[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. Begich):
  S. 957. 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; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, traumatic brain injury, TBI, is becoming 
an increasingly common injury on the modern battlefield. Thankfully, 
because of advances in medicine, service-members who would not have 
been expected to survive catastrophic attacks in previous conflicts are 
returning home today from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with 
unprecedented severe and complex injuries. Since 2001, over 1,500 
service members have suffered from a severe TBI, many of whom require 
rehabilitative programs ranging from total care for the most basic 
needs to semi-independent living support. A restrictive approach to 
rehabilitation puts these wounded warriors at risk of losing any 
progress they made towards recovery. For this reason, my colleague, 
Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, and I are introducing the Veterans' 
Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 
2011. I would also like to thank my House colleagues, Rep. Tim Walz of 
Minnesota and Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, for their support and 
leadership on the House companion version of this legislation.
  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. 957

       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''.

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