110 HR 1538 : Wounded Warrior Assistance Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-03-29
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act
of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Title I—Wounded Warrior Assistance
Sec. 101. Improvements to medical and dental care for members
of the Armed Forces assigned to hospitals in an outpatient status.
Sec. 102. Establishment of a Department of Defense-wide
Ombudsman Office.
Sec. 103. Establishment of toll-free hot line for reporting
deficiencies in medical-related support facilities and expedited response to
reports of deficiencies.
Sec. 104. Notification to Congress of hospitalization of combat
wounded service members.
Sec. 105. Independent medical advocate for members before
medical evaluation boards.
Sec. 106. Training and workload for physical evaluation board
liaison officers.
Sec. 107. Standardized training program and curriculum for
Department of Defense disability evaluation system.
Sec. 108. Improved training for health care professionals,
medical care case managers, and service member advocates on particular
conditions of recovering service members.
Sec. 109. Pilot program to establish an Army Wounded Warrior
Battalion at an appropriate active duty base.
Sec. 110. Criteria for removal of member from temporary
disability retired list.
Sec. 111. Improved transition of members of the Armed Forces to
Department of Veterans Affairs upon retirement or separation.
Sec. 112. Establishment of Medical Support Fund for support of
members of the Armed Forces returning to military service or civilian
life.
Sec. 113. Oversight Board for Wounded Warriors.
Sec. 114. Option for members of reserve components to use
military medical treatment facilities closest to home for certain
injuries.
Sec. 115. Plans and research for reducing post traumatic stress
disorder.
Title II—Studies and Reports
Sec. 201. Annual report on military medical
facilities.
Sec. 202. Access of recovering service members to adequate
outpatient residential facilities.
Sec. 203. Evaluation and report on Department of Defense and
Department of Veterans Affairs disability evaluation systems.
Sec. 204. Study and report on support services for families of
recovering service members.
Sec. 205. Report on traumatic brain injury
classifications.
Sec. 206. Evaluation of the Polytrauma Liaison
Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer Program.
Sec. 207. Study and report on waiting periods for appointments
at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
Sec. 208. Study and report on standard soldier patient tracking
system.
Title III—General Provisions
Sec. 301. Moratorium on conversion to contractor performance of
Department of Defense functions at military medical facilities.
Sec. 302. Prohibition on transfer of resources from medical
care.
Sec. 303. Increase in physicians at hospitals of the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 304. Veterans beneficiary travel program.
2.In this Act:
(1)Congressional
defense committeesThe term congressional defense
committees has the meaning given that term in
section
101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.
(2)Disability
evaluation systemThe term
disability evaluation system means the Department of Defense
system or process for evaluating the nature of and extent of disabilities
affecting members of the armed forces (other than the Coast Guard) and
comprised of medical evaluation boards, physical evaluation boards, counseling
of members, and final disposition by appropriate personnel authorities, as
operated by the Secretaries of the military departments, and, in the case of
the Coast Guard, a similar system or process operated by the Secretary of
Homeland Security.
(3)The term family member, with respect to a
recovering service member, has the meaning given that term in
section
411h(b) of title 37, United States Code.
(4)Recovering
service memberThe term recovering service member
means a member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or
a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, or is
otherwise in medical hold or holdover status, for an injury, illness, or
disease incurred or aggravated while on active duty in the Armed Forces.
(5)The term medical care
includes mental health
care.
<enum>I</enum><header>Wounded Warrior
Assistance</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4618E4698DB34FF9B5A94459D412D7FF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Improvements to
medical and dental care for members of the Armed Forces assigned to hospitals
in an outpatient status</header>
<subsection id="HF802118198E142E5A9A343DE1FB18DED"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Medical and
dental care of members assigned to hospitals in an outpatient status</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC5D6BD9D8E2C4C5392A9E6D6DFCD0373"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/55">Chapter 55</external-xref> of title 10,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after
section
1074k the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCDFBDDE2DA2A426A9EB966B47D269DED" style="USC">
<section id="H4B37FB9DDAA941F18183317D3DF21313"><enum>1074l.</enum><header>Management of
medical and dental care: members assigned to receive care in an outpatient
status</header>
<subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H67068F123DA4418692D0EDF451008D53"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Medical care
case managers</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HB8E0A0055BD2428591CF1509F4C3DC79"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A member in an
outpatient status at a military medical treatment facility shall be assigned a
medical care case manager.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H268F28CF487E46FBA3843132A3002B30" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3F7BB7C34E0F47718073FB29BFFAF737"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The duties of the
medical care case manager shall include the following with respect to the
member (or the member’s immediate family if the member is incapable of making
judgments about personal medical care):</text>
<clause id="H419AECB2D0F940B38CC9822C2E657074" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>To assist in understanding the
member’s medical status.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5B6374A091CB416995F2539476B012BA" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>To assist in receiving prescribed
medical care.</text>
</clause><clause id="H93596B5D27164682B1450005156D9BBB" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>To conduct a review, at least once a
week, of the member’s medical status.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBB51B7D1F0C449D1BCBA86FC63574FCF" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The weekly medical status review described
in subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be conducted in person with the member. If such
a review is not practicable, the medical care case manager shall provide a
written statement to the case manager’s supervisor indicating why an in-person
medical status review was not possible.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1A147CE2F4A146E5AD38E2DE4DBF041B" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H2554FD2AF6C24CFD86336748B08E1E80"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), each medical care case manager shall be assigned to manage
not more than 17 members in an outpatient status.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9455FA8023424A2898089824C951247" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary concerned may waive for
up to 120 days the requirement of subparagraph (A) if required due to
unforeseen circumstances.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0AE006F26F2D44ECB61318C3DF844E74" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H83658A68191C439DB2DE6205C752B100"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The medical care case manager office at
each facility shall be headed by a commissioned officer of appropriate rank and
appropriate military occupation specialty, designator, or specialty
code.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4FD7424DB0544EC0A185F1796FD9EF80" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of subparagraph (A), an
appropriate military occupation specialty, designator, or specialty code
includes membership in the Army Medical Corps, Army Medical Service Corps, Army
Nurse Corps, Navy Medical Corps, Navy Medical Service Corps, Navy Nurse Corps,
Air Force Medical Service, or other corps comprised of health care
professionals at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H084F5E9DD3954CAD832EC2F3B3A7AFFE" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense shall establish a
standard training program and curriculum for medical care case managers.
Successful completion of the training program is required before a person may
assume the duties of a medical care case manager.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4DF7D4E6AE184646BFE2006F84FC6EF9" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Secretary concerned shall ensure
that medical care case managers have the resources necessary to ensure that
they expeditiously carry out the responsibilities and duties of their
position.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4DDD115E05E646D5BE96A2E1ED620D3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Service member
advocate</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H5F460AD7FD4847E182D458DBD7A4F931"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A
member in an outpatient status shall be assigned a service member
advocate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF6554E1F33514A979D3DFB92B5D76E2F" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The duties of the service member
advocate shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1CB4B926D6B641EB83C1341DC7A1D01E"><enum>(A) </enum><text>communicating with the member and
with the member’s family or other individuals designated by the member;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F656FF122EF47A086F7C8D23BF6BA4B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assisting with oversight of the
member’s welfare and quality of life; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC1568110483D4A6B9B01C0E6ECC42C2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assisting the member in resolving
problems involving financial, administrative, personnel, transitional, and
other matters.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA6AD9815E59D42A58BA5B5FEF5EAECF2" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H4D7230E69E3F467D8493F82F7337A727"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), each service member advocate shall be assigned to not more
than 30 members in an outpatient status.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H53874076A2B04D649E49CE1C39B8C7EF" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary concerned may waive for
up to 120 days the requirement of subparagraph (A) if required due to
unforeseen circumstances.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H68E1A94D736F4E5FACEFB6EC3665F8A" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The service member advocate office at each
facility shall be headed by a commissioned officer of appropriate rank and
appropriate military occupation specialty, designator, or specialty code in
order to handle service-specific personnel and financial issues.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H88B23BB69D8345FF88EB93A239223611" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense shall establish a
standard training program and curriculum for service member advocates.
