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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘1074m. Notification to Congress of hospitalization of combat wounded mem-
bers.’’. 
SEC. 105. INDEPENDENT MEDICAL ADVOCATE FOR MEM-
BERS 
BEFORE 
MEDICAL 
EVALUATION 
BOARDS. 
(a) ASSIGNMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL ADVO-
CATE.—Section 1222 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) INDEPENDENT MEDICAL ADVOCATE FOR MEM-
BERS BEFORE MEDICAL EVALUATION BOARDS.—(1) The 
Secretary of each military department shall ensure, in the 
case of any member of the armed forces being considered 
by a medical evaluation board under that Secretary’s su-
pervision, that the member has access to a physician or 
other appropriate health care professional who is inde-
pendent of the medical evaluation board. 
‘‘(2) The physician or other health care professional 
assigned to a member shall— 
‘‘(A) serve as an advocate for the best interests 
of the member; and 
‘‘(B) provide the member with advice and coun-
sel regarding the medical condition of the member 
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and the findings and recommendations of the med-
ical evaluation board.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of such 
section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1222. Physical evaluation boards and medical eval-
uation boards’’. 
(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 61 of such title is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 
1222 and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘1222. Physical evaluation boards and medical evaluation boards.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (d) of section 
1222 of title 10, United States Code, as added by sub-
section (a), shall apply with respect to medical evaluation 
boards convened after the end of the 180-day period begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 106. TRAINING AND WORKLOAD FOR PHYSICAL EVAL-
UATION BOARD LIAISON OFFICERS. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Section 1222(b) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘establishing—’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘a requirement’’ and in-
serting ‘‘establishing a requirement’’; and 
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(B) by striking ‘‘that Secretary; and’’ and 
all that follows through the end of subpara-
graph (B) and inserting ‘‘that Secretary. A 
physical evaluation board liaison officer may 
not be assigned more than 20 members at any 
one time, except that the Secretary concerned 
may authorize the assignment of additional 
members, for not more than 120 days, if re-
quired due to unforeseen circumstances.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting after ‘‘(2)’’ 
the following new sentences: ‘‘The Secretary of De-
fense shall establish a standardized training program 
and curriculum for physical evaluation board liaison 
officers. Successful completion of the training pro-
gram is required before a person may assume the 
duties of a physical evaluation board liaison offi-
cer.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘physical evaluation 
board liaison officer’ includes any person designated as, 
or assigned the duties of, an assistant to a physical evalua-
tion board liaison officer.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The limitation on the max-
imum number of members of the Armed Forces who may 
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be assigned to a physical evaluation board liaison officer 
shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. The training program and curriculum for 
physical evaluation board liaison officers shall be imple-
mented not later than 180 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act. 
SEC. 107. STANDARDIZED TRAINING PROGRAM AND CUR-
RICULUM FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM. 
(a) TRAINING PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Section 1216 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e)(1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish a 
standardized training program and curriculum for persons 
described in paragraph (2) who are involved in the dis-
ability evaluation system. The training under the program 
shall be provided as soon as practicable in coordination 
with other training associated with the responsibilities of 
the person. 
‘‘(2) Persons covered by paragraph (1) include— 
‘‘(A) Commanders. 
‘‘(B) Enlisted members who perform super-
visory functions. 
‘‘(C) Health care professionals. 
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‘‘(D) Others persons with administrative, pro-
fessional, or technical responsibilities in the dis-
ability evaluation system. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘disability evaluation 
system’ means the Department of Defense system or proc-
ess for evaluating the nature of and extent of disabilities 
affecting members of the armed forces (other than the 
Coast Guard) and comprised of medical evaluation boards, 
physical evaluation boards, counseling of members, and 
final disposition by appropriate personnel authorities, as 
operated by the Secretaries of the military departments, 
and, in the case of the Coast Guard, a similar system or 
process operated by the Secretary of Homeland Security.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The standardized training 
program and curriculum required by subsection (e) of sec-
tion 1216 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a), shall be established not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 108. IMPROVED TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE PRO-
FESSIONALS, 
MEDICAL 
CARE 
CASE 
MAN-
AGERS, AND SERVICE MEMBER ADVOCATES 
ON PARTICULAR CONDITIONS OF RECOV-
ERING SERVICE MEMBERS. 
