Persian Gulf War Veterans Health and Services Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to maintain an information system involving the use of a toll-free telephone number to provide Persian Gulf War veterans and their families (and members of the public at the Secretary's discretion) with information regarding: (1) the Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry; (2) access to Department of Veterans Affairs health services and benefits; (3) compensation and benefits relating to disabilities resulting from service in the Persian Gulf War (War); and (4) significant developments in research related to health consequences from such service.
Amends the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act to direct the Secretary to notify such veterans, or, if deceased, the veteran's surviving spouse, children, or parents at least quarterly concerning research findings, compensation and benefits, and other appropriate matters relating to service by veterans in the War.
Extends through December 31, 1998, the authority of the Department to provide hospital, nursing home, and outpatient care to veterans of the War.
Amends the Veterans' Medical Program Amendments of 1992 to extend through December 31, 1998, the authority of the Secretary to furnish marriage and family counseling to such veterans. Extends through FY 1999 the authorization of appropriations for such counseling.
[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 4542 Introduced in House (IH)]
103d CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4542
To provide an improved system of health-related information for Persian
Gulf War veterans and to extend the availability of certain health care
for Persian Gulf War Veterans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 8, 1994
Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Evans, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Hochbrueckner,
Mr. Montgomery, and Mr. Sanders) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide an improved system of health-related information for Persian
Gulf War veterans and to extend the availability of certain health care
for Persian Gulf War Veterans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Persian Gulf War Veterans Health and
Services Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. TOLL-FREE HOTLINE FOR PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERAN HEALTH
INFORMATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall maintain
an information system involving the use of a toll-free telephone number
to provide veterans of the Persian Gulf War and their family members
(and other members of the public at the Secretary's discretion) with
information regarding the following:
(1) The Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry
established by the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act
(38 U.S.C. 527 note).
(2) Access to health services and health-related benefits
provided by or under the auspices of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, including--
(A) marriage and family counseling available under
section 121 of the Veterans' Medical Programs
Amendments of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note);
(B) health care available under section
1710(e)(1)(C) of title 38, United States Code; and
(C) health examinations, consultation, and
counseling available under section 703 of the Persian
Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act (38 U.S.C. 527
note).
(3) Compensation and benefits related to disabilities
resulting from service in the Persian Gulf War, including
disabilities resulting from illness that resulted from such
service.
(4) Significant developments in research relating to the
health consequences of service in the Persian Gulf War.
(5) Any other information that the Secretary determines to
be appropriate.
(b) Date of Establishment of Information System.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall establish the information system required by
subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 3. OUTREACH TO VETERANS OF PERSIAN GULF WAR.
Section 702(f) of the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act
(38 U.S.C. 527 note) is amended to read as follows:
``(f) Ongoing Outreach to Individuals Listed in Registry.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
notify each individual listed in the Registry, or, in the case
of such an individual who is deceased, the surviving spouse,
children, or parents of such individual, at least quarterly, by
newsletter or by other means that the Secretary determines to
be appropriate, of--
``(A) the status and findings of federally
sponsored research relating to the illnesses of
individuals who served as members of the Armed Forces
in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the
Persian Gulf War or to the illnesses of the family
members of such individuals;
``(B) compensation and benefits, including health
care and other health-related benefits, that may be
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the
Department of Defense to an individual who served as a
member of the Armed Forces in the Persian Gulf theater
of operations during the Persian Gulf War or, in the
case of such an individual who is deceased, to the
surviving spouse, children, or parents of such an
individual; and
``(C) any other information that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
``(2) Consultation with veterans service organizations.--In
preparing the newsletter or other means used to conduct the
notification required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall consult with veterans' service
organizations.
``(3) Date that quarterly notifications begin.--The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make the first of the
periodic notifications required by paragraph (1) not later than
90 days after the date of the enactment of the Persian Gulf War
Veterans Health and Services Enhancement Act.''.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE PRIORITY HEALTH CARE TO
VETERANS OF THE PERSIAN GULF WAR.
(a) Hospital and Nursing Home Care.--Section 1710(e)(3) of title
38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 1994''
and inserting ``December 31, 1998''.
(b) Outpatient Care.--Section 1712(a)(1)(D) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 1994'' and inserting
``December 31, 1998''.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING AVAILABILITY FOR
PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Section 121(a) of the Veterans' Medical Programs
Amendments of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking
``September 30, 1994'' and inserting ``December 31, 1998''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 121(g) of the
Veterans' Medical Programs Amendments of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is
amended by striking ``and 1994'' and inserting ``through 1999''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care.
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