
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC544]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
                       PART I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
            CHAPTER 5--AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
 
                   SUBCHAPTER III--ADVISORY COMMITTEES
 
Sec. 544. Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans

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

    (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 each 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 December 31, 2003.

(Added Pub. L. 103-446, title V, Sec. 510(a), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 
4668; amended Pub. L. 104-275, title V, Sec. 501(e)(2), (f), Oct. 9, 
1996, 110 Stat. 3341; Pub. L. 106-117, title VIII, Sec. 803, Nov. 30, 
1999, 113 Stat. 1586.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Prior section 544, added Pub. L. 90-77, title I, Sec. 108(a), Aug. 
31, 1967, 81 Stat. 180; amended Pub. L. 91-588, Sec. 3(a), Dec. 24, 
1970, 84 Stat. 1583; Pub. L. 93-527, Sec. 5, Dec. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 
1704; Pub. L. 94-169, title I, Sec. 105, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017; 
Pub. L. 94-432, title II, Sec. 205, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1371; Pub. 
L. 95-204, title I, Sec. 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, Sec. 112(a)(1), 
title IV, Sec. 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, Sec. 4, Aug. 29, 
1950, 73 Stat. 434. See sections 1542 and 1543 of this title.


                               Amendments

    1999--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 106-117 substituted ``December 31, 2003'' 
for ``December 31, 1999''.
    1996--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-275, Sec. 501(e)(2), inserted ``, 
including the Center for Minority Veterans'' before period at end.
    Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104-275, Sec. 501(f), substituted ``December 
31, 1999'' for ``December 31, 1997''.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 317 of this title.