(a) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
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of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report setting forth recommendations for the 
improvement of the training provided to health care pro-
fessionals, medical care case managers, and service mem-
ber advocates who provide care for or assistance to recov-
ering service members. The recommendations shall in-
clude, at a minimum, specific recommendations to ensure 
that such health care professionals, medical care case 
managers, and service member advocates are adequately 
trained and able to detect early warning signs of post- 
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal tendencies, 
and other mental health conditions among recovering serv-
ice members and make prompt notification to the appro-
priate health care professionals. 
(b) ANNUAL REVIEW OF TRAINING.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
annually thereafter throughout the global war on terror, 
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report on the following: 
(1) The progress made in providing the training 
recommended under subsection (a). 
(2) The quality of training provided to health 
care professionals, medical care case managers, and 
service member advocates, and the number of such 
professionals, managers, and advocates trained. 
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(3) The progress made in developing the track-
ing system under subsection (c) and the results of 
the system. 
(c) TRACKING SYSTEM.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall develop a system to track the number of notifications 
made by medical care case managers and service member 
advocates to health care professionals regarding early 
warning signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and sui-
cide in recovering service members assigned to the man-
agers and advocates. 
SEC. 109. PILOT PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH AN ARMY 
WOUNDED WARRIOR BATTALION AT AN AP-
PROPRIATE ACTIVE DUTY BASE. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the 
Army shall establish a pilot program, at an appro-
priate active duty base with a major medical facility, 
based on the Wounded Warrior Regiment program 
of the Marine Corps. The pilot program shall be 
known as the Army Wounded Warrior Battalion. 
(2) PURPOSE.—Under the pilot program, the 
Battalion shall track and assist members of the 
Armed Forces in an outpatient status who are still 
in need of medical treatment through— 
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(A) the course of their treatment; 
(B) 
medical 
and 
physical 
evaluation 
boards; 
(C) transition back to their parent units; 
and 
(D) medical retirement and subsequent 
transition into the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs medical system. 
(3) ORGANIZATION.—The commanding officer 
of the Battalion shall be selected by the Army Chief 
of Staff and shall be a post-command, at O–5 or O– 
5 select, with combat experience in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The 
chain-of-command shall be filled by previously 
wounded junior officers and non-commissioned offi-
cers when available and appropriate. 
(4) FACILITIES.—The base selected for the 
pilot program shall provide adequate physical infra-
structure to house the Army Wounded Warrior Bat-
talion. Any funds necessary for construction or ren-
ovation of existing facilities shall be allocated from 
the Department of Defense Medical Support Fund 
established under this Act. 
(5) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of the 
Army shall consult with appropriate Marine Corps 
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counterparts to ensure coordination of best practices 
and lessons learned. 
(6) PERIOD
OF
PILOT
PROGRAM.—The pilot 
program shall be in effect for a period of one year. 
(b) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 
days after the end of the one-year period for the pilot 
project, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to Con-
gress a report containing— 
(1) an evaluation of the results of the pilot 
project; 
(2) an assessment of the Army’s ability to es-
tablish Wounded Warrior Battalions at other major 
Army bases. 
(3) recommendations regarding— 
(A) the adaptability of the Wounded War-
rior Battalion concept for the Army’s larger 
wounded population; and 
(B) closer coordination and sharing of re-
sources with counterpart programs of the Ma-
rine Corps. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The pilot program required 
by this section shall be implemented not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 110. CRITERIA FOR REMOVAL OF MEMBER FROM TEM-
PORARY DISABILITY RETIRED LIST. 
(a) CRITERIA.—Section 1210(e) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘of a permanent na-
ture and stable and is’’ after ‘‘physical disability is’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to any case received for consid-
eration by a physical evaluation board after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 111. IMPROVED TRANSITION OF MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES TO DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS UPON RETIREMENT OR SEP-
ARATION. 
