I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5244 

To improve programs for the identification and treatment of Post-Traumatic 

Stress Disorder in veterans and members of the Armed Forces, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 7, 2004 

Mr. EVANS (for himself, Mr. FILNER, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Ms. CORRINE BROWN

of Florida, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. MICHAUD, Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon, Mr. 

STRICKLAND, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Ms. 

HERSETH, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. EMANUEL, 

Mr. STENHOLM, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, 

Mr. ABERCROMBIE, and Mr. LARSON of Connecticut) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 improve programs for the identification and treatment 

of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans and members of the Armed Forces, 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, 
2 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

2 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

3 ‘‘Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to 

4 Traumatic Stressors Act of 2004’’. 

5 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

6 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definition. 

TITLE I—VETERANS OF PAST DEPLOYMENTS 

Sec. 101. Extension of eligibility for readjustment counseling services for Vietnam-era veterans. 

TITLE II—MILITARY ISSUES 

Sec. 201. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Health Care 

Sharing Incentive Fund. 

Sec. 202. Collection of aggregate data from pre- and post-deployment health assessments. 

Sec. 203. Telemedicine support for front-line Department of Defense providers. 

TITLE III—PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION, AND TREATMENT 

FOR RETURNING TROOPS 

Sec. 301. Study to identify factors that decrease the likelihood of the development of chronic PTSD despite combat exposure. 

Sec. 302. Extension of period of enhanced eligibility for VA health services for 

veterans who served in combat theater of operations. 

Sec. 303. Department of Veterans Affairs to participate in all demobilizations 

and Transitional Assistance Program activities. 

Sec. 304. Educational materials. 

Sec. 305. Demonstration project to station Department of Veterans Affairs psychologists and psychiatrists at major demobilization sites and 

military treatment facilities. 

Sec. 306. Model care plan for integrated mental health and a primary care 

model for PTSD practice. 

Sec. 307. Performance measures for Department of Veterans Affairs health 

care administrators. 

TITLE IV—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE/DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COUNCIL ON POST-DEPLOYMENT MENTAL 

HEALTH 

Sec. 401. Establishment of Council. 

Sec. 402. Duties of Council. 

TITLE V—CAPACITY BUILDING IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 
3 

•HR 5244 IH 

Sec. 501. Plan for expansion of Department of Veterans Affairs system to expand access to specialized PTSD care. 

Sec. 502. Additional Department of Veterans Affairs resources. 

TITLE VI—FAMILY THERAPY 

Sec. 601. Eligibility period for counseling and bereavement counseling. 

TITLE VII—EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES 

Sec. 701. Training program for health-care providers. 

Sec. 702. Curriculum and protocols for cross-training of Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians. 

Sec. 703. Publication of state-of-the-art PTSD diagnosis and treatment. 

Sec. 704. Protocols for pain management for PTSD and war-related pain. 

Sec. 705. Case management techniques for VA PTSD clinicians. 

TITLE VIII—NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE ON PTSD 

EDUCATION 

Sec. 801. National Steering Committee. 

Sec. 802. Funding support for National Center for PTSD. 

Sec. 803. Continuing education to mental health providers. 

Sec. 804. Web-based curriculum to sponsor clinician training initiatives. 

TITLE IX—BENEFITS 

Sec. 901. Identification of deficiencies in PTSD disability examinations. 

Sec. 902. Criteria for determining medical conditions associated with PTSD. 

TITLE X—PUBLIC AWARENESS 

Sec. 1001. Public awareness program. 

Sec. 1002. Web site and materials for general campaign of awareness of PTSD. 

1 SEC. 2. DEFINITION. 

2 In this Act, the term ‘‘PTSD’’ means post-traumatic 

3 stress disorder. 

