In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Educational Technology Utilization 
Extension Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to improve the utilization of 
educational technologies in elementary and secondary education by 
creating an educational technology extension service based at 
undergraduate institutions of higher education.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Extension services such as the Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership and the Agricultural Extension Service have proven 
        to be effective public/private partnerships to integrate new 
        technologies and to improve utilization of existing 
        technologies by small to medium sized manufacturers and the 
        United States agricultural community.
            (2) Undergraduate institutions of higher education working 
        with non-profit organizations, State, and Federal agencies can 
        tailor educational technology extension programs to meet 
        specific local and regional requirements.
            (3) Undergraduate institutions of higher education, often 
        with the assistance of the National Science Foundation, have 
        for the past 20 years been integrating educational technologies 
        into their curricula, and as such they can draw upon their own 
        experiences to advise elementary and secondary school educators 
        on ways to integrate a variety of educational technologies into 
        the educational process.
            (4) Many elementary and secondary school systems, 
        particularly in rural and traditionally under served areas, 
        lack general information on the most effective methods to 
        integrate their existing technology infrastructure, as well as 
        new educational technology, into the educational process and 
        curriculum.
            (5) Most Federal and State educational technology programs 
        have focused on acquiring educational technologies with less 
        emphasis on the utilization of those technologies in the 
        classroom and the training and infrastructural requirements 
        needed to efficiently support those types of technologies. As a 
        result, in many instances, the full potential of educational 
        technology has not been realized.
            (6) Our global economy is increasingly reliant on a 
        workforce not only comfortable with technology, but also able 
        to integrate rapid technological changes into the production 
        process. As such, in order to remain competitive in a global 
        economy, it is imperative that we maintain a work-ready labor 
        force.
            (7) According to ``Teacher Quality: A Report on the 
        Preparation and Qualifications of Public School Teacher'', 
        prepared by the Department of Education, only 1 in 5 teachers 
        felt they were well prepared to work in a modern classroom.
            (8) The most common form of professional development for 
        teachers continue to be workshops that typically last no more 
        than one day and have little relevance to teachers' work in the 
        classroom.
            (9) A 1998 national survey completed by the Department of 
        Education found that only 19 percent of teachers had been 
        formally mentored by another teacher, and that 70 percent of 
        these teachers felt that this collaboration was very helpful to 
        their teaching.

SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    (a) General Authority.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall 
provide assistance for the creation and support of regional centers for 
the utilization of educational technologies (hereinafter in this Act 
referred to as ``ETU Centers'').
    (b) Functions of Centers.--
            (1) Establishment.--ETU Centers may be established at any 
        institution of higher education, but such centers may include 
        the participation of non-profit entities, organizations, or 
        groups thereof.
            (2) Objectives of centers.--The objective of the ETU 
        Centers is to enhance the utilization of educational 
        technologies in elementary and secondary education through--
                    (A) advising of elementary and secondary school 
                administrators, school boards, and teachers on the 
                adoption and utilization of new educational 
                technologies and the utility of local schools' existing 
                educational technology assets and infrastructure;
                    (B) participation of individuals from the private 
                sector, universities, State and local governments, and 
                other Federal agencies;
                    (C) active dissemination of technical and 
                management information about the use of educational 
                technologies; and
                    (D) utilization, where appropriate, of the 
                expertise and capabilities that exists in Federal 
                laboratories and Federal agencies.
            (3) Activities of centers.--The activities of the ETU 
        Centers shall include the following:
                    (A) The active transfer and dissemination of 
                research findings and ETU Center expertise to local 
                school authorities, including but not limited to school 
                administrators, school boards, and teachers.
                    (B) The training of teachers in the integration of 
                local schools existing educational technology 
                infrastructure into their instructional design.
                    (C) The training and advising of teachers, 
                administrators, and school board members in the 
                acquisition, utilization, and support of educational 
                technologies.
                    (D) Support services to teachers, administrators, 
                and school board members as agreed upon by ETU Center 
                representatives and local school authorities.
                    (E) The advising of teachers, administrators, and 
                school board members on current skill set standards 
                employed by private industry.
    (c) Program Administration.--
            (1) Proposed rules.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, after consultation with the Secretary of Education 
        and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology, shall publish in the Federal Register, within 90 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act, a proposed 
        rules for the program for establishing ETU Centers, including--
                    (A) a description of the program;
                    (B) the procedure to be followed by applicant;
                    (C) the criteria for determining qualified 
                applicants; and
                    (D) the criteria, including those listed in the 
                following sections, for choosing recipients of 
                financial assistance under this section from among 
                qualified applicants.
            (2) Final rules.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall publish final rules for the program under this 
        Act after the expiration of a 30-day comment period on such 
        proposed rules.
    (d) Eligibility and Selection.--
            (1) Applications required.--Any undergraduate institution 
        of higher education, consortia of such institutions, non-profit 
        organizations, or groups thereof may submit an application for 
        financial support under this section in accordance with the 
        procedures established under subsection (c). In order to 
        receive assistance under this Act, an applicant shall provide 
        adequate assurances that will contribute 50 percent or more of 
        the proposed Center's capital and annual operating and 
        maintenance costs.
            (2) Selection.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, in conjunction with the Secretary of Education and 
        the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology, shall subject each application to competitive, 
        merit review. In making a decision whether to approve such 
        application and provide financial support under this section, 
        the Director of the National Science Foundation shall consider 
        at a minimum--
                    (A) the merits of the application, particularly 
                those portions of the application regarding the 
                adaption of training and educational technologies to 
                the needs of particular regions;
                    (B) the quality of service to be provided;
                    (C) the geographical diversity and extent of 
                service area, with particular emphasis on rural and 
                traditionally underdeveloped areas; and
                    (D) the percentage of funding and amount of in-kind 
                commitment from other sources.
            (3) Evaluation.--Each ETU Center which receives financial 
        assistance under this section shall be evaluated during its 
        third year of operation by an evaluation panel appointed by the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation. Each evaluation 
        panel shall measure the involved Center's performance against 
        the objectives specified in this section. Funding for an ETU 
        Center shall not be renewed unless the evaluation is positive.

