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# Legislative Bulletin.............................................\............March 28, 2007

**Contents:**

> **H.R. 1538 ---** Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007

H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007 (sponsored by Rep.
Skelton, D-MO), is scheduled to be considered on the House floor today,
March 28, 2007, subject to a structured rule ([**H.Res.
274**](http://www.rules.house.gov/SpecialRules_details.aspx?NewsID=2578)).
Below are the summaries of the 12 amendments made in order by the rule.
Amendments are debatable for 10 minutes, unless otherwise noted.
Summaries are based on RSC staff's review of *actual amendment text*.
For a summary of the underlying bill, see a separate RSC document
released yesterday.

RSC Contact: Joelle Cannon; <joelle.cannon@mail.house.gov>; 202.226.0718

**1. *Barrow (D-GA).*** Would repeal the current \$3 deductible, which
the VA can deduct from a travel reimbursement provided to veterans for
medical-related travel. The amendment would also amend the formula for
determining the mileage reimbursement rate to veterans under the
beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary of Veterans\'
Affairs.  The amendment directs the VA to use the mileage reimbursement
rates for the use of privately owned vehicles by government employees
for official business.

**2. *Skelton (D-MO)*.** Would require that the tracking system for
reports to medical authorities regarding wounded warrior symptoms of
post-traumatic stress disorder or suicidal tendencies provided for in
the underlying bill, be developed not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment and that the results be included in the Congressional
reporting requirement. 

**3. Kline (R-MN).** Would amend the provisions in the bill related to
the new DoD Medical Support Fund, directing DoD to ensure that \$10
million of amounts authorized for the Fund is transferred from the Fund
to "support programs, activities, and facilities associated with the
Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment program." The amendment directs
the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment program to use the \$10
million as follows:

-   \$6.5 million for case management and patient support;

-   \$1.2 million for Wounded Warrior interim Regimental Headquarters
    Building conversion;

-   \$1.3 million for case management system development; and

-   \$95,000 for support equipment.

**4. *Sestak (D-PA)/Kennedy, Patrick (D-RI)*.** Would add a definition
to Section 2 of the bill that states: "the term 'medical care' includes
mental health care."

**5. *Brown, Corinne (D-FL)*.** Would add a new section to the
provisions in the bill creating the new medical hot line for veterans,
requiring that individuals seeking to provide information through the
hot line are to be notified of their option to have their identity
remain confidential. The amendment provides that if an individual
chooses to maintain their confidentiality, any individual who, by
necessity, has had access to this information for purposes of conducting
the investigation or executing the response to the information, may not
disclose the identity of the individual who provided the information.

**6. *Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D-TX)*.** Would require that the report
regarding training provided to medical personnel include specific
recommendations to ensure that the health care professionals, medical
care case managers, and service member advocates are adequately trained
and able to detect early warning signs of Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder, suicidal tendencies, and other mental health conditions among
recovering service members.

**7. *Kennedy, Patrick (D-RI)/Sestak (D-PA)*.** Would insert a new
section into the bill requiring the *DoD* to develop and implement a
plan to incorporate evidence-based preventive and early-intervention
measures that reduce the likelihood that personnel in combat will
develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other stress-related
psychopathologies (including substance abuse conditions). These measures
would be included in basic and pre-deployment training for enlisted
members of the armed forces, noncommissioned officers, and officers, as
well as combat theater operations and post-deployment services. In
addition, the amendment would direct DoD, in consultation with the VA
and NIGH, to conduct the research necessary to carry out the above
requirement. The amendment would direct DoD to determine the feasibility
of establishing a working group tasked with researching and developing
evidence-based measures, practices and procedures that reduce the
likelihood that personnel in combat will develop Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder and other stress-related psychopathologies. Finally, the
amendment would direct DoD to submit to Congress **a plan for a
peer-reviewed research program at the Defense Health Program's research
and development function** to research and develop the preventative
measures outlined above.

**8. *Hooley (D-OR).*** Would provide that members of the reserve
component returning from combat theater, if the individual requires
treatment on an outpatient basis for injures sustained during combat,
may be provided treatment at the military medical treatment facility
closest to their home, rather than closest to the base from which they
were deployed.

**9. Hensarling (R-TX).** Would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to conduct a study to determine what the average length of time is
between the date for which a veteran requests an appointment and the
date he is able to receive care.  Also requires that the Secretary
report back to Congress within 180 days with recommendations as to how
this time could be decreased to 15 days. 

**10. Bilirakis (R-FL). Would create a new office at the DoD,** the
Department of Defense-wide Ombudsman Office. The function of the office
would be to provide policy guidance to, and oversight of, the ombudsman
offices in the military departments. The Office would develop policy
guidelines regarding providing assistance to recovering service members
and their families in a number of different areas including support
services and transition to the VA. The amendment would also require the
Office to submit status reports of actions taken to address individual
concerns, and the DoD to would be required to ensure that all offices
within the DoD respond in a timely manner to resolve questions and
requests from the Ombudsman Office.

**11. Buchanan (R-FL).** Would direct DoD to conduct a study on the
feasibility of developing a joint soldier tracking system for recovering
service members, and to submit to Congress their findings, within 180
days of enactment.

**12. *Welch (D-VT)*.** Would require the DoD and VA to provide medical
care managers and service member advocates with the resources needed to
"expeditiously" carry out their work. Would also require the DoD to make
available to each individual in an outpatient status at a military
medical facility, and to their families, information on the services
provided by the medical care case managers and member advocates,
including information on how to contact them and how to use their
services.