IB 

Union Calendar No. 100 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2199 

[Report No. 110–166] 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 8, 2007 

Mr. MICHAUD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

MAY 23, 2007 

Additional sponsors: Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. HARE, Ms. CORRINE BROWN

of Florida, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. WALSH of New York, Mr. 

HINCHEY, Mr. PATRICK MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. WELCH of 

Vermont, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE

JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. HOLT, Mr. HODES, Mr. MATHESON, Mr. 

PERLMUTTER, Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. WALZ of Minnesota, Mr. 

ELLISON, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. MELANCON, Mr. BOREN, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. 

BOSWELL, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. 

ENGEL, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. SOUDER, Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania, and Mr. SPRATT

MAY 23, 2007 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 

on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

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[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

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. 

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 ‘‘Traumatic Brain In5 jury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 

6 2007’’. 

7 SEC. 2. SCREENING, REHABILITATION, AND TREATMENT 

8 FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. 

9 (a) SCREENING, REHABILITATION, AND TREATMENT

10 FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 38, 

12 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

13 end the following new subchapter: 

14 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER IX—TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY 

15 ‘‘§ 1791. Screening for traumatic brain injuries 

16 ‘‘(a) SCREENING PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall es17 tablish a program to screen veterans who are eligible for 

18 hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care 

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1 under section 1710(e)(1)(D) of this title for symptoms of 

2 traumatic brain injury. 

3 ‘‘(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 

4 date of the enactment of this section, and annually there5 after, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 

6 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep7 resentatives a report containing the following information: 

8 ‘‘(1) The number of veterans screened under 

9 the program during the year preceding such report. 

10 ‘‘(2) The prevalence of traumatic brain injury 

11 symptoms among the veterans screened under the 

12 program. 

13 ‘‘(3) Recommendations for improving care and 

14 services to veterans exhibiting symptoms of trau15 matic brain injury. 

16 ‘‘§ 1792. Comprehensive program for long-term trau17 matic brain injury rehabilitation 

18 ‘‘(a) COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM.—The Secretary 

19 shall develop and carry out a comprehensive program of 

20 long-term care for post-acute traumatic brain injury reha21 bilitation that includes residential, community, and home22 based components utilizing interdisciplinary treatment 

23 teams. 

24 ‘‘(b) LOCATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall 

25 carry out the program developed under subsection (a) in 

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1 four geographically dispersed polytrauma network sites 

2 designated by the Secretary. 

3 ‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.—A veteran is eligible for care 

4 under the program developed under subsection (a) if the 

5 veteran is otherwise eligible for care under this chapter 

6 and— 

7 ‘‘(1) served on active duty in a theater of com8 bat operations (as determined by the Secretary in 

9 consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a 

10 period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or in com11 bat against a hostile force during a period of hos12 tilities (as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this 

13 title) after November 11, 1998; 

14 ‘‘(2) is diagnosed as suffering from moderate to 

15 severe traumatic brain injury; and 

16 ‘‘(3) is unable to manage routine activities of 

17 daily living without supervision or assistance. 

18 ‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 

19 date of the enactment of this section, and annually there20 after, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 

21 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep22 resentatives a report containing the following information: 

23 ‘‘(1) A description of the operation of the pro24 gram. 

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1 ‘‘(2) The number of veterans provided care 

2 under the program during the year preceding such 

3 report. 

4 ‘‘(3) The annual cost of operating the program. 

5 ‘‘§ 1793. Traumatic brain injury transition offices 

6 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab7 lish a traumatic brain injury transition office at each De8 partment polytrauma network site for the purposes of co9 ordinating the provision of health-care and services to vet10 erans who suffer from moderate to severe traumatic brain 

11 injuries and are in need of health-care and services not 

12 immediately offered by the Department. 

13 ‘‘(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary, 

14 through each such office established under subsection (a), 

15 shall have the authority to arrange for the provision of 

16 health-care and services through cooperative agreements 

17 with appropriate public or private entities that have estab18 lished long-term neurobehavioral rehabilitation and recov19 ery programs. 

20 ‘‘§ 1794. Traumatic brain injury registry 

21 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 

22 and maintain a registry to be known as the ‘Traumatic 

23 Brain Injury Veterans’ Health Registry’ (in this section 

24 referred to as the ‘Registry’). 

