Daniel Akaka: “I am most grateful for the Senator from Maryland's past assistance in providing support and funding for the two centers.…”

“I am most grateful for the Senator from Maryland's past assistance in providing support and funding for the two centers. As created by Congress, the centers were established to address the special needs of women and minority veterans overlooked under the Department's previous structure. Both centers and their respective Advisory Committees have made great strides in identifying and assisting minority and women veterans. The Committee for Minority Veterans is required to meet at least twice a year and submit a annual report no later than July 1. The Committee on Women Veterans is scheduled to meet four times during a fiscal year and is expected to submit its next annual report in January 1997. The projected costs for the two committee to hold meetings, conduct public hearings, visit VA field facilities, and outreach to minority and women veterans are estimated to be over $120,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year. I am pleased that the provision in this bill will not adversely affect the activities of the Center for Minority Veterans and the Center on Women Veterans.”