Successful completion of the training program is required before a person may
assume the duties of a service member advocate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H93E018E7776143E6AEDB0003375158DD" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>A service member advocate shall
continue to perform the duties described in paragraph (2) with respect to a
member until the member is returned to duty or separated or retired from the
armed forces.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H69D9004FCEE9413392B6D98E89006087" indent="up1"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The Secretary concerned shall ensure
that service member advocates have the resources necessary to ensure that they
expeditiously carry out the responsibilities and duties of their
position.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEB69BE6F66464987946D337D40D78519"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Outreach</header><text>The
Secretary of Defense shall make available to each member in an outpatient
status at a military medical treatment facility, and to the family members of
all such members, information on the availability of services provided by the
medical care case managers and service member advocates, including information
on how to contact such managers and advocates and how to use their services.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H82744BFF6BEB41EBAAB30985D0979754"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Semiannual
surveys by secretaries concerned</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned shall conduct a
semiannual survey of members in an outpatient status at installations under the
Secretary’s supervision. The survey shall include, at a minimum, the members’
assessment of the quality of medical care at the facility, the timeliness of
medical care at the facility, the adequacy of living facilities and other
quality of life programs, the adequacy of case management support, and the
fairness and timeliness of the physical disability evaluation system. The
survey shall be conducted in coordination with installation medical commanders
and authorities, and shall be coordinated with such commanders and authorities
before submission to the Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF8FEC40B3FF343A2A225E05F700AD7E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H8CC2E42BFEE74F858BAB834091A5FEDE"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>member in an outpatient
status</quote> means a member of the armed forces assigned to a military
medical treatment facility as an outpatient or to a unit established for the
purpose of providing command and control of members receiving medical care as
outpatients.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H549653C9870D47718F3DA300279303D4"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>disability evaluation
system</term> means the Department of Defense system or process for evaluating
the nature of and extent of disabilities affecting members of the armed forces
(other than the Coast Guard) and comprised of medical evaluation boards,
physical evaluation boards, counseling of members, and final disposition by
appropriate personnel authorities, as operated by the Secretaries of the
military departments, and, in the case of the Coast Guard, a similar system or
process operated by the Secretary of Homeland
Security.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1A3E142425294916AF7CAED7119FC7ED"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB60CB9B050FA443AADBB7B45A499EFA" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">1074l. Management of medical and dental
care: members assigned to receive care in an outpatient
status.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H74F43759708D4693900577D5CF3D83A9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/1074l">Section 1074l</external-xref> of title 10, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAB7D4120C8944B79B389F8A042BC7B11" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header>Establishment of a
Department of Defense-wide Ombudsman Office</header>
<subsection id="H0168B1C4EA0540168D6566A5F100312B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary of Defense shall establish a Department of Defense-wide Ombudsman
Office (in this section referred to as the <quote>Ombudsman Office</quote>)
within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7FC92553EF1F4822B95B009FA5F89FB7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Functions</header>
<paragraph id="H42979607B35442F6B7267B5681429B29"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The functions of the Ombudsman Office are to provide
policy guidance to, and oversight of, the ombudsman offices in the military
departments.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD3DB8E6077CF42AA862152FCACCAD805"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Policy
guidance</header><text>The Ombudsman Office shall develop policy guidance with
respect to the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HD0EA8CB78D1048D4BBEBC82C95F8CE8C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Providing
assistance to and answering questions from recovering service members and their
families regarding—</text>
<clause id="HDAE183BDD36C4B4A84D99D00A1800130"><enum>(i)</enum><text>administrative
processes, financial matters, and non-military related services available to
the members and their families throughout the member’s evaluation, treatment,
and recovery;</text>
</clause><clause id="HAF744B016F004818990637740572D2EB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>transfer to the
care of the Veterans Administration; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HA2F53AB02576487FA0A154141D62E038"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>support services
available upon the member’s return home.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4A0BC4BDD59D4F65B3168E11F500F853"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Accountability
standards, including—</text>
<clause id="HE6C1774F6E854D00ACF21F00E2061518"><enum>(i)</enum><text>creating and
maintaining case files for individual specific questions received, and
initiating inquiries and tracking responses for all such questions;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF8FC1DD476FA484A80264050B6C61E59"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>setting standards
for timeliness of responses; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H7FC3B615E00B44D4B79CA947EAFB9D9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>setting standards
for accountability to recovering service members and their families, including
requirements for daily updates to the members and their families about steps
being taken to alleviate problems and concerns until problems are
addressed.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H892DC823FE1D4E048FBE61DDB3784F13"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Status
reports</header><text>The ombudsman office in each military department shall
submit status reports of actions taken to address individual concerns to the
Ombudsman Office, at such times as the Ombudsman Office considers appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB31A0ABB7B3B438C92CE9FA7CFD5FA03"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Responses from
other offices</header><text>The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that all
other offices within the Department of Defense and the military departments
respond in a timely manner to resolve questions and requests from the Ombudsman
Office on behalf of recovering service members and their families, including
offices responsible for medical matters (including medical holdover processes),
financial and accounting matters, legal matters, human resources matters,
reserve component matters, installation and management matters, and physical
disability matters.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H70FFA321104541F68550BC7347539CB8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Staff of the
Office</header><text>The staff of the Ombudsman Office shall include
representatives from each military department, including persons with
experience in medical holdover processes and other medical matters.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA852D225CF3142E6AA11949DF039F2BC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header>Establishment of
toll-free hot line for reporting deficiencies in medical-related support
facilities and expedited response to reports of deficiencies</header>
<subsection id="H8C99AC1EAE0743819E5579141EA5D59"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Chapter
80 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H629FF9027F9B474DBAA6CC54BCA11EF" style="USC">
<section id="H0A8165196D724519B9CC971EA85FB487"><enum>1567.</enum><header>Identification
and investigation of deficiencies in adequacy, quality, and state of repair of
medical-related support facilities</header>
<subsection id="H0EAE2799D9F6495C95775B74CAF89095"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Toll-free hot
line</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense
shall establish and maintain a toll-free telephone number (commonly referred to
as a <quote>hot line</quote>) at which personnel are accessible at all times to
collect, maintain, and update information regarding possible deficiencies in
the adequacy, quality, and state of repair of medical-related support
facilities. The Secretary shall widely disseminate information regarding the
existence and availability of the toll-free telephone number to members of the
armed forces and their dependents.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB3659FA3B6494C2300177D53E7CAAF1F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HCFBB0FB29007471B888405974E26DB4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Individuals who seek to
provide information through use of the toll-free telephone number under
subsection (a) shall be notified, immediately before they provide such
information, of their option to elect, at their discretion, to have their
identity remain confidential.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4369C3DC9FB54FD199F09BEBB28FEC08"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In the case of
information provided through use of the toll-free telephone number by an
individual who elects to maintain the confidentiality of his or her identity,
any individual who, by necessity, has had access to such information for
purposes of conducting the investigation or executing the response plan
required by subsection (c) may not disclose the identity of the individual who
provided the information.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE029A9C97CEB4A1C9094973777D2B0B7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Investigation
and response plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later
than 96 hours after a report of deficiencies in the adequacy, quality, or state
of repair of a medical-related support facility is received by way of the
toll-free telephone number or other source, the Secretary of Defense shall
ensure that—</text>
<paragraph id="HA02D05048CD742FDB27DD017229BAE85"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the deficiencies
referred to in the report are investigated; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEF1FE09C6DFA4C85AC00B6B0891E7669"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if substantiated, a plan of action for
remediation of the deficiencies is developed and implemented.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDA9372EC927D44E5B420349018CF6B3E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Relocation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary of Defense determines, on
the basis of the investigation conducted in response to a report of
deficiencies at a medical-related support facility, that conditions at the
facility violate health and safety standards, the Secretary shall relocate the
occupants of the facility while the violations are corrected.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC8537B47F8974357BE1004FC83E9CBF6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Medical-related
support facility defined</header><text>In this section, the term
<quote>medical-related support facility</quote> means any facility of the
Department of Defense that provides support to any of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HD437AD41B54845BFAF64B9248EA83E54"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Members of the
armed forces admitted for treatment to a military medical treatment
facility.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB43B6948144A4472BDBAAF8CAED5A4E9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Members of the
armed forces assigned to a military medical treatment facility as an
outpatient.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8164B2DCD4F44BEFBBED00F5A4EE08FB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Family members
accompanying any member described in paragraph (1) or (2) as a nonmedical
attendant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HBE649D0E304046B3A1BE769DFC8864A7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBF60F066A054474883EE1EEACB23D9F" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">1567. Identification and investigation of
deficiencies in adequacy, quality, and state of repair of medical-related
support
facilities.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HF59F695BB0B4452DAB450767A4F62FC9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The toll-free telephone
number required to be established by
section
1567 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), shall be fully operational not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H75839BE1E07249E7AC2E50CCF1F7ADD" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header>Notification to
Congress of hospitalization of combat wounded service members</header>
<subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H670A7726B3F34E75A2CAA64C2B6D1463"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Notification
required</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/55">Chapter 55</external-xref> of title 10,
United States Code, is further amended by inserting after section 1074l the
following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2B0FB76893704DEFB7DC4D325FCF60CF" style="USC">
<section id="H0DD3A5F857E541668CA7E200B40C624"><enum>1074m.
