---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 7313"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "7313"
heading: "Advisory committees: affiliated institutions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/7313"
units:
  - "Part V — Boards, Administrations, and Services"
  - "Chapter 73 — Veterans Health Administration—organization and Functions"
  - "Subchapter II — General Authority and Administration"
---

# §7313. Advisory committees: affiliated institutions

- (a) In each case where the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) has a contract or agreement with any school, [institution of higher learning](/usc/38/3452.md?p=f), medical center, hospital, or other public or nonprofit agency, institution, or organization for the training or education of health personnel, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall establish an advisory committee to advise the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health with respect to policy matters arising in connection with, and the operation of, the program with respect to which it was appointed. Such a committee may be a dean’s committee, a medical advisory committee, or the like.
- (b) Any such advisory committee may be established on an institution-wide, multi-disciplinary basis or on a regional basis whenever establishment on such a basis is found to be feasible.
- (c) Members of each such advisory committee shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and shall include personnel of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) (including appropriate representation from the full-time staff) and of the entity with which the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) has entered into the contract or agreement. The number of members, and terms of members, of each advisory committee shall be prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
- (d) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall require that the Chief of the Nursing Service (or the designee of the Chief) at each [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) health-care facility be included in the membership of each policymaking committee at that facility. Such committees include: (1) committees relating to matters such as budget, education, position management, clinical executive issues, planning, and resource allocation, and (2) the dean’s committee or other advisory committee established under [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 401(a)(3), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 216; amended Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1984.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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