
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 107-103 Section 304]
[CITE: 38USC7722]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
              PART V--BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES
 
              CHAPTER 77--VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
 
            SUBCHAPTER II--VETERANS OUTREACH SERVICES PROGRAM
 
Sec. 7722. Outreach services

    (a) In carrying out the purposes of this subchapter, the Secretary 
shall provide the outreach services specified in subsections (b) through 
(d). In areas where a significant number of eligible veterans and 
eligible dependents speak a language other than English as their 
principal language, such services shall, to the maximum feasible extent, 
be provided in the principal language of such persons.
    (b) The Secretary shall by letter advise each veteran at the time of 
the veteran's discharge or release from active military, naval, or air 
service (or as soon as possible after such discharge or release) of all 
benefits and services under laws administered by the Department for 
which the veteran may be eligible. In carrying out this subsection, the 
Secretary shall ensure, through the use of veteran-student services 
under section 3485 of this title, that contact, in person or by 
telephone, is made with those veterans who, on the basis of their 
military service records, do not have a high school education or 
equivalent at the time of discharge or release.
    (c) The Secretary shall distribute full information to eligible 
veterans and eligible dependents regarding all benefits and services to 
which they may be entitled under laws administered by the Department and 
may, to the extent feasible, distribute information on other 
governmental programs (including manpower and training programs) which 
the Secretary determines would be beneficial to veterans.
    (d) The Secretary shall provide, to the maximum extent possible, aid 
and assistance (including personal interviews) to members of the Armed 
Forces, veterans, and eligible dependents with respect to subsections 
(b) and (c) and in the preparation and presentation of claims under laws 
administered by the Department.
    (e) In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall assign such 
employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration as the Secretary 
considers appropriate to conduct outreach programs and provide outreach 
services for homeless veterans. Such outreach services may include site 
visits through which homeless veterans can be identified and provided 
assistance in obtaining benefits and services that may be available to 
them.

(Added Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 2(b), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 400; amended 
Pub. L. 102-590, Sec. 5, Nov. 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 5139.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in 
section 241 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 2(a).


                               Amendments

    1992--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102-590 added subsec. (e).


       Information To Assist Veterans Receiving Education Benefits

    Pub. L. 101-237, title IV, Sec. 421, Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2088, 
provided that:
    ``(a) In General.--For the purpose of assisting individuals 
receiving education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prepare, and update 
periodically, a document containing a detailed description of the 
benefits, limitations, procedures, requirements, and other important 
aspects of the education programs administered by the Department.
    ``(b) Distribution.--The Secretary shall, beginning in fiscal year 
1990 but not before July 1, 1990, distribute copies of such document--
        ``(1) to each individual applying for benefits under an 
    education program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
    and to each such individual at least annually in the years 
    thereafter in which the individual receives such benefits;
        ``(2) to education and training institution officials on at 
    least an annual basis; and
        ``(3) upon request, to other individuals significantly affected 
    by education programs administered by the Secretary, including 
    military education personnel.
    ``(c) Funding.--The Secretary shall use funds appropriated to the 
readjustment benefits account of the Department to carry out this 
section.''


                            Outreach Services

    Pub. L. 100-687, div. B, title XII, Sec. 1204, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 
Stat. 4125, as amended by Pub. L. 102-4, Sec. 4, Feb. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 
15; Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 6(k)(2), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 409, provided 
that:
    ``(a) Ongoing Outreach Program.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall conduct an active, continuous outreach program for 
furnishing to veterans of active military, naval, or air service who 
served in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era information 
relating to--
        ``(A) the health risks (if any) resulting from exposure during 
    that service to dioxin or any other toxic agent in herbicides used 
    in support of United States and allied military operations in the 
    Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era; and
        ``(B) services and benefits available to such veterans with 
    respect to such health risks.
    ``(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall annually furnish 
updated information on health risks described in paragraph (1)(A) to 
veterans referred to in paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Information in Agent Orange Registry.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall take reasonable actions to organize and update 
the information contained in the Department of Veterans Affairs Agent 
Orange Registry in a manner that enables the Secretary promptly to 
notify a veteran of any increased health risk for such veteran resulting 
from exposure of such veteran to dioxin or any other toxic agent 
referred to in subsection (a) during Vietnam-era service in the Republic 
of Vietnam whenever the Secretary determines, on the basis of physical 
examination or other pertinent information, that such veteran is subject 
to such an increased health risk.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 4214 of this title.
