[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 155 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12870-S12874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. AKAKA. (for himself and Mr. Brown):
  S. 2160. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a 
pain care initiative in health care facilities of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I, along with my colleague Senator 
Brown, introduce legislation that would enhance VA's pain management 
program. It is estimated that nearly 30 percent of Americans, that is 
some 86 million people, suffer from chronic or acute pain every year. A 
recent study conducted by VA researchers in Connecticut found that 
nearly 50 percent

[[Page S12871]]

of veteran patients that are seen at VA facilities reported that they 
experience pain regularly.
  While pain increases in severity with age, it is also a growing 
problem among younger veterans who have been injured in the wars in 
Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these veterans are coming home with 
severe injuries, often traumatic brain injuries, that require intensive 
rehabilitation. In some cases, these younger veterans will have to live 
with the long-term effects of their injuries, of which pain is a large 
and debilitating part.
  Pain management is an area of health care that by many accounts is 
not yet up to par, in both the private and public sectors. The bill we 
are introducing would enhance VA's pain management program on a 
national, system-wide level, by requiring VA to establish a pain care 
initiative at every VA health care facility. Every hospital and clinic 
would be required to employ a professionally recognized pain assessment 
tool or process, and ensure that every patient who is determined to be 
in chronic or acute pain is treated appropriately.
  The profile of a veteran in pain is often times different than that 
of his or her counterpart in the private sector. For example, veterans 
suffering from chronic pain are more likely to be receiving treatment 
for other problems including depression, substance abuse, alcoholism, 
or post traumatic stress disorder. Understanding and treating their 
pain must be a priority, and this bill will help VA enhance the 
department's existing pain management program.
  VA's current pain management efforts are worthwhile, but are 
unfortunately not adequate to meet the all of the needs of veterans. 
Pain management in VA continues to be relatively decentralized and 
unstandardized. Some VA medical centers have adopted successful 
approaches and procedures to deal with pain, while others have been 
less active. Fortunately, VA has begun the work of identifying 
professional talent and developing ideas that provide the groundwork of 
an effective pain management program. This bill would build upon that 
foundation and help ensure that these ideas become practice.
  This bill provides us with an opportunity to help the thousands of 
veterans who are living in pain each and every day. I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2160

       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 Pain Care Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Acute and chronic pain are prevalent conditions within 
     the population of veterans.
       (2) Methods of modern warfare, including the use of 
     improvised explosive devices, produce substantial numbers of 
     battlefield casualties with significant damage to both the 
     central and peripheral nervous systems.
       (3) The successes of military health care, both on and off 
     the battlefield, result in high survival rates of severely 
     injured military personnel who will be afflicted with 
     significant pain disorders on either an acute or chronic 
     basis.
       (4) Failure to treat pain appropriately at the time of 
     transition from receipt of care from the Department of 
     Defense to receipt of care from the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs contributes to the development of long-term chronic 
     pain syndromes, in some cases accompanied by long-term mental 
     health and substance use disorders.
       (5) Pain is a leading cause of short-term and long-term 
     disability among veterans.
       (6) The Department of Veterans Affairs has implemented 
     important pain care programs at some facilities and in some 
     areas, but comprehensive pain care is not consistently 
     provided on a uniform basis throughout the health care system 
     of the Department to all patients in need of such care.
       (7) Inconsistent and ineffective pain care provided by the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs leads to pain-related 
     impairments, occupational disability, and medical and mental 
     complications for veterans with acute and chronic pain, with 
     long-term costs for the health care and disability systems of 
     the Department and for society at large.
       (8) Research, diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute 
     and chronic pain for veterans constitute health care 
     priorities of the United States.

     SEC. 3. PAIN CARE INITIATIVE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

       (a) Requirement.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 1720F. Pain care

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out at each 
     health care facility of the Department an initiative on pain 
     care.
       ``(b) Elements.--The initiative at each health care 
     facility of the Department shall ensure that each individual 
     receiving treatment in such health care facility receives the 
     following:
       ``(1) An assessment for pain at the time of admission or 
     initial treatment, and periodically thereafter, using a 
     professionally recognized pain assessment tool or process.
       ``(2) Appropriate pain care consistent with recognized 
     means for assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of 
     acute and chronic pain, including when appropriate, access to 
     specialty pain management services.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 1720E the following new item:

``1720F. Pain care.''.

       (c) Implementation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall ensure that the pain care initiatives required by 
     section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a), are implemented at all health care facilities 
     of the Department of Veterans affairs by not later than--
       (1) January 1, 2008, in the case of inpatient care; and
       (2) January 1, 2009, in the case of outpatient care.

     SEC. 4. PROGRAM ON RESEARCH AND TRAINING ON PAIN IN 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 7330A. Program of research and training on acute and 
       chronic pain

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out within the 
     Medical and Prosthetic Research Service of the Veterans 
     Health Administration a program of research and training on 
     acute and chronic pain.
       ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the program shall include 
     the following:
       ``(1) To identify research priorities most relevant to the 
     treatment of the types of acute and chronic pain suffered by 
     veterans.
       ``(2) To promote, conduct, and coordinate research in 
     accordance with such research priorities--
       ``(A) through the facilities and programs of the 
     Department; and
       ``(B) in cooperation with other agencies, institutions, and 
     organizations, including the Department of Defense.
       ``(3) To educate and train health care personnel of the 
     Department with respect to the assessment, diagnosis, 
     treatment, and management of acute and chronic pain.
       ``(c) Designation of Centers.--(1) The Secretary shall 
     designate an appropriate number of facilities of the 
     Department as cooperative centers for research and education 
     on pain. Each such center shall be designated with a focus on 
     research and training on one or more of the following:
       ``(A) Acute pain.
       ``(B) Chronic pain.
       ``(C) A research priority identified under subsection 
     (b)(1).
       ``(2) The Secretary shall designate at least one of the 
     centers designated under paragraph (1) as a lead center for 
     research on pain attributable to central and peripheral 
     nervous system damage commonly associated with the 
     battlefield injuries characteristic of modern warfare.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall designate one of the centers 
     designated under paragraph (1) as the lead center for 
     coordinating the pain care research activities of the centers 
     designated under this subsection. The functions of such 
     center shall be the following:
       ``(A) To review and evaluate periodically the research of 
     the centers designated under this subsection and to ensure 
     that such research is conducted in accordance with the 
     research priorities identified pursuant to subsection (b)(1).
       ``(B) To collect and disseminate the results of the 
     research of the centers designated under this subsection.
       ``(C) To develop and disseminate educational materials and 
     products--
       ``(i) to enhance the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and 
     management of acute and chronic pain by the health care 
     professionals and facilities of the Veterans Health 
     Administration; and
       ``(ii) for veterans suffering from acute or chronic pain 
     and their families.
       ``(d) Award of Funding.--Centers designated under 
     subsection (c) may compete for the award of funding from 
     amounts appropriated to the Department each fiscal year for 
     medical and prosthetics research.
       ``(e) National Oversight.--The Under Secretary of Health 
     shall designate an appropriate officer--
       ``(1) to oversee the operation of the centers designated 
     under subsection (c); and
       ``(2) to review and evaluate periodically the performance 
     of such centers.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is

[[Page S12872]]

     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330 
     the following new item:

