Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act

To require the Secretary of Defense to award grants to fund research on orthotics and prosthetics, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act 2. Orthotic and Prosthetic Research (a) Purpose The purpose of the grants described in this section is to advance orthotic and prosthetic clinical care for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and civilians who have undergone amputation, traumatic brain injury, and other serious physical injury as a result of combat or military experience. (b) Grants for research on patient outcomes The Secretary of Defense shall award grants to persons to carry out research on the following: (1) The actions that can be taken to prevent amputation of limbs. (2) The point in the course of patient treatment during which orthotic and prosthetic intervention is most effective. (3) The orthotic interventions that are most effective in treating the physical effects of traumatic brain injury. (4) The patients that benefit most from particular orthotic and prosthetic technologies. (5) The orthotic and prosthetic services that best facilitate the return to active duty of members of the Armed Forces. (6) The effect of the aging process on the use of prosthetics, including— (A) increased skin breakdown; (B) loss of balance; (C) falls; and (D) other issues that arise during the aging process. (c) Grants on materials research The Secretary shall award grants to persons to carry out research on the following: (1) The improvement of existing materials used in orthotics and prosthetics for the purpose of improving quality of life and health outcomes for individuals with limb loss. (2) The development of new materials used in orthotics and prosthetics for the purpose of improving quality of life and health outcomes for individuals with limb loss. (d) Grants on technology research The Secretary shall award grants to persons to carry out research on the following: (1) The improvement of existing orthotic and prosthetic technology and devices for the purpose of improving quality of life and health outcomes for individuals with limb loss. (2) The development of new orthotic and prosthetic technology and devices for the purpose of improving quality of life and health outcomes for individuals with limb loss. (e) Request for proposals A person seeking the award of a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor in the form and accompanied by such information as the Secretary shall require. (f) Award requirements (1) Peer-reviewed proposals Grants under this section may be awarded only for research that is peer-reviewed. (2) Competitive procedures Grants under this section shall be awarded through competitive procedures. (g) Grant use A person awarded a grant under subsection (b), (c), or (d) shall use the grant amount to carry out the research described in the applicable subsection. (h) Reports Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, veterans, community-based clinicians, and expert researchers in the field of orthotics and prosthetics, submit to Congress a report setting forth the following: (1) An agenda for orthotic and prosthetic research that identifies and prioritizes the most significant unanswered orthotic and prosthetic research questions pertinent to the provision of evidence-based clinical care to members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and civilians. (2) For each report after the initial report under this subsection— (A) a summary of how the grants awarded under subsection (b) are addressing the most significant orthotic and prosthetic needs; and (B) the progress made towards resolving orthotic and prosthetic challenges facing members of the Armed Forces and veterans. (i) Veteran defined In this section, the term veteran (j) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2018 for the Department of Defense for the Defense Health Program, $30,000,000 to carry out this section.

Summary: Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act This bill directs the Department of Defense to award grants to advance orthotic and prosthetic care for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and civilians who have undergone amputation, traumatic brain injury, and other serious injuries resulting from combat or military experience. The grants must fund research on: (1) outcomes for such patients, (2) materials used in orthotics and prosthetics, and (3) improving existing orthotic and prosthetic technology and the development of new technology.