H. R. 4986—472 
(2) To the extent not inconsistent with the standards 
described in paragraph (1), minimally acceptable conditions 
for the following: 
(A) Appearance and maintenance of facilities generally, 
including the structure and roofs of facilities. 
(B) Size, appearance, and maintenance of rooms 
housing or utilized by patients, including furniture and 
amenities in such rooms. 
(C) Operation and maintenance of primary and back- 
up facility utility systems and other systems required for 
patient care, including electrical systems, plumbing sys-
tems, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, 
communications systems, fire protection systems, energy 
management systems, and other systems required for 
patient care. 
(D) Compliance of facilities, rooms, and grounds, to 
the maximum extent practicable, with the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). 
(E) Such other matters relating to the appearance, 
size, operation, and maintenance of facilities and rooms 
as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(d) COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS.— 
(1) DEADLINE.—In establishing standards under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall specify a deadline for compliance with 
such standards by each facility referred to in subsection (b). 
The deadline shall be at the earliest date practicable after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall, to the max-
imum extent practicable, be uniform across the facilities 
referred to in subsection (b). 
(2) INVESTMENT.—In carrying out this section, the Sec-
retary shall also establish guidelines for investment to be uti-
lized by the Department of Defense and the military depart-
ments in determining the allocation of financial resources to 
facilities referred to in subsection (b) in order to meet the 
deadline specified under paragraph (1). 
(e) REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STAND-
ARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2008, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report on the actions taken to carry out subsection (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) The standards established under subsection (a). 
(B) An assessment of the appearance, condition, and 
maintenance of each facility referred to in subsection (b), 
including— 
(i) an assessment of the compliance of the facility 
with the standards established under subsection (a); 
and 
(ii) a description of any deficiency or noncompli-
ance in each facility with the standards. 
(C) A description of the investment to be allocated 
to address each deficiency or noncompliance identified 
under subparagraph (B)(ii). 
(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than the date on which the 
President submits the budget for a fiscal year to Congress pursuant 
to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary shall
H. R. 4986—473 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a report on the adequacy, suitability, 
and quality of each facility referred to in subsection (b). The Sec-
retary shall include in each report information regarding— 
(1) any deficiencies in the adequacy, quality, or state of 
repair of medical-related support facilities raised as a result 
of information received during the period covered by the report 
through the toll-free hot line required by section 1616; and 
(2) the investigations conducted and plans of action pre-
pared under such section to respond to such deficiencies. 
SEC. 1649. REPORTS ON ARMY MEDICAL ACTION PLAN IN RESPONSE 
TO DEFICIENCIES IDENTIFIED AT WALTER REED ARMY 
MEDICAL CENTER, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until March 1, 2009, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report on the implementation of the Army Medical 
Action Plan to correct deficiencies identified in the condition of 
facilities and patient administration. 
SEC. 1650. REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH CLO-
SURE OF WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, DIS-
TRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
(a) CERTIFICATIONS.—In implementing the decision to close 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, District of Columbia, required 
as a result of the 2005 round of defense base closure and realign-
ment under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 
1990 (part A of title XXIX of Public Law 101–510; U.S.C. 2687 
note), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a certification of each of the following: 
(1) That a transition plan has been developed, and 
resources have been committed, to ensure that patient care 
services, medical operations, and facilities are sustained at 
the highest possible level at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 
until facilities to replace Walter Reed Army Medical Center 
are staffed and ready to assume at least the same level of 
care previously provided at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 
(2) That the closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center 
will not result in a net loss of capacity in the major medical 
centers in the National Capitol Region in terms of total bed 
capacity or staffed bed capacity. 
(3) That the capacity of medical hold and out-patient 
lodging facilities operating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 
as of the date of the certification will be available in sufficient 
quantities at the facilities designated to replace Walter Reed 
Army Medical Center by the date of the closure of Walter 
Reed Army Medical Center. 
(b) TIME FOR SUBMITTAL.—The Secretary shall submit the cer-
tifications required by subsection (a) not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. If the Secretary is unable 
to make one or more of the certifications by the end of the 90- 
day period, the Secretary shall notify the congressional defense 
committees of the delay and the reasons for the delay.
H. R. 4986—474 
SEC. 1651. HANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON 
COMPENSATION 
AND 
BENEFITS 
AVAILABLE 
FOR 
SERIOUS INJURIES AND ILLNESSES. 
