text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Information and Benefits 
  Enhancement Act of 2003''.
  
  SEC. 2. PRESUMPTION OF ADDITIONAL DISEASES OF FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR 
                TO BE SERVICE-CONNECTED FOR COMPENSATION PURPOSES.
  
      (a) Presumption.--Section 1112(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
  is amended--
              (1) in paragraph (14), by striking ``or'' at the end; and
              (2) by inserting after paragraph (15) the following new 
          paragraphs:
              ``(16) cardiovascular disease (heart disease),
              ``(17) cerebrovascular disease (stroke), or
              ``(18) chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and 
          primary liver carcinoma,''.
      (b) Effective Date.--(1) The amendments made by subsection (a) 
  shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
      (2) No benefit may be paid by reason of the amendments made by 
  subsection (a) for any period before the date of the enactment of this 
  Act.
  
  SEC. 3. DOSE RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
  
      (b) Review of Mission, Procedures, and Administration.--(1) The 
  Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall 
  jointly conduct a review of the mission, procedures, and administration 
  of the Dose Reconstruction Program of the Department of Defense.
      (2) In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Secretaries 
  shall--
              (A) determine whether any additional actions are required 
          to ensure that the quality assurance and quality control 
          mechanisms of the Dose Reconstruction Program are adequate and 
          sufficient for purposes of the program; and
              (B) determine the actions that are required to ensure that 
          the mechanisms of the Dose Reconstruction Program for 
          communication and interaction with veterans are adequate and 
          sufficient for purposes of the program, including mechanisms to 
          permit veterans to review the assumptions utilized in their 
          dose reconstructions.
      (3) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
  Act, the Secretaries shall jointly submit to Congress a report on the 
  review under paragraph (1). The report shall set forth--
              (A) the results of the review;
              (B) a plan for any actions determined to be required under 
          paragraph (2); and
              (C) such other recommendations for the improvement of the 
          mission, procedures, and administration of the Dose 
          Reconstruction Program as the Secretaries jointly consider 
          appropriate.
      (b) On-Going Review and Oversight.--The Secretaries shall jointly 
  take appropriate actions to ensure the on-going independent review and 
  oversight of the Dose Reconstruction Program, including the 
  establishment of the advisory board required by subsection (c).
      (c) Advisory Board.--(1) In taking actions under subsection (b), 
  the Secretaries shall jointly appoint an advisory board to provide 
  review and oversight of the Dose Reconstruction Program.
      (2) The advisory board under paragraph (1) shall be composed of the 
  following:
              (A) At least one expert in historical dose reconstruction 
          of the type conducted under the Dose Reconstruction Program.
              (B) At least one expert in radiation health matters.
              (C) At least one expert in risk communications matters.
              (D) A representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
              (E) A representative of the Defense Threat Reduction 
          Agency.
              (F) At least three veterans, including at least one veteran 
          who is a member of an atomic veterans group.
      (3) The advisory board under paragraph (1) shall--
              (A) conduct periodic, random audits of dose reconstructions 
          and decisions on claims for radiogenic diseases under the Dose 
          Reconstruction Program;
              (B) assist the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
          Defense Threat Reduction Agency in communicating to veterans 
          information on the mission, procedures, and evidentiary 
          requirements of the Dose Reconstruction Program; and
              (C) carry out such other activities with respect to the 
          review and oversight of the Dose Reconstruction Program as the 
          Secretaries shall jointly specify.
      (4) The advisory board under paragraph (1) may make such 
  recommendations on modifications in the mission or procedures of the 
  Dose Reconstruction Program as the advisory board considers appropriate 
  as a result of the audits conducted under paragraph (3)(A).
  
