†
884
HR 1585 PP
(2) determine if Department of Defense funding
for a Phase 3 clinical trial on the use of progesterone
for acute traumatic brain injury, or for further re-
search regarding the use of progesterone or its metabo-
lites for treatment of traumatic brain injury, is war-
ranted; and
(3) provide for the collaboration of the Depart-
ment of Defense, as appropriate, in clinical trials and
research on pharmacological approaches to treatment
for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress
disorder that is conducted by other departments and
agencies of the Federal Government.
SEC. 1632. IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICAL TRACKING SYSTEM
FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES DE-
PLOYED OVERSEAS.
(a) PROTOCOL FOR ASSESSMENT OF COGNITIVE FUNC-
TIONING.—
(1) PROTOCOL
REQUIRED.—Subsection (b) of
section 1074f of title 10, United States Code, is
amended—
(A) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end
the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(C) An assessment of post-traumatic stress dis-
order.’’; and
†
885
HR 1585 PP
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary shall establish for purposes of
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2) a protocol for
the predeployment assessment and documentation of the
cognitive (including memory) functioning of a member who
is deployed outside the United States in order to facilitate
the assessment of the postdeployment cognitive (including
memory) functioning of the member.
‘‘(B) The protocol under subparagraph (A) shall in-
clude appropriate mechanisms to permit the differential di-
agnosis of traumatic brain injury in members returning
from deployment in a combat zone.’’.
(2) PILOT
PROJECTS.—(A) In developing the
protocol required by paragraph (3) of section 1074f(b)
of title 10, United States Code (as amended by para-
graph (1) of this subsection), for purposes of assess-
ments for traumatic brain injury, the Secretary of
Defense shall conduct up to three pilot projects to
evaluate various mechanisms for use in the protocol
for such purposes. One of the mechanisms to be so
evaluated shall be a computer-based assessment tool.
(B) Not later than 60 days after the completion
of the pilot projects conducted under this paragraph,
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate commit-
†
886
HR 1585 PP
tees of Congress a report on the pilot projects. The re-
port shall include—
(i) a description of the pilot projects so con-
ducted;
(ii) an assessment of the results of each such
pilot project; and
(iii) a description of any mechanisms eval-
uated under each such pilot project that will in-
corporated into the protocol.
(C) Not later than 180 days after completion of
the pilot projects conducted under this paragraph, the
Secretary shall establish a mechanism for imple-
menting any mechanism evaluated under such a pilot
project that is selected for incorporation in the pro-
tocol.
(D) There is hereby authorized to be appro-
priated to the Department of Defense, $3,000,000 for
the pilot projects authorized by this paragraph. Of the
amount so authorized to be appropriated, not more
than $1,000,000 shall be available for any particular
pilot project.
(b) QUALITY ASSURANCE.—Subsection (d)(2) of sec-
tion 1074f of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
†
887
HR 1585 PP
‘‘(F) The diagnosis and treatment of traumatic
brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.’’.
(c) STANDARDS FOR DEPLOYMENT.—Subsection (f) of
such section is amended—
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘MEN-
TAL HEALTH’’; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘or’’ and
inserting ‘‘, traumatic brain injury, or’’.
SEC. 1633. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN THE PREVENTION,
DIAGNOSIS, MITIGATION, TREATMENT, AND
REHABILITATION OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN IN-
JURY AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DIS-
ORDER.
(a) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURY.—Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 1105 the following new
section:
‘‘§ 1105a. Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diag-
nosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Reha-
bilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish within the Department of Defense a center of excel-
lence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment,
and rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury (TBI), includ-
ing mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury, to
†
888
HR 1585 PP
carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (c). The
center shall be known as a ‘Center of Excellence in Preven-
tion, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation
of Traumatic Brain Injury’.
‘‘(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary shall ensure that
the Center collaborates to the maximum extent practicable
with the Department of Veterans Affairs, institutions of
higher education, and other appropriate public and private
entities (including international entities) to carry out the
responsibilities specified in subsection (c).
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Center shall have re-
sponsibilities as follows:
‘‘(1) To direct and oversee, based on expert re-
search, the development and implementation of a
long-term, comprehensive plan and strategy for the
Department of Defense for the prevention, diagnosis,
mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of trau-
matic brain injury.
‘‘(2) To provide for the development, testing, and
dissemination within the Department of best practices
for the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
‘‘(3) To provide guidance for the mental health
system of the Department in determining the mental
health and neurological health personnel required to
†
889
HR 1585 PP
provide quality mental health care for members of the
armed forces with traumatic brain injury.
‘‘(4) To establish, implement, and oversee a com-
prehensive program to train mental health and neuro-
logical health professionals of the Department in the
treatment of traumatic brain injury.
‘‘(5) To facilitate advancements in the study of
the short-term and long-term psychological effects of
traumatic brain injury.
‘‘(6) To disseminate within the military medical
treatment facilities of the Department best practices
for training mental health professionals, including
neurological health professionals, with respect to trau-
matic brain injury.
‘‘(7) To conduct basic science and translational
research on traumatic brain injury for the purposes
of understanding the etiology of traumatic brain in-
jury and developing preventive interventions and new
treatments.
‘‘(8) To develop outreach strategies and treat-
ments for families of members of the armed forces
with traumatic brain injury in order to mitigate the
negative impacts of traumatic brain injury on such
family members and to support the recovery of such
members from traumatic brain injury.
†
890
HR 1585 PP
‘‘(9) To conduct research on the unique mental
health needs of women members of the armed forces
with traumatic brain injury and develop treatments
to meet any needs identified through such research.
‘‘(10) To conduct research on the unique mental
health needs of ethnic minority members of the armed
forces with traumatic brain injury and develop treat-
ments to meet any needs identified through such re-
search.
‘‘(11) To conduct research on the mental health
needs of families of members of the armed forces with
traumatic brain injury and develop treatments to
meet any needs identified through such research.
‘‘(12) To conduct longitudinal studies (using im-
aging technology and other proven research methods)
on members of the armed forces with traumatic brain
injury to identify early signs of Alzheimer’s disease,
Parkinson’s disease, or other manifestations of
neurodegeneration in such members, which studies
should be conducted in coordination with the studies
authorized by section 721 of the John Warner Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007
(Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2294) and other
studies of the Department of Defense and the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs that address the connection
†
891
HR 1585 PP
between exposure to combat and the development of
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other
neurodegenerative disorders.
‘‘(13) To develop and oversee a long-term plan to
increase the number of mental health and neurological
health professionals within the Department in order
to facilitate the meeting by the Department of the
needs of members of the armed forces with traumatic
brain injury until their transition to care and treat-
ment from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
‘‘(14) To develop a program on comprehensive
pain management, including management of acute
and chronic pain, to utilize current and develop new
treatments for pain, and to identify and disseminate
best practices on pain management.
‘‘(15) Such other responsibilities as the Secretary
shall specify.’’.
(b) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER.—Chapter 55 of such title is further
amended by inserting after section 1105a, as added by sub-
section (a), the following new section:
†
892
HR 1585 PP
‘‘§ 1105b. Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diag-
nosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Reha-
bilitation of Post-Traumatic Stress Dis-
order
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish within the Department of Defense a center of excel-
lence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment,
and rehabilitation of post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), including mild, moderate, and severe post-trau-
matic stress disorder, to carry out the responsibilities speci-
fied in subsection (c). The center shall be known as a ‘Center
of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treat-
ment, and Rehabilitation of Post-Traumatic Stress Dis-
order’.
‘‘(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary shall ensure that
the Center collaborates to the maximum extent practicable
with the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Dis-
order of the Department of Veterans Affairs, institutions of
higher education, and other appropriate public and private
entities (including international entities) to carry out the
responsibilities specified in subsection (c).