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1 ‘‘(b) DESCRIPTION.—The Registry shall include the 

2 following information: 

3 ‘‘(1) A list containing the name of each indi4 vidual who served as a member of the Armed Forces 

5 in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi 

6 Freedom who exhibits symptoms associated with 

7 traumatic brain injury and who— 

8 ‘‘(A) applies for care and services from the 

9 Department under this chapter; or 

10 ‘‘(B) files a claim for compensation under 

11 chapter 11 of this title on the basis of any dis12 ability which may be associated with such serv13 ice; and 

14 ‘‘(2) any relevant medical data relating to the 

15 health status of an individual described in paragraph 

16 (1) and any other information the Secretary con17 siders relevant and appropriate with respect to such 

18 an individual if the individual— 

19 ‘‘(A) grants permission to the Secretary to 

20 include such information in the Registry; or 

21 ‘‘(B) is deceased at the time such indi22 vidual is listed in the Registry. 

23 ‘‘(c) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall notify indi24 viduals listed in the Registry of significant developments 

25 in research on the health consequences of military service 

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1 in the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 

2 Freedom theaters of operations. 

3 ‘‘§ 1795. Centers for traumatic brain injury research, 

4 education, and clinical activities 

5 ‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to 

6 provide for the improvement of the provision of health care 

7 to eligible veterans with traumatic brain injuries 

8 through— 

9 ‘‘(1) the conduct of research (including research 

10 on improving facilities of the Department concen11 trating on traumatic brain injury care and on im12 proving the delivery of traumatic brain injury care 

13 by the Department); 

14 ‘‘(2) the education and training of health care 

15 personnel of the Department; and 

16 ‘‘(3) the development of improved models and 

17 systems for the furnishing of traumatic brain injury 

18 care by the Department. 

19 ‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS.—(1) The Sec20 retary shall establish and operate centers for traumatic 

21 brain injury research, education, and clinical activities. 

22 Such centers shall be established and operated by collabo23 rating Department facilities as provided in subsection 

24 (c)(1). Each such center shall function as a center for— 

25 ‘‘(A) research on traumatic brain injury; 

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1 ‘‘(B) the use by the Department of specific 

2 models for furnishing traumatic brain injury care; 

3 ‘‘(C) education and training of health-care pro4 fessionals of the Department; and 

5 ‘‘(D) the development and implementation of 

6 innovative clinical activities and systems of care with 

7 respect to the delivery of traumatic brain injury care 

8 by the Department. 

9 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, upon the recommendation 

10 of the Under Secretary for Health, designate the centers 

11 under this section. In making such designations, the Sec12 retary shall ensure that the centers designated are located 

13 in various geographic regions of the United States. The 

14 Secretary may designate a center under this section only 

15 if— 

16 ‘‘(A) the proposal submitted for the designation 

17 of the center meets the requirements of subsection 

18 (c); 

19 ‘‘(B) the Secretary makes the finding described 

20 in subsection (d); and 

21 ‘‘(C) the peer review panel established under 

22 subsection (e) makes the determination specified in 

23 subsection (e)(3) with respect to that proposal. 

24 ‘‘(3) Not more than five centers may be designated 

25 under this section. 

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1 ‘‘(4) The authority of the Secretary to establish and 

2 operate centers under this section is subject to the appro3 priation of funds for that purpose. 

4 ‘‘(c) PROPOSALS FOR DESIGNATION OF CENTERS.— 

5 A proposal submitted for the designation of a center under 

6 this section shall— 

7 ‘‘(1) provide for close collaboration in the estab8 lishment and operation of the center, and for the 

9 provision of care and the conduct of research and 

10 education at the center, by a Department facility or 

11 facilities in the same geographic area which have a 

12 mission centered on traumatic brain injury care and 

13 a Department facility in that area which has a mis14 sion of providing tertiary medical care; 

15 ‘‘(2) provide that no less than 50 percent of the 

16 funds appropriated for the center for support of clin17 ical care, research, and education will be provided to 

18 the collaborating facility or facilities that have a 

19 mission centered on traumatic brain injury care; and 

20 ‘‘(3) provide for a governance arrangement be21 tween the collaborating Department facilities which 

22 ensures that the center will be established and oper23 ated in a manner aimed at improving the quality of 

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1 cility or facilities which have a mission centered on 

2 traumatic brain injury care. 

