[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1911 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. R. 1911
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 22, 2003
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance cooperation and the
sharing of resources between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the
Department of Defense.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS JOINT
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment of Joint Committee.--(1) Chapter 3 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``Sec. 320. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint
Executive Committee
``(a) Joint Executive Committee.--(1) There is established an
interagency committee to be known as the Department of Veterans
Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee (hereinafter in
this section referred to as the `Committee').
``(2) The Committee is composed of--
``(A) the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs and such
other officers and employees of the Department of Veterans
Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may designate; and
``(B) the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness and such other officers and employees of the
Department of Defense as the Secretary of Defense may
designate.
``(b) Administrative Matters.--(1) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and the Under Secretary of Defense shall determine the size and
structure of the Committee, as well as the administrative and
procedural guidelines for the operation of the Committee.
``(2) The two Departments shall supply appropriate staff and
resources to provide administrative support and services. Support for
such purposes shall be provided at a level sufficient for the efficient
operation of the Committee, including a subordinate Health Executive
Committee, a subordinate Benefits Executive Committee, and such other
committees or working groups as considered necessary by the Deputy
Secretary and Under Secretary.
``(c) Recommendations.--(1) The Committee shall recommend to the
Secretaries strategic direction for the joint coordination and sharing
efforts between and within the two Departments under section 8111 of
this title and shall oversee implementation of those efforts.
``(2) The Committee shall submit to the two Secretaries and to
Congress an annual report containing such recommendations as the
Committee considers appropriate.
``(d) Functions.--In order to enable the Committee to make
recommendations in its annual report under subsection (c)(2), the
Committee shall do the following:
``(1) Review existing policies, procedures, and practices
relating to the coordination and sharing of resources between
the two Departments.
``(2) Identify changes in policies, procedures, and
practices that, in the judgment of the Committee, would promote
mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of use of
services and resources of the two Departments, with the goal of
improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the
delivery of benefits and services to veterans, service members,
military retirees and their families through an enhanced
Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense
partnership.
``(3) Identify and assess further opportunities for the
coordination and collaboration between the Departments that, in
the judgment of the Committee, would not adversely affect the
range of services, the quality of care, or the established
priorities for benefits provided by either Department.
``(4) Review the plans of both Departments for the
acquisition of additional resources, especially new facilities
and major equipment and technology, in order to assess the
potential effect of such plans on further opportunities for the
coordination and sharing of resources.
``(5) Review the implementation of activities designed to
promote the coordination and sharing of resources between the
Departments.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``320. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint
Executive Committee.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Subsection (c) of section 8111 of
such title is repealed.
(2) Such section is further amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``subsection (c)''
and inserting ``section 320 of this title'';
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``Committee
established in subsection (c)'' and inserting ``Department of
Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive
Committee'';
(C) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``Committee under
subsection (c)(2)'' and inserting ``Department of Veterans
Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee with
respect to health care resources''; and
(D) in subsection (f)(2), by striking subparagraphs (B) and
(C) and inserting the following:
``(B) The assessment of further opportunities identified by
the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint
Executive Committee under subsection (d)(3) of section 320 of
this title for the sharing of health-care resources between the
two Departments.
``(C) Any recommendation made by that committee under
subsection (c)(2) of that section during that fiscal year.''.
(c) Technical Amendments.--Subsection (f) of such section is
further amended by inserting ``(Public Law 107-314)'' in paragraphs
(3), (4)(A), (4)(B), and (5) after ``for Fiscal Year 2003''.
(d) Effective Date.--(1) If this Act is enacted before October 1,
2003--
(A) section 320 of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2003; and
(B) the amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) shall
take effect on October 1, 2003, immediately after the amendment
made by section 721(a)(1) of the Bob Stump National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314; 116
2589).
(2) If this Act is enacted on or after October 1, 2003, the
amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2003.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.