To require a study on the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to address combat stress in women veterans.

SA 2775. Mr. WARNER (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Shaheen, Mrs.
Hagan, and Mrs. Boxer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 2730 proposed by Mr. Johnson (for himself and Mrs.
Hutchison) to the bill H.R. 3082, making appropriations for military
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title II, add the following:
Sec. 229. (a) Study on Capacity of the Department of
Veterans Affairs To Address Combat Stress in Women
Veterans.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out
a study to assess the capacity of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to address combat stress in women veterans.
(b) Elements.--In carrying out the study, the Secretary
shall consider the following:
(1) Whether women veterans are properly evaluated by the
Department for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other combat stress.
(2) Whether women veterans with combat stress are properly
assigned disability ratings by the Department for purposes of
veterans disability benefits for combat stress.
(3) Whether the staffing and training of mental health
professionals in the Department is adequate to properly
identify and treat post-traumatic stress disorder in women
veterans.
(4) Such other matters as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings
of the Secretary as a result of the study, together with such
recommendations for legislative or administrative action as
the Secretary considers appropriate in light of such
findings.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(A) the Committees on Appropriations and Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committees on Appropriations and Veterans' Affairs
of the House of Representatives.
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