SEC. 6. DEFINITION.

    As used in this Act, the term ``institution of higher education'' 
has the meaning given that term by section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
[A]: Educational Technology Utilization Extension Assistance Act - Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), in cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to provide assistance for the creation and support of regional centers for the utilization of educational technologies (ETU Centers).  Allows ETU Centers to be established at any institution of higher education, and to include the participation of non-profit entities and organizations. 
Requires ETU Centers to enhance the use of educational technologies in elementary and secondary education through: (1) advising school administrators, school boards, and teachers on adopting and using new educational technologies and the usefulness of local schools' existing educational technology assets and infrastructure; (2) participation of individuals from the private sector, universities, State and local governments, and other Federal agencies; (3) active dissemination of technical and management information about the use of educational technologies; and (4) appropriate use of the expertise and capabilities that exist in Federal laboratories and Federal agencies. 
Requires ETU Centers' activities to include: (1) active transfer and dissemination of research findings and ETU Center expertise to local school authorities; (2) training teachers in integrating schools' existing educational technology infrastructure into their instructional design; (3) training and advising teachers, administrators, and school board members in acquiring, using, and supporting educational technologies; (4) support services to teachers, administrators, and school board members; and (5) advising teachers, administrators, and school board members on current skill set standards employed by private industry. 
Sets forth requirements for program administration and application and selection procedures.  Allows any undergraduate institution of higher education, consortia of such institutions and non-profit organizations to apply for financial support in accordance with the procedures.  Requires each applicant to provide adequate assurances that it will contribute 50 percent or more of the proposed ETU Center's capital and annual operating and maintenance costs. 
Requires the NSF Director, in conjunction with the Secretary of Education and the NIST Director, to subject each application to competitive merit review, including specified considerations. Requires each ETU Center to be evaluated during its third year of operation.  Requires a positive evaluation for renewal of funding.


[Q]: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Apprenticeships can help veterans bridge the gap 
        between service in the Armed Forces and civilian employment 
        by--
                    (A) receiving on-the-job training under the direct 
                supervision of a professional and classroom 
                instruction;
                    (B) implementing skills the veterans acquired while 
                in the Armed Forces;
                    (C) providing practical work experience to the 
                veterans; and
                    (D) forming professional connections to fellow 
                members of skilled occupations.
            (2) According to the Employment and Training Administration 
        of the Department of Labor, in fiscal year 2016--
                    (A) more than 21,000 apprenticeship programs across 
                the United States are registered with the 
                Administration;
                    (B) approximately 1,700 new apprenticeship programs 
                were established in the United States;
                    (C) more than 206,000 individuals across the United 
                States entered an apprenticeship program;
                    (D) more than 505,000 apprentices sought to acquire 
                skills to earn the wages necessary for financial 
                security; and
                    (E) approximately 49,000 individuals graduated from 
                apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 2. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS WHO PURSUE CERTAIN 
              APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

