proving the delivery of traumatic brain injury care 
by the Department); 
‘‘(2) the education and training of health care 
personnel of the Department; and 
‘‘(3) the development of improved models and 
systems for the furnishing of traumatic brain injury 
care by the Department. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS.—(1) The Sec-
retary shall establish and operate centers for traumatic 
brain injury research, education, and clinical activities. 
Such centers shall be established and operated by collabo-
rating Department facilities as provided in subsection 
(c)(1). Each such center shall function as a center for—
‘‘(A) research on traumatic brain injury; 
‘‘(B) the use by the Department of specific 
models for furnishing traumatic brain injury care; 
‘‘(C) education and training of health-care pro-
fessionals of the Department; and 
‘‘(D) the development and implementation of 
innovative clinical activities and systems of care with 
respect to the delivery of traumatic brain injury care 
by the Department. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, upon the recommendation 
of the Under Secretary for Health, designate the centers 
under this section. In making such designations, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that the centers designated are located 
in various geographic regions of the United States. The 
Secretary may designate a center under this section only 
if—
‘‘(A) the proposal submitted for the designation 
of the center meets the requirements of subsection 
(c); 
‘‘(B) the Secretary makes the finding described 
in subsection (d); and 
‘‘(C) the peer review panel established under 
subsection (e) makes the determination specified in 
subsection (e)(3) with respect to that proposal. 
‘‘(3) Not more than five centers may be designated 
under this section. 
‘‘(4) The authority of the Secretary to establish and 
operate centers under this section is subject to the appro-
priation of funds for that purpose. 
‘‘(c) PROPOSALS FOR DESIGNATION OF CENTERS.—
A proposal submitted for the designation of a center under 
this section shall—
‘‘(1) provide for close collaboration in the estab-
lishment and operation of the center, and for the 
provision of care and the conduct of research and 
education at the center, by a Department facility or 
facilities in the same geographic area which have a
mission centered on traumatic brain injury care and 
a Department facility in that area which has a mis-
sion of providing tertiary medical care; 
‘‘(2) provide that no less than 50 percent of the 
funds appropriated for the center for support of clin-
ical care, research, and education will be provided to 
the collaborating facility or facilities that have a 
mission centered on traumatic brain injury care; and 
‘‘(3) provide for a governance arrangement be-
tween the collaborating Department facilities which 
ensures that the center will be established and oper-
ated in a manner aimed at improving the quality of 
traumatic brain injury care at the collaborating fa-
cility or facilities which have a mission centered on 
traumatic brain injury care. 
‘‘(d) FINDING OF SECRETARY.—The finding referred 
to in subsection (b)(2)(B) with respect to a proposal for 
designation of a site as a location of a center under this 
section is a finding by the Secretary, upon the rec-
ommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, that the 
facilities submitting the proposal have developed (or may 
reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the following: 
‘‘(1) An arrangement with an accredited med-
ical school that provides education and training in 
traumatic brain injury care and with which one or
more of the participating Department facilities is af-
filiated under which medical residents receive edu-
cation and training in traumatic brain injury care 
through regular rotation through the participating 
Department facilities so as to provide such residents 
with training in the diagnosis and treatment of trau-
matic brain injury. 
‘‘(2) An arrangement under which nursing, so-
cial work, counseling, or allied health personnel re-
ceive training and education in traumatic brain in-
jury care through regular rotation through the par-
ticipating Department facilities. 
‘‘(3) The ability to attract scientists who have 
demonstrated achievement in research—
‘‘(A) into the evaluation of innovative ap-
proaches to the design of traumatic brain injury 
care; or 
‘‘(B) into the causes, prevention, and 
treatment of traumatic brain injury. 
‘‘(4) The capability to evaluate effectively the 
activities of the center, including activities relating 
to the evaluation of specific efforts to improve the 
quality and effectiveness of traumatic brain injury 
care provided by the Department at or through indi-
vidual facilities.
