Fort McClellan Health Registry Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2825 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 22, 2021 Mr. TONKO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fort McClellan Health 4 Registry Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FORT MCCLELLAN HEALTH REGISTRY. 6 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 7 Affairs shall establish and maintain a special record to be 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:28 Jun 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2825.IH H2825 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2825 IH known as the ‘‘Fort McClellan Health Registry’’ (in this 1 section referred to as the ‘‘Registry’’). 2 (b) CONTENTS.—Except as provided in subsection 3 (c), the Registry shall include the following information: 4 (1) A list containing the name of each indi- 5 vidual who, while serving as a member of the Armed 6 Forces, was stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, 7 at any time during the period beginning January 1, 8 1935, and ending on May 20, 1999, and who— 9 (A) applies for care or services from the 10 Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 11 17 of title 38, United States Code; 12 (B) files a claim for compensation under 13 chapter 11 of such title on the basis of any dis- 14 ability which may be associated with such serv- 15 ice; 16 (C) dies and is survived by a spouse, child, 17 or parent who files a claim for dependency and 18 indemnity compensation under chapter 13 of 19 such title on the basis of such service; 20 (D) requests from the Secretary a health 21 examination under subsection (d); or 22 (E) receives from the Secretary a health 23 examination similar to the health examination 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:28 Jun 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2825.IH H2825 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2825 IH referred to in subparagraph (D) and requests 1 inclusion in the Registry. 2 (2) Relevant medical data relating to the health 3 status of, and other information that the Secretary 4 considers relevant and appropriate with respect to, 5 each individual described in paragraph (1) who— 6 (A) grants to the Secretary permission to 7 include such information in the Registry; or 8 (B) at the time the individual is listed in 9 the Registry, is deceased. 10 (c) INDIVIDUALS SUBMITTING CLAIMS OR MAKING 11 REQUESTS BEFORE DATE OF ENACTMENT.—If in the 12 case of an individual described in subsection (b)(1) the 13 application, claim, or request referred to in such sub- 14 section was submitted, filed, or made before the date of 15 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, to the ex- 16 tent feasible, include in the Registry such individual’s 17 name and the data and information, if any, described in 18 subsection (b)(2) relating to the individual. 19 (d) EXAMINATIONS.—Upon the request of a veteran 20 who was stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, at any 21 time during the period beginning January 1, 1935, and 22 ending on May 20, 1999, the Secretary shall provide the 23 veteran with a health examination (including any appro- 24 priate diagnostic tests) and consultation and counseling 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:28 Jun 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2825.IH H2825 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 2825 IH with respect to the results of the examination and the 1 tests. 2 (e) OUTREACH.— 3 (1) ONGOING OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS LIST- 4 ED IN REGISTRY.—The Secretary shall, from time to 5 time, notify individuals listed in the Registry of sig- 6 nificant developments in research on the health con- 7 sequences of potential exposure to a toxic substance 8 or environmental hazard related to service at Fort 9 McClellan. 10 (2) EXAMINATION OUTREACH.—The Secretary 11 shall carry out appropriate outreach activities with 12 respect to the provision of any health examinations 13 (including any diagnostic tests) and consultation and 14 counseling services under subsection (d). 15 (f) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Af- 16 fairs shall consult with the Secretary of Defense to acquire 17 information maintained by the Secretary of Defense that 18 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers necessary to 19 establish and maintain the Registry. 20 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:28 Jun 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2825.IH H2825 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS