Bill > HR1147

This bill establishes the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access (VACAE), a 15-member committee within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) designed to improve accessibility for veterans with disabilities. The committee will include four veterans with disabilities, four accessibility experts, two VA employees from accessibility-related offices, and five representatives from veterans service organizations, along with four ex officio members from VA leadership and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Members will serve two-year terms and be responsible for regularly advising the VA Secretary on improving accessibility across various domains, including information systems, services, benefits, and facilities. The committee must meet at least twice annually and will produce comprehensive biennial reports identifying access barriers, assessing VA compliance with disability laws, and providing recommendations for improvements. These reports will be submitted to the VA Secretary and relevant congressional committees, with the goal of enhancing equal access for veterans, VA employees, and the public. The advisory committee is set to operate for seven years from its establishment, with provisions for meeting expenses and ensuring the committee has necessary resources to fulfill its mandate. Additionally, the bill includes a minor technical amendment extending a pension payment limitation deadline and requires the VA to streamline existing advisory committees before establishing this new one.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1147/all-info