CONSULTATION AND REPORT REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO RANCH HAND STUDY OF DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

SEC. 1468. CONSULTATION AND REPORT REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO RANCH HAND STUDY OF DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE (a) Consultation with Advisory Committee.— The Ranch Hand Advisory Committee may consult directly with and provide information and recommendations directly to the Department of the Air Force scientists conducting the Ranch Hand Study, and such scientists may consult directly with and provide information and recommendations directly to the Ranch Hand Advisory Committee. No officer or employee of the Federal Government may intervene in or impair direct communication between the Advisory Committee and such scientists for purposes related to such study except as may104 STAT. 1702 be necessary to prevent inappropriate disclosure of classified information. (b) Annual Reports.— The Secretary of Defense shall revise the schedule of reports prepared by the Secretary pursuant to section 1205(c) of Public Law 100–687 (102 Stat. 4126) so as to provide for the preparation and submission of annual reports under that section, to be submitted not later than February 1 of each year, and to provide for the preparation and submission of a final report under that section. (c) Definitions.— In this section: (1) The term “Ranch Hand Advisory Committee” means the committee known as the “Advisory Committee on Special Studies Relating to the Possible Long-term Health Effects of Phenoxy Herbicides and Contaminants” established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to monitor the conduct of the Ranch Hand Study. (2) The term “Ranch Hand Study” means the special study conducted by the Secretary of the Air Force relating to the possible long-term effects of phenoxy herbicides and contaminants on Air Force personnel who participated in Operation Ranch Hand in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.