‘‘(e) PEER REVIEW PANEL.—(1) In order to provide 
advice to assist the Secretary and the Under Secretary for 
Health to carry out their responsibilities under this sec-
tion, the official within the central office of the Veterans 
Health Administration responsible for traumatic brain in-
jury care shall establish a peer review panel to assess the 
scientific and clinical merit of proposals that are sub-
mitted to the Secretary for the designation of centers 
under this section. 
‘‘(2) The panel shall consist of experts in the fields 
of traumatic brain injury research, education and training, 
and clinical care. Members of the panel shall serve as con-
sultants to the Department. 
‘‘(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted 
to the panel by the official referred to in paragraph (1) 
and shall submit to that official its views on the relative 
scientific and clinical merit of each such proposal. The 
panel shall specifically determine with respect to each such 
proposal whether that proposal is among those proposals 
which have met the highest competitive standards of sci-
entific and clinical merit. 
‘‘(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
‘‘(f) AWARD OF FUNDING.—Clinical and scientific in-
vestigation activities at each center established under this 
section—
‘‘(1) may compete for the award of funding 
from amounts appropriated for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research 
account; and 
‘‘(2) shall receive priority in the award of fund-
ing from such account insofar as funds are awarded 
to projects and activities relating to traumatic brain 
injury. 
‘‘(g) DISSEMINATION OF USEFUL INFORMATION.—
The Under Secretary for Health shall ensure that infor-
mation produced by the research, education and training, 
and clinical activities of centers established under this sec-
tion that may be useful for other activities of the Veterans 
Health Administration is disseminated throughout the 
Veterans Health Administration. Such dissemination shall 
be made through publications, through programs of con-
tinuing medical and related education provided through 
regional medical education centers under subchapter VI 
of chapter 74 of this title, and through other means. Such 
programs of continuing medical education shall receive 
priority in the award of funding.
‘‘(h) SUPERVISION OF CENTERS.—The official within 
the central office of the Veterans Health Administration 
responsible for traumatic brain injury care shall be re-
sponsible for supervising the operation of the centers es-
tablished pursuant to this section and shall provide for 
ongoing evaluation of the centers and their compliance 
with the requirements of this section. 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for the basic support of the re-
search and education and training activities of centers es-
tablished pursuant to this section such sums as may be 
necessary. 
‘‘(2) In addition to funds appropriated for a fiscal 
year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 
paragraph (1), the Under Secretary for Health shall allo-
cate to such centers from other funds appropriated for 
that fiscal year generally for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs medical services account and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research account 
such amounts as the Under Secretary for Health deter-
mines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(j) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than February 1 
of each of year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives a report on the status 
and activities of the centers for traumatic brain injury re-
search, education, and clinical activities during the pre-
ceding fiscal year. Each such report shall include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) A description of the activities carried out 
at each center and the funding provided by the De-
partment for such activities. 
‘‘(2) A description of the advances made at 
each of the participating facilities of the center in 
research, education and training, and clinical activi-
ties relating to traumatic brain injury care and 
treatment. 
‘‘(3) A description of the actions taken by the 
Under Secretary for Health pursuant to subsection 
(g) to disseminate information derived from such ac-
tivities throughout the Veterans Health Administra-
tion. 
‘‘(4) The evaluation of the Secretary as to the 
effectiveness of the centers in fulfilling the purposes 
of this section. 
‘‘(k) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for the basic support of the re-
search and education and training activities of centers es-
tablished pursuant to this section amounts as follows: 
‘‘(A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
‘‘(B) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 
through 2011. 
‘‘(2) In addition to funds appropriated for a fiscal 
year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 
paragraph (1), the Under Secretary for Health shall allo-
cate to such centers from other funds appropriated for 
that fiscal year generally for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs medical services account and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research account 
such amounts as the Under Secretary for Health deter-
mines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this sec-
tion. 
‘‘§ 1796. Committee on Care of Veterans with Trau-
matic Brain Injury 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish in the Veterans Health Administration a committee 
to be known as the ‘Committee on Care of Veterans with 
Traumatic Brain Injury’. The Under Secretary for Health 
shall appoint employees of the Department with expertise 
in the care of veterans with traumatic brain injury to serve 
on the committee.
