,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ibg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #i1 #bjac ,mr4    
,s&]s introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
require ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
to c>ry out a demon/ration project to   
assess ! feasibility & advisability (   
us+ ,/ate & local gov]nm5t ag5cies &    
nonpr(it organizations to increase      
aw>5ess ( b5efits & s]vices = vet]ans & 
to improve coord9ation ( outrea*        
activities relat+ to su* b5efits &      
s]vices1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !         
,vet]ans' ,outrea* ,act ( #bjac4  #b4   
,demon/ration project to increase       
coord9ation ( outrea* ef=ts betwe5 !    
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & ,f$]al1 
,/ate1 & local ag5cies & nonpr(it       
organizations  7a7 ,demon/ration project
 requir$ ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all c>ry out a demon/ration   
project to assess ! feasibility &       

advisability ( us+ ,/ate & local        
gov]nm5t ag5cies & nonpr(it             
organizations--  7#a7 to increase       
aw>5ess ( vet]ans reg>d+ b5efits &      
s]vices = vet]ans2 &  7#b7 to improve   
coord9ation ( outrea* activities reg>d+ 
su* b5efits & s]vices betwe5 ! ,secret>y
 & ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local gov]nm5t &    
nonpr(it provid]s ( heal? c>e & b5efit  
s]vices = vet]ans4  7b7 ,duration  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,! demon/ration project %all be
 c>ri$ out dur+ ! two-ye> p]iod beg9n+  
on ! date t is #ahj days aft] ! date ( !
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7#b7 ,au?ority = 
ext5sion ,! ,secret>y may ext5d !       
duration ( ! demon/ration project = an  
additional two ye>s4  7c7 ,grants  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out !   
demon/ration project ?r\gh ! aw>d (     
grants to ,/ate & local gov]nm5t ag5cies
 & nonpr(it organizations to c>ry out   
projects t--  7,a7 increase ! aw>5ess ( 
vet]ans reg>d+ b5efits & s]vices =      
vet]ans2 &  7,b7 improve coord9ation (  
outrea* activities reg>d+ su* b5efits & 

s]vices betwe5 ! ,secret>y & ,f$]al1    
,/ate1 & local gov]nm5t & nonpr(it      
provid]s ( heal? c>e & b5efit s]vices = 
vet]ans4  7#b7 ,application  7,a7 ,9    
g5]al ,a ,/ate or local gov]nm5t ag5cy  
or nonpr(it organization seek+ a grant  
"u ! demon/ration project %all submit to
 ! ,secret>y an application !re= 9 su*  
=m & 9 su* mann] z ! ,secret>y consid]s 
appropriate4  7,b7 ,elem5ts ,ea*        
application submitt$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7
 %all include ! foll[+3  7i7 ,a         
description ( ! consultations1 if any1 )
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 9 !    
developm5t ( any proposal "u !          
application4  7ii7 ,a description ( !   
project = :i* ! applicant is seek+ a    
grant "u ! demon/ration project1 includ+
 a plan to coord9ate "u ! demon/ration  
project1 to ! greate/ ext5t possible1 ! 
outrea* activities ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 &   
local gov]nm5t ag5cies t provide heal?  
c>e1 b5efits1 & s]vices = vet]ans &     
nonpr(it organizations t provide su*    
c>e1 b5efits1 & s]vices to enhance !    

aw>5ess & availability ( su* c>e1       
b5efits1 & s]vices4  7iii7 ,an agreem5t 
to report to ! ,secret>y /&>diz$ data & 
o!r p]=mance measures necess>y = !      
,secret>y to evaluate ! demon/ration    
project & to facilitate evaluation (    
individual projects = :i* grants are    
aw>d$ "u ! demon/ration project4  7iv7  
,su* o!r in=mation z ! ,secret>y may    
require4  7#c7 ,consid]ations ,9 aw>d+  
grants "u ! demon/ration project to c>ry
 out projects1 ! ,secret>y %all consid] 
:]e ! projects w be c>ri$ out & :i*     
populations are t>get$4 ,9 p>ticul>1 !  
,secret>y %all consid] ! advisability ( 
aw>d+ grants = projects--  7,a7 c>ri$   
out 9 areas ) populations t h a high    
proportion ( vet]an repres5tation2  7,b7
 c>ri$ out 9 a v>iety ( geographic      
areas1 includ+ urban1 rural1 & highly   
rural areas2 &  7,c7 t t>get a v>iety ( 
vet]an populations1 includ+ racial &    
e?nic m9orities1 l[-income populations1 
& old] populations4  7#d7 ,use ( funds  
,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% appropriate   