3 ‘‘(d) FINDING OF SECRETARY.—The finding referred 

4 to in subsection (b)(2)(B) with respect to a proposal for 

5 designation of a site as a location of a center under this 

6 section is a finding by the Secretary, upon the rec7 ommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, that the 

8 facilities submitting the proposal have developed (or may 

9 reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the following: 

10 ‘‘(1) An arrangement with an accredited med11 ical school that provides education and training in 

12 traumatic brain injury care and with which one or 

13 more of the participating Department facilities is af14 filiated under which medical residents receive edu15 cation and training in traumatic brain injury care 

16 through regular rotation through the participating 

17 Department facilities so as to provide such residents 

18 with training in the diagnosis and treatment of trau19 matic brain injury. 

20 ‘‘(2) An arrangement under which nursing, so21 cial work, counseling, or allied health personnel re22 ceive training and education in traumatic brain in23 jury care through regular rotation through the par24 ticipating Department facilities. 

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1 ‘‘(3) The ability to attract scientists who have 

2 demonstrated achievement in research— 

3 ‘‘(A) into the evaluation of innovative ap4 proaches to the design of traumatic brain injury 

5 care; or 

6 ‘‘(B) into the causes, prevention, and 

7 treatment of traumatic brain injury. 

8 ‘‘(4) The capability to evaluate effectively the 

9 activities of the center, including activities relating 

10 to the evaluation of specific efforts to improve the 

11 quality and effectiveness of traumatic brain injury 

12 care provided by the Department at or through indi13 vidual facilities. 

14 ‘‘(e) PEER REVIEW PANEL.—(1) In order to provide 

15 advice to assist the Secretary and the Under Secretary for 

16 Health to carry out their responsibilities under this sec17 tion, the official within the central office of the Veterans 

18 Health Administration responsible for traumatic brain in19 jury care shall establish a peer review panel to assess the 

20 scientific and clinical merit of proposals that are sub21 mitted to the Secretary for the designation of centers 

22 under this section. 

23 ‘‘(2) The panel shall consist of experts in the fields 

24 of traumatic brain injury research, education and training, 

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1 and clinical care. Members of the panel shall serve as con2 sultants to the Department. 

3 ‘‘(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted 

4 to the panel by the official referred to in paragraph (1) 

5 and shall submit to that official its views on the relative 

6 scientific and clinical merit of each such proposal. The 

7 panel shall specifically determine with respect to each such 

8 proposal whether that proposal is among those proposals 

9 which have met the highest competitive standards of sci10 entific and clinical merit. 

11 ‘‘(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal 

12 Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 

13 ‘‘(f) AWARD OF FUNDING.—Clinical and scientific in14 vestigation activities at each center established under this 

15 section— 

16 ‘‘(1) may compete for the award of funding 

17 from amounts appropriated for the Department of 

18 Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research 

19 account; and 

20 ‘‘(2) shall receive priority in the award of fund21 ing from such account insofar as funds are awarded 

22 to projects and activities relating to traumatic brain 

23 injury. 

24 ‘‘(g) DISSEMINATION OF USEFUL INFORMATION.— 

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1 mation produced by the research, education and training, 

2 and clinical activities of centers established under this sec3 tion that may be useful for other activities of the Veterans 

4 Health Administration is disseminated throughout the 

5 Veterans Health Administration. Such dissemination shall 

6 be made through publications, through programs of con7 tinuing medical and related education provided through 

8 regional medical education centers under subchapter VI 

9 of chapter 74 of this title, and through other means. Such 

10 programs of continuing medical education shall receive 

11 priority in the award of funding. 

12 ‘‘(h) SUPERVISION OF CENTERS.—The official within 

13 the central office of the Veterans Health Administration 

14 responsible for traumatic brain injury care shall be re15 sponsible for supervising the operation of the centers es16 tablished pursuant to this section and shall provide for 

17 ongoing evaluation of the centers and their compliance 

18 with the requirements of this section. 

19 ‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) 

20 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart21 ment of Veterans Affairs for the basic support of the re22 search and education and training activities of centers es23 tablished pursuant to this section such sums as may be 

24 necessary. 