  SEC. 4. STUDY ON DISPOSITION OF AIR FORCE HEALTH STUDY.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in 
  accordance with this section, carry out a study to determine the 
  appropriate disposition of the Air Force Health Study, an epidemiologic 
  study of Air Force personnel who were responsible for conducting aerial 
  spray missions of herbicides during the Vietnam era.
      (b) Study Through National Academy of Sciences.--Not later than 
  sixty days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
  shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of 
  Sciences, or another appropriate scientific organization, to carry out 
  the study required by subsection (a).
      (c) Elements.--Under the study under subsection (a), the National 
  Academy of Sciences, or other appropriate scientific organization, 
  shall address the following:
              (1) The scientific merit of retaining and maintaining the 
          medical records, other study data, and laboratory specimens 
          collected in the course of the Air Force Health Study after the 
          currently-scheduled termination date of the study in 2006.
              (2) Whether or not any obstacles exist to retaining and 
          maintaining the medical records, other study data, and 
          laboratory specimens referred to in paragraph (1), including 
          privacy concerns.
              (3) The advisability of providing independent oversight of 
          the medical records, other study data, and laboratory specimens 
          referred to in paragraph (1), and of any further study of such 
          records, data, and specimens, and, if so, the mechanism for 
          providing such oversight.
              (4) The advisability of extending the Air Force Health 
          Study, including the potential value and relevance of extending 
          the study, the potential cost of extending the study, and the 
          Federal or non-Federal entity best suited to continue the study 
          if extended.
              (5) The advisability of making the laboratory specimens of 
          the Air Force Health Study available for independent research, 
          including the potential value and relevance of such research, 
          and the potential cost of such research.
      (d) Report.--Not later than 60 days after entering into an 
  agreement under subsection (b), the National Academy of Sciences, or 
  other appropriate scientific organization, shall submit to the 
  Secretary and Congress a report on the results of the study under 
  subsection (a). The report shall include the results of the study, 
  including the matters addressed under subsection (c), and such other 
  recommendations as the Academy, or other appropriate scientific 
  organization, considers appropriate as a result of the study.
  
  SEC. 5. FUNDING OF MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP AGENCY OF INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE OF 
                NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES FOR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH 
                ON MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS.
  
      (a) Funding by Department of Veterans Affairs.--(1) The Secretary 
  of Veterans Affairs shall make available to the National Academy of 
  Sciences in each of fiscal years 2004 through 2013, $250,000 for the 
  Medical Follow-Up Agency of the Institute of Medicine of the Academy 
  for purposes of epidemiological research on members of the Armed Forces 
  and veterans.
      (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available amounts 
  under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year from amounts available for the 
  Department of Veterans Affairs for that fiscal year.
      (b) Funding by Department of Defense.--(1) The Secretary of Defense 
  shall make available to the National Academy of Sciences in each of 
  fiscal years 2004 through 2013, $250,000 for the Medical Follow-Up 
  Agency for purposes of epidemiological research on members of the Armed 
  Forces and veterans.
      (2) The Secretary of Defense shall make available amounts under 
  paragraph (1) for a fiscal year from amounts available for the 
  Department of Defense for that fiscal year.
      (c) Use of Funds.--The Medical Follow-Up Agency shall use funds 
  made available under subsections (a) and (b) for epidemiological 
  research on members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
      (d) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts made available to the Medical 
  Follow-Up Agency under this section for a fiscal year for the purposes 
  referred to in subsection (c) are in addition to any other amounts made 
  available to the Agency for that fiscal year for those purposes.
target: Veterans Information and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2003 - Includes the following among the diseases to be considered service-connected, and therefore compensable through the Department of Veterans Affairs, when suffered by a veteran who is a former prisoner of war who was detained or interned for at least 30 days: (1) cardiovascular (heart) disease; (2) cerebrovascular disease (stroke); or (3) chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and primary liver carcinoma.
  
  Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) and the Secretary of Defense to jointly conduct a review of the mission, procedures, and administration of the Dose Reconstruction Program of the Department of Defense. Requires appointment of an advisory board for Program review and oversight.
  
  Directs the Secretary to conduct a study to determine the appropriate disposition of the Air Force Health Study, an epidemiologic study of Air Force personnel responsible for conducting aerial herbicide spray missions during the Vietnam era.
  
  Requires the Secretaries to make specified funds available to the National Academy of Sciences in each of FY 2004 through 2013 for the Academy's Medical Follow-Up Agency of the Institute of Medicine to conduct epidemiological research on military personnel and veterans.
feat_title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to presume additional diseases of former prisoners of war to be service-connected for compensation purposes, to enhance the Dose Reconstruction Program of the Department of Defense, to enhance and fund certain other epidemiological studies, and for other purposes