(2) APPROVAL.—The appointment of an execu-
tive director under paragraph (1) shall be subject to 
approval by the Advisory Board. 
(3) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson may fix 
the compensation of the executive director and other 
personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, 
United States Code, except that the rate of pay for 
the executive director and other personnel may not 
exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
SEC. 5. OFFICE OF EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH. 
(a) OFFICE.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish an Office of Extramural Research 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Office’’)— 
(1) to conduct research on wounds, illnesses, in-
juries, and other conditions suffered by individuals 
as a result of exposure to toxic substances while 
serving as members of the Armed Forces; and 
(2) to assist the Advisory Board established 
under section 4 in the consideration of claims of ex-
posure to toxic substances. 
(b) DIRECTOR.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall select a Director of the Office. 
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(c) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to approval by the 
advisory council established under subsection (e), the 
Director may award grants to reputable scientists 
and epidemiologists to carry out this section. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The Director may not award 
grants to individuals or organizations associated 
with or having an interest in a chemical company or 
any other organization that the Secretary determines 
may have an interest in the increased use of toxic 
substances. 
(d) SUPPORT TO ADVISORY BOARD.—Not later than 
180 days after receiving a request from the Advisory 
Board established under section 4 to review a claim of ex-
posure pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(C)(ii) of that section, 
the Office shall submit a report to the Advisory Board 
with one of the following determinations: 
(1) A determination that exposure to a toxic 
substance occurred to a degree that an individual ex-
posed to that substance may have or develop a med-
ical condition that would qualify that individual for 
health care or compensation from the Department of 
Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. 
(2) A determination that further study of the 
claim is necessary, to be carried out by, or under the 
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direction of, the Office in coordination with the Ad-
visory Board. 
(3) A determination that exposure to a toxic 
substance did not occur or occurred to a negligible 
extent. 
(e) ADVISORY COUNCIL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall establish an advisory 
council (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Council’’) 
for the Office established under this section. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) COMPOSITION.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices and any other heads of Federal agen-
cies as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
determines appropriate, select 11 members 
of the Council, of whom— 
(I) not less than three shall be 
members of organizations exempt 
from 
taxation 
under 
section 
501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986; and 
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(II) additional members may be 
selected from among— 
(aa) 
environmental 
epi-
demiologists; 
(bb) academics; and 
(cc) veterans or the descend-
ants of veterans. 
(ii) 
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
SCI-
ENTISTS.—When considering individuals 
who are members of the scientific commu-
nity for selection to the Council, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs may select only 
those individuals— 
(I) who have evidenced expertise 
in and demonstrate a commitment to 
research that leads to peer-reviewed 
scientific evaluation of the wounds, ill-
nesses, injuries, and other conditions 
that may arise from exposure to toxic 
substances; and 
(II) who are not associated with 
and do not have an interest in a 
chemical company or any other orga-
nization that the Secretary determines 
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may have an interest in the increased 
use of toxic substances. 
(B) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall select a Chairperson from 
among the members of the Council. 
(C) TERMS.—Each member of the Council 
shall serve a term of two or three years as de-
termined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(3) DUTIES.—The Council shall— 
(A) approve or disapprove of grants pro-
posed to be awarded by the Director pursuant 
to subsection (c); and 
(B) advise the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs and the Director on— 
(i) establishing guidelines for grant 
proposals and research proposals under 
this section; and 
(ii) assisting the Advisory Board es-
tablished under section 4 in the consider-
ation of claims of exposure to toxic sub-
stances. 
(4) MEETINGS.—The Council shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson, but not less frequently than 
semiannually. 
(5) COMPENSATION.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—The members of the 
Council shall serve without compensation. 
(B) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of 
the Council shall be allowed travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
authorized for employees of agencies under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from their homes or regular 
places of business in the performance of serv-
ices for the Council. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the es-
tablishment of the Office under this section, the Director 
and the Chairman of the Council shall jointly submit to 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Congress a report 
that contains the following: 
(1) A summary of the research efforts con-
ducted and the grants awarded under this section. 
(2) A summary of the effects of exposure to 
toxic substances studied pursuant to this section. 
(3) Recommendations for steps to be taken to 
care for and serve— 
(A) individuals exposed to toxic substances 
while serving as a member of the Armed 
Forces; and 
(B) the progeny of those individuals. 
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SEC. 6. PROVISION OF DEPENDENT CARE AND CAREGIVER 
ASSISTANCE TO DESCENDANTS OF VETERANS 
EXPOSED TO CERTAIN TOXIC SUBSTANCES 
DURING SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) DEPENDENT CARE.—Section 1781(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘, and’’ and 
inserting a comma; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the semicolon 
at the end and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) an individual who is the biological child, 
grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran who the 
Secretary has determined was exposed to a toxic 
substance while serving as a member of the Armed 
Forces, if— 
‘‘(A) the individual has a health condition 
that is determined by the Advisory Board estab-
lished by section 4 of the Toxic Exposure Re-
search and Military Family Support Act of 
2014 to be a health condition that results from 
exposure to that toxic substance, 
‘‘(B) the individual is homebound as a re-
sult of that health condition, and 
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‘‘(C) the Secretary determines that the vet-
eran has or had the same health condition,’’. 
(b) CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE.—Subsection 
(a) of section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘veteran’’ each place it ap-
pears (except for paragraph (2)(A)) and insert-
ing ‘‘individual’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘veterans’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A)(i) is a veteran or member of the Armed 
Forces undergoing medical discharge from the 
Armed Forces and has a serious injury (including 
traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma, or 
other mental disorder) incurred or aggravated in the 
line of duty in the active military, naval, or air serv-
ice on or after September 11, 2001; or 
‘‘(ii) is the biological child, grandchild, or great- 
grandchild of a veteran who the Secretary has deter-
mined was exposed to a toxic substance while serv-
ing as a member of the Armed Forces, if— 
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‘‘(I) the individual has a health condition 
that is determined by the Advisory Board estab-
lished by section 4 of the Toxic Exposure Re-
search and Military Family Support Act of 
2014 to be a health condition that results from 
exposure to that toxic substance; 
‘‘(II) the individual is homebound as a re-
sult of that health condition; and 
‘‘(III) the Secretary determines that the 
veteran has or had the same health condition; 
and’’; and 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(C) as subparagraph (B); and 
(D) in paragraph (9)(C)(i), by striking 
‘‘veteran’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’. 
(2) 
GENERAL
CAREGIVER
SUPPORT.—Sub-
section (b) of such section is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘veteran’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘veterans’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; 
(C) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘who 
are’’ and all that follows through ‘‘of this title’’; 
and 
(D) in paragraph (2)— 
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(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A), (B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and 
(iii), respectively; and 
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i), 
as redesignated by clause (i), by striking 
‘‘any individual who needs’’ and inserting 
‘‘any individual who— 
‘‘(A)(i) is enrolled in the health care system es-
tablished under section 1705(a) of this title; or 
‘‘(ii) is the biological child, grandchild, or great- 
grandchild of a veteran who the Secretary has deter-
mined was exposed to a toxic substance while serv-
ing as a member of the Armed Forces, if— 
‘‘(I) the individual has a health condition 
that is determined by the Advisory Board estab-
lished by section 4 of the Toxic Exposure Re-
search and Military Family Support Act of 
2014 to be a health condition that results from 
exposure to that toxic substance; 
‘‘(II) the individual is homebound as a re-
sult of that health condition; and 
‘‘(III) the Secretary determines that the 
veteran has or had the same health condition; 
and 
‘‘(B) needs’’. 
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(3) DEFINITIONS.—Subsection (d) of such sec-
tion is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘eligible veteran’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘eligible indi-
vidual’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘covered veteran’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘covered indi-
vidual’’; 
(C) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the vet-
eran’’ and inserting ‘‘the eligible individual or 
covered individual’’; 
(D) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the vet-
eran’’ and inserting ‘‘the eligible individual’’; 
(E) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘the vet-
eran’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 
eligible individual’’; 
(F) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘the vet-
eran’’ and inserting ‘‘the eligible individual or 
covered individual’’; and 
(G) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) The term ‘toxic substance’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 2 of the Toxic Expo-
sure Research and Military Family Support Act of 
2014.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
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(1) BENEFICIARY TRAVEL.—Section 111 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the 
end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) 
An 
individual 
described 
in 
section 
1720G(a)(2)(A)(ii) of this title.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (e)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘veteran’’ each place it 
appears (except for paragraph (2)(B)) and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘a veteran’’ and 
inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘such veteran’’ 
and inserting ‘‘such individual’’. 
(2) COUNSELING, 
TRAINING, 
AND
MENTAL 
HEALTH SERVICES.—Section 1782(c)(2) of such title 
is amended by striking ‘‘an eligible veteran or a 
caregiver of a covered veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘a vet-
eran who is an eligible individual or a caregiver of 
a veteran who is a covered individual’’. 
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