I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1546 
To authorize members of the Armed Forces receiving outpatient care at 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center to receive such care through the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 15, 2007 
Mr. HALL of New York (for himself, Mr. BOUCHER, Ms. CORRINE BROWN 
of Florida, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. HARE, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. 
HOLT, Ms. HOOLEY, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Ms. NORTON, Mr. RA-
HALL, Mr. SPACE, and Mr. WELCH of Vermont) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in ad-
dition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To authorize members of the Armed Forces receiving out-
patient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to 
receive such care through the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. OUTPATIENT CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES RECEIVING SUCH CARE AT 
WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER. 
(a) OPTION TO RECEIVE CARE.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall, upon the election of any member of the 
Armed Forces receiving outpatient care at or through 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Maryland, transfer 
such member to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the 
receipt of outpatient care from the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs. 
(b) INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE CARE.—In order to 
assist members of the Armed Forces described in sub-
section (a) in making the election authorized by that sub-
section, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall jointly provide such members such in-
formation on the nature and quality of outpatient care 
services available at applicable facilities of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs as such members may require to make 
the election. 
(c) PROVISION OF CARE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall provide outpatient care to each member 
of the Armed Forces making an election under sub-
section (a) at the facility of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs capable of providing such care that is 
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located nearest to the permanent duty station or res-
idence (as selected by such member) of such mem-
ber. 
(2) COST.—The cost of the provision of out-
patient care to members of the Armed Forces under 
this section shall be borne by the Department of De-
fense. 
(d) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Sec-
retary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall enter into a memorandum of understanding in order 
to carry out this section. The memorandum shall include 
mechanisms for payment by the Department of Defense 
of the costs of care under this section in accordance with 
subsection (c)(2). 
(e) MILITARY STATUS.—The transfer of a member 
of the Armed Forces under this section shall not effect 
the military status of such member, or the eligibility or 
entitlement of such member to pay, allowances, and other 
benefits as a member of the Armed Forces under law. 
(f) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—This section shall cease to 
be in effect 60 days after the date on which the Sec-
retary of Defense submits to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a certification of each the following: 
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(A) That the Department of Defense com-
pletes the processing of status claims of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces who receive out-
patient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Cen-
ter not later than 60 days after the date on 
which such members present such claims. 
(B) That the outpatient care buildings at 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center— 
(i) are structurally sound, free of in-
festation, and free of mold; 
(ii) provide heat and air-conditioning; 
and 
(iii) have working plumbing. 
(C) That the case manager positions and 
psychological counselor positions at Walter 
Reed Army Medical Center are fully staffed for 
outpatient care. 
(2) CONTINUATION OF CARE.—Notwithstanding 
the termination of this section under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall continue to 
provide outpatient care after the date of termination 
to members of the Armed Forces who were trans-
ferred before the date of termination in accordance 
with the provisions of this section. 
Æ 
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