§548 Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States

Summary

Creates an advisory committee called the Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States to give the Secretary advice about veterans who live in certain U.S. outlying areas and the Freely Associated States. The committee must help improve Department programs and services for those veterans, spot new issues, suggest fixes and clarifications, provide a place for veterans and veterans’ organizations to talk with the Department, recommend how to consult those organizations, encourage coordination with other federal agencies and Congress, and highlight the service of these veterans. The committee can do other tasks the Secretary thinks are appropriate and may form subcommittees to help its work. Subcommittees cannot replace the main committee or give direct work products to the Secretary. The committee has 15 voting members picked by the Secretary. At least one member must represent each of these places: American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. At least half the members must be covered veterans unless not enough are available. Members live in those places. The Secretary may consult Members of Congress when choosing members. The Secretaries of State and the Interior each name ex officio members from their departments. Terms are two years, and members may be reappointed once for another two years. Vacancies must be filled within 180 days. The committee must meet in person at least once a year and may hold monthly calls; meetings can be virtual if needed under Department rules and budget timing. Federal agency reps may attend; one Department representative must attend each meeting; they do not vote or get extra pay. The committee must send a report at least every two years with recommendations and activities. The Secretary must respond in writing within 120 days after getting that report, let the committee review the response, and post both the report and response on the Department website. Members may be paid travel costs under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5. The Secretary must consult veterans service organizations that serve these veterans. The committee ends 10 years after this law is enacted. Definitions: "appropriate congressional committees" = House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs; "Committee" = the advisory committee created here; "covered veteran" = a veteran living in one of the listed areas; "veterans service organization serving covered veterans" = an organization that serves those veterans, has them in leadership, and has experience working with them.