II 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3517 

To enhance the services available to members of the Armed Forces returning 

from deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 

Freedom to assist such members in transitioning to civilian life, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 15, 2006 

Mrs. CLINTON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To enhance the services available to members of the Armed 

Forces returning from deployment in Operation Iraqi 

Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom to assist 

such members in transitioning to civilian life, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Heroes at Home Act 

5 of 2006’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF TASK FORCE ON MENTAL 

2 HEALTH ON TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE 

3 OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND 

4 RESERVE RETURNING FROM DEPLOYMENT 

5 IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPER6 ATION ENDURING FREEDOM. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 723 of the National De8 fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 

9 109–163; 119 Stat. 3348) is amended— 

10 (1) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), 

11 and (g) as subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respec12 tively; and 

13 (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol14 lowing new subsection (d): 

15 ‘‘(d) ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON

16 TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE OF MEMBERS OF NA17 TIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE RETURNING FROM DE18 PLOYMENT IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND ENDUR19 ING FREEDOM.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the activities 

21 required under subsection (c), the task force shall, 

22 not later than 12 months after the date of the enact23 ment of the Heroes at Home Act of 2006, submit 

24 to the Secretary a report containing an assessment 

25 of, and recommendations for improving, assistance 

26 to members of the National Guard and Reserve reVerDate Aug 31 2005 06:53 Jun 16, 2006 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3517.IS S3517

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1 turning from deployment in Operation Iraqi Free2 dom or Operation Enduring Freedom, and their 

3 families, in transitioning to civilian employment 

4 upon their return from such deployment, including— 

5 ‘‘(A) members who were self-employed be6 fore deployment and seek to return to such em7 ployment after deployment; 

8 ‘‘(B) members who were students before 

9 deployment and seek to return to school or 

10 commence employment after deployment; 

11 ‘‘(C) members who have experienced mul12 tiple recent deployments; and 

13 ‘‘(D) members who have been wounded or 

14 injured during deployment. 

15 ‘‘(2) WORKING GROUP.—In conducting the as16 sessment and making the recommendations required 

17 by paragraph (1), the task force shall utilize the as18 sistance of a working group that consists of individ19 uals selected by the task force from among individ20 uals as follows: 

21 ‘‘(A) With the concurrence of the Adminis22 trator of the Small Business Administration, 

23 personnel of the Small Business Administra24 tion. 


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1 ‘‘(B) Representatives of employers who 

2 employ members of the National Guard and Re3 serve described in paragraph (1) on their return 

4 to civilian life as described in that paragraph. 

5 ‘‘(C) Representatives of employee assist6 ance organizations. 

7 ‘‘(D) Representatives of associations of 

8 employers. 

9 ‘‘(E) Representatives of organizations that 

10 assist wounded or injured members of the Na11 tional Guard and Reserves in finding or sus12 taining employment. 

13 ‘‘(F) Representatives of such other public 

14 or private organizations and entities as the co15 chairs of the task force, in consultation with the 

16 members of the task force, consider appro17 priate. 

18 ‘‘(3) REPORT ELEMENTS.—The report required 

19 by paragraph (1) shall include recommendations on 

20 the following: 

21 ‘‘(A) The provision of outreach and train22 ing to employers, employment assistance orga23 nizations, and associations of employers on the 

24 employment, readjustment, and mental health 

25 needs of members of the National Guard and 


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1 Reserve described in paragraph (1) upon their 

2 return from deployment as described in that 

3 paragraph. 

4 ‘‘(B) The provision of outreach and train5 ing to employers, employment assistance orga6 nizations, and associations of employers on the 

7 needs of family members of such members. 

8 ‘‘(C) The improvement of collaboration be9 tween the pubic and private sectors in order to 

10 ensure the successful transition of such mem11 bers into civilian employment upon their return 

12 from such deployment. 

13 ‘‘(4) OTHER DUTIES.—In the period between 

14 the submittal of the report required by paragraph 

15 (1) and the termination of the task force under sub16 section (h), the task force (including the working 

17 group established under paragraph (2)) shall serve 

18 as an advisor to the Assistance Center for Employ19 ers and Employment Assistance Organizations es20 tablished under section 3 of the Heroes at Home Act 

21 of 2006. 

22 ‘‘(5) EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION

23 DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘employment 

24 assistance organization’ means an organization or 

25 entity, whether public or private, that provides asVerDate Aug 31 2005 06:53 Jun 16, 2006 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3517.IS S3517

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1 sistance to individuals in finding or retaining em2 ployment, including organizations and entities under 

3 military career support programs.’’. 

4 (b) REPORT.—Subsection (f) of such section, as re5 designated by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is further 

6 amended— 

7 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘RE8 PORT’’ and inserting ‘‘REPORTS’’; 

9 (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 

10 following new paragraph (1): 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The report submitted to 

12 the Secretary under each of subsections (c) and (d) 

13 shall include— 

14 ‘‘(A) a description of the activities of the 

15 task force under such subsection; 

16 ‘‘(B) the assessment and recommendations 

17 required by such subsection; and 

18 ‘‘(C) such other matters relating to the ac19 tivities of the task force under such subsection 

20 as the task force considers appropriate.’’; and 

21 (3) in paragraph (2)— 

22 (A) by striking ‘‘the report under para23 graph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘a report under para24 graph (1)’’; and 


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1 (B) by striking ‘‘the report as’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘such report as’’. 

3 (c) PLAN MATTERS.—Subsection (g) of such section, 

4 as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is fur5 ther amended— 

6 (1) by striking ‘‘the report from the task force 

7 under subsection (e)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘a report 

8 from the task force under subsection (f)(1)’’; and 

9 (2) by inserting ‘‘contained in such report’’ 

10 after ‘‘the task force’’ the second place it appears. 

11 (d) TERMINATION.—Subsection (h) of such section, 

12 as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is fur13 ther amended— 

14 (1) by inserting ‘‘with respect to the assessment 

15 and recommendations required by subsection (d)’’ 

16 after ‘‘the task force’’; and 

17 (2) by striking ‘‘subsection (e)(2)’’ and insert18 ing ‘‘subsection (f)(2)’’. 

19 SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR EMPLOYERS AND EM20 PLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS. 

21 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 

23 shall establish an office to assist employers, employ24 ment assistance organizations, and associations of 

25 employers in facilitating the successful transition to 


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1 civilian employment of members of the National 

2 Guard and Reserve returning from deployment in 

3 Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring 

4 Freedom. 

5 (2) DESIGNATION.—The office established 

6 under this subsection shall be known as the ‘‘Assist7 ance Center for Employers and Employment Assist8 ance Organizations’’ (in this section referred to as 

9 the ‘‘Center’’). 

10 (3) HEAD.—The Secretary shall designate an 

11 individual to act as the head of the Center. 

12 (4) INTEGRATION.—In establishing the Center, 

13 the Secretary shall ensure close communication be14 tween the Center and the military departments, in15 cluding the commands of the reserve components of 

16 the Armed Forces. 

17 (b) FUNCTIONS.—The Center shall have the following 

18 functions: 

19 (1) To provide education and technical assist20 ance to employers, employment assistance organiza21 tions, and associations of employers to assist them 

22 in facilitating the successful transition to civilian 

23 employment of members of the National Guard and 

24 Reserve described in subsection (a) on their return 

25 from deployment as described in that subsection. 


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1 (2) To provide education and technical assist2 ance to employers, employment assistance organiza3 tions, and associations of employers to assist them 

4 in facilitating the successful adjustment of family 

5 members of the National Guard and Reserve to the 

6 deployment and return from deployment of members 

7 of the National Guard and Reserve as described in 

8 that subsection. 

9 (c) RESOURCES TO BE PROVIDED.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the func11 tions specified in subsection (b), the Center shall 

12 provide employers, employment assistance organiza13 tions, and associations of employers resources, serv14 ices, and assistance that include the following: 

15 (A) Guidelines on best practices and effec16 tive strategies. 

17 (B) Education on the physical and mental 

18 health difficulties that can and may be experi19 enced by members of the National Guard and 

20 Reserve described in subsection (a) on their re21 turn from deployment as described in that sub22 section in transitioning to civilian employment, 

23 including difficulties arising from Post Trau24 matic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic 

25 brain injury (TBI), including education on— 


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1 (i) the detection of warning signs of 

2 such difficulties; 

3 (ii) the medical, mental health, and 

4 employment services available to such 

5 members, including materials on services 

6 offered by the Department of Defense, the 

7 Department of Veterans Affairs (including 

8 through the vet center program under sec9 tion 1712A of title 38, United States 

10 Code), the Department of Labor, military 

11 support programs, and community mental 

12 health clinics; and 

13 (iii) the mechanisms for referring 

14 such members for services described in 

15 clause (ii) and for other medical and men16 tal health screening and care when appro17 priate. 

