PUBLIC LAW 116–23—JUNE 25, 2019  133 STAT. 972  (1) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title,  the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to imple- ment section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added  by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under  such section.  Reports.  (2) UPDATES.—(A) Not later than 120 days after the date  of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a  report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House  of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the  Secretary to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding  claims for disability compensation under section 1822 of title  38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this  section.  (B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on  the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date  on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section  1822, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet- erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate  updates on the status of such regulations.  Time period.  (3) PENDING CASES.—  (A) AUTHORITY TO STAY.—The Secretary may stay a  claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on  which the Secretary commences the implementation of sec- tion 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added by  subsection (a).  (B) CLAIMS DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this  subparagraph is a claim for benefits—  (i) relating to the spina bifida and service covered  by such section 1822; and  (ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits  Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on  or after the date of the enactment of this Act and  before the date on which the Secretary commences  the implementation of such section 1822.  (e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the  enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consulta- tion with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committees  on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate  a report identifying—  Time period.  Consultation.  Time period.  38 USC 1822  note.  (1) the military installations of the United States located  in Thailand during the period beginning on January 9, 1962,  and ending on May 7, 1975, at which an herbicide agent (as  defined in section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as  added by subsection (a)) was actively used; and  (2) the period of such use.  (f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section  shall take effect on January 1, 2020.  Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of  this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the  Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives  and the Senate an updated report on the findings, as of the date  of the updated report, of the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort  of Gulf War and Gulf Era Veterans under the epidemiology program  of the Department of Veterans Affairs.  SEC. 5. UPDATED REPORT ON CERTAIN GULF WAR ILLNESS STUDY. 