</enum><header>Notification to Congress of hospitalization of combat wounded
members</header>
<subsection id="HBE1B56E31B8843BBAE994C00E5E8F80"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Notification
required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
concerned shall provide notification of the hospitalization of any member of
the armed forces evacuated from a theater of combat to the appropriate Members
of Congress.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE9B965455FB84A52BB6B33D3D6D8F1AF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appropriate
members</header><text>In this section, the term <quote>appropriate Members of
Congress</quote>, with respect to the member of the armed forces about whom
notification is being made, means the Senators and the Members of the House of
Representatives representing the States or districts, respectively, that
include the member’s home of record and, if different, the residence of the
next of kin, or a different location as provided by the member.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD10439A35A1D4DBA9CD9CD5D9B651F85"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consent of
member required</header><text>The notification under subsection (a) may be
provided only with the consent of the member of the armed forces about whom
notification is to be made. In the case of a member who is unable to provide
consent, information and consent may be provided by next of
kin.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H967689898F8D4120B9C4082CE1F9B934"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA27C95D0E64243888FE870195C03C2B6" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">1074m. Notification to Congress of
hospitalization of combat wounded
members.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC2AD96A99D743DD926900ADAF2C43D5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header>Independent medical
advocate for members before medical evaluation boards</header>
<subsection id="H410A868974144A1DBE18B0127C972F3F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assignment of
independent medical advocate</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/1222">Section 1222</external-xref> of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF464F04A3F774E74B99536994D8E10CC" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HCEE66DD0AB3547009FA5D2A12E82ECC9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Independent
medical advocate for members before medical evaluation boards</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HA15809836C134EB6806B76B47558F581"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary of each
military department shall ensure, in the case of any member of the armed forces
being considered by a medical evaluation board under that Secretary’s
supervision, that the member has access to a physician or other appropriate
health care professional who is independent of the medical evaluation
board.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC253A5949A084EE282B1952F24D073FD" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The physician or other health care
professional assigned to a member shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H251863AA333642E1AB7BC33C1406E042"><enum>(A)</enum><text>serve as an advocate for the best
interests of the member; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBED6156CC467436AAD273E1CBE04FF97"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide the member with advice and counsel
regarding the medical condition of the member and the findings and
recommendations of the medical evaluation
board.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H8A7408DC21EF43D4AA1260A9BB3DAE9B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
amendments</header>
<paragraph id="H0C00270A115549FD9BB151BF4B7B09C0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Section
heading</header><text>The heading of such section is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0EB5BFB759D8490E855BF351662008C0" style="USC">
<section id="H1A3EC74267734A209768DE7F433C6EC5"><enum>1222.</enum><header>Physical
evaluation boards and medical evaluation
boards</header>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H48FAEE492D04403FAE8994DF8ED2618C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Table of
sections</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 61 of
such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1222 and
inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAB854B130BF84FF200BA7B99B7C9098D" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">1222. Physical evaluation boards and
medical evaluation
boards.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5AAE22461139414E9FF3035878E1A0D4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (d) of
section
1222 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), shall apply with respect to medical evaluation boards convened after the
end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H34443C169CF44B708049DF00B1621886" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>106.</enum><header>Training and
workload for physical evaluation board liaison officers</header>
<subsection id="HBE74BE3635EF4DDE94350077973B2615"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/1222">Section 1222(b)</external-xref> of title 10, United
States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HE18288F29A8B457EBF7D3400F110D0FD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H89C513531FDC4AA09D3112B4B43AA59"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>establishing—</quote> and all that follows through <quote>a
requirement</quote> and inserting <quote>establishing a requirement</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H444F136EB8034C4E85B4D268BDB965D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>that Secretary; and</quote> and all that follows through the end of
subparagraph (B) and inserting <quote>that Secretary. A physical evaluation
board liaison officer may not be assigned more than 20 members at any one time,
except that the Secretary concerned may authorize the assignment of additional
members, for not more than 120 days, if required due to unforeseen
circumstances.</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H62225435810543F7BBEB5F537700AF10"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by inserting after <quote>(2)</quote> the following new sentences: <quote>The
Secretary of Defense shall establish a standardized training program and
curriculum for physical evaluation board liaison officers. Successful
completion of the training program is required before a person may assume the
duties of a physical evaluation board liaison officer.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H68CC1E7881B147B193B5B6D4EC926813"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0F8B58BDAEF74951B566EABC1E3C8085" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HA538409E4E9545B696DB7F903B120901" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term
<quote>physical evaluation board liaison officer</quote> includes any person
designated as, or assigned the duties of, an assistant to a physical evaluation
board liaison
officer.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD257AEDB8A4845DD85A6B34FE5FDD06C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The limitation on the
maximum number of members of the Armed Forces who may be assigned to a physical
evaluation board liaison officer shall take effect 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act. The training program and curriculum for physical
evaluation board liaison officers shall be implemented not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9D4616EEB2A0499B86D0B749703EF9DE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>107.</enum><header>Standardized
training program and curriculum for Department of Defense disability evaluation
system</header>
<subsection id="H2C93ABA28B914F9BB01E275BEC996B49"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Training program
required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1216 of
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H091A063066D04E038DEC28DFF433925C" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H7F01D9E5F4B94E1B88B5BFC8B2368F8"><enum>(e)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H023ECF59F8F54F08AA3B99D8EE546FE6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense shall establish a
standardized training program and curriculum for persons described in paragraph
(2) who are involved in the disability evaluation system. The training under
the program shall be provided as soon as practicable in coordination with other
training associated with the responsibilities of the person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE8F67387DF944A89870773B8AFC851A" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Persons covered by paragraph (1)
include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H20CA6A4FCA1E401C8C875445414F1E5C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Commanders.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD31206CA722D402D8145EB06008FBF1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Enlisted members who perform supervisory
functions.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9829960708046DD87C5D85B8515AE61"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Health care professionals.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H410DD1425FCC4D35B6E60065D33FDF29"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Others persons with administrative,
professional, or technical responsibilities in the disability evaluation
system.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6476CE769D9247AA9F071EBDB89ECF48" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term
<term>disability evaluation system</term> means the Department of Defense
system or process for evaluating the nature of and extent of disabilities
affecting members of the armed forces (other than the Coast Guard) and
comprised of medical evaluation boards, physical evaluation boards, counseling
of members, and final disposition by appropriate personnel authorities, as
operated by the Secretaries of the military departments, and, in the case of
the Coast Guard, a similar system or process operated by the Secretary of
Homeland
Security.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HEF9A94FFA22F4DE59038FC303D61E1A0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The standardized
training program and curriculum required by subsection (e) of
section
1216 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), shall be established not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB9415E55761D48A9844601D992137FFC"><enum>108.</enum><header>Improved
training for health care professionals, medical care case managers, and service
member advocates on particular conditions of recovering service
members</header>
<subsection id="HD2DF58070324481E8F232642CD843873"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report setting forth recommendations for
the improvement of the training provided to health care professionals, medical
care case managers, and service member advocates who provide care for or
assistance to recovering service members. The recommendations shall include, at
a minimum, specific recommendations to ensure that such health care
professionals, medical care case managers, and service member advocates are
adequately trained and able to detect early warning signs of post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal tendencies, and other mental health conditions
among recovering service members and make prompt notification to the
appropriate health care professionals.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5E41B1B0A18F46FC85BAF3FF0655AEC6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual review of
training</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act and annually thereafter throughout the global war on terror, the
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on
