Discharge Review Board Outreach Improvement Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4545
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2022-07-18
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2022-07-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-07-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Discharge Review Board Outreach Improvement Act of 2022</strong></p> <p>This bill establishes the Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Discharge Review Board Committee to advise the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on matters relating to the boards that review the discharge or dismissal (other than a discharge or dismissal by sentence of a general court-martial) of any former member of an armed force. </p> <p>The committee must provide the Department of Defense (DOD) and the VA with recommendations on the strategic direction for the joint coordination and sharing efforts between and within DOD and the VA on matters regarding the review boards.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4545 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 18, 2022 Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Rounds ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To establish the Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Discharge Review Board Committee, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Discharge Review Board Outreach Improvement Act of 2022 . 2. Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Discharge Review Board Committee (a) Establishment of joint executive committee (1) In general There is established an interagency committee to advise the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters relating to the review boards under section 1553 of title 10, United States Code. (2) Designation The interagency committee established under paragraph (1) shall be known as the Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Discharge Review Board Committee (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Committee ). (b) Membership The Committee shall be composed of the following: (1) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Assistant Secretary of Manpower and Reserve Affairs for each of the military services, and such other officers and employees of the Department of Defense as the Secretary of Defense may designate. (2) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs and such other officers and employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may designate. (c) Administrative matters (1) In general The Under Secretary and the Deputy Secretary shall jointly determine the size and structure of the Committee, as well as the administrative and procedural guidelines for the operation of the Committee. (2) Subcommittees The Committee may establish subcommittees to assist the Committee in carrying out subsections (d) and (e), including the following: (A) A subcommittee on outreach and education. (B) A subcommittee on training for members of the review boards under section 1553 of title 10, United States Code. (3) Support The Under Secretary and the Deputy Secretary shall jointly supply appropriate staff and resources to provide administrative support and services for the Committee. Support for such purposes shall be provided at a level that the Under Secretary and the Deputy Secretary jointly determine sufficient for the efficient operation of the Committee, including any subcommittees established under paragraph (2). (d) Recommendations (1) In general The Committee shall provide the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with recommendations on the strategic direction for the joint coordination and sharing efforts between and within the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs on matters regarding the review boards described in subsection (a)(1). (2) Annual report Not less frequently than once each year, the Committee shall submit to the two Secretaries and to Congress an annual report containing such recommendations regarding the review boards described in subsection (a)(1) as the Committee considers appropriate. (e) Functions In order to enable the Committee to make recommendations in its annual report under subsection (c)(2), the Committee shall do the following: (1) Review existing policies, procedures, and practices regarding reviews under section 1553 of title 10, United States Code, with respect to matters that pertain to the coordination and sharing of resources between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) Identify changes in policies, procedures, and practices that, in the judgment of the Committee, would promote mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of use of services and resources of the two Departments, with the goal of improving the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the review boards under section 1553 of such title for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, individuals who retired from service in the Armed Forces, and their families through an enhanced partnership between the two Departments. (3) Identify and assess further opportunities for the coordination and collaboration between the Departments that, in the judgment of the Committee, would positively affect the review process under section 1553 of such title. (4) Review the implementation of activities designed to promote the coordination and sharing of resources between the Departments for matters relating to the review process under section 1553 of such title. (5) Identify and assess strategies, which either or both Departments may implement, that would increase outreach to former members of the Armed Forces described in subsection (d)(3)(B) of section 1553 of such title who may qualify for relief under such section.