I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1565
To establish a National Center for Military Deployment Health Research 
in the Department of Health and Human Services to provide an inde-
pendent means for the conduct and coordination of research into issues 
relating to the deployment of members of the Armed Forces overseas, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2003
Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Ms. LEE, Mr. FROST, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs. JONES 
of Ohio, Mr. MCDERMOTT, and Mr. CONYERS) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 
in addition to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs, the Budget, and 
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a National Center for Military Deployment 
Health Research in the Department of Health and 
Human Services to provide an independent means for 
the conduct and coordination of research into issues re-
lating to the deployment of members of the Armed 
Forces overseas, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Servicemembers 
Health Protection Act of 2003’’. 
TITLE 
I—NATIONAL 
CENTER 
FOR MILITARY DEPLOYMENT 
HEALTH RESEARCH 
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR 
MILITARY DEPLOYMENT HEALTH RESEARCH. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 
Department of Health and Human Services a center 
to be known as the National Center for Military De-
ployment Health Research (hereinafter in this Act 
referred to as the ‘‘Center’’). 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The Center shall be headed by 
a Director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services. 
(3) PURPOSE.—The Center shall, in accordance 
with this Act, conduct research on deployment-re-
lated health issues of members of the Armed Forces, 
veterans, and their families and serve as the national 
center for coordination of private and public re-
search on those issues. 
(b) DEPLOYMENT-RELATED HEALTH ISSUES DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘deployment-
related health issues’’ includes the following:
(1) Issues relating to injuries, diseases, dis-
orders, or other health conditions of members of the 
Armed Forces arising or incurred during deployment 
and resulting from combat, training, infectious dis-
eases, and environmental exposures. 
(2) Conditions that emerge during or following 
deployment, including—
(A) diagnosable conditions; 
(B) medically unexplained symptoms (both 
physical and mental); 
(C) effects on health-related quality of life; 
(D) family impacts; and 
(E) sequelae of combat injuries. 
(3) Conditions arising from inoculations before 
deployment that are intended to provide protection 
from conditions that could be encountered during 
deployment. 
SEC. 102. FUNCTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The functions of the Center shall 
be as follows: 
(1) Development of a coordinated research plan 
for deployment-related health issues. 
(2) Conducting and supporting research relat-
ing to deployment-related health issues.
(3) Creation of policies for conducting and sup-
porting such research and making the results of 
such research available to the public and guidelines 
for the conduct and dissemination of research by 
other Federal entities and by non-Federal entities, 
in matters relating to deployment-related health 
issues of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, 
and their families, including policies to minimize re-
search duplication. 
(4) Evaluation of the results of research de-
scribed in paragraph (3). 
(5) Development of policy recommendations 
that emerge from that research. 
(6) Communication of the results of the re-
search described in paragraph (3) to the medical 
community and persons with deployment-related 
health issues. 
(b) CORE FUNCTIONS.—The Center shall carry out 
the following core functions: 
(1) Research coordination and setting of prior-
ities. 
(2) Synthesis of research for the purpose of de-
veloping policy recommendations. 
(3) Review and analysis of longitudinal moni-
toring of deployment-related health of veterans.
(4) Facilitating the use of national data re-
sources for research activities relating to deploy-
ment-related health issues. 
(5) Communication of the results of such re-
search activities to the medical community and per-
sons with deployment-related health issues. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Director of the Center 
shall consult closely with the Advisory Committee on Mili-
tary Deployment Health Research established under sec-
tion 104 on all aspects of the activities of the Center. 
SEC. 103. RESEARCH NETWORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Center shall coordinate and 
conduct research activities relating to deployment-related 
health issues of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, 
and their families. The Center’s research activities shall 
include (1) activities with respect to research programs by 
other Federal departments and agencies, and (2) research 
activities initiated by the Center. 
(b) FEDERAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS.—
(1) INVENTORY OF FEDERAL RESEARCH PRO-
GRAMS.—The Center shall develop and maintain an 
inventory of research programs relating to deploy-
ment-related health issues carried out by the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and 
other Federal officials. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Center shall consult 
with, and seek the advice of, other federally spon-
sored researchers in developing the Center’s research 
agenda. 
