SEC. 2. ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS EDUCATION IM-
PROVEMENT. 
(a) GRANTS REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall award grants to eligible institutions to 
enable the eligible institutions— 
(A) to establish a master’s degree or doc-
toral degree program in orthotics and pros-
thetics; or 
(B) to expand upon an existing master’s 
degree program in orthotics and prosthetics, in-
cluding by admitting more students, further 
training faculty, expanding facilities, or increas-
ing cooperation with the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs and the Department of Defense. 
(2) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give pri-
ority in the award of grants under this section to eli-
gible institutions that have entered into a partner-
ship with a medical center or clinic administered by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs or a facility ad-
ministered by the Department of Defense, including 
by providing clinical rotations at such medical cen-
ter, clinic, or facility. 
(3) GRANT AMOUNTS.—Grants awarded under 
this section shall be in amounts of not less than 
$1,000,000 and not more than $1,500,000. 
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(b) REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and annually 
thereafter for two years, the Secretary shall issue a 
request for proposals from eligible institutions for 
grants under this section. 
(2) PROPOSALS.—An eligible institution that 
seeks the award of a grant under this section shall 
submit an application therefor to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
such information as the Secretary may require, in-
cluding— 
(A) demonstration of a willingness and 
ability to participate in a partnership described 
in subsection (a)(2); and 
(B) a commitment, and demonstration of 
an ability, to maintain an accredited orthotics 
and prosthetics education program after the 
end of the grant period. 
(c) GRANT USES.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—An 
eligible 
institution 
awarded a grant under this section shall use grant 
amounts to carry out any of the following: 
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(A) Building new or expanding existing 
orthotics and prosthetics master’s or doctoral 
programs. 
(B) Training doctoral candidates in fields 
related to orthotics and prosthetics to prepare 
them to instruct in orthotics and prosthetics 
programs. 
(C) Training faculty in orthotics and pros-
thetics education or related fields for the pur-
pose of instruction in orthotics and prosthetics 
programs. 
(D) Salary supplementation for faculty in 
orthotics and prosthetics education. 
(E) Financial aid that allows eligible insti-
tutions to admit additional students to study 
orthotics and prosthetics. 
(F) Funding faculty research projects or 
faculty time to undertake research in the areas 
of orthotics and prosthetics for the purpose of 
furthering their teaching abilities. 
(G) Renovation of buildings or minor con-
struction to house orthotics and prosthetics 
education programs. 
(H) Purchasing equipment for orthotics 
and prosthetics education. 
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(2) LIMITATION ON CONSTRUCTION.—An eligi-
ble institution awarded a grant under this section 
may use not more than 50 percent of the grant 
amount to carry out paragraph (1)(G). 
(3) ADMISSIONS PREFERENCE.—An eligible in-
stitution awarded a grant under this section shall 
give preference in admission to the orthotics and 
prosthetics master’s or doctoral programs to vet-
erans, to the extent practicable. 
(4) PERIOD OF USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible in-
stitution awarded a grant under this section may use 
the grant funds for a period of three years after the 
award of the grant. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘eligible institution’’ means an 
educational institution that offers an orthotics and 
prosthetics education program that— 
(A) is accredited by the National Commis-
sion on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education in 
cooperation with the Commission on Accredita-
tion of Allied Health Education Programs (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘National Com-
mission’’); or 
(B) demonstrates an ability to meet the ac-
creditation requirements for orthotic and pros-
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thetic education from the National Commission 
if the institution receives a grant under this 
section. 
(2) The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 101 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 2014 for the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, $15,000,000 to carry out 
this section. The amount so authorized to be appro-
priated shall remain available for obligation until 
September 30, 2016. 
(2) UNOBLIGATED AMOUNTS TO BE RETURNED 
TO THE TREASURY.—Any amounts authorized to be 
appropriated by paragraph (1) that are not obligated 
by the Secretary as of September 30, 2016, shall be 
returned to the Treasury of the United States. 
SEC. 3. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN ORTHOTIC AND PROS-
THETIC EDUCATION. 
(a) GRANT FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall award a grant to an eligible institution 
to enable the eligible institution to— 
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(A) establish the Center of Excellence in 
Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (hereafter in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Center’’); and 
(B) enable the eligible institution to im-
prove orthotic and prosthetic outcomes for vet-
erans, members of the Armed Forces, and civil-
ians by conducting evidence-based research 
on— 
(i) the knowledge, skills, and training 
most needed by clinical professionals in the 
field of orthotics and prosthetics; and 
(ii) how to most effectively prepare 
clinical professionals to provide effective, 
high-quality orthotic and prosthetic care. 
(2) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give pri-
ority in the award of a grant under this section to 
an eligible institution that has in force, or dem-
onstrates the willingness and ability to enter into, a 
memoranda of understanding with the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, or 
other appropriate Government agency, or a coopera-
tive agreement with an appropriate private sector 
entity, which memorandum of understanding or co-
operative agreement provides for either, or both, of 
the following: 
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