(a) INFORMATION
ON AVAILABLE COMPENSATION
AND BENE-
FITS.—Not later than October 1, 2008, the Secretary of Defense 
shall develop and maintain, in handbook and electronic form, a 
comprehensive description of the compensation and other benefits 
to which a member of the Armed Forces, and the family of such 
member, would be entitled upon the separation or retirement of 
the member from the Armed Forces as a result of a serious injury 
or illness. The handbook shall set forth the range of such compensa-
tion and benefits based on grade, length of service, degree of dis-
ability at separation or retirement, and such other factors affecting 
such compensation and benefits as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop 
and maintain the comprehensive description required by subsection 
(a), including the handbook and electronic form of the description, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services, and the Commissioner of Social 
Security. 
(c) UPDATE.—The Secretary of Defense shall update the com-
prehensive description required by subsection (a), including the 
handbook and electronic form of the description, on a periodic 
basis, but not less often than annually. 
(d) PROVISION
TO MEMBERS.—The Secretary of the military 
department concerned shall provide the descriptive handbook under 
subsection (a) to each member of the Armed Forces described in 
that subsection as soon as practicable following the injury or illness 
qualifying the member for coverage under such subsection. 
(e) PROVISION TO REPRESENTATIVES.—If a member is incapaci-
tated or otherwise unable to receive the descriptive handbook to 
be provided under subsection (a), the handbook shall be provided 
to the next of kin or a legal representative of the member, as 
determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of the military department concerned for purposes of this 
section. 
Subtitle E—Studies and Reports 
SEC. 1661. STUDY ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER 
READJUSTMENT NEEDS OF MEMBERS AND FORMER 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO DEPLOYED IN 
OPERATION 
IRAQI 
FREEDOM 
AND 
OPERATION 
ENDURING FREEDOM AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, enter into an 
agreement with the National Academy of Sciences for a study 
on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs 
of members and former members of the Armed Forces who deployed 
in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom and 
their families as a result of such deployment. 
(b) PHASES.—The study required under subsection (a) shall 
consist of two phases: 
(1) A preliminary phase, to be completed not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act—
H. R. 4986—475 
(A) to identify preliminary findings on the physical 
and mental health and other readjustment needs described 
in subsection (a) and on gaps in care for the members, 
former members, and families described in that subsection; 
and 
(B) to determine the parameters of the second phase 
of the study under paragraph (2). 
(2) A second phase, to be completed not later than three 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, to carry 
out a comprehensive assessment, in accordance with the param-
eters identified under the preliminary report required by para-
graph (1), of the physical and mental health and other readjust-
ment needs of members and former members of the Armed 
Forces who deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation 
Enduring Freedom and their families as a result of such deploy-
ment, including, at a minimum— 
(A) an assessment of the psychological, social, and 
economic impacts of such deployment on such members 
and former members and their families; 
(B) an assessment of the particular impacts of multiple 
deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation 
Enduring Freedom on such members and former members 
and their families; 
(C) an assessment of the full scope of the neurological, 
psychiatric, and psychological effects of traumatic brain 
injury on members and former members of the Armed 
Forces, including the effects of such effects on the family 
members of such members and former members, and an 
assessment of the efficacy of current treatment approaches 
for traumatic brain injury in the United States and the 
efficacy of screenings and treatment approaches for trau-
matic brain injury within the Department of Defense and 
the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
(D) an assessment of the effects of undiagnosed injuries 
such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain 
injury, an estimate of the long-term costs associated with 
such injuries, and an assessment of the efficacy of 
screenings and treatment approaches for post-traumatic 
stress disorder and other mental health conditions within 
the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans 
Affairs; 
(E) an assessment of the gender- and ethnic group- 
specific needs and concerns of members of the Armed 
Forces and veterans; 
(F) an assessment of the particular needs and concerns 
of children of members of the Armed Forces, taking into 
account differing age groups, impacts on development and 
education, and the mental and emotional well being of 
children; 
(G) an assessment of the particular educational and 
vocational needs of such members and former members 
and their families, and an assessment of the efficacy of 
existing educational and vocational programs to address 
such needs; 
(H) an assessment of the impacts on communities with 
high populations of military families, including military
H. R. 4986—476 
housing communities and townships with deployed mem-
bers of the National Guard and Reserve, of deployments 
associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation 
Enduring Freedom, and an assessment of the efficacy of 
programs that address community outreach and education 
concerning military deployments of community residents; 
(I) an assessment of the impacts of increasing numbers 
of older and married members of the Armed Forces on 
readjustment requirements; 
(J) the development, based on such assessments, of 
recommendations for programs, treatments, or policy rem-
edies targeted at preventing, minimizing, or addressing 
the impacts, gaps, and needs identified; and 
(K) the development, based on such assessments, of 
recommendations for additional research on such needs. 
