II 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1660 

To require studies on support services for families of members of the National 

Guard and Reserve who are undergoing deployment. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 19, 2007 

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

to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To require studies on support services for families of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are undergoing deployment. 

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

3 SECTION 1. STUDY ON IMPROVING SUPPORT SERVICES 

4 FOR CHILDREN, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS OF 

5 MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RE6 SERVE UNDERGOING DEPLOYMENT. 

7 (a) STUDY REQUIRED.— 

8 (1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall 

9 conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility and advis10 ability of entering into a contract or other agreeVerDate Aug 31 2005 22:15 Jun 22, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1660.IS S1660

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1 ment with a private sector entity having expertise in 

2 the health and well-being of families and children, 

3 infants, and toddlers in order to enhance and de4 velop support services for children of members of the 

5 National Guard and Reserve who are deployed. 

6 (2) TYPES OF SUPPORT SERVICES.—In con7 ducting the study, the Secretary shall consider the 

8 need— 

9 (A) to develop materials for parents and 

10 other caretakers of children of members of the 

11 National Guard and Reserve who are deployed 

12 to assist such parents and caretakers in re13 sponding to the adverse implications of such de14 ployment (and the death or injury of such mem15 bers during such deployment) for such children, 

16 including the role such parents and caretakers 

17 can play in addressing and mitigating such im18 plications; 

19 (B) to develop programs and activities to 

20 increase awareness throughout the military and 

21 civilian communities of the adverse implications 

22 of such deployment (and the death or injury of 

23 such members during such deployment) for 

24 such children and their families and to increase 


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1 collaboration within such communities to ad2 dress and mitigate such implications; 

3 (C) to develop training for early child care 

4 and education, mental health, health care, and 

5 family support professionals to enhance the 

6 awareness of such professionals of their role in 

7 assisting families in addressing and mitigating 

8 the adverse implications of such deployment 

9 (and the death or injury of such members dur10 ing such deployment) for such children; and 

11 (D) to conduct research on best practices 

12 for building psychological and emotional resil13 iency in such children in coping with the de14 ployment of such members. 

15 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

16 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 

17 shall submit to Congress a report containing the results 

18 of the study conducted under subsection (a). 

19 SEC. 2. STUDY ON ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM ON 

20 FAMILY-TO-FAMILY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES 

21 OF DEPLOYED MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL 

22 GUARD AND RESERVE. 

23 (a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall carry 

24 out a study to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of 

25 establishing a pilot program on family-to-family support 


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1 for families of deployed members of the National Guard 

2 and Reserve. The study shall include an assessment of the 

3 following: 

4 (1) The effectiveness of family-to-family sup5 port programs in— 

6 (A) providing peer support for families of 

7 deployed members of the National Guard and 

8 Reserve; 

9 (B) identifying and preventing family prob10 lems in such families; 

11 (C) reducing adverse outcomes for children 

12 of such families, including poor academic per13 formance, behavioral problems, stress, and anx14 iety; and 

15 (D) improving family readiness and post16 deployment transition for such families. 

17 (2) The feasibility and advisability of utilizing 

18 spouses of members of the Armed Forces as coun19 selors for families of deployed members of the Na20 tional Guard and Reserve, in order to assist such 

21 families in coping throughout the deployment cycle. 

22 (3) Best practices for training spouses of mem23 bers of the Armed Forces to act as counselors for 

24 families of deployed members of the National Guard 

25 and Reserve. 


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1 (b) REPORT.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit 

2 to Congress a report containing the results of the study 

3 conducted under subsection (a) not later than 180 days 

4 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

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