[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1565 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1565

To establish a National Center for Military Deployment Health Research 
     in the Department of Health and Human Services to provide an 
  independent means for the conduct and coordination of research into 
   issues relating to the deployment of members of the Armed Forces 
                   overseas, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2003

 Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Ms. Lee, Mr. Frost, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Jones 
of Ohio, Mr. McDermott, and Mr. Conyers) introduced the following bill; 
  which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, the Budget, and Armed 
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a National Center for Military Deployment Health Research 
     in the Department of Health and Human Services to provide an 
  independent means for the conduct and coordination of research into 
   issues relating to the deployment of members of the Armed Forces 
                   overseas, 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 ``Servicemembers Health Protection Act 
of 2003''.

    TITLE I--NATIONAL CENTER FOR MILITARY DEPLOYMENT HEALTH RESEARCH

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR MILITARY DEPLOYMENT 
              HEALTH RESEARCH.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--There is established in the Department of 
        Health and Human Services a center to be known as the National 
        Center for Military Deployment Health Research (hereinafter in 
        this Act referred to as the ``Center'').
            (2) Director.--The Center shall be headed by a Director, 
        who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services.
            (3) Purpose.--The Center shall, in accordance with this 
        Act, conduct research on deployment-related health issues of 
        members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families and 
        serve as the national center for coordination of private and 
        public research on those issues.
    (b) Deployment-Related Health Issues Defined.--For purposes of this 
Act, the term ``deployment-related health issues'' includes the 
following:
            (1) Issues relating to injuries, diseases, disorders, or 
        other health conditions of members of the Armed Forces arising 
        or incurred during deployment and resulting from combat, 
        training, infectious diseases, and environmental exposures.
            (2) Conditions that emerge during or following deployment, 
        including--
                    (A) diagnosable conditions;
                    (B) medically unexplained symptoms (both physical 
                and mental);
                    (C) effects on health-related quality of life;
                    (D) family impacts; and
                    (E) sequelae of combat injuries.
            (3) Conditions arising from inoculations before deployment 
        that are intended to provide protection from conditions that 
        could be encountered during deployment.

SEC. 102. FUNCTIONS.

    (a) In General.--The functions of the Center shall be as follows:
            (1) Development of a coordinated research plan for 
        deployment-related health issues.
            (2) Conducting and supporting research relating to 
        deployment-related health issues.
            (3) Creation of policies for conducting and supporting such 
        research and making the results of such research available to 
        the public and guidelines for the conduct and dissemination of 
        research by other Federal entities and by non-Federal entities, 
        in matters relating to deployment-related health issues of 
        members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families, 
        including policies to minimize research duplication.
            (4) Evaluation of the results of research described in 
        paragraph (3).
            (5) Development of policy recommendations that emerge from 
        that research.
            (6) Communication of the results of the research described 
        in paragraph (3) to the medical community and persons with 
        deployment-related health issues.
    (b) Core Functions.--The Center shall carry out the following core 
functions:
            (1) Research coordination and setting of priorities.
            (2) Synthesis of research for the purpose of developing 
        policy recommendations.
            (3) Review and analysis of longitudinal monitoring of 
        deployment-related health of veterans.
            (4) Facilitating the use of national data resources for 
        research activities relating to deployment-related health 
        issues.
            (5) Communication of the results of such research 
        activities to the medical community and persons with 
        deployment-related health issues.
    (c) Consultation.--The Director of the Center shall consult closely 
with the Advisory Committee on Military Deployment Health Research 
established under section 104 on all aspects of the activities of the 
Center.

SEC. 103. RESEARCH NETWORK.