``7330A. Program of research and training on acute and chronic pain.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. AKAKA:
  S. 2162. a Bill to improve the treatment and services provided by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress 
disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I introduce comprehensive legislation 
to improve the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to care 
for veterans with invisible wounds.
  For too many veterans, returning home from battle will not bring an 
end to conflict. They will return home, but the war will follow them in 
their hearts and minds. Just as we support our troops as they fight in 
Iraq and Afghanistan, we must support them when they return from war 
marked by their service. Invisible wounds are complicated and wide-
ranging, and our solutions must rise to the challenge.
  What do we know about the scope of the problem? A March 2007 study 
published in the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that more than 
one-third of war veterans who have served in either Iraq or Afghanistan 
are suffering from various mental ailments, including post-traumatic 
stress disorder, anxiety, depression, substance use disorder and other 
problems. According to the study, a disproportionate number of young 
soldiers suffer mental health problems.
  There is no question that action is needed. One in five Iraq War 
veterans are likely to develop PTSD, as studies have estimated, and 
this is but one aspect of the mental health challenges faced by 
veterans.
  We also know that veterans suffering from physical and mental wounds 
use drugs and alcohol to assuage their pain. Experts believe that 
stress is the number one cause of drug abuse, and of relapse to drug 
abuse. Mr. President, 60 to 80 percent of Vietnam veterans who have 
sought PTSD treatment have alcohol use disorders. VA has been dealing 
with substance abuse issues for decades, but much remains to be done.
  On April 25, 2007, I chaired a Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing 
on veterans' mental health concerns and on VA's response. We heard 
heart-wrenching testimony from the witnesses. Randall Omvig spoke of 
his son's suicide upon returning from Iraq. Tony Bailey spoke of his 
son's struggle with substance abuse, and of his death. Patrick Campbell 
shared his own experience with PTSD and the experiences of his close 
friends. Witnesses urged us to learn, and they urged us to act.
  The provisions of this bill are a direct outgrowth of that hearing 
and the testimony given by those who have suffered with mental health 
issues, and by their family members.
  This bill addresses the immediate needs of veterans by ensuring high 
quality mental health services at VA facilities and in their 
communities. The bill also looks to the future. Our legislation has 
eleven core provisions. I will highlight some of them:
  First, VA medical centers would be required to offer a minimum range 
of services for veterans in need of help to overcome their substance 
use disorders. It would require programs to prevent relapse and to 
provide medical treatments to reduce cravings for alcohol and drugs, 
among others. Many VA facilities have some of these programs but there 
is no universal minimum.
  We know that there are large numbers of veterans suffering with a 
terrible confluence of substance use disorders and other mental health 
disorders. The bill would require that both issues be treated by a 
well-qualified team of health professionals who would treat the 
disorders concurrently.
  To ensure that innovative mental health services are tailored to 
individual communities, the legislation would create grants to enhance 
programs and fill holes. VA facilities would compete for grants for 
various purposes, from increasing weekend and evening hours to creating 
programs which encourage urgent care physicians, who are often gateways 
for new patients, to quickly refer those whom they believe may have a 
mental health disorder.
  Veterans with debilitating mental health issues, including substance 
use disorder and PTSD, may need inpatient care. VA has moved rapidly to 
reduce their inpatient mental health capacity, but there is no doubt 
that inpatient stays are necessary for many veterans. This legislation 
would require the VA Secretary to designate six inpatient facilities to 
provide recovery services for veterans with comorbid PTSD and substance 
use disorders.
  The legislation would also require a comprehensive review of VA's 
residential mental health facilities. This provision stems directly 
from the hearing testimony of Tony Bailey, whose son suffered from PTSD 
and substance abuse. Tony's son, Justin, died while in a VA 
domiciliary. He overdosed on medications provided to him by VA. 
Residential facilities are a necessary part of VA's effort to treat 
mental health problems and they must be up to par.
  It has been made clear to me, by mental health experts and veterans 
experiencing mental health problems, that families need to be much more 
involved in the care of their loved ones. Families are suffering in 
much the same way that veterans themselves are suffering. They must 
have access to care which will aid in the effective treatment and 
rehabilitation of a veteran. An existing provision of law allows such 
care for family members. Our legislation simply restates this law and 
clarifies the type of services to which family members should have 
access.
  Finally, our goal is to define the best possible treatments for 
veterans now and in the future. To that end, this legislation sets up a 
mental health research program based on the successful pediatric 
oncology model. We are proposing a network of sites with adequate 
patient flow and clinical and research expertise. The goal is to 
promote rapid progress from research to therapeutic advancement and 
effective treatments for PTSD and PTSD in the presence of a substance 
use disorder.
  An aggressive mental health agenda for veterans begins by providing 
VA with financial support. Our comprehensive legislation authorizes the 
creation of new programs and expansion of existing ones. While these 
changes amount to significant new funding, every dollar was included in 
our Committee's Views and Estimates Letter to the Budget Committee. The 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs requested a $700 million dollar increase 
in fiscal year 2008 for mental health programs, and the full Senate 
supported this level in the final budget resolution. A similar level of 
funding was supported by the full Senate in the VA appropriation bill.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this innovative and 
comprehensive legislation, which will bring hope and progress to many 
veterans suffering from invisible wounds.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 2164. A bill to establish a Science and Technology Scholarship 
Program to award scholarships to recruit and prepare students for 
careers in the National Weather Service and in National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration marine research, atmospheric research, and 
satellite programs and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, today I introduce the NOAA Scholarship Act 
of 2007 with my colleague from Mississippi, Senator Cochran. This bill 
provides a scholarship program for promising students who seek to 
pursue an education in a relevant field of study and commit to work for 
a branch of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, 
including the National Weather Service, upon graduation.
  Few can contend with the fact that there is a shortage of American 
students devoting themselves to the study of science, math and 
engineering. However, the demand for trained individuals in these 
professions is rising. In order to achieve their missions, Federal 
organizations like NOAA require a cadre of young talent to enter the 
workforce with training in fields like meteorology, hydrology, and 
oceanography.
  In my great State of Oklahoma, we know the importance of NOAA, and 
particularly the study of meteorology. Two weeks ago, I met with a 
group of Fire Marshalls who informed me that there are more declared 
natural disasters per capita in Oklahoma than in

[[Page S12873]]

any other State in the Union. In May of each year, we experience an 
average of twenty tornadoes. In fact, the fastest wind speed ever 
recorded was in one of the May tornadoes to hit Oklahoma in 1999. As 
Oklahomans, we know that having accurate and timely reporting of 
atmospheric changes can mean the difference between life and death.
  It is no surprise, then, that the University of Oklahoma, OU, has 
developed an exceptional program for the study of meteorology. The OU 
School of Meteorology is the largest meteorology program in the nation, 
with over 320 undergraduate students and 80 graduate students. It ranks 
first in the Nation in severe storms and mesoscale research and is 
among the top seven meteorology programs in the country. OU President 
David Boren, my predecessor in the Senate, targets the OU School of 
Meteorology to become the leading radar meteorology program in the 
world.
  The OU School of Meteorology is fortunate to have a state of the art 
facility in the recently constructed National Weather Center. In this 
244,000 square foot structure, federal, state, and OU organizations 
partner together to better understand weather events occurring in the 
atmosphere. The research that occurs in this center is truly 
groundbreaking. The scientists who work at NWC, many of them working 
with NOAA, have expertise in severe weather, local and regional 
climate, numerical modeling, hydrology, and radar meteorology. Their 
work is both abstract and tangible, using theory and advanced 
scientific research to improve the lives of individuals in Oklahoma and 
around the world.
  The National Weather Center is the home of many notable achievements. 
NWC scientists were able to demonstrate that the Doppler weather radar 
can be useful in detecting tornadoes, hail, and other severe weather 
events. Using the Doppler radar, they have developed numerical 
forecasting models for government and industry applications. 
The scientists at NWC are also known for taking risks to discover new 
and improved ways of collecting data and making observations; for 
example, they can be credited with showing the effectiveness of rapidly 
deployable, truck-mounted radars that they drive into the middle of 
fierce storms.

  It is with the first-hand knowledge of the important work of the 
National Weather Service and the National Oceanic Atmospheric 
Administration's research in marine research, atmospheric research, and 
satellite programs that I introduce this bill. The NOAA Scholarship Act 
of 2007 will establish a scholarship program for promising students who 
desire to pursue an education in a relevant field of study and then 
serve as full-time employees of NOAA at the completion of their 
degrees. The students will be required to work for NOAA for 24 months 
in return for each academic year that a scholarship is given. This 
program will provide an opportunity and an incentive for students to 
develop scientific expertise that will continue to enable NOAA, at 
facilities like the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma and 
elsewhere, to attain its mission.
  On September 17, 2007, the House of Representatives passed identical 
legislation, H.R. 1657, by a vote of 360-16. I request that the Senate 
move quickly on this bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2164

