COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT ON MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES.

SEC. 314. COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT ON MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES.(a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings:(1) There have been various reports of the exposure of current and former members of the Armed Forces, their dependents, and civilian employees to environmental hazards while living and working on military installations.(2) There is the need to better understand existing Department of Defense policies and procedures for addressing possible environmental exposures at military installations, determining any correlation between such an exposure and a subsequent health condition, and handling claims and potential compensation.124 STAT. 4182(3) While many of these possible exposures have been studied and evaluated, the extent to which those exposures caused or contributed to the short- and long-term health conditions of current and former members of the Armed Forces, their dependents, and civilian employees remains largely unknown.(4) As for these possible exposures and the link between the exposure and subsequent health conditions, there may be better ways for the Federal Government to evaluate, address and, as warranted, provide health benefits or possible compensation as a remedy to these potential exposures.(b) Comptroller General Assessment Required.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out an assessment of possible exposures to environmental hazards on military installations that includes the following:(1) An identification of the policies and processes by which the Department of Defense and the military departments respond to environmental hazards on military installations and possible exposures and determine if there is a standard framework.(2) An identification of the existing processes available to current and former members of the Armed Forces, their dependents, and civilian employees to seek compensation and health benefits for exposures to environmental hazards on military installations.(3) A comparison of the processes identified under paragraph (2) with other potential options or methods for providing health benefits or compensation to individuals for injuries that may have resulted from environmental hazards on military installations.(4) An examination of what is known about the advantages and disadvantages of other potential options or methods as well as any shortfalls in the current processes.(5) Recommendations for any administrative or legislative action that the Comptroller General deems appropriate in the context of the assessment.(c) Report.—Not later than January 1, 2012, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the findings and recommendations, as appropriate, of the Comptroller General with respect to the assessment conducted under subsection (b).(d) Coordination.—In carrying out subsection (b), the Comptroller General shall receive comments from the Secretary of Defense and others, as appropriate.(e) Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to impede, encroach, or delay—(1) any studies, reviews, or assessments of any actual or potential environmental exposures at any military installation, including the studies included in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s Annual Plan of Work regarding the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina;(2) the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s statutory obligations, including its obligations under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) regarding Superfund sites; or124 STAT. 4183(3) the remediation of any environmental contamination or hazard at any military installation.(f) Military Installation Defined.—In this section, the term “military installation” has the meaning given that term in section 2801(c)(4) of title 10, United States Code.