[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2518 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2518
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for consolidation and
improvement of programs to assist homeless veterans, to provide for
management by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of the Military
Personnel Records facility of the National Personnel Records Center in
St. Louis, Missouri, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 19, 2003
Mr. Smith of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the
Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for consolidation and
improvement of programs to assist homeless veterans, to provide for
management by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of the Military
Personnel Records facility of the National Personnel Records Center in
St. Louis, Missouri, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Affairs Reorganization Act
of 2003''.
SEC. 2. OFFICE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MANAGE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) Establishment of Office.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 320. Office of Homeless Veterans Assistance Programs
``(a) There is in the Department an Office of Homeless Veterans
Assistance Programs. There is at the head of the Office a Director.
``(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided by law or by the
Secretary, the Secretary shall carry out through the Director all
functions of the Secretary under chapter 20 of this title and under any
other program of the Department for the provision of assistance to
homeless veterans.
``(c) As part of the annual report on assistance to homeless
veterans required under section 2065 of this title for years beginning
with 2004, the Secretary shall include a description of any function
referred to in subsection (b) that the Secretary has determined (during
the year involved) to carry out other than through the Director, and
the rationale for that determination.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``320. Office of Homeless Veterans Assistance Programs.''.
SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF HOMELESS VETERAN REINTEGRATION PROGRAM FROM
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Transfer of Functions.--The functions of the Secretary of Labor
under section 2021 of title 38, United States Code, are hereby
transferred to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 2021 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``of Labor'' each place it appears in
subsection (a), (b), and (d);
(2) by striking ``that Secretary'' in subsection (b)(1) and
inserting ``the Secretary''; and
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Administration.--The Secretary shall carry out this section
through the Office of Homeless Veterans Assistance Programs.''.
SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL
RECORDS FACILITY OF NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER,
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.
(a) In General.--The Archivist of the United States shall transfer
operational responsibility (including the management and supervision of
the delivery of services) for the Military Personnel Records facility
of the National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri, to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(b) Memorandum of Agreement.--The Archivist and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall enter into a memorandum of agreement as to the
manner in which subsection (a) shall be carried out.
(c) Implementation.--The memorandum of agreement under subsection
(b) shall be entered into not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(d) Effective Date.--The transfer required by subsection (a) shall
be carried out as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
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