332 
or property, both real and personal, for the purpose 
of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission. 
Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds 
from sales of other property received as gifts, be-
quests, or devises shall be deposited in the Treasury 
and shall be available for disbursement upon order 
of the chairman, vice chairman, or designee. 
(g) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the initial meeting of the Commission, the 
Commission shall submit to the President, the Sec-
retary of Defense, and the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives, and release to the public, a report setting 
forth— 
(A) a strategic plan for the work of the 
Commission; 
(B) a discussion of the activities of the 
Commission; and 
(C) any initial findings of the Commission. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 months 
after the initial meeting of the Commission, the 
Commission shall submit to the President, the Sec-
retary of Defense, and the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
333 
tives, and release to the public, a final report. Such 
report shall include any recommendations developed 
under subsection (b)(3) that the Commission deter-
mines appropriate, including any recommended legis-
lation, policies, regulations, directives, and practices. 
(h) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
90 days after the date on which the final report is sub-
mitted under subsection (g)(2). 
SEC. 595. ELECTRONIC TRACKING OF CERTAIN RESERVE 
DUTY. 
The Secretary of Defense shall establish an electronic 
means by which members of the Ready Reserve of the 
Armed Forces can track their operational active-duty serv-
ice performed after January 28, 2008, under section 
12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12302, or 12304 of title 
10, United States Code. The tour calculator shall specify 
early retirement credit authorized for each qualifying tour 
of active duty, as well as cumulative early reserve retire-
ment credit authorized to date under section 12731(f) of 
such title.
334 
SEC. 596. MILITARY SALUTE DURING RECITATION OF 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES NOT IN UNIFORM AND 
BY VETERANS. 
Section 4 of title 4, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘Mem-
bers of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans may 
render the military salute in the manner provided for per-
sons in uniform.’’. 
SEC. 597. PROVISION OF SERVICE RECORDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with subsection (b), 
the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, shall make the covered records 
of each member of the Armed Forces available to the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs in an electronic format. 
(b) TIMELINE.—The Secretary of Defense shall en-
sure that the covered records of members are made avail-
able to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as follows: 
(1) With respect to a member of the Armed 
Forces who was discharged or released from the 
Armed Forces during the period beginning on Sep-
tember 11, 2001, and ending on the day before the 
date of the enactment of this Act, not later than 120 
days after the date of such discharge or release. 
(2) With respect to a member of the Armed 
Forces who is discharged or released from the
335 
Armed Forces on or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, not later than 90 days after the date of 
such discharge or release. 
(c) CERTIFICATION.—For each member of the Armed 
Forces whose covered records are made available under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall transmit to 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a letter certifying that— 
(1) the Secretary of Defense thoroughly re-
viewed the records of the member; 
(2) the information provided in the covered 
records of such member is complete as of the date 
of the letter; 
(3) no other information that should be in-
cluded in such covered records exist as of such date; 
and 
(4) if other information is later discovered— 
(A) such other information will be added to 
such covered records; and 
(B) the Secretary of Defense will notify 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of such addi-
tion. 
(d) SHARING
OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMA-
TION.—For purposes of the regulations promulgated 
under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability 
and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note),
336 
making medical records available to the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs under subsection (a) shall be treated as a 
permitted disclosure. 
(e) CURRENTLY AVAILABLE RECORDS.—The Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Defense, shall ensure that the covered records 
of members of the Armed Forces that are available to the 
Secretary as of the date of the enactment of this Act are 
made electronically accessible and available in real-time to 
the Veterans Benefits Administration. 
(f) COVERED RECORDS DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered records’’ means, with respect to a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces— 
(1) service treatment records; 
(2) accompanying personal records; 
(3) relevant unit records; and 
(4) medical records created by reason of treat-
ment or services received pursuant to chapter 55 of 
title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 598. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE RECOV-
ERY OF THE REMAINS OF CERTAIN MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES KILLED IN THUR-
STON ISLAND, ANTARCTICA. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings:
337 
(1) Commencing August 26, 1946, though late 
February 1947 the United States Navy Antarctic 
Developments Program Task Force 68, codenamed 
‘‘Operation Highjump’’ initiated and undertook the 
largest ever-to-this-date exploration of the Antarctic 
continent. 
(2) The primary mission of the Task Force 68 
organized by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd Jr. 
USN, (Ret) and led by Rear Admiral Richard H. 
Cruzen, USN, was to do the following: 
(A) Establish the Antarctic research base 
Little America IV. 
(B) In the defense of the United States of 
America from possible hostile aggression from 
abroad—to train personnel test equipment, de-
velop techniques for establishing, maintaining 
and utilizing air bases on ice, with applicability 
comparable to interior Greenland, where condi-
tions are similar to those of the Antarctic. 
(C) Map and photograph a full two-thirds 
of the Antarctic Continent during the classified, 
hazardous duty/volunteer-only operation involv-
ing 4700 sailors, 23 aircraft and 13 ships in-
cluding the first submarine the U.S.S. Sennet, 
and the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Philippine
338 
Sea, brought to the edge of the ice pack to 
launch (6) Navy ski-equipped, rocket-assisted 
R4Ds. 
(D) Consolidate and extend United States 
sovereignty over the largest practicable area of 
the Antarctic continent. 
(E) Determine the feasibility of estab-
lishing, maintaining and utilizing bases in the 
Antarctic and investigating possible base sites. 
(3) While on a hazardous duty/all volunteer 
mission vital to the interests of National Security 
and while over the eastern Antarctica coastline 
known as the Phantom Coast, the PBM–5 Martin 
Mariner ‘‘Flying Boat’’ ‘‘George 1’’ entered a 
whiteout over Thurston Island. As the pilot at-
tempted to climb, the aircraft grazed the glacier’s 
ridgeline and exploded within 5 seconds instantly 
killing Ensign Maxwell Lopez, Navigator and Wen-
dell ‘‘Bud’’ Hendersin, Aviation Machinists Mate 1st 
Class while Frederick Williams, Aviation Radioman 
1st Class died several hours later. Six other crewmen 
survived including the Captain of the ‘‘George 1’s’’ 
seaplane tender U.S.S. Pine Island. 
(4) The bodies of the dead were protected from 
the desecration of Antarctic scavenging birds
339 
(Skuas) by the surviving crew wrapping the bodies 
and temporarily burying the men under the star-
board wing engine nacelle. 
(5) Rescue requirements of the ‘‘George–1’’ 
survivors 
forced 
the 
abandonment 
of 
their 
crewmates’ bodies. 
(6) Conditions prior to the departure of Task 
Force 68 precluded a return to the area to the re-
cover the bodies. 
(7) For nearly 60 years Navy promised the 
families that they would recover the men: ‘‘If the 
safety, logistical, and operational prerequisites allow 
a mission in the future, every effort will be made to 
bring our sailors home.’’. 
(8) The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command 
twice offered to recover the bodies of this crew for 
Navy. 
(9) A 2004 NASA ground penetrating radar 
overflight commissioned by Navy relocated the crash 
site three miles from its crash position. 
(10) The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Com-
mand offered to underwrite the cost of an aerial 
ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the crash 
site area by NASA.
340 
(11) The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Com-
mand studied the recovery with the recognized recov-
ery authorities and national scientists and deter-
mined that the recovery is only ‘‘medium risk’’. 
(12) National Science Foundation and sci-
entists from the University of Texas, Austin, regu-
larly visit the island. 
(13) The crash site is classified as a ‘‘perishable 
site’’, meaning a glacier that will calve into the 
Bellingshausen Sea. 
(14) The National Science Foundation main-
tains a presence in area—of the Pine Island Glacier. 
(15) The National Science Foundation Director 
of Polar Operations will assist and provide assets for 
the recovery upon the request of Congress. 
(16) The United States Coast Guard is pres-
ently pursuing the recovery of 3 WWII air crewmen 
from similar circumstances in Greenland. 
(17) On Memorial Day, May 25, 2009, Presi-
dent Barack Obama declared: ‘‘* * * the support of 
our veterans is a sacred trust * * * we need to serve 
them as they have served us * * * that means bring-
ing home all our POWs and MIAs * * *’’.
341 
(18) The policies and laws of the United States 
of America require that our armed service personnel 
be repatriated. 
(19) The fullest possible accounting of United 
States fallen military personnel means repatriating 
living American POWs and MIAs, accounting for, 
identifying, and recovering the remains of military 
personnel who were killed in the line of duty, or pro-
viding convincing evidence as to why such a repatri-
ation, accounting, identification, or recovery is not 
possible. 
