I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2172 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that all Department 

of Veterans Affairs orthotic-prosthetic laboratories, clinics, and 

prosthesists are certified by either the American Board for Certification 

in Orthotics and Prosthetics or the Board of Orthotics and Prosthetic 

Certification, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 3, 2007 

Mr. REYES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that 

all Department of Veterans Affairs orthotic-prosthetic 

laboratories, clinics, and prosthesists are certified by either the American Board for Certification in Orthotics 

and Prosthetics or the Board of Orthotics and Prosthetic 

Certification, 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 ‘‘Amputee Veteran As5 sistance Act’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATION OF DEPART2 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ORTHOTIC3 PROSTHETIC LABORATORIES; CONTRACTS 

4 FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR OF PROSTHETIC 

5 DEVICES; PLAN TO INFORM DISABLED VET6 ERANS. 

7 (a) REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATION; CONTRACTS

8 FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR; PLAN TO INFORM DISABLED

9 VETERANS.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 31 of title 38, 

11 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

12 end the following new sections: 

13 ‘‘§ 3122. Certification of Department orthotic-pros14 thetic laboratories 

15 ‘‘The Secretary shall ensure that all Department 

16 orthotic-prosthetic laboratories and clinics are certified by 

17 either of the following: 

18 ‘‘(1) The American Board for Certification in 

19 Orthotics and Prosthetics. 

20 ‘‘(2) The Board of Orthotics and Prosthetic 

21 Certification. 

22 ‘‘§ 3123. Contracts for service and repair of prosthetic 

23 devices with non-Department entities 

24 ‘‘The Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract 

25 with a non-Department entity that the Secretary determstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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1 mines is qualified to provide for the service and repair of 

2 prosthetic devices for a veteran if— 

3 ‘‘(1) the Secretary determines that Department 

4 facilities are unable to perform the necessary service 

5 or repair due to a lack of technology or for any 

6 other reason that the Secretary determines prevents 

7 such service or repair in a timely manner; or 

8 ‘‘(2) the veteran in need of such service or re9 pair to a prosthetic device resides at a distance 

10 greater than 55 miles from the nearest suitable De11 partment facility capable of furnishing such service 

12 or repair. 

13 ‘‘§ 3124. Plan to inform disabled veterans of techno14 logical advances in the field of pros15 thetics 

16 ‘‘The Secretary shall develop and carry out a plan 

17 to inform disabled veterans at least two times per year 

18 of technological advances in the field of prosthetics.’’. 

19 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con20 tents at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

21 by adding at the end the following new items: 

‘‘3122. Certification of Department orthotic-prosthetic laboratories. 

‘‘3133. Contracts for service and repair of prosthetic devices with non-Department entities. 

‘‘3134. Plan to inform disabled veterans of technological advances in the field 

of prosthetics.’’. 

22 (b) EFFECTIVE DATES.—The Secretary shall imple23 ment the requirements of— 

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1 (1) section 3122 of title 38, United States 

2 Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than five 

3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act; 

4 and 

5 (2) sections 3123 and 3124 of such title, as so 

6 added, not later than six months after the date of 

7 the enactment of this Act. 

8 SEC. 3. REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

9 ORTHOTIC-PROSTHETIC LABORATORIES AND 

10 SPECIALISTS. 

11 (a) REVIEW OF LABORATORIES AND CLINICS.— 

12 (1) REVIEW REQUIRED.—Not later than one 

13 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

14 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct and com15 plete a review of all Department of Veterans Affairs 

16 orthotic-prosthetic laboratories and clinics to ensure 

17 that the Department is capable of servicing and re18 pairing the most technologically advanced prosthetic 

19 devices. 

20 (2) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than six 

21 months after the completion of the review under 

22 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Con23 gress a report containing the Secretary’s findings 

24 under the review and any recommendations to admstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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1 dress any deficiencies in capability discovered as a 

2 result of such review. 

3 (b) REVIEW OF SPECIALISTS.— 

4 (1) REVIEW REQUIRED.—Not later than one 

5 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

6 Secretary shall conduct and complete a review of 

7 Department prosthetists and orthotists to determine 

8 what level and kinds of training and education will 

9 be needed to ensure that such prosthetists and 

10 orthotists are qualified to service and repair the 

11 most technologically advanced prosthetic devices. 

12 (2) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than six 

13 months after the completion of the review under 

14 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Con15 gress a report containing the Secretary’s findings 

16 under the review and any recommendations to ad17 dress any deficiencies in education, training, or qual18 ification discovered as a result of such review. 

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