§9701. Responsibilities.

The department shall have the following responsibilities:

(1) In consultation and cooperation with the United States Department of Defense, the department shall provide public access to a searchable database of individuals who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross and the Silver Star, which are granted for heroic service in the armed forces of the United States. The searchable database shall include the following:

(i) The recipient's full name.

(ii) The recipient's dates of service.

(iii) The name of the award or decoration.

(iv) The date of award or decoration.

(2) Within one year of the effective date of this paragraph, the department shall issue a report detailing the feasibility of expanding the database established under paragraph (1) to all military awards and decorations. The report shall include an estimate of the costs to the department associated with the establishment, administration and maintenance of the expanded database under this paragraph. The report shall be published on the department's publicly accessible Internet website and shall be delivered to the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and to the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives.

(3) Information pursuant to this chapter shall be available on the department's publicly accessible Internet website within three months of the effective date of this chapter.