**Summary of H.R. 2199**

**Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement\
and Long-Term Support Act of 2007**

**Title:** To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain improvements in the
treatment of individuals with traumatic brain injuries, and for other
purposes.

**Mr. Michaud** introduced H.R. 2199 on May 8, 2007.

**H.R. 2199, as amended, would:**

1.  Require the Secretary to establish a screening program to screen
    veterans for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

2.  Require the Secretary to submit a report on the number of veterans
    screened, prevalence of TBI symptoms, and recommendations for
    improving care.

3.  Require the Secretary to establish a comprehensive program of
    long-term care of post-acute traumatic brain injury rehabilitation
    at four geographically dispersed polytrauma network sites designated
    by the Secretary. Require the Secretary to submit a report
    containing the description of the program, number of veterans
    provided care under the program, and the annual cost of operating
    the program.

4.  Require the Secretary to establish a TBI transition office at each
    Department polytrauma network site to coordinate health care and
    services to veterans who suffer from moderate to severe traumatic
    brain injuries.

5.  Authorize the Secretary the authority to arrange health care and
    services through cooperative agreements with public or private
    entities who have established long-term neurobehavioral
    rehabilitation and recovery programs.

6.  Require the Secretary to establish and maintain a registry of those
    members who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi
    Freedom (OEF/OIF) who exhibit symptoms associated with TBI.

7.  Require the Secretary to notify those listed in the Registry of
    developments in research on health consequences of military service
    in OEF/OIF theaters.

8.  Require the Secretary to establish centers for TBI research,
    education, and clinical activities.

9.  Require the Secretary to submit a report on the status and
    activities of the centers to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of
    the Senate and house of Representatives.

10. Authorize appropriations to the VA for the centers in the amount of
    \$10 million for FY 2008 and \$20 million for each fiscal year 2009
    through 2011.

11. Require the Secretary to establish a Committee on the care of
    veterans with TBI. The Committee will assess the capability of the
    Veterans Health Administration's to meet the treatment and
    rehabilitation needs of veterans with TBI.

12. Require the Secretary to submit a report annually on the activities
    of the committee to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
    Senate and House of Representatives.

13. Require the Secretary to carry out a pilot program for three years
    to provide mobile readjustment counseling, related mental health
    services, benefits outreach, and to the extent practicable,
    assistance with claims for veterans' benefits to veterans in five
    Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISNs 1, 16, 19, 20, and 23).

14. Require the Secretary to submit a report not later than 90 days
    after the termination of the pilot program to the Committees on
    Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.

15. Authorize appropriations of \$7.5 million for FY 2008 and each
    subsequent fiscal year.

16. Require the Secretary to establish an Advisory Committee on Rural
    Veterans that will advise the Secretary with respect to the
    administration of benefits for rural veterans, reports and studies
    pertaining to rural veterans, and the medical, mental and long-term
    care needs of rural veterans.

17. Require the Secretary to submit the reports and recommendations of
    the Committee annually to Congress.

**Effective Date:** Date of Enactment

**Cost:** CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost the
Department of Veterans Affairs \$27 million in 2008 and \$138 million
over the 2008-2012 period, assuming the appropriation of the necessary
amounts.

**Legislative History:**

May 10, 2007: Ordered reported by the Subcommittee on Health.

May 15, 2007: Ordered reported, amended, by the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs.

May 23, 2007: Reported, as amended, H. Rept. 110-166.

May 23, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays: 421-0 (Roll No.
413)

> Jan. 28, 2008: Provisions of section 2 of the bill were included in
> H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008