4 TITLE I—VETERANS OF PAST 

5 DEPLOYMENTS 

6 SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT 

7 COUNSELING SERVICES FOR VIETNAM-ERA 

8 VETERANS. 

9 Section 1712A(a)(1)(B)(ii) of title 38, United States 

10 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 2004’’ and in11 serting ‘‘January 1, 2009’’. 
4 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 TITLE II—MILITARY ISSUES 

2 SEC. 201. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS-DEPART3 MENT OF DEFENSE HEALTH CARE SHARING 

4 INCENTIVE FUND. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

6 and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly take such steps 

7 as necessary to implement the proposal of the Center for 

8 the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services 

9 University of the Health Sciences for a Department of 

10 Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Health Care 

11 Sharing Incentive Fund. 

12 (b) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT.—As part of 

13 the implementation of such proposal, the two Secretaries 

14 shall provide for a system of telecommunications to sup15 port the following: 

16 (1) Continuing education and support for front17 line (forward-deployed) providers of health-care serv18 ices. 

19 (2) Enhanced treatment capacity for addressing 

20 acute episodes of PTSD. 

21 SEC. 202. COLLECTION OF AGGREGATE DATA FROM PRE22 AND POST-DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ASSESS23 MENTS. 

24 (a) DATA COLLECTION.—The Secretary of Defense 

25 shall take appropriate steps to assist the Secretary of Vet-
5 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 erans Affairs with the collection of data from pre- and 

2 post-deployment health assessments of members of the 

3 Armed Forces that may be relevant for identification and 

4 treatment of PTSD. 

5 (b) CONSENT FORMS.—The Secretary of Defense 

6 shall develop forms to obtain the written consent of mem7 bers of the Armed Forces to allow the Department of Vet8 erans Affairs to collect data contained on pre-deployment 

9 and post-deployment health assessment forms with rel10 evant treatment information concerning PTSD from those 

11 members of the Armed Forces to be discharged or demobi12 lized within 90 days. Such forms shall be developed within 

13 60 days of the date of the enactment of this Act. 

14 (c) PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE POST-DEPLOY15 MENT INTERVENTION.— 

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

17 Affairs shall conduct routine preventative mainte18 nance intervention for all members of the Armed 

19 Forces returning from deployment in a combat the20 ater. Such intervention shall be conducted between 

21 90 and 180 days after such members return from 

22 such deployment. 

23 (2) PERSONNEL.—For purposes of such inter24 vention, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use 

25 staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs, includ-
6 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 ing readjustment counseling staff, or persons trained 

2 by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including 

3 volunteers from military unit associations, veteran 

4 service organizations, or other nonprofit organiza5 tions. 

6 (3) SIZE.—Such intervention shall be conducted 

7 with no more than 6 returning servicemembers at a 

8 time. 

9 (4) PURPOSE.—The purpose of such interven10 tion shall be the following: 

11 (A) To identify and distinguish symptoms 

12 of ‘‘common’’ acute stress reactions from those 

13 of chronic and severe post-traumatic stress dis14 order. 

15 (B) To discuss concerns of combat per16 sonnel and those expressed by their family 

17 members. 

18 (C) To refer returning servicemembers to 

19 appropriate services, as necessary. 

20 (D) To disseminate educational materials 

21 about PTSD to servicemembers. 

22 (E) To provide follow-up educational mate23 rials by mail to family members. 

24 (d) IDENTIFICATION OF SUBSTANCE USE DIS25 ORDERS.—The Secretary of Defense shall add questions 
7 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 to pre-deployment and post-deployment screens to assist 

2 in identification of existing or potential substance use dis3 orders among members of the Armed Forces. 

4 (e) SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROTO5 COLS.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop appro6 priate substance use disorder treatment protocols for as7 sistance in combat areas of operations and on return to 

8 the United States. 

