IB 
Union Calendar No. 460 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1769 
[Report No. 114–592, Part I] 
To establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a national center for 
research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of the 
descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during service in 
the Armed Forces that are related to that exposure, to establish an 
advisory board on such health conditions, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 14, 2015 
Mr. BENISHEK (for himself, Mr. HONDA, and Ms. ESTY) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
MAY 24, 2016 
Additional sponsors: Mr. BILIRAKIS, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. 
QUIGLEY, Mr. YODER, Mr. ZELDIN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. LATTA, Ms. 
DUCKWORTH, Mrs. BUSTOS, Ms. KUSTER, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. JOHNSON of 
Ohio, Mr. ROSS, Mr. JOLLY, Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania, Mr. CON-
NOLLY, Mr. COOK, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. ROTHFUS, Ms. FRANKEL 
of Florida, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. O’ROURKE, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. RANGEL, 
Mr. KATKO, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. ELLISON, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. 
LOWEY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. TED LIEU of 
California, Mr. DEUTCH, Ms. LEE, Mr. POLIS, Mr. COLLINS of New 
York, Ms. SINEMA, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mrs. KIRK-
PATRICK, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, 
Mr. COHEN, Mr. RUSH, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. THOMPSON of 
Pennsylvania, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. PIERLUISI, Mr. LARSEN of Wash-
ington, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Penn-
sylvania, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. POSEY, Mr. NEAL, Mr. CARNEY, Ms. 
BROWNLEY of California, Mr. ROUZER, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. 
KIND, Mr. PETERSON, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. 
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MCKINLEY, Mr. KILMER, Mr. WALZ, Mr. GALLEGO, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. 
PETERS, Mr. WALBERG, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. BARLETTA, Mr. 
MOULTON, Mr. BRIDENSTINE, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. PAL-
LONE, Ms. MENG, Mr. JONES, Ms. DELBENE, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. 
FORTENBERRY, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. MURPHY of Florida, Mr. 
BISHOP of Utah, Mr. COLE, Mr. DELANEY, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. 
ASHFORD, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. LANCE, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. NORCROSS, Mr. 
RIGELL, Mr. DENT, Mr. GIBSON, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. JENKINS of West Vir-
ginia, Mr. YOUNG of Iowa, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. TONKO, Ms. CLARKE of 
New York, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. CRAMER, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. WELCH, Mr. 
BUTTERFIELD, Mr. POCAN, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. YOHO, Mr. CLAWSON of 
Florida, Mr. HANNA, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. 
MEEHAN, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Ms. EDWARDS, Mrs. WAGNER, 
Mr. TROTT, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. 
SMITH of Texas, Mr. BEN RAY LUJA´N of New Mexico, Mr. VAN HOL-
LEN, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. NUGENT, Ms. 
MOORE, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. STIVERS, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. 
SERRANO, Mr. DONOVAN, Mr. MASSIE, Ms. JENKINS of Kansas, Ms. 
CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia, 
Mr. BISHOP of Michigan, Mr. HILL, Mr. BEYER, Mr. NOLAN, Mrs. LAW-
RENCE, Mr. REED, Mr. GRIFFITH, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, Mr. 
JEFFRIES, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Ms. WASSERMAN 
SCHULTZ, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. 
CA´RDENAS, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico, Mr. DOG-
GETT, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. SIRES, Mr. WENSTRUP, Mr. CARTER of 
Georgia, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS 
of Illinois, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. GRAYSON, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. JOYCE, 
Mr. VELA, Mr. GUTIE´RREZ, Mr. ABRAHAM, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. 
FORBES, Mr. STEWART, Mr. RIBBLE, Mr. RENACCI, Mr. MICA, Mr. 
SALMON, Mr. MACARTHUR, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Ms. MCSALLY, Mr. 
BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. 
EMMER of Minnesota, Mr. HARPER, Mr. KING of Iowa, Ms. BONAMICI, 
Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. CURBELO of Florida, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. BLUM, Mr. 
GARRETT, Mr. WALDEN, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, and Mr. YOUNG of 
Alaska 
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MAY 24, 2016 
Reported from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
MAY 24, 2016 
The Committee on Armed Services discharged; committed to the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 14, 2015] 
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A BILL 
To establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a na-
tional center for research on the diagnosis and treatment 
of health conditions of the descendants of veterans ex-
posed to toxic substances during service in the Armed 
Forces that are related to that exposure, to establish 
an advisory board on such health conditions, and for 
other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘Toxic Exposure Research 
Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ARMED FORCE.—The term ‘‘Armed Force’’ 
means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, 
Air Force, or Coast Guard, including the reserve com-
ponents thereof. 