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1 ‘‘(2) In addition to funds appropriated for a fiscal 

2 year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 

3 paragraph (1), the Under Secretary for Health shall allo4 cate to such centers from other funds appropriated for 

5 that fiscal year generally for the Department of Veterans 

6 Affairs medical services account and the Department of 

7 Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research account 

8 such amounts as the Under Secretary for Health deter9 mines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this sec10 tion. 

11 ‘‘(j) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than February 1 

12 of each of year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

13 submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen14 ate and House of Representatives a report on the status 

15 and activities of the centers for traumatic brain injury re16 search, education, and clinical activities during the pre17 ceding fiscal year. Each such report shall include the fol18 lowing: 

19 ‘‘(1) A description of the activities carried out 

20 at each center and the funding provided by the De21 partment for such activities. 

22 ‘‘(2) A description of the advances made at 

23 each of the participating facilities of the center in 

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1 ties relating to traumatic brain injury care and 

2 treatment. 

3 ‘‘(3) A description of the actions taken by the 

4 Under Secretary for Health pursuant to subsection 

5 (g) to disseminate information derived from such ac6 tivities throughout the Veterans Health Administra7 tion. 

8 ‘‘(4) The evaluation of the Secretary as to the 

9 effectiveness of the centers in fulfilling the purposes 

10 of this section. 

11 ‘‘(k) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) 

12 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart13 ment of Veterans Affairs for the basic support of the re14 search and education and training activities of centers es15 tablished pursuant to this section amounts as follows: 

16 ‘‘(A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

17 ‘‘(B) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 

18 through 2011. 

19 ‘‘(2) In addition to funds appropriated for a fiscal 

20 year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 

21 paragraph (1), the Under Secretary for Health shall allo22 cate to such centers from other funds appropriated for 

23 that fiscal year generally for the Department of Veterans 

24 Affairs medical services account and the Department of 

25 Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research account 

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1 such amounts as the Under Secretary for Health deter2 mines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this sec3 tion. 

4 ‘‘§ 1796. Committee on Care of Veterans with Trau5 matic Brain Injury 

6 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab7 lish in the Veterans Health Administration a committee 

8 to be known as the ‘Committee on Care of Veterans with 

9 Traumatic Brain Injury’. The Under Secretary for Health 

10 shall appoint employees of the Department with expertise 

11 in the care of veterans with traumatic brain injury to serve 

12 on the committee. 

13 ‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMITTEE.—The com14 mittee shall assess, and carry out a continuing assessment 

15 of, the capability of the Veterans Health Administration 

16 to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation needs 

17 of veterans with traumatic brain injury. In carrying out 

18 that responsibility, the committee shall— 

19 ‘‘(1) evaluate the care provided to such veterans 

20 through the Veterans Health Administration; 

21 ‘‘(2) identify systemwide problems in caring for 

22 such veterans in facilities of the Veterans Health 

23 Administration; 

24 ‘‘(3) identify specific facilities within the Vet25 erans Health Administration at which program enmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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1 richment is needed to improve treatment and reha2 bilitation of such veterans; and 

3 ‘‘(4) identify model programs which the com4 mittee considers to have been successful in the treat5 ment and rehabilitation of such veterans and which 

6 should be implemented more widely in or through fa7 cilities of the Veterans Health Administration. 

8 ‘‘(c) ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—The com9 mittee shall— 

10 ‘‘(1) advise the Under Secretary regarding the 

11 development of policies for the care and rehabilita12 tion of veterans with traumatic brain injury; and 

13 ‘‘(2) make recommendations to the Under Sec14 retary— 

15 ‘‘(A) for improving programs of care of 

16 such veterans at specific facilities and through17 out the Veterans Health Administration; 

18 ‘‘(B) for establishing special programs of 

19 education and training relevant to the care of 

20 such veterans for employees of the Veterans 

21 Health Administration; 

22 ‘‘(C) regarding research needs and prior23 ities relevant to the care of such veterans; and 

24 ‘‘(D) regarding the appropriate allocation 

25 of resources for all such activities. 

