,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #adib  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,april #aa1 #bjac ,mr4
 ,mc,dermott 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,blum5au]1
 ,mrs4 ,capps1 ,mr4 ,f>r1 ,ms4 ,norton1 
,mr4 ,jones1 ,mr4 ,ru%1 ,ms4 ,wilson (  
,florida1 ,mr4 ,ryan ( ,ohio1 ,ms4      
,s9ema1 ,mr4 ,eny>t1 ,mr4 ,cicill9e1    
,ms4 ,bordallo1 ,mr4 ,l[5?al1 ,mr4      
,v>gas1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,ms4 ,lee (     
,cali=nia1 & ,mr4 ,mc,nerney7 introduc$ 
! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !        
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committee on ,arm$       
,s]vices1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly   
det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case =      
consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 
! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to e/abli% ! ,commission on   
,am]ica & its ,vet]ans4  #a4 ,e/abli%m5t
 ( ,commission ,!re is e/abli%$ an      
indep5d5t commission 9 ! executive bran*
 to be kn[n z ! ,commission on ,am]ica &
 its ,vet]ans 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is ,act z ! 
,commission74  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds

 ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,aft] m ?an a decade ( 
w>1 & mu* "w to help memb]s ( ! ,arm$   
,=ces return+ home f ! battlefield1 !   
,unit$ ,/ates ne$s a wid] & m ?or\gh    
process = welcom+ memb]s back1 tak+ c>e 
( _! ne$s1 & re9tegrat+ !m into society4
  7#b7 ,_m initiatives exi/ t provide   
help = ! m5 & wom5 :o h f\ght1 b !re are
 gaps 9 our support = vet]ans t ne$ to  
be address$4  7#c7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates has 
wag$ w>s1 b n all are involv$ 9 fight+  
^? w>s1 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates ne$s to be m  
deeply & regul>ly connect$ ) memb]s & _!
 exp]i5ces 9 w> & return+ f w>4  7#d7   
,vet]ans contribute mightily to !       
society ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates b _m vet]ans  
endure ongo+ psy*ological trauma1       
*all5ges ) employm5t1 crime &           
dislocation1 & vet]ans' families &      
communities are also fac$ ) !           
aft]-effects ( w> 9 ways t ne$ to be    
publicly address$4  7#e7 ,! ,nation ne$s
 a :ole-(-society approa* to improv+ !  
vet]an's position 9 society1 & improv+  
h[ we welcome vet]ans :5 !y return1 &   

improv+ vet]ans' exp]i5ce :5 !y come    
back1 & d s 9 a way t helps vet]ans1 _! 
families1 & _! communities4  #c4 ,duties
 ( ,commission  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!         
,commission %all--  7#a7 n lat] ?an     
,janu>y #ca1 #bjad1 submit to !         
,presid5t & ,congress a report sugge/+  
c]emonies & ev5ts to be held ?r\gh\t !  
,unit$ ,/ates to ackn[l$ge ! w>s rec5tly
 f\ght & = ! h]oism display$ by memb]s (
 ! ,arm$ ,=ces & ! co/s 9 lives &       
injuries paid by memb]s1 families1 &    
communities2  7#b7 n lat] ?an ,decemb]  
#ca1 #bjad1 submit to ! ,presid5t &     
,congress a report on ! f9d+s1          
conclusions1 & legislative or o!r       
recomm5dations ( ! ,commission ) respect
 to any defici5cy 9 h[ ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
welcomes back memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces    
return+ home1 includ+--  7,a7 by /udy+ !
 entirety ( ! re9tegration exp]i5ce on !
 memb]1 ! family ( ! memb]1 & !         
community ( ! memb] to id5tify any su*  
defici5cies t c be address$ to make su* 
re9tegration a complete & positive      