    (a) In General.--The Center shall coordinate and conduct research 
activities relating to deployment-related health issues of members of 
the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. The Center's research 
activities shall include (1) activities with respect to research 
programs by other Federal departments and agencies, and (2) research 
activities initiated by the Center.
    (b) Federal Research Programs.--
            (1) Inventory of federal research programs.--The Center 
        shall develop and maintain an inventory of research programs 
        relating to deployment-related health issues carried out by the 
        Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other Federal officials.
            (2) Consultation.--The Center shall consult with, and seek 
        the advice of, other federally sponsored researchers in 
        developing the Center's research agenda.
    (c) Center-Initiated Research.--
            (1) In general.--The Center shall conduct a broad-based 
        research program into deployment-related health issues. As part 
        of that program, the Center may, from funds appropriated for 
        that purpose, make grants for research into deployment-related 
        health issues. Any such grant shall be made based upon issuance 
        of a request for applications or a request for proposals. 
        Applications and proposals shall be assessed through a peer-
        review process, which shall, to the extent possible, be carried 
        out by the National Institutes of Health.
            (2) Solicitation of proposals.--In conducting such 
        research, the Center shall solicit proposals from other Federal 
        agencies, from universities, and from other research entities.
            (3) Research network.--In awarding contracts for research, 
        the Center shall seek to establish a network of research sites 
        at academic medical centers, university-wide research 
        facilities, and other appropriate sources.
    (d) Core Research Principles.--Center-initiated research shall be 
conducted using the following core set of principles:
            (1) Use of a scientific peer-review process for all 
        research.
            (2) Dissemination of research results to the scientific 
        community through conventional venues of scientific 
        communication.
            (3) Encouragement of interagency, interdepartmental, and 
        Federal-academic collaboration.

SEC. 104. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment of Advisory Committee.--The Center shall have an 
Advisory Committee on Military Deployment Health Research. The Advisory 
Committee shall advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services and 
the Director of the Center on all aspects of the activities of the 
Center.
    (b) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall consist of 21 
members, appointed as follows:
            (1) 12 members appointed by the President, of whom--
                    (A) 6 shall be appointed from persons who, by 
                reason of training, experience, and education, have 
                qualifications in the fields of research to be 
                conducted by the Center; and
                    (B) 6 shall be appointed from the general 
                population, including persons representing the 
                interests of veterans and their families and the 
                general public.
            (2) 3 members appointed by the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs from officers and employees of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs.
            (3) 3 members appointed by the Secretary of Defense from 
        officers and employees of the Department of Defense and members 
        of the Armed Forces.
            (4) 3 members appointed by the Secretary of Health and 
        Human Services from officers and employees of the Department of 
        Health and Human Services.
    (c) Recommendations by Independent Scientific Entity.--The 
President shall designate an independent scientific entity to make 
recommendations for appointments under paragraph (1) of subsection (b). 
When making such recommendations, the entity shall recommend twice the 
number of candidates as there are positions available.
    (d) Terms.--Persons appointed to the Advisory Committee under 
paragraph (1) of subsection (b) shall serve for a term of three years, 
except that--
            (1) of the persons initially appointed pursuant to 
        subsection (b)(1)(A), two shall be appointed for a term of one 
        year and two shall be appointed for a term of two years; and
            (2) of the persons initially appointed pursuant to 
        subsection (b)(1)(B), two shall be appointed for a term of one 
        year and two shall be appointed for a term of two years.
    (e) Pay and Travel Expenses.--
            (1) Pay.--Persons appointed to the Advisory Committee under 
        paragraph (1) of subsection (b) shall receive pay at the daily 
        equivalent of the rate of basic pay payable for level V of the 
        Executive Schedule for each day engaged in functions for the 
        Advisory Committee. Persons appointed to the Advisory Committee 
        under paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (b) shall 
        receive no additional compensation by reason of service on the 
        Advisory Committee.
            (2) Travel expenses.--Members of the Advisory Committee 
        shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business 
        in the performance of services for the Commission.
    (f) Chair.--The President shall designate one of the members of the 
Advisory Committee to chair the Advisory Committee.
    (g) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall meet on the call of the 
chair or a majority of the members of the Advisory Board.
    (h) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14 of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.

SEC. 105. ANNUAL REPORT.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress 
an annual report on the activities of the Center. The report shall 
include--
            (1) a description of the activities of the Center during 
        the preceding fiscal year and
            (2) a detailed description of the proposed budget for the 
        Center for the next fiscal year.

SEC. 106. BUDGET.