(c) CENTER-INITIATED RESEARCH.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Center shall conduct a 
broad-based research program into deployment-re-
lated health issues. As part of that program, the 
Center may, from funds appropriated for that pur-
pose, make grants for research into deployment-re-
lated health issues. Any such grant shall be made 
based upon issuance of a request for applications or 
a request for proposals. Applications and proposals 
shall be assessed through a peer-review process, 
which shall, to the extent possible, be carried out by 
the National Institutes of Health. 
(2) SOLICITATION
OF
PROPOSALS.—In con-
ducting such research, the Center shall solicit pro-
posals from other Federal agencies, from univer-
sities, and from other research entities. 
(3) RESEARCH
NETWORK.—In awarding con-
tracts for research, the Center shall seek to establish 
a network of research sites at academic medical cen-
ters, university-wide research facilities, and other ap-
propriate sources. 
(d) CORE RESEARCH PRINCIPLES.—Center-initiated 
research shall be conducted using the following core set 
of principles: 
(1) Use of a scientific peer-review process for 
all research. 
(2) Dissemination of research results to the sci-
entific community through conventional venues of 
scientific communication. 
(3) Encouragement of interagency, interdepart-
mental, and Federal-academic collaboration. 
SEC. 104. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—
The Center shall have an Advisory Committee on Military 
Deployment Health Research. The Advisory Committee 
shall advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
and the Director of the Center on all aspects of the activi-
ties of the Center. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee shall 
consist of 21 members, appointed as follows: 
(1) 12 members appointed by the President, of 
whom—
(A) 6 shall be appointed from persons who, 
by reason of training, experience, and edu-
cation, have qualifications in the fields of re-
search to be conducted by the Center; and 
(B) 6 shall be appointed from the general 
population, including persons representing the 
interests of veterans and their families and the 
general public. 
(2) 3 members appointed by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs from officers and employees of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(3) 3 members appointed by the Secretary of 
Defense from officers and employees of the Depart-
ment of Defense and members of the Armed Forces. 
(4) 3 members appointed by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services from officers and em-
ployees of the Department of Health and Human 
Services. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS
BY
INDEPENDENT
SCI-
ENTIFIC ENTITY.—The President shall designate an inde-
pendent scientific entity to make recommendations for ap-
pointments under paragraph (1) of subsection (b). When 
making such recommendations, the entity shall rec-
ommend twice the number of candidates as there are posi-
tions available.
(d) TERMS.—Persons appointed to the Advisory 
Committee under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) shall 
serve for a term of three years, except that—
(1) of the persons initially appointed pursuant 
to subsection (b)(1)(A), two shall be appointed for a 
term of one year and two shall be appointed for a 
term of two years; and 
(2) of the persons initially appointed pursuant 
to subsection (b)(1)(B), two shall be appointed for 
a term of one year and two shall be appointed for 
a term of two years. 
(e) PAY AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.—
(1) PAY.—Persons appointed to the Advisory 
Committee under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) 
shall receive pay at the daily equivalent of the rate 
of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive 
Schedule for each day engaged in functions for the 
Advisory Committee. Persons appointed to the Advi-
sory Committee under paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of 
subsection (b) shall receive no additional compensa-
tion by reason of service on the Advisory Committee. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Advi-
sory Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates au-
thorized for employees of agencies under subchapter
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business 
in the performance of services for the Commission. 
(f) CHAIR.—The President shall designate one of the 
members of the Advisory Committee to chair the Advisory 
Committee. 
(g) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee shall meet 
on the call of the chair or a majority of the members of 
the Advisory Board. 
(h) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—Section 
14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply 
to the Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 105. ANNUAL REPORT. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
submit to Congress an annual report on the activities of 
the Center. The report shall include—
(1) a description of the activities of the Center 
during the preceding fiscal year and 
(2) a detailed description of the proposed budg-
et for the Center for the next fiscal year. 
SEC. 106. BUDGET. 
In the President’s budget for any fiscal year sub-
mitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code, amounts requested for the activities of the 
Center shall be set forth separately and distinctly, with
amounts requested for the core functions of the Center 
and for Center-initiated research identified individually. 
TITLE 
II—CENTERS 
FOR 
RE-
SEARCH 
ON 
POST-DEPLOY-
MENT ILLNESSES IN DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 73 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section:
‘‘§ 7327. Centers for research on post-deployment ill-
nesses 
‘‘(a)(1) The Secretary shall establish and operate 
centers for research, education, and clinical activities re-
lated to post-deployment illnesses. Such centers shall be 
known as ‘National Centers for Military Post-Deployment 
Illness Research’. Such centers shall be established and 
operated by collaborating Department facilities as pro-
vided in subsection (c)(1). 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this section, term ‘post-deploy-
ment illness’ means any health condition being currently 
studied or that will be studied that has (or that may have) 
an association to or relation to a military deployment mis-
sion, including a peacekeeping mission. 
‘‘(3) Each such center shall function as a center for—
‘‘(A) research on post-deployment illnesses; 
‘‘(B) the use by the Department of specific models 
for furnishing services to treat post-deployment ill-
nesses; 
‘‘(C) education and training of health-care profes-
sionals of the Department; and 
‘‘(D) the development and implementation of in-
novative clinical activities and systems of care with 
respect to the delivery of such services by the De-
partment. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall provide for the research con-
ducted by such centers to be compiled and transmitted to 
a centrally located coordinating center. 
‘‘(b)(1) The Secretary shall, upon the recommendation 
of the Under Secretary for Health, the Secretary of De-
fense, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
designate not more than 25 centers under this section. In 
making such designations, the Secretary shall ensure that 
the centers designated are located in various geographic 
regions of the United States. 
‘‘(2) The authority of the Secretary to establish and op-
erate centers under this section is subject to the appro-
priation of funds for that purpose. 
‘‘(c) The Secretary may not designate a health-care 
facility as a location for a center under subsection (a) un-
less the peer review panel established under subsection (d) 
has determined under that subsection that the proposal 
submitted by such facility as a location for a new center 
under subsection (a) is among those proposals which have 
met the highest competitive standards of scientific and 
clinical merit, and the Secretary (upon the recommenda-
tion of the Under Secretary for Health) determines that 
the facility has (or may reasonably be anticipated to de-
velop) each of the following: 
‘‘(1) An arrangement with an accredited med-
ical school which provides education and training in 
post-deployment illnesses and with which such facil-
ity is affiliated under which residents receive edu-
cation and training in post-deployment illnesses. 
‘‘(2) An arrangement under which nursing or 
allied health personnel receive training and edu-
cation in post-deployment illnesses. 
‘‘(3) The ability to attract the participation of 
scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity 
in health-care research efforts. 
‘‘(4) A policymaking advisory committee com-
posed of appropriate health-care and research rep-
resentatives of the facility and of the affiliated 
school or schools to advise the directors of such fa-
cility and such center on policy matters pertaining to
the activities of such center during the period of the 
operation of such center. 
‘‘(5) The capability to conduct effectively eval-
uations of the activities of such center. 
‘‘(d)(1) In order to provide advice to assist the Sec-
retary and the Under Secretary for Health in carrying out 
their responsibilities under this section, the Under Sec-
retary shall establish a panel to assess the scientific and 
clinical merit of proposals that are submitted to the Sec-
retary for the establishment of new centers under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(2) The membership of the panel shall consist of ex-
perts in the fields of post-deployment illnesses research, 
education, and clinical care. Members of the panel shall 
serve as consultants to the Department for a period of 
no longer than six months. 
‘‘(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted 
to the panel by the Under Secretary and shall submit its 
views on the relative scientific and clinical merit of each 
such proposal to the Under Secretary. 
‘‘(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act. 
‘‘(e) There are authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary for the support of the research, 
treatment, and education activities of the centers estab-
lished pursuant to subsection (a). The Under Secretary 
for Health shall allocate to such centers from other funds 
appropriated generally for the Department medical care 
account and medical and prosthetics research account, as 
appropriate, such amounts as the Under Secretary for 
Health determines appropriate. 
‘‘(f) Activities of clinical and scientific investigation 
at each center established under subsection (a) shall be 
eligible to compete for the award of funding from funds 
appropriated for the Department medical and prosthetics 
research account and shall receive priority in the award 
of funding from such account insofar as funds are award-
ed to projects for research in post-deployment illnesses.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 7326 the following new 
item:
‘‘7327. Centers for research on post-deployment illnesses.’’.
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