Legislation News & Report (TM) 

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Managing America: Veteran Matters

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Week Ending August 1, 2008

H.R.674 To amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the provision of law requiring termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans as of December 31, 2009.

The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans is due to terminate on December 31, 2009. The bill repeals that termination date effectively making the Committee permanent. The 15 member Committee was formed in 1994 to give a voice at the VA for minority veterans.

The bill reports that, according to the 2000 Census, minority veterans comprise 14% of the total veteran population (24 million). 9,7% are African-American, 1.1% Asian-American, .07% Native American, and .01% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.

Sponsor:  Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL-4^th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote July 31, 2008

Cost to the taxpayers: “Based on information from the Federal Advisory Committees Database--maintained by the General Services Administration--the costs associated with staffing, travel, and administration of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans were about $250,000 in 2007. Assuming a similar cost in future years, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 674 would result in discretionary outlays of about $1 million over the 2010-2013 period, assuming availability of appropriated funds.”

Earmark Certification:   H.R. 674 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives

## All Rights Reserved. © 2008 TheWeekInCongress.com(TM)

No reproduction, language translation or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.(TM)