---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 548"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "548"
heading: "Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/548"
units:
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
  - "Chapter 5 — Authority and Duties of the Secretary"
  - "Subchapter III — Advisory Committees"
---

# §548. Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States

- (a) **Establishment.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the “Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated [States](/usc/38/101.md?p=20)”, to provide advice and guidance to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) on matters relating to covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
- (b) **Duties.—** The duties of the Committee shall be the following:
  - (1) To advise the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) on matters relating to covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), including how the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may improve the programs and services of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) to better serve such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
  - (2) To identify for the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) evolving issues of relevance to covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
  - (3) To propose clarifications, recommendations, and solutions to address issues raised by covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
  - (4) To provide a forum for covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) service organizations serving covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), and the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) to discuss issues and proposals for changes to regulations, policies, and procedures of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (5) To identify priorities for and provide advice to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) on appropriate strategies for consultation with [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) service organizations serving covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
  - (6) To encourage the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) to work with the heads of other Federal [departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and agencies, and Congress, to ensure covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) are provided the full benefits of their status as covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
  - (7) To highlight contributions of covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) in the [Armed Forces](/usc/38/101.md?p=10).
  - (8) To conduct other duties as determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
- (c) **Membership.—**
  - (1) The Committee shall be comprised of 15 voting members appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (2) In appointing members pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall ensure the following:
    - (A) At least one member is appointed to represent covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) in each of the following areas:
      - (i) American Samoa.
      - (ii) Guam.
      - (iii) Puerto Rico.
      - (iv) The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
      - (v) The Virgin Islands of the United States.
      - (vi) The Federated [States](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) of Micronesia.
      - (vii) The Republic of the Marshall Islands.
      - (viii) The Republic of Palau.
    - (B) Not fewer than half of the members appointed are covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), unless the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) determines that an insufficient number of qualified covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) are available.
    - (C) Each member appointed resides in an area specified in [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A).
  - (3) In appointing members pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may consult with any Member of Congress who represents an area specified in [paragraph (2)(A)](#c-2-A).
  - (4) In addition to the members appointed pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the Committee shall be comprised of such ex officio members as the Secretary of State and the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of the Interior shall appoint from among employees of the Department of State and the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of the Interior, respectively.
- (d) **Terms; Vacancies.—**
  - (1) A member of the Committee—
    - (A) shall be appointed for a term of two years; and
    - (B) may be reappointed to serve an additional two-year term.
  - (2) Not later than 180 days after the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) (or in the case of an ex officio member, the Secretary of State or the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of the Interior, as the case may be) receives notice of a vacancy in the Committee, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
- (e) **Meeting Format and Frequency.—**
  - (1) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#e-2), the Committee shall meet in-person with the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) not less frequently than once each year and hold monthly conference calls as necessary.
  - (2) Meetings held under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) may be conducted virtually if determined necessary based on—
    - (A) [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) protocols; and
    - (B) timing and budget considerations.
- (f) **Additional Representation.—**
  - (1) Representatives of relevant Federal [departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and agencies may attend meetings of the Committee and provide information to the Committee.
  - (2) One representative of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall attend each meeting of the Committee.
  - (3) Representatives attending meetings under this subsection—
    - (A) may not be considered voting members of the Committee; and
    - (B) may not receive additional [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13) for services performed with respect to the Committee.
- (g) **Subcommittees.—**
  - (1) The Committee may establish subcommittees.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may, in consultation with the Committee, appoint a member to a subcommittee established under [paragraph (1)](#g-1) who is not a member of the Committee.
  - (3) A subcommittee established under [paragraph (1)](#g-1) may enhance the function of the Committee, but may not supersede the authority of the Committee or provide direct advice or work products to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
- (h) **Reports.—**
  - (1) Not less frequently than once every two years, the Committee shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and the appropriate congressional committees a report—
    - (A) containing such recommendations as the Committee may have for legislative or administrative action; and
    - (B) describing the activities of the Committee during the previous two years.
  - (2) Not later than 120 days after the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) receives a report under [paragraph (1)](#h-1), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a written response to the report after—
    - (A) giving the Committee an opportunity to review such written response; and
    - (B) including in such written response any comments the Committee considers appropriate.
  - (3) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall make publicly available on an internet website of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1)—
    - (A) each report the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) receives under [paragraph (1)](#h-1); and
    - (B) each written response the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) submits under [paragraph (2)](#h-2).
- (i) **Committee Personnel Matters.—** A member of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of [chapter 57](/usc/5/chptIII/sptD/ch57.md) of title 5 while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Committee.
- (j) **Consultation.—** In carrying out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall consult with [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) service organizations serving covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
- (k) **Termination.—** The Committee shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this section.
- (l) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
    - (A) the Committee on [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’ Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
    - (B) the Committee on [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’ Affairs of the Senate.
  - (2) The term “Committee” means the Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated [States](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) established under [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (3) The term “covered [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)” means a [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) residing in an area specified in [subsection (c)(2)(A)](#c-2-A).
  - (4) The term “[veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) service organization serving covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)” means any organization that—
    - (A) serves the interests of covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2);
    - (B) has covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) in substantive and policymaking positions within the organization; and
    - (C) has demonstrated experience working with covered [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LI, § 5102(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3205.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Deadlines for Establishment, Initial Appointments, and Initial Meeting

Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LI, § 5102(b)–(d), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3208, provided that: Deadline for Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the advisory committee required by section 548 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section. Deadline for Initial Appointments.—Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary establishes the advisory committee required by such section 548, the members of such advisory committee shall be appointed. Initial Meeting.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary establishes the advisory committee required by such section 548, such advisory committee shall hold its first meeting.”