To improve the authority for reimbursement for protective, safety, and health equipment purchased for members of the Armed Forces deployed in Iraq and Central Asia.

1. Adds SEC. __. REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN PROTECTIVE, SAFETY, OR HEALTH EQUIPMENT PURCHASED BY OR FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR DEPLOYMENT IN OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND CENTRAL ASIA at the end of subtitle C of title III

   Adds a section

   In S. 1042 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (d) Ethanol Fuel Defined.--In this section, the term "ethanol fuel" means fuel that is 85 percent ethyl alcohol.

   Inserted: SEC. __. REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN PROTECTIVE, SAFETY, OR HEALTH EQUIPMENT PURCHASED BY OR FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR DEPLOYMENT IN OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND CENTRAL ASIA.

   Inserted: (a) Reimbursement Required.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Subject to subsections (d) and (e), the Secretary of Defense shall reimburse a member of the Armed Forces, or a person or entity referred to in paragraph (2), for the cost (including shipping cost) of any protective, safety, or health equipment that was purchased by such member, or such person or entity on behalf of such member, before or during the deployment of such member in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom for the use of such member in connection with such operation if the unit commander of such member certifies that such equipment was critical to the protection, safety, or health of such member.

   Inserted: (2) Covered persons and entities.--A person or entity referred to in this paragraph is a family member or relative of a member of the Armed Forces, a non-profit organization, or a community group.

   Inserted: (3) Regulations not required for reimbursement.--Reimbursements may be made under this subsection in advance of the promulgation by the Secretary of Defense of regulations, if any, relating to the administration of this section.

   Inserted: (b) Protective Equipment Reimbursement Fund.--

   Inserted: (1) Establishment.--There is hereby established an account to be known as the "Protective Equipment Reimbursement Fund" (in this subsection referred to as the "Fund").

   Inserted: (2) Elements.--The Fund shall consist of amounts deposited in the Fund from amounts available for the Fund under subsection (g).

   Inserted: (3) Availability.--Amounts in the Fund shall be available directly to the unit commanders of members of the Armed Forces for the making of reimbursements for protective, safety, and health equipment under subsection (a).

   Inserted: (4) Documentation.--Each person seeking reimbursement under subsection (a) for protective, safety, or health equipment purchased by or on behalf of a member of the Armed Forces shall submit to the unit commander of such member such documentation as is necessary to establish each of the following:

   Inserted: (A) The nature of such equipment, including whether or not such equipment qualifies as protective, safety, or health equipment under subsection (c).

   Inserted: (B) The cost of such equipment.

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   Inserted: (c) Covered Protective, Safety, and Health Equipment.--Protective, safety, and health equipment for which reimbursement shall be made under subsection (a) shall include personal body armor, collective armor or protective equipment (including armor or protective equipment for high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicles), and items provided through the Rapid Fielding Initiative of the Army, or equivalent programs of the other Armed Forces, such as the advanced (on-the-move) hydration system, the advanced combat helmet, the close combat optics system, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a gun scope, and a soldier intercommunication device.

   Inserted: (d) Limitation Regarding Amount of Reimbursement.--The amount of reimbursement provided under subsection (a) per item of protective, safety, and health equipment purchased by or on behalf of any given member of the Armed Forces may not exceed the lesser of--

   Inserted: (1) the cost of such equipment (including shipping cost); or

   Inserted: (2) $1,100.

   Inserted: (e) Limitation on Date of Purchase.--Reimbursement may be made under subsection (a) only for protective, safety, and health equipment purchased before October 1, 2006.

   Inserted: (f) Ownership of Equipment.--The Secretary shall identify the circumstances, if any, under which the United States shall assume title or ownership of protective, safety, or health equipment for which reimbursement is provided under subsection (a).

   Inserted: (g) Funding.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), amounts for reimbursements under subsection (a) shall be derived from any amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act.

   Inserted: (2) Exception.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act and available for the procurement of equipment for members of the Armed Forces deployed, or to be deployed, to Iraq or Afghanistan may not be utilized for reimbursements under subsection (a).

   Inserted: (h) Repeal of Superseded Authority.--Section 351 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375; 118. Stat. 1857) is repealed.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle C of title III, add the following:

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As printed