(2) 
DESCENDANT.—The 
term 
‘‘descendant’’ 
means, with respect to an individual, the biological 
child or grandchild of that individual. 
(3) EXPOSED.—The term ‘‘exposed’’ means, with 
respect to a toxic substance, that an individual came 
into contact with that toxic substance in a manner 
that could be hazardous to the health of that indi-
vidual, that may include if that toxic substance was 
inhaled, ingested, or touched the skin or eyes. 
(4) EXPOSURE.—The term ‘‘exposure’’ means, 
with respect to a toxic substance, an event during 
which an individual was exposed to that toxic sub-
stance. 
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(5) TOXIC
SUBSTANCE.—The term ‘‘toxic sub-
stance’’ means any substance determined by the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
to be harmful to the environment or hazardous to the 
health of an individual if inhaled or ingested by or 
absorbed through the skin of that individual. 
(6) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON THE DIAG-
NOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HEALTH CONDI-
TIONS OF THE DESCENDANTS OF INDIVID-
UALS EXPOSED TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES DUR-
ING SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES THAT 
ARE RELATED TO SUCH SERVICE. 
(a) NATIONAL CENTER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with the Advi-
sory Board established under section 4, select a med-
ical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
serve as the national center for research on the diag-
nosis and treatment of health conditions of descend-
ants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while 
serving as members of the Armed Forces that are re-
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lated to such exposure (in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘National Center’’). 
(2) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The National Center 
shall be selected under paragraph (1) from 
among medical centers of the Department with 
expertise described in subparagraph (B), or that 
are affiliated with research medical centers or 
teaching hospitals with such expertise, that seek 
to be selected under this section. 
(B) EXPERTISE DESCRIBED.—The expertise 
described in this subparagraph is— 
(i) expertise in diagnosing and treat-
ing functional and structural birth defects; 
or 
(ii) expertise in caring for individuals 
exposed to toxic substances and diagnosing 
and treating any health conditions resulting 
from such exposure. 
(C) PREFERENCE.—Preference for selection 
under paragraph (1) shall be given to medical 
centers of the Department with expertise de-
scribed in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph 
(B), or that are affiliated with research medical 
centers or teaching hospitals with such expertise. 
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(b) RESEARCH.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The National Center shall 
conduct research on the diagnosis and treatment of 
health conditions of descendants of individuals ex-
posed to toxic substances while serving as members of 
the Armed Forces that are related to that exposure. 
(2) STUDIES.—In conducting research under 
paragraph (1), the National Center shall study indi-
viduals, at the election of the individual, for whom 
the Secretary has made one of the following deter-
minations: 
(A)(i) The individual is a descendant of an 
individual who served as a member of the Armed 
Forces; 
(ii) such member was exposed to a toxic 
substance while serving as a member of the 
Armed Forces; and 
(iii) such descendant is afflicted with a 
health condition that is related to the exposure of 
such member to such toxic substance. 
(B)(i) The individual was exposed to a 
toxic substance while serving as a member of the 
Armed Forces; and 
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(ii) such individual is afflicted with a 
health condition that is related to the exposure of 
such individual to such toxic substance. 
(3) USE OF RECORDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
or the head of a Federal agency shall make 
available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
review records held by the Department of De-
fense, an Armed Force, or that Federal agency, 
as appropriate, that might assist the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs in making the determinations 
required by paragraph (2). 
(B) MECHANISM.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense or the 
head of the appropriate Federal agency shall 
jointly establish a mechanism for the availability 
and review of records by the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs under subparagraph (A). 
(c) SOCIAL WORKERS.—The National Center shall em-
ploy not less than one licensed clinical social worker to co-
ordinate access of individuals to appropriate Federal, 
State, and local social and healthcare programs and to han-
dle case management. 
(d) REIMBURSEMENT FOR NECESSARY TRAVEL AND 
ROOM AND BOARD.—The National Center shall reimburse 
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any individual participating in a study pursuant to sub-
section (b), and any parent, guardian, spouse, or sibling 
who accompanies such individual, for the reasonable cost 
of— 
(1) travel to the National Center for participa-
tion in such study; and 
(2) room and board during the period in which 
such individual is participating in such study at the 
National Center. 
(e) REPORTS.— 
(1) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than 
annually, the National Center shall submit to 
Congress and the Advisory Board established 
under section 4 a report on the functions of the 
National Center during the year preceding the 
submittal of the report that includes a summary 
of the research efforts of the National Center that 
have been completed during such year and that 
are ongoing as of the date of the submittal of the 
report. 
(B) UPON REQUEST.—Upon the request of 
any organization exempt from taxation under 
section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986, the National Center shall submit a copy 
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of a report submitted under subparagraph (A) to 
such organization. 
(2) QUARTERLY REPORT TO ADVISORY BOARD.— 
Not less frequently than quarterly, the National Cen-
ter shall submit to the Advisory Board a report on the 
functions of the National Center during the quarter 
preceding the submittal of the report that includes the 
following: 
(A) A summary of the research efforts of the 
National Center during such quarter. 
(B) A description of any determinations 
made by the National Center pursuant to such 
research efforts regarding whether health condi-
tions of descendants of individuals exposed to 
toxic substances while serving as members of the 
Armed Forces are related to that exposure. 
SEC. 4. ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall establish an advisory board (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘‘Advisory Board’’) to oversee and 
assess the National Center established under section 3 and 
to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to 
the work of the National Center. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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(1) COMPOSITION.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Direc-
tor of the National Institute of Environmental Health 
Sciences, and other heads of Federal agencies as the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines appro-
priate— 
(A) shall select not less than 13 voting 
members of the Advisory Board, 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; 
(ii) not less than one shall be— 
(I) a descendant of an individual 
who was exposed to toxic substances 
while serving as a member of the 
Armed Forces and the descendant has 
manifested a structural or functional 
birth defect or a health condition that 
is related to the exposure of such indi-
vidual to such toxic substance; or 
(II) a parent or child of that de-
scendant; 
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(iii) not less than six shall be health 
professionals, scientists, or academics who 
are not employees of the Federal Govern-
ment and have expertise in— 
(I) birth defects; 
(II) developmental disabilities; 
(III) epigenetics; 
(IV) public health; 
(V) the science of environmental 
exposure or environmental exposure as-
sessment; 
(VI) the science of toxic sub-
stances; or 
(VII) medical and research ethics; 
and 
(iv) additional members may be se-
lected from among social workers and advo-
cates for veterans or members of the Armed 
Forces who are not employees of the Federal 
Government; and 
(B) may select nonvoting members from 
among individuals described in clause (iii) or 
(iv) of subparagraph (A) who are employees of 
the Federal Government. 
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(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall select a 
Chairperson from among the members of the Advisory 
Board. 
(3) TERMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the Ad-
visory Board shall serve a term of two or three 
years as determined by the Secretary. 
(B) REAPPOINTMENT.—At the end of the 
term of a member of the Advisory Board, the 
Secretary may reselect the member for another 
term, except that no member may serve more 
than four consecutive terms. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Advisory Board shall— 
(1) oversee and assess the work of the National 
Center; 
(2) not less frequently than quarterly, meet with 
the director or another representative of the National 
Center on the work conducted at the National Center, 
including the research efforts of the National Center; 
(3) review the annual report submitted by the 
National Center to Congress and the Advisory Board 
under section 3(e)(1); and 
(4) advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on— 
(A) issues related to the research conducted 
at the National Center; 
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(B) health conditions of descendants of indi-
viduals exposed to toxic substances while serving 
as members of the Armed Forces that are related 
to the exposure of such individual to such toxic 
substance; 
(C) health care services that are needed by 
the descendants of individuals exposed to toxic 
substances while serving as members of the 
Armed Forces for health conditions that are re-
lated to the exposure of such individual to such 
toxic substance; and 
(D) any determinations or recommenda-
tions that the Advisory Board may have with re-
spect to the feasibility and advisability of the 
Department providing health care services de-
scribed in subparagraph (C) to descendants de-
scribed in such subparagraph, including a de-
scription of changes to existing policy. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after 
the establishment of the Advisory Board under sub-
section (a), and not less frequently than once each 
year thereafter, the Advisory Board shall submit to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
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resentatives, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a 
report on the recommendations of the Advisory Board. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include recommendations for ad-
ministrative or legislative action, including rec-
ommendations for further research by the National 
Center, with respect to each health condition of a de-
scendant of an individual exposed to a toxic substance 
while serving as a member of the Armed Forces for 
which the National Center has made one of the fol-
lowing determinations in conducting research under 
section 3(b): 
(A) The health condition is related to the 
exposure of such individual to such toxic sub-
stance. 
(B) It is unclear whether the health condi-
tion is related to the exposure of such individual 
to such toxic substance. 
(C) The health condition is not related to 
the exposure of such individual to such toxic sub-
stance. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Board shall meet at the 
call of the Chair, but not less frequently than quarterly. 
(f) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory 
Board shall serve without compensation. 
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(g) EXPENSES.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall determine the appropriate expenses of the Advisory 
Board. 
(h) PERSONNEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson may, with-
out regard to the civil service laws and regulations, 
appoint an executive director of the Advisory Board, 
who shall be a civilian employee of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and such other personnel as may 
be necessary to enable the Advisory Board to perform 
its duties. 
(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 execu-
tive director and other personnel may not exceed the 
rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title. 
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