II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1999 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 3, 2007 Mr. Kerry (for himself, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Domenici, and Mr. Obama) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To provide for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries, and for other purposes.

1.

Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries

(a)

Establishment

(1)

In general

Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1105 the following new section:

1105a. Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Defense shall establish within the Department of Defense a center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of military eye injuries to carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (c). The center shall be known as a Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries. (b)

Partnerships

The Secretary shall ensure that the Center collaborates to the maximum extent practicable with the Department of Veterans Affairs, institutions of higher education, and other appropriate public and private entities (including international entities) to carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (c). (c)

Responsibilities

(1)The Center shall— (A)develop, implement, and oversee a registry of information for the tracking of the diagnosis, surgical intervention or other operative procedure, other treatment, and follow up for each case of eye injury incurred by a member of the armed forces in combat that requires surgery or other operative intervention; and (B)ensure the electronic exchange with Secretary of Veterans Affairs of information obtained through tracking under subparagraph (A). (2)The registry under this subsection shall be known as the Military Eye Injury Registry. (3)The Center shall develop the Registry in consultation with the ophthalmological specialist personnel and optometric specialist personnel of the Department of Defense. The mechanisms and procedures of the Registry shall reflect applicable expert research on military and other eye injuries. (4)The mechanisms of the Registry for tracking under paragraph (1)(A) shall ensure that each military medical treatment facility or other medical facility shall submit to the Center for inclusion in the Registry information on the diagnosis, surgical intervention or other operative procedure, other treatment, and follow up for each case of eye injury described in that paragraph as follows (to the extent applicable): (A)Not later than 72 hours after surgery or other operative intervention. (B)Any clinical or other operative intervention done within 30 days, 60 days, or 120 days after surgery or other operative intervention as a result of a follow-up examination. (C)Not later than 180 days after surgery or other operative intervention. (5)(A)The Center shall provide notice to the Blind Service or Low Vision Optometry Service, as applicable, of the Department of Veterans Affairs on each member of the armed forces described in subparagraph (B) for purposes of ensuring the coordination of the provision of visual rehabilitation benefits and services by the Department of Veterans Affairs after the separation or release of such member from the armed forces. (B)A member of the armed forces described in this subparagraph is a member of the armed forces as follows: (i)A member with an eye injury incurred in combat who has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in either eye. (ii)A member with an eye injury incurred in combat who has a loss of peripheral vision of twenty degrees or less. (d)

Utilization of registry information

The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly ensure that information in the Military Eye Injury Registry is available to appropriate ophthalmological and optometric personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of encouraging and facilitating the conduct of research, and the development of best practices and clinical education, on eye injuries incurred by members of the armed forces in combat.

. (2)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 55 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1105 the following new item: 1105a. Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries. . (b)

Inclusion of records of OIF/OEF veterans

The Secretary of Defense shall take appropriate actions to include in the Military Eye Injury Registry established under section 1105a of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), such records of members of the Armed Forces who incurred an eye injury in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom before the establishment of the Registry as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of the Registry. (c)

Report on establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the status of the Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries under section 1105a of title 10, United States Code (as so added), including the progress made in establishing the Military Eye Injury Registry required under that section. (d)

Traumatic Brain Injury Post Traumatic Visual Syndrome

In carrying out the program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, District of Columbia, on Traumatic Brain Injury Post Traumatic Visual Syndrome, the Secretary of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs shall jointly provide for the conduct of a cooperative study on neuro-optometric screening and diagnosis of members of the Armed Forces with Traumatic Brain Injury by military medical treatment facilities of the Department of Defense and medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs selected for purposes of this subsection for purposes of vision screening, diagnosis, rehabilitative management, and vision research on visual dysfunction related to Traumatic Brain Injury. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2008 for Defense Health Program, $5,000,000 for the Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries under section 1105a of title 10, United States Code (as so added).