9 SEC. 203. TELEMEDICINE SUPPORT FOR FRONT-LINE DE10 PARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROVIDERS. 

11 The Secretary of Defense shall, in conjunction with 

12 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, establish a program to 

13 provide telemedicine support to Department of Defense 

14 health-care providers in combat theaters. Such telemedi15 cine support shall include real-time access to clinical spe16 cialty support, Web-based information on state-of-the-art 

17 protocols for the treatment and diagnosis of PTSD, and 

18 educational programs concerning PTSD. 
8 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 TITLE III—PREVENTION, EARLY 

2 DETECTION, AND TREAT3 MENT FOR RETURNING 

4 TROOPS 

5 SEC. 301. STUDY TO IDENTIFY FACTORS THAT DECREASE 

6 THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF 

7 CHRONIC PTSD DESPITE COMBAT EXPOSURE. 

8 (a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

9 provide for a study, to be conducted by an entity other 

10 than the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Depart11 ment of Defense, to identify factors that decrease the like12 lihood of the development of chronic post-traumatic stress 

13 disorder (PTSD) in servicemembers and veterans who 

14 have had combat exposure, including exposure to guerilla 

15 warfare. 

16 (b) REPORT.—The Secretary shall provide for the en17 tity conducting the study under subsection (a) to submit 

18 a report on the results of the study to the Secretary and 

19 the Congress not later than one year after the date of the 

20 enactment of this Act. 
9 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ENHANCED ELIGI2 BILITY FOR VA HEALTH SERVICES FOR VET3 ERANS WHO SERVED IN COMBAT THEATER 

4 OF OPERATIONS. 

5 Section 1710(e)(3)(C) of title 38, United States 

6 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘2 years’’ and inserting ‘‘5 

7 years’’. 

8 SEC. 303. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PAR9 TICIPATE IN ALL DEMOBILIZATIONS AND 

10 TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AC11 TIVITIES. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 

13 provide for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to participate 

14 in all demobilization and Transitional Assistance Program 

15 activities conducted within the Department of Defense so 

16 as to enhance the capability of the Secretary of Veterans 

17 Affairs to identify risk factors for development of chronic 

18 PTSD. 

19 (b) HOMELESSNESS RISK AWARENESS.—In any ac20 tivity referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of De21 fense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide 

22 information concerning homelessness, including risk fac23 tors, awareness assessment, and contact information for 

24 preventative assistance associated with homelessness. 
10 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 SEC. 304. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. 

2 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop edu3 cational materials concerning PTSD for members of the 

4 Armed Forces returning from deployments in combat the5 aters and their family members. The Secretary of Defense 

6 shall assist in making those materials available to such 

7 members and family members. 

8 SEC. 305. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO STATION DEPART9 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PSYCHOLO10 GISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS AT MAJOR DEMO11 BILIZATION SITES AND MILITARY TREAT12 MENT FACILITIES. 

13 (a) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.—The Secretary of 

14 Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly 

15 provide for the conduct of a demonstration project under 

16 which Department of Veterans Affairs psychologists and 

17 psychiatrists are stationed at major demobilization sites 

18 and military treatment facilities. 

19 (b) PURPOSE.—The purposes of the demonstration 

20 project shall be as follows: 

21 (1) Identify, on an aggregate level, need for 

22 mental health services among active-duty, Reserve, 

23 and National Guard members. 

24 (2) Provide such services or refer members for 

25 necessary services. 
11 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 (3) Advise servicemembers of the need for con2 tinuous services. 

3 (4) Identify the obstacles servicemembers have 

4 in seeking appropriate mental health care. 

5 (c) FUNDING.—There is authorized to be appro6 priated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 

7 years 2005, 2006, and 2007 for the conduct of the dem8 onstration project. Amounts for the conduct of the project 

9 shall be provided equally by the Secretary of Veterans Af10 fairs and the Secretary of Defense. 

11 (d) REPORT.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

12 shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of 

13 the Senate and House of Representatives a report pro14 viding the results of the demonstration project. The report 

15 shall be submitted not later than 18 months after the date 

16 of the enactment of this Act. 

17 SEC. 306. MODEL CARE PLAN FOR INTEGRATED MENTAL 

18 HEALTH AND A PRIMARY CARE MODEL FOR 

19 PTSD PRACTICE. 

20 (a) MODEL CARE PLAN.—The Secretary of Veterans 

21 Affairs shall develop and implement a ‘‘model care’’ plan 

22 for integrated mental health and primary care model for 

23 PTSD practice. The plan shall be implemented at three 

24 sites selected by the Secretary. 
12 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the model care plan 

2 shall be as follows: 

3 (1) Develop training protocols for involved clini4 cians. 