    In the President's budget for any fiscal year submitted to Congress 
under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, amounts requested 
for the activities of the Center shall be set forth separately and 
distinctly, with amounts requested for the core functions of the Center 
and for Center-initiated research identified individually.

    TITLE II--CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON POST-DEPLOYMENT ILLNESSES IN 
                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7327. Centers for research on post-deployment illnesses
    ``(a)(1) The Secretary shall establish and operate centers for 
research, education, and clinical activities related to post-deployment 
illnesses. Such centers shall be known as `National Centers for 
Military Post-Deployment Illness Research'. Such centers shall be 
established and operated by collaborating Department facilities as 
provided in subsection (c)(1).
    ``(2) For purposes of this section, term `post-deployment illness' 
means any health condition being currently studied or that will be 
studied that has (or that may have) an association to or relation to a 
military deployment mission, including a peacekeeping mission.
    ``(3) Each such center shall function as a center for--
          ``(A) research on post-deployment illnesses;
          ``(B) the use by the Department of specific models for 
        furnishing services to treat post-deployment illnesses;
          ``(C) education and training of health-care professionals of 
        the Department; and
          ``(D) the development and implementation of innovative 
        clinical activities and systems of care with respect to the 
        delivery of such services by the Department.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall provide for the research conducted by 
such centers to be compiled and transmitted to a centrally located 
coordinating center.
  ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, upon the recommendation of the Under 
Secretary for Health, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, designate not more than 25 centers under 
this section. In making such designations, the Secretary shall ensure 
that the centers designated are located in various geographic regions 
of the United States.
  ``(2) The authority of the Secretary to establish and operate centers 
under this section is subject to the appropriation of funds for that 
purpose.
    ``(c) The Secretary may not designate a health-care facility as a 
location for a center under subsection (a) unless the peer review panel 
established under subsection (d) has determined under that subsection 
that the proposal submitted by such facility as a location for a new 
center under subsection (a) is among those proposals which have met the 
highest competitive standards of scientific and clinical merit, and the 
Secretary (upon the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health) 
determines that the facility has (or may reasonably be anticipated to 
develop) each of the following:
            ``(1) An arrangement with an accredited medical school 
        which provides education and training in post-deployment 
        illnesses and with which such facility is affiliated under 
        which residents receive education and training in post-
        deployment illnesses.
            ``(2) An arrangement under which nursing or allied health 
        personnel receive training and education in post-deployment 
        illnesses.
            ``(3) The ability to attract the participation of 
        scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity in 
        health-care research efforts.
            ``(4) A policymaking advisory committee composed of 
        appropriate health-care and research representatives of the 
        facility and of the affiliated school or schools to advise the 
        directors of such facility and such center on policy matters 
        pertaining to the activities of such center during the period 
        of the operation of such center.
            ``(5) The capability to conduct effectively evaluations of 
        the activities of such center.
    ``(d)(1) In order to provide advice to assist the Secretary and the 
Under Secretary for Health in carrying out their responsibilities under 
this section, the Under Secretary shall establish a panel to assess the 
scientific and clinical merit of proposals that are submitted to the 
Secretary for the establishment of new centers under this section.
    ``(2) The membership of the panel shall consist of experts in the 
fields of post-deployment illnesses research, education, and clinical 
care. Members of the panel shall serve as consultants to the Department 
for a period of no longer than six months.
    ``(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the panel 
by the Under Secretary and shall submit its views on the relative 
scientific and clinical merit of each such proposal to the Under 
Secretary.
    ``(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act.
    ``(e) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary for the support of the research, treatment, and education 
activities of the centers established pursuant to subsection (a). The 
Under Secretary for Health shall allocate to such centers from other 
funds appropriated generally for the Department medical care account 
and medical and prosthetics research account, as appropriate, such 
amounts as the Under Secretary for Health determines appropriate.
    ``(f) Activities of clinical and scientific investigation at each 
center established under subsection (a) shall be eligible to compete 
for the award of funding from funds appropriated for the Department 
medical and prosthetics research account and shall receive priority in 
the award of funding from such account insofar as funds are awarded to 
projects for research in post-deployment illnesses.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
7326 the following new item:

``7327. Centers for research on post-deployment illnesses.''.
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