18 (C) Education on the range and types of 

19 potential physical and mental health effects of 

20 deployment and post-deployment adjustment on 

21 family members of members of the National 

22 Guard and Reserve described in subsection (a), 

23 including education on— 


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1 (i) the detection of warning signs on 

2 such effects on family members of mem3 bers of the National Guard and Reserves; 

4 (ii) the medical, mental health, and 

5 employment services available to such fam6 ily members, including materials on such 

7 services as described in subparagraph 

8 (B)(ii); and 

9 (iii) mechanisms for referring such 

10 family members for services described in 

11 clause (ii) and for medical and mental 

12 health screening and care when appro13 priate. 

14 (D) Education on mechanisms, strategies, 

15 and resources for accommodating and employ16 ing wounded or injured members of the Na17 tional Guard and Reserves in work settings. 

18 (2) PROVISION OF RESOURCES.—The Center 

19 shall make resources, services, and assistance avail20 able under this subsection through such mechanisms 

21 as the head of the Center considers appropriate, in22 cluding the Internet, video conferencing, telephone 

23 services, workshops, trainings, presentations, group 

24 forums, and other mechanisms. 


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1 (d) PERSONNEL AND OTHER RESOURCES.—The Sec2 retary of Defense shall assign to the Center such per3 sonnel, funding, and other resources as are required to 

4 ensure the effective discharge by the Center of the func5 tions under subsection (b). 

6 (e) REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES.— 

7 (1) ANNUAL REPORT BY CENTER.—Not later 

8 than one year after the establishment of the Center, 

9 and annually thereafter, the head of the Center, in 

10 consultation with the Department of Defense Task 

11 Force on Mental Health (while in effect), shall sub12 mit to the Secretary of Defense a written report on 

13 the progress and outcomes of the Center during the 

14 one-year period ending on the date of such report. 

15 (2) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later 

16 than 60 days after receipt of a report under para17 graph (1), the Secretary shall transmit such report 

18 to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 

19 and the House of Representatives, together with— 

20 (A) such comments on such report, and 

21 such assessment of the effectiveness of the Cen22 ter, as the Secretary considers appropriate; and 

23 (B) such recommendations on means of 

24 improving the effectiveness of the Center as the 

25 Secretary considers appropriate. 


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1 (3) AVAILABILITY TO PUBLIC.—The Secretary 

2 shall take appropriate actions to make each report 

3 under paragraph (2) available to the public, includ4 ing through the Internet website of the Center. 

5 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 (1) EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ORGANIZA7 TION.—The term ‘‘employment assistance organiza8 tion’’ means an organization or entity, whether pub9 lic or private, that provides assistance to individuals 

10 in finding or retaining employment, including orga11 nizations and entities under military career support 

12 programs. 

13 (2) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TASK FORCE ON

14 MENTAL HEALTH.—The term ‘‘Department of De15 fense Task Force on Mental Health’’ means the De16 partment of Defense Task Force on Mental Health 

17 established under section 723 of the National De18 fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, as 

19 amended by section 2 of this Act. 

20 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

21 authorized to be appropriated to the Department of De22 fense to carry out this section amounts as follows: 

23 (1) For fiscal year 2007, $5,000,000. 

24 (2) For each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011, 

25 such sums as may be necessary. 


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1 SEC. 4. GRANTS ON ASSISTANCE IN COMMUNITY-BASED 

2 SETTINGS FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL 

3 GUARD AND RESERVE AND THEIR FAMILIES 

4 AFTER DEPLOYMENT IN OPERATION IRAQI 

5 FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREE6 DOM. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may 

8 award grants to eligible entities to carry out demonstra9 tion projects to assess the feasibility and advisability of 

10 utilizing community-based settings for the provision of as11 sistance to members of the National Guard and Reserve 

12 who serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation En13 during Freedom, and their families, after the return of 

14 such members from deployment in Operation Iraqi Free15 dom or Operation Enduring Freedom, as the case may 

16 be, including— 

17 (1) services to improve the reuniting of such 

18 members of the National Guard and Reserve and 

19 their families; 

20 (2) education to increase awareness of the phys21 ical and mental health difficulties that members of 

22 the National Guard and Reserve can and may expe23 rience on their return from such deployment, includ24 ing education on— 

25 (A) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 

26 (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI); and 


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1 (B) mechanisms for the referral of such 

2 members of the National Guard and Reserve 

3 for medical and mental health screening and 

4 care when necessary; and 

5 (3) education to increase awareness of the phys6 ical and mental health difficulties that family mem7 bers of such members of the National Guard and 

8 Reserve can and may experience on the return of 

9 such members from such deployment, including edu10 cation on— 

11 (A) depression, anxiety, and relationship 

12 problems; and 

13 (B) mechanisms for medical and mental 

14 health screening and care when appropriate. 

15 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible for the 

16 award of a grant under this section is any public or private 

17 non-profit organization, such as a community mental 

18 health clinic, family support organization, military support 

19 organization, law enforcement agency, community college, 

20 or public school. 

21 (c) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity seeking a grant 

22 under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Defense 

23 an application therefor in such manner, and containing 

24 such information, as the Secretary may require for pur25 poses of this section, including a description of how such 


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1 entity will work with the Department of Defense, the De2 partment of Veterans Affairs, State health agencies, other 

3 appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, family sup4 port organizations, and other community organization in 

5 undertaking activities described in subsection (a). 

6 (d) ANNUAL REPORTS BY GRANT RECIPIENTS.—An 

7 entity awarded a grant under this section shall submit to 

8 the Secretary of Defense on an annual basis a report on 

9 the activities undertaken by such entity during the pre10 ceding year utilizing amounts under the grant. Each re11 port shall include such information as the Secretary shall 

12 specify for purposes of this subsection. 

13 (e) ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

15 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an16 nually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall sub17 mit to Congress a report on activities undertaken 

18 under the grants awarded under this section. The 

19 report shall include recommendations for legislative, 

20 programmatic, or administrative action to improve 

21 or enhance activities under the grants awarded 

22 under this section. 

23 (2) AVAILABILITY TO PUBLIC.—The Secretary 

24 shall take appropriate actions to make each report 

25 under this subsection available to the public. 


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1 SEC. 5. LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN IN2 JURY INCURRED BY MEMBERS OF THE 

3 ARMED FORCES IN OPERATION IRAQI FREE4 DOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. 

5 (a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 

6 shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Af7 fairs, provide for a longitudinal study on the effects of 

8 traumatic brain injury incurred by members of the Armed 

9 Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Endur10 ing Freedom. The duration of the longitudinal study shall 

11 be 15 years. 

12 (b) SELECTION OF ENTITY FOR CONDUCT OF

13 STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation 

14 with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, select an entity to 

15 conduct the study required by subsection (a) from among 

16 private organizations or entities qualified to conduct the 

17 study. 

18 (c) ELEMENTS.—The study required by subsection 

19 (a) shall address the following: 

20 (1) The long-term effects of traumatic brain in21 jury on the overall readiness of the Armed Forces. 

22 (2) Mechanisms for improving body armor and 

23 helmets in order to protect members of the Armed 

24 Forces from sustaining traumatic brain injuries. 

25 (3) The long-term physical and mental health 

26 consequences of traumatic brain injuries incurred by 


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1 members of the Armed Forces during service in Op2 eration Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Free3 dom. 

4 (4) The health care, mental health care, and re5 habilitation needs of such members for such injuries 

6 after the completion of inpatient treatment through 

7 the Department of Defense, the Department of Vet8 erans Affairs, or both. 

9 (5) The type and availability of long-term care 

10 rehabilitation programs and services within and out11 side the Department of Defense and the Department 

12 of Veterans Affairs for such members for such inju13 ries, including community-based programs and serv14 ices and in-home programs and services. 

15 (d) REPORTS.— 

16 (1) PERIODIC AND FINAL REPORTS.—After the 

17 third, seventh, eleventh, and fifteenth years of the 

18 study required by subsection (a), the Secretary of 

19 Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretary of 

20 Veterans Affairs, submit to the appropriate elements 

21 of the Department of Defense and the Department 

22 of Veterans Affairs, and to Congress, a comprehen23 sive report on the results of the study during the 

24 preceding years. Each report shall include the fol25 lowing: 


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1 (A) Current information on the cumulative 

2 outcomes of the study. 

3 (B) In the case of a report to elements of 

4 the Department of Defense— 

5 (i) such recommendations as the Sec6 retary of Defense considers appropriate for 

7 programmatic and administrative action to 

8 improve body armor and helmets to protect 

9 members of the Armed Forces from sus10 taining traumatic brain injuries; and 

11 (ii) such other recommendations as 

12 the Secretary considers appropriate based 

13 on the outcomes of the study. 