(c) POPULATIONS TO BE STUDIED.—The study required under 
subsection (a) shall consider the readjustment needs of each popu-
lation of individuals as follows: 
(1) Members of the regular components of the Armed Forces 
who are returning, or have returned, to the United States 
from deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation 
Enduring Freedom. 
(2) Members of the National Guard and Reserve who are 
returning, or have returned, to the United States from deploy-
ment in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring 
Freedom. 
(3) Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation 
Enduring Freedom. 
(4) Family members of the members and veterans described 
in paragraphs (1) through (3). 
(d) ACCESS
TO
INFORMATION.—The National Academy of 
Sciences shall have access to such personnel, information, records, 
and systems of the Department of Defense and the Department 
of Veterans Affairs as the National Academy of Sciences requires 
in order to carry out the study required under subsection (a). 
(e) PRIVACY
OF
INFORMATION.—The National Academy of 
Sciences shall maintain any personally identifiable information 
accessed by the Academy in carrying out the study required under 
subsection (a) in accordance with all applicable laws, protections, 
and best practices regarding the privacy of such information, and 
may not permit access to such information by any persons or 
entities not engaged in work under the study. 
(f) REPORTS BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.—Upon the 
completion of each phase of the study required under subsection 
(a), the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Secretary 
of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the congressional 
defense committees a report on such phase of the study. 
(g) DOD AND VA RESPONSE TO NAS REPORTS.—Not later than 
90 days after the receipt of a report under subsection (f) on each 
phase of the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop 
a final joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs 
response to the findings and recommendations of the National 
Academy of Sciences contained in such report.
H. R. 4986—477 
SEC. 1662. ACCESS OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS TO ADEQUATE 
OUTPATIENT RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. 
(a) REQUIRED INSPECTIONS OF FACILITIES.—All quarters of the 
United States and housing facilities under the jurisdiction of the 
Armed Forces that are occupied by recovering service members 
shall be inspected on a semiannual basis for the first two years 
after the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter by the 
inspectors general of the regional medical commands. 
(b) INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS.—The inspector general for 
each regional medical command shall— 
(1) submit a report on each inspection of a facility conducted 
under subsection (a) to the post commander at such facility, 
the commanding officer of the hospital affiliated with such 
facility, the surgeon general of the military department that 
operates such hospital, the Secretary of the military department 
concerned, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health 
Affairs, and the congressional defense committees; and 
(2) post each such report on the Internet website of such 
regional medical command. 
SEC. 1663. STUDY AND REPORT ON SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES 
OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study of the provision of support services for families of recovering 
service members. 
(b) MATTERS COVERED.—The study under subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) A determination of the types of support services, 
including job placement services, that are currently provided 
by the Department of Defense to eligible family members, and 
the cost of providing such services. 
(2) A determination of additional types of support services 
that would be feasible for the Department to provide to such 
family members, and the costs of providing such services, 
including the following types of services: 
(A) The provision of medical care at military medical 
treatment facilities. 
(B) The provision of additional employment services, 
and the need for employment protection, of such family 
members who are placed on leave from employment or 
otherwise displaced from employment while caring for a 
recovering service member for more than 45 days during 
a one-year period. 
(C) The provision of meals without charge at military 
medical treatment facilities. 
(3) A survey of military medical treatment facilities to 
estimate the number of family members to whom the support 
services would be provided. 
(4) A determination of any discrimination in employment 
that such family members experience, including denial of reten-
tion in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment 
by an employer on the basis of the person’s absence from 
employment, and a determination, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Labor, of the options available for such family 
members. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
H. R. 4986—478 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report on the results of the study, with such 
findings and recommendations as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
SEC. 1664. REPORT ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CLASSIFICATIONS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs jointly shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report describing 
the changes undertaken within the Department of Defense and 
the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that traumatic brain 
injury victims receive a medical designation concomitant with their 
injury rather than a medical designation that assigns a generic 
classification (such as ‘‘organic psychiatric disorder’’). 
SEC. 1665. EVALUATION OF THE POLYTRAUMA LIAISON OFFICER/NON- 
COMMISSIONED OFFICER PROGRAM. 
(a) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
conduct an evaluation of the Polytrauma Liaison Officer/Non- 
Commissioned Officer program, which is the program operated by 
each of the military departments and the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for the purpose of— 
(1) assisting in the seamless transition of members of the 
Armed Forces from the Department of Defense health care 
system to the Department of Veterans Affairs system; and 
(2) expediting the flow of information and communication 
between military treatment facilities and the Veterans Affairs 
Polytrauma Centers. 
(b) MATTERS COVERED.—The evaluation of the Polytrauma Liai-
son Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer program shall include an 
evaluation of the following: 
(1) The program’s effectiveness in the following areas: 
(A) Handling of military patient transfers. 
(B) Ability to access military records in a timely 
manner. 
(C) Collaboration with Polytrauma Center treatment 
teams. 
(D) Collaboration with veteran service organizations. 
(E) Functioning as the Polytrauma Center’s subject- 
matter expert on military issues. 
(F) Supporting and assisting family members. 
(G) Providing education, information, and referrals to 
members of the Armed Forces and their family members. 
(H) Functioning as uniformed advocates for members 
of the Armed Forces and their family members. 
(I) Inclusion in Polytrauma Center meetings. 
(J) Completion of required administrative reporting. 
(K) Ability to provide necessary administrative support 
to all members of the Armed Forces. 
(2) Manpower requirements to effectively carry out all 
required functions of the Polytrauma Liaison Officer/Non- 
Commissioned Officer program given current and expected case 
loads. 
(3) Expansion of the program to incorporate Navy and 
Marine Corps officers and senior enlisted personnel.
H. R. 4986—479 
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to Congress a report containing— 
(1) the results of the evaluation; and 
(2) recommendations for any improvements in the program. 
Subtitle F—Other Matters 
SEC. 1671. PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF RESOURCES FROM MED-
ICAL CARE. 
Neither the Secretary of Defense nor the Secretaries of the 
military departments may transfer funds or personnel from medical 
care functions to administrative functions within the Department 
of Defense in order to comply with the new administrative require-
ments imposed by this title or the amendments made by this 
title. 
SEC. 1672. MEDICAL CARE FOR FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES RECOVERING FROM SERIOUS INJURIES OR ILL-
NESSES. 
(a) MEDICAL CARE AT MILITARY MEDICAL FACILITIES.— 
(1) MEDICAL
CARE.—A family member of a recovering 
service member who is not otherwise eligible for medical care 
at a military medical treatment facility may be eligible for 
such care at such facilities, on a space-available basis, if the 
family member is— 
(A) on invitational orders while caring for the service 
member; 
(B) a non-medical attendee caring for the service 
member; or 
(C) receiving per diem payments from the Department 
of Defense while caring for the service member. 
(2) SPECIFICATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS.—The Secretary of 
Defense may prescribe in regulations the family members of 
recovering service members who shall be considered to be a 
family member of a service member for purposes of this sub-
section. 
(3) SPECIFICATION OF CARE.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
prescribe in regulations the medical care that may be available 
to family members under this subsection at military medical 
treatment facilities. 
(4) RECOVERY OF COSTS.—The United States may recover 
the costs of the provision of medical care under this subsection 
as follows (as applicable): 
(A) From third-party payers, in the same manner as 
the United States may collect costs of the charges of health 
care provided to covered beneficiaries from third-party 
payers under section 1095 of title 10, United States Code. 
(B) As if such care was provided under the authority 
of section 1784 of title 38, United States Code. 
(b) MEDICAL CARE AT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MED-
ICAL FACILITIES.— 
(1) MEDICAL
CARE.—When a recovering service member 
is receiving hospital care and medical services at a medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs may provide medical care for eligible family
H. R. 4986—480 
members under this section when that care is readily available 
at that Department facility and on a space-available basis. 
(2) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
prescribe in regulations the medical care that may be available 
to family members under this subsection at medical facilities 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 1673. IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICAL TRACKING SYSTEM FOR MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES DEPLOYED OVERSEAS. 
(a) PROTOCOL FOR ASSESSMENT OF COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING.— 
(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 disorder.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary shall establish for purposes of subpara-
graphs (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 include appro-
priate mechanisms to permit the differential diagnosis 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 paragraph (1) of this subsection), 
for purposes of assessments 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 which shall, at a 
minimum, include the following: 
(i) Administration of computer-based neurocognitive 
assessment. 
(ii) 
Pre-deployment 
assessments 
to 
establish 
a 
neurocognitive baseline for members of the Armed Forces 
for future treatment. 
(B) Not later than 60 days after the completion of the 
pilot projects conducted under this paragraph, the Secretary 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the pilot projects. The report shall include— 
(i) a description of the pilot projects so conducted; 
(ii) an assessment of the results of each such pilot 
project; and 
(iii) a description of any mechanisms evaluated under 
each such pilot project that will be incorporated into the 
protocol. 
(C) Not later than 180 days after completion of the pilot 
projects conducted under this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
establish a means for implementing any mechanism evaluated 
under such a pilot project that is selected for incorporation 
in the protocol.