
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-419 Section 403(c)(3)]
[CITE: 38USC542]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
                       PART I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
            CHAPTER 5--AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
 
                   SUBCHAPTER III--ADVISORY COMMITTEES
 
Sec. 542. Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

    (a)(1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be 
known as the Advisory Committee on Women 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 women veterans;
        (ii) individuals who are recognized authorities in fields 
    pertinent to the needs of women veterans, including the gender-
    specific health-care needs of women; and
        (iii) representatives of both female and male veterans with 
    service-connected disabilities, including at least one female 
    veteran with a service-connected disability and at least one male 
    veteran with a service-connected disability.

    (B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members--
        (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 after 
    consultation with the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the 
    Services); and
        (iii) 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.
    (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 women veterans, reports and studies 
pertaining to women veterans and the needs of women veterans with 
respect to compensation, health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and 
other benefits and programs administered by the Department, including 
the Center for Women Veterans.
    (c)(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 women veterans. Each such 
report shall include--
        (A) an assessment of the needs of women veterans 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 the 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.

(Added Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 393; amended 
Pub. L. 102-405, title III, Sec. 302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 
1984; Pub. L. 104-275, title V, Sec. 501(e)(1), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 
3341.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Prior section 542 was renumbered section 1542 of this title.
    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in 
section 222 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 2(a).


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-275 inserted ``, including the Center 
for Women Veterans'' before period at end.
    1992--Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 102-405 substituted ``Under 
Secretary for Health'' for ``Chief Medical Director'' and ``Under 
Secretary for Benefits'' for ``Chief Benefits Director''.

                         Change of Name

    Reference to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment 
in any law in force on Nov. 6, 1986, deemed to be a reference to 
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training, see 
section 2(b)(3) of Pub. L. 99-619, set out as a References in Other Laws 
note under section 553 of Title 29, Labor.


                   Termination of Advisory Committees

    Advisory committees established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not 
later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of 
their establishment, unless, in the case of a committee established by 
the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is 
renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year 
period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its 
duration is otherwise provided by law. See section 14 of Pub. L. 92-463, 
Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 776, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, 
Government Organization and Employees.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 318 of this title.
