I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4346

To amend title 10, United States Code, to clarify requirements relating 

to predeployment and postdeployment medical exams of certain members 

of the Armed Forces. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 12, 2004

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia (for himself, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. EVANS, Mr. EDWARDS, and Mr. MURTHA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to clarify requirements relating to predeployment and postdeployment 

medical exams of certain members of the Armed Forces.

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 ‘‘Healthy Troops Act’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO 

2 PREDEPLOYMENT AND POSTDEPLOYMENT 

3 MEDICAL EXAMS OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF 

4 THE ARMED FORCES. 

5 (a) CLARIFICATION OF PREDEPLOYMENT AND

6 POSTDEPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMS.—Subsection (b) of 

7 section 1074f of title 10, United States Code, is amended 

8 to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS OF SYSTEM.—(1) The system de10 scribed in subsection (a) shall include the use of 

11 predeployment medical examinations and postdeployment 

12 medical examinations, in accordance with this subsection, 

13 to accurately record the medical condition of members be14 fore their deployment and any changes in their medical 

15 condition during the course of their deployment. 

16 ‘‘(2) A predeployment medical examination shall con17 sist of a self-administered survey followed by a clinical ex18 amination conducted by medical personnel of the Depart19 ment of Defense. The survey and clinical examination 

20 shall include—

21 ‘‘(A) the collection of clinical data (such as vital 

22 signs and the drawing of blood samples); 

23 ‘‘(B) the collection of information (including in24 formation on immunizations) on current and past 

25 physical or mental health conditions that might af26 fect the ability of the member to perform duties; 
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1 ‘‘(C) an assessment of mental health; 

2 ‘‘(D) screening for diseases that are prevalent 

3 in members of the armed forces; and 

4 ‘‘(E) referral to appropriate medical care for 

5 any conditions needing further treatment. 

6 ‘‘(3) A postdeployment medical examination shall 

7 consist of a self-administered survey followed by a clinical 

8 examination conducted by medical personnel of the De9 partment of Defense. The survey and clinical examina10 tion—

11 ‘‘(A) shall include self-reported information 

12 about any relevant exposures during the period of 

13 deployment, including witnessing or participating in 

14 combat and screening for post-traumatic stress dis15 order; and 

16 ‘‘(B) shall be conducted when the member is re17 deployed or otherwise leaves an area in which the 

18 system is in operation (or as soon as possible there19 after).’’. 

20 (b) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 

21 a study of the effectiveness of self-administered surveys 

22 included in predeployment and postdeployment medical 

23 exams of members of the Armed Forces that are carried 

24 out as part of the medical tracking system required under 
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1 section 1074f of title 10, United States Code (as amended 

2 by subsection (a)).

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