38 U.S.C. § 517: Quarterly reports to Congress…

Summary

The Secretary must send a report to the Veterans’ Affairs committees in the Senate and House within 30 days after each fiscal quarter ends. The report must list final costs for covered conferences held in the prior quarter and give the total estimated costs for covered conferences occurring in the quarter when the report is submitted. A “covered conference” is one with 50 or more people (including at least one Department employee) or one expected to cost $20,000 or more. The cost details must cover things like travel and parking, per diem, lodging, room and equipment rental, refreshments and entertainment, contractors, and printed materials.

Title 38, §517

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Quarterly Reports Required.—

Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary 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 covered conferences.

(b)Matters Included.—

Each report under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)An accounting of the final costs to the Department of each covered conference occurring during the fiscal quarter preceding the date on which the report is submitted, including the costs related to—

(A)transportation and parking;

(B)per diem payments;

(C)lodging;

(D)rental of halls, auditoriums, or other spaces;

(E)rental of equipment;

(F)refreshments;

(G)entertainment;

(H)contractors; and

(I)brochures or other printed media.

(2)The total estimated costs to the Department for covered conferences occurring during the fiscal quarter in which the report is submitted.

(c)Covered Conference Defined.—

In this section, the term “covered conference” means a conference, meeting, or other similar forum that is sponsored or co-sponsored by the Department and is—

(1)attended by 50 or more individuals, including one or more employees of the Department; or

(2)estimated to cost the Department at least $20,000.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 112–154, title VII, § 707(c), Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1207, provided that: “Section 517 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2012, and shall apply with respect to the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 and each quarter thereafter.”

§517 Quarterly Reports to Congress on Conferences Sponsored by the Department

Summary

Title 38, §517

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata