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[DOCID: f:h1406ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1406

     To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve presumptive 
compensation benefits for veterans with ill-defined illnesses resulting 
           from the Persian Gulf War, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 4, 2001

     Mr. Evans (for himself, Mr. Reyes, Mrs. Capps, and Mr. Doyle) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve presumptive 
compensation benefits for veterans with ill-defined illnesses resulting 
           from the Persian Gulf War, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Gulf War Undiagnosed Illness Act of 
2001''.

SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF ILL-DEFINED ILLNESSES IN PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE 
              CONNECTION.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 1117 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ``or fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue 
syndrome, a chronic multisymptom illness, or any other ill-defined 
illness (or combination of ill-defined illnesses)'' after 
``illnesses)''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (c) of such section is 
amended by inserting ``or fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, a 
chronic multisymptom illness, or any other ill-defined illness (or 
combination of ill-defined illnesses)'' after ``illnesses)''.

SEC. 3. COMPENSATION FOR UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESSES TO PROVIDE FOR 
              PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH PROJECTS.

    (a) Authority for Secretary To Provide for Participation Without 
Loss of Benefits.--Section 1117 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g)(1) If the Secretary determines with respect to a medical 
research project sponsored by the Department that it is necessary for 
the conduct of that project that Persian Gulf veterans in receipt of 
compensation under this section or section 1118 of this title 
participate in the project without fear of loss of compensation 
benefits under either section, the Secretary may provide that medical 
information derived directly or indirectly from the participation of a 
Persian Gulf veteran in that research project may not be used in 
adjudicating that veteran's entitlement to receipt of such 
compensation.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice 
of each determination made by the Secretary under paragraph (1) with 
respect to a medical research project.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The authority provided by subsection (g) of 
section 1117 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a), may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to 
any medical research project of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
whether commenced before, on, or after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
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