I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2199 

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 

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’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. SCREENING, REHABILITATION, AND TREATMENT 

2 FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. 

3 (a) SCREENING, REHABILITATION, AND TREATMENT

4 FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.— 

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

6 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

7 end the following new subchapter: 

8 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER IX—TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY 

9 ‘‘§ 1791. Screening for traumatic brain injuries 

10 ‘‘(a) SCREENING PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall es11 tablish a program to screen veterans who are eligible for 

12 hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care 

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

14 traumatic brain injury. 

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

16 date of the enactment of this section, and annually there17 after, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 

18 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep19 resentatives a report containing the following information: 

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

21 the program during the year preceding such report. 

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

23 symptoms among the veterans screened under the 

24 program. 


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1 ‘‘(3) Recommendations for improving care and 

2 services to veterans exhibiting symptoms of trau3 matic brain injury. 

4 ‘‘§ 1792. Comprehensive program for long-term trau5 matic brain injury rehabilitation 

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

7 shall develop and carry out a comprehensive program of 

8 long-term care for post-acute traumatic brain injury reha9 bilitation that includes residential, community, and home10 based components utilizing interdisciplinary treatment 

11 teams. 

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

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

14 four geographically dispersed polytrauma network sites 

15 designated by the Secretary. 

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

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

18 veteran is otherwise eligible for care under this chapter 

19 and— 

20 ‘‘(1) served on active duty in a theater of com21 bat operations (as determined by the Secretary in 

22 consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a 

23 period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or in com24 bat against a hostile force during a period of hosVerDate Aug 31 2005 05:52 May 09, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2199.IH H2199

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1 tilities (as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this 

2 title) after November 11, 1998; 

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

4 severe traumatic brain injury; and 

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

6 daily living without supervision or assistance. 

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

8 date of the enactment of this section, and annually there9 after, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 

10 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep11 resentatives a report containing the following information: 

12 ‘‘(1) A description of the operation of the pro13 gram. 

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

15 under the program during the year preceding such 

16 report. 

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

18 ‘‘§ 1793. Traumatic brain injury transition offices 

19 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab20 lish a traumatic brain injury transition office at each De21 partment polytrauma network site for the purposes of co22 ordinating the provision of health-care and services to vet23 erans who suffer from moderate to severe traumatic brain 

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

25 immediately offered by the Department. 


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

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

3 shall have the authority to arrange for the provision of 

4 health-care and services through cooperative agreements 

5 with appropriate public or private entities that have estab6 lished long-term neurobehavioral rehabilitation and recov7 ery programs. 

8 ‘‘§ 1794. Traumatic brain injury registry 

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

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

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

12 referred to as the ‘Registry’). 

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

14 following information: 

15 ‘‘(1) A list containing the name of each indi16 vidual who served as a member of the Armed Forces 

17 in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi 

18 Freedom who exhibits symptoms associated with 

19 traumatic brain injury and who— 

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

21 Department under this chapter; or 

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

23 chapter 11 of this title on the basis of any dis24 ability which may be associated with such serv25 ice; and 


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

2 health status of an individual described in paragraph 

3 (1) and any other information the Secretary con4 siders relevant and appropriate with respect to such 

5 an individual if the individual— 

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

7 include such information in the Registry; or 

8 ‘‘(B) is deceased at the time such indi9 vidual is listed in the Registry. 

10 ‘‘(c) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall notify indi11 viduals listed in the Registry of significant developments 

12 in research on the health consequences of military service 

13 in the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 

14 Freedom theaters of operations. 

15 ‘‘§ 1795. Centers for traumatic brain injury research, 

16 education, and clinical activities 

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

18 provide for the improvement of the provision of health care 

19 to eligible veterans with traumatic brain injuries 

20 through— 

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

22 on improving facilities of the Department concen23 trating on traumatic brain injury care and on im24 proving the delivery of traumatic brain injury care 

25 by the Department); 


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

2 personnel of the Department; and 

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

4 systems for the furnishing of traumatic brain injury 

5 care by the Department. 

6 ‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS.—(1) The Sec7 retary shall establish and operate centers for traumatic 

8 brain injury research, education, and clinical activities. 

9 Such centers shall be established and operated by collabo10 rating Department facilities as provided in subsection 

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

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

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

14 models for furnishing traumatic brain injury care; 

15 ‘‘(C) education and training of health-care pro16 fessionals of the Department; and 

17 ‘‘(D) the development and implementation of 

18 innovative clinical activities and systems of care with 

19 respect to the delivery of traumatic brain injury care 

20 by the Department. 

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

22 of the Under Secretary for Health, designate the centers 

23 under this section. In making such designations, the Sec24 retary shall ensure that the centers designated are located 

25 in various geographic regions of the United States. The 


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1 Secretary may designate a center under this section only 

2 if— 

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

4 of the center meets the requirements of subsection 

5 (c); 

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

7 in subsection (d); and 

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

9 subsection (e) makes the determination specified in 

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

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

12 under this section. 

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

14 operate centers under this section is subject to the appro15 priation of funds for that purpose. 

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

17 A proposal submitted for the designation of a center under 

18 this section shall— 

19 ‘‘(1) provide for close collaboration in the estab20 lishment and operation of the center, and for the 

21 provision of care and the conduct of research and 

22 education at the center, by a Department facility or 

23 facilities in the same geographic area which have a 

24 mission centered on traumatic brain injury care and 


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1 a Department facility in that area which has a mis2 sion of providing tertiary medical care; 

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

4 funds appropriated for the center for support of clin5 ical care, research, and education will be provided to 

6 the collaborating facility or facilities that have a 

7 mission centered on traumatic brain injury care; and 

8 ‘‘(3) provide for a governance arrangement be9 tween the collaborating Department facilities which 

10 ensures that the center will be established and oper11 ated in a manner aimed at improving the quality of 

12 traumatic brain injury care at the collaborating fa13 cility or facilities which have a mission centered on 

14 traumatic brain injury care. 

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

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

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

18 section is a finding by the Secretary, upon the rec19 ommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, that the 

20 facilities submitting the proposal have developed (or may 

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

22 ‘‘(1) An arrangement with an accredited med23 ical school that provides education and training in 

24 traumatic brain injury care and with which one or 

25 more of the participating Department facilities is afVerDate Aug 31 2005 05:52 May 09, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2199.IH H2199

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1 filiated under which medical residents receive edu2 cation and training in traumatic brain injury care 

3 through regular rotation through the participating 

4 Department facilities so as to provide such residents 

5 with training in the diagnosis and treatment of trau6 matic brain injury. 

7 ‘‘(2) An arrangement under which nursing, so8 cial work, counseling, or allied health personnel re9 ceive training and education in traumatic brain in10 jury care through regular rotation through the par11 ticipating Department facilities. 

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

13 demonstrated achievement in research— 

14 ‘‘(A) into the evaluation of innovative ap15 proaches to the design of traumatic brain injury 

16 care; or 

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

18 treatment of traumatic brain injury. 

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

20 activities of the center, including activities relating 

21 to the evaluation of specific efforts to improve the 

22 quality and effectiveness of traumatic brain injury 

23 care provided by the Department at or through indi24 vidual facilities. 


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

2 advice to assist the Secretary and the Under Secretary for 

3 Health to carry out their responsibilities under this sec4 tion, the official within the central office of the Veterans 

5 Health Administration responsible for traumatic brain in6 jury care shall establish a peer review panel to assess the 

7 scientific and clinical merit of proposals that are sub8 mitted to the Secretary for the designation of centers 

9 under this section. 

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

11 of traumatic brain injury research, education and training, 

12 and clinical care. Members of the panel shall serve as con13 sultants to the Department. 

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

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

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

17 scientific and clinical merit of each such proposal. The 

18 panel shall specifically determine with respect to each such 

19 proposal whether that proposal is among those proposals 

20 which have met the highest competitive standards of sci21 entific and clinical merit. 