exp]i5ce2 &  7,b7 ) a p>ticul> emphasis 
on ! effects ( po/-traumatic /ress & !  
o!r social & heal? issues ( memb]s &    
vet]ans2  7#c7 n lat] ?an #abj days aft]
 ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 beg9   
conv5+ conv]sations ?r\gh\t ! ,unit$    
,/ates--  7,a7 on ! effect ( w> on      
memb]s1 ! families ( memb]s1 & !        
communities ( memb]s2 &  7,b7 address+ !
 re9tegration exp]i5ce & ! gap betwe5 ! 
milit>y1 vet]ans1 & civilian life2 &    
7#d7 beg9n+ on ! date t is #ahj days    
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 &  
at regul> int]vals !reaft] dur+ ! life (
 ! ,commission1 includ+ a f9al report at
 ! end ( su* life1 submit to ! ,secret>y
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs recomm5dations     
reg>d+ ! ,(fice ( ,arm$ ,s]vices &      
,vet]ans ,public ,outrea* e/abli%$ "u   
section #i1 includ+ h[ to be/ conduct an
 ongo+ int]action betwe5 memb]s ( !     
,arm$ ,=ces1 vet]ans1 & civilians1      
p>ticul>ly ) "y p1 9 :i* memb]s &       
vet]ans %>e _! /ories & ! effect ( _!   
s]vice & re9tegration exp]i5ce directly 

) civilians & = record$ hi/ory4  7b7    
,int]im reports ,! ,commission may      
submit to ! ,presid5t & ,congress int]im
 reports conta9+ su* f9d+s1 conclusions1
 & recomm5dations z h be5 agre$ to by a 
majority ( ,commission memb]s4  #d4     
,composition ( ,commission  7a7 ,memb]s 
,! ,commission %all be compos$ ( #ah    
memb]s z foll[s3  7#a7 ,"o memb]1 :o    
%all s]ve z *airman ( ! ,commission1    
%all be appo9t$ by ! ,presid5t4  7#b7   
,"o memb]1 :o %all s]ve z vice *airman (
 ! ,commission1 %all be appo9t$ by !    
,speak] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4    
7#c7 ,f\r memb]s %all be appo9t$ by !   
majority lead] ( ! ,s5ate4  7#d7 ,f\r   
memb]s %all be appo9t$ by ! ,speak] ( ! 
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives 79 addition to !
 "o memb] appo9t$ "u p>agraph 7#b774    
7#e7 ,f\r memb]s %all be appo9t$ by !   
m9ority lead] ( ! ,s5ate4  7#f7 ,f\r    
memb]s %all be appo9t$ by ! m9ority     
lead] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4  7b7 
,qualifications  7#a7 ,exp]tise ,memb]s 
( ! ,commission %all be appo9t$ f among 

individuals :o h p]sonally &            
pr(essionally exp]i5c$ ! effects ( w> on
 ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 families1 & society4    
7#b7 ,nongov]nm5tal appo9tees ,memb]s ( 
! ,commission may n be an (fic] or      
employee ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t4  7#c7    
,vet]ans includ$ ,n less ?an "o memb] ( 
! ,commission appo9t$ "u ea* ( p>agraphs
 7#c7 ?r\gh 7#f7 ( subsection 7a7 %all  
be a vet]an4  7#d7 ,deadl9e = appo9tm5t 
,memb]s ( ! ,commission %all be appo9t$ 
n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7c7 ,vacancies    
,except z provid$ 9 subsection 7e77#c7 )
 respect to a quorum1 any vacancy 9 !   
,commission %all n affect its p[]s4 ,a  
vacancy 9 ! ,commission %all be fill$ 9 
! mann] 9 :i* ! orig9al appo9tm5t 0     
made4  7d7 ,comp5sation  7#a7 ,pay      
,except z provid$ by p>agraph 7#b71     
memb]s ( ! ,commission %all s]ve )\t    
pay4  7#b7 ,travel exp5ses ,ea* memb]   
%all receive travel exp5ses1 includ+ p] 
diem 9 lieu ( subsi/5ce1 9 accordance ) 
applicable provisions "u sub*apt] ,i (  

