I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1546 

To authorize members of the Armed Forces receiving outpatient care at 

Walter Reed Army Medical Center to receive such care through the 

Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 15, 2007 

Mr. HALL of New York (for himself, Mr. BOUCHER, Ms. CORRINE BROWN

of Florida, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. HARE, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. 

HOLT, Ms. HOOLEY, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Ms. NORTON, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. SPACE, and Mr. WELCH of Vermont) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To authorize members of the Armed Forces receiving outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to 

receive such care through the Department of Veterans 

Affairs, 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, 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
2 

•HR 1546 IH

1 SECTION 1. OUTPATIENT CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF 

2 VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR MEMBERS OF THE 

3 ARMED FORCES RECEIVING SUCH CARE AT 

4 WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER. 

5 (a) OPTION TO RECEIVE CARE.—The Secretary of 

6 Defense shall, upon the election of any member of the 

7 Armed Forces receiving outpatient care at or through 

8 Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Maryland, transfer 

9 such member to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the 

10 receipt of outpatient care from the Secretary of Veterans 

11 Affairs. 

12 (b) INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE CARE.—In order to 

13 assist members of the Armed Forces described in sub14 section (a) in making the election authorized by that sub15 section, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Vet16 erans Affairs shall jointly provide such members such in17 formation on the nature and quality of outpatient care 

18 services available at applicable facilities of the Department 

19 of Veterans Affairs as such members may require to make 

20 the election. 

21 (c) PROVISION OF CARE.— 

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

23 Affairs shall provide outpatient care to each member 

24 of the Armed Forces making an election under sub25 section (a) at the facility of the Department of Vet26 erans Affairs capable of providing such care that is 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
3 

•HR 1546 IH

1 located nearest to the permanent duty station or res2 idence (as selected by such member) of such mem3 ber. 

4 (2) COST.—The cost of the provision of out5 patient care to members of the Armed Forces under 

6 this section shall be borne by the Department of De7 fense. 

8 (d) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Sec9 retary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

10 shall enter into a memorandum of understanding in order 

11 to carry out this section. The memorandum shall include 

12 mechanisms for payment by the Department of Defense 

13 of the costs of care under this section in accordance with 

14 subsection (c)(2). 

15 (e) MILITARY STATUS.—The transfer of a member 

16 of the Armed Forces under this section shall not effect 

17 the military status of such member, or the eligibility or 

18 entitlement of such member to pay, allowances, and other 

19 benefits as a member of the Armed Forces under law. 

20 (f) TERMINATION.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—This section shall cease to 

22 be in effect 60 days after the date on which the Sec23 retary of Defense submits to the Committees on 

24 Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep25 resentatives a certification of each the following: 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
4 

•HR 1546 IH

1 (A) That the Department of Defense com2 pletes the processing of status claims of mem3 bers of the Armed Forces who receive out4 patient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Cen5 ter not later than 60 days after the date on 

6 which such members present such claims. 

7 (B) That the outpatient care buildings at 

8 Walter Reed Army Medical Center— 

9 (i) are structurally sound, free of in10 festation, and free of mold; 

11 (ii) provide heat and air-conditioning; 

12 and 

13 (iii) have working plumbing. 

14 (C) That the case manager positions and 

15 psychological counselor positions at Walter 

16 Reed Army Medical Center are fully staffed for 

17 outpatient care. 

18 (2) CONTINUATION OF CARE.—Notwithstanding 

19 the termination of this section under paragraph (1), 

20 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall continue to 

21 provide outpatient care after the date of termination 

22 to members of the Armed Forces who were trans23 ferred before the date of termination in accordance 

24 with the provisions of this section. 

Æ 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS