Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

(a) Research on diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving in Armed Forces

(1) Contract or agreement. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a contract or interagency agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (in this section referred to as the Agency) to perform the services covered by this section.

(2) Services. Under a contract or agreement between the Secretary and the Agency under this section, the Agency shall—

(A) conduct a literature review on the health effects on descendants of toxic-exposed veterans and toxic-exposed members of the Armed Forces from their toxic exposure and identify any gaps in knowledge or research on such topic;

(B) not later than 180 days after completing the literature review under subparagraph (A) establish and maintain a publicly available report with information on—

(i) the findings of the Agency with respect to such literature review; and

(ii) the ongoing research and activities directed by the Agency, including a review of all relevant data to determine the strength of evidence for a positive association between a health condition researched and a toxic exposure based on the categories set forth under section 1173(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code; and

(C) not later than 30 days after the date on which the first review is published under subparagraph (B) and not less frequently than once every year thereafter, publish a new report containing the information made available under clause (ii) of such subparagraph.

(3) Sunset. On the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(4) Literature review

(A) In general. In carrying out the literature review under paragraph (2)(A), the Agency shall review available literature to determine the association between military toxic exposures and the incidence or prevalence of birth defects among the descendants of toxic-exposed veterans and toxic-exposed members of the Armed Forces.

(B) Report. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Agency shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing the findings of the Agency with respect to the activities of the Agency under paragraph (2)(A).

(C) Plan

(i) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Agency shall submit to the Secretary and to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan describing the Agency’s proposed approach to carrying out the literature review under paragraph (2)(A).

(ii) Contents. The plan submitted pursuant to clause (i) shall include—

(I) the scope and key research questions to be addressed; and

(II) the methodology to be used in identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing relevant scientific and medical literature.

(5) Consultation. The Agency shall carry out the services covered by this subsection in consultation with such Federal, State, and research partners as the Agency and the Secretary jointly consider appropriate.

(6) Prohibition on expansion of services. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the expansion of compensation or healthcare benefits furnished by the Department to the descendants of members of the Armed Forces.

(b) Program for monitoring health of descendants of veterans and members of the Armed Forces subjected to toxic exposure in the Armed Forces

(1) In general. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall use the results of the literature review conducted under subsection (a)(2)(A) to establish a health monitoring or screening program for descendants of toxic-exposed veterans and toxic-exposed members of the Armed Forces, to assist in identifying potential patterns or signals, supporting public health surveillance, and facilitating epidemiologic and clinical research related to birth defects.

(2) Requirements. In carrying out the program required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A) leverage Government data sets to improve the program;

(B) recruit additional descendants;

(C) consult with relevant stakeholders to develop a strategy to coordinate collection of information under the program; and

(D) ensure data from the program is used to inform basic research, translational research, and epidemiological studies to help address data and knowledge gaps identified in the literature review conducted under subsection (a)(2)(A).

(3) Mechanisms for administration. The Secretary may administer the program required by paragraph (1) either directly or through such mechanisms as the Secretary considers appropriate, such as through the award of a grant or cooperative agreement.

(4) Collection of information. In administering the health monitoring program required by paragraph (1), the Secretary may collect, process, maintain, and consolidate information on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans and toxic-exposed members of the Armed Forces, including biological samples, environmental factors, and personal and social factors.

(5) Consultation. The Secretary shall carry out the services covered by this section in consultation with such Federal, State, and research partners as the Department considers appropriate.

(6) Sunset. On the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(7) Prohibition on expansion of services. No information collected by this program shall be used to inform the expansion of compensation or healthcare benefits furnished by the Department to the descendants of members of the Armed Forces, unless otherwise authorized by another Act of Congress on a date after the passage of this legislation.

(c) Definitions. In this subsection:

(1) Active military, naval, air, or space service. The term active military, naval, air, or space service has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

(2) Relevant stakeholders. The term relevant stakeholders means—

(A) public health experts with experience in developing and maintaining registries;

(B) epidemiologists with experience in studying health effects of toxic exposure on the descendants of toxic-exposed veterans;

(C) descendants of toxic-exposed veterans; and

(D) veterans service organizations.

(3) Toxic-exposed member of the Armed Forces. The term toxic-exposed member of the Armed Forces means a member of the Armed Forces who was subject to a toxic exposure in line of duty in the active military, naval, air, or space service.

(4) Toxic-exposed veteran. The term toxic-exposed veteran means a veteran who was subject to a toxic exposure in line of duty in the active military, naval, air, or space service.

(5) Toxic exposure. The terms toxic exposure and toxic-exposed veteran have the meanings given such terms in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.