---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 320"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "320"
heading: "Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/320"
units:
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
  - "Chapter 3 — Department of Veterans Affairs"
---

# §320. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee

- (a) **Joint Executive Committee.—**
  - (1) There is established an interagency committee to be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs-[Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense Joint Executive Committee (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Committee”).
  - (2) The Committee is composed of—
    - (A) the Deputy [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Affairs and such other officers and employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Affairs may designate;
    - (B) the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and such other officers and employees of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense may designate;
    - (C) the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Labor for [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’ Employment and Training and such other officers and employees of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Labor as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Labor may designate; and
    - (D) such officers and employees of other Executive agencies as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Affairs and the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense jointly determine, with the consent of the heads of the Executive agencies of such officers and employees, necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of the Committee.
  - (3) The co-chairs of the Committee are the Deputy [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Affairs and the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
- (b) **Administrative Matters.—**
  - (1) The Deputy [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Affairs and the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense shall determine the size and structure of the Committee, as well as the administrative and procedural guidelines for the operation of the Committee.
  - (2) The two [Departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall supply appropriate staff and resources to provide administrative support and services. Support for such purposes shall be provided at a level sufficient for the efficient operation of the Committee, including a subordinate Health Executive Committee, a subordinate Benefits Executive Committee, a subordinate Transition Executive Committee, and such other committees or working groups as considered necessary by the Deputy [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
- (c) **Recommendations.—**
  - (1) The Committee shall recommend to the [Secretaries](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) strategic direction for the joint coordination and sharing efforts between and within the two [Departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) under [section 8111 of this title](/usc/38/8111.md) and shall oversee implementation of those efforts.
  - (2) The Committee shall submit to the two [Secretaries](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and to Congress an annual report containing such recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
- (d) **Functions.—** In order to enable the Committee to make recommendations in its annual report under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2), the Committee shall do the following:
  - (1) Review existing policies, procedures, and practices relating to the coordination and sharing of resources between the two [Departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (2) Identify changes in policies, procedures, and practices that, in the judgment of the Committee, would promote mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of use of services and resources of the two [Departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), with the goal of improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of benefits and services to [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), service members, military retirees, and their families through an enhanced Department of Veterans Affairs and [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense partnership, including with respect to job training and post-service placement.
  - (3) Identify and assess further opportunities for the coordination and collaboration between the [Departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) that, in the judgment of the Committee, would not adversely affect the range of services, the quality of care, or the established priorities for benefits provided by either [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (4) Review the plans of both [Departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for the acquisition of additional resources, especially new facilities and major equipment and technology, in order to assess the potential effect of such plans on further opportunities for the coordination and sharing of resources.
  - (5) Review the implementation of activities designed to promote the coordination and sharing of resources between the [Departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (6) Develop, implement, and oversee such other joint actions, initiatives, programs, and policies as the two [Secretaries](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) determine appropriate and consistent with the purpose of the Committee.
- (e) **Transition Executive Committee.—** The Transition Executive Committee described in [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2) shall, in addition to such other activities as may assigned[^1] to the committee under [subsection (d)(6)](#d-6)—
  - (1) review existing policies, procedures, and practices of the [Departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) (including the military [departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1)) with respect to job training and post-service placement programs; and
  - (2) identify changes to such policies, procedures, and practices to improve job training, transition from life in the [Armed Forces](/usc/38/101.md?p=10) to civilian life, and post-service placement.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be preceded by “be”.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title V, § 583(a)(1), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1490; amended Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title V, § 561, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 828; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVIII, § 1805, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 687.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2023—Subsec. (a)(2)(C), (D). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1805(1)(A), added subpars. (C) and (D).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1805(1)(B), added par. (3).

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1805(2), substituted “Transition Executive Committee” for “Job Training and Post-Service Placement Executive Committee”.

Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1805(3), added par. (6).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1805(4)(B), in introductory provisions, substituted “Transition” for “Job Training and Post-Service Placement” and inserted “, in addition to such other activities as may assigned to the committee under subsection (d)(6)” after “shall”.

Pub. L. 118–31, § 1805(4)(A), substituted “Transition” for “Job Training and Post-Service Placement” in heading.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1805(4)(C), inserted “, transition from life in the Armed Forces to civilian life,” after “job training”.

2015—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 114–92, § 561(1), inserted “a subordinate Job Training and Post-Service Placement Executive Committee,” before “such other committees”.

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 114–92, § 561(3), inserted “, including with respect to job training and post-service placement” before period at end.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–92, § 561(2), added subsec. (e).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title V, § 583(d)(2), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1492, provided that: “If this Act is enacted on or after October 1, 2003, the amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending section 8111 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 24, 2003].”

### Joint Program for Development and Evaluation of Integrated Healing Care Practices for Members of the Armed Forces and Veterans

Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VII, § 727, Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1537, provided that: Program.—The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may conduct a program to develop and evaluate integrated healing care practices for members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Any such program shall be carried out through the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee established under section 320 of title 38, United States Code. Source of DOD Funds.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act [see Tables for classification] for the Defense Health Program may be used for the program under subsection (a).”