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

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


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1 ‘‘(f) AWARD OF FUNDING.—Clinical and scientific in2 vestigation activities at each center established under this 

3 section— 

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

5 from amounts appropriated for the Department of 

6 Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research 

7 account; and 

8 ‘‘(2) shall receive priority in the award of fund9 ing from such account insofar as funds are awarded 

10 to projects and activities relating to traumatic brain 

11 injury. 

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

13 The Under Secretary for Health shall ensure that infor14 mation produced by the research, education and training, 

15 and clinical activities of centers established under this sec16 tion that may be useful for other activities of the Veterans 

17 Health Administration is disseminated throughout the 

18 Veterans Health Administration. Such dissemination shall 

19 be made through publications, through programs of con20 tinuing medical and related education provided through 

21 regional medical education centers under subchapter VI 

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

23 programs of continuing medical education shall receive 

24 priority in the award of funding. 


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

2 the central office of the Veterans Health Administration 

3 responsible for traumatic brain injury care shall be re4 sponsible for supervising the operation of the centers es5 tablished pursuant to this section and shall provide for 

6 ongoing evaluation of the centers and their compliance 

7 with the requirements of this section. 

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

9 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart10 ment of Veterans Affairs for the basic support of the re11 search and education and training activities of centers es12 tablished pursuant to this section such sums as may be 

13 necessary. 

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

15 year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 

16 paragraph (1), the Under Secretary for Health shall allo17 cate to such centers from other funds appropriated for 

18 that fiscal year generally for the Department of Veterans 

19 Affairs medical services account and the Department of 

20 Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research account 

21 such amounts as the Under Secretary for Health deter22 mines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this sec23 tion. 

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

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


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1 submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen2 ate and House of Representatives a report on the status 

3 and activities of the centers for traumatic brain injury re4 search, education, and clinical activities during the pre5 ceding fiscal year. Each such report shall include the fol6 lowing: 

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

8 at each center and the funding provided by the De9 partment for such activities. 

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

11 each of the participating facilities of the center in 

12 research, education and training, and clinical activi13 ties relating to traumatic brain injury care and 

14 treatment. 

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

16 Under Secretary for Health pursuant to subsection 

17 (g) to disseminate information derived from such ac18 tivities throughout the Veterans Health Administra19 tion. 

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

21 effectiveness of the centers in fulfilling the purposes 

22 of this section. 

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

24 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart25 ment of Veterans Affairs for the basic support of the reVerDate Aug 31 2005 05:52 May 09, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2199.IH H2199

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1 search and education and training activities of centers es2 tablished pursuant to this section amounts as follows: 

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

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

5 through 2011. 

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

7 year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 

8 paragraph (1), the Under Secretary for Health shall allo9 cate to such centers from other funds appropriated for 

10 that fiscal year generally for the Department of Veterans 

11 Affairs medical services account and the Department of 

12 Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research account 

13 such amounts as the Under Secretary for Health deter14 mines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this sec15 tion. 

16 ‘‘§ 1796. Committee on Care of Veterans with Trau17 matic Brain Injury 

18 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab19 lish in the Veterans Health Administration a committee 

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

21 Traumatic Brain Injury’. The Under Secretary for Health 

22 shall appoint employees of the Department with expertise 

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

24 on the committee. 


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1 ‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMITTEE.—The com2 mittee shall assess, and carry out a continuing assessment 

3 of, the capability of the Veterans Health Administration 

4 to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation needs 

5 of veterans with traumatic brain injury. In carrying out 

6 that responsibility, the committee shall— 

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

8 through the Veterans Health Administration; 

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

10 such veterans in facilities of the Veterans Health 

11 Administration; 

12 ‘‘(3) identify specific facilities within the Vet13 erans Health Administration at which program en14 richment is needed to improve treatment and reha15 bilitation of such veterans; and 

16 ‘‘(4) identify model programs which the com17 mittee considers to have been successful in the treat18 ment and rehabilitation of such veterans and which 

19 should be implemented more widely in or through fa20 cilities of the Veterans Health Administration. 

