TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - ADVISORY COMMITTEES

38 USC 541 - Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War

(a) 
(1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Committee).
(2) 
(A) The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Secretary from the general public and shall include
(i) appropriate representatives of veterans who are former prisoners of war;
(ii) individuals who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to disabilities prevalent among former prisoners of war, including authorities in epidemiology, mental health, nutrition, geriatrics, and internal medicine; and
(iii) appropriate representatives of disabled veterans.
(B) The Committee shall also include, as ex officio members, the Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits, or their designees.
(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 the term of service of any such member may not exceed three years.
(b) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the administration of benefits under this title for veterans who are former prisoners of war and the needs of such veterans with respect to compensation, health care, and rehabilitation.
(c) 
(1) Not later than July 1 of each odd-numbered year through 2009, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the Department that pertain to veterans who are former prisoners of war. Each such report shall include
(A) an assessment of the needs of such veterans with respect to compensation, health care, and rehabilitation;
(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 to be 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 to the Congress pursuant to that section.

38 USC 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 through 2008, 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.

38 USC 543 - Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs

(a) There is in the Department an advisory committee known as the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Committee).
(b) The objectives and scope of activities of the Committee shall relate to
(1) prosthetics and special-disabilities programs administered by the Secretary;
(2) the coordination of programs of the Department for the development and testing of, and for information exchange regarding, prosthetic devices;
(3) the coordination of Department and non-Department programs that involve the development and testing of prosthetic devices; and
(4) the adequacy of funding for the prosthetics and special-disabilities programs of the Department.
(c) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the advice of the Committee on the matters described in subsection (b).
(d) Not later than January 15 of 1993, 1994, and 1995, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the prosthetics and special-disabilities programs administered by the Secretary during the preceding fiscal year. Not more than 60 days after the date on which any such report is received by the Secretary, the Secretary shall submit a report to such committees commenting on the report of the Committee.
(e) As used in this section, the term special-disabilities programs includes all programs administered by the Secretary for
(1) spinal-cord-injured veterans;
(2) blind veterans;
(3) veterans who have lost or lost the use of extremities;
(4) hearing-impaired veterans; and
(5) other veterans with serious incapacities in terms of daily life functions.

38 USC 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, 2009.

38 USC 545 - Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans

(a) 
(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Committee).
(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 18 members appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who
(A) have demonstrated significant civic or professional achievement; and
(B) have experience with the provision of veterans benefits and services by the Department.
(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members appointed to the Committee include individuals from a wide variety of geographic areas and ethnic backgrounds, individuals from veterans service organizations, individuals with combat experience, and women.
(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service and pay and allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a term of service may not exceed two years. The Secretary may reappoint any member for additional terms of service.
(b) 
(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision by the Department of benefits and services to veterans in order to assist veterans in the readjustment to civilian life.
(2) 
(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this subsection, the Committee shall
(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;
(ii) provide information relating to the nature and character of psychological problems arising from service in the Armed Forces;
(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness of the policies, organizational structures, and services of the Department in assisting veterans in readjusting to civilian life; and
(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate means of responding to the readjustment needs of veterans in the future.
(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), the Committee shall take into special account the needs of veterans who have served in a theater of combat operations.
(c) 
(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the Department that relate to the readjustment of veterans to civilian life. Each such report shall include
(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect to readjustment to civilian life;
(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) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of a report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of the report, together with any comments and recommendations 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 that section.
(d) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the activities of the Committee under this section.
(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the Committee.