To express the sense of the Senate regarding the return of members of the Armed Forces to active service upon rehabilitation from service-related injuries.

On page 112, between the matter following line 5 and line 6, insert the following:

SEC. 574. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING RETURN OF MEMBERS TO ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE UPON REHABILITATION FROM SERVICE-RELATED INJURIES.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The generation of young men and women currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, which history will record as being among the greatest, has shown in remarkable numbers an individual resolve to recover from injuries incurred in such service and to return to active service in the Armed Forces.

(2) Since September 11, 2001, numerous brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have incurred serious combat injuries, including (as of June 2004) approximately 100 members of the Armed Forces who have been fitted with artificial limbs as a result of devastating injuries sustained in combat overseas.

(3) In cases involving combat-related injuries and other service-related injuries it is possible, as a result of advances in technology and extensive rehabilitative services, to restore to members of the Armed Forces sustaining such injuries the capability to resume the performance of active military service, including, in a few cases, the capability to participate directly in the performance of combat missions.

(b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) members of the Armed Forces who on their own initiative are highly motivated to return to active duty service following rehabilitation from injuries incurred in their service in the Armed Forces, after appropriate medical review should be given the opportunity to present their cases for continuing to serve on active duty in varied military capacities;

(2) other than appropriate medical review, there should be no barrier in policy or law to such a member having the option to return to military service on active duty; and

(3) the Secretary of Defense should develop specific protocols that expand options for such members to return to active duty service and to be retrained to perform military missions for which they are fully capable.