[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1421 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1421

   To provide for the maintenance, management, and availability for 
             research of assets of Air Force Health Study.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2007

   Mr. Akaka introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the maintenance, management, and availability for 
             research of assets of Air Force Health Study.

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

SECTION 1. MAINTENANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND AVAILABILITY FOR RESEARCH OF 
              ASSETS OF AIR FORCE HEALTH STUDY.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to ensure that the 
assets transferred to the Medical Follow-Up Agency from the Air Force 
Health Study are maintained, managed, and made available as a resource 
for future research for the benefit of veterans and their families, and 
for other humanitarian purposes.
    (b) Assets From Air Force Health Study.--For purposes of this 
section, the assets transferred to the Medical Follow-Up Agency from 
the Air Force Health Study are the assets of the Air Force Health Study 
transferred to the Medical Follow-Up Agency under section 714 of the 
John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 
(Public Law 109-364; 120 Stat. 2290), including electronic data files 
and biological specimens on all participants in the study (including 
control subjects).
    (c) Maintenance and Management of Transferred Assets.--The Medical 
Follow-Up Agency shall maintain and manage the assets transferred to 
the Agency from the Air Force Health Study.
    (d) Additional Near-Term Research.--
            (1) In general.--The Medical Follow-Up Agency may, during 
        the period beginning on October 1, 2007, and ending on 
        September 30, 2011, conduct such additional research on the 
        assets transferred to the Agency from the Air Force Health 
        Study as the Agency considers appropriate toward the goal of 
        understanding the determinants of health, and promoting 
        wellness, in veterans.
            (2) Research.--In carrying out research authorized by this 
        subsection, the Medical Follow-Up Agency may, utilizing amounts 
        available under subsection (f)(1)(B), make grants for such 
        pilot studies for or in connection with such research as the 
        Agency considers appropriate.
    (e) Additional Medium-Term Research.--
            (1) Report.--Not later than March 31, 2011, the Medical 
        Follow-Up Agency shall submit to Congress a report assessing 
        the feasability and advisability of conducting additional 
        research on the assets transferred to the Agency from the Air 
        Force Health Study after September 30, 2011.
            (2) Disposition of assets.--If the report required by 
        paragraph (1) includes an assessment that the research 
        described in that paragraph would be feasible and advisable, 
        the Agency shall, utilizing amounts available under subsection 
        (f)(2), make any disposition of the assets transferred to the 
        Agency from the Air Force Health Study as the Agency considers 
        appropriate in preparation for such research.
    (f) Funding.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts available for each of fiscal 
        years 2008 through 2011 for the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        for Compensation and Pensions, amounts shall be available as 
        follows:
                    (A) $1,200,000 shall be available in each such 
                fiscal year for maintenance, management, and operation 
                (including maintenance of biological specimens) of the 
                assets transferred to the Medical Follow-Up Agency from 
                the Air Force Health Study.
                    (B) $250,000 shall be available in each such fiscal 
                year for the conduct of additional research authorized 
                by subsection (d), including the funding of pilot 
                studies authorized by paragraph (2) of that subsection.
            (2) Medium-term research.--From amounts available for 
        fiscal year 2011 for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
        Compensation and Pensions, $200,000 shall be available for the 
        preparation of the report required by subsection (e)(1) and for 
        the disposition, if any, of assets authorized by subsection 
        (e)(2).
                                 <all>