,i  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #edhd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #af1 #bjad  
,mr4 ,b5i%ek 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,honda1   
,mr4 ,rahall1 ,mr4 ,cony]s1 & ,mr4      
,higg9s7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee  
on ,arm$ ,s]vices1 = a p]iod to be      
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to e/abli% 9 !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs a national
 c5t] = rese>* on ! diagnosis & treatm5t
 ( heal? conditions ( ! desc5dants (    
vet]ans expos$ to toxic sub/ances dur+  
s]vice 9 ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 to e/abli% an   
advisory bo>d on exposure to toxic      
sub/ances1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort 
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,toxic  
,exposure ,rese>* ,act ( #bjad4  #b4    
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3  7#a7 ,arm$    
,=ce ,! t]m ,arm$ ,=ce means ! ,unit$   
,/ates ,army1 ,navy1 ,m>9e ,corps1 ,air 

,=ce1 or ,coa/ ,gu>d1 includ+ ! res]ve  
compon5ts !re(4  7#b7 ,desc5dant ,! t]m 
desc5dant means1 ) respect to an        
individual1 ! biological *ild1 gr&*ild1 
or great-gr&*ild ( t individual4  7#c7  
,toxic sub/ance ,! t]m toxic sub/ance   
%all h ! mean+ giv5 t t]m by ! ,secret>y
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & %all include all 
sub/ances t h be5 prov5 by pe] review$  
sci5tific rese>* or a prepond]ance (    
op9ion 9 ! m$ical community to lead to  
disabilities relat$ to ! exposure ( an  
individual to ^? sub/ances :ile s]v+ z a
 memb] ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces4  7#d7 ,vet]an ,!
 t]m vet]an has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9    
section #aja ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code4  #c4 ,national c5t] = rese>* on !
 diagnosis & treatm5t ( heal? conditions
 ( ! desc5dants ( individuals expos$ to 
toxic sub/ances dur+ s]vice 9 ! ,arm$   
,=ces  7a7 ,national c5t]  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all1 9 consultation )
 ! advisory bo>d e/abli%$ "u section #d1

 select a m$ical c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t (   
,vet]ans ,affairs to s]ve z ! national  
c5t] = rese>* on ! diagnosis & treatm5t 
( heal? conditions ( desc5dants (       
individuals expos$ to toxic sub/ances   
:ile s]v+ z memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces t are
 relat$ to t exposure 79 ?is section    
ref]r$ to z ! ,national ,c5t]74  7#b7   
,crit]ia = selection ,! ,national ,c5t] 
%all be select$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 f among
 m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t ) exp]tise 9
 diagnos+ & treat+ functional &         
/ructural bir? defects & c>+ =          
individuals expos$ to toxic sub/ances1  
or t are affiliat$ ) rese>* m$ical c5t]s
 or tea*+ hospitals ) su* exp]tise1 t   
seek to be select$ "u ?is section4  7b7 
,rese>*  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,national     
,c5t] may conduct rese>* on ! diagnosis 
& treatm5t ( heal? conditions (         
desc5dants ( individuals expos$ to toxic
 sub/ances :ile s]v+ z memb]s ( ! ,arm$ 
,=ces t are relat$ to t exposure4  7#b7 
,/udies ,9 conduct+ rese>* "u p>agraph  
7#a71 ! ,national ,c5t] %all /udy       

individuals1 at ! election ( !          
individual1 = :om ! ,secret>y has made  
"o ( ! foll[+ det]m9ations3  7,a7  7i7  
,! individual is a desc5dant ( an       
individual :o s]v$ z a memb] ( ! ,arm$  
,=ces2  7ii7 su* memb] 0 expos$ to a    
toxic sub/ance :ile s]v+ z a memb] ( !  
,arm$ ,=ces2 &  7iii7 su* desc5dant is  
afflict$ ) a heal? condition t is       
det]m9$ by ! advisory bo>d e/abli%$ 9   
section #d to be a heal? condition t    
results f ! exposure ( su* memb] to su* 
toxic sub/ance4  7,b7  7i7 ,! individual
 0 expos$ to a toxic sub/ance :ile s]v+ 
z a memb] ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces2 &  7ii7 su*  
individual is afflict$ ) a heal?        
condition t is det]m9$ by ! advisory    
bo>d e/abli%$ 9 section #d to be a heal?
 condition t results f ! exposure ( su* 
individual to su* toxic sub/ance4  7#c7 
,use ( records  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!        
,secret>y ( ,def5se or ! head ( a ,f$]al
 ag5cy may make available to ! ,secret>y
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs = review records   
held by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se1 an ,arm$ 

,=ce1 or t ,f$]al ag5cy1 z appropriate1 
t might assi/ ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs 9 mak+ ! det]m9ations requir$  
by p>agraph 7#b74  7,b7 ,me*anism ,!    
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & !       
,secret>y ( ,def5se or ! head ( !       
appropriate ,f$]al ag5cy may jo9tly     
e/abli% a me*anism = ! availability &   
review ( records by ! ,secret>y (       
,vet]ans ,affairs "u subp>agraph 7,a74  
7c7 ,social work]s ,! ,national ,c5t]   
%all employ n less ?an "o lic5s$ cl9ical
 social work] to coord9ate access (     
individuals to appropriate ,f$]al1      
,/ate1 & local social & heal?c>e        
programs & to h&le case managem5t4  7d7 
,reimbursem5t = necess>y travel & room &
 bo>d ,! ,national ,c5t] %all reimburse 
any individual p>ticipat+ 9 a /udy      
pursuant to subsection 7b71 & any p>5t1 
gu>dian1 sp\se1 or sibl+ :o accompanies 
su* individual1 = ! reasonable co/ (--  
7#a7 travel to ! ,national ,c5t] =      
p>ticipation 9 su* /udy2 &  7#b7 room & 
bo>d dur+ ! p]iod 9 :i* su* individual  

is p>ticipat+ 9 su* /udy at ! ,national 
,c5t]4  7e7 ,report ,n less frequ5tly   
?an annually1 ! ,national ,c5t] %all    
submit a report to ,congress on !       
functions ( ! ,national ,c5t] dur+ ! ye>
 prec$+ ! submittal ( ! report t        
includes a summ>y ( ! rese>* ef=ts ( !  
,national ,c5t] "u ?is section t h be5  
complet$ dur+ su* ye> & t are ongo+ z ( 
! date ( ! submittal ( ! report4  #d4   
,advisory bo>d  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] 
?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs %all e/abli% an advisory bo>d  
79 ?is section ref]r$ to z ! ,advisory  
,bo>d7--  7#a7 to advise ! ,national    
,c5t] e/abli%$ "u section #c2  7#b7 to  
det]m9e :i* heal? conditions result f   
exposure to toxic sub/ances2 &  7#c7 to 
/udy & evaluate cases ( exposure (      
curr5t & =m] memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces to  
toxic sub/ances if su* exposure is      
relat$ ! s]vice ( ! memb] 9 ! ,arm$     
,=ces4  7b7 ,memb]%ip  7#a7 ,composition
 ,n lat] ?an #abj days aft] ! date ( !  

enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all1 9 consultation )
 ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1
 ! ,director ( ! ,national ,in/itute (  
,environm5tal ,heal? ,sci5ces1 & o!r    
heads ( ,f$]al ag5cies z ! ,secret>y (  
,vet]ans ,affairs det]m9es appropriate1 
select n less ?an #ac memb]s ( !        
,advisory ,bo>d1 ( :om--  7,a7 n less   
?an ?ree %all be memb]s ( organizations 
exempt f taxation "u section            
#eja7;c77#ai7 ( ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code
 ( #aihf2  7,b7 n less ?an "o %all be-- 
7i7 a desc5dant ( an individual :o 0    
expos$ to toxic sub/ances :ile s]v+ z a 
memb] ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces & ! desc5dant has 
manife/$ a bir? defect or functional    
disability z a result ( ! exposure ( t  
individual2 or  7ii7 a p>5t1 *ild1 or   
gr&*ild ( t desc5dant2 &  7,c7          
additional memb]s may be select$ f      
among--  7i7 heal? pr(essionals1        
sci5ti/s1 & academics ) exp]tise 9--    
7,i7 bir? defects2  7,,ii7 developm5tal 
disabilities2  7,,iii7 epig5etics2      

7,,iv7 public heal?2  7,v7 ! sci5ce (   
environm5tal exposure or environm5tal   
exposure assessm5t2  7,,vi7 ! sci5ce (  
toxic sub/ances2 or  7,,vii7 m$ical &   
rese>* e?ics2  7ii7 social work]s2 &    
7iii7 advocates = vet]ans or memb]s ( ! 
,arm$ ,=ces4  7#b7 ,*airp]son ,!        
,secret>y %all select a ,*airp]son f    
among ! memb]s ( ! ,advisory ,bo>d4     
7#c7 ,t]ms ,ea* memb] ( ! ,advisory     
,bo>d %all s]ve a t]m ( two or ?ree ye>s
 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  7c7 ,duties 
7#a7 ,advisory role ) respect to !      
,national ,c5t] ,) respect to !         
,national ,c5t] e/abli%$ "u section #c1 
! ,advisory ,bo>d %all--  7,a7 ov]see & 
assess ! "w ( ! ,national ,c5t]2 &  7,b7
 advise ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
on--  7i7 issues relat$ to ! rese>*     
conduct$ at ! ,national ,c5t]2 &  7ii7 !
 p>ticul> b5efits & s]vices requir$ by !
 desc5dants ( individuals expos$ to     
toxic sub/ances :ile s]v+ z memb]s ( !  
,arm$ ,=ces4  7#b7 ,det]m9ation t heal? 
conditions result$ f toxic exposure ,!  

,advisory ,bo>d %all det]m9e :i* heal?  
conditions 9 desc5dants ( individuals   
expos$ to toxic sub/ances :ile s]v+ z   
memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces are heal?        
conditions t result$ f ! exposure ( t   
individual to t toxic sub/ance =        
purposes ( eligibility ( ^? desc5dants =
 m$ical c>e "u section #agha ( title    
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#c7 ,/udy & 
consid]ation ( toxic sub/ance exposure  
claims  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,advisory ,bo>d
 %all /udy & evaluate claims ( exposure 
to toxic sub/ances by curr5t & =m]      
memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces t is relat$ to ! 
s]vice ( ! memb] 9 ! ,arm$ ,=ces4  7,b7 
,submission ( claims ,claims ( exposure 
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 may be      
submitt$ to ! ,advisory ,bo>d 9 su* =m &
 9 su* mann] z ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs may require by any ( ! foll[+  
individuals or entities3  7i7 ,a memb] (
 ! ,arm$ ,=ces4  7ii7 ,a vet]an4  7iii7 
,a desc5dant ( a memb] ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces4 
7iv7 ,a desc5dant ( a vet]an4  7v7 ,a   
vet]ans advocacy gr\p4  7vi7 ,an (ficial

