[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4542 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4542

To provide an improved system of health-related information for Persian 
Gulf War veterans and to extend the availability of certain health care 
                     for Persian Gulf War Veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 8, 1994

Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Evans, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Hochbrueckner, 
 Mr. Montgomery, and Mr. Sanders) introduced the following bill; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide an improved system of health-related information for Persian 
Gulf War veterans and to extend the availability of certain health care 
                     for Persian Gulf War Veterans.

    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 ``Persian Gulf War Veterans Health and 
Services Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. TOLL-FREE HOTLINE FOR PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERAN HEALTH 
              INFORMATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall maintain 
an information system involving the use of a toll-free telephone number 
to provide veterans of the Persian Gulf War and their family members 
(and other members of the public at the Secretary's discretion) with 
information regarding the following:
            (1) The Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry 
        established by the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act 
        (38 U.S.C. 527 note).
            (2) Access to health services and health-related benefits 
        provided by or under the auspices of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs, including--
                    (A) marriage and family counseling available under 
                section 121 of the Veterans' Medical Programs 
                Amendments of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note);
                    (B) health care available under section 
                1710(e)(1)(C) of title 38, United States Code; and
                    (C) health examinations, consultation, and 
                counseling available under section 703 of the Persian 
                Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act (38 U.S.C. 527 
                note).
            (3) Compensation and benefits related to disabilities 
        resulting from service in the Persian Gulf War, including 
        disabilities resulting from illness that resulted from such 
        service.
            (4) Significant developments in research relating to the 
        health consequences of service in the Persian Gulf War.
            (5) Any other information that the Secretary determines to 
        be appropriate.
    (b) Date of Establishment of Information System.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall establish the information system required by 
subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.

SEC. 3. OUTREACH TO VETERANS OF PERSIAN GULF WAR.

    Section 702(f) of the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act 
(38 U.S.C. 527 note) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Ongoing Outreach to Individuals Listed in Registry.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        notify each individual listed in the Registry, or, in the case 
        of such an individual who is deceased, the surviving spouse, 
        children, or parents of such individual, at least quarterly, by 
        newsletter or by other means that the Secretary determines to 
        be appropriate, of--
                    ``(A) the status and findings of federally 
                sponsored research relating to the illnesses of 
                individuals who served as members of the Armed Forces 
                in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the 
                Persian Gulf War or to the illnesses of the family 
                members of such individuals;
                    ``(B) compensation and benefits, including health 
                care and other health-related benefits, that may be 
                provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the 
                Department of Defense to an individual who served as a 
                member of the Armed Forces in the Persian Gulf theater 
                of operations during the Persian Gulf War or, in the 
                case of such an individual who is deceased, to the 
                surviving spouse, children, or parents of such an 
                individual; and
                    ``(C) any other information that the Secretary 
                determines to be appropriate.
            ``(2) Consultation with veterans service organizations.--In 
        preparing the newsletter or other means used to conduct the 
        notification required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs shall consult with veterans' service 
        organizations.
            ``(3) Date that quarterly notifications begin.--The 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make the first of the 
        periodic notifications required by paragraph (1) not later than 
        90 days after the date of the enactment of the Persian Gulf War 
        Veterans Health and Services Enhancement Act.''.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE PRIORITY HEALTH CARE TO 
              VETERANS OF THE PERSIAN GULF WAR.

    (a) Hospital and Nursing Home Care.--Section 1710(e)(3) of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 1994'' 
and inserting ``December 31, 1998''.
    (b) Outpatient Care.--Section 1712(a)(1)(D) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 1994'' and inserting 
``December 31, 1998''.

SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING AVAILABILITY FOR 
              PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 121(a) of the Veterans' Medical Programs 
Amendments of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking 
``September 30, 1994'' and inserting ``December 31, 1998''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 121(g) of the 
Veterans' Medical Programs Amendments of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is 
amended by striking ``and 1994'' and inserting ``through 1999''.

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