[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5599 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5599

  To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
 biennial study on the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record program 
 of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 15, 2021

 Ms. Sherrill (for herself and Mr. Garbarino) introduced the following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in 
  addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
 biennial study on the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record program 
 of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
                        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 ``Burn Pit Program to Review 
Operations and Management of ILER System Efficacy Act'' or the ``Burn 
Pit PROMISE Act''.

SEC. 2. GAO BIENNIAL STUDY ON INDIVIDUAL LONGITUDINAL EXPOSURE RECORD 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Studies and Reports Required.--Not later than December 31, 
2022, and once every two years thereafter until December 31, 2030, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) conduct a study on the implementation and effectiveness 
        of the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record program of the 
        Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
        and
            (2) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
        report containing the findings of the most recently conducted 
        study.
    (b) Elements.--The biennial studies under subsection (a) shall 
include an assessment of elements as follows:
            (1) Initial study.--The initial study conducted under 
        subsection (a) shall assess, at a minimum, the following:
                    (A) Statistics relating to use of the Individual 
                Longitudinal Exposure Record program, including the 
                total number of individuals the records of whom are 
                contained therein and the total number of records 
                accessible under the program.
                    (B) Costs associated with the program, including 
                any cost overruns associated with the program.
                    (C) The capacity to expand the program to include 
                the medical records of veterans who served prior to the 
                establishment of the program.
                    (D) Any illness recently identified as relating to 
                a toxic exposure (or any guidance relating to such an 
                illness recently issued) by either the Secretary of 
                Defense or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, including 
                any such illness or guidance that relates to open burn 
                pit exposure.
                    (E) How the program has enabled (or failed to 
                enable) the discovery, notification, and medical care 
                of individuals affected by an illness described in 
                subparagraph (D).
                    (F) Physician and patient feedback on the program, 
                particularly feedback that relates to ease of use.
                    (G) Cybersecurity and privacy protections of 
                patient data stored under the program, including 
                whether any classified or restricted data has been 
                stored under the program (such as data relating to 
                deployment locations or duty stations).
                    (H) Any technical or logistical impediments to the 
                implementation or expansion of the program, including 
                any impediments to the inclusion in the program of 
                databases or materials originally intended to be 
                included.
                    (I) Any issues relating to read-only access to data 
                under the program by veterans.
                    (J) Any issues relating to the interoperability of 
                the program between the Department of Defense and the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Subsequent studies.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (3), each study conducted under subsection (a) following the 
        initial study specified in paragraph (1) shall assess--
                    (A) statistics relating to use of the Individual 
                Longitudinal Exposure Record program, including the 
                total number of individuals the records of whom are 
                contained therein and the total number of records 
                accessible under the program; and
                    (B) such other elements as the Comptroller General 
                determines appropriate, which may include any other 
                element specified in paragraph (1).
            (3) Final study.--The final study conducted under 
        subsection (a) shall assess--
                    (A) the elements specified in subparagraphs (A), 
                (B), (D), (E), (F), and (H) of paragraph (1); and
                    (B) such other elements as the Comptroller General 
                determines appropriate, which may include any other 
                element specified in paragraph (1).
    (c) Access by Comptroller General.--
            (1) Information and materials.--Upon request of the 
        Comptroller General, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
        of Veterans Affairs shall make available to the Comptroller 
        General any information or other materials necessary for the 
        conduct of each biennial study under subsection (a).
            (2) Interviews.--In addition to such other authorities as 
        are available, the Comptroller General shall have the right to 
        interview officials and employees of the Department of Defense 
        and the Department of Veterans Affairs (including clinicians, 
        claims adjudicators, and researchers) as necessary for the 
        conduct of each biennial study under subsection (a).
            (3) Information from patients and former patients.--
                    (A) Development of questionnaire.--In carrying out 
                each biennial study under subsection (a), the 
                Comptroller General may develop a questionnaire for 
                individuals the records of whom are contained in the 
                Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, to obtain the 
                information necessary for the conduct of the study.
                    (B) Distribution.--The Secretary concerned shall 
                ensure that any questionnaire developed pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A) is distributed to individuals the 
                records of whom are contained in the Individual 
                Longitudinal Exposure Record.
    (d) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
            (2) The term ``Secretary concerned'' means--
                    (A) the Secretary of Defense, with respect to 
                matters concerning the Department of Defense; and
                    (B) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with respect 
                to matters concerning the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs.
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