‘‘SEC. 110. PROTECTION OF CREDIT RATINGS OF PERSONS 
ACTIVATED FOR MILITARY SERVICE. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENTS OF NOTATION OF DELINQUENT 
OR SLOW PAYMENT DUE TO MILITARY SERVICE.—Any 
person or entity engaged in the practice of assembling or 
evaluating consumer credit information that receives from 
a creditor a negative report of nonpayment or late pay-
ment with respect to a qualifying account of a person in 
military service, or in the case of a Wounded Hero (as 
defined in section 101(b) of the Wounded Heroes Bill of 
Rights Act) during the period of such military service plus 
one year, shall enter with that negative report a notation 
that the account is delinquent or paid slowly due to mili-
tary service. 
‘‘(b) 
NEGATIVE
INFORMATION
TO
BE
DIS-
REGARDED.—Any future potential creditor of such person 
who receives a credit report that includes a notation re-
quired by subsection (a) shall disregard any negative in-
formation so noted in the credit report. 
‘‘(c) QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS.—(1) Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), for purposes of this section, a 
qualifying account is an account that was opened by a per-
son in military service before the date on which that per-
son entered that period of military service, but only with 
respect to obligations incurred before such date. 
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‘‘(2) In the case of a Wounded Hero (as so defined), 
a qualifying account includes obligations incurred after the 
date on which that person entered the period of military 
service involved but does not include obligations incurred 
after the one-year period beginning on the date the person 
qualified as a Wounded Hero.’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 109 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 110. Protection of credit ratings of persons activated for military serv-
ice.’’. 
TITLE II—HEALTH CARE 
MATTERS 
SEC. 201. EXPANSION AND MODIFICATION OF MEDICAL AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAMS TO MEET THE NEEDS 
OF WOUNDED HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
(a) SPECIALLY
TAILORED
PROGRAM.—(1) Sub-
chapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sec-
tions: 
‘‘§ 1720F. 
Improvement 
of 
medical 
services 
for 
wounded heroes 
‘‘(a) Requirement for uniform and sufficient assist-
ance.—In providing the medical services specified in sub-
section (c) to a veteran who is a Wounded Hero, the Sec-
retary shall ensure the provision of sufficient services in 
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a uniform manner to meet the needs of all such veterans 
without regard to geographic location of the residences of 
such veterans. The scope and intensity of services required 
by this section shall be sufficient to permit the spouse of 
the veteran, who would otherwise be providing care in the 
home to the veteran, to be employed on a full-time basis 
or go to school on a full-time basis. 
‘‘(b) MODIFICATION OF SERVICES TO MEET NEEDS 
OF WOUNDED HEROES.—The medical services required to 
be provided to Wounded Heroes under subsection (a) shall 
be tailored to meet the needs of the population of Wound-
ed Heroes and shall include specialized programs for the 
rehabilitation of such veterans, reintegration of such vet-
erans into civilian life, and promotion of independent liv-
ing for such veterans. 
‘‘(c) SPECIFICATION OF MEDICAL SERVICES.—The 
medical services referred to in subsection (a) are the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Adult day health care under section 
1710(b) of this title. 
‘‘(2) Home health services under section 1717 
of this title. 
‘‘(3) Respite care under section 1720B of this 
title. 
‘‘(4) Home-based primary care. 
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‘‘(5) Hospice services. 
‘‘(6) Such other noninstitutional extended care 
services (as defined in section 1701(10)(B) of this 
title) as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(7) Any modality of noninstitutional long-term 
care. 
‘‘(8) Coordination of care and services, includ-
ing services for readjustment and rehabilitation. 
‘‘(9) Transportation services. 
‘‘(10) If eligible, care and services under section 
1745 of this title. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—(1) In this section and sections 
321 and 1720G of this title, the term ‘Wounded Hero’ 
means a veteran who on or after September 11, 2001, was 
severely injured while serving on active duty. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘se-
verely’ with respect to an injury means— 
‘‘(A) the inability of an individual with the in-
jury to perform one or more activities of daily living, 
‘‘(B) a service-connected disability rated at 30 
percent or more (as determined by the Secretary or 
the Secretary of Defense, as the case may be), or 
‘‘(C) such other injuries or conditions as the 
Secretary of Defense has specified under section 
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101(b)(2)(A)(iii) of the Wounded Heroes’ Bill of 
Rights Act. 
‘‘§ 1720G. Caregiver support program for family mem-
bers of Wounded Heroes 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE FOR CAREGIVERS.— 
Subject to section 1710(a)(4) of this title, the Secretary 
shall operate and maintain a program in caregiver edu-
cation, training, and certification for family members of 
a Wounded Hero (as defined in section 1720F(d) of this 
title) in caregiver activities in accordance with this section 
at the election of the family member. The program shall 
be provided either directly by the Secretarty or through 
contracts administered by the Seretary. 
‘‘(b) PAYMENT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO PRO-
VIDE CAREGIVER SERVICES.—The program established 
under subsection (a) shall include payment to a family 
member of a Wounded Hero who has been certified by 
the Secretary as a provider of caregiver services to provide 
such services to the Wounded Hero. Payment for such 
services shall be made at such rates, and for such periods, 
as the Secretary may specify. 
‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations to carry out this section.’’. 
(2) Subsection (a)(4) of section 1710 of such title is 
amended— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘the requirement 
in section 1710B of this title’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, and the requirement in sec-
tion 1720G of this title to operate a caregiver sup-
port program for family members of Wounded He-
roes’’ after ‘‘a program of extended care services’’. 
(3) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1720E the following new items: 
‘‘1720F. Improvement of medical services for Wounded Heroes. 
‘‘1720G. Caregiver support program for family members of Wounded Heroes.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
REQUIREMENT
UNDER
TITLE 
10.—(1) Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1074k the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 10741. Modification of medical care for Wounded 
Heroes; caregiver support program for 
family members of Wounded Heroes 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE FOR CAREGIVERS.— 
The secretary of defense shall enter into an agreement 
with the secretary of veterans affairs, under the provisions 
of section 8111 of title 38, to provide— 
‘‘(1) the medical services required under section 
1720F of title 38 to members of the armed forces 
who would be Wounded Heroes (as defined in sub-
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section (d) of such section 1720F) if discharged or 
released from active duty, and 
‘‘(2) a program of caregiver support under sec-
tion 1720G of title 38 to family members of such 
members of the armed forces. 
‘‘(b) MEDICAL SERVICES
AND ASSISTANCE.—The 
agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall provide 
for the same type and scope of assistance and services as 
are provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to vet-
erans and their family members under sections 1720F and 
1720G of title 38, and meet the same requirements for 
the provision of such medical services and assistance 
under such sections.’’. 
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
55 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1074k the following new item: 
‘‘10741. Modification of medical care for Wounded Heroes; caregiver support 
program for family members of Wounded Heroes.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and apply 
to care furnished on or after such date. 
SEC. 202. AUTHORITY TO TREAT CERTAIN WOUNDED HE-
ROES AT NON-DEPARTMENT FACILITIES. 
(a) CARE AT NONDEPARTMENT FACILITIES.—Sec-
tion 1703 of title 38, united states code, is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and 
(d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection (b): 
‘‘(b)(1) In the case of a wounded hero (as defined 
in subsection (d) of section 1720f of this title) who re-
quires hospital care or medical services as authorized 
under section 1710 of this title, the secretary shall, at the 
election of the wounded hero, contract with non-Depart-
ment facilities in order to furnish the care or services de-
scribed in subsection (a) if the secretary determines 
that— 
‘‘(A) the closest Department facility is more 
than a 60-minute drive from the residence of the 
veteran; 
‘‘(B) the severity of the condition of the veteran 
for which care or services is required is such that 
transport of the veteran to the closest Department 
facility in lieu of a more proximate nondepartment 
facility would have an adverse effect on the health 
or well-being of the veteran; or 
‘‘(C) reasonably proximate Department facilities 
to the veteran do not furnish the specialized care or 
services required to treat the condition of the vet-
eran. 