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1 ‘‘(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than June 1 of 

2 2008, and each subsequent year, the Secretary shall sub3 mit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 

4 and House of Representatives a report on the implementa5 tion of this section. Each such report shall include the fol6 lowing for the calendar year preceding the year in which 

7 the report is submitted: 

8 ‘‘(1) A list of the members of the committee. 

9 ‘‘(2) The assessment of the Under Secretary for 

10 Health, after review of the initial findings of the 

11 committee, regarding the capability of the Veterans 

12 Health Administration, on a systemwide and facility13 by-facility basis, to meet effectively the treatment 

14 and rehabilitation needs of veterans with traumatic 

15 brain injury. 

16 ‘‘(3) The plans of the committee for further as17 sessments. 

18 ‘‘(4) The findings and recommendations made 

19 by the committee to the Under Secretary for Health 

20 and the views of the Under Secretary on such find21 ings and recommendations. 

22 ‘‘(5) A description of the steps taken, plans 

23 made (and a timetable for the execution of such 

24 plans), and resources to be applied toward improving 

25 the capability of the Veterans Health Administration 

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1 to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation 

2 needs of veterans with traumatic brain injury.’’. 

3 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con4 tents at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

5 by adding at the end the following new items: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER IX—TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

‘‘1791. Screening for traumatic brain injuries. 

‘‘1792. Comprehensive program for long-term traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. 

‘‘1793. Traumatic brain injury transition offices. 

‘‘1794. Traumatic brain injury registry. 

‘‘1795. Centers for traumatic brain injury research, education, and clinical activities. 

‘‘1796. Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.’’. 

6 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary shall imple7 ment the requirements of subchapter IX of title 38, 

8 United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later 

9 than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

10 SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM FOR DELIVERY OF READJUST11 MENT COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH 

12 SERVICES CERTAIN SERVICES TO VETERANS 

13 THROUGH MOBILE VET CENTERS. 

14 (a) PILOT PROGRAM.—Chapter 17 of title 38, United 

15 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B 

16 the following new section: 

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1 ‘‘§ 1712C. Pilot program for delivery of readjustment 

2 counseling and mental health services 

3 through mobile Vet Centers Pilot pro4 gram for delivery of certain services 

5 through mobile vet centers 

6 ‘‘(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—To improve access to mental 

7 health services in rural areas, the Secretary shall carry 

8 out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall pro9 vide readjustment counseling and related mental health 

10 services readjustment counseling, related mental health 

11 services, benefits outreach, and, to the extent practicable, as12 sistance with claims for benefits under this title through 

13 the use of mobile centers (as that term is defined in sec14 tion 1712A(i)(1)), to be known as ‘mobile Vet Centers’. 

15 In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall de16 termine the most effective manner in which to operate the 

17 mobile Vet Centers. 

18 ‘‘(b) SCOPE AND LOCATION.—(1) The Secretary shall 

19 establish two mobile Vet Centers in each of the following 

20 five Veterans Integrated Service Networks: 

21 ‘‘(A) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

22 1. 

23 ‘‘(B) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

24 16. 

25 ‘‘(C) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

26 19. 

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1 ‘‘(D) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

2 20. 

3 ‘‘(E) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

4 23. 

5 ‘‘(2) Within each Veterans Integrated Service Net6 work under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine 

7 the area to be serviced by each mobile Vet Center. In mak8 ing that determination, the Secretary shall give priority 

9 to areas in which limited mental health and outreach serv10 ices are available. 

11 ‘‘(3) If the Secretary determines that mobile Vet Cen12 ters in addition to such centers required under paragraph 

13 (1) are warranted, the Secretary may establish additional 

14 mobile Vet Centers and may establish such centers in Vet15 erans Integrated Service Networks other than the Vet16 erans Integrated Service Networks referred to in that 

17 paragraph. Upon such a determination by the Secretary, 

18 the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Veterans’ Af19 fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives of such 

20 determination. 

21 ‘‘(c) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 

22 pilot program under this section shall terminate on the 

23 date that is three years after the date of the enactment 

24 of this section. 

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1 ‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

2 on which the pilot program terminates under subsection 

3 (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet4 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 

5 a report on the pilot program. Such report shall describe 

6 how the Secretary established and carried out the pilot 

7 program and include an evaluation of the Secretary of the 

8 benefits and disadvantages of providing readjustment 

9 counseling and related mental health services readjustment 

10 counseling, related mental health services, benefits outreach, 

11 and claims assistance through the use of mobile Vets Cen12 ters. 

