PUBLIC LAW 109–163—JAN. 6, 2006
119 STAT. 3183
(e) STUDIES.—The executive agent designated under subsection (a) shall conduct studies on the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries, including— (1) studies to improve the clinical evaluation and treatment approach for blast injuries, with an emphasis on traumatic brain injuries and other consequences of blast injury, including acoustic and eye injuries and injuries resulting from over-pressure wave; (2) studies on the incidence of traumatic brain injuries attributable to blast injury in soldiers returning from combat; (3) studies to develop protocols for medical tracking of members of the Armed Forces for up to five years following blast injuries; and (4) studies to refine and improve educational interventions for blast injury survivors and their families. (f) TRAINING.—The executive agent designated under subsection (a), in coordination with the Director of the Joint IED Defeat Task Force, shall develop training protocols for medical and nonmedical personnel on the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries. Those protocols shall be intended to improve field and clinical training on early identification of blast injury consequences, both seen and unseen, including traumatic brain injuries, acoustic injuries, and internal injuries. (g) INFORMATION SHARING.—The executive agent designated under subsection (a) shall make available the results of relevant medical research and development projects and studies to— (1) Department of Defense programs focused on— (A) promoting the exchange of blast health hazards data with blast characterization data and blast modeling and simulation tools; and (B) encouraging the incorporation of blast hazards data into design and operational features of blast detection, mitigation, and defeat capabilities, such as comprehensive armor systems which provide blast, ballistic, and fire protection for the head, neck, ears, eyes, torso, and extremities; and (2) traumatic brain injury treatment programs to enhance the evaluation and care of members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injuries in medical facilities in the United States and in deployed medical facilities, including those outside the Department of Defense. (h) REPORTS ON BLAST INJURY MATTERS.— (1) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2008, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the efforts and programs of the Department of Defense relating to the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries. (2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) A description of the activities undertaken under this section during the two years preceding the report to improve the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries.
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