Sec. 508. STUDY ON VETERANS IN TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES

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## SEC. 508 STUDY ON VETERANS IN TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES ###

(a)GAO Study ####

(1)In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the state of access and barriers to benefits and services furnished by the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans in Territories and Freely Associated States of the United States, including deficits in the availability and accessibility of such benefits and services compared to veterans elsewhere in the United States. ####

(2)Elements The study under paragraph

(1)shall include— #####

(A)the number of veterans in each Territory and Freely Associated State of the United States; #####

(B)the number of veterans in each Territory and Freely Associated State who are enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; #####

(C)a description of how the Department estimates the number of veterans in each Territory and Freely Associated State who are eligible for services under section 1710 of such title but who are not enrolled as described in subparagraph (B); #####

(D)a detailed description of obstacles facing veterans in each Territory and Freely Associated State in accessing health care services, including those involving the availability of such services to veterans in the Territory or Freely Associated State in which the veterans reside, and any distance impediments to receiving services at a regional medical center of the Veterans Health Administration, a community-based outpatient clinic, another full-service medical facility of the Department, or a Vet Center, respectively; #####

(E)a detailed description of obstacles facing veterans in each Territory and Freely Associated State in accessing readjustment counseling services, including those involving the availability of such services to veterans in the Territory in which the veterans reside, and any distance impediments to receiving services at a readjustment counseling services center of the Department; #####

(F)a detailed description of obstacles facing veterans in each Territory and Freely Associated State in accessing non-health care veterans benefits, including those involving the availability of benefits and services to veterans in the Territory or Freely Associated State in which the veterans reside, and any distance impediments to accessing the nearest office of the Veterans Benefits Administration; #####

(G)an analysis of the staffing and quality of the offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration charged with serving veterans in the Territories and Freely Associated States, including the availability of the full- and part-time staff of each office to the veterans they are charged with serving; #####

(H)an analysis of the availability of the Veterans Community Care Program established under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, to veterans in each Territory and Freely Associated State; #####

(I)an analysis of the economic and health outcomes for veterans in each Territory or Freely Associated State resulting from obstacles to accessing adequate assistance and health care at facilities of the Department; #####

(J)an analysis of the access to benefit assistance and health care provided to veterans in the aftermath of major disasters declared in each of the Territories and Freely Associated States since September 4, 2017; and #####

(K)such recommendations as the Comptroller General considers appropriate for improving access of veterans in the Territories and Freely Associated States to benefits and health care services furnished by the Secretary, and reducing barriers and deficits in the availability and accessibility of such benefits and services compared to veterans elsewhere in the United States. ###

(b)Briefing Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall provide to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a briefing setting forth the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), including any recommendations developed under paragraph (2)(K) of such subsection. ###

(c)Definitions In this section: ####

(1)Freely associated state The term “Freely Associated State” includes the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. ####

(2)Territory The term “Territory” includes American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. ####

(3)Vet center The term “Vet Center” has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United States Code.