I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1541 
To provide support and assistance for families of members of the National 
Guard and Reserve who are undergoing deployment, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 15, 2007 
Mr. BRALEY of Iowa (for himself, Mr. LOEBSACK, and Mr. BOSWELL) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide support and assistance for families of members 
of the National Guard and Reserve who are undergoing 
deployment, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Coming Together for Guard and Reserve Families Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Family support for families of members of the National Guard and Re-
serve undergoing deployment. 
Sec. 4. Pilot program on family-to-family support for families of members of 
the National Guard and Reserve undergoing deployment. 
Sec. 5. Support services for children, infants, and toddlers of members of the 
National Guard and Reserve undergoing deployment. 
Sec. 6. Mental health services for family members of disabled members of the 
National Guard and Reserve. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) More than 700,000 children have had a 
parent deployed overseas as a member of the Armed 
Forces since September 11, 2001, and more than 
such 2,700 children have had a parent killed in Iraq 
or Afghanistan. 
(2) Forty-one percent of the members of the 
National Guard and Reserve who have been deployed 
overseas report mental health symptoms within three 
to six months of returning home from deployment, 
compared with 32 percent of the members of the 
regular military who have been so deployed. Fifteen 
percent of the members of the National Guard and 
Reserve have been identified as at risk for post trau-
matic stress disorder (PTSD), compared with 9 per-
cent of the members of the regular military. Re-
search suggests that increased stress in the family 
can trigger symptoms of post traumatic stress dis-
order. 
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(3) Military families face significant challenges 
throughout the deployment cycle of members of the 
Armed Forces. Families of members of the National 
Guard and Reserve are particularly vulnerable be-
cause of their distance from military bases and their 
lack of access to the services upon which military 
families typically draw. In addition, many families of 
members of the National Guard and Reserve are 
currently experiencing multiple extended deploy-
ments, and do not have the necessary support avail-
able to them. 
(4) Uncertainty and separation can create high 
levels of stress for parents, spouses, and children. 
Stress can put children at greater risk for behavioral 
problems, academic difficulties, anxiety, and depres-
sion. Family separations many times result in mar-
ital problems, financial difficulties, and stress on 
family relationships. 
(5) Research suggests that military families 
who receive community and social support while 
members of the National Guard and Reserve are un-
dergoing deployment have the most positive out-
comes. Supporting families and children affected by 
deployment can ease transitional stress, help mem-
bers of the National Guard and Reserve and their 
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families cope during and after deployment, prevent 
mental health problems, and assist in a smooth tran-
sition of members of the National Guard and Re-
serve back to civilian life. 
SEC. 3. FAMILY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF 
THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE UN-
DERGOING DEPLOYMENT. 
(a) FAMILY SUPPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall enhance and improve current programs of the 
Department of Defense to provide family support for 
families of members of the National Guard and Re-
serve in order to improve the assistance available for 
families of members of the National Guard and Re-
serve who are deployed throughout their deployment 
cycle. 
(2) SPECIFIC ENHANCEMENTS.—In enhancing 
and improving programs under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall enhance and improve the availability 
of the following: 
(A) Support staff to assist families of the 
members of the National Guard and Reserve 
who are deployed throughout their deployment 
cycle, including staff to assist such families 
in— 
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(i) preparing and updating family care 
plans; and 
(ii) securing information on health 
care benefits and services and on other 
community resources. 
(B) Support staff to provide referrals for 
such families for— 
(i) crisis services; and 
(ii) marriage counseling and family 
counseling. 
(b) POST-DEPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR SPOUSES 
AND PARENTS OF RETURNING MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall provide spouses and parents of members of the 
National Guard and Reserve who are returning from 
deployment assistance in— 
(A) understanding issues that arise in the 
readjustment of such members to civilian life; 
(B) identifying signs and symptoms of 
mental health issues; and 
(C) encouraging such members and their 
families in seeking assistance for such issues. 
(2) 
INFORMATION
ON
AVAILABLE
RE-
SOURCES.—In providing assistance under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall provide information on local 
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resources for mental health services, family coun-
seling services, or other appropriate services, includ-
ing services available from both military providers of 
such services and community-base providers of such 
services. 
