[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2172 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2172

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that all Department 
  of Veterans Affairs orthotic-prosthetic laboratories, clinics, and 
      prosthesists are certified by either the American Board for 
 Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics or the Board of Orthotics 
         and Prosthetic Certification, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 3, 2007

  Mr. Reyes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that all Department 
  of Veterans Affairs orthotic-prosthetic laboratories, clinics, and 
      prosthesists are certified by either the American Board for 
 Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics or the Board of Orthotics 
         and Prosthetic Certification, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Amputee Veteran Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
              ORTHOTIC-PROSTHETIC LABORATORIES; CONTRACTS FOR SERVICE 
              AND REPAIR OF PROSTHETIC DEVICES; PLAN TO INFORM DISABLED 
              VETERANS.

    (a) Requirement for Certification; Contracts for Service and 
Repair; Plan To Inform Disabled Veterans.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 31 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        sections:
``Sec. 3122. Certification of Department orthotic-prosthetic 
              laboratories
    ``The Secretary shall ensure that all Department orthotic-
prosthetic laboratories and clinics are certified by either of the 
following:
            ``(1) The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and 
        Prosthetics.
            ``(2) The Board of Orthotics and Prosthetic Certification.
``Sec. 3123. Contracts for service and repair of prosthetic devices 
              with non-Department entities
    ``The Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract with a non-
Department entity that the Secretary determines is qualified to provide 
for the service and repair of prosthetic devices for a veteran if--
            ``(1) the Secretary determines that Department facilities 
        are unable to perform the necessary service or repair due to a 
        lack of technology or for any other reason that the Secretary 
        determines prevents such service or repair in a timely manner; 
        or
            ``(2) the veteran in need of such service or repair to a 
        prosthetic device resides at a distance greater than 55 miles 
        from the nearest suitable Department facility capable of 
        furnishing such service or repair.
``Sec. 3124. Plan to inform disabled veterans of technological advances 
              in the field of prosthetics
    ``The Secretary shall develop and carry out a plan to inform 
disabled veterans at least two times per year of technological advances 
in the field of prosthetics.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new items:

``3122. Certification of Department orthotic-prosthetic laboratories.
``3133. Contracts for service and repair of prosthetic devices with 
                            non-Department entities.
``3134. Plan to inform disabled veterans of technological advances in 
                            the field of prosthetics.''.
    (b) Effective Dates.--The Secretary shall implement the 
requirements of--
            (1) section 3122 of title 38, United States Code, as added 
        by subsection (a), not later than five years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act; and
            (2) sections 3123 and 3124 of such title, as so added, not 
        later than six months after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.

SEC. 3. REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ORTHOTIC-PROSTHETIC 
              LABORATORIES AND SPECIALISTS.

    (a) Review of Laboratories and Clinics.--
            (1) Review required.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall conduct and complete a review of all Department 
        of Veterans Affairs orthotic-prosthetic laboratories and 
        clinics to ensure that the Department is capable of servicing 
        and repairing the most technologically advanced prosthetic 
        devices.
            (2) Report required.--Not later than six months after the 
        completion of the review under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall submit to Congress a report containing the Secretary's 
        findings under the review and any recommendations to address 
        any deficiencies in capability discovered as a result of such 
        review.
    (b) Review of Specialists.--
            (1) Review required.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct 
        and complete a review of Department prosthetists and orthotists 
        to determine what level and kinds of training and education 
        will be needed to ensure that such prosthetists and orthotists 
        are qualified to service and repair the most technologically 
        advanced prosthetic devices.
            (2) Report required.--Not later than six months after the 
        completion of the review under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall submit to Congress a report containing the Secretary's 
        findings under the review and any recommendations to address 
        any deficiencies in education, training, or qualification 
        discovered as a result of such review.
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