Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to establish, or expand upon, master’s degree programs in orthotics and prosthetics, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act 2. Orthotics and Prosthetics Education Improvement (a) Grants required (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall award grants to eligible institutions to enable the eligible institutions— (A) to establish a master's degree program in orthotics and prosthetics; or (B) to expand upon an existing master's degree program in orthotics and prosthetics, including by admitting more students, further training faculty, expanding facilities, or increasing cooperation with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. (2) Priority The Secretary shall give priority in the award of grants under this section to eligible institutions that have entered into a partnership with a medical center or clinic administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a facility administered by the Department of Defense, including by providing clinical rotations at such medical center, clinic, or facility. (3) Grant amounts Grants awarded under this section shall be in amounts of not less than $1,000,000 and not more than $1,500,000. (b) Requests for proposals (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter for two years, the Secretary shall issue a request for proposals from eligible institutions for grants under this section. (2) Proposals An eligible institution that seeks the award of a grant under this section shall submit an application therefor to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, including— (A) demonstration of a willingness and ability to participate in a partnership described in subsection (a)(2); and (B) a commitment, and demonstration of an ability, to maintain an accredited orthotics and prosthetics education program after the end of the grant period. (c) Grant uses (1) In general An eligible institution awarded a grant under this section shall use grant amounts to carry out any of the following: (A) Building new or expanding existing orthotics and prosthetics master’s degree programs. (B) Training doctoral candidates in fields related to orthotics and prosthetics to prepare them to instruct in orthotics and prosthetics programs. (C) Training faculty in orthotics and prosthetics education or related fields for the purpose of instruction in orthotics and prosthetics programs. (D) Salary supplementation for faculty in orthotics and prosthetics education. (E) Financial aid that allows eligible institutions to admit additional students to study orthotics and prosthetics. (F) Funding faculty research projects or faculty time to undertake research in the areas of orthotics and prosthetics for the purpose of furthering their teaching abilities. (G) Renovation of buildings or minor construction to house orthotics and prosthetics education programs. (H) Purchasing equipment for orthotics and prosthetics education. (2) Limitation on construction An eligible institution awarded a grant under this section may use not more than 50 percent of the grant amount to carry out paragraph (1)(G). (3) Admissions preference An eligible institution awarded a grant under this section shall give preference in admission to the orthotics and prosthetics master’s degree programs to veterans, to the extent practicable. (4) Period of use of funds An eligible institution awarded a grant under this section may use the grant amount for a period of three years after the award of the grant. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term eligible institution (A) is accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education in cooperation with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or (B) demonstrates an ability to meet the accreditation requirements for orthotic and prosthetic education from the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education in cooperation with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs if the institution receives a grant under this section. (2) The term veteran (e) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2018 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $15,000,000 to carry out this section. The amount so authorized to be appropriated shall remain available for obligation until September 30, 2020. (2) Unobligated amounts to be returned to the treasury Any amounts authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) that are not obligated by the Secretary as of September 30, 2020, shall be returned to the Treasury of the United States. 3. Center of Excellence in Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (a) Grant for establishment of center (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall award a grant to an eligible institution to enable the eligible institution— (A) to establish the Center of Excellence in Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (in this section referred to as the Center (B) to enable the eligible institution to improve orthotic and prosthetic outcomes for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and civilians by conducting evidence-based research on— (i) the knowledge, skills, and training most needed by clinical professionals in the field of orthotics and prosthetics; and (ii) how to most effectively prepare clinical professionals to provide effective, high-quality orthotic and prosthetic care. (2) Priority The Secretary shall give priority in the award of a grant under this section to an eligible institution that has in force, or demonstrates the willingness and ability to enter into, a memoranda of understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or other appropriate Federal agency, or a cooperative agreement with an appropriate private sector entity, which memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement provides for either, or both, of the following: (A) The provision of resources, whether in cash or in-kind, to the Center. (B) Assistance to the Center in conducting research and disseminating the results of such research. (3) Grant amount The grant awarded under this section shall be in the amount of $5,000,000. (b) Requests for proposals (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a request for proposals from eligible institutions for the grant under this section. (2) Proposals An eligible institution that seeks the award of the grant under this section shall submit an application therefor to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Grant uses (1) In general The eligible institution awarded the grant under this section shall use the grant amount as follows: (A) To develop an agenda for orthotics and prosthetics education research. (B) To fund research in the area of orthotics and prosthetics education. (C) To publish or otherwise disseminate research findings relating to orthotics and prosthetics education. (2) Period of use of funds The eligible institution awarded the grant under this section may use the grant amount for a period of five years after the award of the grant. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term eligible institution (A) has a robust research program; (B) offers an orthotics and prosthetics education program that is accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education in cooperation with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; (C) is well recognized in the field of orthotics and prosthetics education; and (D) has an established association with— (i) a medical center or clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (ii) a local rehabilitation hospital. (2) The term veteran (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2018 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $5,000,000 to carry out this section.

Summary: Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants to eligible institutions to: (1) establish a master's degree program in orthotics and prosthetics, or (2) expand upon an existing master's degree program in such area. The VA shall give grant priority to institutions that have entered into a partnership with a medical center administered by the VA or a facility administered by the Department of Defense. An "eligible institution" is an educational institution that is either accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education or that demonstrates an ability to meet such accreditation requirements if it receives a grant. The bill requires the VA to award a grant to an institution with orthotic and prosthetic research and education experience to: (1) establish the Center of Excellence in Orthotic and Prosthetic Education; and (2) improve orthotic and prosthetic outcomes for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and civilians by conducting orthotic and prosthetic research.