INDEPENDENT RESEARCH REGARDING GULF WAR SYNDROME.

SEC. 743. [10 U.S.C. 1074 note] INDEPENDENT RESEARCH REGARDING GULF WAR SYNDROME. (a) Definitions.—For purposes of this section: (1) The term “Gulf War service” means service on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. (2) The term “Gulf War syndrome” means the complex of illnesses and symptoms commonly known as Gulf War syndrome. (3) The term “Persian Gulf War” has the meaning given that term in section 101(33) of title 38, United States Code. (b) Research.—The Secretary of Defense shall provide, by contract, grant, or other transaction, for scientific research to be carried out by entities independent of the Federal Government on possible causal relationships between Gulf War syndrome and— (1) the possible exposures of members of the Armed Forces to chemical warfare agents or other hazardous materials during Gulf War service; and (2) the use by the Department of Defense during the Persian Gulf War of combinations of various inoculations and investigational new drugs. (c) Procedures for Awarding Grants.—The Secretary shall prescribe the procedures to be used to make research awards under subsection (b). The procedures shall— (1) include a comprehensive, independent peer-review process for the evaluation of proposals for scientific research that are submitted to the Department of Defense; and (2) provide for the final selection of proposals for award to be based on the scientific merit and program relevance of the proposed research. (d) Availability of Funds.—Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section 301(21) for defense medical programs, $10,000,000 is available for research under subsection (b).