,i  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #digg  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,june #bf1 #bjad ,mr4 
,bilirakis 7= himself & ,mr4 ,ruiz7     
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a 
,,bill  ,to e/abli% a commission to     
exam9e ! evid5ce-bas$ !rapy treatm5t    
model us$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs = treat+ m5tal illnesses (     
vet]ans & ! pot5tial b5efits (          
incorporat+ complem5t>y alt]native      
treatm5ts available 9 non-,dep>tm5t (   
,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical facilities )9 !
 community4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act  
may be cit$ z ! ,creat+ ,options =      
,vet]ans ,exp$it$ ,recov]y ,act or !    
,,cov] ,act4  #b4 ,e/abli%m5t & duties  
7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!re is e/abli%$ !      
,vet]ans ,exp$it$ ,recov]y ,commission  
79 ?is ,act ref]r$ to z ! ,commission74 
7b7 ,duties ,! ,commission %all p]=m !  
foll[+ duties3  7#a7 ,exam9e ! efficacy 
( ! evid5ce-bas$ !rapy model us$ by !   
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs = treat+  

m5tal heal? illnesses ( vet]ans &       
id5tify areas to improve wellness-bas$  
outcomes4  7#b7 ,conduct a pati5t-c5t]$ 
survey )9 ea* ( ! ,vet]ans ,integrat$   
,s]vice ,networks to exam9e--  7,a7 !   
exp]i5ce ( vet]ans ) ! ,dep>tm5t (      
,vet]ans ,affairs :5 seek+ m$ical       
assi/ance = m5tal heal? issues ?r\gh !  
heal? c>e sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t2  7,b7 !  
exp]i5ce ( vet]ans ) non-,dep>tm5t      
m$ical facilities & heal? pr(essionals =
 treat+ m5tal heal? issues2  7,c7 !     
pref]5ces ( vet]ans reg>d+ available    
treatm5ts = m5tal heal? issues & :i*    
me?ods ! vet]ans believe to be mo/      
effective2  7,d7 ! exp]i5ce1 if any1 (  
vet]ans ) respect to ! complem5t>y      
alt]native treatm5t !rapies describ$ 9  
subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,i7 9 p>agraph 
7#c72  7,e7 ! preval5ce ( prescrib+     
prescription m$ication among vet]ans    
seek+ treatm5t ?r\gh ! heal? c>e sy/em (
 ! ,dep>tm5t z rem$ies = address+ m5tal 
heal? issues2 &  7,f7 ! outrea* ef=ts ( 
! ,secret>y reg>d+ ! availability (     

b5efits & treatm5ts = vet]ans = address+
 m5tal heal? issues1 includ+ by id5tify+
 ways to r$uce b>ri]s to & gaps 9 su*   
b5efits & treatm5ts4  7#c7 ,exam9e      
available rese>* on complem5t>y         
alt]native treatm5t !rapies = m5tal     
heal? issues & id5tify :at b5efits c\ld 
be made ) ! inclusion ( su* treatm5ts = 
vet]ans1 includ+ ) respect to--  7,a7   
music !rapy2  7,b7 equ9e !rapy2  7,c7   
tra9+ & c>+ = s]vice dogs2  7,d7 yoga   
!rapy2  7,e7 acupuncture !rapy2  7,f7   
m$itation !rapy2  7,g7 outdoor sports   
!rapy2  7,h7 hyp]b>ic oxyg5 !rapy2  7,i7
 accel]at$ resolution !rapy2 &  7,j7 o!r
 !rapies ! ,commission det]m9es         
appropriate4  7#d7 ,/udy ! pot5tial     
increase 9 ! approval by ! ,secret>y (  
claims = comp5sation relat+ to m5tal    
heal? issues = vet]ans :o s]v$ ,op]ation
 ,endur+ ,fre$om1 ,op]ation ,iraqi      
,fre$om1 & ,op]ation ,new ,dawn4  #c4   
,memb]%ip  7a7 ,numb] & appo9tm5t  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,! ,commission %all be compos$ 
( #aj memb]s1 appo9t$ z foll[s3  7,a7   

,two memb]s appo9t$ by ! ,speak] ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 at lea/ "o (   
:om %all be a vet]an4  7,b7 ,two memb]s 
appo9t$ by ! ,m9ority ,lead] ( ! ,h\se (
 ,repres5tatives1 at lea/ "o ( :om %all 
be a vet]an4  7,c7 ,two memb]s appo9t$  
by ! ,majority ,lead] ( ! ,s5ate1 at    
lea/ "o ( :om %all be a vet]an4  7,d7   
,two memb]s appo9t$ by ! ,m9ority ,lead]
 ( ! ,s5ate1 at lea/ "o ( :om %all be a 
vet]an4  7,e7 ,two memb]s appo9t$ by !  
,presid5t1 at lea/ "o ( :om %all be a   
vet]an4  7#b7 ,qualifications ,memb]s ( 
! ,commission %all be--  7,a7           
individuals :o are ( recogniz$ /&+ &    
di/9ction )9 ! m$ical community ) a     
backgr\nd 9 treat+ m5tal heal?2 &  7,b7 
individuals ) exp]i5ce work+ ) ! milit>y
 & vet]an population4  7b7 ,*airman ,!  
,presid5t %all designate a memb] ( !    
,commission to be ! *airman4  7c7 ,p]iod
 ( ,appo9tm5t ,memb]s ( ! ,commission   
%all be appo9t$ = ! life ( !            
,commission4  7d7 ,vacancy ,a vacancy 9 
! ,commission %all be fill$ 9 ! mann] 9 

:i* ! orig9al appo9tm5t 0 made4  7e7    
,appo9tm5t ,deadl9e ,! appo9tm5t (      
memb]s ( ! ,commission 9 ?is section    
%all be made n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! 
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #d4 ,p[]s
 ( ,commission  7a7 ,meet+  7#a7        
,initial meet+ ,! ,commission %all hold 
its fir/ meet+ n lat] ?an #cj days aft] 
a majority ( memb]s are appo9t$ to !    
,commission4  7#b7 ,meet+ ,! ,commission
 %all regul>ly meet at ! call ( !       
,*airman4 ,su* meet+s may be c>ri$ out  
?r\gh ! use ( telephonic or o!r         
appropriate telecommunication te*nology 
if ! ,commission det]m9es t su*         
te*nology w all[ ! memb]s to communicate
 simultane\sly4  7b7 ,he>+ ,!           
,commission may hold su* he>+s1 sit &   
act at su* times & places1 take su*     
te/imony1 & receive evid5ce z !         
,commission consid]s advisable to c>ry  
out ! responsibilities ( ! ,commission4 
7c7 ,in=mation f ,f$]al ,ag5cies ,!     
,commission may secure directly f any   
dep>tm5t or ag5cy ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t  

su* in=mation z ! ,commission consid]s  
necess>y to c>ry out ! duties ( !       
,commission4  7d7 ,in=mation f          
nongov]nm5tal organizations ,9 c>ry+ out
 section #b7;b71 ! ,commission may seek 
guidance ?r\gh consultation )           
f\ndations1 vet]ans s]vice              
organizations1 nonpr(it gr\ps1 fai?-bas$
 organizations1 private & public        
in/itutions ( high] education1 & o!r    
organizations z ! ,commission det]m9es  
appropriate4  7e7 ,commission ,records  
,! ,commission %all keep an accurate &  
complete record ( ! actions & meet+s ( !
 ,commission4 ,su* record %all be made  
available = public inspection & !       
,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates may
 audit & exam9e su* record4  7f7        
,p]sonnel ,matt]s ,^u reque/ ( ! *airman
 ( ! ,commission1 ! head ( any dep>tm5t 
or ag5cy ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t may       
detail1 on a reimbursable basis1 any    
p]sonnel ( t dep>tm5t or ag5cy to assi/ 
! ,commission 9 c>ry+ out ! duties ( !  
,commission4  7g7 ,comp5sation (        

,memb]s2 ,travel ,exp5ses ,ea* memb]    
%all s]ve )\t pay1 except t ea* memb]   
%all receive travel exp5ses to p]=m !   
duties ( ! ,commission "u section #b7;b7
 ( ?is ,act1 includ+ p] diem 9 lieu (   
subsi/5ce1 at rates au?oriz$ "u sub*apt]
 ,i ( *apt] #eg ( title #e1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code4  7h7 ,/aff ,! ,*airman1 9 
accordance ) rules agre$ ^u by !        
,commission1 may appo9t & fix !         
comp5sation ( a /aff director & su* o!r 
p]sonnel z may be necess>y to enable !  
,commission to c>ry out its functions1  
)\t reg>d to ! provisions ( title #e1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 gov]n+ appo9tm5ts 9
 ! competitive s]vice1 )\t reg>d to !   
provision ( *apt] #ea & sub*apt] ,,iii (
 *apt] #ec ( su* title relat+ to        
classification & ,g5]al ,s*$ule pay     
rates1 except t no rate ( pay fix$ "u   
?is subsection may exce$ ! equival5t ( t
 payable = a position at a level ,,iv ( 
! ,executive ,s*$ule "u section #ecaf ( 
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7i7     
,p]sonnel z ,f$]al employees  7#a7 ,9   

g5]al ,! executive director & any       
p]sonnel ( ! ,commission are employees  
"u section #baje ( title #e1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code1 = purpose ( *apt]s #fc1   
#ha1 #hc1 #hd1 #he1 #hg1 #hi1 & #ij (   
su* title4  7#b7 ,memb]s ( ! ,commission
 ,p>agraph 7#a7 %all n be con/ru$ to    
apply to memb]s ( ! ,commission4  7j7   
,contract+ ,! ,commission may1 to su*   
ext5t & 9 su* am\nts z are provid$ 9    
appropriations ,acts1 ent] into         
contracts to enable ! ,commission to    
dis*>ge ! duties ( ! ,commission "u ?is 
,act4  7k7 ,exp]t & ,consultant ,s]vice 
,! ,commission may procure ! s]vices (  
exp]ts & consultants 9 accordance )     
section #caji ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code1 at rates n to exce$ ! daily rate 
paid to a p]son occupy+ a position at   
level ,,iv ( ! ,executive ,s*$ule "u    
section #ecae ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code4  7l7 ,po/al ,s]vice ,!           
,commission may use ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
mails 9 ! same mann] & "u ! same        
conditions z dep>tm5ts & ag5cies ( !    

,unit$ ,/ates4  7m7 ,physical           
,facilities & ,equipm5t ,^u ! reque/ ( !
 ,commission1 ! ,adm9i/rator ( ,g5]al   
,s]vices %all provide to ! ,commission1 
on a reimbursable basis1 ! adm9i/rative 
support s]vices necess>y = ! ,commission
 to c>ry out its responsibilities "u ?is
 ,act4 ,^! adm9i/rative s]vices may     
include human res\rce managem5t1 budget1
 leas+1 acc\nt+1 & payroll s]vices4  #e4
 ,report  7a7 ,int]im ,reports  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! date  
on :i* ! ,commission fir/ meets1 & ea*  
#cj-;day p]iod !reaft] end+ on ! date on
 :i* ! ,commission submits ! f9al report
 "u subsection 7b71 ! ,commission %all  
submit to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & !
 ,s5ate & ! ,presid5t a report detail+ !
 level ( coop]ation ! ,secret>y (       
,vet]ans ,affairs 7& ! heads ( o!r      
dep>tm5ts or ag5cies ( ! ,f$]al         
,gov]nm5t7 has provid$ to ! ,commission4
  7#b7 ,o!r reports ,9 c>ry+ out !      
duties pursuant to section #b7;b71 at   

times t ! ,commission det]m9es          
appropriate1 ! ,commission %all submit  
to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs (
 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate & 
any o!r appropriate entities an int]im  
report ) respect to ! f9d+s id5tifi$ by 
! ,commission4  7b7 ,f9al report ,n lat]
 ?an #ah mon?s aft] ! fir/ meet+ ( !    
,commission1 ! ,commission %all submit  
to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs (
 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate1 !
 ,presid5t1 & ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs a f9al report on ! f9d+s ( !   
,commission4 ,su* report %all include ! 
foll[+3  7#a7 ,recomm5dations to        
implem5t 9 a feasible1 timely1 &        
co/-effective mann] ! solutions &       
rem$ies id5tifi$ )9 ! f9d+s ( !         
,commission pursuant to section #b7;b74 
7#b7 ,an analysis ( ! evid5ce-bas$ !rapy
 model us$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs = treat+ vet]ans ) m5tal heal? 
c>e issues1 & an exam9ation ( !         
preval5ce & efficacy ( prescription     
drugs z a means = treatm5t4  7#c7 ,!    

f9d+s ( ! pati5t-c5t]$ survey conduct$  
)9 ea* ( ! ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice  
,networks pursuant to section           
#b7;b77#b74  7#d7 ,an exam9ation (      
complem5t>y alt]native treatm5ts        
describ$ 9 section #b7;b77#c7 & !       
pot5tial b5efits ( incorporat+ su*      
treatm5ts 9 ! !rapy model us$ by !      
,secret>y = treat+ vet]ans ) m5tal heal?
 issues4  7c7 ,plan ,n lat] ?an #ij days
 aft] ! date on :i* ! ,commission       
submits ! f9al report "u subsection 7b71
 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all   
submit to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & !
 ,s5ate a report on ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,an 
action plan = implem5t+ ! recomm5dations
 e/abli%$ by ! ,commission on su*       
solutions & rem$ies = improv+           
wellness-bas$ outcomes = vet]ans ) m5tal
 heal? c>e issues4  7#b7 ,a feasible    
timeframe on :5 complem5t>y alt]native  
treatm5ts describ$ 9 section #b7;b77#c7 
c be implem5t$ ,dep>tm5t-wide4  7#c7 ,if
 ! ,secret>y det]m9es t implem5t+ !     

recomm5dations e/abli%$ by !            
,commission1 includ+ ) respect to su*   
complem5t>y alt]native treatm5ts1 is n  
appropriate or feasible1 a ju/ification 
= su* det]m9ation & an alt]native       
solution to improve ! efficacy ( ! !rapy
 model us$ by ! ,secret>y = treat+      
vet]ans ) m5tal heal? issues4  #f4      
,t]m9ation ( ,commission ,! ,commission 
%all t]m9ate #cj days aft] ! ,commission
 submits ! f9al report "u section       
#e7;b74