Tinnitus Research for Military Health Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish one or more centers of excellence for the study of tinnitus. Requires such centers to be established at military installations where members of the Armed Forces perform activities involving high rates of sound, including artillery instruction. Outlines center activities, including researching and enhancing treatments for members with tinnitus.
Requires the inclusion, within a current medical tracking system for members deployed overseas, of an aural screening which shall include an assessment of tinnitus.
Directs the Secretary to establish a grant program to assist eligible institutions in conducting research on recurrent, chronic, or severe tinnitus and peripheral neurological conditions. Makes eligible for such grants: (1) a hospital with an approved teaching program as defined under the Social Security Act; or (2) an educational institution with demonstrated expertise in tinnitus research.
Requires the Secretary to designate a senior DOD official to act as the executive agent for tinnitus.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5203 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5203
To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a center of excellence
for the study of tinnitus, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 4, 2010
Mr. Cole (for himself and Mr. Teague) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a center of excellence
for the study of tinnitus, and for other purposes.
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 ``Tinnitus Research for Military
Health Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Tinnitus, or the perception of sound where no external
source of such sound exists, is the most prevalent disabling
condition that affects members of the Armed Forces, most
notably those members who have been exposed to blast injuries
during combat, or other high noise level situations.
(2) Tinnitus is the leading service-connected disability
for returning members of the Armed Forces and the prevalence of
tinnitus is continuing to increase at alarming rates.
(3) An otologic, or ear, injury such as tinnitus has been
shown to decrease performance and situational awareness during
combat, seriously compromising the ability of a member of the
Armed Forces to hear and execute commands properly, thereby
jeopardizing not only the affected member but other members as
well.
(4) While certain types of sensory impairment in combat or
other military activities may be readily apparent, otologic
injuries such as tinnitus may not be easily noticeable, which
necessitates the need for more rigorous screening for tinnitus
before and after deployment, and for additional research to
distinguish tinnitus from other forms of brain injury incurred
during combat.
(5) Medical evidence to date suggests a demonstrated link
between tinnitus and post-traumatic stress disorder and
traumatic brain injury, such that improved understanding of
treatment of tinnitus may also directly advance research
efforts to address post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic
brain injury.
(6) Improving the treatment and prevention of tinnitus will
benefit all members of the Armed Forces who are increasingly at
risk of injury from high-decibel equipment or explosive
devices.
SEC. 3. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE STUDY OF TINNITUS.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish
one or more Centers of Excellence (in this section referred to
as a ``center'') for the study of tinnitus.
(2) Location.--The Secretary shall establish a center at a
military installation in the United States where members of the
Armed Forces perform activities involving high rates of sound,
including artillery instruction and other basic combat training
related activities.
(b) Responsibilities.--A center shall have the responsibilities as
follows:
(1) To study and enhance existing treatment modalities for
members of the Armed Forces with tinnitus, including diagnosed
cases of recurrent, chronic, or severe tinnitus.
(2) To conduct basic and clinical research to prevent,
treat, and cure tinnitus, including studies on the neurological
changes in the brain associated with tinnitus.
(3) To coordinate research activities with the Defense
Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic
Brain Injury in order to establish a tinnitus data registry for
members of the Armed Forces affected with tinnitus and other
neurological conditions that will enhance scientific progress
toward improvements in treatment for tinnitus and associated
neurological combat related conditions.
(c) Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of
Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the
center.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $7,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2011 through 2016.
SEC. 4. AURAL SCREENINGS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 1074f(b) of title 10,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) An aural screening, including an assessment of
tinnitus.''.
(b) Effective Date.--Section 1074f(b)(2) of title 10, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall apply to
members of the Armed Forces who are deployed or return from deployment
on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 5. GRANT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE TINNITUS RESEARCH.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations
provided for such purpose, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a
program to award grants to institutions to assist such institutions in
conducting research on recurrent, chronic, or severe tinnitus and
peripheral neurological conditions, including research related to
neurology, pharmacology, audiology, otolaryngology, and other
disciplines that the Secretary determines appropriate according to
newly discovered evidence-based findings.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) Teaching program.--An institution eligible to receive a
grant under this section is--
(A) a hospital with a teaching program described in
section 1861(b)(6) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395x); or
(B) an educational institution with demonstrated
expertise in tinnitus research.
(2) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an institution shall submit an application to the
Secretary of Defense at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require. The
Secretary shall ensure that such applications are peer-reviewed
by multidisciplinary tinnitus experts from both the public and
private sector.
(c) Grant Amount.--An institution awarded a grant under this
section may not receive more than $2,500,000 per fiscal year under this
section.
(d) Reports.--Not later than December 31 of each year a grant may
be awarded under this section, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
Congress a report on the grant program, including a summary of the
research related to tinnitus conducted by each grant recipient.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2011 through 2016.
SEC. 6. IMPROVING AURAL PROTECTION FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall examine methods to
improve the aural protection for members of the Armed Forces in combat.
(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
on the methods to improve aural protection examined under subsection
(a).
SEC. 7. EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR TINNITUS.
(a) Executive Agent.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall designate a
senior official of the Department of Defense to act as the executive
agent for tinnitus.
(b) Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and in accordance with Directive
5101.1, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe the roles,
responsibilities, and authorities of the executive agent
designated under subsection (a).
(2) Specification.--The roles and responsibilities of the
executive agent designated under subsection (a) shall include
coordinating common functions related to tinnitus among the
military departments.
(c) Support.--In accordance with Directive 5101.1, the Secretary of
Defense shall ensure that the military departments, Defense Agencies,
and other components of the Department of Defense provide the executive
agent designated under subsection (a) with the appropriate support and
resources needed to perform the roles, responsibilities, and
authorities of the executive agent.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``Directive 5101.1'' means Department of
Defense Directive 5101.1, or any successor directive relating
to the responsibilities of an executive agent of the Department
of Defense.
(2) The term ``executive agent'' has the meaning given the
term ``DoD Executive Agent'' in Directive 5101.1.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line