To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a new Assistant Secretary to perform operations, preparedness, security and law enforcement functions, and for other purposes.

APRIL 24, 2002

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. EVANS) (both by request) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a new Assistant Secretary to perform operations, preparedness, security and law enforcement functions, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Department of Veterans Affairs Reorganization Act of 2002'.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 3. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED ASSISTANT SECRETARIES; REVISION OF FUNCTIONS.

Section 308 is amended--

(1) in subsection (a) by striking `six' and inserting `seven' in the first sentence; and

(2) by inserting at the end of subsection (b) the following new paragraph (11):

`(11) Operations, preparedness, security and law enforcement functions.'.

SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE.

Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking `Assistant Secretaries, Department of Veterans Affairs (6)' and inserting `Assistant Secretaries, Department of Veterans Affairs (7)'.

END