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38 U.S.C. § 544 — Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans (hereinafter in this section referred to as “the Committee”).
(2)
(A) The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary from the general public, including—
(i) representatives of veterans who are minority group members;
(ii) individuals who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of veterans who are minority group members;
(iii) veterans who are minority group members and who have experience in a military theater of operations;
(iv) veterans who are minority group members and who do not have such experience; and
(v) women veterans who are minority group members and are recently separated from service in the Armed Forces.
(B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members, the following:
(i) The Secretary of Labor (or a representative of the Secretary of Labor designated by the Secretary after consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment).
(ii) The Secretary of Defense (or a representative of the Secretary of Defense designated by the Secretary of Defense).
(iii) The Secretary of the Interior (or a representative of the Secretary of the Interior designated by the Secretary of the Interior).
(iv) The Secretary of Commerce (or a representative of the Secretary of Commerce designated by the Secretary of Commerce).
(v) The Secretary of Health and Human Services (or a representative of the Secretary of Health and Human Services designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).
(vi) The Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits, or their designees.
(C) The Secretary may invite representative
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 544
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-38/section-544-advisory-committee-on-minority-veterans--f95ed8f5db.md
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Source location: Title 38, Chapter 5, § 544; chapter-005-authority-and-duties-of-the-secretary.md
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**(a)**
(1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans (hereinafter in this section referred to as “the Committee”).
(2)
(A) The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary from the general public, including—
(i) representatives of veterans who are minority group members;
(ii) individuals who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of veterans who are minority group members;
(iii) veterans who are minority group members and who have experience in a military theater of operations;
(iv) veterans who are minority group members and who do not have such experience; and
(v) women veterans who are minority group members and are recently separated from service in the Armed Forces.
(B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members, the following:
(i) The Secretary of Labor (or a representative of the Secretary of Labor designated by the Secretary after consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment).
(ii) The Secretary of Defense (or a representative of the Secretary of Defense designated by the Secretary of Defense).
(iii) The Secretary of the Interior (or a representative of the Secretary of the Interior designated by the Secretary of the Interior).
(iv) The Secretary of Commerce (or a representative of the Secretary of Commerce designated by the Secretary of Commerce).
(v) The Secretary of Health and Human Services (or a representative of the Secretary of Health and Human Services designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).
(vi) The Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits, or their designees.
(C) The Secretary may invite representatives of other departments and agencies of the United States to participate in the meetings and other activities of the Committee.
(3) The Secretary shall determine the number, terms of service, and pay and allowances of members of the Committee appointed by the Secretary, except that a term of service of any such member may not exceed three years. The Secretary may reappoint any such member for additional terms of service.
(4) The Committee shall meet as often as the Secretary considers necessary or appropriate, but not less often than twice each fiscal year.
**(b)** The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the administration of benefits by the Department for veterans who are minority group members, reports and studies pertaining to such veterans and the needs of such veterans with respect to compensation, health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and programs administered by the Department, including the Center for Minority Veterans.
**(c)**
(1) Not later than July 1 of every other year, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the Department that pertain to veterans who are minority group members. Each such report shall include—
(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans who are minority group members with respect to compensation, health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and programs administered by the Department;
(B) a review of the programs and activities of the Department designed to meet such needs; and
(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for administrative and legislative action) as the Committee considers appropriate.
(2) The Secretary shall, within 60 days after receiving each report under paragraph (1), submit to Congress a copy of the report, together with any comments concerning the report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report submitted to the Congress pursuant to [section 529 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section529&num=0&edition=prelim) a summary of all reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to such section.
**(d)** In this section, the term “minority group member” means an individual who is—
(1) Asian American;
(2) Black;
(3) Hispanic;
(4) Native American (including American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian); or
(5) Pacific-Islander American.
**(e)** The Committee shall cease to exist September 30, 2026.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The Secretary shall submit annually, at the close of each fiscal year, a report in writing to Congress. Each such report shall—
(1) give an account of all moneys received and disbursed by the Department for such fiscal year;
(2) describe the work done during such fiscal year; and
(3) state the activities of the Department for such fiscal year.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 529
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (hereinafter in this section referred to as “the Committee”).
(2)
(A) The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary from the general public, including—
(i) representatives of women veterans;
(ii) individuals who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of women veterans, including the gender-specific health-care needs of women;
(iii) representatives of both female and male veterans with service-connected disabilities, including at least one female veteran with a service-connected disability and at least one male veteran with a service-connected disability; and
(iv) women veterans who are recently separated from service in the Armed Forces.
(B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members—
(i) the Secretary of Labor (or a representative of the Secretary of Labor designated by the Secretary after consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment);
(ii) the Secretary of Defense (or a representative of the Secretary of Defense designated by the Secretary of Defense after consultation with the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services); and
(iii) the Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits, or their designees.
(C) The Secretary may invite representatives of other departments and agencies of the United States to participate in the meetings and other activities of the Committee.
