38 U.S.C. § 544 — Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans

(a)(1) The Secretary must establish the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans (the “Committee”). (2)(A) The Secretary appoints members from the public, including representatives of minority-group-member veterans; recognized authorities on their needs; minority-group-member veterans with and without military-theater experience; and recently separated women veterans who are minority-group members. (B) Ex officio members are the Secretaries of Labor, Defense, the Interior, Commerce, and Health and Human Services, or their designated representatives, plus the Under Secretary for Health and Under Secretary for Benefits or their designees. (C) The Secretary may invite other Federal departments and agencies to participate. (3) The Secretary sets the number, terms, pay, and allowances of appointed members, but no term may exceed three years; members may be reappointed. (4) The Committee must meet as often as necessary or appropriate, at least twice each fiscal year. (b) The Secretary must regularly consult the Committee and seek its advice about Department benefits, reports and studies, and minority veterans’ needs concerning compensation, health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and other Department programs, including the Center for Minority Veterans. (c)(1) By July 1 every other year, the Committee must report to the Secretary about Department programs and activities concerning minority veterans. Each report must assess their needs concerning the listed benefits and programs, review programs designed to meet those needs, and give recommendations, including administrative and legislative recommendations. (2) Within 60 days, the Secretary must send Congress the report and any comments. (3) The Committee may send other reports and recommendations. (4) Each annual report under section 529 must include a summary of Committee reports and recommendations sent since the Secretary’s prior report under that section. (d) “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 ends on September 30, 2026.