       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 ``NOAA Scholarship Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 2. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment of Program.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator is authorized to 
     establish a Science and Technology Scholarship Program to 
     award scholarships to individuals to recruit and prepare 
     students for careers in the National Weather Service and in 
     Administration marine research, atmospheric research, and 
     satellite programs.
       (2) Competitive process.--Individuals shall be selected to 
     receive scholarships under the scholarship program through a 
     competitive process primarily on the basis of academic merit, 
     with consideration given to financial need and the goal of 
     promoting the participation of individuals described in 
     section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in the 
     scholarship program.
       (3) Service agreements.--To carry out the scholarship 
     program, the Administrator shall enter into contractual 
     agreements with individuals selected under paragraph (2) 
     under which the individuals agree to serve as full-time 
     employees of the Administration, for the period described in 
     subsection (f)(1), in positions needed by the Administration 
     in fields described in paragraph (1) and for which the 
     individuals are qualified, in exchange for receiving a 
     scholarship.
       (b) Scholarship Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to 
     participate in the scholarship program, an individual shall--
       (1) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time 
     student at an institution of higher education in an academic 
     program or field of study described in the list made 
     available under subsection (d);
       (2) be a citizen or permanent resident of the United 
     States; and
       (3) at the time of the initial scholarship award, not be an 
     employee (as that term is defined in section 2105 of title 5, 
     United States Code) of the United States.
       (c) Application Required.--An individual seeking a 
     scholarship under the scholarship program shall submit an 
     application to the Administrator at such time, in such 
     manner, and containing such information, agreements, or 
     assurances as the Administrator may require to carry out this 
     section.
       (d) Eligible Academic Programs.--The Administrator shall 
     make publicly available a list of academic programs and 
     fields of study for which scholarships may be utilized in 
     fields described in subsection (a)(1), and shall update the 
     list as necessary.
       (e) Scholarship Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator may provide a 
     scholarship under the scholarship program for an academic 
     year if the individual applying for the scholarship has 
     submitted to the Administrator, as part of the application 
     required under subsection (c), a proposed academic program 
     leading to a degree in a program or field of study on the 
     list made available under subsection (d).
       (2) Duration of eligibility.--An individual may not receive 
     a scholarship under the scholarship program for more than 4 
     academic years, unless the Administrator grants a waiver.
       (3) Scholarship amount.--The dollar amount of a scholarship 
     under the scholarship program for an academic year shall be 
     determined under regulations issued by the Administrator, but 
     may not exceed the cost of attendance, as described in 
     paragraph (4).
       (4) Authorized uses.--A scholarship provided under the 
     scholarship program may be expended for tuition, fees, and 
     other authorized expenses as established by the Administrator 
     by regulation.
       (5) Contracts regarding direct payments to institutions.--
     The Administrator may enter into a contractual agreement with 
     an institution of higher education under which the amounts 
     provided for a scholarship under this section for tuition, 
     fees, and other authorized expenses are paid directly to the 
     institution with respect to which the scholarship is 
     provided.
       (f) Period of Obligated Service.--
       (1) Duration of service.--Except as provided in subsection 
     (h)(2), the period of service for which an individual shall 
     be obligated to serve as an employee of the Administration 
     shall be 24 months for each academic year for which a 
     scholarship under the scholarship program is provided.
       (2) Schedule for service.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     obligated service under paragraph (1) shall begin not later 
     than 60 days after the individual obtains the educational 
     degree for which the scholarship was provided.
       (B) Deferral.--The Administrator may defer the obligation 
     of an individual to provide a period of service under 
     paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines that such a 
     deferral is appropriate. The Administrator shall prescribe 
     the terms and conditions under which a service obligation may 
     be deferred through regulation.
       (g) Penalties for Breach of Scholarship Agreement.--
       (1) Failure to complete academic training.--Scholarship 
     recipients who fail to maintain a high level of academic 
     standing, as defined by the Administrator by regulation, who 
     are dismissed from their educational institutions for 
     disciplinary reasons, or who voluntarily terminate academic 
     training before graduation from the educational program for 
     which the scholarship was awarded, shall be in breach of 
     their contractual agreement and, in lieu of any service 
     obligation arising under such agreement, shall be liable to 
     the United States for repayment not later than 1 year after 
     the date of default of all scholarship funds paid to them and 
     to the institution of higher education on their behalf under 
     the agreement, except as provided in subsection (h)(2). The 
     repayment period may be extended by the Administrator when 
     determined to be necessary, as established by regulation.
       (2) Failure to begin or complete the service obligation or 
     meet the terms and conditions of deferment.--Except as 
     provided in subsection (h), an individual who receives a 
     scholarship under the scholarship program and who, for any 
     reason, fails to begin or complete a service obligation under 
     this section after completion of academic

[[Page S12874]]

     training, or fails to comply with the terms and conditions of 
     deferment established by the Administrator pursuant to 
     subsection (f)(2)(B), shall be in breach of the contractual 
     agreement. Such an individual shall be liable to the United 
     States for an amount equal to--
       (A) the total amount received by the individual under the 
     scholarship program; plus
       (B) the amount of interest that would have been earned on 
     such amount, at the maximum legal prevailing rate as 
     determined by the Treasurer of the United States, during the 
     period between the date the amount was awarded to the 
     individual and the date of the breach of the agreement.
       (h) Waiver or Suspension of Obligation.--
       (1) Death of individual.--Any obligation of an individual 
     incurred under the scholarship program (or a contractual 
     agreement thereunder) for service or payment shall be 
     canceled upon the death of the individual.
       (2) Impossibility or extreme hardship.--The Administrator 
     shall by regulation provide for the partial or total waiver 
     or suspension of any obligation of service or payment 
     incurred by an individual under the scholarship program (or a 
     contractual agreement thereunder) whenever compliance by the 
     individual is impossible or would involve extreme hardship to 
     the individual, or if enforcement of such obligation with 
     respect to the individual would be contrary to the best 
     interests of the United States.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
        (a) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
       (b) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department 
     of Commerce.
       (c) Cost of Attendance.--The term ``cost of attendance'' 
     has the meaning given that term in section 472 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
       (d) Institution of Higher Education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (e) Scholarship Program.--The term ``scholarship program'' 
     means the Science and Technology Scholarship Program 
     established under section 2(a).

                          ____________________