A bill to improve the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Summary: Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that: (1) each member of the Armed Forces who is discharged, released, or otherwise separated from service participates in DOD's Transition Assistance Program; and (2) such Program's programs and services are also accessible by all members of the National Guard and reserves. Outlines services available under the Program, including employment and training information, available educational benefits, and financial management and computer training.

Requires the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense and education committees: (1) four semiannual reports on the status of implementation of requirements under this Act; and (2) a one-time report on the Program's evolution and results.

SECTION 1. ENHANCEMENT OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Compulsory Participation in Program.--Effective not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall ensure the following:
            (1) That each member of the Armed Forces who is discharged, 
        released, or otherwise separated from the Armed Forces 
        participates in the Transition Assistance Program of the 
        Department of Defense.
            (2) That the programs and services of the Transition 
        Assistance Program are accessible by all members of the 
        National Guard and the Reserves.
    (b) Expansion of Services Under Program.--Effective not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall ensure that the services provided by the Transition Assistance 
Program include the following:
            (1) Employment and training information targeted 
        specifically at the various military grades and at the various 
        military occupational specialties.
            (2) Expanded emphasis on education benefits available to 
        former members of the Armed Forces, including educational 
        assistance under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code 
        (commonly referred to as ``Post-9/11 educational assistance'').
            (3) Enhanced information on the other benefits available to 
        former members of the Armed Forces through the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs.
            (4) Enhanced training on financial management.
            (5) Dedicated computer training with TurboTap.org, the 
        VetSuccess Internet website, the USA Jobs Internet website, and 
        any other employment-related Internet websites the Secretary 
        considers appropriate, including, in particular, employment-
        related Internet websites that focus on jobs for veterans.
            (6) Dedicated training targeted specifically at members of 
        the National Guard and the Reserves, including training on 
        employment protections and other employment matters under 
        chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code (commonly referred 
        to as the ``Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment 
        Rights Act'').
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Report required.--Not later than 6 months after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, and every six months 
        thereafter for the following 18 months, the Secretary shall 
        submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
        the status of the implementation of the requirements in 
        subsections (a) and (b).
            (2) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
                Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
                the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
                Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
                Representatives.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Labor, submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the Transition Assistance Program of the 
Department of Defense.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) An analysis of the rates of employment of individuals 
        post-separation from the Armed Forces when compared with the 
        rates of employment of the general population annually since 
        September 11, 2001.
            (2) A chronological summary of the evolution and 
        development of the Transition Assistance Program since 
        September 11, 2001.
            (3) A description of efforts to transform the Transition 
        Assistance Program from an end-of-service transition model to a 
        life-cycle model, in which transition is considered throughout 
        the career of a member of the Armed Forces.
            (4) An analysis of current and future challenges that 
        former members of the Armed Forces face upon entering the 
        civilian workforce, including a survey of the following to 
        identify strengths and shortcomings of the Transition 
        Assistance Program in meeting such challenges:
                    (A) A representational population of transitioning 
                or recently separated members of the Armed Forces.
                    (B) Employers with a history of employing retired 
                or separating members of the Armed Forces.
                    (C) Veterans service organizations and advocacy 
                groups.
            (5) An assessment of whether the Transition Assistance 
        Program would be more effective if it were provided to members 
        of the Armed Forces earlier before separation.
            (6) A description of various options for a so-called 
        ``check-in'' mechanism under the Transition Assistance Program 
        in which former members contact the program three months after 
        separation to address questions, including through the use of 
        Internet-based programs.
            (7) An assessment of the quality of trainers under the 
        Transition Assistance Program.
            (8) An assessment of the success of marketing the 
        Transition Assistance Program to members of the Armed Forces.
            (9) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense 
        considers appropriate, including recommendations for 
        legislative action, to improve the organization, policies, 
        consistency of quality, and efficacy of the Transition 
        Assistance Program.
    (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
        Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
        Education and Labor of the House of Representatives.