the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HDBBF0830374A4702877B1C5EC6268588"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The progress made
in providing the training recommended under subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H83FA7592914546B8ABE0C8FA50089700"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The quality of
training provided to health care professionals, medical care case managers, and
service member advocates, and the number of such professionals, managers, and
advocates trained.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H636AD9020BDC409EBEF47170A098EE87"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The progress made
in developing the tracking system under subsection (c) and the results of the
system.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8F8AC5F368154F89806150876219DDDB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Tracking
system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a
system to track the number of notifications made by medical care case managers
and service member advocates to health care professionals regarding early
warning signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide in recovering
service members assigned to the managers and advocates.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H46CE8418BB09449E9C1EFBF000037665" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>109.</enum><header>Pilot program to
establish an Army Wounded Warrior Battalion at an appropriate active duty
base</header>
<subsection id="H8F44D37B88224FC5BF390247D8B12326"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Pilot program
required</header>
<paragraph id="HC9A1318016094F76B0A73DB6BCB8070"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary of the Army shall establish a pilot program, at an appropriate active
duty base with a major medical facility, based on the Wounded Warrior Regiment
program of the Marine Corps. The pilot program shall be known as the Army
Wounded Warrior Battalion.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H442C17BF8B614E49001D96B9326FC0C4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>Under
the pilot program, the Battalion shall track and assist members of the Armed
Forces in an outpatient status who are still in need of medical treatment
through—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD9C684DE286A402FA355BD8C070062EE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the course of
their treatment;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HED8FCEEFC78E45108227508B46013DC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>medical and
physical evaluation boards;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6777B6EBCEC448A59B99D0C2A2EC62A3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>transition back to
their parent units; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6E960F1F49B24C4AB1E5A8304669F42F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>medical retirement
and subsequent transition into the Department of Veterans Affairs medical
system.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H18E863C06AE643119B74E49FCDC827E4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Organization</header><text>The
commanding officer of the Battalion shall be selected by the Army Chief of
Staff and shall be a post-command, at O–5 or O–5 select, with combat experience
in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The chain-of-command
shall be filled by previously wounded junior officers and non-commissioned
officers when available and appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE4320EF17CC7424E8B2F45CB6B1F69CE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Facilities</header><text>The
base selected for the pilot program shall provide adequate physical
infrastructure to house the Army Wounded Warrior Battalion. Any funds necessary
for construction or renovation of existing facilities shall be allocated from
the Department of Defense Medical Support Fund established under this
Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDA9102B41FE047C7A5D8A7ADB65ED82D"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>The
Secretary of the Army shall consult with appropriate Marine Corps counterparts
to ensure coordination of best practices and lessons learned.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAEB4F6AA58C44764B35CA0C1AABFE5F"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Period of pilot
program</header><text>The pilot program shall be in effect for a period of one
year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H886D074DE79D4130AB4BF71E00B35DBB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reporting
requirement</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the end of the one-year
period for the pilot project, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to
Congress a report containing—</text>
<paragraph id="HC337D2A1A4384EB583024638A537A3A8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an evaluation of
the results of the pilot project;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H07ABF555E3AA43D59641C3B5B5A2BF24"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an assessment of
the Army’s ability to establish Wounded Warrior Battalions at other major Army
bases.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD929A21ED5BD4226B252A618C668B84"><enum>(3)</enum><text>recommendations
regarding—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFAE99F6B6CF04C8DBEF3D1FC4EC54C46"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the adaptability
of the Wounded Warrior Battalion concept for the Army’s larger wounded
population; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9057388D4D414E70A9FE2170DBA9B5F6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>closer
coordination and sharing of resources with counterpart programs of the Marine
Corps.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H203AC648FA7348409603F84EB8BACEE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The pilot program required by this section shall be
implemented not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H889C0323591E4CE2861726FEE3FF0007" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>110.</enum><header>Criteria for removal
of member from temporary disability retired list</header>
<subsection id="HD2BD748CF5E944749B3FB1CE9C04E994"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>Section 1210(e) of
title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>of a permanent
nature and stable and is</quote> after <quote>physical disability
is</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC331B098AAE8429E9100F96BD8EA0000"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any case
received for consideration by a physical evaluation board after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBC887E8B23044DA3916F726133B61F56" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>111.</enum><header>Improved transition
of members of the Armed Forces to Department of Veterans Affairs upon
retirement or separation</header>
<subsection id="H1C844DD400C54C6F8260B3435B77018D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Transition of
members separated or retired</header>
<paragraph id="H878A97B315814BCF93C66944714B7843"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Transition
process</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/58">Chapter 58</external-xref> of title 10,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after
section
1142 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6EA2A55CF4CE46FC881F700099E349F" style="USC">
<section id="H288B865D647C40989C6147463EA95ECA"><enum>1142a.</enum><header>Process for
transition of members to health care and physical disability systems of
Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="H29BF29845A9A4AFF814961DED0752BA1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Transition
plan</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H60F41528ABB346E9B6B3E677CDC600B9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The
Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each member of the armed forces who is
being separated or retired under chapter 61 of this title receives a written
transition plan that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB0B20AA177A64C318FCAB59BCC525238" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>specifies the recommended schedule and
milestones for the transition of the member from military service; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9058EDF02A3A4B9BA5CABA115BC6284F" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provides for a coordinated transition
of the member from the Department of Defense disability system to the
Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB759FA611EAC4108B4E1002600524737" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A
member being separated or retired under chapter 61 of this title shall receive
the transition plan before the separation or retirement date of the
member.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H97268EDDC2ED4573A99F62478D16D53D" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The transition plan for a member
under this subsection shall include information and guidance designed to assist
the member in understanding and meeting the schedule and milestones for the
member’s transition.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H52415152D7C747B9A1B001EBAECEABC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Formal transition
process</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H315DAE8A28584914AE99BDBBE9DFA416"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary of
Defense, in cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish
a formal process for the transmittal to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of
the records and other information described in paragraph (2) as part of the
separation or retirement of a member of the armed forces under chapter 61 of
this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6E679FDDBEC0494FB057F98FAB6B8B5C" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The records and other information to be
transmitted under paragraph (1) with respect to a member shall include, at a
minimum, the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HF8711511A9894F2B889C03C0684BCBFE"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The member’s address and contact
information.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBEC6FF190F6243D0963F8500C5CA9B0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The member’s DD–214 discharge form,
which shall be transmitted electronically.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2734BC9C718A4C3C802D3C38068EBE4F"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A
copy of the member’s service record, including medical records and any results
of a Physical Evaluation Board.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H13FD97B45D784D5F8840EC02A924D86C"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whether the member is entitled to
transitional health care, a conversion health policy, or other health benefits
through the Department of Defense under section 1145 of this title.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HACAA4B5F9852488CA21EC7D1E737200"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Any requests by the member for
assistance in enrolling in, or completed applications for enrollment in, the
health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care
benefits for which the member may be eligible under laws administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H87A1E619FFAF4384B55B7EB99EC6232F"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any requests by the member for assistance
in applying for, or completed applications for, compensation and vocational
rehabilitation benefits to which the member may be entitled under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, if the member is being
medically separated or is being retired under chapter 61 of this title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H628BDF6B5669472881159E533300C7AB" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The transmittal of information under
