I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2172 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that all Department 
of 
Veterans 
Affairs 
orthotic-prosthetic 
laboratories, 
clinics, 
and 
prosthesists are certified by either the American Board for Certification 
in Orthotics and Prosthetics or the Board of Orthotics and Prosthetic 
Certification, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 3, 2007 
Mr. REYES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that 
all Department of Veterans Affairs orthotic-prosthetic 
laboratories, clinics, and prosthesists are certified by ei-
ther the American Board for Certification in Orthotics 
and Prosthetics or the Board of Orthotics and Prosthetic 
Certification, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Amputee Veteran As-
sistance Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATION OF DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ORTHOTIC- 
PROSTHETIC 
LABORATORIES; 
CONTRACTS 
FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR OF PROSTHETIC 
DEVICES; PLAN TO INFORM DISABLED VET-
ERANS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATION; CONTRACTS 
FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR; PLAN TO INFORM DISABLED 
VETERANS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 31 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sections: 
‘‘§ 3122. Certification of Department orthotic-pros-
thetic laboratories 
‘‘The Secretary shall ensure that all Department 
orthotic-prosthetic laboratories and clinics are certified by 
either of the following: 
‘‘(1) The American Board for Certification in 
Orthotics and Prosthetics. 
‘‘(2) The Board of Orthotics and Prosthetic 
Certification. 
‘‘§ 3123. Contracts for service and repair of prosthetic 
devices with non-Department entities 
‘‘The Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract 
with a non-Department entity that the Secretary deter-
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mines is qualified to provide for the service and repair of 
prosthetic devices for a veteran if— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary determines that Department 
facilities are unable to perform the necessary service 
or repair due to a lack of technology or for any 
other reason that the Secretary determines prevents 
such service or repair in a timely manner; or 
‘‘(2) the veteran in need of such service or re-
pair to a prosthetic device resides at a distance 
greater than 55 miles from the nearest suitable De-
partment facility capable of furnishing such service 
or repair. 
‘‘§ 3124. Plan to inform disabled veterans of techno-
logical advances in the field of pros-
thetics 
‘‘The Secretary shall develop and carry out a plan 
to inform disabled veterans at least two times per year 
of technological advances in the field of prosthetics.’’. 
(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: 
‘‘3122. Certification of Department orthotic-prosthetic laboratories. 
‘‘3133. Contracts for service and repair of prosthetic devices with non-Depart-
ment entities. 
‘‘3134. Plan to inform disabled veterans of technological advances in the field 
of prosthetics.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATES.—The Secretary shall imple-
ment the requirements of— 
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(1) section 3122 of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than five 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act; 
and 
(2) sections 3123 and 3124 of such title, as so 
added, not later than six months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
ORTHOTIC-PROSTHETIC LABORATORIES AND 
SPECIALISTS. 
(a) REVIEW OF LABORATORIES AND CLINICS.— 
(1) REVIEW
REQUIRED.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct and com-
plete a review of all Department of Veterans Affairs 
orthotic-prosthetic laboratories and clinics to ensure 
that the Department is capable of servicing and re-
pairing the most technologically advanced prosthetic 
devices. 
(2) REPORT
REQUIRED.—Not later than six 
months after the completion of the review under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report containing the Secretary’s findings 
under the review and any recommendations to ad-
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dress any deficiencies in capability discovered as a 
result of such review. 
(b) REVIEW OF SPECIALISTS.— 
(1) REVIEW
REQUIRED.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall conduct and complete a review of 
Department prosthetists and orthotists to determine 
what level and kinds of training and education will 
be needed to ensure that such prosthetists and 
orthotists are qualified to service and repair the 
most technologically advanced prosthetic devices. 
(2) REPORT
REQUIRED.—Not later than six 
months after the completion of the review under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report containing the Secretary’s findings 
under the review and any recommendations to ad-
dress any deficiencies in education, training, or qual-
ification discovered as a result of such review. 
Æ 
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