(a) TRANSITION OF MEMBERS SEPARATED OR RE-
TIRED.— 
(1) TRANSITION PROCESS.—Chapter 58 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 1142 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1142a. Process for transition of members to health 
care and physical disability systems of 
Department of Veterans Affairs 
‘‘(a) TRANSITION PLAN.—(1) The Secretary of De-
fense shall ensure that each member of the armed forces 
who is being separated or retired under chapter 61 of this 
title receives a written transition plan that— 
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‘‘(A) specifies the recommended schedule and 
milestones for the transition of the member from 
military service; and 
‘‘(B) provides for a coordinated transition of 
the member from the Department of Defense dis-
ability system to the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
‘‘(2) A member being separated or retired under 
chapter 61 of this title shall receive the transition plan 
before the separation or retirement date of the member. 
‘‘(3) The transition plan for a member under this 
subsection shall include information and guidance de-
signed to assist the member in understanding and meeting 
the schedule and milestones for the member’s transition. 
‘‘(b) FORMAL TRANSITION PROCESS.—(1) The Sec-
retary of Defense, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, shall establish a formal process for the 
transmittal to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of the 
records and other information described in paragraph (2) 
as part of the separation or retirement of a member of 
the armed forces under chapter 61 of this title. 
‘‘(2) The records and other information to be trans-
mitted under paragraph (1) with respect to a member 
shall include, at a minimum, the following: 
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‘‘(A) The member’s address and contact infor-
mation. 
‘‘(B) The member’s DD–214 discharge form, 
which shall be transmitted electronically. 
‘‘(C) A copy of the member’s service record, in-
cluding medical records and any results of a Phys-
ical Evaluation Board. 
‘‘(D) Whether the member is entitled to transi-
tional health care, a conversion health policy, or 
other health benefits through the Department of De-
fense under section 1145 of this title. 
‘‘(E) Any requests by the member for assist-
ance in enrolling in, or completed applications for 
enrollment in, the health care system of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for health care benefits for 
which the member may be eligible under laws admin-
istered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
‘‘(F) Any requests by the member for assist-
ance in applying for, or completed applications for, 
compensation and vocational rehabilitation benefits 
to which the member may be entitled under laws ad-
ministered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, if 
the member is being medically separated or is being 
retired under chapter 61 of this title. 
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‘‘(3) The transmittal of information under paragraph 
(1) may be subject to the consent of the member, as re-
quired by statute. 
‘‘(4) With the consent of the member, the member’s 
address and contact information shall also be submitted 
to the department or agency for veterans affairs of the 
State in which the member intends to reside after the sep-
aration or retirement of the member. 
‘‘(c) MEETING.—(1) The formal process required by 
subsection (b) for the transmittal of records and other in-
formation with respect to a member shall include a meet-
ing between representatives of the Secretary concerned 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which shall take 
place at a location designated by the Secretaries. The 
member shall be informed of the meeting at least 30 days 
in advance of the meeting, except that the member may 
waive the notice requirement in order to accelerate trans-
mission of the member’s records and other information to 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
‘‘(2) A member shall be given an opportunity to sub-
mit a written statement for consideration by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs. 
‘‘(d) TIME FOR TRANSMITTAL OF RECORDS.—The 
Secretary concerned shall provide for the transmittal to 
the Department of Veterans Affairs of records and other 
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information with respect to a member at the earliest prac-
ticable date. In no case should the transmittal occur later 
than the date of the separation or retirement of the mem-
ber. 
‘‘(e) ARMED FORCES.—In this section, the term 
‘armed forces’ means the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Ma-
rine Corps.’’. 
(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 1142 the 
following new item: 
‘‘1142a. Process for transition of members to health care and physical disability 
systems of Department of Veterans Affairs.’’. 