    Section 3313(g)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(E) In the case of an individual pursuing a 
                program of apprenticeship (that is registered with the 
                Employment and Training Administration of the 
                Department of Labor) on more than a half-time but less 
                than full-time basis, an annual stipend for tuition and 
                fees not to exceed the lesser of--
                            ``(i) the actual net cost for tuition and 
                        fees for the program of apprenticeship after 
                        the application of any waiver of, or reduction 
                        in, tuition and fees; or
                            ``(ii) 25 percent of the amount calculated 
                        under subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii).
                    ``(F) In the case of an individual pursuing a 
                program of apprenticeship (that is registered with the 
                Employment and Training Administration of the 
                Department of Labor and for which the individual 
                provides proof of current registration to the 
                Secretary) that is not sponsored by the employer of the 
                individual, an annual stipend for tuition and fees not 
                to exceed the lesser of--
                            ``(i) the actual net cost for tuition and 
                        fees for the program of apprenticeship after 
                        the application of any waiver of, or reduction 
                        in, tuition and fees; or
                            ``(ii) 25 percent of the amount calculated 
                        under subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii).''.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that apprenticeship programs that are 
not sponsored by employers of participants in such programs should 
supply professional development resources and interview training to the 
participants.

SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WHO PURSUE COMPUTER NUMERICALLY 
              CONTROLLED MACHINING CERTIFICATIONS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide eligible 
veterans with the opportunity to enroll in certification programs in 
computer numerically controlled machining.
    (b) Eligibility.--For purposes of the pilot program under this 
section, an eligible veteran is a veteran who is entitled to 
educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary.
    (c) Contracts.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of carrying out subsection 
        (a), by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, the Secretary shall seek to enter into contracts 
        with multiple qualified providers of certification programs in 
        computer numerically controlled machining for the provision of 
        such programs to eligible veterans under the pilot program.
            (2) Payment of contractors.--A contract under this 
        subsection shall provide that the Secretary shall pay to a 
        provider--
                    (A) 25 percent of the cost of providing the 
                certification program upon the enrollment of an 
                eligible veteran in the program;
                    (B) 25 percent of such cost upon the completion of 
                the program by the veteran; and
                    (C) 50 percent of such cost upon the employment of 
                the veteran following completion of the program.
            (3) Qualified providers.--For purposes of the pilot 
        program, a provider of a certification program in computer 
        numerically controlled machining is qualified if the provider 
        has been operational for at least two years.
            (4) Tuition reimbursement.--In entering into contracts to 
        carry out the pilot program, the Secretary shall give 
        preference to a qualified provider that offers tuition 
        reimbursement for any student who--
                    (A) completes a certification program offered by 
                the provider; and
                    (B) does not find full-time meaningful employment 
                within the 180-day period beginning on the date the 
                student completes the program.
    (d) Housing Stipend.--The Secretary shall pay to each eligible 
veteran who is enrolled in a certification program in computer 
numerically controlled machining under the pilot program on a full-time 
basis a monthly housing stipend equal to the product of--
            (1) in the case of--
                    (A) a veteran pursuing resident training, the 
                monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing 
                payable under section 403 of title 37, United States 
                Code, for a member with dependents in pay grade E-5 who 
                resides in the military housing area that encompasses 
                all or the majority of the ZIP code area in which the 
                campus at which the veteran attends training or classes 
                is located; or
                    (B) a veteran pursuing a certification program 
                through distance learning, a monthly amount equal to 50 
                percent of the amount payable under subparagraph (A); 
                and
            (2) the lesser of--
                    (A) 1.0; or
                    (B) the number of course hours carried by the 
                individual in pursuit of the certification program 
                involved, divided by the minimum number of course hours 
                required for full-time pursuit of such certification 
                program, rounded to the nearest tenth.
    (e) Certification Program in Computer Numerically Controlled 
Machining Defined.--In this section, the term ``certification program 
in computer numerically controlled machining'' means a training program 
that--
            (1) is offered by an entity--
                    (A) other than an institution of higher learning; 
                or
                    (B) that is a professional organization;
            (2) does not lead to a degree; and
            (3) leads to a National Institute for Metalworking Skills 
        credential or certification in computer numerically controlled 
        machining.
    (f) Reports.--
            (1) Secretary of veterans affairs.--Not later than one year 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
        the pilot program under this section.
            (2) Comptroller general.--
                    (A) Interim report.--Not later than three years 
                after the date on which the Secretary first enters into 
                a contract under this section, the Comptroller General 
                of the United States shall submit to Congress a report 
                containing the results of the interim assessment of the 
                Comptroller General. Such report shall include the 
                recommendations of the Comptroller General for 
                improving the pilot program and an assessment of each 
                of the following:
                            (i) The manufacturing and training 
                        experience of the directors and instructors of 
                        the providers of certification programs in 
                        computer numerically controlled machining under 
                        the pilot program.
                            (ii) Whether the providers followed 
                        training curricula commonly used in the 
                        industry (including curricula from the National 
                        Institute for Metalworking Skills) for the 
                        certification programs.
                            (iii) Whether the providers use open source 
                        curricula for the certification programs.
                            (iv) The admittance rate into the pilot 
                        program.
                            (v) The job placement rate for veterans who 
                        completed a certification program under the 
                        pilot program.
                            (vi) The average salary of veterans who 
                        completed a certification program under the 
                        pilot program and were subsequently employed.
                            (vii) The average age of veterans who 
                        participated in the pilot program.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than five years after 
                the date on which the Secretary first enters into a 
                contract under this section, the Comptroller General 
                shall submit to Congress a final report on the pilot 
                program. Such report shall include the recommendation 
                of the Comptroller General with respect to whether the 
                program should be extended and an assessment of each of 
                the following:
                            (i) Each item described in clauses (i) 
                        through (vii) of subparagraph (A).
                            (ii) The percentage of veterans who 
                        completed a certification program under the 
                        pilot program who were subsequently employed 
                        for a period of six months or longer.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 for each 
fiscal year during which the Secretary carries out a pilot program 
under this section.
    (h) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program under 
this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the 
date on which the Secretary first enters into a contract under this 
section.

SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF THE CAREER TECHNICAL TRAINING 
              TRACK OF THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a 
review of the career technical training track of the Transition 
Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (specifically 
with regard to the effectiveness of educating participants about 
apprenticeship opportunities) and submit to Congress a report on the 
results of the review and any recommendations of the Comptroller 
General for improving the program.
[A]: This bill provides educational assistance to veterans who pursue certain apprenticeship programs registered with the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor. It is the sense of Congress that apprenticeship programs that are not sponsored by program participants' employers should provide the participants with professional development resources and interview training.  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall carry out a pilot program to provide eligible veterans with the opportunity to enroll in certification programs in computer numerically controlled machining. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress regarding the career technical training track of the VA's Transition Assistance Program, including its effectiveness in educating participants about apprenticeship opportunities. 


[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health Care for Our Wounded 
Warriors Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) An estimated one in six members of the Armed Forces 
        returning from service in Iraq or Afghanistan has a diagnosable 
        condition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
            (2) One in ten members of the Armed Forces who have served 
        in Iraq or Afghanistan may suffer from a traumatic brain injury 
        (TBI).
            (3) Since 2001, approximately 1,500,000 members of the 
        Armed Forces have been deployed in support of the conflicts in 
        Iraq and Afghanistan, of whom approximately one-third have 
        served at least two tours of duty, 70,000 have served three 
        tours of duty, and 20,000 have served at least five tours of 
        duty.
            (4) Currently, there are 700,000 children in the United 
        States with at least one parent deployed to support ongoing 
        military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
            (5) The Department of Defense is facing a shortage of 
        mental health professionals. The Department has had as many as 
        450 psychologists on active duty in the Armed Forces in past 
        years. However, the Department currently has only 350 
        psychologists on active duty in the Armed Forces in support of 
        combat operations.
            (6) The demands placed on the Department of Defense mental 
        health system exceed its capacity to provide services in a 
        timely manner to all those in need.
            (7) The long-term costs of treating members of the Armed 
        Forces returning from Iraq and Afghanistan could ultimately 
        reach $700,000,000,000, with post-traumatic stress disorder 
        projected to be one of the most expensive conditions to treat.
            (8) Women now constitute 16 percent of the members of the 
        Armed Forces and are assigned to 90 percent all military 
        occupations. As a result, there is a need for research on 
        whether or not women in combat roles have unique mental health 
        needs that should be addressed by the mental health system of 
        the Department of Defense.
            (9) More than 25 percent of the members of the Armed Forces 
        deployed in support combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan 
        are ethnic minorities. There is a need for research on whether 
        or not minorities have unique mental health needs that should 
        be addressed by the mental health system of the Department of 
        Defense.
            (10) Three out of every five deployed members of the Armed 
        Forces have a spouse, child, or both. However, there is a 
        paucity of research on the mental health needs of members of 
        the Armed Forces and their families.
            (11) Approximately 40 percent of the billets for licensed 
        clinical psychologists in the Army are vacant, and there are 
        shortages in other mental health professions, including 
        psychiatry and clinical social work.
            (12) The long-term needs associated with mental health 
        conditions and brain injuries will require a robust mental 
        health professional workforce.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON MENTAL HEALTH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) members of the Armed Forces deserve the best possible 
        treatment for injuries sustained while in service to the United 
        States;
            (2) injuries sustained by members of the Armed Forces in 
        combat produce both physical and mental illnesses;
            (3) members of the Armed Forces should have access to 
        mental health providers to facilitate their treatment for 
        mental illness sustained during combat;
            (4) mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress 
        disorder (PTSD), incurred by members of the Armed Forces in 
        combat should be treated with an urgency similar to physical 
        ailments incurred by such members in combat;
            (5) there is a need to train, recruit, and retain more 
        psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, neurologists, and 
        other health care professionals to diagnose and provide short-
        term and long-term care for members of the Armed Forces with 
        mental health conditions, including traumatic brain injuries 
        (TBIs), sustained in combat; and
            (6) there is a continued need for--
                    (A) basic science research on post-traumatic stress 
                disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other combat-
                related conditions;
                    (B) the development of new treatments for post-
                traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and 
                other combat-related conditions;
                    (C) the dissemination of best practices for 
                treating and managing post-traumatic stress disorder, 
                traumatic brain injury, and other combat-related 
                conditions; and
                    (D) a long-term strategy for education, training, 
                recruitment, and retention for the mental health 
                workforce of the Department of Defense in order to 
                expand and improve that workforce.

SEC. 4. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 55 of title 10, United States 
        Code, is amended by inserting after section 1105 the following 
        new section:
``Sec. 1105a. Centers of Excellence in Military Mental Health
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish within 
the Department of Defense at least two centers of excellence in 
military mental health to carry out the responsibilities specified in 
subsection (c). Each such center shall be known as a `Center of 
Excellence in Military Mental Health'.
    ``(b) Partnerships.--The Secretary shall authorize each Center of 
Excellence in Military Mental Health to enter into such partnerships, 
agreements, or other arrangements as the Secretary considers 
appropriate with institutions of higher education and other appropriate 
public and private entities to carry out the responsibilities specified 
in subsection (c).
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--Each Center of Excellence in Military 
Mental Health shall have responsibilities as follows:
            ``(1) To direct and oversee, based on expert research, the 
        development and implementation of a long-term, comprehensive 
        plan and strategy for the Department of Defense for the 
        prevention, identification, and treatment of combat-related 
        mental health conditions and brain injuries, with an emphasis 
        on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain 
        injury (TBI).
            ``(2) To provide for the development, testing, and 
        dissemination within the Department of best practices for the 
        treatment of combat-related mental health conditions and brain 
        injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic 
        brain injury, acute depression, and substance abuse.
            ``(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.
            ``(4) To establish, implement, and oversee a comprehensive 
        program to train mental health and neurological health 
        professionals of the Department in the treatment of combat-
        related mental health conditions and brain injuries.
            ``(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.
            ``(7) To develop a strategic plan to reduce the stigma 
        among members of the armed forces regarding the presence of 
        mental illness or other mental health conditions in such 
        members.
            ``(8) To conduct basic science and translational research 
        on combat-related mental health conditions and brain injuries 
        for the purposes of understanding the etiology of such 
        conditions and injuries and developing preventive interventions 
        and new treatments.
            ``(9) To develop outreach strategies and treatments for 
        families of members of the armed forces with combat-related 
        mental health conditions or brain injuries in order to mitigate 
        the negative impacts of such conditions and injuries on such 
        family members and to support the recovery of such members from 
        such conditions and injuries.
            ``(10) To conduct research on the unique mental health 
        needs of women members of the armed forces who serve in combat 
        zones and develop treatments to meet any needs identified 
        through such research.
            ``(11) To conduct research on the unique mental health 
        needs of ethnic minority members of the armed forces who serve 
        in combat and develop treatments to meet any needs identified 
        through such research.
            ``(12) To conduct research on the mental health needs of 
        families of members of the armed forces who are deployed to 
        combat zones and develop treatments to meet any needs 
        identified through such research.
            ``(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 long-term needs of members of 
        the armed forces with combat-related mental health conditions 
        or brain injuries.
            ``(14) Such other responsibilities as the Secretary shall 
        specify.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 55 of such title is amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 1105 the following new item:

``1105a. Centers of Excellence in Military Mental Health.''.
            (3) Report on establishment.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
        shall submit to Congress a report on the establishment of 
        Centers of Excellence in Military Mental Health under section 
        1105a of title 10, United States Code (as added by paragraph 
        (1)). The report shall--
                    (A) set forth the number and location of the 
                Centers of Excellence in Military Mental Health so 
                established;
                    (B) for each Center so established, describe in 
                detail the activities and proposed activities of such 
                Center; and
                    (C) assess the general progress of the Centers in 
                discharging the responsibilities set forth in that 
                section.
    (b) Oversight.--
            (1) Board of oversight.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
        establish a board to oversee the activities of the Centers of 
        Excellence in Military Mental Health of the Department of 
        Defense established under section 1105a of title 10, United 
        States Code (as added by subsection (a)). The board shall be 
        known as the ``Board of Oversight of Excellence in Military 
        Mental Health'' (in this subsection referred to as the 
        ``Board'').
            (2) Membership.--
                    (A) Required members.--The members of the Board 
                shall include the following:
                            (i) The director of each Center of 
                        Excellence in Military Mental Health.
                            (ii) The commanding officer of Walter Reed 
                        Army Medical Center, District of Columbia.
                            (iii) The Surgeon General of the Army, the 
                        Surgeon General of the Navy, and the Surgeon 
                        General of the Air Force.
                            (iv) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
                        Health Affairs.
                    (B) Authorized members.--With the joint approval of 
                the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs, the members of the Board may include any of 
                the following:
                            (i) The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
                        for Health.
                            (ii) Any director of a polytrauma center of 
                        the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (3) Meetings.--The Board shall meet not less often than 
        four times each year.
            (4) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Board 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) To consider and evaluate proposals of the 
                Centers of Excellence in Military Mental Health in the 
                discharge of the responsibilities of such Centers.
                    (B) To develop mechanisms for the dissemination and 
                implementation of recommendations and best practices on 
                military mental health developed by the Centers of 
                Excellence in Military Mental Health.
                    (C) Such other responsibilities as the Secretary 
                shall establish for purposes of this section.

SEC. 5. PERSONNEL SHORTAGES IN MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

    (a) Recommendations on Means of Addressing Shortages.--
            (1) Report.--Not later than 45 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
        the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
        Representatives a report setting forth the recommendations of 
        the Secretary for such legislative or administrative actions as 
        the Secretary considers appropriate to address current 
        personnel shortages in the mental health workforce of the 
        Department of Defense.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) may 
        include recommendations on the following:
                    (A) Enhancements or improvements of financial 
                incentives for personnel in the mental health workforce 
                of the Department of Defense in order to enhance the 
                recruitment and retention of such personnel, including 
                recruitment, accession, or retention bonuses and 
                scholarship, tuition, and other financial assistance.
                    (B) Modifications of service obligations of 
                personnel in the mental health workforce.
                    (C) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate.
    (b) Recruitment.--Commencing not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall implement 
programs to recruit qualified individuals in mental health fields to 
service in the Armed Forces as mental health personnel of the Armed 
Forces.
[A]:
Mental Health Care for Our Wounded Warriors Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) members of the Armed Forces (members) deserve the best possible treatment for mental and physical illnesses and injuries sustained while in military service; (2) members should have access to mental health providers; (3) mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should be treated with an urgency similar to physical ailments incurred by members; (4) there is a need to recruit, train, and retain more mental health care professionals to diagnose and treat members; and (5) there is a continued need for research, new treatments, and best practices for treating PTSD, as well as a long-term strategy for recruiting, training, and retaining the mental health workforce of the Department of Defense (DOD).

Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish at least two centers of excellence in military mental health for, among other things, the development and implementation of DOD strategy for the prevention, identification, and treatment of combat-related mental health conditions, with an emphasis on PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees on appropriate actions to address current personnel shortages in the DOD mental health workforce.