(1) Development of training protocols for in-
volved clinicians. 
(2) Identification of medical conditions which 
may be associated with post-deployment mental 
health problems including PTSD. 
(3) Identification of ‘‘best practices’’ for treat-
ment of post-deployment mental health problems in-
cluding PTSD. 
(4) Dissemination of results to the Veterans 
Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits 
Administration of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION.—There is authorized to be ap-
propriated for the purposes of subsection (a) the amount 
of $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 
2008. 
SEC. 145. PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE ADMINIS-
TRATORS. 
(a) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—The Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting 
through the Department of Defense/Department of Vet-
erans Affairs Council on Post-Deployment Mental Health 
established under section 151, shall develop performance 
measures for Department of Veterans Affairs regional
health-care directors (referred to as VISN directors) and 
Department of Defense TRICARE regional managers to 
ensure the appropriate deployment of resources to imple-
ment the treatment protocols referred to as ‘‘Iraq War 
Clinical Practice Guidelines’’. 
(b) USE OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—The per-
formance measures under subsection (a) shall be designed 
to assess— 
(1) access and availability of PTSD treatment 
for servicemembers returned from deployment in a 
combat theater; and 
(2) implementation of protocols referred to in 
subsection (a). 
CHAPTER 4—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE/ 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
COUNCIL 
ON 
POST-DEPLOYMENT 
MENTAL HEALTH 
SEC. 151. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL. 
The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall jointly establish a council to be known 
as the Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Af-
fairs Council on Post-Deployment Mental Health. The 
council shall be composed of leadership of the two depart-
ments in the areas of mental health, PTSD, substance 
abuse, and military sexual trauma. The council shall be
established not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 152. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. 
(a) DUTIES.—The Department of Defense/Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs Council on Post-Deployment 
Mental Health shall have the following duties: 
(1) Review of the continuum of care between 
the Department of Defense and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for mental health, PTSD, sub-
stance abuse, and military sexual trauma. 
(2) Identification of gaps in the treatment capa-
bility of the health-care systems of the Department 
of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs for 
mental health, PTSD, substance abuse, and military 
sexual trauma and expected gaps in such continuum, 
with emphasis on access to services in rural areas, 
to meet the expected demand from current users and 
servicemembers returning from Operation Iraqi 
Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and 
other deployments. 
(3) Promotion, within both systems, of an edu-
cational program to implement the jointly developed 
Iraq War Clinical Practice Guidelines. 
(4) Development of outcome monitors and qual-
ity improvement instruments to ensure that internal
policy regarding PTSD is implemented (including 
TRICARE and VISN directors’ performance meas-
ures under section 307). 
(5) Recommendation of policies to reduce the 
stigma associated with the seeking of mental health 
care by active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard 
members. 
(6) Identification of the highest post-deploy-
ment mental health research priorities for the two 
departments. 
(7) Communications to inform active-duty 
servicemembers and veterans of matters relating to 
PTSD. 
(b) ANNUAL MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS.—The 
Council shall meet at least annually with stakeholder 
groups comprised of veterans, veterans service organiza-
tions, and family members of veterans receiving care from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs mental health pro-
grams, and mental health associations. 
(c) REPORT.—The Council shall prepare a report 
based on the reviews under paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub-
section (a) to identify the necessary resources to create 
or enhance PTSD treatment capabilities. The report shall 
be made available to the Secretary of both Departments 
for comment. The Secretaries shall indicate recommenda-