S.Amdt. 2060

1. Adds SEC. 703. PROGRAM OF RESEARCH ON DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ILLNESSES INCURRED IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR at the end of title VII

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 703. PROGRAM OF RESEARCH ON DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ILLNESSES INCURRED IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR.

   Inserted: (a) Program Required.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall carry out, as part of its Medical Research Program, a program of research on the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses incurred by members of the Armed Forces during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations in the early 1990s during the Persian Gulf War.

   Inserted: (2) Designation.--The program required by this section shall be known as the "Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Research Program".

   Inserted: (3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program shall be to develop diagnostic markers and treatments for the complex of symptoms commonly known as "Gulf War Illnesses (GWI)", including widespread pain, cognitive impairment, and persistent fatigue in conjunction with diverse other symptoms and abnormalities, that are associated with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations in the early 1990s during the Persian Gulf War.

   Inserted: (b) Program Activities.--Activities under the program required by this section shall include the following:

   Inserted: (1) Research activities on the chronic effects of exposures to neurotoxins associated with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations in the early 1990s during the Persian Gulf War, body functions underlying illnesses associated with exposure to such neurotoxins, and the identification of treatments for such illnesses.

   Inserted: (2) Pilot studies of treatments for the complex of symptoms described in subsection (a)(3) and comprehensive clinical trials of such treatments that have demonstrated effectiveness in previous past pilot studies, in the conduct of which treatments and trials--

   Inserted: (A) highest priority shall be afforded to studies and trials to identify and develop effective biological markers and treatments for such complex of symptoms;

   Inserted: (B) secondary priority shall be afforded to studies and trials that identify biological mechanisms underlying such complex of symptoms and can lead to the identification and development of such markers; and treatments; and

   Inserted: (C) no study shall be conducted on a psychiatric or psychological basis for such complex of symptoms (as is consistent with current research findings).

   Inserted: (c) Solicitation and Evaluation of Program Activities.--

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   Inserted: (1) Solicitation.--In providing for the conduct of activities under the program required by this section, the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall distribute broad solicitations and announcements of requests for proposals for such activities among governmental and non-governmental entities.

   Inserted: (2) Peer review.--In selecting activities to be conducted under the program, the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall utilize a peer review process for the identification of activities having the most substantial scientific merit.

   Inserted: (3) Utilization of expert services.--In preparing solicitations and announcements under paragraph (1), and in conducting peer review under paragraph (2), the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall, to the extent practicable, utilize the services of individuals with recognized expertise in the complex of symptoms described in subsection (a)(3).

   Inserted: (d) Consultation.--The Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall carry out the program required by this section in close consultation with the advisory committee established under section 707(b) of the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act (title VII of Public Law 102-585; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).

   Inserted: (e) Funding.--

   Inserted: (1) Additional amount for defense health program.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 1403 for Defense Health Program is hereby increased by $30,000,000.

   Inserted: (2) Availability.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 1403 for Defense Health Program, as increased by paragraph (1), $30,000,000 may be available for the program required by this section.

   Original wording

   At the end of title VII, add the following:

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As printed