5 (2) Identify medical conditions which may be 

6 associated with PTSD. 

7 (3) Identify ‘‘best practices’’ for treatment of 

8 PTSD. 

9 (4) Disseminate results to the Veterans Health 

10 Administration and the Veterans Benefits Adminis11 tration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

12 (c) AUTHORIZATION.—There is authorized to be ap13 propriated for the purposes of subsection (a) the amount 

14 of $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 

15 2007. 

16 SEC. 307. PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR DEPARTMENT OF 

17 VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE ADMINIS18 TRATORS. 

19 (a) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—The Secretary of 

20 Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting 

21 through the Department of Defense/Department of Vet22 erans Affairs Council on Post-Deployment Mental Health 

23 established under section 401, shall develop performance 

24 measures for Department of Veterans Affairs regional 

25 health-care directors (referred to as VISN directors) and 
13 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 Department of Defense TRICARE regional managers to 

2 ensure the appropriate deployment of resources to imple3 ment the Iraq war clinical practice guidelines. 

4 (b) USE OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—The per5 formance measures under subsection (a) shall be designed 

6 to assess— 

7 (1) access and availability of PTSD treatment 

8 for servicemembers returned from deployment in a 

9 combat theater; and 

10 (2) implementation of the Iraq War Clinical 

11 Practice Guidelines. 

12 TITLE IV—DEPARTMENT OF DE13 FENSE/DEPARTMENT OF VET14 ERANS AFFAIRS COUNCIL ON 

15 POST-DEPLOYMENT MENTAL 

16 HEALTH 

17 SEC. 401. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL. 

18 The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Vet19 erans Affairs shall jointly establish a council to be known 

20 as the Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Af21 fairs Council on Post-Deployment Mental Health. The 

22 council shall be composed of leadership of the two depart23 ments in the areas of mental health, PTSD, substance 

24 abuse, and military sexual trauma. The council shall be 
14 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 established not later than 120 days after the date of the 

2 enactment of this Act. 

3 SEC. 402. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. 

4 (a) DUTIES.—The Department of Defense/Depart5 ment of Veterans Affairs Council on Post-Deployment 

6 Mental Health shall have the following duties: 

7 (1) Review of the continuum of care between 

8 the Department of Defense and the Department of 

9 Veterans Affairs for mental health, PTSD, sub10 stance abuse, and military sexual trauma. 

11 (2) Identification of gaps in the treatment capa12 bility of the health-care systems of the Department 

13 of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs for 

14 mental health, PTSD, substance abuse, and military 

15 sexual trauma and expected gaps in such continuum, 

16 with emphasis on access to services in rural areas, 

17 to meet the expected demand from current users and 

18 servicemembers returning from Operation Iraqi 

19 Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and 

20 other deployments. 

21 (3) Promotion, within both systems, of an edu22 cational program to implement the jointly developed 

23 Iraq War Clinical Practice Guidelines. 

24 (4) Development of outcome monitors and qual25 ity improvement instruments to ensure that internal 
15 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 policy regarding PTSD is implemented (including 

2 TRICARE and VISN directors’ performance meas3 ures under section 307). 

4 (5) Recommendation of policies to reduce the 

5 stigma associated with the seeking of mental health 

6 care by active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard 

7 members. 

8 (6) Identification of the highest post-deploy9 ment mental health research priorities for the two 

10 departments. 

11 (7) Communications to inform active-duty 

12 servicemembers and veterans of matters relating to 

13 PTSD. 

14 (8) Meet at least annually with stakeholder 

15 groups comprised of veterans, veterans service orga16 nizations, and family members of veterans receiving 

17 care from the Department of Veterans Affairs men18 tal health programs, and mental health associations. 

