,,ib ,union ,cal5d> ,no4 #eec #aah?     
,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4 ,r4 #gaej
 ,report ,no4 #aah-feg ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se   
,,( ,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #cj1      
#bjbd,mr4 ,takano introduc$ ! foll[+    
bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on   
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,septemb] #aj1      
#bjbd,report$ ) an am5dm5t1 committ$ to 
! ,committee ( ! ,:ole ,h\se on ! ,/ate 
( ! ,union1 & ord]$ to be printed,strike
 out all aft] ! enact+ clause & ins]t ! 
"p pr9t$ 9 italic,for text ( introduc$  
bill1 see copy ( bill z introduc$ on    
,janu>y #cj1 #bjbd  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
direct ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
to improve equitable access to c]ta9    
b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & to      
improve c]ta9 outrea* to individuals :o 
s]v$ uni=m$ s]vices & dep5d5ts ( su*    
individuals1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4     
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,survivor ,b5efits ,deliv]y ,improvem5t 
,act ( #bjbd4  #b4 ,equitable access to 

c]ta9 b5efits ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs = survivors ( vet]ans  7a7     
,%ort title ,?is section may be cit$ z !
 ,survivor ,b5efits ,data ,collection   
,act ( #bjbd4  7b7 ,collection (        
demographic data  7#a7 ,collection      
,*apt] #ec ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new section 7& con=m+ ! table (  
sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt]        
accord+ly73  #ecba4 ,demographic data ( 
c]ta9 b5efici>ies  7a7 ,collection ,!   
,secret>y1 9 consultation ) ! entities  
describ$ 9 subsection 7b71 %all-- 7#a7  
develop a me?od to collect ! demographic
 data (-- 7,a7 ea* cov]$ survivor       
receiv+ dep5d5cy & indemnity comp5sation
 "u *apt] #ac ( ?is title1 p5sion "u    
*apt] #ae ( ?is title1 or increas$      
p5sion 7or additional comp5sation or    
all[ances7 "u ?is title bas$ on ! ne$ ( 
regul> aid & att5dance or by reason (   
be+ p]man5tly h\seb\nd2 &  7,b7 ea*     
p]son :o receives burial b5efits "u     
*apt] #bc ( ?is title2 &  7#b7 collect  

demographic data pursuant to ! me?od    
develop$ "u p>agraph 7#a74  7b7         
,entities = consultation ,! entities    
describ$ 9 ?is subsection are ! foll[+3 
7#a7 ,! ,advisory ,committee on ,m9ority
 ,vet]ans e/abli%$ "u section #edd ( ?is
 title4  7#b7 ,! ,advisory ,committee on
 ,wom5 ,vet]ans e/abli%$ "u section #edb
 ( ?is title4  7#c7 ,! ,vet]ans'        
,family1 ,c>egiv]1 & ,survivor ,advisory
 ,committee ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs1 or successor advisory         
committee4  7#d7 ,vet]ans s]vice        
organizations4  7c7 ,designation (      
und]s]v$ demographics ,! ,secret>y      
%all-- 7#a7 designate z an und]s]v$     
demographic any demographic ! ,secret>y 
det]m9es1 tak+ into acc\nt ! demographic
 data collect$ "u subsection 7a71 is    
und]s]v$ ) respect to ! b5efits specifi$
 9 su* subsection2 &  7#b7 review su*   
designations on at lea/ a bi5nial basis 
& update z appropriate4  7d7 ,inclusion 
9 annual reports ,= ea* annual b5efits  
report ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits            