paragraph (1) may be subject to the consent of the member, as required by
statute.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4632C7CC3CEC4D75A945FA1991CFEFDF" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>With the consent of the member, the
member’s address and contact information shall also be submitted to the
department or agency for veterans affairs of the State in which the member
intends to reside after the separation or retirement of the member.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8C7451B317D64316853CE7CD65B4201"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Meeting</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H38486959DA4449258EFB74C790F860C2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The formal process required by subsection
(b) for the transmittal of records and other information with respect to a
member shall include a meeting between representatives of the Secretary
concerned and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which shall take place at a
location designated by the Secretaries. The member shall be informed of the
meeting at least 30 days in advance of the meeting, except that the member may
waive the notice requirement in order to accelerate transmission of the
member’s records and other information to the Department of Veterans
Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1994286425D648C4BC2416B6DE84F145" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A
member shall be given an opportunity to submit a written statement for
consideration by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H973571F470174311B7EF9F46D7B000E2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Time for
transmittal of records</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Secretary concerned shall provide for the transmittal to the Department of
Veterans Affairs of records and other information with respect to a member at
the earliest practicable date. In no case should the transmittal occur later
than the date of the separation or retirement of the member.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAD668EAAF97C418DB43635E01794005C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Armed
forces</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the
term <quote>armed forces</quote> means the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine
Corps.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC4FA6DA77B4D4213BBAFCCD6A60497C6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Table of
sections</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of
sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1142 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC1191B480A64D86B4499476E25CE32F" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">1142a. Process for transition of members
to health care and physical disability systems of Department of Veterans
Affairs.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H25D8067994C94F879F1290BECD96CBC9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Uniform
separation and evaluation physical</header><text>Section 1145 of such title is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HBFDD42378E06404D812BFBDC1EF321E7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCEC893A62A29454EAE75E131A7017FD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by
inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB766A9B3F76D4AA98C07FC2B704BD858" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H6B15ABE8E92041358920FA0441C858B4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Uniform
separation and evaluation physical</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The joint separation and evaluation
physical, as described in DD–2808 and DD–2697, shall be used by the Secretary
of Defense in connection with the medical separation or retirement of all
members of the armed forces, including members separated or retired under
chapter 61 of this title. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall adopt the
same separation and evaluation physical for use by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEDA04BBF74E54E999F5175A6C2DE6E65"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Interoperability
of medical information systems and bi-directional access</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall establish and implement a single medical information
system for the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs for
the purpose of ensuring the complete interoperability and bi-directional,
real-time exchange of critical medical information.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5D77CA43AE8C4441ACF1E1EEF6B9F256"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Co-location of
VA benefit teams</header>
<paragraph id="HD2FD11D47B2C48ADB627EA13AC006FC2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Co-location</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall jointly determine the optimal locations for the
deployment of Department of Veterans Affairs benefits team to support
recovering service members assigned to military medical treatment facilities,
medical-related support facilities, and community-based health care
organizations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1B835F0386A543DFB3882128A4489082"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Military medical
treatment facility defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term
<quote>medical-related support facility</quote> has the meaning given that term
in subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/490">section 490</external-xref> of title 10, United
States Code, as added by section 201(a) of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H72CEC46ADE2E48EA94A4A7D6AFD04D1B"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Repeal of
superseded chapter 61 medical record transmittal requirement</header>
<paragraph id="H778CC5E4082C4F6F9C0037BAF1581A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1142 of such title is amended by
striking subsection (c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA7633330CC464C77AC81EFB4505964BA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Section
heading</header><text>The heading of such section is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEC60582B1E7D407CA056233BC648CB3E" style="USC">
<section id="HEDCDC40EF73D4ACA98573EE31D33343C"><enum>1142.</enum><header>Preseparation
counseling</header>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDB51FCFC907E49D1A13D14BEE6B0AD79"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Table of
sections</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 58 of
such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1142 and
inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H54C25D91053446ECB49503667500BA00" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">1142. Preseparation
counseling.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB0D08779498B444388586B5E4C460218"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Effective
dates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1142a of
title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and subsection (d) of
section 1145 of such title, as added by subsection (b), shall apply with
respect to members of the Armed Forces who are separated or retired from the
Armed Forces on or after the first day of the eighth month beginning after the
date of the enactment of this Act. The requirements of subsections (c) and (d),
and the amendments made by subsection (e), shall take effect on the first day
of such eighth month.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H87BB3767D72648CA9B0046B153D181E3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>112.</enum><header>Establishment of
Medical Support Fund for support of members of the Armed Forces returning to
military service or civilian life</header>
<subsection id="H4E3413A4077347C3A53008B125E6D7A5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment
and purpose</header><text>There is established on the books of the Treasury a
fund to be known as the Department of Defense Medical Support Fund (hereinafter
in this section referred to as the <quote>Fund</quote>), which shall be
administered by the Secretary of the Treasury.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H13655BE9081E442F000117F2C7C723BD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The
Fund shall be used—</text>
<paragraph id="HE4B589DFB93D4B0DBB3E3C35E880A5CC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to support
programs and activities relating to the medical treatment, care,
rehabilitation, recovery, and support of wounded and injured members of the
Armed Forces and their return to military service or transition to civilian
society; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4D964D15F5D34599A84DBC8782C268FB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to support
programs and facilities intended to support the families of wounded and injured
members of the Armed Forces.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H513253B4C0DB4DB7897619A52EE668DC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Assets of
fund</header><text>There shall be deposited into the Fund any amount
appropriated to the Fund, which shall constitute the assets of the Fund.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4632C478524149430028B8E8807D2D5D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transfer of
funds</header>
<paragraph id="HA5CA24A4342249C590433BCA9B375144"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Authority to
transfer</header><text>The Secretary of Defense may transfer amounts in the
Fund to appropriations accounts for military personnel; operation and
maintenance; procurement; research, development, test, and evaluation; military
construction; and the Defense Health Program. Amounts so transferred shall be
merged with and available for the same purposes and for the same time period as
the appropriation account to which transferred.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5D446CF2503E4F4FA2843292D51B00E6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Addition to
other authority</header><text>The transfer authority provided in paragraph (1)
is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of
Defense. Upon a determination that all or part of the amounts transferred from
the Fund are not necessary for the purposes for which transferred, such amounts
may be transferred back to the Fund.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H07F8CD46F65440B899437133639C1C77"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>The
Secretary of Defense shall, not fewer than five days before making a transfer
from the Fund, notify the congressional defense committees in writing of the
details of the transfer.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE510AE5EF56A42F082928041E1204E1C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Wounded Warrior
Regiment Program</header><text>The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 is transferred from the Medical Support Fund
to support programs, activities, and facilities associated with the Marine
Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment program, to be used as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="HEB35C9C85E6C4F08B686A6C50030E705"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$6,550,000 for
Case Management and Patient Support.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB6575DD6F2E541C100E4AC76FA0A4F7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$1,200,000 for
Wounded Warrior Interim Regimental Headquarters Building conversion.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H85FD2FEA292641A091DF1BF2C5E88500"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$1,300,000 for
Case Management System Development.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5037083A31434F6D92DD79ED33749DBB"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$95,000 for
