69–010 

Calendar No. 540 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 110–247 

ESTABLISHING EPILEPSY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN 

THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 

DECEMBER 12, 2007.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. AKAKA, from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 2004] 

The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (hereinafter, ‘‘the Committee’’), to which was referred the bill (S. 2004) to amend title 38, 

United States Code, to establish epilepsy centers of excellence in 

the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass. 

INTRODUCTION

On August 3, 2007, Senator Murray, for herself and Senator 

Craig, introduced S. 2004. S. 2004 would designate six health care 

facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs as centers of excellence for research, education, and clinical care of epilepsy. S. 2004 

is also cosponsored by Senators Lincoln and Obama. 

On October 24, 2007, the Committee held a hearing on pending 

veterans’ health legislation at which testimony was offered by: the 

Honorable Michael J. Kussman, M.D., M.S., M.A.C.P., Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, accompanied by 

Walter Hall, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Veterans 

Affairs; Carl Blake, National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Joy J. Ilem, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled Veterans of America; Brenda Murdough, M.S.N., RN– 

C, Military/Veterans Initiative Coordinator, American Pain Foundation; Brien J. Smith, M.D., Director, Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, 

Henry Ford Hospital; and Capt. Constance Walker, USN (Ret.), 

President, Southern Maryland Chapter of the National Alliance on 

Mental Illness. 


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Earlier, on May 23, 2007, the Committee held a hearing on pending veterans’ health legislation. The testimony of John Booss, M.D., 

American Academy of Neurology included a discussion about epilepsy care and research within VA and the veteran population. 

COMMITTEE MEETING

After carefully reviewing the testimony from the foregoing hearings, the Committee met in open session on November 14, 2007, to 

consider, among other legislation, S. 2004. The Committee voted 

unanimously to report favorably S. 2004. 

SUMMARY OF S. 2004 AS REPORTED

S. 2004, as reported, (hereinafter, ‘‘the Committee bill’’) would establish within the Veterans Health Administration epilepsy centers 

of excellence. 

Section (a) of the Committee bill would amend chapter 73 of title 

38, United States Code, by adding a new section 7330A, consisting 

of six subsections (a) through (f) as follows: 

New subsection (a) would require the Secretary to designate not 

less than six Department health care facilities as locations for epilepsy centers of excellence, and, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish and operate such centers. 

New subsection (b) would stipulate that the Secretary may not 

designate a Department health care facility as a location for an epilepsy center of excellence without the approval of the peer review 

panel established under new subsection (c). 

New subsection (c) would establish a peer review panel to assess 

the scientific and clinical merit of proposals submitted to the Secretary for the designation of epilepsy centers of excellence. This 

subsection would also set forth requirements concerning the composition and operation of the peer review panel. 

New subsection (d) would define ‘‘epilepsy center of excellence’’ as 

a facility that has, or can develop, the necessary capacity to function as a center of excellence in research, education, and clinical 

care activities in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. 

New subsection (e) would require the Secretary to designate an 

individual in the VHA to act as a national coordinator for epilepsy 

programs of the VHA, and would specify the duties of that coordinator. 

New subsection (f) would authorize $6,000,000 to be appropriated 

for the operation of the centers under this section for each fiscal 

year 2008 through 2012. In addition, such sums as may be necessary would be authorized to be appropriated to fund the national 

coordinator designated under subsection (e). 

Section (b) of the Committee bill would make a clerical amendment to the table of contents of chapter 73 of title 38. 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

The Committee bill would add a new section 7330A to title 38, 

United States Code, which would require the Secretary to designate not less than six Department facilities as locations for epilepsy centers of excellence. For a wide range of diseases and disabilities, VA Centers of Excellence are the model of innovation in 

the delivery of specialized health care and research. As discussed 


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below, the centers would fill gaps in research, care, and education 

for epilepsy. 

The need for these centers has been demonstrated by both past 

experience and current research. Following the return of veterans 

from Vietnam, VA became a leader in research and treatment of 

epilepsy. VA’s efforts were, however, reactive, and the opportunity 

to intervene early to prevent epilepsy was missed. 

Dr. John Booss, of the American Academy of Neurology, and formerly the national director of neurology for the VA, said in testimony before the Committee on May 23, 2007, that 

At one point, the VA was a national leader in care and research for patients with epilepsy. As early as 1972 the VA 

recognized the need for VA health centers that specialized 

in epilepsy. But starting in the 1990’s these epilepsy centers have languished due to lack of funds. 

