) The Committee may also submit to the Sec-
retary such other reports and recommendations the Com-
mittee determines appropriate. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit, with each annual 
report submitted to Congress pursuant to section 529 of 
this title, a summary of all reports and recommendations 
of the Committee received by the Secretary since the pre-
vious such annual report. 
‘‘(e) LGBTQ DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘LGBTQ’ means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or 
queer.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
after the item relating to section 547 the following new 
item: 
‘‘548. Advisory Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer 
Veterans.’’. 
Æ 
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