; and (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Department The term Department means the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) Deputy Secretary The term Deputy Secretary means the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (4) Fourth Mission The term Fourth Mission means the mission of the Department to improve the preparedness of the United States for response to war, terrorism, national emergency, and natural disaster. (5) Modernization