,adm9i/ration1 ! ,secret>y %all include 
z "p ( ! report in=mation conc]n+ !     
demographic data collect$ "u subsection 
7a7 dur+ ! fiscal ye> cov]$ by ! report4
  7e7 ,effect on application ,no?+ 9 ?is
 section %all be con/ru$ z requir+ any  
p]son to submit demographic data or z   
au?oriz+ ! ,secret>y to consid] :e!r a  
p]son submits demographic data 9        
evaluat+ any claim = b5efits "u ! laws  
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4  7f7           
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]m 
cov]$ survivor means a surviv+ sp\se1   
*ild1 or p>5t ( a vet]an4  7#b7 ,! t]m  
demographic data includes-- 7,a7 )      
respect to an individual-- 7i7 age2     
7ii7 race2  7iii7 e?nicity2  7iv7 tribal
 affiliation1 if any2 &  7v7 geographic 
location2 &  7,b7 ) respect to a cov]$  
survivor1 ! cause ( dea? ( ! applicable 
vet]an4  7#c7 ,! t]m vet]ans s]vice     
organization means any organization     
recogniz$ by ! ,secret>y "u section     
#eijb ( ?is title4  4  7#b7 ,deadl9es2  
applicability  7,a7 ,deadl9e =          

collection ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs %all develop ! data collection 
me?od "u subsection 7a7 ( section #ecba 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code 7z add$
 by p>agraph 7#a771 & comm5ce !         
collection ( data pursuant to su* me?od1
 by n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( !   
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7,b7 ,deadl9e =   
initial designations ,! ,secret>y %all  
make ! initial designation ( any        
und]s]v$ demographics "u subsection 7c7 
( su* section #ecba by n lat] ?an #ahj  
days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y     
comm5ces ! collection ( data "u         
subsection 7a7 ( su* section4  7,c7     
,applicability reg>d+ annual reports ,! 
requirem5t "u subsection 7d7 ( su*      
section #ecba %all apply ) respect to   
annual b5efits reports ( ! ,vet]ans     
,b5efits ,adm9i/ration submitt$ on or   
aft] ! date t is "o ye> aft] ! date on  
:i* ! ,secret>y comm5ces ! collection ( 
data "u subsection 7a7 ( su* section4   
7c7 ,outrea* & education  7#a7 ,/rategy 
= und]s]v$ demographics ,n lat] ?an "o  

ye> aft] ! date ( initial designation1 !
 ,secret>y %all develop & submit to !   
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,s5ate & ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives an     
outrea* & education /rategy = rais+     
aw>5ess reg>d+ ! b5efits specifi$ 9     
section #ecba7;a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code 7z add$ by subsection 7b771
 among cov]$ survivors :o belong to an  
und]s]v$ demographic4  7#b7 ,eligibility
 ( vet]ans = c]ta9 burial b5efits  7,a7 
,outrea* plan ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft]
 ! date ( initial designation1 ! ,"u    
,secret>y = ,memorial ,affairs %all     
develop & submit to ! ,committees on    
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate an outrea*   
/rategy = rais+ aw>5ess reg>d+          
eligibility = burial 9 a national       
cemet]y "u section #bcjc ( title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 among vet]ans &    
b5efici>ies :o belong to an und]s]v$    
demographic4  7,b7 ,education activities
 ,! ,"u ,secret>y %all c>ry out         
education activities pursuant to ! plan 

develop$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 to ensure t
 ! vet]ans & b5efici>ies specifi$ 9 su* 
p>agraph are made aw>e ( any eligibility
 specifi$ 9 su* subp>agraph4  7,c7      
,reports ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date 
( initial designation1 & annually       
!reaft] = five ye>s1 ! ,"u ,secret>y    
%all submit to ! ,committees on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a report on !
 ef=ts tak5 by ! ,"u ,secret>y pursuant 
to ?is p>agraph4  7#c7 ,def9itions ,9   
?is subsection3 7,a7 ,! t]m cov]$       
survivor has ! mean+s giv5 t t]m 9      
section #ecba7;e7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code 7z add$ by subsection 7b774
  7,b7 ,! t]m date ( initial designation
 means ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y makes !
 initial designation ( any und]s]v$     
demographics4  7,c7 ,! t]m und]s]v$     
demographic means a demographic         
designat$ z an und]s]v$ demographic by !
 ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs "u       
section #ecba7;c7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code 7z add$ by subsection 7b774