(b) UNIFORM SEPARATION AND EVALUATION PHYS-
ICAL.—Section 1145 of such title is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) UNIFORM SEPARATION AND EVALUATION PHYS-
ICAL.—The joint separation and evaluation physical, as 
described in DD–2808 and DD–2697, shall be used by 
the Secretary of Defense in connection with the medical 
separation or retirement of all members of the armed 
forces, including members separated or retired under 
chapter 61 of this title. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
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shall adopt the same separation and evaluation physical 
for use by the Department of Veterans Affairs.’’. 
(c) INTEROPERABILITY OF MEDICAL INFORMATION 
SYSTEMS AND BI-DIRECTIONAL ACCESS.—The Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall es-
tablish and implement a single medical information system 
for the Department of Defense and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for the purpose of ensuring the complete 
interoperability and bi-directional, real-time exchange of 
critical medical information. 
(d) CO-LOCATION OF VA BENEFIT TEAMS.— 
(1) CO-LOCATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly 
determine the optimal locations for the deployment 
of Department of Veterans Affairs benefits team to 
support recovering service members assigned to mili-
tary medical treatment facilities, medical-related 
support facilities, and community-based health care 
organizations. 
(2) MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY 
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘medical-re-
lated support facility’’ has the meaning given that 
term in subsection (b) of section 490 of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by section 201(a) of 
this Act. 
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(e) REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED CHAPTER 61 MEDICAL 
RECORD TRANSMITTAL REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 1142 of such title is 
amended by striking subsection (c). 
(2) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of such 
section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1142. Preseparation counseling’’. 
(3) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 58 of such title is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 
1142 and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘1142. Preseparation counseling.’’. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATES.—Section 1142a of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and sub-
section (d) of section 1145 of such title, as added by sub-
section (b), shall apply with respect to members of the 
Armed Forces who are separated or retired from the 
Armed Forces on or after the first day of the eighth month 
beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. The 
requirements of subsections (c) and (d), and the amend-
ments made by subsection (e), shall take effect on the first 
day of such eighth month. 
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SEC. 112. ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICAL SUPPORT FUND 
FOR SUPPORT OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES RETURNING TO MILITARY SERVICE 
OR CIVILIAN LIFE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.—There is es-
tablished on the books of the Treasury a fund to be known 
as the Department of Defense Medical Support Fund 
(hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘‘Fund’’), 
which shall be administered by the Secretary of the Treas-
ury. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The Fund shall be used— 
(1) to support programs and activities relating 
to the medical treatment, care, rehabilitation, recov-
ery, and support of wounded and injured members 
of the Armed Forces and their return to military 
service or transition to civilian society; and 
(2) to support programs and facilities intended 
to support the families of wounded and injured 
members of the Armed Forces. 
(c) ASSETS OF FUND.—There shall be deposited into 
the Fund any amount appropriated to the Fund, which 
shall constitute the assets of the Fund. 
(d) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER.—The Secretary 
of Defense may transfer amounts in the Fund to ap-
propriations accounts for military personnel; oper-
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ation and maintenance; procurement; research, de-
velopment, test, and evaluation; military construc-
tion; and the Defense Health Program. Amounts so 
transferred shall be merged with and available for 
the same purposes and for the same time period as 
the appropriation account to which transferred. 
(2) ADDITION
TO
OTHER
AUTHORITY.—The 
transfer authority provided in paragraph (1) is in 
addition to any other transfer authority available to 
the Department of Defense. Upon a determination 
that all or part of the amounts transferred from the 
Fund are not necessary for the purposes for which 
transferred, such amounts may be transferred back 
to the Fund. 
(3) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall, not fewer than five days before making a 
transfer from the Fund, notify the congressional de-
fense committees in writing of the details of the 
transfer. 
(e) WOUNDED WARRIOR REGIMENT PROGRAM.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall ensure that $10,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2007 is transferred from the Medical Support 
Fund to support programs, activities, and facilities associ-
ated with the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment 
program, to be used as follows: 
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(1) $6,550,000 for Case Management and Pa-
tient Support. 
(2) $1,200,000 for Wounded Warrior Interim 
Regimental Headquarters Building conversion. 
(3) $1,300,000 for Case Management System 
Development. 
(4) $95,000 for Support Equipment. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION.—There is hereby authorized to 
be appropriated to the Medical Support Fund, from an 
emergency supplemental appropriation for fiscal year 
2007 or 2008, $50,000,000, to remain available through 
September 30, 2008. 
SEC. 113. OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established a 
board to be known as the Oversight Board for Wounded 
Warriors (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Oversight 
Board’’). 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Oversight Board shall be 
composed of 12 members, of whom— 
(1) two shall be appointed by the majority lead-
er of the Senate; 
(2) two shall be appointed by the minority lead-
er of the Senate; 
(3) two shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives; 
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(4) two shall be appointed by the minority lead-
er of the House of Representatives; 
(5) two shall be appointed by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs; and 
(6) two shall be appointed by the Secretary of 
Defense. 
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—All members of the Oversight 
Board shall have sufficient knowledge of, or experience 
with, the military healthcare system, the disability evalua-
tion system, or the experience of a recovering service mem-
ber or family member of a recovering service member. 
(d) APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) TERM.—Each member of the Oversight 
Board shall be appointed for a term of three years. 
A member may be reappointed for one or more addi-
tional terms. 
(2) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Oversight 
Board shall be filled in the same manner in which 
the original appointment was made. 
(e) DUTIES.— 
(1) ADVICE
AND
CONSULTATION.—The Over-
sight Board shall provide advice and consultation to 
the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives regarding— 
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(A) the process for streamlining the dis-
ability evaluation systems of the military de-
partments; 
(B) the process for correcting and improv-
ing the ratios of case managers and service 
member advocates to recovering service mem-
bers; 
(C) the need to revise Department of De-
fense policies to improve the experience of re-
covering service members while under Depart-
ment of Defense care; 
(D) the need to revise Department of De-
fense policies to improve counseling, outreach, 
and general services provided to family mem-
bers of recovering service members; 
(E) the need to revise Department of De-
fense policies regarding the provision of quality 
lodging to recovering service members; and 
(F) such other matters relating to the eval-
uation and care of recovering service members, 
including evaluation under disability evaluation 
systems, as the Board considers appropriate. 
(2) VISITS TO MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT 
FACILITIES.—In carrying out its duties, each mem-
ber of the Oversight Board shall visit not less than 
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three military medical treatment facilities each year, 
and the Board shall conduct each year one meeting 
of all the members of the Board at a military med-
ical treatment facility. 
(f) STAFF.—The Secretary shall make available the 
services of at least two officials or employees of the De-
partment of Defense to provide support and assistance to 
members of the Oversight Board. 
(g) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Oversight 
Board shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees 
of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code, while away from their homes or reg-
ular places of business in the performance of service for 
the Oversight Board. 
(h) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Oversight Board shall 
submit to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives each year a report on its activities during the 
preceding year, including any findings and recommenda-
tions of the Oversight Board as a result of such activities. 
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SEC. 114. OPTION FOR MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPO-
NENTS TO USE MILITARY MEDICAL TREAT-
MENT FACILITIES CLOSEST TO HOME FOR 
CERTAIN INJURIES. 
The Secretary of Defense shall provide that, in the 
case of members of the reserve components returning from 
a combat theater, if a member requires treatment on an 
outpatient basis for injuries or wounds sustained in the-
ater, the member may be provided treatment at the mili-
tary medical treatment facility closest to the member’s 
home rather than closest to the base from which the mem-
ber was deployed. 
SEC. 115. PLANS AND RESEARCH FOR REDUCING POST 
TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. 
(a) PLANS FOR REDUCING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS 
DISORDER.— 
(1) PLAN FOR PREVENTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall develop a plan to incorporate evi-
dence-based preventive and early-intervention 
measures, practices, or procedures that reduce 
the likelihood that personnel in combat will de-
velop post-traumatic stress disorder or other 
stress-related psychopathologies (including sub-
stance use conditions) into— 
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