This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Brien J. Smith, Medical Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the Henry Ford 

Hospital in Detroit, in testimony before the Committee on October 

24, 2007. 

The VA established Epilepsy Centers as early as 1972, but 

these Centers have languished over the years with few 

staff and no national budget. The net result of allowing 

these Centers to fall by the wayside is that veterans with 

post traumatic brain injury epilepsy are at the variable 

mercy of a system with markedly uneven distribution of 

epilepsy services. This often results in denial of services in 

locations without the necessary epilepsy facilities and in 

which administrators are hard pressed to meet their budget. Sadly, the potential of these Centers to be the backbone 

of a national epilepsy program never materialized. 

The centers of excellence that would be created by this bill would 

provide VA with the wherewithal to research the connection between epilepsy and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and to provide 

timely care to veterans who develop epilepsy. 

Although we do not yet have data on post-traumatic epilepsy for 

current conflicts, past experience suggests the rate may be high. 

Statistics from the Vietnam era indicate that soldiers with an open 

TBI faced at least a fifty percent chance of experiencing epilepsy. 

VA-funded research conducted in collaboration with the Department of Defense found that 53 percent of veterans who suffered a 

penetrating TBI in Vietnam developed epilepsy within 15 years. 

The risk of epilepsy associated with closed TBI, a wound common 

among veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, has not been clearly established. Dr. Booss testified that ‘‘As 

neurologists, we believe that the rate of epilepsy from blast TBI 

will also be high.’’ The creation of national epilepsy centers of excellence is supported by the American Academy of Neurology, the Epilepsy Foundation, the Brain Injury Association of America, Disabled American 

Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Blinded Veterans Association, the Marine Corp League, Vietnam Veterans of America, 

Military Order of the Purple Heart and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. 


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Subsections (b) and (c) of new section 7330A would establish and 

define a peer review panel to assess the scientific and clinical merit 

of proposals submitted to the Secretary for the designation of epilepsy centers of excellence. A similar process is used by VA to create and award other centers of excellence to ensure the awards are 

based on objective criteria. Similar panels have been used in the 

creation of centers of excellence for Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Other government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), use this mechanism to award clinical center contracts. 

Subsection (d) of new section 7330A would define ‘‘epilepsy center 

of excellence’’, and describes the purpose of the centers. In designating the centers, facilities would have to demonstrate a number 

of qualifications, or the ability to meet such requirements, including those described below. 

Facilities would be required to have or develop an affiliation with 

an accredited medical school that provides education and training 

in neurology. In testimony before the Committee on May 23, 2007, 

Dr. John Booss said that 

A VA health care facility affiliated with a medical school 

that trains residents in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, including epilepsy surgery, would be able to attract 

the participation of clinicians and scientists capable of 

driving innovation in the prevention and treatment of 

post-traumatic epilepsy. 

Affiliations with research universities greatly expand the 

strength, range, and diversity of research capacities of affiliated VA 

research units. 

Facilities would also be required to have an advisory committee 

to advise the facility on policy matters pertaining to the activities 

of the center. Further, the facility would have to have the capability to conduct appropriate evaluations of the activities of the 

center. 

In the Committee’s view, the proposed new epilepsy centers of 

excellence would serve a number of essential purposes. Most importantly, the centers would improve quality of care for veterans 

around the country. In addition, the centers would prepare VA to 

meet the growing demand for specialized treatment of epilepsy and 

seizure disorders, a demand that is likely to grow, given the high 

incidence of TBI among veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom 

and Iraqi Freedom. 

The Committee is concerned that VA lacks clear evidence-based 

guidelines for the referral of veterans for epilepsy screening and 

treatment. To address this issue, facilities would be required to 

participate in research, education, and dissemination of clinical 

best-practices coordinated at a national level. These measures are 

essential to the effective promotion of quality care and treatment 

of epilepsy beyond the six centers to meet the needs of the entire 

veteran population. Coordination and collaboration with other Department facilities and centers, especially those focused on TBI, 

would also be required. 

The incidence of epilepsy among the veteran population is not 

precisely known, and the creation of these centers would improve 

VA’s ability to study this population. In the general population, the 


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incidence of epilepsy is approximately one percent. To study the 

veteran population more closely, VA officials appointed the Epilepsy Advisory Committee in 1999. This committee estimated that 

50,000 veterans were seeking care at VA facilities for epilepsy or 

seizure disorders at the time of the study. That number may have 

grown to 79,000, based on the national rate, and on the number of 

veterans enrolled in VA health care today. 

Subsection (e) of new section 7330A would require the Secretary 

to designate an individual in the VHA to act as a national coordinator for epilepsy programs of the VHA. The national coordinator 

would supervise the operation of the centers established by this 

Act, and would coordinate and support the promotion of research, 

education and care for epilepsy throughout the Department. The 

national coordinator would also be responsible for regularly evaluating the centers. 

Subsection (f) of new section 7330A would authorize the appropriation of $6,000,000 for the operation of the centers under this 

section for each fiscal year 2008 through 2012, and would authorize 

for each fiscal year after 2012 such sums as may be necessary for 

the operation of the centers. Centers established with sufficient 

funding would lay the foundation for enduring programs in epilepsy care, research, and education. Once established, the Centers 

would be equipped to compete for funding from NIH, and funds 

from other sources, to further advance care for veterans with 

epilepsy. 

In addition, the Committee bill would authorize the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to fund the national coordinator position that would be established by subsection (e). 

COMMITTEE BILL COST ESTIMATE

In compliance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee, based on information supplied 

by the CBO, estimates that enactment of the Committee bill would, 

relative to current law, increase discretionary spending by 

$3,000,000 in 2008 and by $31,000,000 over the 2008–2012 period, 

assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. The Committee 

bill would not increase direct spending, based on information supplied by the CBO. Enactment of the Committee bill would not affect receipts, and would not affect the budget of state, local or tribal governments. 

The cost estimate provided by CBO, setting forth a detailed 

breakdown of costs, follows: 

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, November 30, 2007. 

Hon. DANIEL K. AKAKA, 

Chairman, 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2004, a bill to amend title 

38, United States Code, to establish epilepsy centers of excellence 

in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 


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If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita D’Monte, who can 

be reached at 226-2840. 

Sincerely, 

PETER R. ORSZAG, 

Director. 

Enclosure. 

cc: Honorable Richard Burr, Ranking Member. 

S. 2004—A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish 

epilepsy centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 

purposes 

S. 2004 would require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish at least six centers of excellence for 

epilepsy research, education, and clinical care at VA health care facilities, and to appoint a national coordinator for those centers and 

for other epilepsy programs at the Veterans Health Administration. 

The bill would authorize the appropriation of $6 million each year 

over the 2008–2012 period and such sums as may be necessary for 

the national coordinator. CBO estimates that in addition to the 

specified authorizations, VA would require less than $500,000 annually for the national coordinator. 

In total, CBO estimates that implementing S. 2004 would cost $3 

million in 2008 and $31 million over the 2008–2012 period, assuming that the specified and estimated amounts are appropriated and 

that outlays follow historical spending patterns for similar programs. Enacting the bill would have no effect on direct spending 

or revenues. 

S. 2004 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D’Monte, who 

can be reached at 226–2840. This estimate was approved by Peter 

H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has made 

an evaluation of the regulatory impact that would be incurred in 

carrying out the Committee bill. The Committee finds that the 

Committee bill would not entail any regulation of individuals or 

businesses or result in any impact on the personal privacy of any 

individuals and that the paperwork resulting from enactment 

would be minimal. 

TABULATION OF VOTES CAST IN COMMITTEE

In compliance with paragraph 7 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the following is a tabulation of votes cast in 

person or by proxy by members of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs at its November 14, 2007 meeting. On that date, the Committee ordered S. 2004 reported favorably to the Senate, by voice 

vote. 


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AGENCY REPORT

On October 24, 2007, the Honorable Michael J. Kussman, Under 

Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, appeared before the Committee and submitted testimony on, among other 

things, S. 2004. Excerpts from this statement are reprinted below: 


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STATEMENT OF HON. MICHAEL J. KUSSMAN, UNDER 

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Good morning Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: 

Thank you for inviting me here today to present the Administration’s views on several bills that would affect Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs that provide veterans benefits and 

services. With me today is Walter A. Hall, Assistant General Counsel. I will address the five bills on today’s agenda and then I would 

be happy to answer any questions you and the Committee members 

may have. 

S. 2004 would require the Secretary, not later than 120 days 

after enactment of this provision, to designate at least six Department health-care facilities as epilepsy centers of excellence based 

on the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health (USH). 

The mandate to establish and operate these centers, however, 

would be subject to the availability of appropriations for this purpose. 

