[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1749 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1749

   To establish an Ombudsman in the Department of Defense to assist 
 members of the Armed Forces seeking medical care at military medical 
                         treatment facilities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 28, 2007

Mr. Welch of Vermont introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish an Ombudsman in the Department of Defense to assist 
 members of the Armed Forces seeking medical care at military medical 
                         treatment facilities.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Care Advocate Act''.

SEC. 2. OMBUDSMEN FOR RECOVERING SERVICEMEMBERS.

    (a) Ombudsmen for Recovering Servicemembers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish 
        within each military medical treatment facility of the 
        Department of Defense the position of Ombudsman for Recovering 
        Servicemembers (in this subsection referred to as the 
        ``Ombudsman'' or ``Ombudsmen'').
            (2) Assignment.--The Secretary shall assign to each 
        position established under paragraph (1) a member of the Armed 
        Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense who is 
        qualified to discharge the duties of the position.
            (3) Duties.--Each Ombudsman shall act as a liaison for 
        recovering servicemembers and their family members with respect 
        to the evaluation and care of recovering servicemembers under 
        the physical disability evaluation systems. The duties of the 
        Ombudsmen shall include, at a minimum, the following:
                    (A) Helping servicemembers and their family members 
                complete paperwork.
                    (B) Helping servicemembers and their family members 
                understand administrative guidelines.
                    (C) Providing information to servicemembers and 
                their family members about available benefits.
                    (D) Making recommendations to servicemembers and 
                their family members.
                    (E) Providing such other advice and help to 
                servicemembers and their family members as the 
                Ombudsman considers appropriate.
            (4) Outreach.--The Secretary shall make available to each 
        recovering servicemember, and to the family members of all 
        recovering servicemembers, information on contacting and 
        utilizing the services of the Ombudsmen.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section;
            (1) Recovering servicemember.--The term ``recovering 
        servicemember'' 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.
            (2) Family member.--The term ``family member'', with 
        respect to a recovering servicemember, has the meaning given 
        that term in section 411h(b) of title 37, United States Code.
            (3) Physical disability evaluation systems.--The term 
        ``physical disability evaluation systems'' means the following:
                    (A) In the case of the Department of the Army, the 
                Physical Disability Evaluation System (PDES) of the 
                Army.
                    (B) In the case of any other military department, 
                the physical disability evaluation system or similar 
                system or process of such military departments that 
                carries out functions equivalent to the function 
                carried out for the Army by the Physical Disability 
                Evaluation System of the Army.

SEC. 3. PROGRESS REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF OMBUDSMEN PROGRAM.

    (a) Ongoing Report Requirement.--Not later than 6 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the committees listed in 
subsection (c) a report on progress in the implementation of section 2.
    (b) Matters Covered.--The report shall address the following 
matters;
            (1) A description of the number and location of Ombudsman 
        positions established.
            (2) A description of the services being provided by the 
        Ombudsmen.
            (3) An analysis of the effectiveness of the services being 
        provided, including the timeliness of the services.
            (4) The adequacy of Federal resources to provide the 
        services and other actual or potential barriers to provision of 
        the services.
            (5) Any actual and potential conflicts of interest in the 
        administration and operation of the Ombudsmen program.
            (6) Any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (c) Committees.--The committees listed in this subsection are the 
following:
            (1) The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
        Affairs of the Senate.
            (2) The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (3) The Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
        House of Representatives.
                                 <all>