---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 542"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "542"
heading: "Advisory Committee on Women Veterans"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/542"
units:
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
  - "Chapter 5 — Authority and Duties of the Secretary"
  - "Subchapter III — Advisory Committees"
---

# §542. Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

- (a)
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Women [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) (hereinafter in this section referred to as “the Committee”).
  - (2)
    - (A) The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) from the general public, including—
      - (i) representatives of women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2);
      - (ii) individuals who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), including the gender-specific health-care needs of women;
      - (iii) representatives of both female and male [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) with [service-connected](/usc/38/101.md?p=16) disabilities, including at least one female [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) with a [service-connected](/usc/38/101.md?p=16) disability and at least one male [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) with a [service-connected](/usc/38/101.md?p=16) disability; and
      - (iv) women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) who are recently separated from service in the [Armed Forces](/usc/38/101.md?p=10).
    - (B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members—
      - (i) the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Labor (or a representative of the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Labor designated by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) after consultation with the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Labor for [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’ Employment);
      - (ii) the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense (or a representative of the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense designated by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense after consultation with the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services); and
      - (iii) the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health and the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Benefits, or their designees.
    - (C) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may invite representatives of other [departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and agencies of the United States to participate in the meetings and other activities of the Committee.
  - (3) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall determine the number, terms of service, and pay and allowances of members of the Committee appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), except that a term of service of any such member may not exceed three years. The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may reappoint any such member for additional terms of service.
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the administration of benefits by the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), reports and studies pertaining to women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) and the needs of women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) with respect to [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13), health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and programs administered by the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), including the Center for Women [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
- (c)
  - (1) Not later than July 1 of each year, the Committee shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) a report on the programs and activities of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) that pertain to women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2). Each such report shall include—
    - (A) an assessment of the needs of women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) with respect to [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13), health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and programs administered by the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1);
    - (B) a review of the programs and activities of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) designed to meet such needs;
    - (C) an assessment of the effects of intimate partner violence on women [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2); and
    - (D) such recommendations (including recommendations for administrative and legislative action) as the Committee considers appropriate.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall, within 60 days after receiving each report under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), submit to the Congress a copy of the report, together with any comments concerning the report that the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) considers appropriate.
  - (3) The Committee may also submit to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) such other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit with each annual report submitted to the Congress pursuant to [section 529 of this title](/usc/38/529.md) a summary of all reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) since the previous annual report of the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) submitted pursuant to such section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 393; amended Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1984; Pub. L. 104–275, title V, § 501(e)(1), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3341; Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 403(c)(3), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1864; Pub. L. 109–444, § 5, Dec. 21, 2006, 120 Stat. 3308; Pub. L. 109–461, title II, § 208(b), title X, § 1006(b), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3413, 3468; Pub. L. 110–387, title VIII, § 808, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4141; Pub. L. 111–163, title II, § 204(a), May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1144; Pub. L. 116–315, title V, § 5302, Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 5038; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LI, § 5101, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3205.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior section 542 was renumbered section 1542 of this title.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 222 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a).

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “year” for “even-numbered year”.

2021—Subsec. (c)(1)(C), (D). Pub. L. 116–315 added subpar. (C) and redesignated former subpar. (C) as (D).

2010—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 111–163 added cl. (iv).

2008—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 110–387 struck out “through 2008” after “year” in introductory provisions.

2006—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 109–461, § 1006(b), provided that as of the enactment of Pub. L. 109–461, the amendments made by Pub. L. 109–444 were deemed for all purposes not to have taken effect and that Pub. L. 109–444 ceased to be in effect. See Amendment notes below and section 1006(b) of Pub. L. 109–461, set out as a Coordination of Provisions With Pub. L. 109–444 note under section 101 of this title.

Pub. L. 109–461, § 208(b), substituted “2008” for “2004” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 109–444, which substituted “2008” for “2004” in introductory provisions, was terminated by Pub. L. 109–461, § 1006(b). See Amendment notes above.

2000—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 106–419 inserted “through 2004” after “each even-numbered year” in introductory provisions.

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–275 inserted “, including the Center for Women Veterans” before period at end.

1992—Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 102–405 substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director” and “Under Secretary for Benefits” for “Chief Benefits Director”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Reference to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment in any law in force on Nov. 6, 1986, deemed to be a reference to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training, see section 2(b)(3) of Pub. L. 99–619, set out as a References in Other Laws note under section 553 of Title 29, Labor.

### Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–163, title II, § 204(c), May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1144, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 544 of this title] shall apply to appointments made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [May 5, 2010].”

### Termination of Advisory Committees

Advisory committees established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.