The legislation aims to address disparities affecting the receipt of disability benefits for veterans based on race, ethnicity, and gender.
It directs the Comptroller General of the United States to report on disparities in the characterization of discharge and the application for disability benefits among former members of the Armed Forces.
The report must include statistics disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender for a 15-year period prior to enactment.
The Comptroller General is tasked with determining if disparities exist in the review and change of discharge characterizations based on race, ethnicity, or gender.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to submit an initial report detailing actions taken to address identified limitations in data collection regarding racial and ethnic groups.
The Secretary must identify significant causes of disparities in disability benefits and develop a three-year plan to address these causes.
The Secretary is also required to implement the plan immediately after the report submission and provide annual updates on the plan’s progress.
The legislation emphasizes the importance of accurate data collection to identify and address disparities in benefits receipt for veterans.