text: SECTION 1. TWO-YEAR ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                HEALTH CARE FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING IN 
                AREAS AFFECTED BY HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA.
  
      Section 1710(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
              (1) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) the following new 
          subparagraph:
      ``(F) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a member of the Armed 
  Forces (including a member ordered to duty under section 502(f) of 
  title 32) who is performing duty in response to a disaster or emergency 
  declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
  Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) after August 28, 2005, in an 
  area affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita is eligible for 
  hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care under subsection 
  (a)(2)(F) for any disability, notwithstanding that there is 
  insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such disability is 
  attributable to such duty.'';
              (2) by adding at the end of paragraph (2) the following new 
          subparagraph:
      ``(C) In the case of a member of the Armed Forces described in 
  paragraph (1)(F), hospital care, medical services, and nursing home 
  care may not be provided under subsection (a)(2)(F) with respect to a 
  disability that is found, in accordance to guidelines issued by the 
  Under Secretary for Health, to have resulted from a cause other than 
  duty described in that paragraph.'';
              (3) in paragraph (3)--
                      (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                  (C);
                      (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                  subparagraph (D) and inserting ``; and''; and
                      (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                  subparagraph:
              ``(E) in the case of care for a veteran described in 
          paragraph (1)(F), after a period of two years beginning on the 
          date of the veteran's discharge or release from duty described 
          in that paragraph.''; and
              (4) by adding at the end of paragraph (4) the following new 
          subparagraph:
                      ``(C) The term `area affected by Hurricane Katrina 
                  or Hurricane Rita' means an area designated for 
                  individual assistance or public assistance by Federal 
                  Disaster Declaration notice 1602, 1603, 1604, 1605, 
                  1606, or 1607 issued by the Director of the Federal 
                  Emergency Management Agency in August and September 
                  2005.''.
  
  SEC. 2. HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF SERVICEMEMBERS EXPOSED TO ENVIRONMENTAL 
                HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH DUTY IN AREAS AFFECTED BY 
                HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA.
  
      (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide for the 
  National Academy of Sciences, an independent nonprofit scientific 
  organization with appropriate expertise which is not part of the 
  Federal Government, to review and make recommendations for health 
  surveillance of members of the uniformed services who may be exposed to 
  environmental hazards as the result of duty in areas affected by 
  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
      (b) Assessment by National Academy of Sciences.--The Secretary of 
  Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into 
  an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences for the Academy to 
  perform the activities specified in this section. The Secretaries shall 
  seek to enter into the agreement not later than 60 days after the date 
  of the enactment of this Act.
      (c) Duties Under Agreement.--Under the agreement under subsection 
  (b), the National Academy of Sciences shall do the following:
              (1) Review and assess available data on environmental 
          exposures and adverse health effects that could reasonably be 
          expected to be incurred by members of the uniformed services 
          assigned to duty (including duty under section 502(f) of title 
          32, United States Code) during the period beginning August 28, 
          2005, and ending on December 31, 2005, in any county designated 
          by the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a 
          Federal disaster county for individual or public assistance as 
          the result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita.
              (2) Describe the appropriate criteria for identification of 
          members of the uniformed services covered by paragraph (1) and 
          appropriate data to be collected and maintained for such 
          members and make recommendations for the development of a 
          registry which could be used to monitor morbidity and mortality 
          data for such members.
              (3) Make recommendations concerning the establishment, 
          location, and content of a data registry and policies and 
          procedures for the ongoing periodic health surveillance of 
          members covered by paragraph (1).
      (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the entry 
  into effect of the agreement referred to in subsection (a), the 
  National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Secretaries a report 
  on the activities of the National Academy of Sciences under the 
  agreement, including the results of the activities specified in 
  subsection (c).
      (e) Recommendations for Additional Scientific Studies.--The Academy 
  shall make any recommendations it has for additional scientific studies 
  to resolve areas of continuing scientific uncertainty relating to 
  environmental toxic exposure in hurricane affected areas referred to in 
  subsection (c)(1). In making recommendations for further study, the 
  Academy shall consider the scientific information that is currently 
  available, the value and relevance of the information that could result 
  from additional studies, and the cost and feasibility of carrying out 
  such additional studies.
      (f) Alternative Contract Scientific Organization.--If the 
  Secretaries are unable within the time period prescribed in subsection 
  (b) to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences 
  for the purposes of this section on terms acceptable to the 
  Secretaries, the Secretaries shall seek to enter into an agreement for 
  the purposes of this section with another appropriate scientific 
  organization that is not part of the Government and operates as a not-
  for-profit entity and that has expertise and objectivity comparable to 
  that of the National Academy of Sciences. If the Secretaries enter into 
  such an agreement with another organization, then any reference in this 
  section to the National Academy of Sciences shall be treated as a 
  reference to the other organization.
  
  SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT ON HEALTH CARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                AFFAIRS TO HURRICANE-AFFECTED MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL 
                GUARD.
  
      (a) Data Base.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and 
  maintain a data base of members of the Armed Forces who are provided 
  health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 
  1710(e)(1)(F) of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 1.
      (b) Annual Report.--Not later than January 1 of each year from 2007 
  through 2009, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
  Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on members 
  of the Armed Forces who are provided health care by the Department of 
  Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 1710(e)(1)(F) of title 38, United 
  States Code, as added by section 1. Each such report shall include the 
  following:
              (1) The total number of veterans who sought treatment in 
          Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities pursuant 
          to section 1710(e)(1)(F) of title 38, United States Code, as 
          added by section 1, during the preceding fiscal year and 
          cumulatively, set forth by the number of veterans per fiscal 
          year and the health-care eligibility category under which such 
          care was provided.
              (2) The cost of health care furnished to veterans pursuant 
          to such section during the preceding fiscal year and 
          cumulatively, including the costs for veterans who would not 
          have been eligible for enrollment for such care under 
          limitations imposed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
          veterans eligible for health care from the Department only 
          under section 1710(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code.
target: Makes a member of the Armed Forces who is performing duty in response to a disaster or emergency declaration after August 28, 2005, in an area affected by Hurricane Katrina or Rita eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for any disability, notwithstanding insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the disability is attributable to such duty. Prohibits such care or services with respect to a disability found to have resulted from a cause other than such duty. Terminates eligibility two years after the member's discharge or release from such duty.
  
  Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to review and make recommendations for the health surveillance of members who may be exposed to environmental hazards as the result of duty in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
  
  Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to maintain a database of members provided health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to such duty.
feat_title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide additional authority for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide health care for a period of two years to members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard serving under State authority) who serve in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, to provide for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to survey and assess the potential health consequences of service by members in those areas, and for other purposes.