123STA T . 23 96PUBLIC LA W 111 –84—O CT. 28 , 2 0 09 (4)Ther e sp e ctiv ec u rre n t a n d pr oj ected f uture annua l e x penditures by the D epart m ent of Defense and the Depart - ment of V eterans A ffairs for the treatment and rehabilitation of post-traumatic stress disorder . ( 5 ) A description of g ender-specific and racial and ethnic group-specific mental health treatment and services available for members of the Armed F orces , including — (A) the availability of such treatment and services
( B ) the access to such treatment and services; ( C ) the need for such treatment and services; and (D) the efficacy and ade q uacy of such treatment and services. ( 6 ) A description of areas for expanded future research w ith respect to post-traumatic stress disorder. ( 7 ) Any other matters the S ecretary of Defense and Sec- retary of Veterans Affairs consider relevant with respect to the purposes of obtaining a comprehensive scientific assessment of— (A) the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among members of the Armed Forces and veterans; (B) the availability and effectiveness of various treat- ment programs and methods available for post-traumatic stress disorder; (C) the current and future projected costs of such treat- ment programs and methods; or (D) additional areas of needed research. ( 8 ) Any other matters the entity conducting the study con- siders relevant. (c) REPORTS .— ( 1 ) INI TI AL REPORT.— N ot later than J uly 1, 20 12, the entity conducting the study required by subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the appropriate committees a report on the study. (2) RESPONSE.—Not later than January 1, 201 3 , the Sec- retary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each submit to the appropriate committees a response to the report submitted under paragraph (1), including any rec- ommendations on the treatment of post-traumatic stress dis- order based on such report. (d) U P D ATED REPORTS RE QU IRED.— (1) UPDATED REPORT.—Not later than July 1, 2014, the entity conducting the study required by subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the appropriate committees an update of the report required by subsection (c). (2) UPDATED RESPONSE.—Not later than January 1, 2015, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each submit to the appropriate committees a response to the updated report submitted under paragraph (1), including any recommendations on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder based on such updated report. (e) APPROPRIATE CO M MITTEES DE F INED.—In this section, the term ‘ ‘appropriate committees ’ ’ means— (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the Committee on E nergy and Commerce of the H ouse of Represent- atives; and