19 (b) REPORT.—The Council shall prepare a report 

20 based on the reviews under paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub21 section (a) to identify the necessary resources to create 

22 or enhance PTSD treatment capabilities. The report shall 

23 be made available to the Secretary of both Departments 

24 for comment. The Secretaries shall indicate recommenda25 tions in which they concur or disagree and include specific 
16 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 plans for implementation of any recommendations accept2 ed. The report, with the comments and recommendations 

3 of the two Secretaries shall be submitted to the Commit4 tees on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committees on Armed 

5 Services of the Senate and House of Representatives not 

6 later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 

7 Act. The report shall include priority listing of sites which 

8 require investments according to the greatest perceived 

9 need for PTSD services. 

10 TITLE V—CAPACITY BUILDING 

11 IN DEPARTMENT OF VET12 ERANS AFFAIRS 

13 SEC. 501. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VET14 ERANS AFFAIRS SYSTEM TO EXPAND ACCESS 

15 TO SPECIALIZED PTSD CARE. 

16 Based upon the report under section 402(b), the Sec17 retary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan for the De18 partment of Veterans Affairs to expand access to special19 ized PTSD care through— 

20 (1) Readjustment Counseling Service centers 

21 operated under section 1712A of title 38, United 

22 States Code; 

23 (2) community-based outpatient clinics; and 

24 (3) telemedicine. 
17 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 SEC. 502. ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF2 FAIRS RESOURCES. 

3 In order to improve access to mental health services, 

4 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide the fol5 lowing: 

6 (1) 100 additional full-time equivalent employ7 ees to Readjustment Counseling Service outstations. 

8 (2) A PTSD Clinical Team at every medical 

9 center of the Veterans Health Administration. 

10 (3) A family therapist at each Vet Center. 

11 (4) A PTSD Coordinator in each regional net12 work referred to as a Veterans Integrated Service 

13 Network (VISN ) whose duties shall include— 

14 (A) development of plans for meeting 

15 PTSD treatment needs consistent with the re16 port under section 402(b); 

17 (B) assurance of implementation of clinical 

18 practice guidelines throughout the VISN; 

19 (C) liaison among all health-care sites in 

20 the VISN and the Department Central Office 

21 on matters relating to PTSD. 

22 (5) A PTSD coordinator in each regional office 

23 of the Readjustment Counseling Service whose du24 ties shall include liaison with regional office staff 

25 and medical centers for veterans seeking service-con26 nection for PTSD. 
18 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 TITLE VI—FAMILY THERAPY 

2 SEC. 601. ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR COUNSELING AND BE3 REAVEMENT COUNSELING. 

4 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide coun5 seling to the immediate family members of veterans with 

6 service-connected disabilities and bereavement counseling 

7 to the immediate family members of members of the 

8 Armed Forces who are killed in action for up to one year 

9 after the initial services are delivered to eligible family 

10 members. 

11 TITLE VII—EDUCATIONAL 

12 INITIATIVES 

13 SEC. 701. TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HEALTH-CARE PRO14 VIDERS. 

15 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary 

16 of Defense shall jointly develop a broad training program 

17 for all health-care providers in the Department of Vet18 erans Affairs and the Department of Defense to famil19 iarize those providers with mental health-care issues that 

20 are likely to arise among persons deployed to combat thea21 ters during the five years after such a deployment. 
19 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 SEC. 702. CURRICULUM AND PROTOCOLS FOR CROSS2 TRAINING OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

3 AFFAIRS CLINICIANS. 

4 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a cur5 riculum and required protocols for cross-training to allow 

6 the following clinicians of the Department of Veterans Af7 fairs to screen for PTSD and, as appropriate, provide in8 formation and appropriate referral: 

9 (1) Primary care providers. 

10 (2) Practitioners assigned as Gulf War points11 of-contact. 

12 (3) Clinicians assigned as case managers. 

13 SEC. 703. PUBLICATION OF STATE-OF-THE-ART PTSD DIAG14 NOSIS AND TREATMENT. 

15 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary 

16 of Defense shall jointly develop a plan for the production 

17 and dissemination of publications to advise clinicians on 

18 state-of-the-art PTSD diagnosis and treatment, including 

19 any medical conditions associated with PTSD. 