(3) TIMING.—The Secretary shall provide re-
sources under paragraph (1) with respect to a mem-
ber of the National Guard or Reserve returning from 
deployment approximately six months after the date 
of the return of such member from deployment. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department 
of Defense for fiscal year 2008, $4,000,000 to carry out 
this section. 
SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM ON FAMILY-TO-FAMILY SUPPORT 
FOR FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE NA-
TIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE UNDERGOING 
DEPLOYMENT. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, carry out a pilot program to— 
(A) assess the effectiveness of family-to- 
family support programs in— 
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(i) the early identification and preven-
tion of family problems for families of 
members of the National Guard and Re-
serve who are deployed; 
(ii) the provision of peer support for 
such families; 
(iii) reducing adverse outcomes for 
children of such families, including poor 
academic performance, behavioral prob-
lems, and the adverse consequence of 
stress and anxiety; and 
(iv) improving family readiness and 
post-deployment transition for such fami-
lies; and 
(B) assess the feasability and advisability 
of utilizing spouses of members of the Armed 
Forces to act as counselors for spouses and 
families of members of the National Guard and 
Reserve who are deployed in order to assist 
such spouses and families in coping with the de-
ployment of such members throughout their de-
ployment cycle. 
(2) 
CONSTRUCTION
WITH
OTHER
ASSIST-
ANCE.—The pilot program shall be in addition to 
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any assistance programs carried out by the Sec-
retary of Defense. 
(b) COUNSELING DUTIES.—The duties of spouses 
who act as counselors under the pilot program shall in-
clude— 
(1) the provision of assistance to spouses and 
families of members of the National Guard and Re-
serve who are deployed with respect to family readi-
ness, health care, and crisis referral; and 
(2) the provision of outreach to such spouses 
and families on mental health matters such as mar-
riage and family counseling. 
(c) TRAINING IN COUNSELING.—In carrying out the 
pilot program, the Secretary shall provide appropriate 
training to spouses who act as counselors under the pilot 
program, including training on the matters set forth in 
clauses (i) through (iv) of subsection (a)(1)(A). 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program. 
The report shall include— 
(1) a description of the activities under the pilot 
program; 
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(2) an assessment of the effectiveness of family- 
to-family support programs in achieving the results 
set forth in subsection (a)(1)(A); 
(3) an assessment of the feasability and advis-
ability of utilizing spouses of members of the Armed 
Forces to act as counselors as described in sub-
section (a)(1)(B); and 
(4) such other matters as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate in light of the pilot program. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department 
of Defense for fiscal year 2008, $1,000,000 to carry out 
this section. 
SEC. 5. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, INFANTS, AND 
TODDLERS OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL 
GUARD AND RESERVE UNDERGOING DEPLOY-
MENT. 
(a) ENHANCEMENT
OF SUPPORT SERVICES
FOR 
CHILDREN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, enter into a contract or other 
agreement with a private sector entity having exper-
tise in the health and well-being of families and chil-
dren in order to enhance and develop support serv-
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ices for children of members of the National Guard 
and Reserve who are deployed. 
(2) SUPPORT SERVICES.—In enhancing and de-
veloping support services pursuant to paragraph (1), 
the entity referred to in that paragraph shall— 
(A) develop materials for parents and 
other caretakers of children of members of the 
National Guard and Reserve who are deployed 
to assist such parents and caretakers in re-
sponding to the adverse implications of such de-
ployment (and the death or injury of such mem-
bers during such deployment) for such children, 
including the role such parents and caretakers 
can play in addressing and mitigating such im-
plications; 
(B) develop programs and activities to in-
crease awareness throughout the military and 
civilian communities of the adverse implications 
of such deployment (and the death or injury of 
such members during such deployment) for 
such children and their families and to increase 
collaboration within such communities to ad-
dress and mitigate such implications; 
(C) develop training for early child care 
and education, mental health, health care, and 
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family support professionals to enhance the 
awareness of such professionals of their role in 
assisting families in addressing and mitigating 
the adverse implications of such deployment 
(and the death or injury of such members dur-
ing such deployment) for such children; and 
(D) conduct research on best practices for 
building psychological and emotional resiliency 
in such children in coping with the deployment 
of such members. 
(b) ENHANCEMENT OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR IN-
FANTS AND TODDLERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, enter into a contract or other 
agreement with a private sector entity having exper-
tise in the health and well-being of infants and tod-
dlers in order to enhance and develop support serv-
ices to address the special needs of infants and tod-
dlers of members of the National Guard and Reserve 
who are deployed. 
(2) SUPPORT SERVICES.—In enhancing and de-
veloping support services pursuant to paragraph (1), 
the entity referred to in that paragraph shall— 
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(A) develop materials for parents and 
other caretakers of infants and toddlers of 
members of the National Guard and Reserve 
who are deployed to assist such parents and 
caretakers in responding to the adverse implica-
tions of such deployment (and the death or in-
jury of such members during such deployment) 
for such infants and toddlers, including the role 
such parents and caretakers can play in ad-
dressing and mitigating such implications; 
(B) develop programs and activities to in-
crease awareness throughout the military and 
civilian communities of the adverse implications 
of such deployment (and the death or injury of 
such members during such deployment) for 
such infants and toddlers and their families and 
to increase collaboration within such commu-
nities to address and mitigate such implica-
tions; 
(C) develop training for education, mental 
health, health care, and family support profes-
sionals to enhance the awareness of such pro-
fessionals of their role in assisting families in 
addressing and mitigating the adverse implica-
tions of such deployment (and the death or in-
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jury of such members during such deployment) 
for such infants and toddlers; and 
(D) conduct research on best practices for 
building psychological and emotional resiliency 
in the families of such infants and toddlers in 
coping with the deployment of such members. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
(1) REPORTS REQUIRED.—At the end of the 
18-month period beginning on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and at the end of the 36-month 
period beginning on that date, each entity with 
which the Secretary of Defense enters into a con-
tract or agreement under subsection (a) or (b) shall 
submit to the Secretary, and to Congress, a report 
on the activities of such entity under such contract. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of the extent to which 
outreach to parents and other caretakers of 
children, or infants and toddlers, as applicable, 
of members of the National Guard and Reserve 
was effective in reaching such parents and care-
takers and in mitigating the adverse effects of 
the deployment of such members on such chil-
dren or infants and toddlers. 
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(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
the programs and activities under such contract 
in increasing collaboration and service provision 
in community agencies serving family members 
of the National Guard and Reserve undergoing 
deployment. 
(C) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
training materials for education, mental health, 
health, and family support professionals devel-
oped under such contract in increasing aware-
ness of their role in assisting families in ad-
dressing and mitigating the adverse effects on 
children, or infants and toddlers, of the deploy-
ment of members of the National Guard and 
Reserve. 
(D) A description of best practices identi-
fied under such contract for building psycho-
logical and emotional resiliency in children, or 
infants and toddlers, in coping with the deploy-
ment of members of the National Guard and 
Reserve. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN.—There 
is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the De-
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partment 
of 
Defense 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2008, 
$6,000,000 to carry out subsection (a). 
(2) SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INFANTS AND TOD-
DLERS.—There is hereby authorized to be appro-
priated for the Department of Defense for fiscal 
year 2008, $6,000,000 to carry out subsection (b). 
SEC. 6. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS 
OF DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL 
GUARD AND RESERVE. 
(a) EXPANSION
OF
AVAILABILITY
OF
MENTAL 
HEALTH SERVICES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly 
take appropriate actions to expand and enhance ac-
cess to mental health services for family members of 
members and former members of the National 
Guard and Reserve who are disabled during military 
service. 
(2) SERVICES.—Access to mental health serv-
ices shall be expanded under paragraph (1) by the 
provision of mental health services through the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Community-based outpatient clinics of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs staffed by 
personnel of the Department. 
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(B) Referral to appropriate facilities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs for the receipt 
of such services. 
(C) Referral to appropriate mental health 
professionals in the community for receipt of 
such services. 
(D) Providers of telemental health services. 
(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 
2008, $8,000,000 to carry out this section. 
(b) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON ACCESS TO 
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH TRICARE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall sub-
mit to Congress a report on barriers to access to 
mental health services through the TRICARE pro-
gram, including the number of mental health serv-
ices providers under the TRICARE program that 
are located more than 40 miles from a military in-
stallation. 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The report under 
paragraph (1) shall include recommendations for— 
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(A) increasing access to mental health 
services providers under the TRICARE pro-
gram for members of the National Guard and 
their families; and 
(B) increasing the number of mental 
health services providers under the TRICARE 
program in areas located more than 40 miles 
from a military installation. 
Æ 
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