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Title V — Strengthening Federal research on toxic exposures

S. 3003 · 117th Congress · Oct 19, 2021 · Lineage

V Strengthening Federal research on toxic exposures

Sec. 501 Coordination by Department of Veterans Affairs of toxic exposure research

(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:

“7330D. Coordination of toxic exposure research

“(a) In general—The Secretary shall coordinate all research activities undertaken or funded by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government on the health consequences of toxic exposures experienced during service in the Armed Forces.

“(b) Strategic plan—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish a strategic plan, to be known as the “Toxic Exposure Research Strategic Plan”, to ensure that the research activities described in such subsection are collaborative, transparent, and highly coordinated.

“(c) Report—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops of War Act of 2021, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on all research activities described in subsection (a) undertaken during the year covered by the report.”

(b)
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330C the following new item:

Sec. 502 Collection, analysis, and report on treatment of veterans for medical conditions related to toxic exposure

(a)
In general— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall compile and analyze, on a continuous basis, all clinical data that—
(1)
is obtained by the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care furnished under section 1710(a)(2)(F) of title 38, United States Code; and
(2)
is likely to be scientifically useful in determining the association, if any, between the medical condition of a veteran and a toxic exposure.
(b)
Consent of patients— Compilation and analysis by the Secretary of clinical data of a veteran under subsection (a) shall be conducted, and such data shall be used, consistent with the informed consent of the veteran and in compliance with all applicable Federal law.
(c)
Annual report— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing—
(1)
the data compiled under subsection (a);
(2)
an analysis of such data;
(3)
a description of the types and incidences of medical conditions identified by the Department under such subsection;
(4)
the explanation of the Secretary for the incidence of such medical conditions and other explanations for the incidence of such conditions as the Secretary considers reasonable; and
(5)
the views of the Secretary on the scientific validity of drawing conclusions from the incidence of such medical conditions, as evidenced by the data compiled under subsection (a), regarding any association between such conditions and a toxic exposure.
(d)
Toxic exposure defined— In this section, the term toxic exposure has the meaning given that term in section 101(37) of title 38, United States Code.

Sec. 503 Studies relating to veterans who served in Southwest Asia

(a)
Analysis—
(1)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct an updated analysis of total and respiratory disease mortality in covered veterans.
(2)
Elements— The analysis required by paragraph (1) shall include, to the extent practicable, the following:
(A)
Metrics of airborne exposures.
(B)
The location and timing of deployments.
(C)
The military occupational specialty.
(D)
The Armed Force in which the veteran served.
(E)
Pre-existing health status, including with respect to asthma.
(F)
Relevant personal information, including cigarette and e-cigarette smoking history, diet, sex, gender, age, race, and ethnicity.
(b)
Epidemiological study— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct an epidemiological study of covered veterans that uses the following:
(1)
Improved spatio-temporal estimates of ambient air pollution exposures using advances in retrospective exposure assessment.
(2)
Detailed information on the study subjects obtained through medical records, administrative data, and other existing sources, that include—
(A)
personal characteristics, including cigarette and e-cigarette smoking history, diet, sex, gender, age, race, and ethnicity;
(B)
deployment history, including locations, periods, and number of deployments;
(C)
biospecimen data; and
(D)
supplementary health status and outcomes data, including imaging and physiological parameters.
(c)
Toxicology study—
(1)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a toxicology study to include variability to replicate exposures of healthy, young members of the Armed Forces, as well as potentially susceptible members, with preexisting health conditions.
(2)
Elements— The study required under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
analyze the study results for mechanistic markers and clinically relevant outcomes; and
(B)
validate serum, tissue, and other biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility, or effect.
(d)
Covered veteran defined— In this section, the term covered veteran means any veteran who—
(1)
on or after August 2, 1990, served on active duty in—
(A)
Bahrain;
(B)
Iraq;
(C)
Kuwait;
(D)
Oman;
(E)
Qatar;
(F)
Saudi Arabia;
(G)
Somalia; or
(H)
the United Arab Emirates; or
(2)
on or after September 11, 2001, served on active duty in—
(A)
Afghanistan;
(B)
Djibouti;
(C)
Egypt;
(D)
Jordan;
(E)
Lebanon;
(F)
Syria; or
(G)
Yemen.

Sec. 504 Study on health trends of post 9/11 veterans

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an epidemiological study on the health trends of veterans who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001.

Sec. 505 Study on cancer rates among veterans

(a)
In general— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the incidence of cancer in veterans to determine trends in the rates of the incidence of cancer in veterans.
(b)
Elements— The study required by subsection (a) shall assess, with respect to each veteran included in the study, the following:
(1)
The age of the veteran.
(2)
The period of service and length of service of the veteran in the Armed Forces.
(3)
The military occupational speciality or specialties of the veteran.
(4)
The gender of the veteran.
(5)
The type or types of cancer that the veteran has.