 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs )    
responsibility or exp]i5ce monitor+ !   
heal? ( curr5t & =m] memb]s ( ! ,arm$   
,=ces4  7vii7 ,an (ficial ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,def5se ) responsibility or exp]i5ce  
monitor+ ! heal? ( curr5t & =m] memb]s (
 ! ,arm$ ,=ces4  7,c7 ,consid]ation (   
claims ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft]       
receiv+ a claim submitt$ pursuant to    
subp>agraph 7,b71 ! ,advisory ,bo>d %all
 consid] ! claim & take "o ( ! foll[+   
actions3  7i7 ,if ! ,advisory ,bo>d     
det]m9es t exposure to a toxic sub/ance 
occurr$ to a degree t an individual     
expos$ to t sub/ance may h or develop a 
m$ical condition t w\ld qualify t       
individual = heal? c>e or comp5sation f 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs or !    
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se1 ! ,advisory ,bo>d  
%all submit to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs a report describ$ 9 subp>agraph
 7,d74  7ii7 ,if ! ,advisory ,bo>d      
det]m9es t fur!r consid]ation ( ! claim 
is necess>y to adequately assess ! ext5t
 ( exposure1 ! ,advisory ,bo>d %all ref]

 ! claim to ! ,national ,c5t] e/abli%$  
"u section #c to conduct fur!r rese>* & 
report its f9d+s to ! ,advisory ,bo>d4  
7iii7 ,if ! ,advisory ,bo>d det]m9es t  
exposure to a toxic sub/ance did n      
occur1 ! ,advisory ,bo>d %all report su*
 det]m9ation to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs4  7,d7 ,report ,if ! ,advisory 
,bo>d makes a det]m9ation "u subp>agraph
 7,c77i71 ! ,advisory ,bo>d %all submit 
to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs a    
report t conta9s ! foll[+3  7i7 ,evid5ce
 us$ by ! ,advisory ,bo>d 9 mak+ !      
det]m9ation "u subp>agraph 7,c77i71     
includ+1 if appropriate1 ! foll[+3  7,i7
 ,sci5tific rese>*4  7,,ii7 ,pe]-review$
 articles f sci5tific j\rnals relat+ to 
exposure to toxic sub/ances4  7,,iii7   
,m$ical rese>* conduct$ by ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs1 ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,def5se1 or ! m$ical community4  7ii7   
,recomm5dations on ! ext5t to :i* !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs or !      
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se %\ld provide heal?  
c>e1 b5efits1 or o!r comp5sation )      

respect to exposure to a toxic sub/ance 
to ! foll[+ individuals3  7,i7 ,an      
individual expos$ to a toxic sub/ance z 
det]m9$ "u subp>agraph 7,c77i74  7,,ii7 
,a desc5dant ( t individual4  7iii7     
,in=mation on co/ & attributable        
exposure1 z def9$ 9 regulations         
prescrib$ pursuant to ?is ,act4  7,e7   
,publication ( evid5ce  7i7 ,9 g5]al    
,except z provid$ 9 clause 7ii71 !      
,secret>y %all publi% 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/]
 ! evid5ce describ$ 9 clause 7i7 (      
subp>agraph 7,d7 t is submitt$ ) !      
report requir$ by t subp>agraph4  7ii7  
,exception ,su* evid5ce may n be publi%$
 if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t prev5t+ su*  
publication--  7,i7 is 9 ! national     
security int]e/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 or   
7,,ii7 protects ! privacy int]e/s (     
individuals expos$ to toxic sub/ances4  
7,f7 ,subpo5a au?ority ,! ,advisory     
,bo>d may require by subpo5a ! att5dance
 & te/imony ( witnesses necess>y to     
consid] claims ( exposure to toxic      
sub/ances "u ?is p>agraph4  7,g7        