Support Equipment.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFA88B3AF767A40C9B0F053794C1C3D97"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>There
is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Medical Support Fund, from an
emergency supplemental appropriation for fiscal year 2007 or 2008, $50,000,000,
to remain available through September 30, 2008.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H05F079F9FA35434AB586BDE81400E6D3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>113.</enum><header>Oversight Board for
Wounded Warriors</header>
<subsection id="H3D448D82A5E04ECC8C83F5EAE55087D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There
is hereby established a board to be known as the Oversight Board for Wounded
Warriors (in this section referred to as the <quote>Oversight
Board</quote>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE98CCC973E8D41B283425B1DBA195B09"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Composition</header><text>The
Oversight Board shall be composed of 12 members, of whom—</text>
<paragraph id="H306636287A9D4585A4F3872F58E0D207"><enum>(1)</enum><text>two shall be
appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H95DDCC24AFCD4AC8A479DF65C2BAE1E8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>two shall be
appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9069AF55C3BF447C86D64389CC8BFD72"><enum>(3)</enum><text>two shall be
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H73BCB734BE9F4ADB937508C022D5B6CB"><enum>(4)</enum><text>two shall be
appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD49AC806537E4086A8F600416FD3436C"><enum>(5)</enum><text>two shall be
appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE4496C70AAAF4AA48781EC4FCA48B600"><enum>(6)</enum><text>two shall be
appointed by the Secretary of Defense.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEC8D4856AFB24B97B8846DDC2DC2F657"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Qualifications</header><text>All
members of the Oversight Board shall have sufficient knowledge of, or
experience with, the military healthcare system, the disability evaluation
system, or the experience of a recovering service member or family member of a
recovering service member.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC887F97C468749BFBE002DE16DF0A300"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Appointment</header>
<paragraph id="HF87C6D926B7842BA9FD4D0D84E119712"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Term</header><text>Each
member of the Oversight Board shall be appointed for a term of three years. A
member may be reappointed for one or more additional terms.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF9CC7BD0399849EF803F000000C64CE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Vacancies</header><text>Any
vacancy in the Oversight Board shall be filled in the same manner in which the
original appointment was made.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H141A1896882D433B94829B07FD8863B7"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Duties</header>
<paragraph id="HF320297740824BDFA866315B62AB8694"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Advice and
consultation</header><text>The Oversight Board shall provide advice and
consultation to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on Armed Services
of the Senate and the House of Representatives regarding—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCEA3DB7E149B44EDBB670805786DEA8C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the process for
streamlining the disability evaluation systems of the military
departments;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB93346073DA64B2AA51FAB136E0007F7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the process for
correcting and improving the ratios of case managers and service member
advocates to recovering service members;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0D0E40366BA1403EB5102DBF6CBEC263"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the need to revise
Department of Defense policies to improve the experience of recovering service
members while under Department of Defense care;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H74B31C85C2BF44B5985257886F5F347E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the need to revise
Department of Defense policies to improve counseling, outreach, and general
services provided to family members of recovering service members;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H99C3922F08A949CF90EEAF0065D33BD1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the need to revise
Department of Defense policies regarding the provision of quality lodging to
recovering service members; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3B651D9EA2A6462D8F8B43C340C7F465"><enum>(F)</enum><text>such other matters
relating to the evaluation and care of recovering service members, including
evaluation under disability evaluation systems, as the Board considers
appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1200753E61164000824CE3FEE88F29DE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Visits to
military medical treatment facilities</header><text>In carrying out its duties,
each member of the Oversight Board shall visit not less than three military
medical treatment facilities each year, and the Board shall conduct each year
one meeting of all the members of the Board at a military medical treatment
facility.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD61359ECE9BF4A60BE544C65154806B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Staff</header><text>The
Secretary shall make available the services of at least two officials or
employees of the Department of Defense to provide support and assistance to
members of the Oversight Board.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE505B2A2FFC1415C957B93B618F662E4"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Travel
expenses</header><text>Members of the Oversight Board 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 service for the Oversight
Board.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H92E936D00FAC4B61B8E41D9FFE15FFC5"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Annual
reports</header><text>The Oversight Board shall submit to the Secretary of
Defense and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives each year a report on its activities during the preceding year,
including any findings and recommendations of the Oversight Board as a result
of such activities.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H3CC1FD00279E40D7A3EF544BCCA2633"><enum>114.</enum><header>Option for
members of reserve components to use military medical treatment facilities
closest to home for certain injuries</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense shall provide that,
in the case of members of the reserve components returning from a combat
theater, if a member requires treatment on an outpatient basis for injuries or
wounds sustained in theater, the member may be provided treatment at the
military medical treatment facility closest to the member’s home rather than
closest to the base from which the member was deployed.</text>
</section><section id="H2E7DA53F12DE423EBBEF4B17B910CD4E"><enum>115.</enum><header>Plans and
research for reducing post traumatic stress disorder</header>
<subsection id="HD2857C41E47645E100D8F968E150748"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plans for
reducing post traumatic stress disorder</header>
<paragraph id="HD4140678053442AE868DBB713494A21C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Plan for
prevention</header>
<subparagraph id="H9AF0824DAF7149BC832E78CC00ECCF63"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Defense shall develop a plan to
incorporate evidence-based preventive and early-intervention measures,
practices, or procedures that reduce the likelihood that personnel in combat
will develop post-traumatic stress disorder or other stress-related
psychopathologies (including substance use conditions) into—</text>
<clause id="H6CBF08E1B7FA4634BDF34BD781AAFF1C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>basic and
pre-deployment training for enlisted members of the Armed Forces,
noncommissioned officers, and officers;</text>
</clause><clause id="H8D553494167F48C9AE464FD55E2B5418"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>combat theater
operations; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2E9745C3EA0543F0B3F05CCE50A5217F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>post-deployment
service.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4BCF541F0C5A478394C3771805772B05"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Updates</header><text>The
Secretary of Defense shall update the plan under subparagraph (A) periodically
to incorporate, as the Secretary considers appropriate, the results of relevant
research, including research conducted pursuant to subsection (b).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H780B241B6B5E41DCAEA6CDF3951FC600"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Research</header><text>Subject
to subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall develop a plan, in
consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes
of Health, and the National Academy of Sciences, to conduct such research as is
necessary to develop the plan described in paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H59C099F8D8CD4925A22D14AF42D6B121"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Evidence-based
research and training</header>
<paragraph id="HE8E6C8143E2748E5BA30A1A9DF23CEE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Working
group</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Defense shall conduct a study, in coordination with the Department of Veterans
Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Academy of
Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, to determine the feasibility of establishing a
working group tasked with researching and developing evidence-based measures,
practices, or procedures that reduce the likelihood that personnel in combat
will develop post-traumatic stress disorder or other stress-related
psychological pathologies (including substance use conditions). The working
group shall include personnel with experience in a combat theater, and
behavioral health personnel who have experience providing treatment to
individuals with experience in a combat theater.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD19578A3EC784D61ADA7000463F5CA3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Peer-reviewed
research program</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a plan
for a peer-reviewed research program within the Defense Health Program’s
research and development function to research and develop evidence-based
preventive and early intervention measures, practices, or procedures that
reduce the likelihood that personnel in combat will develop post-traumatic
stress disorder or other stress-related psychopathologies (including substance
use conditions).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCC0D1AEB25634F359C7DF06BF909C27"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The
Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress annually a report on the plans
and studies required under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Studies and
Reports</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7F914B07DA904692B9DE0FA73314307" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Annual report on
military medical facilities</header>
<subsection id="HA3C55D630E964B6DBD182681D2B3ED22"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H46F457A5A67F400F9FE848D4D955C569"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Report
requirement</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/23">Chapter 23</external-xref> of title 10,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1A2FDC578BB7497597F5DBE17F03D18" style="USC">
<section id="HBDD258DB2A0D40FBBD008488E3EBFCC7"><enum>490.
