Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2487 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to establish, or expand upon, master’s degree programs in orthotics and prosthetics, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 2, 2019 Mr. CARTWRIGHT (for himself, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. NOR- TON, Mr. COHEN, Mr. RUSH, Mr. GALLEGO, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, and Ms. STEFANIK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to establish, or expand upon, master’s degree programs in orthotics and prosthetics, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Wounded Warrior 4 Workforce Enhancement Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS EDUCATION IM- 6 PROVEMENT. 7 (a) GRANTS REQUIRED.— 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 2487 IH (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 1 Affairs shall award grants to eligible institutions to 2 enable the eligible institutions— 3 (A) to establish a master’s degree program 4 in orthotics and prosthetics; or 5 (B) to expand upon an existing master’s 6 degree program in orthotics and prosthetics, in- 7 cluding by admitting more students, further 8 training faculty, expanding facilities, or increas- 9 ing cooperation with the Department of Vet- 10 erans Affairs and the Department of Defense. 11 (2) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give pri- 12 ority in the award of grants under this section to eli- 13 gible institutions that have entered into a partner- 14 ship with a medical center or clinic administered by 15 the Department of Veterans Affairs or a facility ad- 16 ministered by the Department of Defense, including 17 by providing clinical rotations at such medical cen- 18 ter, clinic, or facility. 19 (3) GRANT AMOUNTS.—Grants awarded under 20 this section shall be in amounts of not less than 21 $1,000,000 and not more than $1,500,000. 22 (b) REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS.— 23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 24 the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 2487 IH frequently than annually thereafter for two years, 1 the Secretary shall issue a request for proposals 2 from eligible institutions for grants under this sec- 3 tion. 4 (2) PROPOSALS.—An eligible institution that 5 seeks the award of a grant under this section shall 6 submit an application therefor to the Secretary at 7 such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 8 such information as the Secretary may require, in- 9 cluding— 10 (A) demonstration of a willingness and 11 ability to participate in a partnership described 12 in subsection (a)(2); and 13 (B) a commitment, and demonstration of 14 an ability, to maintain an accredited orthotics 15 and prosthetics education program after the 16 end of the grant period. 17 (c) GRANT USES.— 18 (1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution 19 awarded a grant under this section shall use grant 20 amounts to carry out any of the following: 21 (A) Building new or expanding existing 22 orthotics and prosthetics master’s degree pro- 23 grams. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 2487 IH (B) Training doctoral candidates in fields 1 related to orthotics and prosthetics to prepare 2 them to instruct in orthotics and prosthetics 3 programs. 4 (C) Training faculty in orthotics and pros- 5 thetics education or related fields for the pur- 6 pose of instruction in orthotics and prosthetics 7 programs. 8 (D) Salary supplementation for faculty in 9 orthotics and prosthetics education. 10 (E) Financial aid that allows eligible insti- 11 tutions to admit additional students to study 12 orthotics and prosthetics. 13 (F) Funding faculty research projects or 14 faculty time to undertake research in the areas 15 of orthotics and prosthetics for the purpose of 16 furthering their teaching abilities. 17 (G) Renovation of buildings or minor con- 18 struction to house orthotics and prosthetics 19 education programs. 20 (H) Purchasing equipment for orthotics 21 and prosthetics education. 22 (2) LIMITATION ON CONSTRUCTION.—An eligi- 23 ble institution awarded a grant under this section 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 5 •HR 2487 IH may use not more than 50 percent of the grant 1 amount to carry out paragraph (1)(G). 2 (3) ADMISSIONS PREFERENCE.—An eligible in- 3 stitution awarded a grant under this section shall 4 give preference in admission to the orthotics and 5 prosthetics master’s degree programs to veterans, to 6 the extent practicable. 7 (4) PERIOD OF USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible in- 8 stitution awarded a grant under this section may use 9 the grant amount for a period of three years after 10 the award of the grant. 11 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 12 (1) The term ‘‘eligible institution’’ means an 13 educational institution that offers an orthotics and 14 prosthetics education program that— 15 (A) is accredited by the National Commis- 16 sion on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education in 17 cooperation with the Commission on Accredita- 18 tion of Allied Health Education Programs; or 19 (B) demonstrates an ability to meet the ac- 20 creditation requirements for orthotic and pros- 21 thetic education from the National Commission 22 on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education in co- 23 operation with the Commission on Accreditation 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 6 •HR 2487 IH of Allied Health Education Programs if the in- 1 stitution receives a grant under this section. 