,coop]ation ( ,f$]al ,ag5cies ,! head ( 
ea* relevant ,f$]al ag5cy1 includ+ !    
,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal          
,protection ,ag5cy1 %all coop]ate fully 
) ! ,advisory ,bo>d = purposes (        
consid]+ claims ( exposure to toxic     
sub/ances "u ?is p>agraph4  7d7 ,meet+s 
,! ,advisory ,bo>d %all meet at ! call (
 ! ,*air1 b n less frequ5tly ?an        
semiannually4  7e7 ,comp5sation  7#a7 ,9
 g5]al ,! memb]s ( ! ,advisory ,bo>d    
%all s]ve )\t comp5sation4  7#b7 ,travel
 exp5ses ,! memb]s ( ! ,advisory ,bo>d  
%all be all[$ travel exp5ses1 includ+ p]
 diem 9 lieu ( subsi/5ce1 at rates      
au?oriz$ = employees ( ag5cies "u       
sub*apt] ,i ( *apt] #eg ( title #e1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 :ile away f _!     
homes or regul> places ( bus9ess 9 !    
p]=mance ( s]vices = ! ,advisory ,bo>d4 
7f7 ,p]sonnel  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!         
,*airp]son may1 )\t reg>d to ! civil    
s]vice laws & regulations1 appo9t an    
executive director ( ! ,advisory ,bo>d1 
:o %all be a civilian employee ( !      

,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & su* o!r
 p]sonnel z may be necess>y to enable ! 
,advisory ,bo>d to p]=m its duties4     
7#b7 ,approval ,! appo9tm5t ( an        
executive director "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all
 be subject to approval by ! ,advisory  
,bo>d4  7#c7 ,comp5sation ,! ,*airp]son 
may fix ! comp5sation ( ! executive     
director & o!r p]sonnel )\t reg>d to !  
provisions ( *apt] #ea & sub*apt] ,,iii 
( *apt] #ec ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code1 except t ! rate ( pay = !        
executive director & o!r p]sonnel may n 
exce$ ! rate payable = level ,v ( !     
,executive ,s*$ule "u section #ecaf (   
su* title4  #e4 ,declassification by    
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se ( c]ta9 incid5ts (  
exposure ( memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces to    
toxic sub/ances  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!        
,secret>y ( ,def5se may declassify      
docum5ts relat$ to any kn[n incid5t 9   
:i* n less ?an #ajj memb]s ( ! ,arm$    
,=ces 7 expos$ to a toxic sub/ance t    
result$ 9 at lea/ "o case ( a disability
 t a memb] ( ! m$ical pr(ession has     

det]m9$ to be associat$ ) t toxic       
sub/ance4  7b7 ,limitation ,!           
declassification au?oriz$ by subsection 
7a7 %all be limit$ to in=mation necess>y
 = an individual :o 0 pot5tially expos$ 
to a toxic sub/ance to det]m9e ! foll[+3
  7#a7 ,:e!r t individual 0 expos$ to t 
toxic sub/ance4  7#b7 ,! pot5tial       
sev]ity ( ! exposure ( t individual to t
 toxic sub/ance4  7#c7 ,any pot5tial    
heal? conditions t may h result$ f      
exposure to t toxic sub/ance4  7c7      
,exception ,! ,secret>y ( ,def5se is n  
requir$ to declassify docum5ts if !     
,secret>y det]m9es t declassification ( 
^? docum5ts w\ld mat]ially & imm$iately 
?reat5 ! security ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4    
#f4 ,national outrea* campaign on       
pot5tial long-t]m heal? effects (       
exposure to toxic sub/ances by memb]s ( 
! ,arm$ ,=ces & _! desc5dants ,!        
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 !        
,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1 & 
! ,secret>y ( ,def5se %all jo9tly       
conduct a national outrea* & education  

campaign direct$ t[>ds memb]s ( ! ,arm$ 
,=ces1 vet]ans1 & _! family memb]s to   
communicate ! foll[+ in=mation3  7#a7   
,in=mation on--  7,a7 incid5ts (        
exposure ( memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces to    
toxic sub/ances2  7,b7 heal? conditions 
result+ f su* exposure2 &  7,c7 !       
pot5tial long-t]m effects ( su* exposure
 on ! individuals expos$ to ^? sub/ances
 & ! desc5dants ( ^? individuals4  7#b7 
,in=mation on ! ,national ,c5t] e/abli%$
 "u section #c ( ?is ,act = individuals 
eligible to p>ticipate 9 /udies conduct$
 at ! ,national ,c5t]4