uses ( grant am\nts receiv$ "u !        
demon/ration project4  7#e7 ,limitation 
,9 a fiscal ye>1 n m ?an #bj p]c5t ( all
 grant am\nts aw>d$ 9 t fiscal ye> may  
be aw>d$ to a s+le ,/ate entity4  7d7   
,/ate mat*+ requirem5t ,! ,secret>y may 
n make a grant to a ,/ate "u subsection 
7c7 unless t ,/ate agrees t1 ) respect  
to ! co/s to be incurr$ by ! ,/ate 9    
c>ry+ out ! program or activities = :i* 
! grant 0 aw>d$1 ! ,/ate w make         
available 7directly or ?r\gh donations f
 public or private entities7 non-,f$]al 
contributions 9 an am\nt equal to #ej   
p]c5t ( ,f$]al funds provid$ "u ! grant4
  7e7 ,annual report  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n  
lat] ?an #abj days aft] ! completion ( !
 fir/ cal5d> ye> beg9n+ aft] ! date ( ! 
comm5cem5t ( ! demon/ration project1 & n
 less frequ5tly ?an once e ye> !reaft] =
 ! duration ( ! project1 ! ,secret>y    
%all submit to ,congress a report       
evaluat+ ! demon/ration project & !     
projects support$ by grants aw>d$ "u !  
demon/ration project4  7#b7 ,elem5ts ,! 

report requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all    
include ! foll[+3  7,a7 ,! f9d+s &      
conclusions ( ! ,secret>y ) respect to !
 demon/ration project4  7,b7 ,an        
assessm5t ( ! b5efit to vet]ans ( !     
demon/ration project4  7,c7 ,!          
recomm5dations ( ! ,secret>y z to !     
feasibility & advisability ( cont9u+ or 
exp&+ ! demon/ration project4  #c4      
,coop]ative agreem5ts betwe5 ,secret>y (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs & ,/ates on outrea*  
activities  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #fc (   
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$
 by ins]t+ aft] section #fcjf ! foll[+  
new section3  #fcjf;,a4 ,coop]ative     
agreem5ts ) ,/ates  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!     
,secret>y may ent] into coop]ative      
agreem5ts & arrangem5ts ) v>i\s ag5cies 
& dep>tm5ts ( ,/ates to c>ry out ?is    
*apt] & to o!rwise c>ry out1 coord9ate1 
improve1 or enhance outrea* activities (
 ! ,dep>tm5t & ! ,/ates4  7b7 ,annual   
report ,n less frequ5tly ?an once ea*   
ye>1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to         
,congress a report t describes !        

agreem5ts & arrangem5ts ent]$ into by ! 
,secret>y "u subsection 7a7 dur+ ! mo/  
rec5t "o-ye> p]iod4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical    
am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+ 
( *apt] #fc ( su* title is am5d$ by     
ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to section    
#fcjf ! foll[+ new item3  #fcjf;,a4     
,coop]ative agreem5ts ) ,/ates4  4  #d4 
,budget transp>5cy = outrea* activities 
( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9 
g5]al ,*apt] #fc ( title #ch1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft]   
section #fcjh ! foll[+ new section3     
#fcji4 ,budget transp>5cy  7a7 ,budget  
requirem5ts ,9 ! budget ju/ification    
mat]ials submitt$ to ,congress 9 support
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t budget = a fiscal ye> 7z 
submitt$ ) ! budget ( ! ,presid5t "u    
section #aaje7;a7 ( title #ca71 !       
,secret>y %all include a sep>ate /atem5t
 ( ! am\nt reque/$ = su* fiscal ye> =   
activities ( ! ,(fice ( ,public &       
,int]gov]nm5tal ,affairs z foll[s3  7#a7
 ,= outrea* activities ( ! ,dep>tm5t 9  
aggregate4  7#b7 ,= outrea* activities (

 ea* elem5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t specifi$ 9    
subsection 7b77#a74  7b7 ,proc$ures =   
effective coord9ation & collaboration   
7#a7 ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date (
 ! enactm5t ( ! ,vet]ans' ,outrea* ,act 
( #bjac1 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% &     
ma9ta9 proc$ures = ! ,(fice ( ,public & 
,int]gov]nm5tal ,affairs to ensure !    
effective coord9ation & collaboration ( 
outrea* activities ( ! ,dep>tm5t betwe5 
& among ! foll[+3  7,a7 ,! ,(fice ( !   
,secret>y4  7,b7 ,! ,vet]ans ,heal?     
,adm9i/ration4  7,c7 ,! ,vet]ans        
,b5efits ,adm9i/ration4  7,d7 ,!        
,national ,cemet]y ,adm9i/ration4  7#b7 
,! ,secret>y %all--  7,a7 beg9n+ aft] ! 
date on :i* ! ,secret>y e/abli%es       
proc$ures "u p>agraph 7#a71 n less      
frequ5tly ?an once e two ye>s conduct a 
review ( ! proc$ures e/abli%$ & ma9ta9$ 
"u p>agraph 7#a7 to ensure t su*        
proc$ures meet ! requirem5ts su*        
p>agraph2  7,b7 make su* modifications  
to su* proc$ures z ! ,secret>y consid]s 
appropriate bas$ ^u reviews conduct$ "u 

subp>agraph 7,a7 9 ord] to bett] meet   
su* requirem5ts2 &  7,c7 n lat] ?an #de 
days aft] complet+ a review "u          
subp>agraph 7,a71 submit to ,congress a 
report on su* review4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical  
am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+ 
( *apt] #fc ( su* title is am5d$ by     
ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to section    
#fcjh ! foll[+ new item3  #fcji4 ,budget
 transp>5cy4  4  #e4 ,advisory committee
 on outrea* activities ( ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n   
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all e/abli% an       
advisory committee on outrea* activities
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7b7
 ,memb]%ip ,! advisory committee %all be
 compos$ ( individuals select$ by !     
,secret>y f among ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,to ! 
maximum ext5t practicable1 individuals  
:o are em95t 9 _! respective fields (   
public relations4  7#b7 ,repres5tatives 
( organizations ) (fices t focus on     
communications & di/ribute messages     

?r\gh major m$ia news outlets & social  
m$ia4  7#c7 ,to ! maximum ext5t         
practicable1 individuals ) exp]i5ce     
communicat+ f9ancial results & bus9ess  
/rategy = purposes ( %ap+ a confid5t br&
 image4  7#d7 ,to ! maximum ext5t       
practicable1 individuals ) exp]i5ce )   
consum] & life/yle imag+ & creat+       
publicity = a p>ticul> product or       
s]vice4  7#e7 ,to ! maximum ext5t       
practicable1 vet]ans :o h exp]i5ce 9    
press & public relations4  7c7 ,duties  
,! advisory committee %all collaborate )
 ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,public &      
,int]gov]nm5tal ,affairs--  7#a7 to     
ensure t ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 is /rategically & effectively--  7,a7  
engag+ ! public & ,dep>tm5t /akehold]s  
to increase aw>5ess nationally reg>d+   
b5efits & s]vices furni%$ by !          
,dep>tm5t2  7,b7 expla9+ new or *ang+   
policies ( ! ,dep>tm5t2  7,c7 improv+ ! 
image & reputation ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 &     
7,d7 coord9at+ & collaborat+ ) national 
community-bas$ organizations1 nonpr(its1

 & ,/ate & local gov]nm5t ag5cies2 &    
7#b7 to assi/ ! ,secret>y 9 conduct+ su*
 o!r press or public relations          
activities relat+ to outrea* activities 
( ! ,dep>tm5t z ! advisory committee    
consid]s appropriate4  7d7 ,consultation
 ,! ,secret>y %all consult ) & seek !   
advice ( ! advisory committee n less    
frequ5tly ?an qu>t]ly on matt]s relat+  
to ! duties ( ! advisory committee "u   
subsection 7c74  7e7 ,qu>t]ly reports   
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n less frequ5tly ?an once
 e #ij days1 ! advisory committee %all  
submit to ,congress & to ! ,secret>y a  
report on outrea* activities ( !        
,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,recomm5dations ,ea*   
report submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all   
include su* recomm5dations = legislative
 & adm9i/rative action z ! advisory     
committee consid]s appropriate to       
improve ! press & public relations ( !  
,dep>tm5t relat+ to outrea*4  7f7       
,t]m9ation ,! advisory committee %all   
t]m9ate on ,octob] #a1 #bjae1 & !       
requirem5ts & au?orities "u ?is section 