21 ‘‘(c) ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—The com22 mittee shall— 

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

24 development of policies for the care and rehabilita25 tion of veterans with traumatic brain injury; and 


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1 ‘‘(2) make recommendations to the Under Sec2 retary— 

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

4 such veterans at specific facilities and through5 out the Veterans Health Administration; 

6 ‘‘(B) for establishing special programs of 

7 education and training relevant to the care of 

8 such veterans for employees of the Veterans 

9 Health Administration; 

10 ‘‘(C) regarding research needs and prior11 ities relevant to the care of such veterans; and 

12 ‘‘(D) regarding the appropriate allocation 

13 of resources for all such activities. 

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

15 2008, and each subsequent year, the Secretary shall sub16 mit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 

17 and House of Representatives a report on the implementa18 tion of this section. Each such report shall include the fol19 lowing for the calendar year preceding the year in which 

20 the report is submitted: 

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

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

23 Health, after review of the initial findings of the 

24 committee, regarding the capability of the Veterans 

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1 by-facility basis, to meet effectively the treatment 

2 and rehabilitation needs of veterans with traumatic 

3 brain injury. 

4 ‘‘(3) The plans of the committee for further as5 sessments. 

6 ‘‘(4) The findings and recommendations made 

7 by the committee to the Under Secretary for Health 

8 and the views of the Under Secretary on such find9 ings and recommendations. 

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

11 made (and a timetable for the execution of such 

12 plans), and resources to be applied toward improving 

13 the capability of the Veterans Health Administration 

14 to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation 

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

16 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con17 tents at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

18 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.’’. 

19 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary shall imple20 ment the requirements of subchapter IX of title 38, 


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

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

3 SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM FOR DELIVERY OF READJUST4 MENT COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH 

5 SERVICES TO VETERANS THROUGH MOBILE 

6 VET CENTERS. 

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

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

9 the following new section: 

10 ‘‘§ 1712C. Pilot program for delivery of readjustment 

11 counseling and mental health services 

12 through mobile Vet Centers 

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

14 health services in rural areas, the Secretary shall carry 

15 out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall pro16 vide readjustment counseling and related mental health 

17 services through the use of mobile centers (as that term 

18 is defined in section 1712A(i)(1)), to be known as ‘mobile 

19 Vet Centers’. In carrying out the pilot program, the Sec20 retary shall determine the most effective manner in which 

21 to operate the mobile Vet Centers. 

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

23 establish two mobile Vet Centers in each of the following 

24 five Veterans Integrated Service Networks: 


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1 ‘‘(A) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

2 1. 

3 ‘‘(B) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

4 16. 

5 ‘‘(C) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

6 19. 

7 ‘‘(D) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

8 20. 

9 ‘‘(E) Veterans Integrated Service Network 

10 23. 

11 ‘‘(2) Within each Veterans Integrated Service Net12 work under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine 

13 the area to be serviced by each mobile Vet Center. In mak14 ing that determination, the Secretary shall give priority 

15 to areas in which limited mental health services are avail16 able. 

17 ‘‘(3) If the Secretary determines that mobile Vet Cen18 ters in addition to such centers required under paragraph 

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

20 mobile Vet Centers and may establish such centers in Vet21 erans Integrated Service Networks other than the Vet22 erans Integrated Service Networks referred to in that 

23 paragraph. Upon such a determination by the Secretary, 

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1 fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives of such 

2 determination. 

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

4 pilot program under this section shall terminate on the 

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

6 of this section. 

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

8 on which the pilot program terminates under subsection 

9 (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet10 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 

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

12 how the Secretary established and carried out the pilot 

13 program and include an evaluation of the Secretary of the 

14 benefits and disadvantages of providing readjustment 

15 counseling and related mental health services through the 

16 use of mobile Vets Centers. 

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

18 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

19 $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal 

20 year.’’. 

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

22 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

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

24 item: 

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

health 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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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.’’. 

Æ 


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