II 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3657 

To provide additional respite care for spouses of members of the Armed 

Forces who deploy overseas, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 30 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 17), 2008 

Mr. BAUCUS introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To provide additional respite care for spouses of members 

of the Armed Forces who deploy overseas, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Military Child Care 

5 Act of 2008’’. 

6 SEC. 2. RESPITE CARE FOR SPOUSES, CAREGIVERS, AND 

7 SURVIVORS OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

8 FORCES DEPLOYING TO COMBAT ZONES. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

10 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 


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1 shall issue guidance to ensure access to, and affordability 

2 of, respite care as follows: 

3 (1) For spouses of members of the Armed 

4 Forces deployed to a combat zone, and for caregivers 

5 with respect to such members, respite care in caring 

6 for children of such members under the age of 13 

7 throughout the period of such member’s deployment 

8 to a combat zone. 

9 (2) For survivors of members of the Armed 

10 Forces deployed to a combat zone who are killed 

11 during such deployment, respite care in caring for 

12 children of such members until such children reach 

13 the age of 13. 

14 (b) ACCESS.—For purposes of subsection (a), a 

15 spouse, caregiver, or survivor of a member described in 

16 that subsection shall be treated as having access to respite 

17 care for the time applicable under that subsection if— 

18 (1) access to high-quality respite care is avail19 able at the child development program at the perma20 nent duty station of the member concerned during 

21 the entirety of such time; 

22 (2) in the event access is not available as de23 scribed in paragraph (1), or the spouse, caregiver, or 

24 survivor does not reside on a military installation, 

25 access is provided (whether by payment or reimVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:46 Oct 01, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3657.IS S3657

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1 bursement) to high-quality respite care from a non2 Department of Defense source approved by the Sec3 retary for purposes of this section during the en4 tirety of such time; or 

5 (3) access to high-quality respite care through6 out such period is achieved by a combination of the 

7 mechanisms described in paragraphs (1) and (2). 

8 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

9 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

10 to Congress a report on this section, The report shall in11 clude the following: 

12 (1) A description of the guidance issued under 

13 this section, including a description of the manner in 

14 which respite care will be provided under this section 

15 regardless of whether the spouses, caregivers, or sur16 vivors concerned reside on or off a military installa17 tion. 

18 (2) Such recommendations as the Secretary 

19 considers appropriate for legislative or administra20 tive action to improve access to and affordability of 

21 high-quality respite care for spouses of members of 

22 the Armed Forces described in subsection (a) in car23 ing for children of such members under the age of 

24 13 throughout the time applicable under that sub25 section. 


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1 (d) CAREGIVER DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

2 ‘‘caregiver’’ means an individual who— 

3 (1) is at least 18 years of age; 

4 (2) is capable of self care; and 

5 (3) is capable of care of children under the age 

6 of 13. 

Æ 


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