Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 4.djvu/777

 PUBLIC LAW 105-277—OCT. 21, 1998 112 STAT. 2681-748 (2) The first report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. That report shall include— (A) the determinations and discussion referred to in subsection (e); (B) the results of the review of models of treatment under subsection if); and (C) any recommendations of the Academy under subsection (g). (3) Reports shall be submitted under this subsection at least once every two years, as measured from the date of the report under paragraph (2). (4) In any report under this subsection (other than the report under paragraph (2)), the Academy may specify an absence of meaningful developments in the scientific or medical community with respect to the activities of the Academy under this section during the 2-year period ending on the date of such report. (5) Reports under this subsection shall be submitted to the following: (A) The designated congressional cojumittees. (B) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (C) The Secretary of Defense. (j) SUNSET. —This section shall cease to be effective 10 years after the last day of the fiscal year in which the National Academy of Sciences submits the first report under subsection (i). (k) ALTERNATIVE CONTRACT SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION. — (1) If the Secretary is unable within the time tieriod set forth 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 Secretary, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement for purposes of this section with another appropriate scientific organization that is not part of the Govesmment, operates as a not-for-profit entity, and has expertise and objectivity comparable to that of the National Academy of Sciences. (2) If the Secretary enters into an ai^reement with another organization under this subsection, emy rcjference in this section and section 1118 of title 38, United States Code (as added by section 1602(a)), to the National Academy of Sciences shall be treated as a reference to such other organization. SEC. 1604. REPEAL OF INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS OF LAW. 38 USC 1117 In the event of the enactment, before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act, of section 101 of the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, or any similar provision of law enacted during the second session of the 105th Congress requiring an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences regarding an evaluation of health consequences of service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War, such section 101 (or other provision of law) shall be treated as if never enacted, and shall have no force or effect. SEC. 1605. DEFINITIONS. 38 USC 1117 In this title: (1) The term "toxic agent, environmental or wartime hazard, or preventive medicine or vaccine associated with Gulf War service" means a biological, chemical, or other toxic agent, environmental or wartime hazard, or preventive medicine or vaccine that is known or presumed to be associated with service

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