To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs a center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions relating to exposure to burn pits.

SA 2960. Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 5895, making
appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title II of division C, add the following:

SEC. 2__. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN
PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, MITIGATION, TREATMENT,
AND REHABILITATION OF HEALTH CONDITIONS
RELATING TO EXPOSURE TO BURN PITS AND OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES.

(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:

``Sec. 7330D. Center of excellence in prevention, diagnosis,
mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health
conditions relating to exposure to burn pits and other
environmental exposures

``(a) Establishment.--(1) The Secretary shall establish
within the Department a center of excellence in the
prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and
rehabilitation of health conditions relating to exposure to
burn pits and other environmental exposures to carry out the
responsibilities specified in subsection (d).
``(2) The Secretary shall establish the center of
excellence under paragraph (1) through the use of--
``(A) the directives and policies of the Department in
effect as of the date of the enactment of this section;
``(B) the recommendations of the Comptroller General of the
United States and Inspector General of the Department in
effect as of such date; and
``(C) guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense under
section 313 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239; 10 U.S.C. 1074 note).
``(b) Selection of Site.--In selecting the site for the
center of excellence established under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall consider entities that--
``(1) are equipped with the specialized equipment needed to
study, diagnose, and treat health conditions relating to
exposure to burn pits and other environmental exposures;
``(2) have a track record of publishing information
relating to post-deployment health exposures among veterans
who served in the Armed Forces in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom;
``(3) have access to animal models and in vitro models of
dust immunology and lung injury consistent with the injuries
of members of the Armed Forces who served in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; and
``(4) have expertise in allergy, immunology, and pulmonary
diseases.
``(c) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
center of excellence collaborates, to the maximum extent
practicable, with the Secretary of Defense, institutions of
higher education, and other appropriate public and private
entities (including international entities) to carry out the
responsibilities specified in subsection (d).
``(d) Responsibilities.--The center of excellence shall
have the following responsibilities:
``(1) To provide for the development, testing, and
dissemination within the Department of best practices for the
treatment of health conditions relating to exposure to burn
pits and other environmental exposures.
``(2) To provide guidance for the health systems of the
Department and the Department of Defense in determining the
personnel required to provide quality health care for members
of the Armed Forces and veterans with health conditions
relating to exposure to burn pits and other environmental
exposures.
``(3) To establish, implement, and oversee a comprehensive
program to train health professionals of the Department and
the Department of Defense in the treatment of health
conditions relating to exposure to burn pits and other
environmental exposures.
``(4) To facilitate advancements in the study of the short-
term and long-term effects of exposure to burn pits and other
environmental exposures.
``(5) To disseminate within medical facilities of the
Department best practices for training health professionals
with respect to health conditions relating to exposure to
burn pits and other environmental exposures.
``(6) To conduct basic science and translational research
on health conditions relating to exposure to burn pits and
other environmental exposures for the purposes of
understanding the etiology of such conditions and developing
preventive interventions and new treatments.
``(7) To provide medical treatment to veterans diagnosed
with medical conditions specific to exposure to burn pits and
other environmental exposures.
``(e) Use of Burn Pits Registry Data.--In carrying out its
responsibilities under subsection (d), the center of
excellence shall have access to and make use of the data
accumulated by the burn pits registry established under
section 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans'
Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38
U.S.C. 527 note).
``(f) Funding.--The Secretary shall carry out this section
using amounts appropriated to the Department for such
purpose.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `burn pit' means an area of land located in
Afghanistan or Iraq that--
``(A) is designated by the Secretary of Defense to be used
for disposing solid waste by burning in the outdoor air; and
``(B) does not contain a commercially manufactured
incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and
manufactured for the burning of solid waste.
``(2) The term `other environmental exposures' means
exposure to environmental hazards, including burn pits, dust
or sand, hazardous materials, and waste at any site in
Afghanistan or Iraq that emits smoke containing pollutants
present in the environment or smoke from fires or
explosions.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 73 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 7330C the following new
item:

``7330D. Center of excellence in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation,
treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions
relating to exposure to burn pits and other environmental
exposures.''.
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