(3) The Secretary shall determine the number, terms of service, and pay and allowances of members of the Committee appointed by the Secretary, except that a term of service of any such member may not exceed three years. The Secretary m
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 542
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** The Secretary shall pay to the surviving spouse of each Spanish-American War veteran who met the service requirements of [section 1512(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1512/a&num=0&edition=prelim) a pension at the monthly rate of $70, unless such surviving spouse was the spouse of the veteran during such veteran’s service in the Spanish-American War, in which case the monthly rate shall be $75.
**(b)** If there is a child of the veteran, the rate of pension paid to the surviving spouse under subsection (a) shall be increased by $8.13 per month for each such child.
**(c)** No pension shall be paid to a surviving spouse of a veteran under this section unless such surviving spouse was married to such veteran—
(1) before January 1, 1938; or
(2) for one year or more; or
(3) for any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage.
**(d)**
(1) Any surviving spouse eligible for pension under this section shall, if such surviving spouse so elects, be paid pension at the rates prescribed by [section 1541 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1541&num=0&edition=prelim), and under the conditions (other than the service requirements) applicable to pension paid under that section to surviving spouses of veterans of a period of war. If pension is paid pursuant to such an election, the election shall be irrevocable.
(2) The Secretary shall pay each month to the surviving spouse of each Spanish-American War veteran who is receiving, or entitled to receive, pension based on a need of regular aid and attendance, whichever amount is greater (A) that which is payable to such surviving spouse under subsections (a) and (b
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 1536
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) The Secretary shall operate a program under which the Secretary provides counseling and appropriate care and services, to include care for physical health conditions, as appropriate, to former members of the Armed Forces who the Secretary determines require such counseling and care and services to treat a condition, which in the judgment of a health care professional employed by the Department, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the former member of the Armed Forces was serving on duty, regardless of duty status or line of duty determination (as that term is used in [section 12323 of title 10](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section12323&num=0&edition=prelim)).
(2)
(A) In operating the program required by paragraph (1), the Secretary may, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, provide counseling and care and services to members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) to treat a condition described in that paragraph that was suffered by the member while serving on duty, regardless of duty status or line of duty determination (as that term is used in [section 12323 of title 10](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section12323&num=0&edition=prelim)).
(B) A member described in subparagraph (A) shall not be required to obtain a referral before receiving counseling and care and services under this paragraph.
(3) In furnishing counseling to an individual under this subsection, the Secretary may provide such counseling pursuant to a contract with a qualified mental health professional if (A) in the judgment of a mental health professional employed by the Depar
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 1720D
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** There is in the Department a Center for Minority Veterans. There is at the head of the Center a Director.
**(b)** The Director shall be a career or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service. The Director shall be appointed for a term of six years.
**(c)** The Director reports directly to the Secretary or the Deputy Secretary concerning the activities of the Center.
**(d)** The Director shall perform the following functions with respect to veterans who are minorities:
(1) Serve as principal adviser to the Secretary on the adoption and implementation of policies and programs affecting veterans who are minorities.
(2) Make recommendations to the Secretary, the Under Secretary for Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and other Department officials for the establishment or improvement of programs in the Department for which veterans who are minorities are eligible.
(3) Promote the use of benefits authorized by this title by veterans who are minorities and the conduct of outreach activities to veterans who are minorities, in conjunction with outreach activities carried out under chapter 77 of this title.
(4) Disseminate information and serve as a resource center for the exchange of information regarding innovative and successful programs which improve the services available to veterans who are minorities.
(5) Conduct and sponsor appropriate social and demographic research on the needs of veterans who are minorities and the extent to which programs authorized under this title meet the needs of those veterans, without regard to any law concerning the collection of information from the public.
(6) Analyze and evaluate complaints made by or on behalf of veterans who are minorities about the adequacy and timeliness of services provided by the Depart
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 317
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 101
TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS
§ 544
mittee on the matters described in subsection
(b).
(d) Not later than January 15 of 1993, 1994, and
1995, the Committee shall submit to the Sec-
retary and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs
of the Senate and House of Representatives a re-
port on the effectiveness of the prosthetics and
special-disabilities programs administered by
the Secretary during the preceding fiscal year.
Not more than 60 days after the date on which
any such report is received by the Secretary, the
Secretary shall submit a report to such commit-
tees commenting on the report of the Com-
mittee.
(e) As used in this section, the term ‘‘special-
disabilities programs’’ includes all programs ad-
ministered by the Secretary for—
(1) spinal-cord-injured veterans;
(2) blind veterans;
(3) veterans who have lost or lost the use of
extremities;
(4) hearing-impaired veterans; and
(5) other veterans with serious incapacities
in terms of daily life functions.
(Added Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 105(b)(1), Oct. 9,
1992, 106 Stat. 1975.)
Editorial Notes
PRIOR PROVISIONS
Prior section 543 was renumbered section 1543 of this
title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
CHANGE OF NAME
Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 105(a), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat.
1975, provided that: ‘‘The Federal advisory committee
established by the Secretary and known as the Pros-
thetics Service Advisory Committee shall after the
date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 9, 1992] be
known as the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and
Special-Disabilities Programs and shall operate as
though such committee had been established by law.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Com-
mittee may, upon the enactment of this Act, meet and
act on any matter covered by subse
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 38 U.S.C. § 544
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.