  7d7 ,assessm5t & /rategy = ,(fice (   
,survivors ,assi/ance ,n lat] ?an "o ye>
 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! 
,secret>y %all-- 7#a7 conduct an        
assessm5t ( ! res\rces ( ! ,(fice (     
,survivors ,assi/ance ( ! ,dep>tm5t (   
,vet]ans ,affairs1 or any successor     
(fice2 &  7#b7 develop a /rategy to     
ensure ! availability ( res\rces        
necess>y = ! function ( su* (fice1 z    
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y z a result ( !   
assessm5t4  #c4 ,improvem5ts to outrea* 
s]vices provid$ by ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans 
,affairs to individuals :o s]v$ 9 !     
uni=m$ s]vices & dep5d5ts ( su*         
individuals  7a7 ,%ort title ,?is       
section may be cit$ z ! ,survivor ,solid
 ,/>t ,act ( #bjbd4  7b7 ,expansion (   
outrea* s]vices ,sub*apt] ,i ( *apt] #fc
 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is   
am5d$-- 7#a7 9 section #fcja7;b7-- 7,a7 
by r$esignat+ p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#c7 
z p>agraphs 7#b7 ?r\gh 7#d71            
respectively2  7,b7 by ins]t+ be=e      
p>agraph 7#b7 7z s r$esignat$7 ! foll[+ 

new p>agraph3  7#a7 ! t]m cov]$         
individual means-- 7,a7 a vet]an2 or    
7,b7 an individual :o s]v$ 9 ! uni=m$   
s]vices 7z def9$ 9 section #aife7f7 (   
?is title72  2  7,c7 9 p>agraph 7#b7 7z 
s r$esignat$71 by /rik+ vet]ans ea*     
place x appe>s & ins]t+ cov]$           
individuals2 &  7,d7 9 p>agraph 7#d7 7z 
s r$esignat$71 by /rik+ a p]son :o s]v$ 
9 ! active milit>y1 naval1 air1 or space
 s]vice & ins]t+ a cov]$ individual2    
7#b7 9 section #fcjb7;b71 by /rik+      
eligible vet]ans ea* place x appe>s &   
ins]t+ cov]$ individuals2  7#c7 9       
section #fcjc-- 7,a7 9 subsection 7a71  
by /rik+ eligible vet]ans & ins]t+ cov]$
 individuals2  7,b7 9 subsection        
7c77#a77;,a71 by /rik+ eligible vet]ans 
& ins]t+ cov]$ individuals2  7,c7 9     
subsection 7c77#b71 by /rik+ vet]an or  
dep5d5t ea* place x appe>s & ins]t+     
cov]$ individual or eligible dep5d5t2 & 
7,d7 9 subsection 7d71 by /rik+ vet]ans 
& ins]t+ cov]$ individuals2  7#d7 9     
section #fcjf-- 7,a7 9 subsection 7a71  

by /rik+ eligible vet]an & ins]t+ cov]$ 
individual2 &  7,b7 9 subsection 7b7--  
7i7 by /rik+ opportunities = vet]ans &  
ins]t+ opportunities = cov]$            
individuals2 &  7ii7 by /rik+ eligible  
vet]ans & ins]t+ cov]$ individuals2 &   
7#e7 9 section #fcjg1 by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+ new subsection3  7c7 ,outrea*   
s]vices = surviv+ eligible dep5d5ts     
7#a7 7,a7 ,^u receipt ( notification ( !
 dea? ( a cov]$ individual1 ! ,secret>y1
 act+ ?r\gh ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,b5efits1 
%all provide outrea* s]vices1 by ei!r   
mail1 email1 or telephone1 to ea*       
eligible dep5d5t ( su* individual n less
 ?an once ea* qu>t] cal5d> ye> until !  
eligible dep5d5t files a claim = a      
b5efit "u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4 
7,b7 ,9 ! case ( an eligible dep5d5t    
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 :o is a m9or
 *ild1 ! ,secret>y %all provide su*     
outrea* s]vices to ! legal gu>dian ( !  
eligible dep5d5t4  7,c7 ,if ! ,secret>y 
does n h ! contact in=mation ( an       
eligible dep5d5t or legal gu>dian       

describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 or 7,b71 !  
,secret>y %all make reasonable ef=ts to 
obta9 su* contact in=mation to c>ry out 
?is subsection4  7,d7 ,an eligible      
dep5d5t or legal gu>dian describ$ 9     
subp>agraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 to :om !       
,secret>y has provid$ outrea* s]vices "u
 ?is subsection twice may elect to n    
receive1 or to receive few]1 outrea*    
s]vices "u ?is subsection4 ,n less ?an  
once ea* cal5d> ye>1 ! ,secret>y %all   
notify ea* su* eligible dep5d5t or legal
 gu>dian :o has n made su* an election (
 ! option to make su* an election4  7#b7
 ,outrea* s]vices "u ?is subsection %all
 provide an eligible dep5d5t ) in=mation
 includ+ ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,contact        
in=mation = ! ,(fice ( ,survivors       
,assi/ance e/abli%$ "u section #cba (   
?is title4  7,b7 ,in=mation reg>d+      
assi/ance 9 fil+ a claim = a b5efit "u  
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y furni%$    
by-- 7i7 a vet]ans s]vice organization  
recogniz$ "u section #eijb ( ?is title2 
or  7ii7 an attorney1 ag5t1 or o!r      

entity recogniz$ "u section #eijd ( ?is 
title4  7,c7 ,h[ to f9d an entity-- 7i7 
describ$ 9 clause 7i7 or 7ii7 (         
subp>agraph 7,b72 &  7ii7 locat$ ne> !  
resid5ce ( ! eligible dep5d5t4  7#c7 ,9 
develop+ & revis+ mat]ials us$ 9 outrea*
 s]vices "u ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y 
%all consult ) entities includ+ !       
foll[+3 7,a7 ,vet]ans s]vice            
organizations recogniz$ "u section #eijb
 ( ?is title4  7,b7 ,! ,advisory        
,committee on ,wom5 ,vet]ans e/abli%$ "u
 section #edb ( ?is title4  7,c7 ,!     
,advisory ,committee on ,m9ority        
,vet]ans e/abli%$ "u section #edd ( ?is 
title4  7,d7 ,! ,vet]ans' ,family1      
,c>egiv]1 & ,survivor ,advisory         
,committee ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 or successor  
advisory committee4  7#d7 ,! ,secret>y  
%all seek to ensure1 to ! ext5t         
practicable1 t mat]ials us$ 9 outrea*   
s]vices by ! ,p5sion & ,fiduci>y ,s]vice
 ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration are
 9 accordance ) mat]ials us$ by ! ,"u   
,secret>y = ,b5efits to provide outrea* 

s]vices "u ?is subsection4  4  7c7      
,p]sonnel ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs %all e/abli% at lea/ #e1 b n m 
?an #aj1 full-"t equival5t positions at 
call c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs to c>ry out subsection 7c7 (   
section #fcjg ( su* title1 z add$ by    
subsection 7b74  #d4 ,modification (    
c]ta9 h\s+ loan fees ,! loan fee table 9
 section #cgbi7;b77#b7 ( title #ch1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+  
,novemb] #ae1 #bjca ea* place x appe>s &
 ins]t+ ,novemb] #bi1 #bjca4  ,septemb] 
#aj1 #bjbd,report$ ) an am5dm5t1        
committ$ to ! ,committee ( ! ,:ole ,h\se
 on ! ,/ate ( ! ,union1 & ord]$ to be   
pr9t$