2 (2) The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given 3 that term in section 101 of title 38, United States 4 Code. 5 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 6 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 7 appropriated for fiscal year 2020 for the Depart- 8 ment of Veterans Affairs, $15,000,000 to carry out 9 this section. The amount so authorized to be appro- 10 priated shall remain available for obligation until 11 September 30, 2022. 12 (2) UNOBLIGATED AMOUNTS TO BE RETURNED 13 TO THE TREASURY.—Any amounts authorized to be 14 appropriated by paragraph (1) that are not obligated 15 by the Secretary as of September 30, 2022, shall be 16 returned to the Treasury of the United States. 17 SEC. 3. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN ORTHOTIC AND PROS- 18 THETIC EDUCATION. 19 (a) GRANT FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER.— 20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 21 Affairs shall award a grant to an eligible institution 22 to enable the eligible institution— 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 7 •HR 2487 IH (A) to establish the Center of Excellence in 1 Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (in this sec- 2 tion referred to as the ‘‘Center’’); and 3 (B) to enable the eligible institution to im- 4 prove orthotic and prosthetic outcomes for vet- 5 erans, members of the Armed Forces, and civil- 6 ians by conducting evidence-based research 7 on— 8 (i) the knowledge, skills, and training 9 most needed by clinical professionals in the 10 field of orthotics and prosthetics; and 11 (ii) how to most effectively prepare 12 clinical professionals to provide effective, 13 high-quality orthotic and prosthetic care. 14 (2) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give pri- 15 ority in the award of a grant under this section to 16 an eligible institution that has in force, or dem- 17 onstrates the willingness and ability to enter into, a 18 memoranda of understanding with the Department 19 of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or 20 other appropriate Federal agency, or a cooperative 21 agreement with an appropriate private sector entity, 22 which memorandum of understanding or cooperative 23 agreement provides for either, or both, of the fol- 24 lowing: 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 8 •HR 2487 IH (A) The provision of resources, whether in 1 cash or in-kind, to the Center. 2 (B) Assistance to the Center in conducting 3 research and disseminating the results of such 4 research. 5 (3) GRANT AMOUNT.—The grant awarded 6 under this section shall be in the amount of 7 $5,000,000. 8 (b) REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS.— 9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 10 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 11 shall issue a request for proposals from eligible insti- 12 tutions for the grant under this section. 13 (2) PROPOSALS.—An eligible institution that 14 seeks the award of the grant under this section shall 15 submit an application therefor to the Secretary at 16 such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 17 such information as the Secretary may require. 18 (c) GRANT USES.— 19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The eligible institution 20 awarded the grant under this section shall use the 21 grant amount as follows: 22 (A) To develop an agenda for orthotics and 23 prosthetics education research. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 9 •HR 2487 IH (B) To fund research in the area of 1 orthotics and prosthetics education. 2 (C) To publish or otherwise disseminate 3 research findings relating to orthotics and pros- 4 thetics education. 5 (2) PERIOD OF USE OF FUNDS.—The eligible 6 institution awarded the grant under this section may 7 use the grant amount for a period of five years after 8 the award of the grant. 9 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 10 (1) The term ‘‘eligible institution’’ means an 11 educational institution that— 12 (A) has a robust research program; 13 (B) offers an orthotics and prosthetics 14 education program that is accredited by the Na- 15 tional Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic 16 Education in cooperation with the Commission 17 on Accreditation of Allied Health Education 18 Programs; 19 (C) is well recognized in the field of 20 orthotics and prosthetics education; and 21 (D) has an established association with— 22 (i) a medical center or clinic of the 23 Department of Veterans Affairs; and 24 (ii) a local rehabilitation hospital. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 10 •HR 2487 IH (2) The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given 1 that term in section 101 of title 38, United States 2 Code. 3 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 4 authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2020 for the 5 Department of Veterans Affairs, $5,000,000 to carry out 6 this section. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:00 May 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2487.IH H2487 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS