To provide meal and telephone benefits for members of the Armed Forces who are recuperating from injuries incurred on active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

1. Adds SEC. __. BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES RECUPERATING FROM INJURIES INCURRED IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES RECUPERATING FROM INJURIES INCURRED IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

   Inserted: (a) Prohibition on Charges for Meals.--

   Inserted: (1) Prohibition.--A member of the Armed Forces entitled to a basic allowance for subsistence under section 402 of title 37, United States Code, who is undergoing medical recuperation or therapy, or is otherwise in the status of "medical hold", in a military treatment facility for an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated while on active duty in the Armed Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom shall not, during any month in which so entitled, be required to pay any charge for meals provided such member by the military treatment facility.

   Inserted: (2) Effective date.--The limitation in paragraph (1) shall take effect on January 1, 2005, and shall apply with respect to meals provided members of the Armed Forces as described in that paragraph on or after that date.

   Inserted: (b) Telephone Benefits.--

   Inserted: (1) Provision of access to telephone service.--The Secretary of Defense shall provide each member of the Armed Forces who is undergoing in any month medical recuperation or therapy, or is otherwise in the status of "medical hold", in a military treatment facility for an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated while on active duty in the Armed Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom access to telephone service at or through such military treatment facility in an amount for such month equivalent to the amount specified in paragraph (2).

   Inserted: (2) Monthly amount of access.--The amount of access to telephone service provided a member of the Armed Forces under paragraph (1) in a month shall be the number of calling minutes having a value equivalent to $40.

   Inserted: (3) Eligibility at any time during month.--A member of the Armed Forces who is eligible for the provision of telephone service under this subsection at any time during a month shall be provided access to such service during such month in accordance with that paragraph, regardless of the date of the month on which the member first becomes eligible for the provision of telephone service under this subsection.

   Inserted: (4) Use of existing resources.--In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall maximize the use of existing Department of Defense telecommunications programs and capabilities, private organizations, or other private entities offering free or reduced-cost telecommunications services.

   Inserted: (5) Commencement.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--This subsection shall take effect on the first day of the first month beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

   Inserted: (B) Expedited provision of access.--The Secretary shall commence the provision of access to telephone service under this subsection as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act.

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   Inserted: (6) Termination.--The Secretary shall cease the provision of access to telephone service under this subsection on the date this is 60 days after the later of--

   Inserted: (A) the date, as determined by the Secretary, on which Operation Enduring Freedom terminates; or

   Inserted: (B) the date, as so determined, on which Operation Iraqi Freedom terminates.

   The amendment doesn't say where this goes; the clerk decides.

   Original wording

   At the appropriate place, insert the following:

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As printed