14 (C) In the case of a report to elements of 

15 the Department of Veterans Affairs— 

16 (i) such recommendations as the Sec17 retary of Veterans Affairs considers appro18 priate for programmatic and administra19 tive action to improve long-term care and 

20 rehabilitative programs and services for 

21 members of the Armed Forces with trau22 matic brain injury; and 

23 (ii) such other recommendations as 

24 the Secretary considers appropriate based 

25 on the outcomes of the study. 


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1 (D) In the case of a report to Congress— 

2 (i) such recommendations as the Sec3 retary of Defense considers appropriate for 

4 legislative action to improve body armor 

5 and helmets to protect members of the 

6 Armed Forces from sustaining traumatic 

7 brain injuries; 

8 (ii) such recommendations as the Sec9 retary of Veterans Affairs considers appro10 priate for legislative action to improve 

11 long-term care and rehabilitative programs 

12 and services for members of the Armed 

13 Forces with traumatic brain injury; and 

14 (iii) such other recommendations as 

15 the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 

16 of Veterans Affairs jointly consider appro17 priate based on the outcomes of the study. 

18 (2) AVAILABILITY TO PUBLIC.—The Secretary 

19 of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

20 shall jointly take appropriate actions to make each 

21 report under this subsection available to the public. 

22 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

23 authorized to be appropriated to the Department of De24 fense to carry out this section amounts as follows: 

25 (1) For fiscal year 2007, $5,000,000. 


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1 (2) For each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013, 

2 such sums as may be necessary. 

3 SEC. 6. TRAINING CURRICULA FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS 

4 ON CARE AND ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS 

5 AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

6 FORCES WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN7 CURRED IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND 

8 OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. 

9 (a) TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FAMILY CAREGIVER

10 PANEL.— 

11 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of De12 fense shall, in consultation with the Secretary of 

13 Veterans Affairs, establish within the Department of 

14 Defense a panel to develop coordinated, uniform, 

15 and consistent training curricula to be used in train16 ing family members in the provision of care and as17 sistance to members and former members of the 

18 Armed Forces for traumatic brain injuries incurred 

19 during service in the Armed Forces in Operation 

20 Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. 

21 (2) DESIGNATION OF PANEL.—The panel estab22 lished under paragraph (1) shall be known as the 

23 ‘‘Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel’’. 

24 (3) MEMBERS.—The Traumatic Brain Injury 

25 Family Caregiver Panel established under paragraph 


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1 (1) shall consist of 15 members appointed by the 

2 Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Sec3 retary of Veterans Affairs, equally represented from 

4 among— 

5 (A) physicians, nurses, rehabilitation 

6 therapists, and other individuals with an exper7 tise in caring for and assisting individuals with 

8 traumatic brain injury, including those who spe9 cialize in caring for and assisting individuals 

10 with traumatic brain injury incurred in war; 

11 (B) representatives of family caregivers or 

12 family caregiver associations; 

13 (C) Department of Defense and Depart14 ment of Veterans Affairs health and medical 

15 personnel with expertise in traumatic brain in16 jury, and Department of Defense personnel and 

17 readiness representatives with expertise in trau18 matic brain injury; 

19 (D) representatives of military service or20 ganizations who specialize in matters relating to 

21 disabled veterans; 

22 (E) representatives of veterans service or23 ganizations who specialize in matters relating to 

24 disabled veterans; 


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1 (F) psychologists or other individuals with 

2 expertise in the mental health treatment and 

3 care of individuals with traumatic brain injury; 

4 (G) experts in the development of training 

5 curricula; 

6 (H) researchers and academicians who 

7 study traumatic brain injury; and 

8 (I) any other individuals the Secretary con9 siders appropriate. 

10 (4) MEETINGS.—The Traumatic Brain Injury 

11 Family Caregiver Panel shall meet not less than 

12 monthly. 

13 (b) DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULA.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Traumatic Brain Injury 

15 Family Caregiver Panel shall develop training cur16 ricula to be utilized during the provision of training 

17 to family members of members and former members 

18 of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a) on 

19 techniques, strategies, and skills for care and assist20 ance for such members and former members with 

21 the traumatic brain injuries described in that sub22 section. 

23 (2) SCOPE OF CURRICULA.—The curricula 

24 shall— 


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1 (A) be based on empirical research and 

2 validated techniques; and 

3 (B) shall provide for training that permits 

4 recipients to tailor caregiving to the unique cir5 cumstances of the member or former member of 

6 the Armed Forces receiving care. 

