Veterans Programs Improvement Act of 1983

Summary

Veterans' Programs Improvement Act of 1983 - Title I: Definition of Vietnam Era - Redefines the Vietnam era to include the period July 8, 1959, through May 7, 1975, for veterans who served in the Republic of South Vietnam during that period. Title II: Women Veterans - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to establish the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to advise the Administrator on the administration of benefits for and needs of women veterans. Directs the Committee to report annually to the Administrator on the activities of the Veterans Administration pertaining to women, together with assessments of needs and recommendations for future action. Directs the Administrator to submit such report to Congress. Makes women veterans eligible for outpatient treatment at private facilities for medical conditions relating to gender. Title III: Veterans Administration Health-Care Programs - Extends through FY 1985 a Vietnam era veteran's eligibility for readjustment counseling. Makes the Preventive Health-Care Services Pilot Program a permanent program. Title IV: Veterans Administration Health-Care Personnel - Permits the Administrator to appoint licensed practical or vocational nurses, physical therapists, and certified or registered respiratory therapists for the medical care of veterans. Requires such personnel to have such medical, scientific, or technical qualifications as the Administrator shall prescribe. Sets forth the period of appointments and the probationary period for such personnel. Establishes wage scales and other terms and conditions of employment. Requires the Administrator and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to submit a joint report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees concerning the conversion of selected health care occupations to title 38 (Veterans), U.S. Code. Title V: Status and Role of Administrator of Veterans' Affairs - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator should be made a fully participating member of the Cabinet. Title VI: Health Hazards Studies and Report - Directs the Administrator to provide for an epidemiological study of the long-term adverse health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation from the detonation of a nuclear device, either in connection with a test or with the American occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, following World War II. Directs the Administrator to conduct a comprehensive review of scientific analysis of the literature covering studies relating to such effects. Directs the President and the Administrator to make several reports to the appropriate committees of Congress concerning the steps taken and the results of the literature review. Requires, after two years, an annual report from the Administrator to the appropriate committees concerning the epidemiological study. Directs the Administrator, within 90 days of submitting such report, to set forth in the Federal Register what action he proposes to take concerning Veterans Administration programs in response to such report. Directs the Administrator to report to Congress within 180 days of enactment on alternative approaches to providing benefits to veterans and the natural children of veterans who were exposed during service to either such radiation or to dioxins (Agent orange) used in Vietnam. Title VII: Technical Amendments - Makes various technical amendments.

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1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 26 January 1983

  Open at official source

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