13 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

14 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

15 $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal 

16 year.’’. 

17 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

18 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

19 after the item related to section 1712B the following new 

20 item: 

‘‘1712C. Pilot program for delivery of readjustment counseling and mental 

health services through mobile Vet Centers. 1712C. Pilot program for delivery of certain services through mobile Vet Centers.’’. 

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1 SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RURAL VETERANS. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.—Subchapter 

3 III of chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amend4 ed by adding at the end the following new section: 

5 ‘‘§ 546. Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans 

6 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) The Secretary shall es7 tablish an advisory committee to be known as the ‘Advi8 sory Committee on Rural Veterans’ (hereinafter in this 

9 section referred to as ‘the Committee’). 

10 ‘‘(2)(A) The Committee shall consist of members ap11 pointed by the Secretary from the general public, includ12 ing— 

13 ‘‘(i) representatives of rural veterans; 

14 ‘‘(ii) individuals who are recognized authorities 

15 in fields pertinent to the needs of rural veterans, in16 cluding specific or unique health-care needs of rural 

17 veterans and access issues of rural veterans; 

18 ‘‘(iii) individuals who have expertise in the de19 livery of mental health care in rural areas; 

20 ‘‘(iv) individuals who have expertise in the deliv21 ery of long-term care in rural areas; 

22 ‘‘(v) at least one veterans service organization 

23 representative from a rural State; and 

24 ‘‘(vi) representatives of rural veterans with 

25 service-connected disabilities. 

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1 ‘‘(B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio mem2 bers— 

3 ‘‘(i) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv4 ices (or a representative of the Secretary of Health 

5 and Human Services designated by that Secretary); 

6 ‘‘(ii) the Director of the Indian Health Service 

7 (or a representative of that Director); and 

8 ‘‘(iii) the Under Secretary for Health and the 

9 Under Secretary for Benefits, or their designees. 

10 ‘‘(C) The Secretary may invite representatives of 

11 other departments and agencies of the United States to 

12 participate in the meetings and other activities of the 

13 Committee. 

14 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall determine the number, 

15 terms of service, and pay and allowances of members of 

16 the Committee appointed by the Secretary, except that a 

17 term of service of any such member may not exceed three 

18 years. The Secretary may reappoint any such member for 

19 additional terms of service. 

20 ‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMITTEE.—The Sec21 retary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the 

22 advice of the Committee with respect to the administration 

23 of benefits by the Department for rural veterans, reports 

24 and studies pertaining to rural veterans, and the needs 

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1 of rural veterans with respect to primary care, mental 

2 health care, and long-term care needs of rural veterans. 

3 ‘‘(c) REPORT.—(1) Not later than September 1 of 

4 each odd-numbered year until 2013, the Committee shall 

5 submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and ac6 tivities of the Department that pertain to rural veterans. 

7 Each such report shall include— 

8 ‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of rural vet9 erans with respect to primary care, mental health 

10 care, and long-term care needs of rural veterans and 

11 other benefits and programs administered by the 

12 Department; 

13 ‘‘(B) a review of the programs and activities of 

14 the Department designed to meet such needs; and 

15 ‘‘(C) such recommendations (including rec16 ommendations for administrative and legislative ac17 tion) as the Committee considers appropriate. 

18 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, within 60 days after receiv19 ing each report under paragraph (1), submit to Congress 

20 a copy of the report, together with any comments con21 cerning the report that the Secretary considers appro22 priate. 

23 ‘‘(3) The Committee may also submit to the Sec24 retary such other reports and recommendations as the 

25 Committee considers appropriate. 

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26 

•HR 2199 RH 

1 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual re2 port submitted to Congress pursuant to section 529 of this 

3 title a summary of all reports and recommendations of the 

4 Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous 

5 annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to that 

6 section.’’. 

7 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

8 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 

9 at the end the following new item: 

‘‘546. Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans.’’. 

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Union Calendar No. 100 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2199 

[Report No. 110

–166] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct 

poses. with traumatic brain injuries, and for other purtain improvements in the treatment of individuals the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide cerMAY 23, 2007 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 

dered to be printed of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ormstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS