,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dada ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #d1 #bjbb,ms4 ,hirono introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish in the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs an ,advisory ,committee on ,united ,states ,outlying ,areas and ,freely ,associated ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,advisory ,committee on ,united ,states ,outlying ,areas and ,freely ,associated ,states 7a7 ,establishment of ,advisory ,committee 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,iii of chapter #e of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #edh4 ,advisory ,committee on ,united ,states ,outlying ,areas and ,freely ,associated ,states 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall establish an advisory committee to provide advice and guidance to the ,secretary on matters relating to covered veterans4 7#b7 ,the advisory committee established under paragraph 7#a7 shall be known as the ,advisory ,committee on ,united ,states ,outlying ,areas and ,freely ,associated ,states4 7b7 ,duties ,the duties of the ,committee shall be the following3 7#a7 ,to advise the ,secretary on matters relating to covered veterans1 including how the ,secretary can improve the programs and services of the ,department to better serve such veterans4 7#b7 ,to identify for the ,secretary evolving issues of relevance to covered veterans4 7#c7 ,to propose clarifications1 recommendations1 and solutions to address issues raised by covered veterans4 7#d7 ,to provide a forum for covered veterans1 veterans service organizations serving covered veterans1 and the ,department to discuss issues and proposals for changes to regulations1 policies1 and procedures of the ,department4 7#e7 ,to identify priorities for and provide advice to the ,secretary on appropriate strategies for consultation with veterans service organizations serving covered veterans4 7#f7 ,to encourage the ,secretary to work with other departments and agencies of the ,federal ,government and ,congress to ensure covered veterans are provided the full benefits of their status as covered veterans4 7#g7 ,to highlight contributions of covered veterans in the ,armed ,forces4 7#h7 ,to conduct other duties as determined appropriate by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,the ,committee shall be comprised of #ae voting members appointed by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,in appointing members pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall ensure the following3 7,a7 ,at least one member is appointed to represent covered veterans in each of the following areas3 7i7 ,american ,samoa4 7ii7 ,guam4 7iii7 ,puerto ,rico4 7iv7 ,the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 7v7 ,the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states4 7vi7 ,the ,federated ,states of ,micronesia4 7vii7 ,the ,republic of the ,marshall ,islands4 7viii7 ,the ,republic of ,palau4 7,b7 ,not fewer than half of the members appointed are covered veterans1 unless the ,secretary determines that an insufficient number of qualified covered veterans are available4 7,c7 ,each member appointed resides in an area specified in subparagraph 7,a74 7#c7 ,in appointing members pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may consult with any ,member of ,congress who represents an area specified in paragraph 7#b77;,a74 7d7 ,terms2 vacancies 7#a7 ,a member of the ,committee shall be appointed for a term of two years4 7#b7 ,not later than #ahj days after receiving notice of a vacancy in the ,committee1 the ,secretary shall fill the vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment4 7e7 ,meeting format and frequency 7#a7 ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the ,committee shall meet in-person with the ,secretary not less frequently than twice each year and hold monthly conference calls as necessary4 7#b7 ,meetings held under paragraph 7#a7 may be conducted virtually during a public health emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services pursuant to section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 or any renewal of such declaration4 7f7 ,additional representation 7#a7 ,representatives of relevant departments and agencies of the ,federal ,government may attend meetings of the ,committee and provide information to the ,committee4 7#b7 ,one representative of the ,department shall attend each meeting of the ,committee4 7#c7 ,representatives attending meetings under this subsection-- 7,a7 shall not be considered voting members of the ,committee2 and 7,b7 may not receive additional compensation for services performed with respect to the ,committee4 7g7 ,subcommittees 7#a7 ,the ,committee may establish subcommittees4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary may1 in consultation with the ,committee1 appoint a member to a subcommittee established under paragraph 7#a7 who is not a member of the ,committee4 7#c7 ,a subcommittee established under paragraph 7#a7 may enhance the function of the ,committee1 but may not supersede the authority of the ,committee or provide direct advice or work products to the ,secretary4 7h7 ,reports 7#a7 ,not less frequently than once each year1 the ,committee shall submit to the ,secretary and the appropriate committees of ,congress a report containing such recommendations as the ,committee may have for legislative or administrative action4 7#b7 ,not later than #ij days after the date on which the ,secretary receives a report under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a written response to the report after-- 7,a7 giving the ,committee an opportunity to review such written response2 and 7,b7 including in such written response any comments the ,committee considers appropriate4 7#c7 ,not less frequently than once every two years1 the ,committee shall submit to the ,secretary and the appropriate committees of ,congress a report describing the activities of the ,committee during the previous two years4 7#d7 ,the ,secretary shall make publicly available on an internet website of the ,department-- 7,a7 each report the ,secretary receives under paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 each written response the ,secretary submits under paragraph 7#b72 and 7,c7 each report the ,secretary receives under paragraph 7#c74 7i7 ,committee personnel matters ,a member of the ,committee shall be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the ,committee4 7j7 ,consultation ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall consult with veterans service organizations serving covered veterans4 7k7 ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act exemption ,section #ad of the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the ,committee4 7l7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,the term ,committee means the ,advisory ,committee on ,united ,states ,outlying ,areas and ,freely ,associated ,states established under subsection 7a74 7#c7 ,the term covered veteran means a veteran residing in an area specified in subsection 7c77#b77;,a74 7#d7 ,the term veterans service organization serving covered veterans means any organization that-- 7,a7 serves the interests of covered veterans2 7,b7 has covered veterans in substantive and policymaking positions within the organization2 and 7,c7 has demonstrated experience working with covered veterans4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #e of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #edg the following new item3 #edh4 ,advisory ,committee on ,united ,states ,outlying ,areas and ,freely ,associated ,states4 4 7b7 ,deadline for establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall establish the advisory committee required by section #edh of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a77#a7 of this section4 7c7 ,deadline for initial appointments ,not later than #ij days after the date on which the ,secretary establishes the advisory committee required by such section #edh1 the ,secretary shall appoint the members of such advisory committee4 7d7 ,initial meeting ,not later than #abj days after the date on which the ,secretary establishes the advisory committee required by such section #edh1 such advisory committee shall hold its first meeting4