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Center shall have re-
sponsibilities as follows:
‘‘(1) To direct and oversee, based on expert re-
search, the development and implementation of a
long-term, comprehensive plan and strategy for the
†
893
HR 1585 PP
Department of Defense for the prevention, diagnosis,
mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of post-
traumatic stress disorder.
‘‘(2) To provide for the development, testing, and
dissemination within the Department of best practices
for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
‘‘(3) To provide guidance for the mental health
system of the Department in determining the mental
health and neurological health personnel required to
provide quality mental health care for members of the
armed forces with post-traumatic stress disorder.
‘‘(4) To establish, implement, and oversee a com-
prehensive program to train mental health and neuro-
logical health professionals of the Department in the
treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
‘‘(5) To facilitate advancements in the study of
the short-term and long-term psychological effects of
post-traumatic stress disorder.
‘‘(6) To disseminate within the military medical
treatment facilities of the Department best practices
for training mental health professionals, including
neurological health professionals, with respect to post-
traumatic stress disorder.
‘‘(7) To conduct basic science and translational
research on post-traumatic stress disorder for the pur-
†
894
HR 1585 PP
poses of understanding the etiology of post-traumatic
stress disorder and developing preventive interven-
tions and new treatments.
‘‘(8) To develop outreach strategies and treat-
ments for families of members of the armed forces
with post-traumatic stress disorder in order to miti-
gate the negative impacts of traumatic brain injury
on such family members and to support the recovery
of such members from post-traumatic stress disorder.
‘‘(9) To conduct research on the unique mental
health needs of women members of the armed forces,
including victims of sexual assault, with post-trau-
matic stress disorder and develop treatments to meet
any needs identified through such research.
‘‘(10) To conduct research on the unique mental
health needs of ethnic minority members of the armed
forces with post-traumatic stress disorder and develop
treatments to meet any needs identified through such
research.
‘‘(11) To conduct research on the mental health
needs of families of members of the armed forces with
post-traumatic stress disorder and develop treatments
to meet any needs identified through such research.
‘‘(12) To develop and oversee a long-term plan to
increase the number of mental health and neurological
†
895
HR 1585 PP
health professionals within the Department in order
to facilitate the meeting by the Department of the
needs of members of the armed forces with post-trau-
matic stress disorder until their transition to care
and treatment from the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs.
‘‘(13) To develop a program on comprehensive
pain management, including management of acute
and chronic pain, to utilize current and develop new
treatments for pain, and to identify and disseminate
best practices on pain management.
‘‘(14) Such other responsibilities as the Secretary
shall specify.’’.
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at
the beginning of chapter 55 of such title is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 1105 the following
new items:
‘‘1105a. Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment,
and Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury.
‘‘1105b. Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and
Rehabilitation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.’’.
(d) REPORT ON ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the
establishment of the Center of Excellence in Prevention, Di-
agnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of
Traumatic Brain Injury required by section 1105a of title
†
896
HR 1585 PP
10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), and
the establishment of the Center of Excellence in Prevention,
Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder required by section 1105b
of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (b)).
The report shall, for each such Center—
(1) describe in detail the activities and proposed
activities of such Center; and
(2) assess the progress of such Center in dis-
charging the responsibilities of such Center.
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2008
for the Department of Defense for Defense Health Program,
$10,000,000, of which—
(1) $5,000,000 shall be available for the Center
of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation,
Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain
Injury required by section 1105a of title 10, United
States Code; and
(2) $5,000,000 shall be available for the Center
of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation,
Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder required by section 1105b of title 10,
United States Code.
†
897
HR 1585 PP
SEC. 1634. REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND
TREATMENT FOR FEMALE MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS.
(a) COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.—The Secretary of De-
fense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly con-
duct a comprehensive review of—
(1) the need for mental health treatment and
services for female members of the Armed Forces and
veterans; and
(2) the efficacy and adequacy of existing mental
health treatment programs and services for female
members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
(b) ELEMENTS.—The review required by subsection (a)
shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the
following:
(1) The need for mental health outreach, preven-
tion, and treatment services specifically for female
members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
(2) The access to and efficacy of existing mental
health outreach, prevention, and treatment services
and programs (including substance abuse programs)
for female veterans who served in a combat zone.
(3) The access to and efficacy of services and
treatment for female members of the Armed Forces
and veterans who experience post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD).
†
898
HR 1585 PP
(4) The availability of services and treatment for
female members of the Armed Forces and veterans
who experienced sexual assault or abuse.
(5) The access to and need for treatment facili-
ties focusing on the mental health care needs of female
members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
(6) The need for further clinical research on the
unique needs of female veterans who served in a com-
bat zone.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the review
required by subsection (a).
(d) POLICY REQUIRED.—Not later than 120 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly de-
velop a comprehensive policy to address the treatment and
care needs of female members of the Armed Forces and vet-
erans who experience mental health problems and condi-
tions, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The policy
shall take into account and reflect the results of the review
required by subsection (a).
†
899
HR 1585 PP
SEC. 1635. FUNDING FOR IMPROVED DIAGNOSIS, TREAT-
MENT, AND REHABILITATION OF MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURY OR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER.
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Funds are hereby authorized
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2008 for the De-
partment of Defense for Defense Health Program in
the amount of $50,000,000, with such amount to be
available for activities as follows:
(A) Activities relating to the improved diag-
nosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of members
of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury
(TBI).
(B) Activities relating to the improved diag-
nosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of members
of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD).
(2) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNT.—Of the amount
authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1),
$17,000,000 shall be available for the Defense and
Veterans Brain Injury Center of the Department of
Defense.
(b) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—The amount au-
thorized to be appropriated by subsection (a) for Defense
†
900
HR 1585 PP
Health Program is in addition to any other amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated by this Act for Defense Health
Program.
SEC. 1636. REPORTS.
(a) REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report describing
the progress in implementing the requirements as follows:
(1) The requirements of section 721 of the John
Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2007 (Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2294), re-
lating to a longitudinal study on traumatic brain in-
jury incurred by members of the Armed Forces in Op-
eration Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Free-
dom.
(2) The requirements arising from the amend-
ments made by section 738 of the John Warner Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007
(120 Stat. 2303), relating to enhanced mental health
screening and services for members of the Armed
Forces.
(3) The requirements of section 741 of the John
Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2007 (120 Stat. 2304), relating to pilot projects
†
901
HR 1585 PP
on early diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic
stress disorder and other mental health conditions.
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS ON EXPENDITURES FOR ACTIVI-
TIES ON TBI AND PTSD.—
(1) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than March
1, 2008, and each year thereafter through 2013, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report setting forth the amounts
expended by the Department of Defense during the
preceding calendar year on activities described in
paragraph (2), including the amount allocated during
such calendar year to the Defense and Veterans Brain
Injury Center of the Department.
(2) COVERED
ACTIVITIES.—The activities de-
scribed in this paragraph are activities as follows:
(A) Activities relating to the improved diag-
nosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of members
of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury
(TBI).
(B) Activities relating to the improved diag-
nosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of members
of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD).
(3) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph
(1) shall include—
†
902
HR 1585 PP
(A) a description of the amounts expended
as described in that paragraph, including a de-
scription of the activities for which expended;
(B) a description and assessment of the out-
come of such activities;
(C) a statement of priorities of the Depart-
ment in activities relating to the prevention, di-
agnosis, research, treatment, and rehabilitation
of traumatic brain injury in members of the
Armed Forces during the year in which such re-
port is submitted and in future calendar years;
(D) a statement of priorities of the Depart-
ment in activities relating to the prevention, di-
agnosis, research, treatment, and rehabilitation
of post-traumatic stress disorder in members of
the Armed Forces during the year in which such
report is submitted and in future calendar years;
and
(E) an assessment of the progress made to-
ward achieving the priorities stated in subpara-
graphs (C) and (D) in the report under para-
graph (1) in the previous year, and a description
of any actions planned during the year in which
such report is submitted to achieve any
unfulfilled priorities during such year.