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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3840 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3840

  To establish the Office of Net Assessment within the Department of 
                                Defense.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2014

Mr. Thornberry introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To establish the Office of Net Assessment within the Department of 
                                Defense.

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

SECTION 1. OFFICE OF NET ASSESSMENT.

    (a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to maintain an 
independent organization within the Department of Defense to develop 
and coordinate net assessments of the standing, trends, and future 
prospects of the military capabilities and potential of the United 
States in comparison with the military capabilities and potential of 
other countries or groups of countries so as to identify emerging or 
future threats or opportunities for the United States.
    (b) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 4 of title 10, United States Code, 
        is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 145. Office of Net Assessment
    ``(a) In General.--There is in the Office of the Secretary of 
Defense an office known as the Office of Net Assessment.
    ``(b) Head.--(1) The head of the Office of Net Assessment shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of Defense. The head shall be a member of 
the Senior Executive Service.
    ``(2) The head of the Office of Net Assessment may communicate 
views on matters within the responsibility of the head directly to the 
Secretary without obtaining the approval or concurrence of any other 
official within the Department of Defense.
    ``(3) The head of the Office of Net Assessment shall report 
directly to the Secretary. The Secretary may not delegate the authority 
under this paragraph.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Office of Net Assessment shall develop 
and coordinate net assessments with respect to the standing, trends, 
and future prospects of the military capabilities and potential of the 
United States in comparison with the military capabilities and 
potential of other countries or groups of countries to identify 
emerging or future threats or opportunities for the United States.
    ``(d) Budget.--In the budget materials submitted to the President 
by the Secretary of Defense in connection with the submittal to 
Congress, pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, of the budget for any 
fiscal year after fiscal year 2014, the Secretary shall ensure that a 
separate, dedicated program element is assigned for the Office of Net 
Assessment.
    ``(e) Net Assessment Defined.--In this section, the term `net 
assessment' means the comparative analysis of military, technological, 
political, economic, and other factors governing the relative military 
capability of nations.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 4 of such title is amended by adding at 
        the end the following new item:

``145. Office of Net Assessment.''.
                                 <all>
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