Bill > S1892

This bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain a "Canadian Forces Base Gagetown Health Registry" within one year of enactment. This registry will include the names of individuals who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and were stationed at or trained at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick, Canada, between January 1, 1956, and December 31, 2006, and who have subsequently applied for care or services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, filed a claim for compensation due to a disability potentially linked to that service, died and are survived by a claimant for dependency and indemnity compensation, or requested a health examination or received a similar examination and requested inclusion. The registry will also contain relevant medical data for those who grant permission or are deceased. The bill also mandates that the Secretary provide health examinations and counseling to eligible individuals and their families, conduct outreach to those in the registry about health consequences of potential exposures, and coordinate with the Department of Defense for necessary information. Furthermore, an independent study will be conducted on potential toxic substance or environmental hazard exposures at the base during the specified period, and the Secretary will submit an annual report to Congress detailing the registry's contents, claims trends, and outreach efforts.