%all t]m9ate on su* date4  7g7 ,outrea* 
def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m outrea* has 
! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #fcja (    
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  #f4    
,advisory bo>ds on outrea* activities at
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical   
c5t]s  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,= ea* ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical c5t]1 !      
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all1 act+
 ?r\gh ! director ( su* m$ical c5t]1    
e/abli% n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date
 ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act an advisory    
bo>d at su* m$ical c5t] on matt]s relat+
 to outrea* activities ( ! ,dep>tm5t at 
su* m$ical c5t]4  7b7 ,memb]%ip ,ea*    
advisory bo>d e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7
 at a ,dep>tm5t m$ical c5t] %all be1 to 
! maximum ext5t practicable1 compos$ (  
individuals select$ by ! ,secret>y f    
among ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,individuals :o   
are em95t 9 _! respective fields (      
public relations4  7#b7 ,repres5tatives 
( organizations ) (fices t focus on     
communications & di/ribute messages     
?r\gh major m$ia news outlets & social  

m$ia4  7#c7 ,individuals ) exp]i5ce     
communicat+ f9ancial results & bus9ess  
/rategy = purposes ( %ap+ a confid5t br&
 image4  7#d7 ,individuals ) exp]i5ce ) 
consum] & life/yle imag+ & creat+       
publicity = a p>ticul> product or       
s]vice4  7#e7 ,employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t  
:o are involv$ 9 press & public         
relations /rategy at ! m$ical c5t]4     
7#f7 ,to ! maximum ext5t practicable1   
vet]ans :o h exp]i5ce 9 press & public  
relations4  7c7 ,duties ,ea* advisory   
bo>d e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 at a    
,dep>tm5t m$ical c5t] %all collaborate )
 ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,public &      
,int]gov]nm5tal ,affairs--  7#a7 to     
ensure t ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 is /rategically & effectively--  7,a7  
engag+ ! public & ,dep>tm5t /akehold]s  
to increase aw>5ess nationally reg>d+   
b5efits & s]vices furni%$ by !          
,dep>tm5t2  7,b7 expla9+ new or *ang+   
policies ( ! ,dep>tm5t2  7,c7 improv+ ! 
image & reputation ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 &     
7,d7 coord9at+ & collaborat+ ) national 

community-bas$ organizations1 nonpr(its1
 & ,/ate & local gov]nm5t ag5cies2 &    
7#b7 to assi/ ! director ( su* m$ical   
facility 9 conduct+ su* o!r press or    
public relations activities relat+ to   
outrea* activities ( ! ,dep>tm5t z !    
advisory bo>d consid]s appropriate4  7d7
 ,consultation ,ea* director ( a        
,dep>tm5t m$ical c5t] %all consult ) &  
seek ! advice ( ! advisory bo>d e/abli%$
 at su* m$ical c5t] n less frequ5tly ?an
 once e two mon?s on matt]s relat+ to ! 
duties ( ! advisory bo>d "u subsection  
7c74  7e7 ,annual reports ,n less       
frequ5tly ?an ea* ye>1 ea* advisory bo>d
 e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 %all submit 
to ! ,secret>y a report ) su* in=mation 
z may be b5eficial to ! ,secret>y 9     
prep>+ ! reports requir$ by section     
#fcjh ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4 
7f7 ,t]m9ation ,ea* advisory bo>d       
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 & !          
au?orities & requirem5ts ( ?is section  
%all t]m9ate on ,octob] #a1 #bjae4  #g4 
,modification ( requirem5t = p]iodic    

reports to ,congress on outrea*         
activities ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #fcjh ( 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is      
am5d$--  7#a7 9 subsection 7a71 by /rik+
 ev5-numb]$2 &  7#b7 9 subsection 7b7-- 
7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+ bi5nial2 
7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by ins]t+ =       
legislative & adm9i/rative action aft]  
,recomm5dations2 &  7,c7 by add+ at !   
end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#c7        
,recomm5dations t su* adm9i/rative      
actions z may be tak5--  7,a7 to        
maximize res\rces = outrea* activities (
 ! ,dep>tm5t2 &  7,b7 to focus outrea*  
ef=ts on activities t are prov5 to be m 
effective4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5ts    
7#a7 ,section head+ ,! head+ = section  
#fcjh ( su* title is am5d$ by /rik+     
,bi5nial & ins]t+ ,annual4  7#b7 ,table 
( sections ,! table ( sections at !     
beg9n+ ( *apt] #fc ( su* title is am5d$ 
by /rik+ ! item relat+ to section #fcjh 
& ins]t+ ! foll[+ new item3  #fcjh4     
,annual report to ,congress4  4