7 (3) PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS.—In devel8 oping the curricula, the Traumatic Brain Injury 

9 Family Caregiver Panel shall— 

10 (A) specify appropriate training commen11 surate with the severity of traumatic brain in12 jury; and 

13 (B) identify appropriate care and assist14 ance to be provided for the degree of severity of 

15 traumatic brain injury for caregivers of various 

16 levels of skill and capability. 

17 (4) USE OF EXISTING MATERIALS.—In devel18 oping the curricula, the Traumatic Brain Injury 

19 Family Caregiver Panel shall utilize and enhance 

20 any existing training curricular, materials, and re21 sources applicable to such curricula as the Panel 

22 considers appropriate. 

23 (5) CONSULTATION.—In developing the cur24 ricula, the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver 


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1 Panel shall consult with the Army Reserve Forces 

2 Policy Committee, as appropriate. 

3 (6) DEADLINE FOR DEVELOPMENT.—The 

4 Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel 

5 shall develop the curricula not later than one year 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

7 (c) DISSEMINATION OF CURRICULA.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 

9 shall, in consultation with the Traumatic Brain In10 jury Family Caregiver Panel, develop mechanisms 

11 for the dissemination of the curricula developed 

12 under subsection (b) to health care professionals re13 ferred to in paragraph (2) who treat or otherwise 

14 work with members and former members of the 

15 Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury incurred 

16 in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring 

17 Freedom. In developing such mechanisms, the Sec18 retary may utilize and enhance existing mechanisms, 

19 including the Military Severely Injured Center. 

20 (2) HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.—The 

21 health care professionals referred to in this para22 graph are the following: 

23 (A) Personnel at military medical treat24 ment facilities. 


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1 (B) Personnel at the polytrauma centers of 

2 the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

3 (C) Personnel and care managers at the 

4 Military Severely Injured Center. 

5 (D) Such other health care professionals of 

6 the Department of Defense as the Secretary 

7 considers appropriate. 

8 (E) Such other health care professionals of 

9 the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Sec10 retary of Defense, in consultation with the Sec11 retary of Veterans Affairs, considers appro12 priate. 

13 (3) SCOPE.—The mechanisms developed under 

14 paragraph (1) shall include the provision of refresher 

15 training in the curricula developed under subsection 

16 (a) for the health care professional referred to in 

17 paragraph (2) not less often than once every six 

18 months. 

19 (4) PROVISION OF TRAINING TO FAMILY CARE20 GIVERS.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Health care profes22 sionals referred to in paragraph (2) who are 

23 trained in the curricula developed under sub24 section (b) shall provide training to family 

25 members of members and former members of 


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1 the Armed Forces who incur traumatic brain 

2 injuries during service in the Operation Iraqi 

3 Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom in 

4 the care and assistance to be provided for such 

5 injuries. 

6 (B) TIMING OF TRAINING.—Training 

7 under this paragraph shall, to the extent prac8 ticable, be provided to family members while the 

9 member or former member concerned is under10 going treatment at a facility of the Department 

11 of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs, 

12 as applicable, in order to ensure that such fam13 ily members receive practice on the provision of 

14 such care and assistance under the guidance of 

15 qualified health professionals. 

16 (C) PARTICULARIZED TRAINING.—Train17 ing provided under this paragraph to family 

18 members of a particular member or former 

19 member shall be tailored to the particular care 

20 needs of such member or former member and 

21 the particular caregiving needs of such family 

22 members. 

23 (5) QUALITY ASSURANCE.—The Secretary shall 

24 develop mechanisms to ensure quality in the provi25 sion of training under this section to health care 


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1 professionals referred to in paragraph (2) and in the 

2 provision of such training under paragraph (4) by 

3 such health care professionals. 

4 (6) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 

5 development of the curricula required by subsection 

6 (b), and annually thereafter, the Traumatic Brain 

7 Injury Family Caregiver Training Panel shall submit 

8 to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 

9 Veterans Affairs, and to Congress, a report on the 

10 following: 

11 (A) The actions undertaken under this 

12 subsection. 

13 (B) The results of the tracking of out14 comes based on training developed and provided 

15 under this section. 

16 (C) Recommendations for the improvement 

17 of training developed and provided under this 

18 section. 

19 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

20 authorized to be appropriated to the Department of De21 fense to carry out this section amounts as follows: 

22 (1) For fiscal year 2007, $5,000,000. 

23 (2) For each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011, 

24 such sums as may be necessary. 

Æ 


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