Designation of senior official for emerging therapeutic interventions within the Department of Veterans Affairs

(a) Designation Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall designate a senior official of the Department to oversee policy, programs, and other activities related to emerging therapeutic interventions. (b) Role, responsibility, and authority The Under Secretary for Health, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall prescribe the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the official designated under subsection (a), including— (1) assisting the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Under Secretary for Health with policies, operations, programs, and activities relating to emerging therapeutic interventions; (2) working in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all activities related to emerging therapeutic interventions within the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (3) working with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to improve the delivery of, and access to, emerging therapeutic interventions. (c) Briefing on designation and implementation Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide a briefing to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and Senate on— (1) the status of the designation of the official under subsection (a); and (2) the implementation of the roles, responsibilities, and the authorities of the official under subsection (b).