(20) It is the responsibility of the Federal Gov-
ernment to return to the United States for proper 
burial and respect all members of the Armed Forces 
killed in the line of duty who lie in lost graves. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—In light of the findings 
under subsection (a), Congress— 
(1) reaffirms its support for the recovery and 
return to the United States, the remains and bodies 
of all members of the Armed Forces killed in the 
line of duty, and for the efforts by the Joint POW- 
MIA Accounting Command to recover the remains of 
members of the Armed Forces from all wars, con-
flicts and missions;
342 
(2) recognizes the courage and sacrifice of all 
members of the Armed Forces who participated in 
Operation Highjump and all missions vital to the 
national security of the United States of America; 
(3) acknowledges the dedicated research and ef-
forts by the US Geological Survey, the National 
Science Foundation, the Joint POW/MIA Account-
ing Command, the Fallen American Veterans Foun-
dation and all persons and organizations to identify, 
locate, and advocate for, from their temporary Ant-
arctic grave, the recovery of the well-preserved fro-
zen bodies of Ensign Maxwell Lopez, Naval Aviator, 
Frederick Williams, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1ST 
Class, Wendell Hendersin, Aviation Radioman 1ST 
Class of the ‘‘George 1’’ explosion and crash; and 
(4) encourages the Department of Defense to 
review the facts, research and to pursue new efforts 
to undertake all feasible efforts to recover, identify, 
and return the well-preserved frozen bodies of the 
‘‘George 1’’ crew from Antarctica’s Thurston Island. 
SEC. 599. GIFTS MADE FOR THE BENEFIT OF MILITARY MU-
SICAL UNITS. 
Section 974 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended—
343 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) PERFORMANCES FUNDED BY PRIVATE DONA-
TION.—Notwithstanding section 2601(c) of this title, any 
gift made to the Secretary of Defense under section 2601 
on the condition that such gift be used for the benefit of 
a military musical unit shall be credited to the appropria-
tion or account providing the funds for such military musi-
cal unit. Any amount so credited shall be merged with 
amounts in the appropriation or account to which credited, 
and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject 
to the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in such 
appropriation or account.’’. 
TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND 
OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS 
Subtitle A—Pay and Allowances 
SEC. 601. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TEM-
PORARY INCREASE IN RATES OF BASIC AL-
LOWANCE FOR HOUSING UNDER CERTAIN 
CIRCUMSTANCES. 
Section 403(b)(7)(E) of title 37, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘December 31, 2014’’.
344 
SEC. 602. RECOGNITION OF ADDITIONAL MEANS BY WHICH 
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD CALLED 
INTO FEDERAL SERVICE FOR A PERIOD OF 30 
DAYS OR LESS MAY INITIALLY REPORT FOR 
DUTY FOR ENTITLEMENT TO BASIC PAY. 
Section 204(c) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘date when 
he appears at the place of company rendezvous’’ and 
inserting ‘‘date on which the member, in person or 
by authorized telephonic or electronic means, con-
tacts the member’s unit’’; and 
(2) by striking the second sentence and insert-
ing the following new sentence: ‘‘However, this sub-
section does not authorize any expenditure before 
the member makes authorized contact that is not 
authorized by law to be paid after such authorized 
contact.’’. 
Subtitle B—Bonuses and Special 
and Incentive Pays 
SEC. 611. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF CERTAIN BONUS AND 
SPECIAL PAY AUTHORITIES FOR RESERVE 
FORCES. 
The following sections of title 37, United States 
Code, are amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2014’’:
345 
(1) Section 308b(g), relating to Selected Re-
serve reenlistment bonus. 
(2) Section 308c(i), relating to Selected Reserve 
affiliation or enlistment bonus. 
(3) Section 308d(c), relating to special pay for 
enlisted members assigned to certain high-priority 
units. 
(4) Section 308g(f)(2), relating to Ready Re-
serve enlistment bonus for persons without prior 
service. 
(5) Section 308h(e), relating to Ready Reserve 
enlistment and reenlistment bonus for persons with 
prior service. 
(6) Section 308i(f), relating to Selected Reserve 
enlistment and reenlistment bonus for persons with 
prior service. 
(7) Section 478a(e), relating to reimbursement 
of travel expenses for inactive-duty training outside 
of normal commuting distance. 
(8) Section 910(g), relating to income replace-
ment payments for reserve component members ex-
periencing extended and frequent mobilization for 
active duty service.
346 
SEC. 612. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF CERTAIN BONUS AND 
SPECIAL PAY AUTHORITIES FOR HEALTH 
CARE PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) TITLE 10 AUTHORITIES.—The following sections 
of title 10, United States Code, are amended by striking 
‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2014’’: 
(1) Section 2130a(a)(1), relating to nurse offi-
cer candidate accession program. 
(2) Section 16302(d), relating to repayment of 
education loans for certain health professionals who 
serve in the Selected Reserve. 
(b) TITLE 37 AUTHORITIES.—The following sections 
of title 37, United States Code, are amended by striking 
‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2014’’: 
(1) Section 302c–1(f), relating to accession and 
retention bonuses for psychologists. 
(2) Section 302d(a)(1), relating to accession 
bonus for registered nurses. 
(3) Section 302e(a)(1), relating to incentive 
special pay for nurse anesthetists. 
(4) Section 302g(e), relating to special pay for 
Selected Reserve health professionals in critically 
short wartime specialties.
347 
(5) Section 302h(a)(1), relating to accession 
bonus for dental officers. 
(6) Section 302j(a), relating to accession bonus 
for pharmacy officers. 
(7) Section 302k(f), relating to accession bonus 
for medical officers in critically short wartime spe-
cialties. 
(8) Section 302l(g), relating to accession bonus 
for dental specialist officers in critically short war-
time specialties. 
SEC. 613. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF SPECIAL PAY AND 
BONUS AUTHORITIES FOR NUCLEAR OFFI-
CERS. 
The following sections of title 37, United States 
Code, are amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2014’’: 
(1) Section 312(f), relating to special pay for 
nuclear-qualified officers extending period of active 
service. 
(2) Section 312b(c), relating to nuclear career 
accession bonus. 
(3) Section 312c(d), relating to nuclear career 
annual incentive bonus.
348 
SEC. 614. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES RELAT-
ING TO TITLE 37 CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL 
PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AUTHORI-
TIES. 
The following sections of title 37, United States 
Code, are amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2014’’: 
(1) Section 331(h), relating to general bonus 
authority for enlisted members. 
(2) Section 332(g), relating to general bonus 
authority for officers. 
(3) Section 333(i), relating to special bonus and 
incentive pay authorities for nuclear officers. 
(4) Section 334(i), relating to special aviation 
incentive pay and bonus authorities for officers. 
(5) Section 335(k), relating to special bonus 
and incentive pay authorities for officers in health 
professions. 
(6) Section 351(h), relating to hazardous duty 
pay. 
(7) Section 352(g), relating to assignment pay 
or special duty pay. 
(8) Section 353(i), relating to skill incentive 
pay or proficiency bonus.
349 
(9) Section 355(h), relating to retention incen-
tives for members qualified in critical military skills 
or assigned to high priority units. 
SEC. 615. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES RELAT-
ING TO PAYMENT OF OTHER TITLE 37 BO-
NUSES AND SPECIAL PAYS. 
The following sections of title 37, United States 
Code, are amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2014’’: 
(1) Section 301b(a), relating to aviation officer 
retention bonus. 
(2) Section 307a(g), relating to assignment in-
centive pay. 
(3) Section 308(g), relating to reenlistment 
bonus for active members. 
(4) Section 309(e), relating to enlistment 
bonus. 
(5) Section 324(g), relating to accession bonus 
for new officers in critical skills. 
(6) Section 326(g), relating to incentive bonus 
for conversion to military occupational specialty to 
ease personnel shortage. 
(7) Section 327(h), relating to incentive bonus 
for transfer between armed forces.
350 
(8) Section 330(f), relating to accession bonus 
for officer candidates. 
SEC. 616. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PRO-
VIDE INCENTIVE PAY FOR MEMBERS OF 
PRECOMMISSIONING PROGRAMS PURSUING 
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY. 
Section 316a(g) of title 37, United States Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2014’’. 
SEC. 617. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE BONUS TO CERTAIN CA-
DETS AND MIDSHIPMEN ENROLLED IN THE 
SENIOR 
RESERVE 
OFFICERS’ 
TRAINING 
CORPS. 
(a) BONUS AUTHORIZED.—Chapter 5 of title 37, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
335 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 336. Contracting bonus for cadets and midshipmen 
enrolled in the Senior Reserve Officers’ 
Training Corps 
‘‘(a) CONTRACTING BONUS AUTHORIZED.—The Sec-
retary concerned may pay a bonus under this section to 
a cadet or midshipman enrolled in the Senior Reserve Offi-
cers’ Training Corps who executes a written agreement de-
scribed in subsection (c).
351 
‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF BONUS.—The amount of a bonus 
under subsection (a) may not exceed $5,000. 
‘‘(c) AGREEMENT.—A written agreement referred to 
in subsection (a) is a written agreement by the cadet or 
midshipman— 
‘‘(1) to complete field training or a practice 
cruise under section 2104(b)(6)(A)(ii) of title 10; 
‘‘(2) to complete advanced training under chap-
ter 103 of title 10; 
‘‘(3) to accept a commission or appointment as 
an officer of the armed forces; and 
‘‘(4) to serve on active duty. 
‘‘(d) PAYMENT METHOD.—Upon acceptance of a 
written agreement under subsection (a) by the Secretary 
concerned, the total amount of the bonus payable under 
the agreement becomes fixed. The agreement shall specify 
when the bonus will be paid and whether the bonus will 
be paid in a lump sum or in installments. 
‘‘(e) REPAYMENT.—A person who, having received all 
or part of a bonus under subsection (a), fails to fulfill the 
terms of the written agreement required by such sub-
section for receipt of the bonus shall be subject to the re-
payment provisions of section 373 of this title.
352 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary concerned shall 
issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out 
this section. 
‘‘(g) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—No agreement 
under this section may be entered into after December 31, 
2015.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 335 the following new 
item: 
‘‘336. Contracting bonus for cadets and midshipmen enrolled in the Senior Re-
serve Officers’ Training Corps.’’. 
Subtitle C—Disability, Retired Pay, 
Survivor, and Transitional Benefits 
SEC. 621. TRANSITIONAL COMPENSATION AND OTHER BEN-
EFITS FOR DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN MEM-
BERS SEPARATED FOR VIOLATION OF THE 
UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 53 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1059 
the following new section:
353 
‘‘§ 1059a. Dependents of certain members separated 
for Uniform Code of Military Justice of-
fenses: transitional compensation; com-
missary and exchange benefits 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO PAY COMPENSATION.—The Sec-
retary of Defense, with respect to the armed forces (other 
than the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service 
in the Navy), and the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating 
as a service in the Navy, may each establish a program 
under which the Secretary may pay monthly transitional 
compensation in accordance with this section to depend-
ents or former dependents of a member of the armed 
forces described in subsection (b) who is under the juris-
diction of the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERS AND PUNITIVE ACTIONS COVERED.— 
This section applies in the case of a member of the armed 
forces who, after completing more than 20 years of active 
service or more than 20 years of service computed under 
section 12732 of this title— 
‘‘(1) is convicted by court-martial of an offense 
under chapter 47 of this title (the Uniform Code of 
Military Justice); 
‘‘(2) is separated from active duty pursuant to 
the sentence of the court-martial; and
354 
‘‘(3) forfeits all pay and allowances pursuant to 
the sentence of the court-martial. 
‘‘(c) RECIPIENT OF PAYMENTS.—(1) In the case of 
a member of the armed forces described in subsection (b), 
the Secretary may pay compensation under this section 
to dependents or former dependents of the member as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(A) If the member was married at the time of 
the commission of the offense resulting in separation 
from the armed forces, such compensation may be 
paid to the spouse or former spouse to whom the 
member was married at that time, including an 
amount for each, if any, dependent child of the 
member who resides in the same household as that 
spouse or former spouse. 
‘‘(B) If there is a spouse or former spouse who 
is or, but for subsection (d)(2), would be eligible for 
compensation under this section and if there is a de-
pendent child of the member who does not reside in 
the same household as that spouse or former spouse, 
compensation under this section may be paid to each 
such dependent child of the member who does not 
reside in that household. 
‘‘(C) If there is no spouse or former spouse who 
is or, but for subsection (d)(2), would be eligible
355 
under this section, compensation under this section 
may be paid to the dependent children of the mem-
ber. 
‘‘(2) A dependent or former dependent of a member 
described in subsection (b) is not eligible for transitional 
compensation under this section if the Secretary con-
cerned determines (under regulations prescribed under 
subsection (g)) that the dependent or former dependent 
was an active participant in the conduct constituting the 
offense under chapter 47 of this title (the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice) for which the member was convicted 
and separated from the armed forces. 
‘‘(d) COMMENCEMENT
AND DURATION
OF PAY-
MENT.—(1) If provided under this section, the payment 
of transitional compensation under this section shall com-
mence— 
‘‘(A) as of the date the court-martial sen-
tence is adjudged if the sentence, as adjudged, 
includes— 
‘‘(i) a dismissal, dishonorable dis-
charge, or bad conduct discharge; and 
‘‘(ii) forfeiture of all pay and allow-
ances; or 
‘‘(B) if there is a pretrial agreement that 
provides for disapproval or suspension of the
356 
dismissal, dishonorable discharge, bad conduct 
discharge, or forfeiture of all pay and allow-
ances, as of the date of the approval of the 
court-martial sentence by the person acting 
under section 860(c) of this title (article 60(c) 
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) if the 
sentence, as approved, includes— 
‘‘(i) an unsuspended dismissal, dis-
honorable discharge, or bad conduct dis-
charge; and 
‘‘(ii) forfeiture of all pay and allow-
ances. 
‘‘(2) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (e), para-
graphs (1) and (2) of subsection (g), and subsections (f) 
and (h) of section 1059 of this title shall apply in deter-
mining— 
‘‘(A) the amount of transitional compensation 
to be paid under this section; 
‘‘(B) the period for which such compensation 
may be paid; and 
‘‘(C) the circumstances under which the pay-
ment of such compensation may or will cease. 
‘‘(e) COMMISSARY AND EXCHANGE BENEFITS.—A 
dependent or former dependent who receives transitional 
compensation under this section shall, while receiving such
357 
payments, be entitled to use commissary and exchange 
stores in the same manner as provided in subsection (j) 
of section 1059 of this title. 
‘‘(f) COORDINATION OF BENEFITS.—The Secretary 
concerned may not make payments to a spouse or former 
spouse under both this section and section 1059 or 
1408(h)(1) of this title. In the case of a spouse or former 
spouse for whom a court order provides for payments by 
the Secretary pursuant to section 1408(h)(1) of this title 
and to whom the Secretary offers payments under this sec-
tion or section 1059, the spouse or former spouse shall 
elect which payments to receive. 
‘‘(g) REGULATIONS.—If the Secretary of Defense (or 
the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the 
Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the 
Navy) establishes a program to provide transitional com-
pensation under this section, that Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations to carry out the program. 
‘‘(h) DEPENDENT CHILD DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘dependent child’, with respect to a member or 
former member of the armed forces referred to in sub-
section (b), has the meaning given such term in subsection 
(l) of section 1059 of this title, except that status as a 
‘dependent child’ shall be determined as of the date on
358 
which the member described in subsection (b) is convicted 
of the offense concerned.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 53 of such title is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1059 the 
following new item: 
‘‘1059a. Dependents of certain members separated for Uniform Code of Military 
Justice offenses: transitional compensation; commissary and 
exchange benefits.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (i) of 
section 1059 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(i) COORDINATION OF BENEFITS.—The Secretary 
concerned may not make payments to a spouse or former 
spouse under both this section and section 1059a or 
1408(h)(1) of this title. In the case of a spouse or former 
spouse for whom a court order provides for payments by 
the Secretary pursuant to section 1408(h)(1) of this title 
and to whom the Secretary offers payments under this sec-
tion or section 1059a, the spouse or former spouse shall 
elect which payments to receive.’’. 
SEC. 622. PREVENTION OF RETIRED PAY INVERSION FOR 
MEMBERS WHOSE RETIRED PAY IS COM-
PUTED USING HIGH-THREE AVERAGE. 
(a) CLARIFICATION OF RULE FOR MEMBERS WHO 
BECAME MEMBERS ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 8, 1980.—
359 
Section 1401a(f)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law, the monthly retired pay of a member 
or a former member of an armed force’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(A) MEMBERS WITH RETIRED PAY COM-
PUTED USING FINAL BASIC PAY.—The monthly 
retired pay of a member or former member of 
an armed force who first became a member of 
a uniformed service before September 8, 1980, 
and’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) MEMBERS WITH RETIRED PAY COM-
PUTED
USING
HIGH-THREE.—Subject to sub-
sections (d) and (e), the monthly retired pay of 
a member or former member of an armed force 
who first became a member of a uniformed 
service on or after September 8, 1980, may not 
be less, on the date on which the member or 
former member initially becomes entitled to 
such pay, than the monthly retired pay to which 
the member or former member would be enti-
tled on that date if the member or former mem-
360 
ber had become entitled to retired pay on an 
earlier date, adjusted to reflect any applicable 
increases in such pay under this section. How-
ever, in the case of a member or former mem-
ber whose retired pay is computed subject to 
section 1407(f) of this title, subparagraph (A) 
(rather than the preceding sentence) shall apply 
in the same manner as if the member or former 
member first became a member of a uniformed 
service before September 8, 1980, but only with 
respect to a calculation as of the date on which 
the member or former member first became en-
titled to retired pay.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—Subparagraph (B) of section 
1401a(f)(1) of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a)(2), applies to the computation of retired 
pay or retainer pay of any member or former member of 
an Armed Force who first became a member of a uni-
formed service on or after September 8, 1980, regardless 
of the date on which the member first becomes entitled 
to retired or retainer pay.
361 
Subtitle D—Commissary and Non-
appropriated Fund Instrumen-
tality Benefits and Operations 
SEC. 631. EXPANSION OF PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES OF 
NONAPPROPRIATED FUND INSTRUMENTAL-
ITIES FROM REPRISALS. 
Section 1587(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘take or fail to take’’ and inserting 
‘‘take, threaten to take, or fail to take’’. 
SEC. 632. PURCHASE OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS, LOCAL 
FOOD PRODUCTS, AND RECYCLABLE MATE-
RIALS FOR RESALE IN COMMISSARY AND EX-
CHANGE STORE SYSTEMS. 
(a) IMPROVED
PURCHASING
EFFORTS.—Section 
2481(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The governing body established pursuant to 
paragraph (2) shall endeavor to increase the purchase for 
resale at commissary stores and exchange stores of sus-
tainable products, local food products, and recyclable ma-
terials. 
‘‘(B) As part of its efforts under subparagraph (A), 
the governing body shall develop— 
‘‘(i) guidelines for the identification of fresh 
meat, poultry, seafood, and fish, fresh produce, and
362 
other products raised or produced through sustain-
able methods; and 
‘‘(ii) goals, applicable to all commissary stores 
and exchange stores world-wide, to maximize, to the 
maximum extent practical, the purchase of sustain-
able products, local food products, and recyclable 
materials by September 30, 2018.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND GUIDE-
LINES.—The initial guidelines required by paragraph 
(3)(B)(i) of section 2481(c) of title 10, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a), shall be issued not later 
than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 633. CORRECTION OF OBSOLETE REFERENCES TO 
CERTAIN NONAPPROPRIATED FUND INSTRU-
MENTALITIES. 
Section 2105(c) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘Army and Air Force Motion Picture 
Service, Navy Ship’s Stores Ashore’’ and inserting ‘‘Navy 
Ships Stores Program’’. 
SEC. 634. EXCHANGE STORE SYSTEM PARTICIPATION IN 
THE ACCORD ON FIRE AND BUILDING SAFE-
TY IN BANGLADESH. 
(a) SPECIAL PROCUREMENT GUIDANCE FOR GAR-
MENTS MANUFACTURED IN BANGLADESH.—The senior 
official of the Department of Defense designated pursuant
363 
to section 2481(c) to oversee the defense commissary sys-
tem and the exchange store system shall require, con-
sistent with applicable international agreements, that the 
exchange store system— 
(1) for the purchase of garments manufactured 
in Bangladesh for the private label brands of the ex-
change store system, becomes a signatory of or oth-
erwise complies with applicable requirements set 
forth in the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in 
Bangladesh; 
(2) for the purchase of licensed apparel manu-
factured in Bangladesh, gives a preference to licens-
ees that are signatories to the Accord on Fire and 
Building Safety in Bangladesh; and 
(3) for the purchase of garments manufactured 
in Bangladesh from retail suppliers, gives a pref-
erence to retail suppliers that are signatories to the 
Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. 
(b) NOTICE OF EXCEPTIONS.—If any garments man-
ufactured in Bangladesh are purchased from suppliers 
that are not signatories to the Accord on Fire and Build-
ing Safety in Bangladesh, the Department of Defense offi-
cial referred to in subsection (a) shall notify Congress of 
the purchase and the reasons therefor.
364 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The requirements imposed 
by this section shall take effect 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act or as soon after that date as 
the Secretary of Defense determines to be practicable so 
as to avoid disruption in garment supplies for the ex-
change store system. 
Subtitle E—Other Matters 
SEC. 641. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE CERTAIN EXPENSES 
FOR CARE AND DISPOSITION OF HUMAN RE-
MAINS RETAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE FOR FORENSIC PATHOLOGY INVES-
TIGATION. 
(a) DISPOSITION OF REMAINS OF PERSONS WHOSE 
DEATH IS INVESTIGATED BY THE ARMED FORCES MED-
ICAL EXAMINER.— 
(1) COVERED DECEDENTS.—Section 1481(a) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(10) To the extent authorized under section 
1482(g) of this title, any person not otherwise cov-
ered by the preceding paragraphs whose remains (or 
partial remains) have been retained by the Secretary 
concerned for purposes of a forensic pathology inves-
tigation by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner 
under section 1471 of this title.’’.
365 
(2) AUTHORIZED
EXPENSES
RELATING
TO 
CARE AND DISPOSITION OF REMAINS.—Section 1482 
of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(g)(1) The payment of expenses incident to the re-
covery, care, and disposition of the remains of a decedent 
covered by section 1481(a)(10) of this title is limited to 
those expenses that, as determined under regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary of Defense, would not have been 
incurred but for the retention of those remains for pur-
poses of a forensic pathology investigation by the Armed 
Forces Medical Examiner under section 1471 of this title. 
The Secretary concerned shall pay all other expenses au-
thorized to be paid under this section only on a reimburs-
able basis. Amounts reimbursed to the Secretary con-
cerned under this subsection shall be credited to appro-
priations available at the time of reimbursement for the 
payment of such expenses. 
‘‘(2) In a case covered by paragraph (1), if the person 
designated under subsection (c) to direct disposition of the 
remains of a decedent does not direct disposition of the 
remains that were retained for the forensic pathology in-
vestigation, the Secretary may pay for the transportation 
of those remains to, and interment or inurnment of those 
remains in, an appropriate place selected by the Secretary,
366 
in lieu of the transportation authorized to be paid under 
subsection (a)(8). 
‘‘(3) In a case covered by paragraph (1), expenses 
that may be paid do not include expenses with respect to 
an escort under subsection (a)(8), whether or not on a 
reimbursable basis.’’. 
(b) CLARIFICATION OF COVERAGE OF INURNMENT.— 
Section 1482(a)(9) of such title is amended by inserting 
‘‘or inurnment’’ after ‘‘Interment’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 1482(f) of 
such title is amended in the third sentence by striking 
‘‘this subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘this section’’. 
SEC. 642. PROVISION OF STATUS UNDER LAW BY HON-
ORING CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE 
COMPONENTS AS VETERANS. 
(a) VETERAN STATUS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
107 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 107A. Honoring as veterans certain persons who 
performed service in the reserve compo-
nents 
‘‘Any person who is entitled under chapter 1223 of 
title 10 to retired pay for nonregular service or, but for 
age, would be entitled under such chapter to retired pay
367 
for nonregular service shall be honored as a veteran but 
shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of this sec-
tion.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 107 
the following new item: 
‘‘107A. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in the re-
serve components.’’. 
(b) CLARIFICATION
REGARDING
BENEFITS.—No 
person may receive any benefit under the laws adminis-
tered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs solely by reason 
of section 107A of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a). 
SEC. 643. SURVEY OF MILITARY PAY AND BENEFITS PREF-
ERENCES. 
(a) SURVEY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall carry out a anonymous survey of random members 
of the Armed Forces regarding military pay and benefits. 
(b) CONTENT OF SURVEY.—A survey under this sec-
tion shall be conducted for the purpose of soliciting infor-
mation on the following: 
(1) The value that members of the Armed 
Forces place on the following forms of compensation 
relative to one another: 
(A) Basic pay.
368 
(B) Allowances for housing and subsist-
ence. 
(C) Bonuses and special pays. 
(D) Dependent healthcare benefits. 
(E) Healthcare benefits for retirees under 
65 years old. 
(F) Healthcare benefits for Medicare-eligi-
ble retirees. 
(G) Retirement pay. 
(2) How the members value different levels of 
pay or benefits, including the impact of co-payments 
or deductibles on the value of benefits. 
(3) Any other issues related to military pay and 
benefits as the Secretary of Defense considers ap-
propriate. 
(4) How information collected pursuant to a 
previous paragraph varies by age, rank, dependent 
status, and other factors the Secretary of Defense 
considers appropriate. 
(c) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—Upon the completion 
of a survey conducted under this section, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to Congress and make publicly 
available a report containing the results of the survey, in-
cluding both the analyses and the raw data collected.
369 
SEC. 644. TRANSPORTATION ON MILITARY AIRCRAFT ON A 
SPACE-AVAILABLE BASIS FOR DISABLED VET-
ERANS WITH A SERVICE-CONNECTED, PER-
MANENT DISABILITY RATED AS TOTAL. 
(a) AVAILABILITY
OF TRANSPORTATION.—Section 
2641b of title 10, United States Code, as amended by sec-
tion 622 of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2013, is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (g); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing new subsection (f): 
‘‘(f) SPECIAL PRIORITY
FOR CERTAIN DISABLED 
VETERANS.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall provide, 
at no additional cost to the Department of Defense and 
with no aircraft modification, transportation on scheduled 
and unscheduled military flights within the continental 
United States and on scheduled overseas flights operated 
by the Air Mobility Command on a space-available basis 
for any veteran with a service-connected, permanent dis-
ability rated as total. 
‘‘(2) Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1), in estab-
lishing space-available transportation priorities under the 
travel program, the Secretary shall provide transportation 
under paragraph (1) on the same basis as such transpor-
370 
tation is provided to members of the armed forces entitled 
to retired or retainer pay. 
‘‘(3) The requirement to provide transportation on 
Department of Defense aircraft on a space-available basis 
on the priority basis described in paragraph (2) to vet-
erans covered by this subsection applies whether or not 
the travel program is established under this section. 
‘‘(4) In this subsection, the terms ‘veteran’ and ‘serv-
ice-connected’ have the meanings given those terms in sec-
tion 101 of title 38.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (f) of section 
2641b of title 10, United States Code, as added by sub-
section (a), shall take effect at the end of the 90-day pe-
riod beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE VII—HEALTH CARE 
PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—Improvements to 
Health Benefits 
SEC. 701. MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS FOR MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1074m of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)—
371 
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) 
and (C) as subparagraph (C) and (D), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following: 
‘‘(B) Once during each 180-day period 
during which a member is deployed.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(A)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(B) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause 
(iii); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (i) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) by personnel in deployed units 
whose responsibilities include providing 
unit health care services if such personnel 
are available and the use of such personnel 
for the assessments would not impair the 
capacity of such personnel to perform 
higher priority tasks; and’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1074m(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘subparagraph (B) and (C)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subparagraph (C) and (D)’’.
372 
SEC. 702. PERIODIC MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1074m 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1074n. Periodic mental health assessments for 
members of the armed forces 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
provide periodic, person-to-person mental health assess-
ments to each member of the armed forces serving on ac-
tive duty. 
‘‘(b) FREQUENCY.—The Secretary shall determine 
the frequency of the mental health assessments provided 
under subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) ELEMENTS.—(1) The mental health assessments 
provided under subsection (a) shall meet the requirements 
for mental health assessments as described in section 
1074m(c)(1) of this title. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may treat health assessments and 
other person-to-person assessments that are provided to 
members of the armed forces, including examinations 
under sections 1074f and 1074m of this title, as meeting 
the requirements for mental health assessments required 
under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that such 
assessments and person-to-person assessments meet the
373 
requirements for mental health assessments established by 
this section. 
‘‘(d) SHARING OF INFORMATION.—Section 1074m(e) 
of this title, regarding the sharing of information with the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall apply to mental health 
assessments provided under subsection (a). 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the other administering Secretaries, 
shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this 
section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1074m the following new 
item: 
‘‘1074n. Periodic mental health assessments for members of the armed forces.’’. 
SEC. 703. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT OF DEVELOP-
MENTAL DISABILITIES UNDER TRICARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1077 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(g)(1) Subject to paragraph (3)(A), in providing 
health care under subsection (a), the treatment of develop-
mental disabilities (as defined by section 102(8) of the De-
velopmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act 
of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002(8))), including autism spec-
trum disorder, shall include behavioral health treatment,
374 
including applied behavior analysis, when prescribed by a 
physician. 
‘‘(2) In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary 
shall ensure that— 
‘‘(A) except as provided by subparagraph (B), 
a person who is authorized to provide behavioral 
health treatment is licensed or certified by a State 
or accredited national certification board; and 
‘‘(B) applied behavior analysis or other behav-
ioral health treatment may be provided by an em-
ployee, contractor, or trainee of a person described 
in subparagraph (A) if the employee, contractor, or 
trainee meets minimum qualifications, training, and 
supervision requirements as set forth by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(3)(A) This subsection shall not apply to— 
‘‘(i) a medicare eligible beneficiary (as defined 
in section 1111(b) of this title); or 
‘‘(ii) a covered beneficiary who is a beneficiary 
by reason of being a retired member of the Coast 
Guard, the Commissioned Corp of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Com-
missioned Corp of the Public Health Service, or by 
being a dependent of such a retired member.
375 
‘‘(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (A), noth-
ing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting or oth-
erwise affecting the benefits otherwise provided to a cov-
ered beneficiary under— 
‘‘(i) this chapter; 
‘‘(ii) title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); or 
‘‘(iii) any other law.’’. 
(b) FUNDING.— 
(1) INCREASE.—Notwithstanding the amounts 
set forth in the funding tables in division D, the 
amount authorized to be appropriated in section 
1406 for the Defense Health Program, as specified 
in the corresponding funding table in section 4501, 
for Private Sector Care is hereby increased by 
$60,000,000. 
(2) OFFSET.—Notwithstanding the amounts set 
forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount 
authorized to be appropriated in section 4301 for 
operation and maintenance, as specified in the cor-
responding funding table in section 4301, for the Of-
fice of the Secretary of Defense (Line 280) is hereby 
reduced by $60,000,000.
376 
SEC. 704. EXTENSION OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE MAN-
AGEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) TELEMEDICINE.—In carrying out the Transi-
tional Assistance Management Program, the Secretary of 
Defense shall extend the coverage of such program to indi-
viduals by an additional 180 days for treatment provided 
through telemedicine. 
(b) MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND BEHAVIORAL SERV-
ICES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall extend 
the coverage of the Transitional Assistance Manage-
ment Program for covered treatment to covered indi-
viduals for a period determined necessary by a 
health care professional treating the covered indi-
vidual. 
(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means 
an individual who— 
(i) during the initial 180-day period of 
being enrolled in the Transitional Assist-
ance Management Program, received any 
mental health care treatment or covered 
treatment; or 
(ii) during the one-year period pre-
ceding separation or discharge from the
377 
Armed Forces, received any mental health 
care treatment. 
(B) The term ‘‘covered treatment’’ means 
behavioral services provided through telemedi-
cine. 
(3) SUNSET.—The authority of the Secretary to 
carry out paragraph (1) shall terminate on Decem-
ber 31, 2018, if the Secretary determines that by 
that date the suicide rates for both members of the 
Armed Forces serving on active duty and for mem-
bers of a reserve component are 50 percent less than 
such rates as of December 31, 2012. 
(c) TELEMEDICINE DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘telemedicine’’ means the use by a health care pro-
vider of telecommunications to assist in the diagnosis or 
treatment of a patient’s medical condition, including for 
behavioral services. 
SEC. 705. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON IMPROVEMENTS TO 
CARE AND TRANSITION OF SERVICE MEM-
BERS WITH UROTRAUMA. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 
2014, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall jointly develop and implement 
a comprehensive policy on improvements to the care,
378 
management, and transition of recovering service 
members with urotrauma. 
(2) SCOPE OF POLICY.—The policy shall cover 
each of the following: 
(A) The care and management of the spe-
cific needs of service members who are 
urotrauma patients, including eligibility for the 
Recovery Care Coordinator Program pursuant 
to the Wounded Warrior Act (10 U.S.C. 1071 
note). 
(B) The return of service members who 
have recovered to active duty when appropriate. 
(C) The transition of recovering service 
members from receipt of care and services 
through the Department of Defense to receipt 
of care and services through the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop 
the policy in consultation with the heads of other ap-
propriate departments and agencies of the Federal 
Government, with representatives of military service 
organizations representing the interests of service 
members who are urotrauma patients and with ap-
379 
propriate nongovernmental organizations having an 
expertise in matters relating to the policy. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to Congress 
a report that includes a review identifying and options for 
responding to gaps in the care of service members who 
are urotrauma patients. 
Subtitle B—Health Care 
Administration 
SEC. 711. FUTURE AVAILABILITY OF TRICARE PRIME FOR 
CERTAIN 
BENEFICIARIES 
ENROLLED 
IN 
TRICARE PRIME. 
Section 732 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 
1816) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting the following new subsection: 
‘‘(b) ACCESS TO TRICARE PRIME.— 
‘‘(1) ONE-TIME
ELECTION.—Subject to para-
graph (3), the Secretary shall ensure that each af-
fected eligible beneficiary who is enrolled in 
TRICARE Prime as of September 30, 2013, may 
make a one-time election to continue such enroll-
ment in TRICARE Prime, notwithstanding that a
380 
contract described in subsection (a)(2)(A) does not 
allow for such enrollment based on the location in 
which such beneficiary resides. The beneficiary may 
continue such enrollment in TRICARE Prime so 
long as the beneficiary resides in the same ZIP code 
as the ZIP Code in which the beneficiary resided at 
the time of such election. 
‘‘(2) ENROLLMENT IN TRICARE STANDARD.—If 
an affected eligible beneficiary makes the one-time 
election under paragraph (1), the beneficiary may 
thereafter elect to enroll in TRICARE Standard at 
any time in accordance with a contract described in 
subsection (a)(2)(A). 
‘‘(3) RESIDENCE AT TIME OF ELECTION.—An 
affected eligible beneficiary may not make the one- 
time election under paragraph (1) if, at the time of 
such election, the beneficiary does not reside in a 
ZIP code that is in a region described in subsection 
(c)(1)(B).’’. 
SEC. 712. COOPERATIVE HEALTH CARE AGREEMENTS BE-
TWEEN THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS AND 
NON-MILITARY HEALTH CARE ENTITIES. 
Section 713 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 10 U.S.C. 1073 note) 
is amended—
381 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Secretary of 
Defense’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary concerned’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Secretary shall’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary concerned shall’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘if 
the Secretary establishing such agreement is 
the Secretary of Defense’’ before the semicolon; 
and 
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘or the 
military department concerned’’ after ‘‘the De-
partment of Defense’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) SECRETARY CONCERNED DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘Secretary concerned’ means— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary of a military department; or 
‘‘(2) the Secretary of Defense.’’. 
SEC. 713. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR IN-
TEGRATED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD 
PROGRAM. 
(a) LIMITATION.— Of the funds authorized to be ap-
propriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fis-
cal year 2014 for procurement or research, development, 
test, and evaluation for the Department of Defense for
382 
the integrated electronic health record program, not more 
than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until a pe-
riod of 30 days has elapsed following the date on which 
the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional de-
fense committees a report detailing an analysis of alter-
natives for the plan of the Secretary to proceed with such 
program. 
(b) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The report under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the key performance re-
quirements for the integrated electronic health 
record program capability. 
(2) An analysis of alternatives for how to ac-
quire and implement an integrated electronic health 
record capability that meets such requirements. 
(3) An assessment of the budgetary resources 
and timeline required for each of the evaluated alter-
natives. 
(4) A recommendation by the Secretary with re-
spect to the alternative preferred by the Secretary. 
SEC. 714. PILOT PROGRAM ON INCREASED THIRD-PARTY 
COLLECTION 
REIMBURSEMENTS 
IN 
MILI-
TARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—
383 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Secretaries of the military de-
partments, shall carry out a pilot program to dem-
onstrate and assess the feasibility of implementing 
processes described in paragraph (2) to increase the 
amounts collected under section 1095 of title 10, 
United States Code, from a third-party payer for 
charges for health care services incurred by the 
United States at a military medical treatment facil-
ity. 
(2) PROCESSES DESCRIBED.—The processes de-
scribed in this paragraph are revenue-cycle manage-
ment processes, including cash-flow management 
and accounts-receivable processes. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the pilot pro-
gram under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall— 
(1) identify and analyze the best practice op-
tion, including commercial best practices, with re-
spect to the processes described in subsection (a)(2) 
that are used in nonmilitary health care facilities; 
and 
(2) conduct a cost-benefit analysis to assess 
measurable results of the pilot program, including 
an analysis of—
384 
(A) the different processes used in the 
pilot program; 
(B) the amount of third-party collections 
that resulted from such processes; 
(C) the cost to implement and sustain such 
processes; and 
(D) any other factors the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate to assess the pilot program. 
(c) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out the 
pilot program under subsection (a)(1)— 
(1) at military installations that have a military 
medical treatment facility with inpatient and out-
patient capabilities; 
(2) at a number of such installations at dif-
ferent military departments that the Secretary deter-
mines sufficient to fully assess the results of the 
pilot program. 
(d) DURATION.—The Secretary shall commence the 
pilot program under subsection (a)(1) by not later than 
270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
shall carry out such program for three years. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after com-
pleting the pilot program under subsection (a)(1), the Sec-
retary shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
386 
resulted from each method currently being used through-
out the military departments. The Secretary shall take 
into account the results of such report in evaluating the 
results of the pilot program under subsection (a)(1). 
Subtitle C—Other Matters 
SEC. 721. DISPLAY OF BUDGET INFORMATION FOR EMBED-
DED MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS OF THE 
RESERVE COMPONENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 9 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 236. Embedded mental health providers of the re-
serve components: display of budget in-
formation 
‘‘The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress, 
as a part of the documentation that supports the Presi-
dent’s annual budget for the Department of Defense, a 
budget justification display with respect to embedded men-
tal health providers within each reserve component, in-
cluding the amount requested for each such component.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘236. Embedded mental health providers of the reserve components: display of 
budget information.’’.
387 
SEC. 722. AUTHORITY OF UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVER-
SITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES TO ENTER INTO 
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS AND MAKE 
GRANTS TO OTHER NONPROFIT ENTITIES. 
Section 2113(g)(1) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, or any other nonprofit 
entity’’ after ‘‘Military Medicine’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, or nonprofit entity,’’ 
after ‘‘such Foundation’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, or any other nonprofit 
entity,’’ after ‘‘Military Medicine’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, or nonprofit entity,’’ 
after ‘‘such foundation’’. 
SEC. 723. MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR MILITARY PER-
SONNEL AND FAMILIES. 
The Secretary of Defense may carry out collaborative 
programs to— 
(1) respond to the escalating suicide rates and 
combat stress related arrest rates of members of the 
Armed Forces; 
(2) train active duty members to recognize and 
respond to combat stress disorder, suicide risk, sub-
388 
stance addiction, risk-taking behaviors, and family 
violence; and 
(3) determine the effectiveness of the efforts of 
the Department of Defense in reducing suicide rates 
of members of the Armed Forces. 
SEC. 724. RESEARCH REGARDING HYDROCEPHALUS. 
In conducting the Peer Reviewed Medical Research 
Program, the Secretary of Defense may consider selecting 
medical research projects relating to hydrocephalus. 
SEC. 725. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY RESEARCH. 
The Secretary of Defense shall carry out research, 
development, test, and evaluation activities with respect 
to traumatic brain injury and psychological health, includ-
ing activities regarding drug development to halt 
neurodegeneration following traumatic brain injury. 
SEC. 726. DATA SHARING WITH STATE ADJUTANT GEN-
ERALS TO FACILITATE SUICIDE PREVENTION 
EFFORTS. 
Upon the request of any adjutant general of a State, 
the Secretary of Defense shall share the contact informa-
tion of members of the Individual Ready Reserve and indi-
vidual mobilization augmentees who reside in the State of 
such adjutant general for the purpose of conducting sui-
cide prevention outreach efforts.
389 
SEC. 727. INCREASED COLLABORATION WITH NIH TO COM-
BAT TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER. 
The Office of Health of the Department of Defense 
shall work in collaboration with the National Institutes of 
Health to— 
(1) identify specific genetic and molecular tar-
gets and biomarkers for triple negative breast can-
cer; and 
(2) provide information useful in biomarker se-
lection, drug discovery, and clinical trials design that 
will enable both— 
(A) triple negative breast cancer patients 
to be identified earlier in the progression of 
their disease; and 
(B) the development of multiple targeted 
therapies for the disease. 
SEC. 728. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON MENTAL HEALTH COUN-
SELORS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Secretary of Defense should develop a 
plan to ensure a sustainable flow of qualified coun-
selors to meet the long-term needs of members of 
the Armed Forces and their families for counselors; 
and
390 
(2) the plan should include the participation of 
accredited schools and universities, health care pro-
viders, professional counselors, family service or sup-
port centers, chaplains, and other appropriate re-
sources of the Department of Defense. 
SEC. 729. REPORT ON ROLE OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS IN DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services and Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Committees on Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate a report on the centers of excellence established 
under sections 1621, 1622, and 1623 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 
110–181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note). Such report shall include 
each of the following: 
(1) The amount of resources that have been ob-
ligated by Department of Veterans Affairs in sup-
port of each of the centers since the dates on which 
they were established, including the amount of per-
sonnel, time, money, and function provided in sup-
port of the centers.
391 
(2) An estimate of the amount of resources the 
Secretary expects the Department to dedicate to 
each of the centers during each of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018. 
(3) A description of the role of the Department 
within each of the centers. 
SEC. 730. PRELIMINARY MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS. 
Before any individual enlists in the Armed Forces or 
is commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide the individual with a 
mental health assessment. The Secretary shall use such 
results as a baseline for any subsequent mental health ex-
aminations, including such examinations provided under 
sections 1074f and 1074m of title 10, United States Code, 
and section 1074n of such title, as added by section 702. 
SEC. 731. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE TRAUMATIC BRAIN 
INJURY PLAN. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) section 739(b) of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 
112–239; 126 Stat. 1822) requires the Secretary of 
Defense to submit a plan to Congress to improve the 
coordination and integration of the programs of the 
Department of Defense that address traumatic brain 
injury and the psychological health of members of
392 
the Armed Forces not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of such Act; 
(2) the requirement to submit the plan is still 
in effect and the contents of the plan are still impor-
tant; and 
(3) the Secretary of Defense should deliver the 
report within the required time frame. 
SEC. 732. REPORT ON MEMORANDUM REGARDING TRAU-
MATIC BRAIN INJURIES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on how 
the Secretary will identify, refer, and treat traumatic brain 
injuries with respect to members of the Armed Forces who 
served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi 
Freedom before the date in June 2010 on which the 
memorandum regarding using a 50-meter distance from 
an explosion as a criterion to properly identify, refer, and 
treat members for potential traumatic brain injury took 
effect.
393 
SEC. 733. PILOT PROGRAM FOR INVESTIGATIONAL TREAT-
MENT OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND POST- 
TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. 
(a) PROCESS.—The Secretary of Defense shall carry 
out a five-year pilot program under which the Secretary 
shall establish a process through which the Secretary shall 
provide payment for investigational treatments (including 
diagnostic testing) of traumatic brain injury or post-trau-
matic stress disorder received by members of the Armed 
Forces in health care facilities other than military treat-
ment facilities. Such process shall provide that payment 
be made directly to the health care facility furnishing the 
treatment. 
(b) CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL.—The approval by 
the Secretary for payment for a treatment pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall be subject to the following conditions: 
(1) Any drug or device used in the treatment 
must be approved or cleared by the Food and Drug 
Administration for any purpose and its use must 
comply with rules of the Food and Drug Administra-
tion applicable to investigational new drugs or inves-
tigational devices. 
(2) The treatment must be approved by the 
Secretary following approval by an institutional re-
view board operating in accordance with regulations
394 
issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices. 
(3) The patient receiving the treatment must 
demonstrate an improvement under criteria ap-
proved by the Secretary, as a result of the treatment 
on one or more of the following: 
(A) Standardized independent pre-treat-
ment and post-treatment neuropsychological 
testing. 
(B) Accepted survey instruments including, 
such instruments that look at quality of life. 
(C) Neurological imaging. 
(D) Clinical examination. 
(4) The patient receiving the treatment must be 
receiving the treatment voluntarily and based on in-
formed consent. 
(5) The patient receiving the treatment may not 
be a retired member of the Armed Forces who is en-
titled to benefits under part A, or eligible to enroll 
under part B, of title XVIII of the Social Security 
Act. 
(c) ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS AUTHORIZED.—The 
Secretary may establish additional restrictions or condi-
tions for reimbursement as the Secretary determines ap-
propriate to ensure the protection of human research sub-
395 
jects, appropriate fiscal management, and the validity of 
the research results. 
(d) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall make pay-
ments under this section for treatments received by mem-
bers of the Armed Forces using the authority in subsection 
(c)(1) of section 1074 of title 10, United States Code. 
(e) AMOUNT.—A payment under this section shall be 
made at the equivalent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services reimbursement rate in effect for appropriate 
treatment codes for the State or territory in which the 
treatment is received. If no such rate is in effect, payment 
shall be made on a cost-reimbursement basis, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services. 
(f) DATA COLLECTION AND AVAILABILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop 
and maintain a database containing data from each 
patient case involving the use of a treatment under 
this section. The Secretary shall ensure that the 
database preserves confidentiality and that any use 
of the database or disclosures of such data are lim-
ited to such use and disclosures permitted by law 
and applicable regulations. 
(2) PUBLICATION
OF
QUALIFIED
INSTITU-
TIONAL
REVIEW
BOARD
STUDIES.—The Secretary
396 
shall ensure that an Internet website of the Depart-
ment of Defense includes a list of all civilian institu-
tional review board studies that have received a pay-
ment under this section. 
(g) ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS TO OBTAIN TREAT-
MENT.— 
(1) ASSIGNMENT TO TEMPORARY DUTY.—The 
Secretary of a military department may assign a 
member of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction 
of the Secretary to temporary duty or allow the 
member a permissive temporary duty in order to 
permit the member to receive treatment for trau-
matic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder, 
for which payments shall be made under subsection 
(a), at a location beyond reasonable commuting dis-
tance of the permanent duty station of the member. 
(2) PER DIEM.—A member who is away from 
the permanent station of the member may be paid 
a per diem in lieu of subsistence in an amount not 
more than the amount to which the member would 
be entitled if the member were performing travel in 
connection with a temporary duty assignment. 
(3) GIFT RULE WAIVER.—The Secretary of De-
fense may waive any rule of the Department of De-
fense regarding ethics or the receipt of gifts with re-
397 
spect to any assistance provided to a member of the 
Armed Forces for travel or per diem expenses inci-
dental to receiving treatment under this section. 
(h) MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Sec-
retary shall enter into memoranda of understandings with 
civilian institutions for the purpose of providing members 
of the Armed Forces with treatment carried out by civilian 
health care practitioners under treatment— 
(1) approved by and under the oversight of ci-
vilian institutional review boards; and 
(2) that would qualify for payment under this 
section. 
(i) OUTREACH.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish a process to notify members of the Armed Forces 
of the opportunity to receive treatment pursuant to this 
section. 
(j) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 days 
after the last day of each fiscal year during which the Sec-
retary is authorized to make payments under this section, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report 
on the implementation of this section and any available 
results on investigational treatment studies authorized 
under this section.
399 
by reduced by $10,000,000, with the amount of 
the reduction to be derived from Line 280, Of-
fice of the Secretary of Defense as set forth in 
the table under section 4301. 
(2) MERIT-BASED
OR
COMPETITIVE
DECI-
SIONS.—A decision to commit, obligate, or expend 
funds referred to in paragraph (1)(A) with or to a 
specific entity shall— 
(A) be based on merit-based selection pro-
cedures in accordance with the requirements of 
sections 2304(k), 2361, and 2374 of title 10, 
United States Code, or on competitive proce-
dures; and 
(B) comply with other applicable provisions 
of law. 
SEC. 734. INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD OF 
THE DEPARTMENTS OF DEFENSE AND VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) despite repeated attempts at cooperation 
over the past 20 years, the Department of Defense 
and the Department of Veterans Affairs have failed 
to implement a solution that allows for seamless 
electronic sharing of medical health care data;
400 
(2) the recent decision by the Secretary of De-
fense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to aban-
don their earlier agreement and pursue separate 
paths to integration jeopardizes the stated goal of 
providing ‘‘a patient-centered health care system 
that delivers excellent quality, access, satisfaction, 
and value, consistently across the Departments’’; 
(3) despite the repeated concerns and objections 
of the congressional committees of jurisdiction, the 
Department of Defense and the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs seem to be on a continued path to fail 
in achieving the goal of creating a seamless health 
record that integrates data across the Departments; 
and 
(4) the President should make the necessary 
leadership changes to assure timely completion of 
this requirement. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(1) implement an integrated electronic health 
record to be used by each of the Secretaries; and 
(2) deploy such record by not later than Octo-
ber 1, 2016.
401 
(c) DESIGN PRINCIPLES.—The integrated electronic 
health record established under subsection (b) shall adhere 
to the following principles: 
(1) To the extent practicable, efforts to estab-
lish such record shall be based on objectives, activi-
ties, and milestones established by the Joint Execu-
tive Committee Joint Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 
2013–2015, including any requirements, definition, 
documents, or analyses previously developed to sat-
isfy said Joint Strategic Plan. 
(2) Principles with respect to open architecture 
standards, including— 
(A) modular designs based on standards 
with loose coupling and high cohesion that allow 
for independent acquisition of system compo-
nents; 
(B) if existing national standards do not 
exist as of the date on which the record is being 
established, the Secretaries shall agree upon 
and adopt a standard for purposes of the record 
until such time as national standards are estab-
lished; 
(C) enterprise investment strategies that 
maximize reuse of proven system designs;
402 
(D) implementation of aggressive life-cycle 
sustainment planning that uses proven tech-
nology insertion strategies and product upgrade 
techniques; 
(E) enforcement of system design trans-
parency, continuous design disclosure and im-
provement, and peer reviews that include gov-
ernment, academia, and industry; and 
(F) strategies for data-use rights to ensure 
a level competitive playing field and access to 
alternative solutions and sources across the life- 
cycle of the program. 
(3) By the point of full deployment decision, 
such record must be at a generation 3 level or better 
for a health information technology system. 
(d) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than January 31, 
2014, the Secretaries shall jointly develop and submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a program plan 
for the oversight and execution of the integrated electronic 
health record program established under this section. This 
plan shall include— 
(1) program objectives; 
(2) organization; 
(3) responsibilities of the Departments; 
(4) technical system requirements;
403 
(5) milestones, including a schedule for industry 
competitions for capabilities needed to satisfy the 
technical system requirements; 
(6) technical system standards being adopted 
by the program; 
(7) outcome-based metrics proposed to measure 
the performance and effectiveness of the program; 
and 
(8) level of funding for fiscal years 2014 
through 2017. 
(e) ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall jointly 
commission an independent assessment of the pro-
gram plan under subsection (d). 
(2) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date on which the program plan under sub-
section (d) is submitted to the appropriate congres-
sional committees, the Secretaries shall jointly sub-
mit to such committees the independent assessment 
conducted under paragraph (1). 
(f) LIMITATION OF FUNDS.—Not more than 25 per-
cent of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this 
Act or otherwise made available for development , mod-
ernization, or enhancement of the integrated electronic 
health record within the Department of Veterans Affairs
404 
or for operation and maintenance for the Defense Health 
Agency of the Department of Defense may be obligated 
or expended until the date on which the program plan 
under subsection (d) is submitted to the appropriate con-
gressional committees. 
(g) MONTHLY REPORTING.—On a monthly basis, the 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans affairs 
shall each submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a report on the expenditures incurred by the Sec-
retary in the development of an integrated electronic 
health record under this section. Such reports shall include 
obligations by major categories of spending and by sup-
port of milestones identified in the program plan required 
under subsection (d). 
(h) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than October 1, 
2014, all health care information contained in the 
Department of Defense AHLTA and the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs VistA systems shall be 
available and actionable in real-time to health care 
providers in each Department through shared tech-
nology. 
(2) CERTIFICATION.—At such time as the oper-
ational capability described in paragraph (1) is 
achieved, the Secretaries shall jointly certify to the
405 
appropriate congressional committees that the Secre-
taries have implemented such operational capability. 
(3) LIMITATION OF FUNDS.—Neither the Sec-
retary of Defense or the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs may obligate or expend more than 10 percent 
of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this 
Act or otherwise made available for the research, de-
velopment, test, and evaluation, or procurement for 
the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record until the date 
on which the certification is made under paragraph 
(2). 
(4) RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL.—The Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
each identify a senior official to be responsible for 
the electronic health record established under this 
section, including the operational capability de-
scribed in paragraph (1). Such official shall have in-
cluded within their performance evaluation perform-
ance metrics related to the execution of the respon-
sibilities under this paragraph. Not later than 30 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
each Secretary shall submit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees the name of the senior official 
selected under this paragraph.
406 
(5) ACCOUNTABILITY
REVIEW.—If the Sec-
retary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs fail to meet the requirements under paragraph 
(1), the Secretaries shall jointly conduct an account-
ability review to identify the following: 
(A) The root cause of the failure and if the 
failure is a result of technology or human per-
formance. 
(B) The work sections responsible for the 
failure. 
(C) The milestones and resource invest-
ment required to achieve such requirements. 
(D) The recommendations for corrective 
actions, to include personnel actions, to achieve 
such requirements. 
(6) SUBMISSION
OF
ACCOUNTABILITY
RE-
VIEW.—If the Secretaries conduct a review under 
paragraph (5), the Secretaries shall jointly submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report of 
the results of the review by not later than November 
30, 2014. 
(i) ADVISORY PANEL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retaries shall jointly establish an advisory panel to
407 
support the development and validation of require-
ments, programmatic assessment, and other actions, 
as needed by the Secretaries, with respect to the in-
tegrated electronic health record established under 
subsection (b). The panel shall certify to the appro-
priate congressional committees that such record 
meets the definition of ‘‘integrated’’ as specified in 
subsection (j)(4). 
(2) 
MEMBERSHIP.—The 
panel 
established 
under paragraph (1) shall consist of not more than 
14 members, appointed by the Secretaries as follows: 
(A) Two co-chairs, one appointed by each 
of the Secretaries. 
(B) The chief information officer of the 
Department of Defense and the chief informa-
tion officer of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
(C) One member from the acquisition com-
munity of the Department of Defense and one 
member from such community of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
(D) Two members from the academic com-
munity appointed by the Secretary of Defense.
408 
(E) Two members from the academic com-
munity appointed by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs. 
(F) Two members from industry appointed 
by the Secretary of Defense. 
(G) Two members from industry appointed 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(3) REPORTING.—The Advisory panel estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall submit to the ap-
propriate congressional committees a quarterly re-
port on the activities of the panel. The panel shall 
submit the first report by not later than December 
31, 2013. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘actionable’’ means information 
that is directly useful to customers for immediate 
use in clinical decision making. 
(2) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the congressional defense committees; 
and 
(B) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
(3) The term ‘‘generation 3’’ means, with re-
spect to an electronic health systems, a system that
409 
has the technical capability to bring evidence-based 
medicine to the point of care and provide 
functionality for multiple care venues. 
(4) The term ‘‘integrated’’ means one single 
core technology or an inherent cross-platform capa-
bility without the need for additional patch develop-
ment to accomplish this capability. 
SEC. 735. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON RECOVERY 
AUDIT PROGRAM FOR TRICARE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report that evaluates the similarities and differences 
in the approaches to identifying and recovering improper 
payments across Medicare and TRICARE. The report 
shall contain an evaluation of the following: 
(1) Medicare and TRICARE claims processing 
efforts to prevent improper payments by denying 
claims prior to payment. 
(2) Medicare and TRICARE claims processing 
efforts to correct improper payments post-payment. 
(3) 
The 
effectiveness 
of 
Medicare 
and 
TRICARE post-payment audit programs in place to 
identify and correct improper payments that are re-
turned to the government plans.
410 
TITLE VIII—ACQUISITION POL-
ICY, ACQUISITION MANAGE-
MENT, AND RELATED MAT-
TERS 
Subtitle A—Acquisition Policy and 
Management 
SEC. 801. MODIFICATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENT 
FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BUSINESS 
SYSTEM ACQUISITION PROGRAMS WHEN INI-
TIAL 
OPERATING 
CAPABILITY 
IS 
NOT 
ACHIEVED WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF MILE-
STONE A APPROVAL. 
(a) SUBMISSION TO PRE-CERTIFICATION AUTHOR-
ITY.—Subsection (b) of section 811 of the John Warner 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 
(Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2316; 10 U.S.C. 2222 
note) is amended by striking ‘‘the system shall be deemed 
to have undergone’’ and all that follows through the period 
and inserting ‘‘the appropriate official shall report such 
failure, along with the facts and circumstances sur-
rounding the failure, to the appropriate pre-certification 
authority for that system under section 2222 of title 10, 
United States Code, and the information so reported shall 
be considered by the pre-certification authority in the deci-