20 SEC. 704. PROTOCOLS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR PTSD 

21 AND WAR-RELATED PAIN. 

22 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary 

23 of Defense shall jointly develop protocols for pain manage24 ment for PTSD and war-related pain. 
20 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 SEC. 705. CASE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR VA PTSD 

2 CLINICIANS. 

3 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall assist in de4 velopment of case management techniques for PTSD clini5 cians of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

6 TITLE VIII—NATIONAL STEER7 ING COMMITTEE ON PTSD 

8 EDUCATION 

9 SEC. 801. NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE. 

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is a National Steering 

11 Committee on PTSD Education, to be appointed by the 

12 joint council established under title IV. The committee 

13 shall be comprised of mental health and other health pro14 fessionals and health educators involved in the care of vet15 erans of current deployments. 

16 (b) PURPOSE.—The committee shall review training 

17 protocols for health-care providers and plans for dissemi18 nation of educational materials to veterans, their families, 

19 and other relevant parties and shall identify the resources 

20 available to provide for these purposes. 

21 (c) MEETINGS.—The committee shall meet at least 

22 once annually. 

23 SEC. 802. FUNDING SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL CENTER FOR 

24 PTSD. 

25 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec26 retary of Veterans Affairs for the National Center for 
21 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 PTSD to assist in carrying out a joint educational initia2 tive with the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

3 Sciences the amount of $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal 

4 years 2005 through 2014. 

5 SEC. 803. CONTINUING EDUCATION TO MENTAL HEALTH 

6 PROVIDERS. 

7 The National Steering Committee established under 

8 section 801 shall provide continuing education to mental 

9 health providers in the Department of Veterans Affairs 

10 and the Department of Defense. 

11 SEC. 804. WEB-BASED CURRICULUM TO SPONSOR CLINI12 CIAN TRAINING INITIATIVES. 

13 The National Steering Committee established under 

14 section 801 shall develop a Web-based curriculum to spon15 sor clinician training initiatives. 

16 TITLE IX—BENEFITS 

17 SEC. 901. IDENTIFICATION OF DEFICIENCIES IN PTSD DIS18 ABILITY EXAMINATIONS. 

19 (a) IDENTIFICATION OF DEFICIENCIES.—The Sec20 retary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a protocol to 

21 identify deficiencies in compensation and pension exami22 nations conducted by the Secretary to determine if a vet23 eran has PTSD and, if the veteran is determined to have 

24 PTSD, the degree of disabilty associated with that diag25 nosis. 
22 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 (b) PLAN.—Based upon the identification of defi2 ciencies pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall es3 tablish and implement a plan for addressing those defi4 ciencies. 

5 SEC. 902. CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING MEDICAL CONDI6 TIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PTSD. 

7 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop— 

8 (1) criteria for determining which medical con9 ditions are as likely as not to be associated with 

10 PTSD; and 

11 (2) standards for determining when secondary 

12 service-connection should be granted for those condi13 tions. 

14 TITLE X—PUBLIC AWARENESS 

15 SEC. 1001. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM. 

16 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an 

17 aggressive, comprehensive outreach program to enhance 

18 the awareness of veterans, and the public in general, of 

19 the symptoms of PTSD and of the services available for 

20 veterans with those symptoms. The Secretary of Defense 

21 shall provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with such 

22 assistance as may be required for the purposes of such 

23 program. To the extent practicable, the program shall be 

24 conducted through the joint council established under title 

25 IV. 
23 

•HR 5244 IH 

1 SEC. 1002. WEB SITE AND MATERIALS FOR GENERAL CAM2 PAIGN OF AWARENESS OF PTSD. 

3 As part of the program under this title, the Secretary 

4 of Veterans Affairs shall develop and continually update 

5 a Web site and materials, including pamphlets, news re6 leases, fact sheets, and other materials, for the purposes 

7 of a general campaign of awareness of post-traumatic 

8 stress disorder. 

Æ