The bill defines an ‘‘epilepsy center of excellence’’ as a Department health-care facility that has (or in the foreseeable future can 

develop) the necessary capacity to function as a center of excellence 

in research, education, and clinical care activities in the diagnosis 

and treatment of epilepsy. To qualify as a center, the facility would 

need: 

• An affiliation with an accredited medical school that provides 

education and training in neurology (or may reasonably be anticipated to develop such an affiliation). • The ability to attract scientists of ingenuity and creativity. • An advisory committee composed of veterans and appropriate 

health-care and research representatives of the facility and of the 

affiliate. • The capability to effectively evaluate the activities of the 

centers. • The capability to coordinate the centers’ education, clinical 

care, and research activities. • The capability to develop a national consortium of providers 

with interest in treating epilepsy at VA medical centers; the consortium would have to include a designated epilepsy referral clinical in each Veterans Integrated Service Network. • The capability to assist in the expansion of VA’s use of information systems and databases to improve the quality and delivery 

of care. • The capability to assist in the expansion of VA’s tele-health 

program to develop, transmit, monitor, and review neurological diagnostic tests. 

• The ability to perform epilepsy research, education, and clinical care activities in collaboration with VA’s Poly-Trauma Centers. 


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A number of specific requirements governing the competitive selection of the six facilities are set forth in the bill, including a requirement that the Secretary consider appropriate geographic distribution when making the selections. 

S. 2004 would further mandate the designation of an individual 

in VHA to act as a national coordinator for VHA’s epilepsy programs. The bill includes a list of duties for that position, including 

that such individual report to the VHA official responsible for neurology. The bill would authorize $6 million for each of fiscal years 2008 

through 2012 to establish and operate the centers; such sums as 

may be necessary for operating the centers for each fiscal year 

after fiscal year 2012 would also be authorized. For the first three 

years of the centers operation, the bill would require that the centers be designated as a special purpose program in order to avoid 

funds for the centers being allocated through the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system. In addition to those amounts, the 

USH would be required to allocate such amounts as he deems appropriate from other funds made available to VHA. The bill includes a separate authorization of appropriations to fund the national coordinator position. 

VA does not support S. 2004. As I have discussed in the past, I 

am concerned that statutory mandates for ‘‘disease specific’’ centers 

have the potential to fragment care in what is otherwise a well-designed, world-class integrated health care system. I am increasingly concerned about the proliferation of this disease-specific 

model and its impact on patient care and VA’s integrated health 

care model. As it relates to a particular disease, I believe that it 

is much more important for VA to disseminate the best in evidencebased practices across its health care system than to establish centers that provide care for a particular disease. 

Treating epilepsy, like every other serious condition, requires an 

interdisciplinary approach. By mandating new ‘‘education, research, and clinical centers’’ that are disease-specific, flexibility to 

respond to changing combinations of related conditions is reduced. 

The centers’ mandated collaboration with VA’s Poly-trauma Centers would not cure this short-coming. 

It is also important to note that the ‘‘models’’ on which these Epilepsy Centers are based, the successful Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) and Mental Illness Research, 

Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) programs, are not narrowly-focused on a disease process but address a wide gamut of 

issues facing a significant portion of the veteran population. 

* * * * * * * 


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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with rule XXVI paragraph 12 of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, as 

reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman). 

TITLE 38—VETERANS BENEFITS 

PART V—BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND 

SERVICES 

CHAPTER 73—VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION— 

ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 7330A. EPILEPSY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 

* * * * * * * 

Subchapter II—General Authority and Administration 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 7330A. EPILEPSY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS.—(1) Not later than 120 days 

after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall, 

upon the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, designate not less than six Department health-care facilities as the locations for epilepsy centers of excellence. 

(2) Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, 

the Secretary shall establish and operate epilepsy centers of excellence at the locations designated pursuant to paragraph (1). 

(b) DESIGNATION OF FACILITIES.—(1) The Secretary may not designate a Department health-care facility as a location for an epilepsy center of excellence under subsection (a)(1) unless the peer review panel established under subsection (c) has determined under 

that subsection that the proposal submitted by such facility seeking 

designation as a location for an epilepsy center of excellence is 

among those proposals that meet the highest competitive standards 

of scientific and clinical merit. 

(2) In choosing from among the facilities meeting the requirements of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall also consider appropriate geographic distribution when designating the epilepsy centers 

of excellence under subsection (a)(1). 

(c) PEER REVIEW PANEL.—(1) The Under Secretary for Health 

shall establish a peer review panel to assess the scientific and clinVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:16 Dec 13, 2007 Jkt 069010 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\SR247.XXX SR247

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ical merit of proposals that are submitted to the Secretary for the 

designation of epilepsy centers of excellence under this section. 

(2)(A) The membership of the peer review panel shall consist of experts on epilepsy, including post-traumatic epilepsy. 

(B) Members of the peer review panel shall serve for a period of 

no longer than two years, except as specified in subparagraph (C). 

(C) Of the members first appointed to the panel, one half shall be 

appointed for a period of three years and one half shall be appointed for a period of two years, as designated by the Under Secretary at the time of appointment. 

(3) The peer review panel shall review each proposal submitted to 

the panel by the Under Secretary for Health and shall submit its 

views on the relative scientific and clinical merit of each such proposal to the Under Secretary. 

(4) The peer review panel shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. 

(d) EPILEPSY CENTER OF EXCELLENCE DEFINED.—In this section, 

the term ‘‘epilepsy center of excellence’’ means a Department healthcare facility that has (or in the foreseeable future can develop) the 

necessary capacity to function as a center of excellence in research, 

education, and clinical care activities in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and has (or may reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the following: 

(1) An affiliation with an accredited medical school that provides education and training in neurology, including an arrangement with such school under which medical residents receive education and training in the diagnosis and treatment of 

epilepsy (including neurosurgery). 

(2) The ability to attract the participation of scientists who 

are capable of ingenuity and creativity in health-care research 

efforts. 

(3) An advisory committee composed of veterans and appropriate health-care and research representatives of the facility 

and of the affiliated school or schools to advise the directors of 

such facility and such center on policy matters pertaining to the 

activities of the center during the period of the operation of such 

center. 

(4) The capability to conduct effectively evaluations of the activities of such center. 

(5) The capability to coordinate (as part of an integrated national system) education, clinical care, and research activities 

within all facilities with such centers. 

(6) The capability to develop jointly a national consortium of 

providers with interest in treating epilepsy at Department 

health-care facilities lacking such centers in order to ensure better access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, research, clinical care, 

and education for traumatic brain injury and epilepsy throughout the health-care system of the Department. Such consortium 

should include a designated epilepsy referral clinic in each Veterans Integrated Service Network. 

(7) The capability to assist in the expansion of the Department’s use of information systems and databases to improve the 

quality and delivery of care for veterans enrolled within the Department’s health care system. 


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(8) The capability to assist in the expansion of the Department telehealth program to develop, transmit, monitor, and review neurological diagnostic tests. 

(9) The ability to perform epilepsy research, education, and 

clinical care activities in collaboration with Department medical facilities that have centers for research, education, and 

clinical care activities on complex multi-trauma associated with 

combat injuries established under section 7327 of this title. 

(e) NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR EPILEPSY PROGRAMS.—(1) To assist the Secretary and the Under Secretary for Health in carrying 

out this section, the Secretary shall designate an individual in the 

Veterans Health Administration to act as a national coordinator for 

epilepsy programs of the Veterans Health Administration. 

(2) The duties of the national coordinator for epilepsy programs 

shall include the following: 

(A) To supervise the operation of the centers established pursuant to this section. 

(B) To coordinate and support the national consortium of providers with interest in treating epilepsy at Department healthcare facilities lacking such centers in order to ensure better access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, research, clinical care, and 

education for traumatic brain injury and epilepsy throughout 

the health-care system of the Department. 

(C) To conduct regular evaluations of the epilepsy centers of 

excellence to ensure compliance with the requirements of this 

section. 

(3) In carrying out duties under this subsection, the national coordinator for epilepsy programs shall report to the official of the Veterans Health Administration responsible for neurology. 

(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) There are authorized 

to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 

2012 for the support of the clinical care, research, and education activities of the epilepsy centers of excellence established and operated 

pursuant to subsection (a)(2). 

(2) There are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year 

after fiscal year 2012 such sums as may be necessary for the support 

of the clinical care, research, and education activities of the epilepsy 

centers of excellence established and operated pursuant to subsection 

(a)(2). 

(3) The Secretary shall ensure that funds for such centers are designated for the first three years of operation as a special purpose 

program for which funds are not allocated through the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system. 

(4) In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated under 

paragraphs (1) and (2) for a fiscal year, the Under Secretary for 

Health shall allocate to such centers from other funds appropriated 

generally for the Department medical services account and medical 

and prosthetics research account, as appropriate, such amounts as 

the Under Secretary for Health determines appropriate. 

(5) In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated under 

paragraphs (1) and (2) for a fiscal year, there are authorized to be 


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appropriated such sums as may be necessary to fund the national 

coordinator established by subsection (e). 

Æ 


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