Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 6.djvu/84

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

108 STAT. 4652 PUBLIC LAW 103-446—NOV. 2, 1994 Register proposed regulations under subsections (b) and (c) of that section. 38 USC 1117 SEC. 107. EVALUATION OF HEALTH STATUS OF SPOUSES AND CHIL- note. DREN OF PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS. (a) EVALUATION PROGRAM. —Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of the Veterans AiFairs shall conduct a study to evaluate the health status of spouses and children of Persian Gulf War veterans. Under the study, the Secretary shall provide for the conduct of diagnostic testing and appropriate medical examinations of any individual— (1) who is the spouse or child of a veteran who— (A) is listed in the Persian Gulf War Veterans Registry established under section 702 of Public Law 102-585; and (B) is suffering from an illness or disorder; (2) who is apparently suffering fix)m, or may have suffered from, an illness or disorder (including a birth defect, miscarriage, or stillbirth) which cannot be disassociated fix)m the veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations; and (3) who, in the case of a spouse, has granted the Secretary permission to include in the Registry relevant medical data (including a medical history and the results of diagnostic testing and medical examinations) and such other information as the Secretary considers relevant and appropriate with respect to such individual. Such testing and examinations shall be carried out so as to gather such medical data as the Secretary considers relevant and appropriate in order to determine the nature and extent of the association, if any, between illness or disorder of the spouse or child and the illness of the veteran. (b) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The program shall be carried out during the period beginning on November 1, 1994, and ending on September 30, 1996. (c) FUNDING LIMITATION.— The amount spent for the program under subsection (a) may not exceed $2,000,0(X). (d) CONTRACTING.—The Secretary shall provide for the conduct of testing and examinations under subsection (a) through appropriate contract arrangements. (e) STANDARD PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES.—The Secretary shall seek to ensure uniform development of medical data through the development of standard protocols and guidelines for such testing and examinations. If such protocols and guidelines have not been adopted before the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, before the end of such period, submit to the Committees on Veterems' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report as to why such protocols and guidelines have not yet been developed. (fj ENTRY OF RESULTS IN REGISTRY.— The results of diagnostic tests, medical histories, and medical examinations conducted under subsection (a) shall be entered into the Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry. (g) OUTREACH.— The Secretary shall conduct such outreach activities as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure that implementation of this section results in sufficient information to enable the Secretary—