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‘‘(2) A Wounded Hero who elects under paragraph 
(1) to receive care or services at a non-Department facility 
shall not be required to make any payment to the non- 
Department facility for such care or services in excess of 
the amount of payment the Wounded Hero would be re-
quired to make to the Secretary for such care or services 
if furnished at a Department facility.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c), as so redesignated in 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection (a) of this 
section’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a) or (b)’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
REQUIREMENT
UNDER
TITLE 
10.—Paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of section 1074 of 
title 10, united states code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(C)(i) In the case of a member of the 
armed forces described in section 1074l of this 
title who requires medical care, the secretary 
may provide for such care to be furnished in a 
private facility or health care provider if the 
secretary determines that— 
‘‘(I) the closest military medical 
treatment facility, the closest facility 
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under the jurisdiction of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, or the clos-
est military health care provider is 
more than a 60-minute drive from the 
residence of the veteran; 
‘‘(II) the severity of the condition 
of the member for which medical care 
is required is such that transport of 
the member to the closest facility or 
health care provider referred to in 
subclause (I) in lieu of a more proxi-
mate private facility or health care 
provider would have an adverse effect 
on the health or well-being of the 
member; or 
‘‘(III) reasonably proximate fa-
cilities or health care providers re-
ferred to in subclause (I) to the mem-
ber do not furnish the specialized 
medical care required to treat the con-
dition of the member. 
‘‘(ii) A member of the uniformed serv-
ices who elects under clause (i) to receive 
care or services at a private facility shall 
not be required to make any payment to 
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the private facility for such care or services 
in excess of the amount of payment the 
member would be required to make to the 
Secretary for such care or services if fur-
nished at a military medical treatment fa-
cility, a facility under the jurisdiction of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, or a 
military health care provider.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and apply 
to care furnished on or after such date. 
SEC. 203. REQUIREMENT TO TREAT CERTAIN WOUNDED 
HEROES 
SUFFERING 
FROM 
TRAUMATIC 
BRAIN INJURY AT NON-DEPARTMENT FACILI-
TIES. 
(a) REQUIREMENT UPON ELECTION BY WOUNDED 
HERO.—Subsection (b) of section 1703 of title 38, United 
States Code, as inserted by section 202(a)(2), is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) In the case of a Wounded Hero who, 
before being discharged or released from active duty, 
received care for a traumatic brain injury at a non- 
Department facility (under a contractual arrange-
ment under the Tricare program under chapter 55 
of title 10) who requires continued hospital care or 
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medical services authorized section 1710 of this title 
for that traumatic brain injury, upon the election of 
the Wounded Hero, the Secretary shall contract with 
such non-Department facility to continue to furnish 
the care or services described in subsection (a) for 
such injury without regard to any of the require-
ments referred to in subparagraphs (A) through (C) 
of paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) In the case of an election under subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary and the Secretary of De-
fense shall ensure that there is no disruption in the 
furnishing of care and services to the Wounded Hero 
for the traumatic brain injury at such non-Depart-
ment facility.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and apply 
to care furnished on or after such date. 
SEC. 204. REQUIREMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND TRAU-
MATIC 
BRAIN 
INJURY 
SCREENING 
FOR 
SERVICEMEMBERS RETURNING FROM COM-
BAT THEATRES; RELATED FAMILY COUN-
SELING AND SUPPORT. 
Section 1074f(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) by striking the second sentence of para-
graph (1); and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The postdeployment examination shall 
include a comprehensive mental health assessment to 
include traumatic brain injury screening conducted 
on an individualized basis by personnel qualified to 
conduct such examinations using a thorough clinical 
assessment tool that takes into account the nature 
of traumatic brain injuries. 
‘‘(B) The administering secretaries shall ensure 
that qualified counselors are available at the site of 
the postdeployment examination to personnel and 
their spouses and dependents to provide counseling 
and education on traumatic brain injury, on the be-
havioral and emotional consequences associated with 
such an injury, and the availability of appropriate 
family counseling and support services.’’. 
SEC. 205. WOUNDED HEROES ADVOCATES. 
(a) SPECIALLY TAILORED PROGRAM.—(1) Chapter 3 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended adding at the 
end the following new section: 
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‘‘§ 321. Wounded Heroes advocates 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Department 
an Office for Wounded Heroes Advocates. There is at the 
head of the office a Director of Wounded Heroes Advo-
cates. 
