Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/1696

 PUBLIC LAW 108–136—NOV. 24, 2003

117 STAT. 1677

Commission (hereinafter in this title referred to as the ‘‘commission’’). (b) MEMBERSHIP.—(1) The commission shall be composed of 13 members, appointed as follows: (A) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least one of whom shall be a veteran who was awarded a decoration specified in paragraph (2). (B) Two members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, at least one of whom shall be a veteran who was awarded a decoration specified in paragraph (2). (C) Two members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, at least one of whom shall be a veteran who was awarded a decoration specified in paragraph (2). (D) Two members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, at least one of whom shall be a veteran who was awarded a decoration specified in paragraph (2). (E) Five members appointed by the President, at least three of whom shall be veterans who were awarded a decoration specified in paragraph (2). (2) A decoration specified in this paragraph is any of the following: (A) The Medal of Honor. (B) The Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Air Force Cross. (C) The Silver Star. (3) A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (4) The appointment of members of the commission under this subsection shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Members of the commission shall be appointed for the life of the commission. A vacancy in the commission shall not affect its powers. (d) INITIAL MEETING.—The commission shall hold its first meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which a majority of the members of the commission have been appointed. (e) MEETINGS.—The commission shall meet at the call of the chairman. (f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings. (g) CHAIRMAN.—The President shall designate a member of the commission to be chairman of the commission. SEC. 1502. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) STUDY.—The commission shall carry out a study of the benefits under the laws of the United States that are provided to compensate and assist veterans and their survivors for disabilities and deaths attributable to military service. (b) SCOPE OF STUDY.—In carrying out the study, the commission shall examine and make recommendations concerning the following: (1) The appropriateness of such benefits under the laws in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) The appropriateness of the level of such benefits. (3) The appropriate standard or standards for determining whether a disability or death of a veteran should be compensated.

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