Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 6.djvu/86

 108 STAT. 4654 PUBLIC LAW 103-446—NOV. 2, 1994 38 USC 1117 note. Contracts. 38 USC 1317. 38 USC 1101 note. during the Persian Gulf War as defined in section 101(33) of title 38, United States Code. SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION FOR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES. (a) STUDY OF HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF PERSIAN GULF SERV- iCE.If the National Academy of Sciences includes in the report required by section 706(b) of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-585) a finding that there is a sound basis for an epidemiological study or studies on the health consequences of service in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War and recommends the conduct of such a study or studies, the Secretary of Veterans Affidrs is authorized to carry out such study. (b) OVERSIGHT.— (1) The Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the Medical Follow-Up Agency (MFUA) of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences for (A) the review of proposals to conduct the research referred to in subsection (a), (B) oversight of such research, and (C) review of the research findings. (2) If the Secretary is unable to enter into an agreement under paragraph (1) with the entity specified in that paragraph, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement described in that paragraph with another appropriate scientific organization which does not have a connection to the Department of Veterans Affairs. In such a case, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives, at least 90 days before the date on which the agreement is entered into, notice in writing identifying the organization with which the Secretary intends to enter into the agreement (c) ACCESS TO DATA.— - The Secretary shall enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make available for the purposes of any study described in subsection (a) all data that the Secretary, in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences and the contractor for the study, considers relevant to the study. (d) AUTHORIZATION. — There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department such simis as are necessary for the conduct of studies described in subsection (a). SEC. 111. COST-SAVINGS PROVISIONS. (a) ELECTION OF DEATH PENSION BY SURVIVING SPOUSE.— Section 1317 is amended— (1) by striking out "No person" and inserting ia lieu thereof "(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), no person"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: "(b) A siirviving spouse who is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation may elect to receive death pension instead of such compensation.". (b) PoucY REGARDING COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN COM- PENSATION RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995.— The fiscal year 1995 cost-of-living adjustments in the rates of and limitations for compensation payable under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, and of dependency and indenmity compensation payable under chapter 13 of such title will be no more than a percentage equal to me percentage by which benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1, 1994, as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)), with all increased

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