‘‘(b) MISSION.—The Office for Wounded Heroes Ad-
vocates consists of qualified counselors who shall serve as 
advocates and case managers for each veteran or 
servicemember who is a Wounded Hero, as defined in sec-
tion 1720F(d) of this title. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—Duties of a counselor under this sec-
tion with respect to the Wounded Heroes to whom the 
counselor is assigned include the following: 
‘‘(1) Ensure that the Wounded Hero receives 
the health care required in each setting in which 
such care is furnished. 
‘‘(2) Advocate for the needs and rights of the 
Wounded Hero. 
‘‘(3) Coordinate medical care required by the 
Wounded Hero, including scheduling appointments. 
‘‘(4) Assist Wounded Heroes and their families 
with the discharge procedures of the Department of 
Defense and disability evaluation systems of the De-
partment of Defense and the Department. 
‘‘(5) Maintain regular contact between health 
care providers and Wounded Heroes for the identi-
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fication of symptoms of post traumatic stress dis-
order. 
‘‘(6) Assist with any documentation required by 
the Department or the Department of Defense with 
respect to qualifying for care or other benefits under 
this title or title 10. 
‘‘(7) Maintain regular contact with the Wound-
ed Hero to whom the counselor has been assigned 
with such frequency as the Secretary may specify. 
‘‘(8) Provide guidance and assistance with re-
spect to all benefits to which the Wounded Hero is 
entitled under this title and title 10, as the case may 
be, including providing assistance completing nec-
essary forms. 
‘‘(9) Secure family and caregiver assistance 
under sections 1720F and 1720G of this title for eli-
gible family members of the Wounded Hero. 
‘‘(d) APPROPRIATE CASELOAD.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that the caseload of each counselor in the Office 
is appropriate such that each counselor may effectively 
and expeditiously advocate for and manage the medical 
care of each Wounded Hero who is assigned to the coun-
selor. In no case may a counselor under this section be 
assigned more than 20 Wounded Heroes at any one time. 
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‘‘(e) PERIOD OF ASSISTANCE.—(1) Subject to para-
graph (2), a case manager assigned to a Wounded Hero 
shall carry out the duties under this section with respect 
to that Wounded Hero for up to the three-year period that 
begins on the date of such assignment. 
‘‘(2) The Wounded Heroes Advocate may waive the 
limitation under paragraph (1) on a case by case basis. 
‘‘(f) ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEAMLESS TRANSITION.— 
The Secretary and the Secretary of Defense shall enter 
into arrangements to carry out this section so that coun-
selors appointed under this section may effectively and ex-
peditiously arrange for care, counseling, and benefits for 
Wounded Heroes under laws administered by each Sec-
retary.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 3 of such title is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 320 the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘321. Wounded Heroes Advocates.’’. 
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TITLE III—ADMINISTRATIVE 
MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Advisor to the 
President for Wounded Heroes 
SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISOR TO THE PRESI-
DENT FOR WOUNDED HEROES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Executive Office of the President an office to be known 
as the ‘‘Office for Wounded Heroes’’ (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Office’’). 
(b) ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT FOR WOUNDED 
WAR HEROES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of the Office shall 
be the Advisor to the President for Wounded Heroes 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Advisor’’). 
(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Advisor shall be ap-
pointed by the President and shall be responsible on 
a full-time basis for the duties and responsibilities 
described in this section. 
(3) LIMITATION.—No person shall serve as Ad-
visor while serving in any other position in the Fed-
eral Government. 
(c) DUTIES.—The duties and responsibilities of the 
Advisor shall include the following: 
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(1) Serve as the advisor to the President on all 
matters relating to the timely provision of all bene-
fits and health care services to Wounded Heroes. 
(2) Formulate a comprehensive and well-coordi-
nated strategy and policies for the provision of those 
benefits and care to Wounded Heroes, including— 
(A) identification of problems, such as 
gaps, duplication, and other inefficiencies) in 
existing activities, initiatives, and programs and 
the recommendations necessary to eliminate 
those problems; 
(B) establishment of measurable mile-
stones and targets to which Federal depart-
ments and agencies can be held accountable by 
the President; 
(C) 
prioritized 
plans 
to 
accelerate, 
strengthen, and expand the scope of existing 
methods of delivery of benefits and health care 
services; and 
(D) new and innovative initiatives and pro-
grams to address challenges in the provision of 
such benefits and services to Wounded Heroes. 
(3) Represent the President in inter-agency co-
ordination of Federal efforts to implement the strat-
egy and policies described in this section. 
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(4) Evaluate the provision of those benefits and 
health care services by relevant Federal departments 
and agencies. 
(5) Make budget recommendations for Wound-
ed Heroes to ensure that the needs of Wounded He-
roes are met. 
(d) STAFF.—The Advisor shall have such personnel 
as may be necessary to enable the Advisor to perform his 
duties. 
(e) ANNUAL REPORT ON STRATEGIC PLAN.—For fis-
cal year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Advisor 
shall submit to the President a report on the strategy and 
policies developed pursuant to subsection (c), together 
with any recommendations of the Advisor for legislative 
changes that the Advisor considers appropriate with re-
spect to such strategy and policies and their implementa-
tion. 
Subtitle B—Wounded Heroes 
Independent Review 
SEC. 311. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOUNDED HEROES INDE-
PENDENT REVIEW BOARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Wounded 
Heroes Independent Review Board (in this subtitle re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Board’’). 
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(b) INDEPENDENT ESTABLISHMENT.—The Board 
shall be an independent establishment, as defined in sec-
tion 104 of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Board is to review 
the benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs, and other Federal departments and agencies, to 
Wounded Heroes to determine if those Wounded Heroes, 
and their spouses, dependents, and close family members, 
are receiving sufficient scope and intensity of services and 
support from the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
other Federal departments and agencies for the injuries, 
and the consequences of those injuries, incurred while 
serving on active duty. 
(d) VOTING REQUIREMENT.—All decisions of the 
Board with respect to the exercise of its duties and powers 
under this subtitle, except those expressly reserved for de-
cision by the Chair, shall be made by a majority vote of 
its members. 
(e) MEETINGS AND QUORUM.— 
(1) MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet not less 
frequently that once each month as well as at the 
call of the Chair. 
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Board shall constitute a quorum. 
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SEC. 312. COMPOSITION OF BOARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall be composed of 
5 members, 1 of whom shall serve as the Chair of the 
Board. 
(b) APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Board shall 
be appointed as follows: 
(A) 1 shall be appointed by the President. 
(B) 1 shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives. 
(C) 1 shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(D) 1 shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate. 
(E) 1 shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
(2) CHAIR.—The President shall, at the time of 
nomination of the first members of the Board, des-
ignate 1 member to serve as the Chair. Any indi-
vidual appointed to succeed, or to fill the unexpired 
term of, that member (or any member succeeding 
that member) shall serve as the Chair. 
(c) TERM OF OFFICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Board shall 
be appointed for a term of 3 years. 
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(2) EXPIRED TERMS.—An individual may con-
tinue to serve as a member of the board after the 
expiration of such individual’s term until the earlier 
of— 
(A) the date on which such individual’s 
successor has taken office; or 
(B) 1 year following the date on which the 
term of such member expired. 
(3) VACANCIES.—An individual appointed upon 
a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the 
term for which the individual’s predecessor was ap-
pointed shall be appointed only for the unexpired 
term of the predecessor. Such vacancy shall be filled 
in the same manner as the original appointment. 
(d) OTHER ACTIVITIES.—An individual appointed to 
the Board may not engage in any other business, vocation, 
or employment while serving as a member of the Board. 
(e) REMOVAL.—A member of the Board may be re-
moved by the President only for inefficiency, neglect of 
duty, or malfeasance in office. 
SEC. 313. STAFF DIRECTOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Board a 
staff director. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The staff director— 
(1) shall assist the Board in its operations; 
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(2) shall perform such responsibilities as the 
Board shall prescribe; and 
(3) may, with the approval of the chair— 
(A) appoint and fix the pay of such addi-
tional personnel as the staff director considers 
appropriate; and 
(B) Procure temporary and intermittent 
services to the same extent as is authorized by 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, 
but at rates for individuals not to exceed the 
daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
in effect for grade GS–15 of the General Sched-
ule (5 U.S.C. 5332). 
(c) APPOINTMENT.—The staff director shall be ap-
pointed by the Chair, after consultation with the other 
members of the Board. 
(d) OTHER ACTIVITIES.—An individual appointed as 
the staff director of the Board may not engage in any 
other business, vocation, or employment while serving as 
the staff director of the Board. 
SEC. 314. POWERS. 
(a) CHAIR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chair shall be the chief 
administrative officer of the Board with the author-
ity to administer the Board and shall, after con-
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sultation with the other members of the Board, have 
the power to appoint or remove the staff director 
and to establish the budget of the Board. 
(2) OTHER
POWERS.—The chair has the 
power— 
(A) to the fullest extent practicable, to re-
quest the assistance of other agencies and de-
partments of the United States, including the 
personnel and facilities of such agencies and de-
partments, and the heads of such agencies and 
departments may make available to the Chair 
such personnel, facilities, and other assistance, 
with or without reimbursement; and 
(B) to require, by special or general or-
ders, any person to submit, under oath, such 
written reports and answers to questions as the 
Chair may prescribe. 
(b) BOARD.—The board shall have the power— 
(1) to render advisory opinions; 
(2) to make, amend, and repeal rules for the 
Board and the conduct of duties and actions of the 
Board; 
(3) to conduct investigations and hearings expe-
ditiously; and 
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(4) to transmit to the President and to Con-
gress not later than June 1 of each year, a report 
which states in detail the activities of the Board in 
carrying out its duties under this subtitle, and which 
includes any recommendations for any legislative or 
other action the Board considers appropriate. 
SEC. 315. REVIEW OF DETERMINATION OR DECISIONS OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) REQUESTS FOR REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT DE-
TERMINATIONS.—Upon receipt from a Wounded Hero of 
a written request to review a decision or determination of 
an officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs or other Federal department or agency relating to 
eligibility for or the scope and intensity of benefits, espe-
cially health care or vocational rehabilitation benefits, pro-
vided to the Wounded Hero, the Board shall conduct such 
a review expeditiously. 
(b) PROVISION OF ADVISORY OPINIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—After conducting a review 
pursuant to subsection (a), the Board shall promptly 
render a written advisory opinion relating to such 
eligibility or provision of such care or benefits. 
(2) DELIVERY OF ADVISORY OPINIONS.—After 
rendering an advisory opinion under paragraph (1), 
the board shall promptly mail a copy of the written 
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advisory opinion to the claimant at the last known 
address of the claimant. If requested by the claim-
ant, the board shall also mail a copy of the written 
advisory opinion— 
(A) to the official or employee of the Fed-
eral department or agency that issued the deci-
sion or determination which gave rise to the re-
quest for review under subsection (a); and 
(B) to the head of the Federal department 
or agency involved. 
(c) CONSIDERATION OF ADVISORY OPINION.—An ad-
visory opinion rendered by the Board under this section 
with respect to a Wounded Hero shall be considered as 
evidence by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (established 
under chapter 71 of title 38, United State Code) and the 
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims (es-
tablished under chapter 72 of such title) in any case with 
respect to the Wounded Hero before the Board of Vet-
erans’ Appeals or United States Court of Appeals for Vet-
erans’ Claims, as the case may be, upon submission by 
the Wounded Hero. 
(d) PROHIBITION ON REVIEW OF ADVISORY OPIN-
ION.—An advisory opinion rendered by the Board under 
this section may not be reviewed by any other official or 
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by any court, whether by an action in the nature of man-
damus or otherwise. 
SEC. 316. AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS; REPORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Board may conduct such au-
dits and investigations as the Chair deems necessary. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than June 1 of 
each year, beginning with 2009, the Board shall submit 
to Congress and to the President an annual report on the 
activities of the Board during the preceding years. The 
report shall include such recommendations for administra-
tive action or legislation as the Board determines to be 
appropriate. 
SEC. 317. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit, re-
strict, or diminish any investigatory, informational, over-
sight, supervisory, or disciplinary authority or function of 
Congress or any committee of Congress with respect to 
veterans’ benefits generally, or those benefits as applied 
in the case of Wounded Heroes. 
Æ 
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