---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 7321"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "7321"
heading: "Committee on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/7321"
units:
  - "Part V — Boards, Administrations, and Services"
  - "Chapter 73 — Veterans Health Administration—organization and Functions"
  - "Subchapter II — General Authority and Administration"
---

# §7321. Committee on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), acting through the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health, shall establish in the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration a Committee on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally Ill [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2). The Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall appoint employees of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) with expertise in the care of the chronically mentally ill to serve on the committee.
- (b) The committee shall assess, and carry out a continuing assessment of, the capability of the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation needs of mentally ill [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) whose mental illness is severe and chronic and who are eligible for health care furnished by the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), including the needs of such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) who are women. In carrying out that responsibility, the committee shall—
  - (1) evaluate the care provided to such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) through the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration;
  - (2) identify systemwide problems in caring for such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) in facilities of the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration;
  - (3) identify specific facilities within the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration at which program enrichment is needed to improve treatment and rehabilitation of such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2); and
  - (4) identify model programs which the committee considers to have been successful in the treatment and rehabilitation of such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) and which should be implemented more widely in or through facilities of the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration.
- (c) The committee shall—
  - (1) advise the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) regarding the development of policies for the care and rehabilitation of severely chronically mentally ill [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2); and
  - (2) make recommendations to the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1)—
    - (A) for improving programs of care of such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) at specific facilities and throughout the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration;
    - (B) for establishing special programs of education and training relevant to the care of such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) for employees of the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration;
    - (C) regarding research needs and priorities relevant to the care of such [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2); and
    - (D) regarding the appropriate allocation of resources for all such activities.
- (d)
  - (1) Not later than April 1, 1997, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committees on [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section. The report shall include the following:
    - (A) A list of the members of the committee.
    - (B) The assessment of the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health, after review of the initial findings of the committee, regarding the capability of the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration, on a systemwide and facility-by-facility basis, to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation needs of severely chronically mentally ill [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) who are eligible for [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) care.
    - (C) The plans of the committee for further assessments.
    - (D) The findings and recommendations made by the committee to the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health and the views of the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) on such findings and recommendations.
    - (E) A description of the steps taken, plans made (and a timetable for their execution), and resources to be applied toward improving the capability of the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation needs of severely chronically mentally ill [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) who are eligible for [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) care.
  - (2) Not later than June 1 of each year through 2012, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committees on [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing information updating the reports submitted under this subsection before the submission of such report.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–262, title III, § 335(a), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3204; amended Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 402(f), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1863; Pub. L. 108–170, title IV, § 405(c), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2063; Pub. L. 110–387, title VIII, § 807, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4141.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2008—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 110–387 substituted “through 2012” for “through 2008”.

2003—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 108–170 substituted “June 1 of each year through 2008” for “February 1, 1998, and February 1 of each of the six following years”.

2000—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 106–419, substituted “six following years” for “three following years”.