*apt] #eg ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code1 includ+ section #egjc4  7e7      
,initial meet+2 rules ( proc$ure2 quorum
  7#a7 ,initial meet+ ,! ,commission    
%all hold ! initial meet+ ( !           
,commission n lat] ?an #fj days aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7#b7     
,meet+s ,aft] ! initial meet+ "u        
p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,commission %all meet  
at ! call ( ! *airman or a majority (   
memb]s4  7#c7 ,quorum ,t5 memb]s ( !    
,commission %all con/itute a quorum b a 
less] numb] may hold he>+s4  7#d7 ,rules
 ( proc$ure ,! ,commission may e/abli%  
rules = ! conduct ( ! bus9ess ( !       
,commission1 if su* rules are n         
inconsi/5t ) ?is ,act or o!r applicable 
law4  #e4 ,p[]s ( ,commission  7a7      
,he>+s ,= ! purpose ( c>ry+ out ?is     
,act1 ! ,commission 7or on ! au?ority ( 
! ,commission1 any subcommittee1 memb]1 
or designat$ /aff !re(71 may hold su*   
he>+s & sit & act at su* times & places1
 take su* te/imony1 receive su* evid5ce1
 & adm9i/] su* oa?s z ! ,commission     

consid]s appropriate4 ,! ,commission    
%all hold n less ?an "o he>+ 9 ea* ( !  
sev]al ,/ates & ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia &
 may hold he>+s 9 any commonweal?1      
t]ritory1 or possession ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates z ! ,commission det]m9es         
appropriate4  7b7 ,contract+ ,to ! ext5t
 or 9 ! am\nts provid$ 9 advance 9      
appropriation ,acts1 ! ,commission may  
ent] into contracts to enable !         
,commission to c>ry out !               
responsibilities ( ! ,commission "u ?is 
,act4  7c7 ,in=mation f f$]al ag5cies ,!
 ,commission may secure directly f any  
dep>tm5t or ag5cy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
in=mation necess>y to enable x to c>ry  
out ?is ,act4 ,^u reque/ ( ! *airman ( !
 ,commission1 ! *airman ( any           
subcommittee creat$ by a majority ( !   
,commission1 or any memb] designat$ by a
 majority ( ! ,commission1 ! head ( t   
dep>tm5t or ag5cy %all furni% t         
in=mation to ! ,commission4  7d7        
,assi/ance f f$]al ag5cies  7#a7 ,g5]al 
s]vices adm9i/ration ,^u ! reque/ ( !   

,commission1 ! ,adm9i/rator ( ,g5]al    
,s]vices %all provide to ! ,commission1 
on a reimbursable basis1 ! adm9i/rative 
support s]vices & o!r s]vices necess>y =
 ! ,commission to c>ry out !            
responsibilities ( ! ,commission "u ?is 
,act4  7#b7 ,o!r dep>tm5ts & ag5cies ,9 
addition to ! assi/ance describ$ 9      
p>agraph 7#a71 ! head ( any dep>tm5t or 
ag5cy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates may provide to !
 ,commission su* s]vices1 funds1        
facilities1 /aff1 & o!r support s]vices 
z !y may det]m9e advisable & z may be   
au?oriz$ by law4  7e7 ,gifts ,!         
,commission may accept1 use1 & dispose (
 gifts1 beque/s1 or devises ( s]vices or
 prop]ty1 bo? real & p]sonal1 = !       
purpose ( aid+ or facilitat+ ! "w ( !   
,commission4 ,gifts1 beque/s1 or devises
 ( money & proce$s f sales ( o!r prop]ty
 receiv$ z gifts1 beque/s1 or devises   
%all be deposit$ 9 ! ,treasury & %all be
 available = disbursem5t ^u ord] ( !    
*airman1 vice *airman1 or designee4  7f7
 ,mails ,! ,commission may use ! ,unit$ 

,/ates mails 9 ! same mann] & "u ! same 
conditions z o!r dep>tm5ts & ag5cies ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates4  #f4 ,/aff  7a7 ,9 g5]al
  7#a7 ,appo9tm5t & comp5sation ,!      
*airman1 9 accordance ) rules agre$ ^u  
by ! ,commission1 %all appo9t & fix !   
comp5sation ( a /aff director & su* o!r 
p]sonnel z may be necess>y to enable !  
,commission to c>ry out !               
responsibilities ( ! ,commission1 )\t   
reg>d to ! provisions ( title #e1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code1 gov]n+ appo9tm5ts 9 !    
competitive s]vice1 & )\t reg>d to !    
provisions ( *apt] #ea & sub*apt] ,,iii 
( *apt] #ec ( su* title relat+ to       
classification & ,g5]al ,s*$ule pay     
rates1 except t no rate ( pay fix$ "u   
?is subsection may exce$ ! equival5t ( t
 payable = a position at level ,,iii ( !
 ,executive ,s*$ule "u section #ecaf (  
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#b7    
,p]sonnel z f$]al employees ,! executive
 director & any employee ( ! ,commission
 7n includ+ memb]s appo9t$ "u section   
#d7;a77 %all be employees "u section    

