146 
(3) An analysis of the systems, manpower, and 
facilities that would be needed by the Department to 
physically mobilize inductees in the absence of the 
Selective Service System. 
(4) An analysis of the feasibility and utility of 
eliminating the current focus on mass mobilization 
of primarily combat troops in favor of a system that 
focuses on mobilization of all military occupational 
specialties, and the extent to which such a change 
would impact the need for both male and female in-
ductees. 
(5) A detailed analysis of the Department’s per-
sonnel needs in the event of an emergency requiring 
mass mobilization, including— 
(A) a detailed timeline, along with the fac-
tors considered in arriving at this timeline, of 
when the Department would require— 
(i) the first inductees to report for 
service; 
(ii) the first 100,000 inductees to re-
port for service; and 
(iii) the first medical personnel to re-
port for service; and 
(B) an analysis of any additional critical 
skills that would be needed in the event of a na-
147 
tional emergency, and a timeline for when the 
Department would require the first inductees to 
report for service. 
(6) A list of the assumptions used by the De-
partment when conducting its analysis in preparing 
the report. 
(c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.—Not later 
than December 1, 2017, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a review of the procedures used by the Department of De-
fense in evaluating selective service requirements. 
SEC. 529. PARENTAL LEAVE FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
(a) ADDITIONAL PARENTAL LEAVE AUTHORITY.— 
(1) AVAILABILITY
OF
PARENTAL
LEAVE.— 
Chapter 40 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 701 the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 701a. Parental leave 
‘‘(a) LEAVE AUTHORIZED.—A member of the armed 
forces who is performing active service may be allowed 
leave under this section for each instance in which the 
member becomes a parent as a result of the member’s 
spouse giving birth.
148 
‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF LEAVE.—Leave under this section 
shall be at least 14 days, under regulations prescribed 
under this section by the Secretary concerned. 
‘‘(c) DURATION OF AVAILABILITY OF LEAVE.—Leave 
under this section is lost as follows: 
‘‘(1) If not used within one year of the date of 
the birth giving rise to the leave. 
‘‘(2) If the member having the leave becomes 
entitled to leave under this section with respect to a 
different child. 
‘‘(3) If not used before separation from active 
service. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION WITH OTHER LEAVE AUTHORI-
TIES.—Leave under this section is in addition to any other 
leave and may not be deducted or charged against other 
leave authorized by this chapter. 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—This section shall be carried 
out under regulations prescribed by the Secretary con-
cerned. Regulations prescribed under this section by the 
Secretaries of the military departments shall be as uni-
form as practicable and shall be subject to approval by 
the Secretary of Defense.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 40 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after
149 
the item relating to section 701 the following new 
item: 
‘‘701a. Parental leave.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (j) 
of section 701 of title 10, United States Code, is re-
pealed. 
(b) COVERAGE OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.—Section 221(a) of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 213a(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(19) Section 701(i) and 701a, Adoption Leave 
and Parental Leave.’’. 
Subtitle D—Military Justice, In-
cluding Sexual Assault and Do-
mestic Violence Prevention and 
Response 
SEC. 541. EXPEDITED REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE AND 
NEGLECT 
TO 
STATE 
CHILD 
PROTECTIVE 
SERVICES. 
(a) REPORTING BY MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PER-
SONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—Section 
1787 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (a) and (b) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting before subsection (c), as so re-
designated, the following new subsections:
150 
‘‘(a) REPORTING BY MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PER-
SONNEL.—A member of the armed forces, civilian em-
ployee of the Department of Defense, or contractor em-
ployee working on a military installation who is mandated 
by Federal regulation or State law to report known or sus-
pected instances of child abuse and neglect shall provide 
the report directly to State Child Protective Services or 
another appropriate State agency in addition to the mem-
ber’s or employee’s chain of command or any designated 
Department point of contact. 
‘‘(b) TRAINING FOR MANDATED REPORTERS.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall ensure that individuals referred 
to in subsection (a) who are mandated by State law to 
report known or suspected instances of child abuse and 
neglect receive appropriate training, in accordance with 
State guidelines, intended to improve their— 
‘‘(1) ability to recognize evidence of child abuse 
and neglect; and 
‘‘(2) understanding of the mandatory reporting 
requirements imposed by law.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
Section 1787 of title 10, United States Code, is further 
amended—
151 
(1) in subsection (c), as redesignated by sub-
section (a)(1), by striking ‘‘IN GENERAL.—’’ and in-
serting ‘‘REPORTING BY STATES.—’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), as redesignated by sub-
section (a)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—In this 
section, the term’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The term ‘State’ includes the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the 
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.’’. 
SEC. 542. EXTENSION OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL 
REPORT REGARDING SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND 
COORDINATION WITH RELEASE OF FAMILY 
ADVOCACY REPORT. 
Section 1631 of the Ike Skelton National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Public Law 111– 
383; 124 Stat. 4433; 10 U.S.C. 1561 note) is amended—
152 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘March 1, 
2017’’ and inserting ‘‘January 31, 2021’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) COORDINATION OF RELEASE DATE BETWEEN 
ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND 
FAMILY ADVOCACY REPORT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall ensure that the report required under subsection (a) 
for a year is delivered to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and House of Representatives simulta-
neously with the Department of Defense Family Advocacy 
Report for that year required by section 543 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.’’. 
SEC. 543. REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL FAMILY ADVOCACY 
PROGRAM 
REPORT 
REGARDING 
CHILD 
ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT ON CHILD ABUSE AND DOMES-
TIC VIOLENCE.—Not later than January 31, 2017, and 
annually thereafter through January 31, 2021, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a report on the child abuse and domestic abuse 
incident data from the Department of Defense Family Ad-
vocacy Program central registry of child abuse and domes-
tic abuse incidents for the preceding calendar year.
153 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report shall contain each of the 
following: 
(1) The number of incidents reported during 
the year covered by the report involving— 
(A) spouse physical or sexual abuse; 
(B) intimate partner physical or sexual 
abuse; 
(C) child physical or sexual abuse; and 
(D) child or domestic abuse resulting in a 
fatality. 
(2) An analysis of the number of such incidents 
that met the criteria for substantiation. 
(3) An analysis of— 
(A) the types of abuse reported; 
(B) for cases involving children as the re-
ported victims of the abuse, the ages of the 
abused children; and 
(C) other relevant characteristics of the re-
ported victims. 
(4) An analysis of the military status, sex, and 
pay grade of the alleged perpetrator of the child or 
domestic abuse. 
(5) An analysis of the effectiveness of the Fam-
ily Advocacy Program.
154 
(c) COORDINATION OF RELEASE DATE BETWEEN 
ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND 
FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM REPORT.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall ensure that the sexual assault report re-
quired under section 1631 of the Ike Skelton National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Public Law 
111–383; 10 U.S.C. 1561 note) is delivered to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate simultaneously with the report re-
quired under this section. 
SEC. 544. IMPROVED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PREVEN-
TION OF AND RESPONSE TO HAZING IN THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ANTI-HAZING DATABASE.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall provide for the establishment and use of a com-
prehensive and consistent data-collection system for the 
collection of reports, including anonymous reports, of inci-
dents of hazing involving a member of the Armed Forces. 
The Secretary shall issue department-wide guidance re-
garding the availability and use of the database, including 
information on protected classes, such as race and reli-
gion, who are often the victims of hazing. 
(b) IMPROVED TRAINING.—The Secretary of each 
military department, in consultation with the Chief of 
Staff of each Armed Force under the jurisdiction of such
155 
Secretary, shall seek to improve training to assist mem-
bers of the Armed Forces better recognize, prevent, and 
respond to hazing at all command levels. 
(c) ANNUAL SURVEY.—The Secretary of each mili-
tary department, in consultation with the Chief of Staff 
of each Armed Force under the jurisdiction of such Sec-
retary, shall conduct an annual survey among members 
of each Armed Force under the jurisdiction of such Sec-
retary to determine the following: 
(1) The prevalence of hazing in the Armed 
Force. 
(2) The effectiveness of training provided mem-
bers of the Armed Force to recognize and prevent 
hazing. 
(3) The extent to which members of the Armed 
Force report, including anonymously report, inci-
dents of hazing. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORTS ON HAZING.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than Janu-
ary 31 of each year through January 31, 2021, the 
Secretary of each military department, in consulta-
tion with the Chief of Staff of each Armed Force 
under the jurisdiction of such Secretary, shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report
156 
containing a description of efforts during the pre-
vious year— 
(A) to prevent and to respond to incidents 
of hazing involving members of the Armed 
Forces; 
(B) to track and encourage reporting, in-
cluding reporting anonymously, incidents of 
hazing in the Armed Force; and 
(C) to ensure the consistent implementa-
tion of anti-hazing policies. 
(2) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—Each report re-
quired by this subsection also shall address the same 
elements originally addressed in the anti-hazing re-
ports required by section 534 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Pub-
lic Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1726). 
SEC. 545. BURDENS OF PROOF APPLICABLE TO INVESTIGA-
TIONS AND REVIEWS RELATED TO PRO-
TECTED COMMUNICATIONS OF MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES AND PROHIBITED RE-
TALIATORY ACTIONS. 
(a) BURDENS OF PROOF.—Section 1034 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (i) and (j) as 
subsections (j) and (k), respectively; and
157 
(2) by inserting after subsection (h) the fol-
lowing new subsection (i): 
‘‘(i) BURDENS OF PROOF.—The burdens of proof 
specified in section 1221(e) of title 5 shall apply in any 
investigation conducted by an Inspector General under 
subsection (c) or (d), any review performed by a board 
for the correction of military records under subsection (g), 
and any review conducted by the Secretary of Defense 
under subsection (h).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 30 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply 
with respect to allegations pending or submitted under 
section 1034 of title 10, United States Code, on or after 
that date. 
SEC. 546. IMPROVED INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATIONS OF 
PROFESSIONAL RETALIATION. 
Section 1034(c)(4) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(F) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that any 
individual investigating an allegation as described in para-
graph (1) must have training in the definition and charac-
teristics of retaliation. In addition, if the investigation in-
volves alleged retaliation in response to a communication
159 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each career litigation track under 
this section shall provide for the following: 
(1) Assignment and advancement of qualified 
judge advocates in and through assignments and bil-
lets relating to the practice of military justice under 
chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uni-
form Code of Military Justice). 
(2) Establishing for each Armed Force the as-
signments and billets covered by paragraph (1), 
which shall include trial counsel, defense counsel, 
military trial judge, military appellate judge, aca-
demic instructor, all positions within criminal law of-
fices or divisions of such Armed Force, Special Vic-
tims Prosecutor, Victims’ Legal Counsel, Special 
Victims’ Counsel, and such other positions as the 
Secretary of the military department concerned shall 
specify. 
(3) For judge advocates participating in such 
litigation track, mechanisms as follows: 
(A) To prohibit a judge advocate from 
more than a total of four years of duty or as-
signments outside such litigation track. 
(B) To prohibit any adverse assessment of 
a judge advocate so participating by reason of 
such participation in the promotion of officers
160 
through grade O–6 (or such higher grade as the 
Secretary of the military department concerned 
shall specify for purposes of such litigation 
track). 
(4) Such additional requirements and qualifica-
tions for the litigation track as the Secretary of the 
military department concerned considers appro-
priate, including requirements and qualifications 
that take into account the unique personnel needs 
and requirement of an Armed Force. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE.—Each Secretary 
of a military department shall implement the career litiga-
tion track required by this section for the Armed Forces 
under the jurisdiction of such Secretary by not later than 
18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military 
department shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report on the progress of such Secretary in imple-
menting the career litigation track required under this sec-
tion for the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of such 
Secretary.
161 
Subtitle E—Member Education, 
Training, and Transition 
SEC. 561. REVISION TO QUALITY ASSURANCE OF CERTIFI-
CATION PROGRAMS AND STANDARDS. 
Section 2015(c) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘is accredited 
by an accreditation body that’’ and all that follows 
and inserting ‘‘meets one of the requirements speci-
fied in paragraph (2).’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The requirements for a credentialing pro-
gram specified in this paragraph are that the 
credentialing program— 
‘‘(A) is accredited by a nationally-recog-
nized third-party personnel certification pro-
gram accreditor; 
‘‘(B)(i) is sought or accepted by employers 
within the industry or sector involved as a rec-
ognized, preferred, or required credential for re-
cruitment, screening, hiring, retention, or ad-
vancement purposes; and 
‘‘(ii) where appropriate, is endorsed by a 
nationally-recognized trade association or orga-
162 
nization representing a significant part of the 
industry or sector; 
‘‘(C) grants licenses that are recognized by 
the Federal Government or a State government; 
or 
‘‘(D) meets credential standards of a Fed-
eral agency.’’. 
SEC. 562. ESTABLISHMENT OF ROTC CYBER INSTITUTES AT 
SENIOR MILITARY COLLEGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 103 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 2111c. Senior military colleges: ROTC cyber insti-
tutes 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of De-
fense may establish cyber institutes at each of the senior 
military colleges and each of the Reserve Officer Training 
Corps institutions selected for partnership by the cyber in-
stitutes at the individual service academies for the purpose 
of accelerating the development of foundational expertise 
in critical cyber operational skills for future military and 
civilian leaders of the armed forces and the Department 
of Defense, including such leaders of the reserve compo-
nents.
163 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—Each cyber institute established 
under this section shall include each of the following: 
‘‘(1) Training for members of the program who 
possess cyber operational expertise from beginning 
through advanced skill levels, including instruction 
and practical experiences that lead to cyber certifi-
cations recognized in the field. 
‘‘(2) Training in targeted strategic foreign lan-
guage proficiency designed to significantly enhance 
critical cyber operational capabilities and tailored to 
current and anticipated readiness requirements. 
‘‘(3) Training related to mathematical founda-
tions of cryptography and cryptographic theory and 
practice designed to complement and reinforce cyber 
education along with the strategic language pro-
grams critical to cyber operations. 
‘‘(4) Training designed to expand the pool of 
qualified cyber instructors necessary to support 
cyber education in regional school systems. 
‘‘(c) PARTNERSHIPS WITH DEPARTMENT
OF DE-
FENSE AND THE ARMED FORCES.—Any cyber institute 
established under this section may enter into a partnership 
with any active or reserve component of the armed forces 
or any agency of the Department of Defense to facilitate 
the development of critical cyber skills.
164 
‘‘(d) PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER SCHOOLS.—Any 
cyber institute established under this section may enter 
into a partnership with one or more local educational 
agencies to facilitate the development of critical cyber 
skills under the program among students attending the 
elementary and secondary schools of such agencies who 
may pursue a military career. The cyber institute may 
place a special emphasis on entering into a partnership 
under this subsection with a local educational agency lo-
cated in a rural, underserved, or underrepresented com-
munity. 
‘‘(e) SENIOR MILITARY COLLEGES.—The senior mili-
tary colleges are the senior military colleges in section 
2111a(f) of this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘2111c. Senior military colleges: ROTC cyber institutes.’’. 
SEC. 563. MILITARY-TO-MARINER TRANSITION. 
(a) REPORT.— Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall jointly report to the Committee 
on Armed Services and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
165 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on 
steps the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security 
have taken or intend to take to— 
(1) maximize the extent to which United States 
armed forces service, training, and qualifications are 
creditable toward meeting the laws and regulations 
governing United States merchant mariner license, 
certification, and document laws and the Inter-
national Convention on Standards of Training, Cer-
tification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, in-
cluding steps to enhance interdepartmental coordina-
tion; and 
(2) to promote better awareness among armed 
forces personnel who serve in vessel operating posi-
tions of the requirements for post-service use of 
armed forces training, education, and practical expe-
rience in satisfaction of requirements for merchant 
mariner credentials under section 11.213 of title 46, 
Code of Federal Regulation, and the need to docu-
ment such service in a manner suitable for post-serv-
ice use. 
(b) LIST
OF TRAINING PROGRAMS.—The report 
under subsection (a) shall include a list of Army, Navy, 
and Coast Guard training programs open to Army, Navy,
166 
and Coast Guard vessel operators, respectively, that 
shows— 
(1) which programs have been approved for 
credit toward merchant mariner credentials; 
(2) which programs are under review for such 
approval; 
(3) which programs are not relevant to the 
training needed for merchant mariner credentials; 
and 
(4) which programs could become eligible for 
credit toward merchant mariner credentials with 
minor changes. 
SEC. 564. EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY FOR CIVILIAN FAC-
ULTY AT CERTAIN MILITARY DEPARTMENT 
SCHOOLS. 
(a) ADDITION
OF ARMY UNIVERSITY
AND ADDI-
TIONAL FACULTY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 4021 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (a) and insert-
ing the following new subsection: 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary of 
the Army may employ as many civilians as professors, in-
structors, lecturers, researchers, and administrative fac-
ulty at the Army War College, the United States Army
167 
Command and General Staff College, and the Army Uni-
versity as the Secretary considers necessary.’’; and 
(B) by striking subsection (c). 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENT.—The heading of 
such section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 4021. Army War College, United States Army Com-
mand and General Staff College, and 
Army University: civilian faculty mem-
bers’’. 
(b) NAVAL WAR COLLEGE AND MARINE CORPS UNI-
VERSITY.—Section 7478 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary of 
the Navy may employ as many civilians as professors, in-
structors, lecturers, researchers, and administrative fac-
ulty at a school of the Naval War College or of the Marine 
Corps University as the Secretary considers necessary.’’; 
and 
(2) by striking subsection (c). 
(c) AIR UNIVERSITY.—Section 9021 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following new subsection:
168 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary of 
the Air Force may employ as many civilians as professors, 
instructors, lecturers, researchers, and administrative fac-
ulty at a school of the Air University as the Secretary con-
siders necessary.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c). 
SEC. 565. REVISION OF NAME ON MILITARY SERVICE 
RECORD TO REFLECT CHANGE IN NAME OF A 
MEMBER OF THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, 
OR 
MARINE 
CORPS, 
AFTER 
SEPARATION 
FROM THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) REVISION REQUIRED.—Section 1551 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) SERVICE UNDER AS-
SUMED NAME.—’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) EFFECT OF CHANGE IN NAME.—The Secretary 
of the military department concerned shall reissue a cer-
tificate of discharge or an order of acceptance of resigna-
tion in the new name of any person who, after separation 
from an armed force under the jurisdiction of that Sec-
retary, legally changes the person’s name to reflect the 
person’s gender identity.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—
169 
(1) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of section 
1551 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1551. Correction of name after separation from 
service’’. 
(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 79 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the item relat-
ing to section 1551 and inserting the following new 
item: 
‘‘1551. Correction of name after separation from service.’’. 
SEC. 566. DIRECT EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROGRAM FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RE-
SERVE. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of De-
fense may carry out a pilot program to enhance the efforts 
of the Department of Defense to provide job placement 
assistance and related employment services directly to 
members in the National Guard and Reserves. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The pilot program shall be 
offered to, and administered by, the adjutants general ap-
pointed under section 314 of title 32, United States Code. 
(c) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—As a condition 
on the provision of funds under this section to a State 
to support the operation of the pilot program in the State, 
the State must agree to contribute an amount, derived
170 
from non-Federal sources, equal to at least 30 percent of 
the funds provided by the Secretary of Defense under this 
section. 
(d) DIRECT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM MODEL.—The 
pilot program should follow a job placement program 
model that focuses on working one-on-one with a member 
of a reserve component to cost-effectively provide job 
placement services, including services such as identifying 
unemployed and under employed members, job matching 
services, resume editing, interview preparation, and post- 
employment follow up. Development of the pilot program 
should be informed by State direct employment programs 
for members of the reserve components, such as the pro-
grams conducted in California and South Carolina. 
(e) EVALUATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
develop outcome measurements to evaluate the success of 
the pilot program. 
(f) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than Janu-
ary 31, 2021, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a report describ-
ing the results of the pilot program. The Secretary 
shall prepare the report in coordination with the 
Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
171 
(2) ELEMENTS OF REPORT.—A report under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A description and assessment of the ef-
fectiveness and achievements of the pilot pro-
gram, including the number of members of the 
reserve components hired and the cost-per- 
placement of participating members. 
(B) An assessment of the impact of the 
pilot program and increased reserve component 
employment levels on the readiness of members 
of the reserve components. 
(C) A comparison of the pilot program to 
other programs conducted by the Department 
of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs 
to provide unemployment and underemployment 
support to members of the reserve components 
and veterans. 
(D) Any other matters considered appro-
priate by the Secretary. 
(g) DURATION OF AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The authority to carry out 
the pilot program expires September 30, 2019. 
(2) EXTENSION.—Upon the expiration of the 
authority under paragraph (1), the Secretary of De-
172 
fense may extend the pilot program for not more 
than two additional fiscal years. 
SEC. 567. PROHIBITION ON ESTABLISHMENT, MAINTE-
NANCE, OR SUPPORT OF SENIOR RESERVE 
OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS UNITS AT EDU-
CATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS 
THAT 
DISPLAY 
CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Section 2102 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(e) PROHIBITION RELATED TO DISPLAY OF CON-
FEDERATE BATTLE FLAG.—(1) The Secretary of a mili-
tary department may not establish, maintain, or support 
a unit of the program at any educational institution, in-
cluding any senior military college specified in section 
2111a of this title, that displays, in a location other than 
in a museum exhibit, the Confederate battle flag. 
‘‘(2)(A) Upon making a determination under para-
graph (1) that an educational institution displays, in a lo-
cation other than in a museum exhibit, the Confederate 
battle flag, the Secretary of the military department con-
cerned shall terminate, in accordance with subparagraph 
(B), any unit of the program at that educational institu-
tion in existence as of the date of the determination.
173 
‘‘(B) The termination of a unit of the program at 
an educational institution pursuant to this paragraph shall 
take effect on the date on which— 
‘‘(i) each member of the program who, as of the 
date of the determination, is enrolled in the edu-
cational institution is no longer so enrolled; and 
‘‘(ii) each student who, as of the date of the de-
termination, is enrolled in the educational institution 
but not yet a member of the program, is no longer 
so enrolled. 
‘‘(3) Not later than January 31, 2017, and each Jan-
uary 31 thereafter through January 31, 2021, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report— 
‘‘(A) identifying each unit of the program lo-
cated at an educational institution that displays, in 
a location other than in a museum exhibit, the Con-
federate battle flag; and 
‘‘(B) describing the implementation of this sub-
section with respect to that educational institution. 
‘‘(4) In this subsection, the term ‘Confederate battle 
flag’ means the battle flag of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia, the battle flag of the Army of Tennessee, the battle 
flag of Forrest’s Cavalry Corps, the Second Confederate
174 
Navy Jack, the Second Confederate Navy Ensign, or other 
flag with a like design.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—(1) 
Section 
2102(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to sub-
section (e), the President’’. 
(2) Section 2111a of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(A) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in section 
2102(e) of this title, the Secretary’’; and 
(B) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except in the case of a senior 
miliary college at which a unit of the program is ter-
minated pursuant to section 2102(e) of this title, the 
Secretary’’. 
(c) EXCEPTION.—Section 2102 of title 10, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(f) EXCEPTION.—The prohibition under subsection 
(e) shall not apply to an educational institution if the 
board of visitors of such institution has voted to take down 
the flag described in such subsection.’’.
175 
SEC. 568. REPORT ON COMPOSITION OF SERVICE ACAD-
EMIES. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report on 
the demographic composition of service academies that in-
cludes— 
(1) an analysis of— 
(A) the demographic composition of each 
service academy’s— 
(i) recruits; 
(ii) nominees; 
(iii) applicants; 
(iv) qualified applicants; 
(v) admits; 
(vi) enrollees; 
(vii) graduates; and 
(viii) graduate occupation placement; 
(B) how such composition compares to the 
demographic composition of— 
(i) the United States; 
(ii) enlisted members of the Armed 
Forces; 
(iii) officers of the Armed Forces; and
176 
(iv) other institutions of higher edu-
cation (as defined in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001(a)); and 
(C) the demographic composition of each 
quintile of academic ranking for each service 
academy’s graduating class; 
(2) a description of the considerations given to 
demographic composition in each service acad-
emy’s— 
(A) recruitment efforts (including funding 
decisions made to further such efforts); 
(B) qualification decisions; and 
(C) admissions decisions; and 
(3) recommendations for best— 
(A) recruitment practices; 
(B) nominating practices; 
(C) qualification decision practices; and 
(D) admissions practices. 
(b) DEFINITION.—In this section the term ‘‘service 
academy’’ means each of the following: 
(1) The United States Military Academy. 
(2) The United States Naval Academy. 
(3) The United States Air Force Academy. 
(4) The United States Coast Guard Academy.
177 
(5) The United States Merchant Marine Acad-
emy. 
(c) SCOPE OF REPORT.—The report required by this 
section shall examine each service academy class admitted 
following the date of enactment of section 543 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 
(Public Law 103–160). 
SEC. 569. INCLUSION OF ALCOHOL, PRESCRIPTION DRUG, 
OPIOID, 
AND 
OTHER 
SUBSTANCE 
ABUSE 
COUNSELING 
AS 
PART 
OF 
REQUIRED 
PRESEPARATION COUNSELING. 
Section 1142(b)(11) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting before the period the following: 
‘‘and information concerning the availability of treatment 
options and resources to address substance abuse, includ-
ing alcohol, prescription drug, and opioid abuse’’. 
SEC. 569A. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION IN TRANSITION 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 1144(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(10) Provide information regarding the deduc-
tion of disability compensation paid by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 1175a(h) of
178 
this title by reason of voluntary separation pay re-
ceived by the member.’’. 
SEC. 569B. REPORT AND GUIDANCE REGARDING JOB 
TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TRAINING, 
APPRENTICESHIPS, AND INTERNSHIPS AND 
SKILLBRIDGE INITIATIVES FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES WHO ARE BEING SEPA-
RATED. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives, and make available 
to the public, a report evaluating the success of the Job 
Training, Employment Skills Training, Apprenticeships, 
and Internships (known as JTEST–AI) and SkillBridge 
initiatives, under which civilian businesses and companies 
make available to members of the Armed Forces who are 
being separated from the Armed Forces training or intern-
ship opportunities that offer a high probability of employ-
ment for the members after their separation. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF REPORT.—In preparing the report 
required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary of De-
fense for Personnel and Readiness shall use the effective-
ness metrics described in Enclosure 5 of Department of
179 
Defense Instruction No. 1322.29. The report shall in-
clude, at a minimum, the following: 
(1) An assessment of the successes of the 
JTEST–AI and SkillBridge initiatives. 
(2) Recommendations by the Under Secretary 
regarding ways in which the administration of the 
JTEST–AI and SkillBridge initiatives could be im-
proved. 
(3) Recommendations by civilian companies 
participating in the initiatives regarding ways in 
which the administration of the JTEST–AI and 
SkillBridge initiatives could be improved. 
(4) Testimony from a sample of members of the 
Armed Forces who are participating in a JTEST– 
AI or SkillBridge initiative regarding the effective-
ness of the initiatives and the members’ support for 
the initiatives. 
(5) Testimony from a sample of recently sepa-
rated members of the Armed Forces who partici-
pated in a JTEST–AI or SkillBridge initiative re-
garding the effectiveness of the initiatives and the 
members’ support for the initiatives. 
(c) ISSUANCE OF GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 
days after the submission of the report required by sub-
section (a), the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel
180 
and Readiness shall issue guidance to commanders of 
units of the Armed Forces for the purpose of encouraging 
commanders, consistent with unit readiness, to allow 
members of the Armed Forces under their command who 
are being separated from the Armed Forces to participate 
in a JTEST–AI or SkillBridge initiative. 
SEC. 569C. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION IN ADVANCE 
OF APPOINTMENTS TO SERVICE ACADEMIES. 
(a) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—Section 
4342(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended in 
the matter after paragraph (10) by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ‘‘When a nominee of a Senator, 
Representative, or Delegate is selected for appointment as 
a cadet, the Senator, Representative, or Delegate shall be 
notified at least 48 hours before the official notification 
or announcement of the appointment is made.’’. 
(b) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.—Section 
6954(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended in 
the matter after paragraph (10) by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ‘‘When a nominee of a Senator, 
Representative, or Delegate is selected for appointment as 
a midshipman, the Senator, Representative, or Delegate 
shall be notified at least 48 hours before the official notifi-
cation or announcement of the appointment is made.’’.
181 
(c) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.—Section 
9342(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended in 
the matter after paragraph (10) by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ‘‘When a nominee of a Senator, 
Representative, or Delegate is selected for appointment as 
a cadet, the Senator, Representative, or Delegate shall be 
notified at least 48 hours before the official notification 
or announcement of the appointment is made.’’. 
(d) UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACAD-
EMY.—Section 51302 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION IN ADVANCE OF 
APPOINTMENTS.—When a nominee of a Senator, Rep-
resentative, or Delegate is selected for appointment as a 
cadet, the Senator, Representative, or Delegate shall be 
notified at least 48 hours before the official notification 
or announcement of the appointment is made’’. 
(e) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—The amend-
ments made by this section shall apply with respect to the 
appointment of cadets and midshipmen to the United 
States Military Academy, the United States Naval Acad-
emy, the United States Air Force Academy, and United 
States Merchant Marine Academy for classes entering 
these service academies after January 1, 2018.
182 
Subtitle 
F—Defense 
Dependents’ 
Education and Military Family 
Readiness Matters 
SEC. 571. CONTINUATION OF AUTHORITY TO ASSIST LOCAL 
EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES THAT BENEFIT DE-
PENDENTS OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CI-
VILIAN EMPLOYEES. 
(a) ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS WITH SIGNIFICANT 
NUMBERS OF MILITARY DEPENDENT STUDENTS.—Of the 
amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2017 
by section 301 and available for operation and mainte-
nance for Defense-wide activities as specified in the fund-
ing table in division D, $30,000,000 shall be available only 
for the purpose of providing assistance to local educational 
agencies under subsection (a) of section 572 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 
(Public Law 109–163; 20 U.S.C. 7703b). 
(b) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 8013(9) of the Ele-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7713(9)).
183 
SEC. 572. SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS PROVIDING CAMP EX-
PERIENCE FOR CHILDREN OF MILITARY FAM-
ILIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may 
provide financial or non-monetary support to qualified 
nonprofit organizations in order to assist such organiza-
tions in carrying out programs to support the attendance 
at a camp or camp-like setting of children of military fami-
lies who have experienced the death of a family member 
or other loved one or who have another family member 
living with a substance use disorder or post-traumatic 
stress disorder. 
(b) APPLICATION FOR SUPPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each organization seeking 
support pursuant to subsection (a) shall submit to 
the Secretary an application therefor containing 
such information as the Secretary shall specify for 
purposes of this section. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted 
under paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A description of the program for which 
support is being sought, including the location 
of the setting or settings under the program, 
the duration of such setting or setting, any 
local partners participating in or contributing to 
the program, and the ratio of counselors,
184 
trained volunteers, or both to children at such 
setting or settings. 
(B) An estimate of the number of children 
of military families to be supported using the 
support sought. 
(C) A description of the type of activities 
that will be conducted using the support 
sought, including the manner in which activities 
are particularly supportive to children of mili-
tary families described in subsection (a). 
(D) A description of the outreach con-
ducted or to be conducted by the organization 
to military families regarding the program. 
(c) PREFERENCE IN APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS.— 
The Secretary shall accord a preference in the approval 
of applications submitted pursuant to subsection (b) to ap-
plications submitted by organizations that— 
(1) provide a traditional camp or camp-like en-
vironment setting that is hosted by an accredited 
service provider or facility; 
(2) offer activities in that setting that— 
(A) includes a continued care model; 
(B) is tailored to the needs of children and 
uses recognized best practices;
185 
(C) exhibits an adequate understanding 
and recognition of appropriate military culture 
and traditions; and 
(D) places a focus on peer-to-peer support 
and activities; 
(3) offers post-camp and continuing bereave-
ment or addiction-prevention support, as applicable; 
(4) offer support services for children and fami-
lies; and 
(5) provides for evaluations of the camp experi-
ence by children and their families after camp. 
(d) USE OF SUPPORT.—Support provided by the Sec-
retary to an organization pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
be used by the organization to support attendance at a 
camp or camp-like setting of children of military families 
described in subsection (a). 
SEC. 573. IMPACT AID. 
Notwithstanding section 5(d) of the Every Student 
Succeeds Act (Public Law 114–95; 129 Stat. 1806), the 
amendment made by section 7004(1) of such Act (Public 
Law 114–95; 129 Stat. 2077)— 
(1) for fiscal year 2016, shall— 
(A) be applied as if amending section 
8003(a)(5)(A) of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965, as in effect on
187 
spouse’s relocation to the permanent duty station of 
the member.’’. 
Subtitle G—Decorations and 
Awards 
SEC. 581. REVIEW REGARDING AWARD OF MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO CERTAIN ASIAN AMERICAN AND 
NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER WAR 
VETERANS. 
(a) REVIEW REQUIRED.—The Secretary of each mili-
tary department shall review the service records of each 
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander war 
veteran described in subsection (b) to determine whether 
that veteran should be awarded the Medal of Honor. 
(b) COVERED VETERANS.— The Asian American and 
Native American Pacific Islander war veterans whose serv-
ice records are to be reviewed under subsection (a) are 
the following: 
(1) Any Asian American or Native American 
Pacific Islander war veteran who was awarded the 
Distinguished-Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the 
Air Force Cross during the Korean War or the Viet-
nam War. 
(2) Any other Asian American or Native Amer-
ican Pacific Islander war veteran whose name is sub-
mitted to the Secretary concerned for such purpose
188 
before the end of the one-year period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) CONSULTATIONS.—In carrying out the review 
under subsection (a), the Secretary of each military de-
partment shall consult with such veterans service organi-
zations as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(d) RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON REVIEW.—If the 
Secretary concerned determines, based upon the review 
under subsection (a) of the service records of any Asian 
American or Native American Pacific Islander war vet-
eran, that the award of the Medal of Honor to that veteran 
is warranted, the Secretary shall submit to the President 
a recommendation that the President award the Medal of 
Honor to that veteran. 
(e) AUTHORITY TO AWARD MEDAL OF HONOR.—A 
Medal of Honor may be awarded to an Asian American 
or Native American Pacific Islander war veteran in ac-
cordance with a recommendation of the Secretary con-
cerned under subsection (d). 
(f) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—No Medal of 
Honor may be awarded pursuant to subsection (e) until 
the Secretary of Defense submits to the Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives notice of the recommendations under subsection (d), 
including the name of each Asian American or Native
189 
American Pacific Islander war veteran recommended to be 
awarded a Medal of Honor and the rationale for such rec-
ommendation. 
(g) WAIVER OF TIME LIMITATIONS.—An award of 
the Medal of Honor may be made under subsection (e) 
without regard to— 
(1) section 3744, 6248, or 8744 of title 10, 
United States Code, as applicable; and 
(2) any regulation or other administrative re-
striction on— 
(A) the time for awarding the Medal of 
Honor; or 
(B) the awarding of the Medal of Honor 
for service for which a Distinguished-Service 
Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross has been 
awarded. 
(h) DEFINITION.—In this section the term ‘‘Native 
American Pacific Islander’’ means a Native Hawaiian or 
Native American Pacific Islander, as those terms are de-
fined in section 815 of the Native American Programs Act 
of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2992c). 
SEC. 582. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDALS FOR 
ACTS OF VALOR. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim-
itations specified in sections 3744, 6248, 8744 of title 10,
190 
United States Code, or any other time limitation with re-
spect to the awarding of certain medals to persons who 
served in the United States Armed Forces, the President 
may award a medal referred to in subsection (c) to a mem-
ber or former member of the United States Armed Forces 
identified as warranting award of that medal pursuant to 
the review of valor award nominations for Operation En-
during Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation 
New Dawn, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, and Operation 
Inherent Resolve that was directed by the Secretary of De-
fense on January 7, 2016. 
(b) AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR.—If, pursuant to 
the review referred to in subsection (a), the President de-
cides to award to a member or former member of the 
Armed Forces the Medal of Honor, the medal may only 
be awarded after the Secretary of Defense submits to the 
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
a letter identifying the intended recipient of the Medal of 
Honor and the rationale for awarding the medal of honor 
to such intended recipient. 
(c) MEDALS.—The medals referred to in this sub-
section are any of the following: 
(1) The Medal of Honor under section 3741, 
6241, or 8741 of title 10, United States Code;
191 
(2) The Distinguished-Service Cross under sec-
tion 3742 of title 10, United States Code. 
(3) The Navy Cross under section 6242 of title 
10, United States Code. 
(4) The Air Force Cross under section 8742 of 
title 10, United States Code. 
(5) The Silver Star under section 3746, 6244, 
or 8746 of title 10, United States Code. 
(d) TERMINATION.—No medal may be awarded 
under this section after December 31, 2019. 
SEC. 583. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO GARY M. ROSE FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim-
itations specified in section 3744 of title 10, United States 
Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the 
awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the 
Armed Forces, the President is authorized to award the 
Medal of Honor under section 3741 of such title to Gary 
M. Rose for the acts of valor described in subsection (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
referred to in subsection (a) are the actions of Gary M. 
Rose in Laos from September 11 through 14, 1970, dur-
ing the Vietnam War while a member of the United States
192 
Army, Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and 
Observation Group (MACVSOG). 
SEC. 584. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO CHARLES S. KETTLES FOR ACTS 
OF VALOR DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) WAIVER
OF
TIME
LIMITATIONS.—Notwith-
standing the time limitations specified in section 3744 of 
title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation 
with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons 
who served in the Armed Forces, the President may award 
the Medal of Honor under section 3741 of such title to 
Charles S. Kettles for the acts of valor during the Vietnam 
War described in subsection (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
referred to in subsection (a) are the actions of Charles 
S. Kettles during combat operations on May 15, 1967, 
while serving as Flight Commander, 176th Aviation Com-
pany, 14th Aviation Battalion, Task Force Oregon, Re-
public of Vietnam, for which he was previously awarded 
the Distinguished-Service Cross.
193 
SEC. 585. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF DISTINGUISHED- 
SERVICE CROSS TO FIRST LIEUTENANT MEL-
VIN M. SPRUIELL FOR ACTS OF VALOR DUR-
ING WORLD WAR II. 
(a) WAIVER
OF
TIME
LIMITATIONS.—Notwith-
standing the time limitations specified in section 3744 of 
title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation 
with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons 
who served in the Armed Forces, the Secretary of the 
Army may award the Distinguished-Service Cross under 
section 3742 of such title to First Lieutenant Melvin M. 
Spruiell of the Army for the acts of valor during World 
War II described in subsection (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
referred to in subsection (a) are the actions of First Lieu-
tenant Melvin M. Spruiell on June 10 and 11, 1944, as 
a member of the Army serving in France with the 377th 
Parachute Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division.
194 
Subtitle H—Miscellaneous Reports 
and Other Matters 
SEC. 591. BURIAL OF CREMATED REMAINS IN ARLINGTON 
NATIONAL CEMETERY OF CERTAIN PERSONS 
WHOSE SERVICE IS DEEMED TO BE ACTIVE 
SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2410 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary of the Army shall ensure that 
under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the 
cremated remains of any person described in paragraph 
(2) are eligible for inurnment in Arlington National Ceme-
tery with military honors in accordance with section 1491 
of title 10. 
‘‘(2) A person described in this paragraph is a person 
whose service has been determined to be active duty serv-
ice pursuant to section 401 of the GI Bill Improvement 
Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–202; 38 U.S.C. 106 note) 
as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to—
195 
(A) the remains of a person that are not 
formally interred or inurned as of the date of 
the enactment of this Act; and 
(B) a person who dies on or after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) FORMALLY
INTERRED
OR
INURNED
DE-
FINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘formally in-
terred or inurned’’ means interred or inurned in a 
cemetery, crypt, mausoleum, columbarium, niche, or 
other similar formal location. 
(c) REPORT ON CAPACITY OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL 
CEMETERY.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Represent-
atives and the Senate a report on the interment and 
inurnment capacity of Arlington National Cemetery, in-
cluding— 
(1) the estimated date that the Secretary deter-
mines the cemetery will reach maximum interment 
and inurnment capacity; and 
(2) in light of the unique and iconic meaning of 
the cemetery to the United States, recommendations 
for legislative actions and nonlegislative options that 
the Secretary determines necessary to ensure that
196 
the maximum interment and inurnment capacity of 
the cemetery is not reached until well into the fu-
ture, including such actions and options with respect 
to— 
(A) redefining eligibility criteria for inter-
ment and inurnment in the cemetery; and 
(B) considerations for additional expansion 
opportunities beyond the current boundaries of 
the cemetery. 
SEC. 592. REPRESENTATION FROM MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES ON BOARDS, COUNCILS, AND 
COMMITTEES MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS 
RELATING TO MILITARY PERSONNEL ISSUES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 190. Representation on boards, councils, and com-
mittees making recommendations relat-
ing to military personnel issues 
‘‘(a) 
REPRESENTATION
REQUIRED.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, any board, council, 
or committee established under this chapter that is re-
sponsible for making any recommendation relating to any 
military personnel issue affecting enlisted members of the 
armed forces shall include representation on the board,
197 
council, or committee from enlisted members of the armed 
forces or retired enlisted members of the armed forces. 
‘‘(b) MILITARY PERSONNEL ISSUES.—For purposes 
of this section, military personnel issues include issues re-
lating to health care, retirement benefits, pay, direct and 
indirect compensation, and entitlements for members of 
the armed forces.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘190. Representation on boards, councils, and committees making recommenda-
tions relating to military personnel issues.’’. 
SEC. 593. BODY MASS INDEX TEST. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Secretary of Defense shall re-
view— 
(1) the current body mass index test procedure 
used by the Armed Forces; and 
(2) other methods to measure body fat with a 
more holistic health and wellness approach. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The review under subsection (a) 
shall— 
(1) address nutrition counseling; 
(2) determine the best methods to be used by 
the Armed Forces to assess body fat percentages; 
and
198 
(3) improve the accuracy of body fat measure-
ments. 
SEC. 594. PRESEPARATION COUNSELING REGARDING OP-
TIONS FOR DONATING BRAIN TISSUE AT 
TIME OF DEATH FOR RESEARCH. 
Section 1142(b)(11) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘, and information concerning options available 
to the member for registering at or following separation 
to donate brain tissue at time of the member’s death for 
research regarding traumatic brain injury and chronic 
traumatic encephalopathy’’. 
SEC. 595. RECOGNITION OF THE EXPANDED SERVICE OP-
PORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO FEMALE MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THE LONG 
SERVICE OF WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES. 
Congress— 
(1) honors women who have served, and who 
are currently serving, as members of the Armed 
Forces; 
(2) commends female members of the Armed 
Forces who have sacrificed their lives in defense of 
the United States;
199 
(3) recognizes that female members of the 
Armed Forces are an integral and invaluable part of 
the Armed Forces; 
(4) urges the Secretary of Defense to ensure 
that female members of the Armed Forces receive 
adequate, well-fitted equipment in order to ensure 
optimal safety and protection; 
(5) urges the Secretary of Defense to ensure 
that female members of the Armed Forces have ac-
cess to adequate health services that fully address 
their specific medical needs; 
(6) encourages the Secretary of Defense to de-
velop new initiatives focused on recruiting and re-
taining more women in the officer corps; and 
(7) recognizes that the United States must con-
tinue to encourage and support female members of 
the Armed Forces as they fight for and defend the 
United States. 
SEC. 596. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING PLIGHT OF 
MALE VICTIMS OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAU-
MA. 
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that the plight of male 
victims of military sexual trauma remains in the shadows 
due a lack of social awareness on the issue of male victim-
ization.
200 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of Defense should— 
(1) enhance victims’ access to intensive medical 
and mental health treatment for military sexual 
trauma treatment; 
(2) look for opportunities to utilize male sur-
vivors of sexual assault as presenters during annual 
Sexual Assault Preventions and Response training; 
and 
(3) ensure Department of Defense medical and 
mental health providers are adequately trained to 
meet the needs of male survivors of military sexual 
trauma. 
SEC. 597. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SECTION 504 
OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE, ON EX-
ISTING AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE TO ENLIST INDIVIDUALS, NOT OTH-
ERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR ENLISTMENT, WHOSE 
ENLISTMENT IS VITAL TO THE NATIONAL IN-
TEREST. 
It is the sense of Congress that a statute currently 
exists, specifically paragraph (2) of section 504(b) of title 
10, United States Code, which states that ‘‘the Secretary 
concerned may authorize the enlistment of a person not 
described in paragraph (1) [of that section] if the Sec-
201 
retary determines that such enlistment is vital to the na-
tional interest’’. 
SEC. 598. PROTECTION OF SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS 
OF MILITARY FAMILIES. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Protect Our Military Families’ 2nd Amendment Rights 
Act’’. 
(b) RESIDENCY OF SPOUSES OF MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES
TO BE DETERMINED
ON
THE SAME 
BASIS AS THE RESIDENCY OF SUCH MEMBERS FOR PUR-
POSES OF FEDERAL FIREARMS LAWS.—Section 921(b) of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) For purposes of this chapter: 
‘‘(1) A member of the Armed Forces on active 
duty and the spouse of such a member are residents 
of the State in which the permanent duty station of 
the member is located. 
‘‘(2) The spouse of such a member may satisfy 
the identification document requirements of this 
chapter by presenting— 
‘‘(A) the military identification card issued 
to the spouse; and 
‘‘(B) the official Permanent Change of 
Station Orders annotating the spouse as being
202 
authorized for collocation, or an official letter 
from the commanding officer of the member 
verifying that the member and the spouse are 
collocated at the permanent duty station of the 
member.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (b) shall apply to conduct engaged in after the 
6-month period that begins with the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 599. PILOT PROGRAM ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 
FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military 
departments, shall establish a pilot program to dem-
onstrate the feasibility of using portable, disposable alco-
hol breathalyzers and a cloud based server platform to col-
lect data and monitor the progress of alcohol abuse pre-
vention programs through the use of digital applications. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—In carrying out the pilot program 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) select at least three locations at which to 
carry out the program, including at least one mili-
tary service initial training location;
203 
(2) at each location selected under paragraph 
(1), include at least one active duty unit with no less 
than 300 personnel and one reserve unit with no less 
than 300 personnel; and 
(3) offer participation in the pilot program on 
a voluntary basis. 
(c) DURATION.—The pilot program under subsection 
(a) shall be operational for a minimum of 6 months and 
shall terminate not later than September 30, 2018. 
(d) REPORTS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives— 
(1) not later than 120 days after the date of 
the implementation of the pilot program under sub-
section (a), a report on the implementation of the 
program; and 
(2) not later than one year after the date of the 
implementation of the program, a report on the pro-
gram, including findings and recommendations of 
the Secretary with respect to the benefits of using 
advanced technology as part of alcohol abuse preven-
tion efforts within the military services. 
(e) FUNDING.—The Secretary of Defense may carry 
out the pilot program under subsection (a) using amounts 
authorized to be appropriated for Alcohol Abuse Preven-
204 
tion Programs as specified in the funding tables in division 
D. 
SEC. 599A. REPORT ON AVAILABILITY OF COLLEGE CREDIT 
FOR SKILLS ACQUIRED DURING MILITARY 
SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Secretaries of Veterans Af-
fairs, Education, and Labor, shall submit to Congress a 
report on the transfer of skills into equivalent college cred-
its or technical certifications for members of the Armed 
Forces leaving the military. Such report shall describe 
each the following: 
(1) Each skill that may be acquired during mili-
tary service that is eligible for transfer into an 
equivalent college credit or technical certification. 
(2) The academic level of the equivalent college 
credit or technical certification for which each such 
skill is eligible. 
(3) Each academic institution that awards an 
equivalent college credit or technical certification for 
such skills, including— 
(A) whether each such academic institution 
is public or private and whether such institution 
is for profit; and
205 
(B) the number of veterans that applied to 
such academic institutions who were able to re-
ceive equivalent college credits or technical cer-
tifications in the last fiscal year, and the aca-
demic level of the credits or certifications. 
(4) The number of members of the Armed 
Forces who left the military in the last fiscal year 
and the number of those individuals who met with 
an academic or technical training advisor as part of 
their participation in the Transition Assistance Pro-
gram. 
SEC. 599B. ATOMIC VETERANS SERVICE MEDAL. 
(a) SERVICE MEDAL REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall design and produce a military service medal, 
to be known as the ‘‘Atomic Veterans Service Medal’’, to 
honor retired and former members of the Armed Forces 
who are radiation-exposed veterans (as such term is de-
fined in section 1112(c)(3) of title 38, United States 
Code). 
(b) DISTRIBUTION OF MEDAL.— 
(1) ISSUANCE TO RETIRED AND FORMER MEM-
BERS.—At the request of a radiation-exposed vet-
eran, the Secretary of Defense shall issue the Atom-
ic Veterans Service Medal to the veteran.
206 
(2) ISSUANCE TO NEXT-OF-KIN.—In the case of 
a radiation-exposed veteran who is deceased, the 
Secretary may provide for issuance of the Atomic 
Veterans Service Medal to the next-of-kin of the per-
son. 
(3) APPLICATION.—The Secretary shall prepare 
and disseminate as appropriate an application by 
which radiation-exposed veterans and their next-of- 
kin may apply to receive the Atomic Veterans Serv-
ice Medal. 
SEC. 599C. REPORT ON EXTENDING PROTECTIONS FOR 
STUDENT LOANS FOR ACTIVE DUTY BOR-
ROWERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report detailing the information, assistance, and efforts 
to support and inform active duty members of the Armed 
Forces with respect to the rights and resources available 
under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 
3901 et seq.) regarding student loans. The report shall 
include, at a minimum, the following: 
(1) A description of the coordination and infor-
mation sharing between the Secretary of Defense
207 
and the Secretary of Education regarding the eligi-
bility of members, and requests by members, to 
apply the interest rate limitation under the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act with respect to ex-
isting Federal and private student loans. 
(2) The number of such members with student 
loans who elect to have the maximum interest rates 
set in accordance with such Act. 
(3) The number of such members whose stu-
dent loans have an interest rate that exceeds such 
maximum rate. 
(4) Methods by which the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Education can automate the 
process by which members with student loans elect 
to have the maximum interest rates set in accord-
ance with such Act. 
(5) A discussion of the effectiveness of such Act 
in providing protection to members of the Armed 
Forces with respect to student loans. 
(b) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con-
gressional committees’’ means the following: 
(1) The congressional defense committees. 
(2) The Committee on Education and the 
Workforce of the House of Representatives and the
208 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions of the Senate. 
SEC. 599D. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENTS OF 
MEDICAL EXPENSES AND OTHER PAYMENTS 
FROM DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL INCOME 
WITH RESPECT TO PENSIONS FOR VETERANS 
AND SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF 
VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1503(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through 
(12) as paragraphs (7) through (13), respectively; 
and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (6): 
‘‘(6) payments regarding reimbursements of 
any kind (including insurance settlement payments) 
for medical expenses resulting from any accident, 
theft, loss, or casualty loss (as defined by the Sec-
retary), but the amount excluded under this clause 
shall not exceed the costs of medical care provided 
to the victim of the accident, theft, loss, or casualty 
loss.’’.
209 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 599E. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DESIRABILITY OF 
SERVICE-WIDE ADOPTION OF GOLD STAR IN-
STALLATION ACCESS CARD. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of each 
military department and the Secretary of the Department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating should— 
(1) provide for the issuance of a Gold Star In-
stallation Access Card to Gold Star family members 
who are the survivors of deceased members of the 
Armed Forces in order to expedite the ability of a 
Gold Star family member to gain unescorted access 
to military installations for the purpose of obtaining 
the on-base services and benefits for which the Gold 
Star family member is entitled or eligible; 
(2) work jointly to ensure that a Gold Star In-
stallation Access Card issued to a Gold Star family 
member by one Armed Force is accepted for access 
to military installations of another Armed Force; 
and 
(3) in developing, issuing, and accepting the 
Gold Star Installation Access Card—
210 
(A) prevent fraud in the procurement or 
use of the Gold Star Installation Access Card; 
(B) limit installation access to those areas 
that provide the services and benefits for which 
the Gold Star family member is entitled or eli-
gible; and 
(C) ensure that the availability and use of 
the Gold Star Installation Access Card does not 
adversely affect military installation security. 
SEC. 599F. SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. 
Section 1967(f)(4) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by striking the second sentence. 
SEC. 599G. EXTENSION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND RE-
SILIENCE PROGRAM. 
Section 10219(g) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2017’’ and inserting 
‘‘October 1, 2018’’. 
TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND 
OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS 
Subtitle A—Pay and Allowances 
SEC. 601. ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF MONTHLY BASIC PAY. 
The adjustment in the rates of monthly basic pay re-
quired by subsection (a) of section 1009 of title 37, United 
States Code, to be made on January 1, 2017, shall take 
effect, notwithstanding any determination made by the
211 
President under subsection (e) of such section with respect 
to an alternative pay adjustment to be made on such date. 
SEC. 602. 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, 2016’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 
SEC. 603. PROHIBITION ON PER DIEM ALLOWANCE REDUC-
TIONS BASED ON THE DURATION OF TEM-
PORARY DUTY ASSIGNMENT OR CIVILIAN 
TRAVEL. 
(a) MEMBERS.—Section 474(d)(3) of title 37, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new sentence: ‘‘The Secretary of a military depart-
ment shall not alter the amount of the per diem allowance, 
or the maximum amount of reimbursement, for a locality 
based on the duration of the temporary duty assignment 
in the locality of a member of the armed forces under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary.’’. 
(b) CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.—Section 5702(a)(2) of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ‘‘The Secretary of Defense 
shall not alter the amount of the per diem allowance, or
212 
the maximum amount of reimbursement, for a locality 
based on the duration of the travel in the locality of an 
employee of the Department.’’. 
(c) REPEAL OF POLICY AND REGULATIONS.—The 
policy, and any regulations issued pursuant to such policy, 
implemented by the Secretary of Defense on November 1, 
2014, with respect to reductions in per diem allowances 
based on duration of temporary duty assignment or civil-
ian travel shall have no force or effect. 
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, 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’: 
(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.
214 
(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, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2017’’: 
(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. 
(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.
215 
(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, 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’: 
(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. 
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, 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’: 
(1) Section 331(h), relating to general bonus 
authority for enlisted members.
216 
(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 336(g), relating to contracting 
bonus for cadets and midshipmen enrolled in the 
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. 
(7) Section 351(h), relating to hazardous duty 
pay. 
(8) Section 352(g), relating to assignment pay 
or special duty pay. 
(9) Section 353(i), relating to skill incentive 
pay or proficiency bonus. 
(10) Section 355(h), relating to retention incen-
tives for members qualified in critical military skills 
or assigned to high priority units.
217 
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, 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’: 
(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 316a(g), relating to incentive pay 
for members of precommissioning programs pur-
suing foreign language proficiency. 
(6) Section 324(g), relating to accession bonus 
for new officers in critical skills. 
(7) Section 326(g), relating to incentive bonus 
for conversion to military occupational specialty to 
ease personnel shortage. 
(8) Section 327(h), relating to incentive bonus 
for transfer between Armed Forces. 
(9) Section 330(f), relating to accession bonus 
for officer candidates.
218 
SEC. 616. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF AVIATION 
SPECIAL PAYS FOR FLYING DUTY. 
Section 334(c)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and in-
serting the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(A) aviation incentive pay under sub-
section (a) shall be paid at a monthly rate not 
to exceed $1,000 per month; and 
‘‘(B) an aviation bonus under subsection 
(b) may not exceed $60,000 for each 12-month 
period of obligated service agreed to under sub-
section (d).’’. 
SEC. 617. CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO CONSOLIDATION 
OF 
SPECIAL 
PAY, 
INCENTIVE 
PAY, 
AND 
BONUS AUTHORITIES. 
Section 332(c)(1)(B) of title 37, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘$12,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$20,000’’. 
SEC. 618. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS RELAT-
ING TO 2008 CONSOLIDATION OF CERTAIN 
SPECIAL PAY AUTHORITIES. 
(a) FAMILY CARE PLANS.—Section 586 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 
(Public Law 110–181; 10 U.S.C. 991 note) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or 351’’ after ‘‘section 310’’.
219 
(b) 
DEPENDENTS’ 
MEDICAL
CARE.—Section 
1079(g)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or 351’’ after ‘‘section 310’’. 
(c) RETENTION
ON ACTIVE DUTY DURING DIS-
ABILITY EVALUATION PROCESS.—Section 1218(d)(1) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or 
351’’ after ‘‘section 310’’. 
(d) STORAGE SPACE.—Section 362(1) of the John 
Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2007 (Public Law 109–364; 10 U.S.C. 2825 note) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘, or paragraph (1) or (3) of sec-
tion 351(a),’’ after ‘‘section 310’’. 
(e) STUDENT
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS.—Sections 
455(o)(3)(B) and 465(a)(2)(D) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(o)(3)(B), 1087ee(a)(2)(D)) 
are amended by inserting ‘‘or paragraph (1) or (3) of sec-
tion 351(a).’’ after ‘‘section 310’’. 
(f) ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME.—Section 
1512(a)(3)(A) of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act 
of 1991 (24 U.S.C. 412(a)(3)(A)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘or 351’’ after ‘‘section 310’’. 
(g) VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS MEMBERSHIP.— 
Section 230103(3) of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘or 351’’ after ‘‘section 310’’.
220 
(h) MILITARY PAY
AND ALLOWANCES.—Title 37, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 212(a), by inserting ‘‘, or para-
graph (1) or (3) of section 351(a),’’ after ‘‘section 
310’’; 
(2) in section 402a(b)(3)(B), by inserting ‘‘or 
351’’ after ‘‘section 310’’; 
(3) in section 481a(a), by inserting ‘‘or 351’’ 
after ‘‘section 310’’; 
(4) in section 907(d)(1)(H), by inserting ‘‘or 
351’’ after ‘‘section 310’’; and 
(5) in section 910(b)(2)(B), by inserting ‘‘, or 
paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a),’’ after ‘‘sec-
tion 310’’. 
(i) EXCLUSIONS FROM INCOME FOR PURPOSE OF 
SUPPLEMENTAL
SECURITY
INCOME.—Section 
1612(b)(20) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1382a(b)(20)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, or paragraph 
(1) or (3) of section 351(a),’’ after ‘‘section 310’’. 
(j) EXCLUSIONS FROM INCOME FOR PURPOSE OF 
HEAD START PROGRAM.—Section 645(a)(3)(B)(i) of the 
Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840(a)(3)(B)(i)) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or 351’’ after ‘‘section 310’’. 
(k) EXCLUSIONS FROM GROSS INCOME FOR FED-
ERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.—Section 112(c)(5)(B) of
221 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by insert-
ing ‘‘, or paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a),’’ after 
‘‘section 310’’. 
SEC. 619. COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION CO-
ORDINATING AMENDMENT. 
Subparagraph (B) of section 1413a(b)(3) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the amount 
equal to’’ and all that follows through ‘‘creditable service 
multiplied’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘the amount equal 
to the retired pay multiplier determined for the member 
under section 1409 of this title multiplied’’. 
Subtitle C—Disability, Retired Pay, 
and Survivor Benefits 
SEC. 621. SEPARATION DETERMINATIONS FOR MEMBERS 
PARTICIPATING IN THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN. 
The amendment to be made by section 632(c)(2) of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2016 (Public Law 114–92; 129 Stat. 847) shall not take 
effect. 
SEC. 622. CONTINUATION PAY FOR FULL THRIFT SAVINGS 
PLAN MEMBERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED 8 TO 
12 YEARS OF SERVICE. 
(a) CONTINUATION PAY.—Section 356 of title 37, 
United States Code, which shall take effect on January 
1, 2018, pursuant to section 635 of the National Defense
222 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114– 
92; 129 Stat. 851), is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘12 years’’ 
and inserting ‘‘8 to 12 years’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) has completed not less than 8 and not 
more than 12 years of service in a uniformed serv-
ice; and’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘an addi-
tional 4 years’’ and inserting ‘‘not less than 3 
additional years’’; 
(3) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) PAYMENT AMOUNT.—The Secretary concerned 
shall determine the payment amount under this section 
as a multiple of a full TSP member’s monthly basic pay 
but shall not be less than 2.5 times the member’s monthly 
basic pay. The maximum amount the Secretary concerned 
may pay the member under this section is— 
‘‘(1) in the case of a member of a regular com-
ponent or in a reserve component if the member is 
performing active Guard and Reserve duty (as de-
fined in section 101(d)(6) of title 10), 13 times the
223 
amount of the monthly basic pay payable to the 
member for the month during which the agreement 
under subsection (a)(2) is entered into; and 
‘‘(2) in the case of any member not covered by 
paragraph (1), 6 times the amount of monthly basic 
pay to which the member would be entitled for the 
month during which the agreement under subsection 
(a)(2) is entered into if the member were serving on 
active duty at the time the agreement is entered 
into.’’; and 
(4) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(d) TIMING
OF PAYMENT.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall pay continuation pay under subsection (a) to 
a full TSP member when the member has completed not 
less than 8 and not more than 12 years of service in a 
uniformed service.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The item relating to 
section 356 in the table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, which shall take 
effect on January 1, 2018, pursuant to section 635 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 
(Public Law 114–92; 129 Stat. 851), is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘12 years’’ and inserting ‘‘8 to 12 years’’.
224 
SEC. 623. SPECIAL SURVIVOR INDEMNITY ALLOWANCE. 
(a) PAYMENT AMOUNT PER FISCAL YEAR.—Para-
graph (2)(I) of section 1450(m) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2017’’ and in-
serting ‘‘each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018’’. 
(b) DURATION.—Paragraph (6) of such section is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘September 30, 2017’’ and in-
serting ‘‘September 30, 2018’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘October 1, 2017’’ both places 
it appears and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2018’’. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port on the dependency and indemnity compensation offset 
under sections 1450(c) of title 10, United States Code. 
The report shall include the following: 
(1) The total number of individuals affected by 
such offset. 
(2) Of the number of individuals covered under 
paragraph (1), the number who are covered by sec-
tion 1448(d) of title 10, United States Code, listed 
by the rank of the deceased member and the current 
age of the individual. 
(3) Of the number of individuals under para-
graph (1), the number who are not covered by sec-
225 
tion 1448(d) of title 10, United States Code, listed 
by the rank of the deceased member and the current 
age of the individual. 
(4) The average amount of money that is af-
fected by such offset, including the average amounts 
with respect to— 
(A) individuals described in paragraph (2); 
and 
(B) individuals described in paragraph (3). 
(5) The number of recipients for the special 
survivor indemnity allowance under section 1450(m) 
of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 624. EQUAL BENEFITS UNDER SURVIVOR BENEFIT 
PLAN FOR SURVIVORS OF RESERVE COMPO-
NENT MEMBERS WHO DIE IN THE LINE OF 
DUTY DURING INACTIVE-DUTY TRAINING. 
(a) TREATMENT OF INACTIVE-DUTY TRAINING IN 
SAME MANNER AS ACTIVE DUTY.—Section 1451(c)(1)(A) 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in clause (i)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or 1448(f)’’ after ‘‘sec-
tion 1448(d)’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or (iii)’’ after ‘‘clause 
(ii)’’; and 
(2) in clause (iii)—
227 
cerned, in consultation with the surviving 
spouse, determines it appropriate to provide an 
annuity for the dependent children under this 
paragraph instead of an annuity for the sur-
viving spouse under paragraph (1).’’. 
(c) DEEMED ELECTIONS.—Section 1448(f) of title 
10, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) DEEMED ELECTION TO PROVIDE AN AN-
NUITY
FOR
DEPENDENT.—Paragraph (6) of sub-
section (d) shall apply in the case of a member de-
scribed in paragraph (1) who dies after November 
23, 2003, when no other annuity is payable on be-
half of the member under this subchapter.’’. 
(d) AVAILABILITY OF SPECIAL SURVIVOR INDEMNITY 
ALLOWANCE.—Section 1450(m)(1)(B) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or (f)’’ after ‘‘sub-
section (d)’’. 
(e) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) PAYMENT.—No annuity benefit under sub-
chapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States 
Code, shall accrue to any person by reason of the 
amendments made by this section for any period be-
fore the date of the enactment of this Act.
228 
(2) ELECTIONS.—For any death that occurred 
before the date of the enactment of this Act with re-
spect to which an annuity under such subchapter is 
being paid (or could be paid) to a surviving spouse, 
the Secretary concerned may, within six months of 
that date and in consultation with the surviving 
spouse, determine it appropriate to provide an annu-
ity for the dependent children of the decedent under 
paragraph 1448(f)(2)(B) of title 10, as added by 
subsection (b)(1), instead of an annuity for the sur-
viving spouse. Any such determination and resulting 
change in beneficiary shall be effective as of the first 
day of the first month following the date of the de-
termination. 
SEC. 625. USE OF MEMBER’S CURRENT PAY GRADE AND 
YEARS OF SERVICE, RATHER THAN FINAL RE-
TIREMENT PAY GRADE AND YEARS OF SERV-
ICE, IN A DIVISION OF PROPERTY INVOLVING 
DISPOSABLE RETIRED PAY. 
(a) USE OF CURRENT PAY GRADE REQUIRED.—Sec-
tion 1408(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by inserting 
after ‘‘member is entitled’’ the following: ‘‘(to be deter-
mined using the member’s pay grade and years of service 
at the time of the court order, rather than the member’s
229 
pay grade and years of service at the time of retirement, 
unless the same)’’. 
(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENT.—The amendment 
made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any 
division of property as part of a final decree of divorce, 
dissolution, annulment, or legal separation involving a 
member of the Armed Forces to which section 1408 of 
title 10, United States Code, applies that becomes final 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Subtitle D—Commissary and Non-
appropriated Fund Instrumen-
tality Benefits and Operations 
SEC. 631. PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF ACCESS TO 
AND SAVINGS AT COMMISSARIES AND EX-
CHANGES. 
(a) OPTIMIZATION STRATEGY.—Section 2481(c) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall develop and 
implement a comprehensive strategy to optimize manage-
ment practices across the defense commissary system and 
the exchange system that reduce reliance of those systems 
on appropriated funding without reducing benefits to the 
patrons of those systems or the revenue generated by non-
appropriated fund entities or instrumentalities of the De-
230 
partment of Defense for the morale, welfare, and recre-
ation of members of the armed forces. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall ensure that savings gen-
erated due to such optimization practices are shared by 
the defense commissary system and the exchange system 
through contracts or agreements that appropriately reflect 
the participation of the systems in the development and 
implementation of such practices. 
‘‘(C) If the Secretary determines that the reduced re-
liance on appropriated funding pursuant to subparagraph 
(A) is insufficient to maintain the benefits to the patrons 
of the defense commissary system, and if the Secretary 
converts the defense commissary system to a non-
appropriated fund entity or instrumentality pursuant to 
paragraph (1) of section 2484(j) of this title, the Secretary 
shall transfer appropriated funds pursuant to paragraph 
(2) of such section to ensure the maintenance of such ben-
efits. 
‘‘(4) On not less than a quarterly basis, the Secretary 
shall provide to the congressional defense committees a 
briefing on the defense commissary system, including— 
‘‘(A) an assessment of the savings the system 
provides patrons; 
‘‘(B) the status of implementing section 2484(i) 
of this title;
231 
‘‘(C) the status of implementing section 
2484(j), including whether the system requires any 
appropriated funds pursuant to paragraph (2) of 
such section; 
‘‘(D) the status of carrying out a program for 
such system to sell private label merchandise; and 
‘‘(E) any other matters the Secretary considers 
appropriate.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION TO SUPPLEMENT APPROPRIA-
TIONS
THROUGH
BUSINESS
OPTIMIZATION.—Section 
2483(c) of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ‘‘Such appropriated amounts may 
also be supplemented with additional funds derived from 
improved management practices implemented pursuant to 
sections 2481(c)(3) and 2487(c) of this title and the vari-
able pricing program implemented pursuant to section 
2484(i) of this title.’’. 
(c) VARIABLE PRICING PILOT PROGRAM.—Section 
2484 of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsections: 
‘‘(i) VARIABLE PRICING PROGRAM.—(1) Notwith-
standing subsection (e), and subject to subsection (k), the 
Secretary may establish a variable pricing program pursu-
ant to which prices may be established in response to mar-
ket conditions and customer demand, in accordance with
232 
the requirements of this subsection. Notwithstanding the 
amount of the uniform surcharge assessed in subsection 
(d), the Secretary may provide for an alternative sur-
charge of not more than five percent of sales proceeds 
under such variable pricing program to be made available 
for the purposes specified in subsection (h). 
‘‘(2) Subject to subsection (k), before establishing a 
variable pricing program under this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall establish the following: 
‘‘(A) Specific, measurable benchmarks for suc-
cess in the provision of high quality grocery mer-
chandise, discount savings to patrons, and levels of 
customer satisfaction while achieving savings for the 
Department of Defense. 
‘‘(B) A baseline of overall savings to patrons 
achieved by commissary stores prior to the initiation 
of the variable pricing program, based on a compari-
son of prices charged by those stores on a regional 
basis with prices charged by relevant local competi-
tors for a representative market basket of goods. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall ensure that the defense com-
missary system implements the variable pricing program 
by conducting price comparisons using the methodology 
established for paragraph (2)(B) and adjusting pricing as 
necessary to ensure that pricing in the variable pricing
233 
program achieves overall savings to patrons that are con-
sistent with the baseline savings established for the rel-
evant region pursuant to such paragraph. 
‘‘(j) CONVERSION TO NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EN-
TITY OR INSTRUMENTALITY.—(1) Subject to subsection 
(k), if the Secretary determines that the variable pricing 
program has met the benchmarks for success established 
pursuant to paragraph (2)(A) of subsection (i) and the 
savings requirements established pursuant to paragraph 
(3) of such subsection over a period of at least six months, 
the Secretary may convert the defense commissary system 
to a nonappropriated fund entity or instrumentality, with 
operating expenses financed in whole or in part by receipts 
from the sale of products and the sale of services. Upon 
such conversion, appropriated funds shall be transferred 
to the defense commissary system only in accordance with 
paragraph (2) or section 2491 of this title. The require-
ments of section 2483 shall not apply to the defense com-
missary system operating as a nonappropriated fund enti-
ty or instrumentality. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary determines that the defense 
commissary system operating as a nonappropriated fund 
entity or instrumentality is likely to incur a loss in any 
fiscal year as a result of compliance with the savings re-
quirement established in subsection (i), the Secretary shall
234 
authorize a transfer of appropriated funds available for 
such purpose to the commissary system in an amount suf-
ficient to offset the anticipated loss. Any funds so trans-
ferred shall be considered to be nonappropriated funds for 
such purpose. 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense may identify posi-
tions of employees in the defense commissary system who 
are paid with appropriated funds whose status may be 
converted to the status of an employee of a non-
appropriated fund entity or instrumentality. 
‘‘(B) The status and conversion of employees in a po-
sition identified by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) 
shall be addressed as provided in section 2491(c) for em-
ployees in morale, welfare, and recreation programs, in-
cluding with respect to requiring the consent of such em-
ployee to be so converted. 
‘‘(C) No individual who is an employee of the defense 
commissary system as of the date of the enactment of this 
subsection shall suffer any loss of or decrease in pay as 
a result of a conversion made under this paragraph. 
‘‘(k) OVERSIGHT REQUIRED TO ENSURE CONTINUED 
BENEFIT TO PATRONS.—(1) With respect to each action 
described in paragraph (2), the Secretary may not carry 
out such action until—
235 
‘‘(A) the Secretary provides to the congressional 
defense committees a briefing on such action, includ-
ing a justification for such action; and 
‘‘(B) a period of 30 days has elapsed following 
such briefing. 
‘‘(2) The actions described in this paragraph are the 
following: 
‘‘(A) Establishing the representative market 
basket of goods pursuant to subsection (i)(2)(B). 
‘‘(B) Establishing the variable pricing program 
under subsection (i)(1). 
‘‘(C) Converting the defense commissary system 
to a nonappropriated fund entity or instrumentality 
under subsection (j)(1).’’. 
(d) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMON BUSINESS PRAC-
TICES.—Section 2487 of such title is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) COMMON BUSINESS PRACTICES.—(1) Notwith-
standing subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary of Defense 
may establish common business processes, practices, and 
systems—
236 
‘‘(A) to exploit synergies between the defense 
commissary system and the exchange system; and 
‘‘(B) to optimize the operations of the defense 
retail systems as a whole and the benefits provided 
by the commissaries and exchanges. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may authorize the defense com-
missary system and the exchange system to enter into con-
tracts or other agreements— 
‘‘(A) for products and services that are shared 
by the defense commissary system and the exchange 
system; and 
‘‘(B) for the acquisition of supplies, resale 
goods, and services on behalf of both the defense 
commissary system and the exchange system. 
‘‘(3) For the purpose of a contract or agreement au-
thorized under paragraph (2), the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) use funds appropriated pursuant to sec-
tion 2483 of this title to reimburse a non-
appropriated fund entity or instrumentality for the 
portion of the cost of a contract or agreement en-
tered by the nonappropriated fund entity or instru-
mentality that is attributable to the defense com-
missary system; and 
‘‘(B) authorize the defense commissary system 
to accept reimbursement from a nonappropriated
237 
fund entity or instrumentality for the portion of the 
cost of a contract or agreement entered by the de-
fense commissary system that is attributable to the 
nonappropriated fund entity or instrumentality.’’. 
(e) AUTHORITY
FOR EXPERT COMMERCIAL AD-
VICE.—Section 2485 of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(h) EXPERT COMMERCIAL ADVICE.—The Secretary 
of Defense may enter into a contract with an entity to 
obtain expert commercial advice, commercial assistance, or 
other similar services not otherwise carried out by the De-
fense Commissary Agency, to implement section 2481(c), 
subsections (i) and (j) of section 2484, and section 
2487(c) of this title.’’. 
(f) CLARIFICATION OF REFERENCES TO ‘‘THE EX-
CHANGE SYSTEM’’.—Section 2481(a) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new sentence: ‘‘Any reference in this chapter to ‘the 
exchange system’ shall be treated as referring to each sep-
arate administrative entity within the Department of De-
fense through which the Secretary of Defense has imple-
mented the requirement under this subsection for a world- 
wide system of exchange stores.’’. 
(g) OPERATION OF DEFENSE COMMISSARY SYSTEM 
AS A NONAPPROPRIATED FUND ENTITY.—In the event
238 
that the defense commissary system is converted to a non-
appropriated fund entity or instrumentality as authorized 
by section 2484(j)(1) of title 10, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary 
may— 
(1) provide for the transfer of commissary as-
sets, including inventory and available funds, to the 
nonappropriated fund entity or instrumentality; and 
(2) ensure that revenues accruing to the de-
fense commissary system are appropriately credited 
to the nonappropriated fund entity or instrumen-
tality. 
(h) CONFORMING CHANGE.—Section 2643(b) of such 
title is amended by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ‘‘Such appropriated funds may be supplemented 
with additional funds derived from improved management 
practices implemented pursuant to sections 2481(c)(3) 
and 2487(c) of this title.’’. 
SEC. 632. ACCEPTANCE OF MILITARY STAR CARD AT COM-
MISSARIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
ensure that— 
(1) commissary stores accept as payment the 
Military Star Card; and
239 
(2) any financial liability of the United States 
relating to such acceptance as payment be assumed 
by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. 
(b) MILITARY STAR CARD DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Military Star Card’’ means a credit card 
administered under the Exchange Credit Program by the 
Army and Air Force Exchange Service. 
Subtitle E—Travel and Transpor-
tation Allowances and Other 
Matters 
SEC. 641. MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT FOR TRAV-
EL EXPENSES OF MEMBERS OF THE RE-
SERVES ATTENDING INACTIVE DUTY TRAIN-
ING OUTSIDE OF NORMAL COMMUTING DIS-
TANCES. 
Section 478a(c) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The amount’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘(1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), 
the amount’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned may authorize, on a 
case-by-case basis, a higher reimbursement amount for a 
member under subsection (a) when the member—
240 
‘‘(A) resides— 
‘‘(i) in the same State as the training loca-
tion; and 
‘‘(ii) outside of an urbanized area with a 
population of 50,000 or more, as determined by 
the Bureau of the Census; and 
‘‘(B) is required to commute to a training loca-
tion— 
‘‘(i) using an aircraft or boat on account of 
limited or nonexistent vehicular routes to the 
training location or other geographical chal-
lenges; or 
‘‘(ii) from a permanent residence located 
more than 75 miles from the training loca-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 642. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE RECOVERY OF AMOUNTS OWED TO 
THE UNITED STATES BY MEMBERS OF THE 
UNIFORMED SERVICES, INCLUDING RETIRED 
AND FORMER MEMBERS. 
Section 1007(c)(3) of title 37, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(C)(i) In accordance with clause (ii), if the indebted-
ness of a member of the uniformed services to the United
241 
States occurs, through no fault of the member, as a result 
of the overpayment of pay or allowances to the member 
or upon the settlement of the member’s accounts, the Sec-
retary concerned may not recover the indebtedness from 
the member, including a retired or former member, using 
deductions from the pay of the member, deductions from 
retired or separation pay, or any other collection method 
unless recovery of the indebtedness commences before the 
end of the 10-year period beginning on the date on which 
the indebtedness was incurred. 
‘‘(ii) Clause (i) applies with respect to cases of indebt-
edness that incur on or after October 1, 2027. 
‘‘(D)(i) Not later than January 1 of each of years 
2017 through 2027, the Director of the Defense Finance 
and Accounting Service shall review all cases occurring 
during the 10-year period prior to the date of the review 
of indebtedness of a member of the uniformed services, 
including a retired or former member, to the United 
States in which— 
‘‘(I) the recovery of the indebtedness com-
menced after the end of the 10-year period begin-
ning on the date on which the indebtedness was in-
curred; or
242 
‘‘(II) the Director did not otherwise notify the 
member of such indebtedness during such 10-year 
period. 
‘‘(ii) The Director shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees and the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate each 
review conducted under clause (i), including the amounts 
owed to the United States by the members included in 
such review.’’. 
TITLE VII—HEALTH CARE 
PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—Reform of TRICARE 
and Military Health System 
SEC. 701. TRICARE PREFERRED AND OTHER TRICARE RE-
FORM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) TRICARE PREFERRED.—Chapter 55 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by insert-
ing after section 1074n the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1075. TRICARE Preferred 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) Not later than January 
1, 2018, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a self- 
managed, preferred-provider network option under the 
TRICARE program. Such option shall be known as 
‘TRICARE Preferred’.
243 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall establish TRICARE Pre-
ferred in all areas. Under TRICARE Preferred, eligible 
beneficiaries will not have restrictions on the freedom of 
choice of the beneficiary with respect to health care pro-
viders. 
‘‘(b) ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY.—(1) The bene-
ficiary categories for purposes of eligibility to enroll in 
TRICARE Preferred and cost sharing requirements appli-
cable to such category are as follows: 
‘‘(A) An ‘active-duty family member’ category 
that consists of beneficiaries who are covered by sec-
tion 1079 of this title (as dependents of active duty 
members). 
‘‘(B) A ‘retired’ category that consists of bene-
ficiaries covered by subsection (c) of section 1086 of 
this title, other than Medicare-eligible beneficiaries 
described in subsection (d)(2) of such section. 
‘‘(C) A ‘reserve and young adult’ category that 
consists of beneficiaries who are covered by— 
‘‘(i) section 1076d of this title; 
‘‘(ii) section 1076e; or 
‘‘(iii) section 1110b. 
‘‘(2) A covered beneficiary who elects to participate 
in TRICARE Preferred shall enroll in such option under 
section 1099 of this title.
244 
‘‘(c) COST-SHARING
REQUIREMENTS.—The cost 
sharing requirements under TRICARE Preferred are as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) With respect to beneficiaries in the active- 
duty family member category or the retired category 
by reason of being a member or former member of 
the uniformed services who originally enlists or is 
appointed in the uniformed services on or after Jan-
uary 1, 2018, or by reason of being a dependent of 
such a member, the cost sharing requirements shall 
be calculated pursuant to subsection (d)(1). 
‘‘(2)(A) Except as provided by subsection (e), 
with respect to beneficiaries described in subpara-
graph (B) in the active-duty family member category 
or the retired category, the cost sharing require-
ments shall be calculated as if the beneficiary were 
enrolled in TRICARE Extra or TRICARE Standard 
as if TRICARE Extra or TRICARE Standard, as 
the case may be, were still being carried out by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(B) Beneficiaries described in this subpara-
graph are beneficiaries who are eligible to enroll in 
the TRICARE program by reason of being a mem-
ber or former member of the uniformed services who 
originally enlists or is appointed in the uniformed
245 
services before January 1, 2018, or by reason of 
being a dependent of such a member. 
‘‘(3) With respect to beneficiaries in the reserve 
and young adult category, the cost sharing require-
ments shall be calculated pursuant to subsection 
(d)(1) as if the beneficiary were in the active-duty 
family member category or the retired category, as 
applicable, except that the premiums calculated pur-
suant to sections 1076d, 1076e, or 1110b of this 
title, as the case may be, shall apply instead of any 
enrollment fee required under this section. 
‘‘(d) COST-SHARING AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN BENE-
FICIARIES.—(1) Beneficiaries described in subsection 
(c)(1) enrolled in TRICARE Preferred shall be subject to 
cost-sharing requirements in accordance with the amounts 
and percentages under the following table during calendar 
year 2018 and as such amounts are adjusted under para-
graph (2) for subsequent years: 
‘‘TRICARE Pre-
ferred 
Active-Duty Family 
Member 
(Individual/Family) 
Retired 
(Individual/Family) 
Annual Enroll-
ment 
$300 / $600 
$425 / $850 
Annual deduct-
ible 
$0 
$0 
Annual cata-
strophic cap 
$1,000 
$3,000 
Outpatient visit 
civilian network 
$15 primary care 
$25 primary care 
$25 specialty care 
$40 specialty care
246 
‘‘TRICARE Pre-
ferred 
Active-Duty Family 
Member 
(Individual/Family) 
Retired 
(Individual/Family) 
Out of network: 20% 
25% of out of network 
ER visit civilian 
network 
$40 network 
$60 network 
20% out of network 
Urgent care ci-
vilian network 
$20 network 
$40 network 
20% out of network 
25% out of network 
Ambulatory sur-
gery civilian net-
work 
$40 network 
$80 network 
20% out of network 
25% out of network 
Ambulance civil-
ian network 
$15 
$25 
Durable medical 
equipment civil-
ian network 
10% 
20% 
Inpatient visit ci-
vilian network 
$60 per network admis-
sion 
$125 per admission net-
work 
20% out of network 
25% out of net work 
Inpatient skilled 
nursing/rehab ci-
vilian 
$20 per day network 
$50 per day network 
$50 per day out of net-
work 
$300 per day or 20% of 
billed charges out of 
network 
‘‘(2) Each dollar amount expressed as a fixed dollar 
amount in the table set forth in paragraph (1), and the 
amounts determined under subsection (e), shall be annu-
ally indexed to the amount by which retired pay is in-
creased under section 1401a of this title, rounded to the 
next lower multiple of $1. The remaining amount above 
such multiple of $1 shall be carried over to, and accumu-
lated with, the amount of the increase for the subsequent 
year or years and made when the aggregate amount of
247 
increases carried over under this clause for a year is $1 
or more. 
‘‘(3) Enrollment fees, deductible amounts, and cata-
strophic caps under this section are on a calendar-year 
basis. 
‘‘(e) EXCEPTIONS
TO
CERTAIN
COST-SHARING 
AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN BENEFICIARIES ELIGIBLE PRIOR 
TO 2018.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), and in accord-
ance with subsection (d)(2), the Secretary shall establish 
an annual enrollment fee for beneficiaries described in 
subsection (c)(2)(B) in the retired category who enroll in 
TRICARE Preferred (other than such beneficiaries cov-
ered by paragraph (2)). Such enrollment fee shall be $100 
for an individual and $200 for a family. 
‘‘(2) The enrollment fee established pursuant to para-
graph (1) for beneficiaries described in subsection 
(c)(2)(B) in the retired category shall not apply with re-
spect to the following beneficiaries: 
‘‘(A) Retired members and the family members 
of such members covered by paragraph (1) of section 
1086(c) of this title by reason of being retired under 
chapter 61 of this title or being a dependent of such 
a member. 
‘‘(B) Survivors covered by paragraph (2) of 
such section 1086(c).
248 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may not establish an annual en-
rollment fee under paragraph (1) until 90 days has 
elapsed following the date on which the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States is required to submit the review 
under paragraph (4). 
‘‘(4) Not later than February 1, 2020, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Represent-
atives and the Senate a review of the following: 
‘‘(A) Whether health care coverage for covered 
beneficiaries has changed since the enactment of this 
section. 
‘‘(B) Whether covered beneficiaries are able to 
obtain appointments for health care according to the 
access standards established by the Secretary of De-
fense. 
‘‘(C) The percent of network providers that ac-
cept new patients under the TRICARE program. 
‘‘(D) The satisfaction of beneficiaries under 
TRICARE Preferred. 
‘‘(f) PUBLICATION OF MEASURES.—As part of the 
administration of TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Pre-
ferred, the Secretary shall publish on a publically available 
Internet website of the Department of Defense data on 
all measures required by section 711 of the National De-
249 
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The pub-
lished measures shall be updated not less frequently than 
quarterly. 
‘‘(g) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may 
be construed as affecting the availability of TRICARE 
Prime and TRICARE for Life. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, terms ‘active- 
duty family member category’, ‘retired category’, and ‘re-
serve and young adult category’ mean the respective cat-
egories of TRICARE Preferred enrollment described in 
subsection (b).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 55 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 1074n, the following new 
item: 
‘‘1075. TRICARE Preferred.’’. 
(b) TRICARE PRIME COST SHARING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 1075, as added by subsection (a), the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 1075a. TRICARE Prime: cost sharing 
‘‘(a) COST-SHARING
REQUIREMENTS.—The cost 
sharing requirements under TRICARE Prime are as fol-
lows:
250 
‘‘(1) There are no cost-sharing requirements for 
beneficiaries who are covered by section 1074(a) of 
this title. 
‘‘(2) With respect to beneficiaries in the active- 
duty family member category or the retired category 
(as described in section 1075(b)(1) of this title) by 
reason of being a member or former member of the 
uniformed services who originally enlists or is ap-
pointed in the uniformed services on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2018, or by reason of being a dependent of 
such a member, the cost-sharing requirements shall 
be calculated pursuant to subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(3)(A) With respect to beneficiaries described 
in subparagraph (B) in the active-duty family mem-
ber category or the retired category (as described in 
section 1075(b)(1) of this title), the cost-sharing re-
quirements shall be calculated in accordance with 
the other provisions of this chapter without regard 
to subsection (b). 
‘‘(B) Beneficiaries described in this subpara-
graph are beneficiaries who are eligible to enroll in 
the TRICARE program by reason of being a mem-
ber or former member of the uniformed services who 
originally enlists or is appointed in the uniformed
251 
services before January 1, 2018, or by reason of 
being a dependent of such a member. 
‘‘(b) COST-SHARING AMOUNTS.—(1) Beneficiaries 
described in subsection (a)(2) enrolled in TRICARE 
Prime shall be subject to cost-sharing requirements in ac-
cordance with the amounts and percentages under the fol-
lowing table during calendar year 2018 and as such 
amounts are adjusted under paragraph (2) for subsequent 
years: 
‘‘TRICARE Prime 
Active-Duty Family 
Member 
(Individual/Family) 
Retired 
(Individual/Family) 
Annual Enrollment 
$180 / $360 
$325 / $650 
Annual deductible 
No1 
No1 
Annual catastrophic 
cap 
$1,000 
$3,000 per family 
Outpatient visit civil-
ian network 
$0 with authorization 
$20 primary care 
$30 specialty care 
ER visit civilian net-
work 
$0 
$50 network 
Urgent care civilian 
network 
$0 
$30 network 
Ambulatory surgery ci-
vilian network 
$0 with authorization 
$60 network with au-
thorization 
Ambulance civilian 
network 
$0 
$20 
Durable medical 
equipment civilian 
network 
$0 with authorization 
20% 
Inpatient visit civilian 
network 
$0 with authorization 
$100 network per ad-
mission with author-
ization
252 
‘‘TRICARE Prime 
Active-Duty Family 
Member 
(Individual/Family) 
Retired 
(Individual/Family) 
Inpatient skilled nurs-
ing/rehab civilian 
$0 with authorization 
$30 per day network 
with authorization 
1: Deductibles and cost-sharing does apply to TRICARE Prime beneficiaries 
that seek care in the civilian network care through the point-of-service option 
(without a referral). Annual deductible is $300 individual and $600 family. 
Cost-sharing for covered inpatient and outpatient services are 50% of the 
TRICARE allowable charges. 
‘‘(2) Each dollar amount expressed as a fixed dollar 
amount in the table set forth in paragraph (1) shall be 
annually indexed to the amount by which retired pay is 
increased under section 1401a of this title, rounded to the 
next lower multiple of $1. The remaining amount above 
such multiple of $1 shall be carried over to, and accumu-
lated with, the amount of the increase for the subsequent 
year or years and made when the aggregate amount of 
increases carried over under this clause for a year is $1 
or more. 
‘‘(3) Enrollment fees, deductible amounts, and cata-
strophic caps under this section are on a calendar-year 
basis.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 55 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 1075, as added by sub-
section (a), the following new item: 
‘‘1075a. TRICARE Prime: cost sharing.’’.
253 
(c) PORTABILITY.—Section 1073 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(c) PORTABILITY IN PROGRAM.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall ensure that the enrollment status of covered 
beneficiaries is portable between or among TRICARE pro-
gram regions of the United States and that effective pro-
cedures are in place for automatic electronic transfer of 
information between or among contractors responsible for 
administration in such regions and prompt communication 
with such beneficiaries. Each covered beneficiary enrolled 
in TRICARE Prime who has relocated the beneficiary’s 
primary residence to a new area in which enrollment in 
TRICARE Prime is available shall be able to obtain a new 
primary health care manager or provider within 10 days 
of the relocation and associated request for such manager 
or provider.’’. 
(d) TERMINATION
OF TRICARE STANDARD
AND 
TRICARE EXTRA.—Beginning on January 1, 2018, the 
Secretary of Defense may not carry out TRICARE Stand-
ard and TRICARE Extra under the TRICARE program. 
The Secretary shall ensure that any individual who is cov-
ered under TRICARE Standard or TRICARE Extra as 
of December 31, 2017, enrolls in TRICARE Prime, 
TRICARE Preferred, or TRICARE for Life, as the case
254 
may be, as of January 1, 2018, for the individual to con-
tinue coverage under the TRICARE program. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than June 1, 
2017, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate an implementation plan 
to improve access to health care for TRICARE bene-
ficiaries pursuant to the amendments made by this 
section. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan under paragraph (1) 
shall— 
(A) ensure that at least 85 percent of the 
beneficiary population under TRICARE Pre-
ferred is covered by the network by January 1, 
2018; 
(B) establish access standards for appoint-
ments for health care; 
(C) establish mechanisms for monitoring 
compliance with access standards; 
(D) establish health care provider-to-bene-
ficiary ratios; 
(E) monitor on a monthly basis complaints 
by beneficiaries with respect to network ade-
255 
quacy and the availability of health care pro-
viders; 
(F) establish requirements for mechanisms 
to monitor the responses to complaints by bene-
ficiaries; 
(G) mechanisms to evaluate the quality 
metrics of the network providers established 
under section 711; 
(H) any recommendations for legislative 
action the Secretary determines necessary to 
carry out the plan; and 
(I) any other elements the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(f) GAO REVIEWS.— 
(1) IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN.—Not later than 
December 1, 2017, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and 
the Senate a review of the implementation plan of 
the Secretary under paragraph (1) of subsection (e), 
including an assessment of the adequacy of the plan 
in meeting the elements specified in paragraph (2) 
of such subsection. 
(2) NETWORK.—Not later than September 1, 
2017, the Comptroller General shall submit to the
256 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate a review of the network 
established under TRICARE Extra, including the 
following: 
(A) An identification of the percent of 
beneficiaries who are covered by the network. 
(B) An assessment of the extent to which 
beneficiaries are able to obtain appointments 
under TRICARE extra. 
(C) The percent of network providers 
under TRICARE Extra that accept new pa-
tients under the TRICARE program. 
(D) An assessment of the satisfaction of 
beneficiaries under TRICARE Extra. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The terms ‘‘uniformed services’’, ‘‘covered 
beneficiary’’, ‘‘TRICARE Extra’’, ‘‘TRICARE for 
Life’’, ‘‘TRICARE Prime’’, and ‘‘TRICARE Stand-
ard’’ have the meaning given those terms in section 
1072 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by 
subsection (h). 
(2) The term ‘‘TRICARE Preferred’’ means the 
self-managed, preferred-provider network option 
under the TRICARE program established by section 
1075 of such title, as added by subsection (a).
257 
(h) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Title 10, United States 
Code, is amended as follows: 
(A) Section 1072 is amended— 
(i) by striking paragraph (7) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(7) The term ‘TRICARE program’ means the 
various programs carried out by the Secretary of 
Defense under this chapter and any other provision 
of law providing for the furnishing of medical and 
dental care and health benefits to members and 
former members of the uniformed services and their 
dependents, including the following health plan op-
tions: 
‘‘(A) TRICARE Prime. 
‘‘(B) TRICARE Preferred. 
‘‘(C) TRICARE for Life.’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following 
new paragraphs: 
‘‘(11) The term ‘TRICARE Extra’ means the 
preferred provider option of the TRICARE program 
made available prior to January 1, 2018, under 
which TRICARE Standard beneficiaries may obtain 
discounts on cost-sharing as a result of using 
TRICARE network providers.
258 
‘‘(12) The term ‘TRICARE Preferred’ the self- 
managed, preferred-provider network option under 
the TRICARE program established by section 1075 
of this title. 
‘‘(13) The term ‘TRICARE for Life’ means the 
Medicare wraparound coverage option of the 
TRICARE program made available to the bene-
ficiary by reason of section 1086(d) of this title. 
‘‘(14) The term ‘TRICARE Prime’ means the 
managed care option of the TRICARE program. 
‘‘(15) The term ‘TRICARE Standard’ means 
the TRICARE program made available prior to Jan-
uary 1, 2018, covering— 
‘‘(A) medical care to which a dependent 
described in section 1076(a)(2) of this title is 
entitled; and 
‘‘(B) health benefits contracted for under 
the authority of section 1079(a) of this title and 
subject to the same rates and conditions as 
apply to persons covered under that section.’’. 
(B) Section 1076d is amended— 
(i) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting 
after ‘‘coverage.’’ the following: ‘‘Such pre-
mium shall apply instead of any enrollment
259 
fees required under section 1075 of this 
section.’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (f), by striking para-
graph (2) and inserting the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The term ‘TRICARE Reserve Select’ 
means the TRICARE Preferred self-managed, pre-
ferred-provider network option under section 1075 
made available to beneficiaries by reason of this sec-
tion and in accordance with subsection (d)(1).’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘TRICARE Stand-
ard’’ each place it appears (including in 
the heading of such section) and inserting 
‘‘TRICARE Reserve Select’’. 
(C) Section 1076e is amended— 
(i) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting 
after ‘‘coverage.’’ the following: ‘‘Such pre-
mium shall apply instead of any enrollment 
fees required under section 1075 of this 
section.’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (f), by striking para-
graph (2) and inserting the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The term ‘TRICARE Retired Reserve’ 
means the TRICARE Preferred self-managed, pre-
260 
ferred-provider network option under section 1075 
made available to beneficiaries by reason of this sec-
tion and in accordance with subsection (d)(1).’’; 
(iii) in subsection (b), by striking 
‘‘TRICARE Standard coverage at’’ and in-
serting ‘‘TRICARE coverage at’’; and 
(iv) by striking ‘‘TRICARE Stand-
ard’’ each place it appears (including in 
the heading of such section) and inserting 
‘‘TRICARE Retired Reserve’’. 
(D) Section 1079a is amended— 
(i) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘CHAMPUS’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘TRICARE program’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the Civilian Health 
and Medical Program of the Uniformed 
Services’’ and inserting ‘‘the TRICARE 
program’’. 
(E) Section 1099(c) is amended by strik-
ing paragraph (2) and inserting the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) A plan under the TRICARE program.’’. 
(F) Section 1110b(c)(1) is amended by in-
serting after ‘‘(b).’’ the following: ‘‘Such pre-
261 
mium shall apply instead of any enrollment fees 
required under section 1075 of this section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 55 of title 10, 
United States Code, is further amended— 
(A) in the item relating to section 1076d, 
by striking ‘‘TRICARE Standard’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘TRICARE Reserve Select’’; 
(B) in the item relating to section 1076e, 
by striking ‘‘TRICARE Standard’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘TRICARE Retired Reserve’’; and 
(C) in the item relating to section 1079a, 
by 
striking 
‘‘CHAMPUS’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘TRICARE program’’. 
(3) CONFORMING STYLE.—Any new language 
inserted or added to title 10, United States Code, by 
an amendment made by this subsection shall con-
form to the typeface and typestyle of the matter in 
which the language is so inserted or added. 
(i) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply with respect to the provision of health 
care under the TRICARE program beginning on January 
1, 2018.
262 
SEC. 702. REFORM OF ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEFENSE 
HEALTH AGENCY AND MILITARY MEDICAL 
TREATMENT FACILITIES. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 1073b the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1073c. Administration of Defense Health Agency 
and military medical treatment facilities 
‘‘(a) ADMINISTRATION
OF
MILITARY
MEDICAL 
TREATMENT
FACILITIES.—(1) Beginning October 1, 
2018, the Director of the Defense Health Agency shall be 
responsible for the administration of each military medical 
treatment facility, including with respect to— 
‘‘(A) budgetary matters; 
‘‘(B) information technology; 
‘‘(C) health care administration and manage-
ment; 
‘‘(D) administrative policy and procedure; and 
‘‘(E) any other matters the Secretary of De-
fense determines appropriate. 
‘‘(2) The commander of each military medical treat-
ment facility shall be responsible for— 
‘‘(A) ensuring the readiness of the members of 
the armed forces and civilian employees at such fa-
cility; and
263 
‘‘(B) furnishing the health care and medical 
treatment provided at such facility. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary of Defense shall establish within 
the Defense Health Agency a professional staff serving in 
senior executive service positions to carry out this sub-
section. The Secretary may carry out this paragraph by 
appointing the positions specified in subsections (b) and 
(c). 
‘‘(b) DHA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.—(1) The Sec-
retary of Defense may establish in the Defense Health 
Agency an Assistant Director for Health Care Administra-
tion. If so established, the Assistant Director shall— 
‘‘(A) be a career appointee within the senior ex-
ecutive service of the Department; and 
‘‘(B) report directly to the Director of the De-
fense Health Agency. 
‘‘(2) If established under paragraph (1), the Assist-
ant Director shall be appointed from among individuals 
who have equivalent education and experience as a chief 
executive officer leading a large, civilian health care sys-
tem. 
‘‘(3) If established under paragraph (1), the Assist-
ant Director shall be responsible for the following: 
‘‘(A) Establishing priorities for health care ad-
ministration and management.
264 
‘‘(B) Establishing policies and procedures for 
the provision of direct care at military medical treat-
ment facilities. 
‘‘(C) Establishing priorities for budgeting mat-
ters with respect to the provision of direct care at 
military medical treatment facilities. 
‘‘(D) Establishing policies and procedures for 
clinic management and operations at military med-
ical treatment facilities. 
‘‘(E) Establishing priorities for information 
technology at and between the military medical 
treatment facilities. 
‘‘(c) DHA DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTORS.—(1)(A) 
The Secretary of Defense may establish in the Defense 
Health Agency a Deputy Assistant Director for Informa-
tion Operations. 
‘‘(B) If established under subparagraph (A), the Dep-
uty Assistant Director for Information Operations shall be 
responsible for management and execution of information 
technology operations at and between the military medical 
treatment facilities. 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary of Defense may establish in 
the Defense Health Agency a Deputy Assistant Director 
for Financial Operations.
265 
‘‘(B) If established under subparagraph (A), the Dep-
uty Assistant Director for Financial Operations shall be 
responsible for the management and execution of budg-
eting matters and financial management with respect to 
the provision of direct care at military medical treatment 
facilities. 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense may establish in 
the Defense Health Agency a Deputy Assistant Director 
for Health Care Operations. 
‘‘(B) If established under subparagraph (A), the Dep-
uty Assistant Director for Health Care Operations shall 
be responsible for the execution of health care administra-
tion and management in the military medical treatment 
facilities. 
‘‘(4)(A) The Secretary of Defense may establish in 
the Defense Health Agency a Deputy Assistant Director 
for Medical Affairs. 
‘‘(B) If established under subparagraph (A), the Dep-
uty Assistant Director for Medical Affairs shall be respon-
sible for the management and leadership of clinical quality 
and process improvement, patient safety, infection control, 
graduate medical education, clinical integration, utiliza-
tion review, risk management, patient experience, and ci-
vilian physician recruiting.
266 
‘‘(5) Each Deputy Assistant Director appointed 
under paragraphs (1) through (4) shall— 
‘‘(A) be a career appointee within the senior ex-
ecutive service of the Department; and 
‘‘(B) report directly to the Assistant Director 
for Health Care Administration. 
‘‘(d) DHA DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—(1) In addition to 
the other duties of the Joint Staff Surgeon, the Joint Staff 
Surgeon shall serve as the Deputy Director for Combat 
Support of the Defense Health Agency. 
‘‘(2) The responsibilities of the Deputy Director shall 
include the following: 
‘‘(A) Ensuring that the Defense Health Agency 
meets the operational needs of the commanders of 
the combatant commands. 
‘‘(B) Coordinating with the military depart-
ments to ensure that the staffing at the military 
medical treatment facilities support readiness re-
quirements for members of the armed forces and 
health care personnel. 
‘‘(C) Serving as the link between the com-
manders of the combatant commands and the De-
fense Health Agency. 
‘‘(e) APPOINTMENTS.—In carrying out subsection 
(a)(3), including with respect to establishing positions
267 
under subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall make 
appointments under such subsections— 
‘‘(1) by not later than October 1, 2018; and 
‘‘(2) by not increasing the number of full-time 
equivalent employees of the Defense Health Agency. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘career appointee’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 3132(a)(4) of title 5. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘Defense Health Agency’ means 
the Defense Agency established pursuant to Depart-
ment of Defense Directive 5136.13, or such suc-
cessor Defense Agency. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘senior executive service’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 2101a of title 
5.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1073b 
the following new item: 
‘‘1073c. Administration of Defense Health Agency and military medical treat-
ment facilities.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall develop a plan to implement section 1073c of 
title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a).
268 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan developed under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) How the Secretary will carry out sub-
section (a) of such section 1073c. 
(B) Efforts to minimize potentially dupli-
cative activities carried out by the elements of 
the Defense Health Agency. 
(C) Efforts to maximize efficiencies in the 
activities carried out by the Defense Health 
Agency. 
(D) How the Secretary will implement 
such section 1073 in a manner that does not in-
crease the number of full-time equivalent em-
ployees of the headquarters activities of the 
military health system as of the date of the en-
actment of this Act. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than March 
1, 2017, the Secretary shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a report containing— 
(A) a preliminary draft of the plan devel-
oped under subsection (b)(1); and 
(B) any recommendations for legislative 
actions the Secretary determines necessary to 
carry out the plan.
269 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 
2018, the Secretary shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a report containing the 
final version of the plan developed under subsection 
(b)(1). 
(3) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEWS.— 
(A) The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees— 
(i) a review of the preliminary draft of 
the plan submitted under paragraph (1) by 
not later than September 1, 2017; and 
(ii) a review of the final version of the 
plan submitted under paragraph (2) by not 
later than September 1, 2018. 
(B) Each review of the plan conducted 
under paragraph (A) shall determine whether 
the Secretary has addressed the required ele-
ments for the plan under subsection (b)(2). 
SEC. 703. MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, 
United States Code, as amended by section 702, is 
further amended by inserting after section 1073c the 
following new section:
270 
‘‘§ 1073d. Military medical treatment facilities 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To support the medical readi-
ness of the armed forces and the readiness of medical per-
sonnel, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the 
Secretaries of the military departments, shall maintain the 
military medical treatment facilities described in sub-
sections (b), (c), and (d). 
‘‘(b) MEDICAL CENTERS.—(1) The Secretary of De-
fense shall maintain medical centers in areas with a large 
population of members of the armed forces and covered 
beneficiaries. 
‘‘(2) Medical centers shall serve as referral facilities 
for members and covered beneficiaries who require com-
prehensive health care services that support medical readi-
ness. 
‘‘(3) Medical centers shall consist of the following: 
‘‘(A) Inpatient and outpatient tertiary care fa-
cilities that incorporate specialty and subspecialty 
care. 
‘‘(B) Graduate medical education programs. 
‘‘(C) Residency training programs. 
‘‘(D) Level one or level two trauma care capa-
bilities. 
‘‘(c) HOSPITALS.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall 
maintain hospitals in areas where civilian health care fa-
272 
‘‘(3) Ambulatory care centers shall consist of out-
patient care facilities with limited specialty care that the 
Secretary determines— 
‘‘(A) is cost effective; or 
‘‘(B) is not available at civilian health care fa-
cilities in the area of the ambulatory care center.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter, as amended 
by section 702, is further amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 1073c the following new 
item: 
‘‘1073d. Military medical treatment facilities.’’. 
(b) UPDATE OF STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
collaboration with the Secretaries of the military de-
partments, shall update the report described in para-
graph (2) to address the restructuring or realign-
ment of military medical treatment facilities pursu-
ant to section 1073d of title 10, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), including with respect to 
any expansions or consolidations of such facilities. 
(2) REPORT DESCRIBED.—The report described 
in this paragraph is the Military Health System 
Modernization Study dated May 29th, 2015, re-
quired by section 713(a)(2) of the Carl Levin and 
Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Au-
273 
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 
113–291; 128 Stat. 3414). 
(3) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees the updated report under para-
graph (1). 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees an implementation plan to re-
structure or realign the military medical treatment 
facilities pursuant to section 1073d of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 
(2) 
ELEMENTS.—The 
implementation 
plan 
under paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) With respect to each military medical 
treatment facility— 
(i) whether the facility will be re-
aligned or restructured under the plan; 
(ii) whether the functions of such fa-
cility will be expanded or consolidated; 
(iii) the costs of such realignment or 
restructuring;
274 
(iv) a description of any changes to 
the military and civilian personnel assigned 
to such facility as of the date of the plan; 
(v) a timeline for such realignment or 
restructuring; and 
(vi) the justifications for such realign-
ment or restructuring, including an assess-
ment of the capacity of the civilian health 
care facilities located near such facility. 
(B) A description of the relocation of the 
graduate medical education programs and the 
residency programs. 
SEC. 704. ACCESS TO URGENT CARE UNDER TRICARE PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1077 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1077a. Access to military medical treatment facili-
ties and other facilities 
‘‘(a) URGENT CARE.—(1) Beginning not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this section, 
the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that military medical 
treatment facilities, at locations the Secretary determines 
appropriate, provide urgent care services for members of
275 
the armed forces and covered beneficiaries until 11:00 p.m 
each day. 
‘‘(2) With respect to areas in which a military med-
ical treatment facility covered by paragraph (1) is not lo-
cated, the Secretary shall ensure that members of the 
armed forces and covered beneficiaries may access urgent 
care clinics that are open during the hours specified in 
such paragraph through the health care provider network 
under the TRICARE program. 
‘‘(3) A covered beneficiary may access urgent care 
services without the need for preauthorization for such 
services. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) publish information about changes in ac-
cess to urgent care under the TRICARE program— 
‘‘(i) on the primary publicly available 
Internet website of the Department; and 
‘‘(ii) on the primary publicly available 
website of each military treatment facility; and 
‘‘(B) ensure that such information is made 
available on the publically available Internet website 
of each current managed care contractor that has 
established a health care provider network under the 
TRICARE program.
276 
‘‘(b) NURSE ADVICE LINE.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that the nurse advice line of the Department directs 
covered beneficiaries seeking access to care to the source 
of the most appropriate level of health care required to 
treat the medical conditions of the beneficiaries, including 
urgent care services described in subsection (a).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1077 the following new 
item: 
‘‘1077a. Access to military medical treatment facilities and other facilities’’. 
SEC. 705. ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE CLINICS AT MILITARY 
MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1077a of title 10, United 
States Code, as added by section 704, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) PRIMARY CARE CLINICS.—(1) The Secretary 
shall ensure that primary care clinics at military medical 
treatment facilities are available for members of the armed 
forces and covered beneficiaries between the hours deter-
mined appropriate under paragraph (2), including with re-
spect to expanded hours described in subparagraph (B) 
of such paragraph. 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary shall determine the hours that 
each primary care clinic at a military medical treatment
277 
facility is available for members of the armed forces and 
covered beneficiaries based on— 
‘‘(i) the needs of the military treatment facility 
to meet the access standards under the TRICARE 
Prime program; and 
‘‘(ii) the primary care usage patterns of mem-
bers and covered beneficiaries at such military med-
ical treatment facility. 
‘‘(B) The primary care clinic hours at a military med-
ical treatment facility determined under subparagraph (A) 
shall include expanded hours beyond regular business 
hours during weekdays and the weekend if the Secretary 
determines under such subparagraph that sufficient de-
mand exists at the military medical treatment facility for 
such expanded primary care clinic hours.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall implement subsection (c) of section 1077a of title 
10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by 
not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 706. INCENTIVES FOR VALUE-BASED HEALTH UNDER 
TRICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1095g 
the following new section:
278 
‘‘§ 1095h. TRICARE program: value-based health care 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may 
develop and implement value-based incentive programs as 
part of any contract awarded under this chapter for the 
provision of health care services to covered beneficiaries 
to encourage health care providers under the TRICARE 
program (including physicians, hospitals, and other per-
sons and facilities involved in providing such health care 
services) to improve the following: 
‘‘(1) The quality of health care provided to cov-
ered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program. 
‘‘(2) The experience of covered beneficiaries in 
receiving health care under the TRICARE program. 
‘‘(3) The health of covered beneficiaries. 
‘‘(b) VALUE-BASED INCENTIVE PROGRAMS.—(1) In 
developing value-based incentive programs under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) link payments to health care providers 
under the TRICARE program to improved perform-
ance with respect to quality, cost, and reducing the 
provision of inappropriate care; 
‘‘(B) consider the characteristics of the popu-
lation of covered beneficiaries affected by the value- 
based incentive program; 
‘‘(C) consider how the value-based incentive 
program would affect the receipt of health care
279 
under the TRICARE program by such covered bene-
ficiaries; 
‘‘(D) establish or maintain an assurance that 
such covered beneficiaries will have timely access to 
health care during the operation of the value-based 
incentive program; 
‘‘(E) ensure that such covered beneficiaries do 
not incur any additional costs by reason of the 
value-based incentive program; and 
‘‘(F) consider such other factors as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(2) With respect to a value-based incentive program 
developed and implemented under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall ensure that— 
‘‘(A) the size, scope, and duration of the value- 
based incentive program is reasonable in relation to 
the purpose of the value-based incentive program; 
and 
‘‘(B) the value-based incentive program relies 
on the core quality performance metrics pursuant to 
section 711 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2017. 
‘‘(c) USE OF EXISTING MODELS.—In developing a 
value-based incentive program under subsection (a), the 
Secretary may adapt a value-based incentive program con-
280 
ducted by a TRICARE managed care support contractor, 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any 
other governmental or commercial health care program.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1095g the following new 
item: 
‘‘1095h. TRICARE program: value-based health care.’’. 
(c) BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) PRIOR TO CERTAIN CONTRACT MODIFICA-
TIONS.—Not later than 60 days before the date on 
which the Secretary of Defense modifies a contract 
awarded under chapter 55 of title 10, United States 
Code, to implement a value-based incentive program 
under section 1095h of such title, as added by sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall provide to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate (and any other appro-
priate congressional committee upon request) a 
briefing on any implementation plan of the Secretary 
with respect to such a value-based incentive pro-
gram. 
(2) ANNUAL
BRIEFING.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
annually thereafter through 2022, the Secretary 
shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services
281 
of the House of Representatives and the Senate (and 
any other appropriate congressional committee upon 
request) a briefing on the quality performance 
metrics and expenditures relating to a value-based 
incentive program developed and implemented under 
section 1095h of title 10, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a). 
(3) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate 
congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the congressional defense committees; 
and 
(B) the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 707. IMPROVEMENTS TO MILITARY-CIVILIAN PART-
NERSHIPS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH 
CARE AND READINESS. 
(a) PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS.—Subsection (a) of 
section 1096 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of 
Defense may enter into a partnership agreement between 
facilities of the uniformed services and local or regional
282 
health care systems if the Secretary determines that such 
an agreement would— 
‘‘(1) result in the delivery of health care to 
which covered beneficiaries are entitled under this 
chapter— 
‘‘(A) in a more effective, efficient, or eco-
nomical manner; and 
‘‘(B) at a level of quality at least com-
parable to the quality of services beneficiaries 
would receive from a military medical treatment 
facility; or 
‘‘(2) provide members of the armed forces with 
additional training opportunities to maintain readi-
ness requirements.’’. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Such section 1096 is further 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsections: 
‘‘(c) CRITERIA.—In entering into an agreement 
under subsection (a) between a facility of the uniformed 
services and a local or regional health care system, the 
Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) identify and analyze—
283 
‘‘(A) the health care delivery options pro-
vided by the local or regional health care sys-
tem; and 
‘‘(B) the health care services provided by 
the facility; 
‘‘(2) assess— 
‘‘(A) how such agreement affects the deliv-
ery of health care at the facility and the readi-
ness of the members of the uniformed services; 
‘‘(B) the viability of the agreement with re-
spect to succeeding on a long-term basis in the 
local community of the facility; and 
‘‘(C) the cost efficiency and effectiveness of 
the agreement; and 
‘‘(3) consult with— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary concerned; 
‘‘(B) representatives from such facility, in-
cluding the leadership of the installation at 
which the facility is located, the leadership of 
the facility, and covered beneficiaries at such 
installation; 
‘‘(C) the TRICARE managed care support 
contractor with responsibility for such facility; 
‘‘(D) officials of the Federal, State, and 
local governments, as appropriate; and
284 
‘‘(E) representatives from the local or re-
gional health care system. 
‘‘(d) LOCAL CONSORTIUM.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that an agreement entered into under subsection (a) 
between a facility of the uniformed services and a local 
or regional health care system is developed by a consor-
tium representing the community of the facility and such 
health care system. 
‘‘(e) BIENNIAL EVALUATION.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall evaluate each agreement entered into under 
subsection (a) on a biennial basis to— 
‘‘(1) assess whether the agreement provides in-
creased access to health care for covered bene-
ficiaries; 
‘‘(2) assess the training opportunities to main-
tain readiness requirements provided pursuant to 
such agreement; and 
‘‘(3) determine whether such agreement should 
continue.’’. 
(c) REMOVAL OF REIMBURSEMENT LIMIT FOR LI-
CENSING FEES.—Subsection (g) of such section 1096, as 
redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking ‘‘up 
to $500 of’’. 
SEC. 708. JOINT TRAUMA SYSTEM. 
(a) PLAN.—
285 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and 
the Senate an implementation plan to establish a 
Joint Trauma System within the Defense Health 
Agency that promotes improved trauma care to 
members of the Armed Forces and other individuals 
who are eligible to be treated for trauma at a mili-
tary medical treatment facility. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall 
implement the plan under paragraph (1) after a 90- 
day period has elapsed following the date on which 
the Comptroller General of the United States is re-
quired to submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
the review under subsection (c). In implementing 
such plan, the Secretary shall take into account any 
recommendation made by the Comptroller General 
under such review. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The Joint Trauma System de-
scribed in subsection (a)(1) shall include the following ele-
ments: 
(1) Serve as the reference body for all trauma 
care provided across the military health system.
286 
(2) Establish standards of care for trauma 
services provided at military medical treatment fa-
cilities. 
(3) Coordinate the translation of research from 
the centers of excellence of the Department of De-
fense into standards of clinical trauma care. 
(4) Coordinate the incorporation of lessons 
learned from the trauma education and training 
partnerships pursuant to section 709 into clinical 
practice. 
(c) REVIEW.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
on which the Secretary submits to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate the implementation plan under subsection (a)(1), 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
to such committees a review of such plan to determine if 
each element under subsection (b) is included in such plan. 
(d) REVIEW OF MILITARY TRAUMA SYSTEM.—In es-
tablishing a Joint Trauma System, the Secretary of De-
fense may seek to enter into an agreement with a non- 
governmental entity with subject matter experts to— 
(1) conduct a system-wide review of the military 
trauma system; and
287 
(2) make publicly available a report containing 
such review and recommendations to establish a 
comprehensive trauma system for the Armed Forces. 
SEC. 709. JOINT TRAUMA EDUCATION AND TRAINING DI-
RECTORATE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a Joint Trauma Education and Training 
Directorate (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Direc-
torate’’) to ensure that the traumatologists of the Armed 
Forces maintain readiness and are able to be rapidly de-
ployed for future armed conflicts. The Secretary shall 
carry out this section in collaboration with the Secretaries 
of the military departments. 
(b) DUTIES.—The duties of the Directorate are as 
follows: 
(1) To enter into and coordinate the partner-
ships under subsection (c). 
(2) To establish the goals of such partnerships 
necessary for trauma combat casualty care teams led 
by traumatologists to maintain professional com-
petency in trauma care. 
(3) To establish metrics for measuring the per-
formance of such partnerships in achieving such 
goals.
288 
(4) To develop methods of data collection and 
analysis for carrying out paragraph (3). 
(5) To communicate and coordinate lessons 
learned from such partnerships with the Joint Trau-
ma System established under section 708. 
(c) PARTNERSHIPS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter 
into partnerships with civilian academic medical cen-
ters and large metropolitan teaching hospitals that 
have level I civilian trauma centers. 
(2) 
TRAUMA
COMBAT
CASUALTY
CARE 
TEAMS.—Under the partnerships entered into with 
civilian academic medical centers and large metro-
politan teaching hospitals under paragraph (1), 
trauma combat casualty care teams of the Armed 
Forces led by traumatologists of the Armed Forces 
shall embed within the trauma centers of the med-
ical centers and hospitals on an enduring basis. 
(3) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall select ci-
vilian academic medical centers and large metropoli-
tan teaching hospitals to enter into partnerships 
under paragraph (1) based on patient volume, acu-
ity, and other factors the Secretary determines nec-
essary to ensure that the traumatologists of the 
Armed Forces and the associated clinical support
289 
teams have adequate and continuous exposure to 
critically injured patients. 
(4) CONSIDERATION.—In entering into partner-
ships under paragraph (1), the Secretary may con-
sider the experiences and lessons learned by the mili-
tary departments that have entered into memoranda 
of understanding with civilian medical centers for 
trauma care. 
(d) ANALYSIS.—The Secretary of Defense shall con-
duct 
an 
analysis 
to 
determine 
the 
number 
of 
traumatologists of the Armed Forces, by specialty, that 
must be maintained within the Department of Defense to 
meet the requirements of the combatant commands. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—Not later than July 1, 
2017, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate an implementation plan for establishing the Joint 
Trauma Education and Training Directorate under sub-
section (a) and entering into partnerships under sub-
section (c). 
(f) LEVEL I CIVILIAN TRAUMA CENTER DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘level I civilian trauma center’’ 
means a comprehensive regional resource that is a tertiary 
care facility central to the trauma system and is capable
290 
of providing total care for every aspect of injury from pre-
vention through rehabilitation. 
SEC. 710. IMPROVEMENTS TO ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN 
MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES. 
(a) FIRST CALL RESOLUTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall implement standard processes to ensure that, 
in the case of a beneficiary contacting a military 
medical treatment facility over the telephone for, at 
a minimum, scheduling an appointment, requesting 
a prescription drug refill, and other matters deter-
mined appropriate by the Secretary, the needs of the 
beneficiary are met during the first such telephone 
call. 
(2) METRICS.—The Secretary shall— 
(A) develop metrics, collect data, and 
evaluate the performance of the processes im-
plemented under paragraph (1); and 
(B) carry out satisfaction surveys to mon-
itor the satisfaction of beneficiaries with such 
processes, including with respect to the satisfac-
tion regarding access to appointments and pa-
tient care. 
(b) APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING.—
291 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall imple-
ment standard processes to schedule beneficiaries for 
appointments at military medical treatment facili-
ties. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The standard processes imple-
mented under paragraph (1) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Requiring clinics at military medical 
treatment facilities to allow a beneficiary to 
schedule an appointment for wellness visits or 
follow-up appointments during the six-month or 
longer period beginning on the date of the re-
quest for the appointment. 
(B) A process to remind a beneficiary of 
future appointments in a manner that the bene-
ficiary prefers, which may include sending post-
cards to the beneficiary prior to appointments 
and making reminder telephone calls, emails, or 
cellular text messages to the beneficiary at 
specified intervals prior to appointments. 
(c) APPOINTMENT SUPPLY AND DEMAND.— 
(1) PRODUCTIVITY.—The Secretary shall imple-
ment standards for the productivity of health care 
providers at military medical treatment facilities. In 
developing such standards, the Secretary shall con-
292 
sider civilian benchmarks for measuring the produc-
tivity of health care providers, the optimal number 
of appointments (patient contact hours) required to 
maintain access according to the standards devel-
oped by the Secretary, and readiness requirements. 
(2) MANAGING USE OF FACE-TO-FACE APPOINT-
MENTS.—The Secretary shall implement strategies 
for managing the use of face-to-face appointments at 
military medical treatment facilities. Such strategies 
may include— 
(A) maximizing the use of telehealth and 
virtual appointments for beneficiaries at the 
discretion of the health care provider and the 
beneficiary; 
(B) the implementation of remote patient 
monitoring of chronic conditions to improve 
outcomes and reduce the number of follow-up 
appointments for beneficiaries; and 
(C) maximizing the use of secure mes-
saging between health care providers and bene-
ficiaries to improve the access of beneficiaries 
to health care and reduce the number of visits 
for health care needs.
293 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall imple-
ment subsections (a), (b), and (c) by not later than Feb-
ruary 1, 2017. 
(e) BRIEFING.—Not later than March 1, 2017, the 
Secretary shall provide the Committees on Armed Services 
of the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing 
on the implementation of subsections (a), (b), and (c). 
(f) BENEFICIARIES DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘beneficiaries’’ means members of the Armed Forces 
and covered beneficiaries (as defined in section 1072(5) 
of title 10, United States Code). 
SEC. 711. ADOPTION OF CORE QUALITY PERFORMANCE 
METRICS. 
(a) ADOPTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall adopt the core quality per-
formance metrics agreed upon by the Core Quality 
Measures Collaborative for use by the military 
health system and in contracts awarded to carry out 
the TRICARE program. 
(2) CORE
MEASURES.—The core quality per-
formance metrics described in paragraph (1) shall 
include the following sets:
294 
(A) Accountable care organizations, patient 
centered medical homes and primary care. 
(B) Cardiology. 
(C) Gastroenterology. 
(D) HIV and hepatitis C. 
(E) Medical oncology. 
(F) Obstetrics and gynecology. 
(G) Orthopedics. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Core Quality Measures Collabo-
rative’’ means the collaboration between the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, major health in-
surance companies, national physician organizations, 
and other entities to reach consensus on core per-
formance measures reported by health care pro-
viders. 
(2) The term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 1072 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 712. STUDY ON IMPROVING CONTINUITY OF HEALTH 
CARE 
COVERAGE 
FOR 
RESERVE 
COMPO-
NENTS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study of options for providing health care coverage that 
improves the continuity of health care provided to current
295 
and former members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready 
Reserve who are not— 
(1) serving on active duty; 
(2) eligible for the Transitional Assistance Man-
agement Program under section 1145 of title 10, 
United States Code; or 
(3) eligible for the Federal Employees Health 
Benefit Program under chapter 89 of title 5. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall address the following: 
(1) Whether to allow current and former mem-
bers of the Selected Reserve to participate in the 
Federal Employees Health Benefit Program under 
chapter 89 of title 5. 
(2) Whether to pay a stipend to current and 
former members to continue coverage in a health 
plan obtained by the member. 
(3) Whether to allow current and former mem-
bers to participate in the TRICARE program under 
section 1076d of title 10, United States Code. 
(4) Whether to allow members of the National 
Guard assigned to Homeland Response Force Units 
mobilized for a State emergency pursuant to chapter 
9 of title 32, United States Code, to remain eligible 
for the TRICARE program.
296 
(5) Any other options for providing health care 
coverage to current and former members of the Se-
lected Reserve the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with, and obtain 
the opinions of, current and former members of the Se-
lected Reserve, including the leadership of the Selected 
Reserve. 
(d) SUBMISSION.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report on the study under subsection (a). 
(2) MATTERS
INCLUDED.—The report under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A description of the health care cov-
erage options addressed by the Secretary under 
subsection (b). 
(B) Identification of such health care cov-
erage option that the Secretary recommends as 
the best option. 
(C) The justifications for such rec-
ommended best option. 
(D) The number and proportion of the cur-
rent and former members of the Selected Re-
368 
(2) remaining contract balances may be offset 
with balances on other contracts regardless of the 
year or type of appropriation obligated to fund each 
contract and regardless of whether the appropria-
tions for such contract line item have closed. 
(b) CONTRACTS COVERED.—The contracts covered 
by this section are a group of contracts that are with one 
contractor and identified by the Secretary, each one of 
which is a contract— 
(1) to design, construct, repair, or support the 
construction or repair of Navy submarines that— 
(A) was entered into between fiscal years 
1974 and 1998; and 
(B) has no further supply or services 
deliverables due under the terms and conditions 
of the contract; 
(2) with respect to which the Secretary of the 
Navy has established the total final contract value; 
and 
(3) with respect to which the Secretary of the 
Navy has determined that the final allowable cost 
may have a negative or positive unliquidated obliga-
tion balance for which it would be difficult to deter-
mine the year or type of appropriation because—
369 
(A) the records for the contract have been 
destroyed or lost; or 
(B) the records for the contract are avail-
able but the contracting officer, in collaboration 
with the certifying official, has determined that 
a discrepancy is of such a minimal value that 
the time and effort required to determine the 
cause of an out-of-balance condition is dis-
proportionate to the amount of the discrepancy. 
(c) CLOSEOUT.—The contracts described in sub-
section (b) may be closed out— 
(1) upon receipt of $581,803 from the con-
tractor, to be deposited into the Treasury as mis-
cellaneous receipts; and 
(2) without seeking further amounts from the 
contractor, and without payment to the contractor of 
any amounts that may be due under such contracts. 
(d) ADJUSTMENT
AND CLOSURE
OF RECORDS.— 
After closeout of any contract described in subsection (b) 
using the authority of this section, the payment or ac-
counting offices concerned may adjust and close any open 
finance and accounting records relating to the contract.
1438 
cial court-martial, a plea agreement shall bind the parties 
and the military judge.’’. 
SEC. 6615. RECORD OF TRIAL. 
Section 854 of title 10, United States Code (article 
54 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) GENERAL
AND SPECIAL COURTS-MARTIAL.— 
Each general or special court-martial shall keep a separate 
record of the proceedings in each case brought before it. 
The record shall be certified by a court-reporter, except 
that in the case of death, disability, or absence of a court 
reporter, the record shall be certified by an official selected 
as the President may prescribe by regulation.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(b) Each special and sum-
mary court-martial’’ and inserting‘‘(b) SUM-
MARY COURT-MARTIAL.—Each summary 
court-martial’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘authenticated’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘certified’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following:
1500 
‘‘(b) WRONGFUL SALE, ETC.—Any person subject to 
this chapter who wrongfully sells, gives, lends, or disposes 
of a false or unauthorized military or official pass, permit, 
discharge certificate, or identification card, knowing that 
the pass, permit, discharge certificate, or identification 
card is false or unauthorized, shall be punished as a court- 
martial may direct. 
‘‘(c) WRONGFUL USE OR POSSESSION.—Any person 
subject to this chapter who wrongfully uses or possesses 
a false or unauthorized military or official pass, permit, 
discharge certificate, or identification card, knowing that 
the pass, permit, discharge certificate, or identification 
card is false or unauthorized, shall be punished as a court- 
martial may direct.’’. 
SEC. 6917. IMPERSONATION OFFENSES. 
Subchapter X of chapter 47 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 905a (article 
105a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), as added 
by section 6916, the following new section (article): 
‘‘§ 906. Art. 106. Impersonation of officer, noncommis-
sioned or petty officer, or agent or offi-
cial 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Any person subject to this chap-
ter who, wrongfully and willfully, impersonates—