REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN PROTECTIVE, SAFETY, OR HEALTH EQUIPMENT PURCHASED BY OR FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES DEPLOYED IN CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.

SEC. 351. REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN PROTECTIVE, SAFETY, OR HEALTH EQUIPMENT PURCHASED BY OR FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES DEPLOYED IN CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.(a) Reimbursement Required.—The Secretary of Defense shall reimburse a member of the Armed Forces for the cost (including any shipping cost) of any protective, safety, or health equipment that was purchased by the member or by another person on behalf of the member for the personal use of the member in anticipation of, or during, the deployment of the member in connection with 118 STAT. 1858 Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, but only if—(1) the Secretary of Defense certifies that the protective, safety, or health equipment was critical to the protection, safety, or health of the member;(2) the member was not issued the protective, safety, or health equipment before the member became engaged in operations in areas or situations described in section 310(a)(2) of title 37, United States Code; and(3) the protective, safety, or health equipment was purchased by the member during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2004.(b) Amount of Reimbursement.—The amount of reimbursement provided under subsection (a) per item of protective, safety, or health equipment purchased by a member of the Armed Forces may not exceed $1,100.(c) Submission of Reimbursement Claims.—Claims for reimbursement for the cost of protective, safety, or health equipment purchased by a member of the Armed Forces shall be submitted to the Secretary of Defense under this section not later than one year after the date on which the implementing rules required by subsection (d) take effect.(d) Rulemaking.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue rules to expedite the provision of reimbursement under subsection (a). In conducting such rulemaking, the Secretary shall address the circumstances under which the United States will assume title or ownership of any protective, safety, or health equipment for which reimbursement is made.