118 STAT. 2385 PUBLIC LAW 108–422—NOV. 30, 2004 specialists of the Department of Veterans Affairs to such facili ties to consult with the medical staff of such facilities on the special needs of such members who have visual impairment as a consequence of combat injury. ‘‘(2) Assistance shall be provided under this subsection through agreements for the sharing of health care resources under section 8111 of this title. ‘‘(f) AWARD OF FUNDING.—Centers designated under this section may compete for the award of funding from amounts appropriated for the Department for medical and prosthetics research. ‘‘(g) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—(1) The Under Secretary for Health shall ensure that information produced by the centers designated under this section that may be useful for other activities of the Veterans Health Administration is disseminated throughout the Administration. ‘‘(2) Information shall be disseminated under this subsection through publications, through programs of continuing medical and related education provided through regional medical education cen ters under subchapter VI of chapter 74 of this title, and through other means. ‘‘(h) NATIONAL OVERSIGHT.—The Under Secretary for Health shall designate an appropriate officer to oversee the operation of the centers designated under this section and provide for periodic evaluation of the centers. ‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) There are author ized to be appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the centers designated under this section amounts as follows: ‘‘(A) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2005. ‘‘(B) $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008. ‘‘(2) In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Under Secretary for Health may allocate to each center designated under this section, from other funds authorized to be appropriated for such fiscal year for the Department generally for medical and for medical and prosthetic research, such amounts as the Under Secretary for Health deter mines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.’’. (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7326 the following new item: ‘‘7327. Centers for research, education, and clinical activities on complex multi trau ma associated with combat injuries.’’. (b) DESIGNATION OF CENTERS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall designate the centers for research, education, and clinical activities on complex multi trauma associated with combat injuries required by section 7327 of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) ANNUAL REPORTS.—(1) Not later than eighteen months after the date of the designation of centers for research, education, and clinical activities on complex multi trauma associated with combat injuries required by section 7327 of title 38, United States Code (as so added), and annually thereafter through 2008, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the status and activities of such centers during the one year period beginning on the date of such designation, for the first such report, and for successive one year periods, for subsequent reports. Deadline. 38 USC 7327 note.
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