S.Amdt. 1857

SA 1857. Mr. JEFFORDS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 2528, an act making appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 93, between lines 20 and 21, insert the following:

SEC. 222. CLINICAL TRAINING AND PROTOCOLS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--

(1) the Iraq War Clinician Guide has tremendous value; and

(2) the Secretary of Defense and the National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder should continue to work together to ensure that the mental health care needs of servicemembers and veterans are met.

(b) Collaboration.--The National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder shall collaborate with the Secretary of Defense--

(1) to enhance the clinical skills of military clinicians through training, treatment protocols, web-based interventions, and the development of evidence-based interventions; and

(2) to promote pre-deployment resilience and post-deployment readjustment among servicemembers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

(c) Training.--The National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder shall work with the Secretary of Defense to ensure that clinicians in the Department of Defense are provided with the training and protocols developed pursuant to subsection (b)(1).