Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 122.djvu/4176

 12 2 STA T .4 1 53PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 3 89—O CT. 10 , 2008 ‘ ‘ (B)Atermofs er vic em ayn ote x cee d fo u r years and s h a l l b e sta g gered to ensure that the dates for the termination of the members ’ terms are not all the same . ‘‘( C ) T he S ecretary may rea p point any member for one or more additional terms of service. ‘‘( 4 ) The Secretary shall select a Chair from among the members of the Committee. ‘‘(b) RESPON S IB I L I T IES O F CO M MITTEE. — ( 1 ) The Secretary shall , on a regular basis, consult w ith and see k the advice of the Com - mittee with respect to the maintenance and periodic read j ustment of the schedule for rating disabilities under section 11 5 5 of this title. ‘‘( 2 )(A) I n providing advice to the Secretary under this sub- section, the Committee shall— ‘‘(i) assemble and review relevant information relating to the needs of veterans with disabilities ‘‘(ii) provide information relating to the nature and char- acter of disabilities arising from service in the Armed F orces; ‘‘(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness of the schedule for rating disabilities; and ‘‘(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate means of responding to the needs of veterans relating to disability compensation in the future. ‘‘(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), the Committee shall take into special account the needs of veterans who have served in a theater of combat operations. ‘‘(c) RESO URC ES.—The Secretary shall ensure that appropriate personnel, funding, and other resources are provided to the Com- mittee to carry out its responsibilities. ‘‘(d) BIENNI A L REPORTS TO T H E SECRETAR Y .—(1) N ot later than O ctober 3 1,2 0 10, and not less fre q uently than every two years thereafter, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the D epartment that relate to the payment of disability compensation. E ach such report shall include— ‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect to disability compensation; and ‘‘(B) such recommendations (including recommendations for administrative or legislative action) as the Committee considers appropriate. ‘‘(2) The Committee may submit to the Secretary such other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appro- priate. ‘‘(e) BIENNIAL REPORTS TO CON G RESS.—(1) Not later than 9 0 days after the receipt of a report required under subsection (d)(1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on V eterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the H ouse of Representatives a copy of such report, together with such com- ments and recommendations concerning such report as the Sec- retary considers appropriate. ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall submit with each report required under paragraph (1) a summary of all reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary under subsection (d)(2) since the previous report transmitted by the Secretary under para- graph (1) of this subsection. ‘‘(f) APPLICABILITY OF FE D ERAL AD V ISORY COMMITTEE ACT.— (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the

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