[114th Congress Public Law 31]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 427]]
VETERANS IDENTIFICATION CARD ACT
OF 2015
[[Page 129 STAT. 428]]
Public Law 114-31
114th Congress
An Act
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to issue, upon request, veteran identification cards to
certain veterans. <<NOTE: July 20, 2015 - [H.R. 91]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Veterans
Identification Card Act of 2015. 38 USC 101 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Identification Card Act
2015''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 38 USC 5706 note.>> VETERANS IDENTIFICATION CARD.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Effective on the day before the date of the enactment of
this Act, veteran identification cards were issued to veterans
who have either completed the statutory time-in-service
requirement for retirement from the Armed Forces or who have
received a medical-related discharge from the Armed Forces.
(2) Effective on the day before the date of the enactment of
this Act, a veteran who served a minimum obligated time in
service, but who did not meet the criteria described in
paragraph (1), did not receive a means of identifying the
veteran's status as a veteran other than using the Department of
Defense form DD-214 discharge papers of the veteran.
(3) Goods, services, and promotional activities are often
offered by public and private institutions to veterans who
demonstrate proof of service in the military, but it is
impractical for a veteran to always carry Department of Defense
form DD-214 discharge papers to demonstrate such proof.
(4) A general purpose veteran identification card made
available to veterans would be useful to demonstrate the status
of the veterans without having to carry and use official
Department of Defense form DD-214 discharge papers.
(5) On the day before the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Department of Veterans Affairs had the infrastructure in
place across the United States to produce photographic
identification cards and accept a small payment to cover the
cost of these cards.
(b) Provision of Veteran Identification Cards.--Chapter 57 of title
38, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 5705 the
following new section:
[[Page 129 STAT. 429]]
``Sec. 5706. <<NOTE: 38 USC 5706.>> Veterans identification card
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall issue an
identification card described in subsection (b) to each veteran who--
``(1) requests such card;
``(2) presents a copy of Department of Defense form DD-214
or other official document from the official military personnel
file of the veteran that describes the service of the veteran;
and
``(3) pays the fee under subsection (c)(1).
``(b) Identification Card.--An identification card described in this
subsection is a card issued to a veteran that--
``(1) displays a photograph of the veteran;
``(2) displays the name of the veteran;
``(3) explains that such card is not proof of any benefits
to which the veteran is entitled to;
``(4) contains an identification number that is not a social
security number; and
``(5) serves as proof that such veteran--
``(A) served in the Armed Forces; and
``(B) has a Department of Defense form DD-214 or
other official document in the official military
personnel file of the veteran that describes the service
of the veteran.
``(c) <<NOTE: Fees.>> Costs of Card.--(1) The Secretary shall
charge a fee to each veteran who receives an identification card issued
under this section, including a replacement identification card.
``(2)(A) <<NOTE: Determination.>> The fee charged under paragraph
(1) shall equal such amount as the Secretary determines is necessary to
issue an identification card under this section.
``(B) In determining the amount of the fee under subparagraph (A),
the Secretary shall ensure that the total amount of fees collected under
paragraph (1) equals an amount necessary to carry out this section,
including costs related to any additional equipment or personnel
required to carry out this section.
``(C) <<NOTE: Review. Assessment.>> The Secretary shall review and
reassess the determination under subparagraph (A) during each five-year
period in which the Secretary issues an identification card under this
section.
``(3) Amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited in
an account of the Department available to carry out this section.
Amounts so deposited shall be--
``(A) merged with amounts in such account;
``(B) available in such amounts as may be provided in
appropriation Acts; and
``(C) subject to the same conditions and limitations as
amounts otherwise in such account.
``(d) Effect of Card on Benefits.--(1) An identification card issued
under this section shall not serve as proof of any benefits that the
veteran may be entitled to under this title.
``(2) A veteran who is issued an identification card under this
section shall not be entitled to any benefits under this title by reason
of possessing such card.
``(e) Administrative Measures.--(1) The Secretary shall ensure that
any information collected or used with respect to an identification card
issued under this section is appropriately secured.
``(2) The Secretary may determine any appropriate procedures with
respect to issuing a replacement identification card.
[[Page 129 STAT. 430]]
``(3) <<NOTE: Coordination.>> In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall coordinate with the National Personnel Records Center.
``(4) The Secretary may conduct such outreach to advertise the
identification card under this section as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
``(f) Construction.--This section shall not be construed to affect
identification cards otherwise provided by the Secretary to veterans
enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of
this title.''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 5701.>> is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 5705 the following new item:
``5706. Veterans identification card.''.
(d) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5706 note.>> Effective Date.--The amendments
made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved July 20, 2015.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 91:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015):
May 18, considered and passed House.
June 22, considered and passed Senate, amended.
July 7, House concurred in Senate amendment.
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