</enum><header>Annual report on military medical facilities</header>
<subsection id="HDDA96FC8B77C483FACC53C4987171739"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual
report</header><text>Not later than the date on which the President submits the
budget for a fiscal year to Congress pursuant to
section
1105 of title 31, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
report on the adequacy, suitability, and quality of medical facilities and
medical-related support facilities at each military installation within the
Department of Defense.</text>
</subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H574E9C3BD76E41D8A0806D885EC57663"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Response to
hot-line information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Secretary of Defense shall include in each report information regarding—</text>
<paragraph id="H2A03F6B559B14271A113B3AF9EAEFB05"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any deficiencies in the adequacy, quality,
or state of repair of medical-related support facilities raised as a result of
information received during the period covered by the report through the
toll-free hot line maintained pursuant to section 1567 of this title;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H69EE85FDDB67456DAA794431D42542FB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the investigations
conducted and plans of action prepared under such section to respond to such
deficiencies.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H39D4DBA94589487CA3FFCD9DCC420400"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Medical-related
support facility</header><text>In this section, the term <quote>medical-related
support facility</quote> is any facility of the Department of Defense that
provides support to any of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H002DDCC343CE499AA593001E13EDCF1F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Members of the
armed forces admitted for treatment to military medical treatment
facilities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8BF7909E9C24499BAE780807A892BE79"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Members of the
armed forces assigned to military medical treatment facilities as an
outpatient.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H58ACC10F4B5D4607BEC338231ED4F600"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Family members
accompanying any member described in paragraph (1) or (2) as a nonmedical
attendant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2F7FAFE739514B62B5E3857100B3D18B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37150A3A3CAB4EEE914BF8EA00A2215" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">490. Annual report on military medical
facilities.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1F1C3C65992E4DD08130D383BFE2A9D7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The first report under
section
490 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), shall be submitted not later than the date of submission of the budget for
fiscal year 2009.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1941B07771AA416DBBD3A85FC343C72" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header>Access of recovering
service members to adequate outpatient residential facilities</header>
<subsection id="H7E2301BA494C43E5B076FFBCD97DC821"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Required
inspections of facilities</header><text>All quarters of the United States and
housing facilities under the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces that are occupied
by recovering service members shall be inspected on a semiannual basis for the
first two years after the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter by the
inspectors general of the regional medical commands.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9D52CD7CD8194AA687A0536C14B0A6D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inspector general
reports</header><text>The inspector general for each regional medical command
shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HE16CEFAD4AE6443F83780429907C3D63"><enum>(1)</enum><text>submit a report on
each inspection of a facility conducted under subsection (a) to the post
commander at such facility, the commanding officer of the hospital affiliated
with such facility, the surgeon general of the military department that
operates such hospital, the Secretary of the military department concerned, the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Oversight Board for
Wounded Warriors established pursuant to section 112, and the appropriate
congressional committees; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8167E0D8E8CF473386721067F324BB72"><enum>(2)</enum><text>post each such
report on the Internet website of such regional medical command.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2DB350E7066D49F7AB68A6B96FE67EDB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header>Evaluation and
report on Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs disability
evaluation systems</header>
<subsection id="HB57B10E548A747199E8D6D285FBC10E6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Evaluation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a joint evaluation of the disability
evaluation systems used by the Department of Defense and the Department of
Veterans Affairs for the purpose of—</text>
<paragraph id="H259FBFE6A6024ECB8EF5B6BD2B1FB2A4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>improving the
consistency of the two disability evaluation systems; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC64415ACF9614CEEBAD738D219B53DE6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>evaluating the
feasibility of, and potential options for, consolidating the two
systems.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H59659CE464F94FEE9B86E63ED85BC07"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Relation to
Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting the evaluation of the
disability evaluation systems used by the Department of Defense and the
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall consider the findings and recommendations of the
Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission established pursuant to title XV of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law
108–136;
38 U.S.C.
1101 note).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H40A3BEDD144E4E9B8FCB7564665F095E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
the submission of the final report of the Veterans’ Disability Benefits
Commission, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to Congress a report containing—</text>
<paragraph id="HBA89F6BE09C94DB39773FA09E44406B5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the results of the
evaluation; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H84FF1103B2B34A069E8C96C77C9283AC"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the recommendations of the Secretaries for
improving the consistency of the two disability evaluation systems and such
other recommendations as the Secretaries consider appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H86995C2541C042149220333E05C9AAD3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header>Study and report on
support services for families of recovering service members</header>
<subsection id="H8410B18AC0E648B4996031D7D65A721"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study
required</header><text>The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of the
provision of support services for families of recovering service
members.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4F825501110B4112B8FF547511D67D1C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Matters
covered</header><text>The study under subsection (a) shall include the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="HBF2925F9734C43C28E43EB3C27CC7F36"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A
determination of the types of support services that are currently provided by
the Department of Defense to family members described in subsection (c), and
the cost of providing such services.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H132C4EF64C6D46ABAA24913327F0DA26"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A
determination of additional types of support services that would be feasible
for the Department to provide to such family members, and the costs of
providing such services, including the following types of services:</text>
<subparagraph id="H9454036556D84DA4B5A0FC7845BAB761"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The provision of
medical care at military medical treatment facilities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H37E1326D5F0C4E4E835ECBE9541BDDD2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The provision of
job placement services offered by the Department of Defense to any family
member caring for a recovering service member for more than 45 days during a
one-year period.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H226516601BEA45A895D5C37D893D5D5C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The provision of
meals without charge at military medical treatment facilities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB560F5B8141445179D48BA96204172A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A
survey of military medical treatment facilities to estimate the number of
family members to whom the support services would be provided.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE2175BC8F5594BA98F09D1A4CE008B4D"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A determination of any discrimination in
employment that such family members experience, including denial of retention
in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment by an employer on the
basis of the person’s absence from employment as described in subsection (c),
and a determination, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, of the
options available for such family members.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFB49EA5B8BB646908DC000045A58A4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Covered family
members</header><text>A family member described in this subsection is a family
member of a recovering service member who is—</text>
<paragraph id="HE95FA38CA15C450F9ED8003FC1B6753C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>on invitational
orders while caring for the recovering service member;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H79703CD962A64885B6EC753884D9ED6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a
non-medical attendee caring for the recovering service member; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4FF21F1DDCC64AF99D1D2898B5EFF6CE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>receiving per diem
payments from the Department of Defense while caring for the recovering service
member.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H61519EBFC94B48389B005B041EDBACEC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and
the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study, with such
findings and recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4788E03840D840279C570010007F00CF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>205.</enum><header>Report on traumatic
brain injury classifications</header>
<subsection id="HB1901A5337064A4893F8BAAC5E169120"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Interim
report</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives an interim report
describing the changes undertaken within the Department of Defense to ensure
that traumatic brain injury victims receive a proper medical designation
concomitant with their injury as opposed to the current medical designation
which assigns a generic <quote>organic psychiatric disorder</quote>
classification.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7D7DB92DCA8B4546B7EC7D00AEA35D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Final
report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a final report
concerning traumatic brain injury classifications and an explanation and
justification of the Department’s use of the international classification of
disease (ICD) 9 designation, recommendations for transitioning to ICD 10 or 11,
and the benefits the civilian community experiences from using ICD 10.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFB0BF515F6C2481D00F35F761B673513" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>206.</enum><header>Evaluation of the
Polytrauma Liaison Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer Program</header>
<subsection id="H485007A358E349BAA3CF9944A0C9004F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Evaluation
required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Defense shall conduct an evaluation of the Polytrauma Liaison
Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer program, which is the program operated by each
of the military departments and the Department of Veterans Affairs for the
purpose of—</text>
<paragraph id="HB5137F7DDC0B4F0E9D12C1E3579E3084"><enum>(1)</enum><text>assisting in the
seamless transition of members of the Armed Forces from the Department of
Defense health care system to the Department of Veterans Affairs system;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H55AEA193B62B468DA8A23E428DD323DC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>expediting the
flow of information and communication between military treatment facilities and
the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Centers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB7FD064A4CFA4A5F9180663C707B256D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Matters
covered</header><text>The evaluation of the Polytrauma Liaison
Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer program shall include evaluating the following
areas:</text>
<paragraph id="H6BA273EADAF24C499BFE7C38DC7EAFC5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The program’s
effectiveness in the following areas:</text>
<subparagraph id="H2A9BBBDCC05B4F068DC0F86CEC441019"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Handling of
military patient transfers.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6F0E076622D94F11B06BE651B880EB9B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Ability to access
