[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 957 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 957

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of 
 rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 11, 2011

Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Begich) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of 
 rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury, 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 ``Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury 
Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN 
              INJURY.

    (a) Rehabilitation Services in Plans for Rehabilitation and 
Reintegration.--Section 1710C of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting before the semicolon 
        the following: ``with the goal of maximizing the individual's 
        independence and quality of life'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting after ``improving'' the 
                        following: ``(and sustaining improvement in)'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``behavioral,'' after 
                        ``cognitive'';
                            (iii) by inserting ``and mental health'' 
                        after ``functioning''; and
                            (iv) by inserting ``, quality of life,'' 
                        after ``independence'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``rehabilitative 
                services and'' before ``rehabilitative components''; 
                and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``treatments'' the first 
                        place it appears and inserting ``services''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by striking ``treatments and'' the 
                        second place it appears; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Rehabilitative Services Defined.--For purposes of this 
section, and sections 1710D and 1710E of this title, the term 
`rehabilitative services' includes--
            ``(1) rehabilitative services, as such term is defined in 
        section 1701 of this title;
            ``(2) services (which may be of ongoing duration) to 
        sustain, and prevent loss of, functional gains that have been 
        achieved; and
            ``(3) any other services or supports that may contribute to 
        maximizing an individual's independence and quality of life.''.
    (b) Rehabilitation Services in Comprehensive Program for Long-Term 
Rehabilitation.--Section 1710D(a) of such title is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and rehabilitative services (as defined 
        in section 1710C of this title)'' after ``long-term care''; and
            (2) by striking ``treatment''.
    (c) Rehabilitation Services in Authority for Cooperative Agreements 
for Use of Non-Department Facilities for Rehabilitation.--Section 
1710E(a) of such title is amended by inserting ``, including 
rehabilitative services (as defined in section 1710C of this title),'' 
after ``medical services''.
    (d) Technical Amendment.--Section 1710C(c)(2)(S) of such title is 
amended by striking ``opthamologist'' and inserting 
``ophthalmologist''.
                                 <all>