Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 95.djvu/1087

 PUBLIC LAW 97-72—NOV. 3, 1981

95 STAT. 1061

TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS EXPANSION OF SCOPE OF AGENT ORANGE STUDY

SEC. 401. (a)(1) Paragraph (1) of section 307(a) of the Veterans Health Programs Extension and Improvement Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-151; 93 Stat. 1097) is amended to read as follows: "(1)(A) The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall design a protocol for and conduct an epidemiological study of any long-term adverse health effects in humans of service in the Armed Forces of the United States in the Republic of Vietnam during the period of the Vietnam conflict as such health effects may result from exposure to phenoxy herbicides (including the herbicide known as Agent Orange) and the class of chemicals known as the dioxins produced during the manufacture of such herbicides. In conducting such study, the Administrator may expand the scope of the study to include an evaluation of any long-term adverse health effects in humans of such service as such health effects may result from other factors involved in such service, including exposure to other herbicides, chemicals, medications, or environmental hazards or conditions. The Administrator may also include in the study an evaluation of the means of detecting and treating adverse health effects found through the study. "(B) The Administrator shall also conduct a comprehensive review and scientific analysis of the literature covering other studies relating to whether there may be long-term adverse health effects in humans from exposure to phenoxy herbicides (including the herbicide known as Agent Orange) and the class of chemicals known as the dioxins produced during the manufacture of such herbicides. In conducting such review and analysis, the Administrator may expand the scope of such review and analysis to include a review and analysis of the literature covering other studies relating to whether there may be long-term adverse health effects in humans from other factors involved in service in the Armed Forces of the United States in the Republic of Vietnam during the period of the Vietnam conflict or in other comparable situations involving one or more of the factors described in the second sentence of subparagraph (A). The Administrator may also include a review and analysis of the means of detecting and treating adverse health effects found through any study covered by either such review and analysis.". (2) Paragraph (3) of such section is amended by inserting "first" after "submission of the". (b) Section 307(b) of such Act is amended— (1) by inserting "for administrative or legislative action, or both," in paragraph (2) after "recommendations"; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: "(3) Not later than ninety days after the submission of each report under paragraph (2), the Administrator shall, based on the results described in such report and the comments and recommendations thereon and any other available pertinent information, publish in the Federal Register, for public review and comment, a description of actions, if any, that the Administrator proposes to take with respect to programs administered by the Veterans' Administration. Each such description shall include a justification or rationale for any such action the Administrator proposes to take. "(4) The first report submitted under paragraph (2) shall include the Administrator's recommendation, and reasons therefor, with respect to whether the authority to provide care and services under and by virtue of section 610(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code,

38 USC 219 note. Study.

Review and analysis.

Report. Publication in Federal Register.

Ante, p. 1047.

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