Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 122.djvu/501

 12 2 STA T .478PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 181 —J A N .28, 2008 housingc o m muni t i e s a n d to w nshi p s with dep l o y ed mem -b e r so f the N ational G uard and R eser v e , of deployments associated with O peration I ra q i F reedom and Operation E nduring Freedom, and an assessment of the efficacy of programs that address community outreach and education concerning military deployments of community residents I ) an assessment of the impacts of increasing numbers of older and married members of the A rmed Forces on read j ustment requirements; ( J ) the development, based on such assessments, of recommendations for programs, treatments, or policy rem- edies targeted at preventing, minimi z ing, or addressing the impacts, gaps, and needs identified; and ( K ) the development, based on such assessments, of recommendations for additional research on such needs . (c) POPULATI O NST O BES TU D IED. — The study required under subsection (a) shall consider the readjustment needs of each popu- lation of individuals as follows

( 1 ) M embers of the regular components of the Armed Forces who are returning, or have returned, to the U nited States from deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. ( 2 ) Members of the National Guard and Reserve who are returning, or have returned, to the United States from deploy- ment in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. ( 3 ) V eterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. ( 4 ) Family members of the members and veterans described in paragraphs (1) through (3). (d) A C CESS TO IN F O RM ATION.—The National Academy of Sciences shall have access to such personnel, information, records, and systems of the D epartment of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs as the National Academy of Sciences requires in order to carry out the study required under subsection (a). (e) PRI V AC Y OF INFORMATION.—The National Academy of Sciences shall maintain any personally identifiable information accessed by the Academy in carrying out the study required under subsection (a) in accordance with all applicable laws, protections, and best practices regarding the privacy of such information, and may not permit access to such information by any persons or entities not engaged in wor k under the study. (f) REPORTS B Y NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.—Upon the completion of each phase of the study required under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the congressional defense committees a report on such phase of the study. (g) DOD AND VA RESPONSE TO NAS REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after the receipt of a report under subsection (f) on each phase of the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a final joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs response to the findings and recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences contained in such report.

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