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMITTEE.—The com-
mittee shall assess, and carry out a continuing assessment 
of, the capability of the Veterans Health Administration 
to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation needs 
of veterans with traumatic brain injury. In carrying out 
that responsibility, the committee shall—
‘‘(1) evaluate the care provided to such veterans 
through the Veterans Health Administration; 
‘‘(2) identify systemwide problems in caring for 
such veterans in facilities of the Veterans Health 
Administration; 
‘‘(3) identify specific facilities within the Vet-
erans Health Administration at which program en-
richment is needed to improve treatment and reha-
bilitation of such veterans; and 
‘‘(4) identify model programs which the com-
mittee considers to have been successful in the treat-
ment and rehabilitation of such veterans and which 
should be implemented more widely in or through fa-
cilities of the Veterans Health Administration. 
‘‘(c) ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—The com-
mittee shall—
‘‘(1) advise the Under Secretary regarding the 
development of policies for the care and rehabilita-
tion of veterans with traumatic brain injury; and
‘‘(2) make recommendations to the Under Sec-
retary—
‘‘(A) for improving programs of care of 
such veterans at specific facilities and through-
out the Veterans Health Administration; 
‘‘(B) for establishing special programs of 
education and training relevant to the care of 
such veterans for employees of the Veterans 
Health Administration; 
‘‘(C) regarding research needs and prior-
ities relevant to the care of such veterans; and 
‘‘(D) regarding the appropriate allocation 
of resources for all such activities. 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than June 1 of 
2008, and each subsequent year, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report on the implementa-
tion of this section. Each such report shall include the fol-
lowing for the calendar year preceding the year in which 
the report is submitted: 
‘‘(1) A list of the members of the committee. 
‘‘(2) The assessment of the Under Secretary for 
Health, after review of the initial findings of the 
committee, regarding the capability of the Veterans 
Health Administration, on a systemwide and facility-
by-facility basis, to meet effectively the treatment 
and rehabilitation needs of veterans with traumatic 
brain injury. 
‘‘(3) The plans of the committee for further as-
sessments. 
‘‘(4) The findings and recommendations made 
by the committee to the Under Secretary for Health 
and the views of the Under Secretary on such find-
ings and recommendations. 
‘‘(5) A description of the steps taken, plans 
made (and a timetable for the execution of such 
plans), and resources to be applied toward improving 
the capability of the Veterans Health Administration 
to meet effectively the treatment and rehabilitation 
needs of veterans with traumatic brain injury.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following new items:
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IX—TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY 
‘‘1791. Screening for traumatic brain injuries. 
‘‘1792. Comprehensive program for long-term traumatic brain injury rehabilita-
tion. 
‘‘1793. Traumatic brain injury transition offices. 
‘‘1794. Traumatic brain injury registry. 
‘‘1795. Centers for traumatic brain injury research, education, and clinical ac-
tivities. 
‘‘1796. Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary shall imple-
ment the requirements of subchapter IX of title 38,
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM FOR DELIVERY OF CERTAIN SERV-
ICES TO VETERANS THROUGH MOBILE VET 
CENTERS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—Chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1712C. Pilot program for delivery of certain serv-
ices through mobile Vet Centers 
‘‘(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—To improve access to mental 
health services in rural areas, the Secretary shall carry 
out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall pro-
vide readjustment counseling, related mental health serv-
ices, benefits outreach, and, to the extent practicable, as-
sistance with claims for benefits under this title through 
the use of mobile centers (as that term is defined in sec-
tion 1712A(i)(1)), to be known as ‘mobile Vet Centers’. 
In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall de-
termine the most effective manner in which to operate the 
mobile Vet Centers. 
‘‘(b) SCOPE AND LOCATION.—(1) The Secretary shall 
establish two mobile Vet Centers in each of the following 
five Veterans Integrated Service Networks:
‘‘(A) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
1. 
‘‘(B) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
16. 
‘‘(C) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
19. 
‘‘(D) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
20. 
‘‘(E) Veterans Integrated Service Network 
23. 
‘‘(2) Within each Veterans Integrated Service Net-
work under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine 
the area to be serviced by each mobile Vet Center. In mak-
ing that determination, the Secretary shall give priority 
to areas in which limited mental health and outreach serv-
ices are available. 
‘‘(3) If the Secretary determines that mobile Vet Cen-
ters in addition to such centers required under paragraph 
(1) are warranted, the Secretary may establish additional 
mobile Vet Centers and may establish such centers in Vet-
erans Integrated Service Networks other than the Vet-
erans Integrated Service Networks referred to in that 
paragraph. Upon such a determination by the Secretary, 
the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives of such 
determination. 
‘‘(c) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 
pilot program under this section shall terminate on the 
date that is three years after the date of the enactment 
of this section. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the pilot program terminates under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a report on the pilot program. Such report shall describe 
how the Secretary established and carried out the pilot 
program and include an evaluation of the Secretary of the 
benefits and disadvantages of providing readjustment 
counseling, related mental health services, benefits out-
reach, and claims assistance through the use of mobile 
Vets Centers. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$7,500,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal 
year.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item related to section 1712B the following new 
item:
‘‘1712C. Pilot program for delivery of certain services through mobile Vet Cen-
ters.’’.
SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RURAL VETERANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.—Subchapter 
III of chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 546. Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) The Secretary shall es-
tablish an advisory committee to be known as the ‘Advi-
sory Committee on Rural Veterans’ (hereinafter in this 
section referred to as ‘the Committee’). 
‘‘(2)(A) The Committee shall consist of members ap-
pointed by the Secretary from the general public, includ-
ing—
‘‘(i) representatives of rural veterans; 
‘‘(ii) individuals who are recognized authorities 
in fields pertinent to the needs of rural veterans, in-
cluding specific or unique health-care needs of rural 
veterans and access issues of rural veterans; 
‘‘(iii) individuals who have expertise in the de-
livery of mental health care in rural areas; 
‘‘(iv) individuals who have expertise in the deliv-
ery of long-term care in rural areas; 
‘‘(v) at least one veterans service organization 
representative from a rural State; and
‘‘(vi) representatives of rural veterans with 
service-connected disabilities. 
‘‘(B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio mem-
bers—
‘‘(i) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices (or a representative of the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services designated by that Secretary); 
‘‘(ii) the Director of the Indian Health Service 
(or a representative of that Director); and 
‘‘(iii) the Under Secretary for Health and the 
Under Secretary for Benefits, or their designees. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary may invite representatives of 
other departments and agencies of the United States to 
participate in the meetings and other activities of the 
Committee. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall determine the number, 
terms of service, and pay and allowances of members of 
the Committee appointed by the Secretary, except that a 
term of service of any such member may not exceed three 
years. The Secretary may reappoint any such member for 
additional terms of service. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMITTEE.— The Sec-
retary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the 
advice of the Committee with respect to the administration 
of benefits by the Department for rural veterans, reports
and studies pertaining to rural veterans, and the needs 
of rural veterans with respect to primary care, mental 
health care, and long-term care needs of rural veterans. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—(1) Not later than September 1 of 
each odd-numbered year until 2013, the Committee shall 
submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and ac-
tivities of the Department that pertain to rural veterans. 
Each such report shall include—
‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of rural vet-
erans with respect to primary care, mental health 
care, and long-term care needs of rural veterans and 
other benefits and programs administered by the 
Department; 
‘‘(B) a review of the programs and activities of 
the Department designed to meet such needs; and 
‘‘(C) such recommendations (including rec-
ommendations for administrative and legislative ac-
tion) as the Committee considers appropriate. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, within 60 days after receiv-
ing each report under paragraph (1), submit to Congress 
a copy of the report, together with any comments con-
cerning the report that the Secretary considers appro-
priate.
‘‘(3) The Committee may also submit to the Sec-
retary such other reports and recommendations as the 
Committee considers appropriate. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual re-
port submitted to Congress pursuant to section 529 of this 
title a summary of all reports and recommendations of the 
Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous 
annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to that 
section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item:
‘‘546. Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans.’’.
Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2007. 
Attest:
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2199
AN ACT 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide cer-
tain improvements in the treatment of individuals 
with traumatic brain injuries, and for other pur-
poses.