military records in a timely manner.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H70A7314A12EA469585749136C100533C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Collaboration with
Polytrauma Center treatment teams.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1676AEB9BCED47D59E9CDB00A7CF9C6D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Collaboration with
Veteran Service Organizations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H14594D8F374C45A9A727CDF694739D1D"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Functioning as the
Polytrauma Center’s subject-matter expert on military issues.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8AB522BC67254DD8BA636C858E16A6B2"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Supporting and
assisting family members.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7AD77E6BE409468A005588D4D03CD343"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Providing
education, information, and referrals to members of the Armed Forces and their
family members.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2527697B79EC4461BC00223B5200D624"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Functioning as
uniformed advocates for members of the Armed Forces and their family
members.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H11120ED98DE74E4E86D4944BAD22E31"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Inclusion in
Polytrauma Center meetings.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBF26EB27EC794522934CFA206B60C1D2"><enum>(J)</enum><text>Completion of
required administrative reporting.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2BF4BD2D5DDC468C87AAF44ED37BF0C2"><enum>(K)</enum><text>Ability to provide
necessary administrative support to all members of the Armed Forces.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H78009AB3EAFD49F8802CC322CEC9457E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Manpower
requirements to effectively carry out all required functions of the Polytrauma
Liaison Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer program given current and expected
case loads.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2729118A01C84C7B9BD980A7B9A38BA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Expansion of the
program to incorporate Navy and Marine Corps officers and senior enlisted
personnel.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4F3C2298694944E796A2D9ABB982BBD5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reporting
requirement</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a
report containing—</text>
<paragraph id="HF1963D445869442B8C91E691D4F15C1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the results of the
evaluation; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAEB925ECB65644A9BDEB87C9E2634C18"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recommendations
for any improvements in the program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H1C1605733CC64BCCA07E34EDEAC400C0"><enum>207.</enum><header>Study and
report on waiting periods for appointments at Department of Veterans Affairs
medical facilities</header>
<subsection id="H02A451B6B6BC4CBE8BD20834391D7812"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study
required</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study
on the average length of time between the desired date for which a veteran
seeks to schedule an appointment for health care at a Department of Veterans
Affairs medical facility and the date on which such appointment is
completed.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBE5DC9DBFEC54BAC002E7619B5FD92EC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Focus of
study</header><text>In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary
shall focus on appointments scheduled and completed at Department medical
facilities located in both rural and urban areas.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDBC550BC4A08484CB23143D5E74C9749"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall submit a report to Congress containing the findings of the study under
subsection (a) and recommendations for decreasing the waiting time between the
desired date of an appointment and the completion of the appointment to a
maximum of 15 days.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H44011C1EC2DC4627A86E89DD3796173D"><enum>208.</enum><header>Study and
report on standard soldier patient tracking system</header>
<subsection id="HEAE90DE8CB6A43D08DC107E29F00503E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study
required</header><text>The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study on the
feasibility of developing a joint soldier tracking system for recovering
service members.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9D34936D6002488098EEFA7E466C57BF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Matters
covered</header><text>The study under subsection (a) shall include the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="H080E94FBCB6D44E8BDF61DCE00D402E7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Review of the
feasibility of allowing each recovering service member, each family member of
such a member, each commander of a military installation retaining medical
holdover patients, each patient navigator, and ombudsman office personnel, at
all times, to be able to locate and understand exactly where a recovering
service member is in the medical holdover process.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6D8ED80FCDFE4299AED4FBBF8E72FF75"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A determination of whether the tracking
system can be designed to ensure that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE53DCA138BC04BADBDD17444002C6922"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the commander of each military medical
facility where recovering service members are located is able to track
appointments of such members to ensure they are meeting timeliness and other
standards that serve the member; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H67C6859320224BBE8D70E8ADEA77FB2D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">each recovering service member is able to
know when his appointments and other medical evaluation board or physical
evaluation board deadlines will be and that they have been scheduled in a
timely and accurate manner.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD4CF44DB209340A58C3244E2914F5F87"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any other information needed to conduct
oversight of care of the member through out the medical holdover
process.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6BFFCC7404364D5199BC280037ECD64D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
report on the results of the study, with such findings and recommendations as
the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>General
Provisions</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6498AA196088472887982100A3FF20D3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Moratorium on
conversion to contractor performance of Department of Defense functions at
military medical facilities</header>
<subsection id="H7331CD8B222A4F499317B298ACB32449"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress finds the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HC482006FA0824AA8A6ADFD4FCEB15110"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The conduct of public-private competitions
for the performance of Department of Defense functions, based on Office of
Management and Budget Circular A–76, can lead to dramatic reductions in the
workforce, undermining an agency’s ability to perform its mission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H80623AA760EA43B4881DDB209144C232"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Army Garrison commander at the Walter
Reed Army Medical Center has stated that the extended A–76 competition process
contributed to the departure of highly skilled administrative and maintenance
personnel, which led to the problems at the Walter Reed Army Medical
Center.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7E9B173C3CCE4D718D79C84EF8306C6B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Moratorium</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During the one-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, no study or competition may be begun or
announced pursuant to
section
2461 of title 10, United States Code, or otherwise pursuant to
Office of Management and Budget Circular A–76 relating to the possible
conversion to performance by a contractor of any Department of Defense function
carried out at a military medical facility .</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDEE238B3B0BA41C99C9F2BA1295D697"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report
required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the
public-private competitions being conducted for Department of Defense functions
carried out at military medical facilities as of the date of the enactment of
this Act by each military department and defense agency. Such report shall
include—</text>
<paragraph id="HA312406DAF6D41DE8FBDB37795EF4F7D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for each such
competition—</text>
<subparagraph id="H05FADC5290FB4BF0BF4BDF22BAABC8C8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the cost of
conducting the public-private competition;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE8158DC0357E4CBDBECD28C4D28310A6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the number of
military personnel and civilian employees of the Department of Defense
affected;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB97CCA5EEAD74009B7009FF8F9A5B4EC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the estimated
savings identified and the savings actually achieved;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H672095AA992D44BEA916E90071F6DB61"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an evaluation
whether the anticipated and budgeted savings can be achieved through a
public-private competition; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCC213F4DB6E44EA7BF812400D03CFF4"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effect of converting the performance of
the function to performance by a contractor on the quality of the performance
of the function;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB55C9FE03C3C43C8947C008B096C52B2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a
description of any public-private competition the Secretary would conduct if
the moratorium under subsection (b) were not in effect; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6556E381DE8040C398F9B91ED21C1F4B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an assessment of
whether any method of business reform or reengineering other than a
public-private competition could, if implemented in the future, achieve any
anticipated or budgeted savings.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC39DCFDCD6CC4D82B2459773263D94A0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>302.</enum><header>Prohibition on
transfer of resources from medical care</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Neither the Secretary of Defense nor the
Secretaries of the military departments may transfer funds or personnel from
medical care functions to administrative functions within the Department of
Defense in order to comply with the new administrative requirements imposed by
this Act or the amendments made by this Act.</text>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H31081E8B1E904306A66DE75CFCCE2C75" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>303.</enum><header>Increase in
physicians at hospitals of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
increase the number of resident physicians at hospitals of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.</text>
</section><section id="HFC39B4F836BB4760A83EF1937FBA5EBC"><enum>304.</enum><header>Veterans
beneficiary travel program</header>
<subsection id="H9A308A7CAD6740C394B69C56DB98D5F0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Elimination of
deductible</header><text>Subsection (c) of
section
111 of title 38, United States Code, is repealed.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9C2662E4735D4670A942CB000827D226"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Determination of
mileage reimbursement rate</header>
<paragraph id="H3B5B1ED56B1E4C9DA67F4CD6CBD83E5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Determination</header><text>Paragraph
(1) of subsection (g) of such section is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC9C8106543214A71B743473E09AA2B25" style="USC">
<paragraph id="H7EF5A1F242B94A759E088E2F53BD562E" indent="up1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining the amount of allowances or
reimbursement to be paid under this section, the Secretary shall use the
mileage reimbursement rates for the use of privately owned vehicles by
Government employees on official business, as prescribed by the Administrator
of General Services under
section
5707(b) of title 5, United States
Code.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD2F40662FADC46FAAE391DA0452F00AF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Subsection (g) of such section is further amended by
striking paragraphs (3) and (4).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1D368EDCB711494F80B92F98BA22ADBF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Source of
funds</header><text>Such section is further amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEC37C94DF96944F48B767C11F82F68D" style="USC">
<subsection id="H3D3BA272902A457CB0F000918CC73F84"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds for payments made under this section
shall be appropriated separately from other amounts appropriated for the
Department.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HFBFA010A496C48AFBDB917661C23FB00"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to
travel expenses incurred after the expiration of the 90-day period that begins
on the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section>
Passed the House of
Representatives March 28, 2007.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.