A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program on the provision of assistance to certain military families.

Summary: Military Family Assistance Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program awarding grants to non-federal entities to provide assistance to families of members of the Armed Forces who live more than 180 miles from a military installation where members on active duty are stationed.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Military Family Assistance Act of 
2006''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN MILITARY FAMILIES.

    (a) Program Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a 
program utilizing non-Federal eligible entities to provide assistance 
to the families of members of the Armed Forces who live more than 180 
miles from a military installation where members of the Armed Forces on 
active duty are stationed.
    (b) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--Under the program, the Secretary shall 
        award grants to eligible entities described in subsection (c) 
        for the provision of assistance to military families as 
        described in subsection (a).
            (2) Maximum grant amount.--The amount of any grant awarded 
        under this section may not exceed $25,000.
            (3) Maximum number of grants.--An eligible entity may not 
        be awarded more than three grants this section.
            (4) Applications.--An entity seeking a grant under this 
        section shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor 
        containing such information as the Secretary shall require for 
        purposes of this section.
    (c) Eligible Entities.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of this section, an eligible 
        entity is any nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under 
        section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that has 
        the capacity to provide assistance to military families as 
        described in subsection (a) in a manner that the Secretary 
        considers appropriate for purposes of the program.
            (2) Matching requirement.--An application may not be 
        treated as valid for purposes of this section unless the 
        eligible entity submitting the application commits to 
        contribute to activities funded by the grant awarded to the 
        organization under this section an amount equal to the grant 
        amount which is derived from non-Federal sources.
    (d) Review and Approval of Applications.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide for the review 
        and approval of applications for grants under this section 
        through a board of review consisting of five individuals 
        selected by the Secretary from among individuals having the 
        qualifications described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Qualifications.--An individual selected for the board 
        of review under paragraph (1) shall have at least five years of 
        experience in two of the following areas:
                    (A) Grant writing.
                    (B) The operation of nonprofit organizations 
                identical or similar to eligible entities.
                    (C) Military family support assistance programs.
            (3) Considerations.--In determining whether to approve an 
        application for a grant under this section, the board of review 
        shall address the following:
                    (A) Whether the assistance to be provided to 
                military families using the grant amount is appropriate 
                for purposes of the program under this section.
                    (B) The nature of the commitment under subsection 
                (c)(2) of the organization submitting the application.
    (e) Use of Grant Amounts.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
        this section shall use the grant amount, and any amounts 
        committed by the eligible entity under subsection (c)(2), to 
        provide assistance to military families as described in 
        subsection (a) in the manner specified in the application for 
        the grant under this section.
            (2) Limitation.--Amounts under a grant under this section 
        may not be used to purchase, rent, renovate, or construct any 
        facilities.
    (f) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        obligation of any portion of the amount authorized to be 
        appropriated by subsection (i), the Secretary shall submit to 
        the congressional defense committees a report on the program 
        under this section.
            (2) Elements.--The report shall include the following:
                    (A) A description of the procedures implemented by 
                the Secretary for purposes of the program.
                    (B) A description of the applications submitted 
                under the program, including a description of the 
                various types of assistance for military families 
                proposed to be provided under such applications.
                    (C) A description, current as of the date of the 
                report, of the activities to be funded by grants under 
                the program.
                    (D) A review of the effectiveness of the board of 
                review under subsection (d).
                    (E) An assessment, current as of the date of the 
                report, of the advisability of extending the program or 
                making it permanent.
    (g) Sunset.--The program required by this section shall cease upon 
the earlier of the following:
            (1) The date of the declaration by the President of the 
        cessation of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
            (2) The date that is three years after the first obligation 
        of funds for the program under this section.
    (h) Congressional Defense Committees Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``congressional defense committees'' means--
            (1) the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of 
        the Senate; and
            (2) the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of 
        the House of Representatives.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby authorized to 
be appropriated to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2007, 
$10,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out the program under this 
section.