I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4208
To expedite the implementation of the per diem allowance for members
of the Armed Forces subjected to lengthy or numerous deployments,
to extend the allowance to the Coast Guard, and to reevaluate the
eligibility criteria for the allowance, to require a study on the need
for a tax credit for businesses that employ members of the National
Guard and Reserve, and to require a study on the expansion of the
Junior ROTC and similar military programs for young people.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 6, 2000
Ms. GRANGER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To expedite the implementation of the per diem allowance
for members of the Armed Forces subjected to lengthy
or numerous deployments, to extend the allowance to
the Coast Guard, and to reevaluate the eligibility criteria
for the allowance, to require a study on the need for
a tax credit for businesses that employ members of the
National Guard and Reserve, and to require a study
on the expansion of the Junior ROTC and similar mili-
tary programs for young people.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recruiting, Retention,
and Reservist Promotion Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. PER DIEM ALLOWANCE FOR LENGTHY OR NUMER-
OUS DEPLOYMENTS.
(a) EXPEDITED IMPLEMENTATION.—(1) Section 435
of title 37, United States Code, as added by section 586(b)
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2000 (Public Law 106–65; 113 Stat. 638), is amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(g) IMPLEMENTATION.—This section shall take ef-
fect on the first day of the first month beginning after
the date of the enactment of this subsection. For purposes
of determining the eligibility of a member for the high-
deployment per diem allowance on and after that date, the
Secretary concerned shall consider days on which the
member was deployed before that date.’’.
(2) Section 586(d) of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106–65; 113
Stat. 639) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Section 991’’; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2).
(b) INCLUSION OF COAST GUARD.—(1) Subsection
(a) of section 435 of title 37, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after ‘‘military department con-
cerned’’ the following: ‘‘, and the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, with respect to members of the Coast Guard when
it is not operating as a service in the Department of the
Navy,’’.
(2) Section 991 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended—
(A) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘of each mili-
tary department’’ and inserting ‘‘concerned’’;
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘of the mili-
tary department’’; and
(C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘This section’’
and inserting ‘‘Subsection (a)’’.
(c) EVALUATION OF ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD.—(1)
Beginning six months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with
the Secretary of Transportation, shall conduct a study
regarding—
(A) the extent to which the high-deployment per
diem allowance authorized by section 435 of title 37,
United States Code, is being paid to members of the
regular and reserve components of the Armed
Forces;
(B) the effect of the availability of the allow-
ance on the morale of members and on retention and
recruitment rates; and
(C) the feasibility of establishing a reduced eli-
gibility threshold for a members of National Guard
and Reserve units serving on active duty for a period
of more than 30 days, at possibly a reduced per
diem rate, to address the disruption of the member’s
civilian employment.
(2) Not later than one year after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to Congress a report containing the results of the study
and the Secretary’s recommendations regarding—
(A) appropriate changes to the eligibility
threshold for the allowance and the per diem amount
specified in such section 435; and
(B) the establishment of a separate eligibility
threshold and per diem rate for members of Na-
tional Guard and Reserve units serving on active
duty for a period of more than 30 days.
(3) If the Secretary of Defense determines that the
threshold of 251 days of deployment during the preceding
365 days is too high a threshold for eligibility for the high-
deployment per diem allowance, the Secretary may reduce
the threshold to such days of deployment as the Secretary
considers appropriate. The Secretary shall notify the Con-
gress in writing of any change in the eligibility threshold
made under the authority of this paragraph.
SEC. 3. STUDY OF TAX CREDITS AND SMALL BUSINESS
LOAN CHANGES TO ASSIST BUSINESSES THAT
EMPLOY GUARD AND RESERVE MEMBERS.
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Comptroller General
shall conduct a study to determine—
(1) whether members of the National Guard
and Reserve comprise a disproportionately large por-
tion of the employees of any size or type of business,
including small business concerns;
(2) the amount of Federal tax benefit which
would be appropriate to compensate such a business
for costs associated with employing members of Na-
tional Guard and Reserve units and having such
members called to active duty; and
(3) whether changes can be made to the small
business loan program, such as a targeted level of
loans, reduced interest rates, and reduced paperwork
burdens for loan applications, to assist small busi-
ness concerns to deal with the costs associated with
employing members of National Guard and Reserve
units and having such members called to active duty.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
submit to Congress a report containing the results of the
study. The report shall include legislative proposals—
(1) to provide the recommended tax benefit
identified in the study; and
(2) to modify the small business loan program
to assist small business concerns that employ mem-
bers of National Guard and Reserve units.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON EXPANSION OF JUNIOR ROTC AND
SIMILAR MILITARY PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps, the Civil Air Patrol, the Naval Sea Cadet
Corps, and the Young Marines of the Marine Corps
League provide significant benefits for the Armed
Forces, including significant public relations bene-
fits; and
(2) there is substantial interest in expanding
the scope of these programs.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to Congress a report providing the Sec-
retary’s assessment of the feasibility and desirability of ex-
panding the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps pro-
gram of each of the military departments, the Civil Air
Patrol, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and the Young Ma-
rines of the Marine Corps League. The report shall include
such recommendations as the Secretary considers appro-
priate for expansion of these programs through an in-
crease in the number of units or participants in these pro-
grams, increased funding for these programs, or such
other means as the Secretary determines.
Æ