(a) Establishment.—
The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the “Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States”, to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary on matters relating to covered veterans.
(b) Duties.—The duties of the Committee shall be the following:
(1)
To advise the Secretary on matters relating to covered veterans, including how the Secretary may improve the programs and services of the Department to better serve such veterans.
(3)
To propose clarifications, recommendations, and solutions to address issues raised by covered veterans.
(4)
To provide a forum for covered veterans, veterans service organizations serving covered veterans, and the Department to discuss issues and proposals for changes to regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department.
(5)
To identify priorities for and provide advice to the Secretary on appropriate strategies for consultation with veterans service organizations serving covered veterans.
(6)
To encourage the Secretary to work with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, and Congress, to ensure covered veterans are provided the full benefits of their status as covered veterans.
(c) Membership.—
(2) In appointing members pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure the following:
(B)
Not fewer than half of the members appointed are covered veterans, unless the Secretary determines that an insufficient number of qualified covered veterans are available.
(3)
In appointing members pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary may consult with any Member of Congress who represents an area specified in paragraph (2)(A).
(4)
In addition to the members appointed pursuant to paragraph (1), the Committee shall be comprised of such ex officio members as the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint from among employees of the Department of State and the Department of the Interior, respectively.
(d) Terms; Vacancies.—
(2)
Not later than 180 days after the Secretary (or in the case of an ex officio member, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of the Interior, as the case may be) receives notice of a vacancy in the Committee, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(e) Meeting Format and Frequency.—
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Committee shall meet in-person with the Secretary not less frequently than once each year and hold monthly conference calls as necessary.
(h) Reports.—
(1) Not less frequently than once every two years, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees a report—
(A)
containing such recommendations as the Committee may have for legislative or administrative action; and
(2) Not later than 120 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a written response to the report after—
(i) Committee Personnel Matters.—
A member of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Committee.
(j) Consultation.—
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with veterans service organizations serving covered veterans.
(k) Termination.—
The Committee shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this section.
(l) Definitions.—In this section:
(3)
The term “covered veteran” means a veteran residing in an area specified in subsection (c)(2)(A).