#baje ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 =
 purposes ( *apt]s #fc1 #ha1 #hc1 #hd1  
#he1 #hg1 #hi1 & #ij ( t title4  7b7    
,detailees ,any employee ( ! ,f$]al     
,gov]nm5t may be detail$ by ! head ( !  
dep>tm5t or ag5cy ( ! employee to !     
,commission )\t reimbursem5t f !        
,commission1 & su* detailee %all reta9 !
 rights1 /atus1 & privileges ( !        
detailee's regul> employm5t )\t         
int]ruption4  7c7 ,exp]t & consultant   
s]vices ,! ,commission may procure !    
s]vices ( exp]ts & consultants 9        
accordance ) section #caji ( title #e1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 b at rates n to    
exce$ ! daily rate paid a p]son occupy+ 
a position at level ,,iv ( ! ,executive 
,s*$ule "u section #ecae ( title #e1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7d7 ,volunte]     
,s]vices ,not)/&+ section #acdb ( title 
#ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 ! ,commission 
may accept & use volunt>y & uncomp5sat$ 
s]vices z ! ,commission det]m9es        
necess>y4  #g4 ,nonapplicability (      
,f$]al ,advisory ,committee ,act  7a7 ,9

 g5]al ,! ,f$]al ,advisory ,committee   
,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 %all n apply  
to ! ,commission4  7b7 ,public meet+s & 
release ( public v]sions ( reports ,!   
,commission %all--  7#a7 hold public    
he>+s & meet+s to ! ext5t appropriate2 &
  7#b7 release public v]sions ( !       
reports requir$ "u section #c4  7c7     
,public he>+s ,any public he>+s ( !     
,commission %all be conduct$ 9 a mann]  
consi/5t ) ! protection ( in=mation     
provid$ to or develop$ = or by !        
,commission z requir$ by any applicable 
law1 regulation1 or ,executive ord]4    
#h4 ,t]m9ation  7a7 ,t]m9ation  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,! ,commission %all t]m9ate on    
,may #ca1 #bjaf4  7#b7 ,adm9i/rative    
activities be=e t]m9ation ,! ,commission
 may use ! #fj-;day p]iod prec$+ ! date 
on :i* x t]m9ates "u p>agraph 7#a7 = !  
purpose ( conclud+ its activities1      
includ+ provid+ te/imony to committees (
 ,congress conc]n+ its reports &        
dissem9at+ ! f9al report4  #i4          
,e/abli%m5t ( ,(fice ( ,arm$ ,s]vices & 

,vet]ans ,public ,outrea*  7a7          
,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs %all e/abli% )9 ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,vet]ans ,affairs an ,(fice ( ,arm$     
,s]vices & ,vet]ans ,public ,outrea* 79 
?is section ref]r$ to z ! ,(fice74  7b7 
,duties ,! ,(fice %all "w ) ! ,arm$     
,=ces1 vet]ans s]vice organizations1 !  
private & public sectors1 nonpr(it      
organizations1 local educational        
ag5cies1 & o!r organizations to help    
mat* vet]ans & memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces ) 
civilian audi5ces 9 ord] = private &    
nonpr(it organizations to conduct ongo+ 
int]actions betwe5 memb]s1 vet]ans1 &   
civilians1 p>ticul>ly ) "y p1 9 :i*     
memb]s & vet]ans %>e _! /ories & !      
effect ( _! s]vice & re9tegration       
exp]i5ce directly ) civilians & =       
record$ hi/ory4  #aj4 ,fund+ ,?is ,act  
%all n be con/ru$ to increase ! am\nt ( 
appropriations t are au?oriz$ to be     
appropriat$ = any fiscal ye>4  #aa4     
,vet]an def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m     
vet]an has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section 

#aja7b7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates      
,code4