§544 — Title 38 Veterans' Benefits | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary must create an advisory group called the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. The Secretary will pick members from the public who include representatives of minority veterans, experts on their needs, veterans who served in combat, veterans who did not, and recently separated women veterans from minority groups. The group also includes as official participants the Secretaries (or their representatives) of Labor, Defense, Interior, Commerce, and Health and Human Services, plus the Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits. The Secretary sets member numbers, pay, and terms (no term longer than three years) and can reappoint members. The Committee must meet at least twice each fiscal year. The Committee ends on September 30, 2026. The Secretary must ask the Committee for advice on how the Department runs benefits and programs for minority veterans, such as pay, health care, rehab, outreach, and other services (including the Center for Minority Veterans). By July 1 every other year the Committee must give the Secretary a report that assesses needs, reviews Department programs, and offers recommendations. Within 60 days of getting that report, the Secretary must send a copy to Congress with any comments. The Committee may send other reports. The Secretary must include a summary of the Committee’s reports in the Department’s annual report to Congress. "Minority group member" means Asian American; Black; Hispanic; Native American (including American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian); or Pacific-Islander American.

Title 38, §544

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans (hereinafter in this section referred to as “the Committee”).

(2)(A)The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary from the general public, including—

(i)representatives of veterans who are minority group members;

(ii)individuals who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of veterans who are minority group members;

(iii)veterans who are minority group members and who have experience in a military theater of operations;

(iv)veterans who are minority group members and who do not have such experience; and

(v)women veterans who are minority group members and are recently separated from service in the Armed Forces.

(B)The Committee shall include, as ex officio members, the following:

(i)The Secretary of Labor (or a representative of the Secretary of Labor designated by the Secretary after consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment).

(ii)The Secretary of Defense (or a representative of the Secretary of Defense designated by the Secretary of Defense).

(iii)The Secretary of the Interior (or a representative of the Secretary of the Interior designated by the Secretary of the Interior).

(iv)The Secretary of Commerce (or a representative of the Secretary of Commerce designated by the Secretary of Commerce).

(v)The Secretary of Health and Human Services (or a representative of the Secretary of Health and Human Services designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).

(vi)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.

(4)The Committee shall meet as often as the Secretary considers necessary or appropriate, but not less often than twice each fiscal year.

(b)The Secretary 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 veterans who are minority group members, reports and studies pertaining to such veterans and the needs of such veterans with respect to compensation, health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and programs administered by the Department, including the Center for Minority Veterans.

(c)(1)Not later than July 1 of every other year, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the Department that pertain to veterans who are minority group members. Each such report shall include—

(A)an assessment of the needs of veterans who are minority group members with respect to compensation, health care, rehabilitation, outreach, 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 recommendations for administrative and legislative action) as the Committee considers appropriate.

(2)The Secretary shall, within 60 days after receiving each report under paragraph (1), submit to Congress a copy of the report, together with any comments concerning the report that the Secretary considers appropriate.

(3)The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.

(4)The Secretary shall submit with each annual report submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a summary of all reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to such section.

(d)In this section, the term “minority group member” means an individual who is—

(1)Asian American;

(2)Black;

(3)Hispanic;

(4)Native American (including American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian); or

(5)Pacific-Islander American.

(e)The Committee shall cease to exist September 30, 2026.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Prior section 544, added Pub. L. 90–77, title I, § 108(a), Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 180; amended Pub. L. 91–588, § 3(a), Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1583; Pub. L. 93–527, § 5, Dec. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 1704; Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 105, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017; Pub. L. 94–432, title II, § 205, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1371; Pub. L. 95–204, title I, § 104, Dec. 2, 1977, 91 Stat. 1457, authorized an increase by $79 of the monthly rate of pension payable to the surviving spouse if the surviving spouse was entitled to pension under subchapter III of chapter 15 of this title and was in need of regular aid and attendance, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 95–588, title I, § 112(a)(1), title IV, § 401, Nov. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 2505, 2511, effective Jan. 1, 1979. Another prior section 544, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1139, authorized the payment of a pension to children of World War II or Korean conflict veterans, prior to the general amendment of subchapter III of chapter 15 of this title by Pub. L. 86–211, § 4, Aug. 29, 1950, 73 Stat. 434. See section 1542 and 1543 of this title.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–180 substituted “

September 30, 2026” for “

September 30, 2022”. 2018—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115–251, § 166(b), substituted “every other year” for “each year” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–251, § 166(a), substituted “

September 30, 2022” for “

September 30, 2018”. 2017—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–62 substituted “

September 30, 2018” for “

December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–228 substituted “

December 31, 2017” for “

December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–58 substituted “

December 31, 2016” for “

December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–175 substituted “

December 31, 2015” for “

December 31, 2014”. 2010—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(v). Pub. L. 111–163 added cl. (v). 2008—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–389 substituted “

December 31, 2014” for “

December 31, 2009”. 2003—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–183 substituted “

December 31, 2009” for “

December 31, 2003”. 1999—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 106–117 substituted “

December 31, 2003” for “

December 31, 1999”. 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–275, § 501(e)(2), inserted “, including the Center for Minority Veterans” before period at end. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–275, § 501(f), substituted “

December 31, 1999” for “

December 31, 1997”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–163 applicable to appointments made on or after May 5, 2010, see section 204(c) of Pub. L. 111–163, set out as a note under section 542 of this title.

§544 Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans