H. R. 5009—64 
collaboration with partners in commercial industry and other 
sectors. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered Armed Forces’’ means the Army, 
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. 
SEC. 230. AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEES 
OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC CAPITAL TO CERTAIN PRI-
VATE-SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Using the authority provided under sec-
tion 1599g of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense, 
acting through the Director of the Office of Strategic Capital, may 
carry out a program under which the Director arranges for the 
temporary assignment of an employee of the Office to a qualifying 
private-sector organization. 
(b) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the program under sub-
section (a) shall be— 
(1) to enable the Office of Strategic Capital to rapidly 
acquire industry-specific context and technical competence 
across high priority technology and industrial focus areas 
through immersion in highly relevant emerging technology and 
business ecosystems across the United States; and 
(2) to enhance, among personnel of the Department— 
(A) understanding of, connectivity with, and access 
to knowledge about critical and emerging defense industrial 
base capabilities; and 
(B) understanding of the strategic role that venture 
capital and private equity operations have in shaping 
future sustainment and modernization requirements for 
the defense industrial base. 
(c) MATCHING AND TRACKING CAPABILITIES.—In carrying out 
program under subsection (a), the Director of the Office of Strategic 
Capital shall— 
(1) use digital automation and analysis capability to opti-
mize the identification, assessment, and placement of partici-
pants within the program, which shall include the ability to 
match and track private-sector organizations with employees 
of the Office participating in the program in a manner that 
aligns the priorities, needs, and expertise of such employees, 
organizations, and the Office; and 
(2) establish a database or other digital automation capa-
bility that— 
(A) enables the Office to identify and track current 
and former participants in the program; 
(B) documents the nature of the experience such 
participants had while in the program; and 
(C) is suitable for potential development and expansion 
to other organizations of Department of Defense in the 
event the Secretary of Defense determines such expansion 
is appropriate. 
(d) QUALIFYING PRIVATE-SECTOR ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘qualifying private-sector organization’’ means 
a private-sector organization that has functions and expertise rel-
evant to the responsibilities of the Office of Strategic Capital, which 
may include organization such as a venture capital firm, private 
equity firm, or other such organizations as determined appropriated 
by the Director of the Office.
H. R. 5009—65 
SEC. 231. QUANTUM BENCHMARKING INITIATIVE. 
(a) INITIATIVE REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Defense Advanced 
Research Projects Agency shall establish and carry out an 
initiative to rapidly expand and support efforts to evaluate 
concepts, development plans, and prototypes, components, and 
subsystems needed to develop a utility-scale quantum com-
puting capability available to the Department of Defense. 
(2) DESIGNATION.—The initiative established pursuant to 
paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘‘Quantum Benchmarking 
Initiative’’ (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Initiative’’). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The Initiative shall include the following: 
(1) Activities to broaden existing efforts of the Department 
of Defense to verify and validate commercial efforts to design 
and build utility-scale quantum computers, including through 
collaboration with key partners in the Air Force Research Lab-
oratory, the Office of Strategic Capital, the Defense Innovation 
Unit, and such other partners and organizations of the Depart-
ment of Defense as the Director of the Defense Advanced 
Research Projects Agency deems appropriate. 
(2) Working with the Office of Strategic Capital to establish 
regular interactions with the venture capital and finance 
community to help accelerate commercial efforts to develop 
concepts, plans, prototypes, components, and subsystems 
needed to develop viable utility-scale quantum computers. 
(3) Working with the Office of the Assistant Secretary 
of Defense for Industrial Base Policy to connect key performers 
in fault-tolerant utility-scale quantum computing with support 
for industrial bases analysis, manufacturing support, and other 
analysis support to help foster and grow the broader industrial 
base supporting fault-tolerant utility-scale quantum computing. 
(4) Working with the military departments and other 
components of the Department of Defense to refine use cases 
for militarily relevant applications of utility-scale quantum com-
puters. 
(c) REPEAL OF REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Subsection (c) of sec-
tion 229 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1611; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note) 
is hereby repealed. 
SEC. 232. EXPANSION OF PARTICIPATION IN THE DIGITAL ON-DEMAND 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall take such 
steps as may be necessary— 
(1) to expand the availability of the Digital On-Demand 
Program to— 
(A) all organizations and elements of the Department 
of Defense; and 
(B) all members of the Armed Forces and civilian 
employees of the Department; and 
(2) to actively promote the Program throughout the Depart-
ment. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter through 
2029, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives
H. R. 5009—66 
a report on the progress of the Secretary in expanding and pro-
moting the Digital On-Demand Program as described in subsection 
(a). 
(c) DIGITAL ON DEMAND PROGRAM DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘Digital On-Demand Program’’ means the program over-
seen by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer pursuant 
to which educational resources on artificial intelligence, emerging 
technologies, data literacy, and related topics are made available 
to personnel of the Department of Defense through a digital plat-
form on an on-demand basis. 
SEC. 233. MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION OF DIGITAL DATA TO 
ENHANCE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES. 
(a) POLICIES REQUIRED.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition and Sustainment, in consultation with the Secre-
taries of the military departments and the Chief Digital and Artifi-
cial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, shall develop 
and implement policies to manage and utilize data derived from 
digital data systems for aircraft, ships, and ground vehicles to 
inform and support maintenance activities conducted with respect 
to such aircraft, ships, and vehicles. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The policies required by subsection (a) shall 
include investment in advanced and scalable data infrastructure 
to efficiently record, transmit, categorize, and otherwise process 
data generated by digital data systems described in such subsection. 
Such policies shall— 
(1) require development of a strategy to invest in advanced 
technologies, including automated systems and artificial intel-
ligence, to streamline the process of organizing, indexing, and 
categorizing data; 
(2) require work with vendors to address and resolve limita-
tions imposed by proprietary information and data, including 
through the adoption of open data and open mission systems 
approaches; 
(3) address data transmission capabilities, such as— 
(A) implementing high-speed data transfer tech-
nologies; 
(B) optimizing network infrastructure; and 
(C) developing secure and efficient methods for 
transmitting mission-critical data between bases; 
(4) require central compilation of maintenance data and 
creation of user interfaces, prioritizing analysis of long-lead 
components; 
(5) require the use of vendor-agnostic, government-owned 
tagging and interoperable systems, except in cases where there 
is a compelling reason not to use such systems; 
(6) require review of classification policies relating to digital 
data to ensure that data is appropriately classified without 
unnecessarily restricting its usability; and 
(7) establish protocols for detecting unauthorized access 
or intrusion into vehicle or platform systems. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisi-
tion and Sustainment shall provide to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing 
on—
H. R. 5009—67 
(1) the policies developed under subsection (a); and 
(2) the status of the implementation of such policies. 
SEC. 234. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM DEMONSTRATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than November 30, 2025, the Chief 
Information Officer of the Department of Defense, in coordination 
with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering 
and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, shall complete 
a demonstration program to assess the viability of using wideband 
adaptive signal processing technology to support simultaneous 
transmit and receive signals on the same electromagnetic spectrum 
frequency band that— 
(1) does not produce harmful interference; 
(2) significantly reduces electromagnetic spectrum guard 
bands; 
(3) maintains signal quality with respect to latency and 
throughput; and 
(4) increases electromagnetic spectrum access within the 
frequency band. 
(b) LOCATION.—The demonstration program required by sub-
section (a) shall be conducted at a test and training range of 
the Department of Defense. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the demonstration program 
required by subsection (a), the Chief Information Officer, the Under 
Secretary, and the Director shall consult with, at a minimum, 
the following: 
(1) The Joint Staff. 
(2) The military departments and their associated research 
labs. 
(3) Other Department of Defense organizations and agen-
cies. 
(4) The Federal Communications Commission. 
(5) The National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration. 
(6) Other Federal agencies. 
(7) Industry and nongovernmental entities. 
(d) AUTHORITY
TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS.—Subject to the 
availability of appropriations, the Chief Information Officer may 
enter into such contracts or other agreements as the Chief Informa-
tion Officer considers appropriate to conduct studies and demonstra-
tion projects under the demonstration program required by sub-
section (a). 
(e) BRIEFING ON PLANS FOR PROGRAM.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Information 
Officer, the Under Secretary, and the Director shall jointly provide 
to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the plans 
to carry out the demonstration program required by subsection 
(a). 
(f) PERIODIC ASSESSMENTS OF PROGRAM.—The Chief Informa-
tion Officer, the Under Secretary, and the Director shall, periodi-
cally, assess the demonstration program required by subsection 
(a) while the program is being carried out. 
(g) BRIEFING ON COMPLETED PROGRAM.—Upon completion of 
the demonstration program required by subsection (a), the Chief 
Information Officer, the Under Secretary, and the Director shall
H. R. 5009—68 
jointly provide the congressional defense committees a briefing on 
their findings with respect to the demonstration program. 
SEC. 235. COMPETITIVE DEMONSTRATION OF AUTOMATED TARGET 
RECOGNITION ALGORITHMS. 
(a) VENUE, PROCESS, AND SCENARIOS.—Not later than June 
1, 2025, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the 
Department of Defense, in coordination with appropriate counter-
parts in the military departments, shall develop a venue and proc-
esses, including a specified set of baseline scenarios, for comparative 
testing of automated target recognition algorithms to evaluate mis-
sion efficacy. 
(b) DEMONSTRATION.—Not later than September 1, 2025, the 
Secretary of Defense shall use the venue developed under subsection 
(a) to test the mission capability of at least two relevant programs 
included in the Replicator initiative. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a briefing on the activities carried out under 
this section. 
SEC. 236. PILOT PROGRAM ON DEVELOPMENT OF NEAR-TERM USE 
CASES AND DEMONSTRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTEL-
LIGENCE TOWARD BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS FOR 
NATIONAL SECURITY. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
carry out a pilot program to develop near-term use cases and 
demonstrations of artificial intelligence for national security-related 
biotechnology applications. 
(b) PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall carry out the pilot program required by subsection (a) through 
one or more public-private partnerships entered into for purposes 
of the pilot program. 
(c) LABORATORY SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.—In support 
of a public-private partnership entered into under subsection (b), 
the Secretary of Defense may, on a reimbursable basis, make avail-
able— 
(1) the facilities and services of a Department of Defense 
laboratory to perform experimentation for biotechnology 
applications to aid in the validation of artificial intelligence 
models; and 
(2) computing and data storage infrastructure and capabili-
ties of the Department of Defense. 
(d) DURATION.—The pilot program required by subsection (a) 
shall— 
(1) commence not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act; and 
(2) terminate five years after the date of the on which 
the program commences under paragraph (1). 
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and not later than December 
1 of every other year thereafter until the termination date 
specified in subsection (d)(2), the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report on 
the pilot program.
H. R. 5009—69 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under paragraph 
(1) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the 
following: 
(A) An assessment of existing Department of Defense 
biotechnology-related data resources and how they may 
be used in the pilot program. 
(B) An assessment of required cybersecurity measures 
for users under the pilot program. 
(C) A description of any mechanisms developed for 
collaboration among different parties associated with 
projects under the pilot program, including intellectual 
property agreements, funding agreements, and material 
transfer agreements. 
(D) An assessment of the role that artificial intelligence 
is playing in developing biotechnology applications for 
national security purposes, including identification of 
commercial or academic applications used in the pilot pro-
gram. 
(E) A description of near-term use cases developed 
under the pilot program for artificial intelligence-enabled 
biotechnology applications for national security. 
(F) A description of planned, ongoing, and completed 
demonstrations or other pilot programs funded under the 
pilot program required by subsection (a) or otherwise 
funded by the Department of Defense. 
(G) An assessment of the viability of transitioning tech-
nology developed under the pilot program into operational 
use within the Department, including assessment of— 
(i) the resources needed for further development 
and scaling of such technology; and 
(ii) the potential benefits of such technology. 
(3) FORM.—Each report under paragraph (1) shall be sub-
mitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 
(f) TRANSITION PLAN.—Not later than one year before the date 
on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (d)(2), 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a plan that outlines what steps the Department could 
take to turn the pilot program into an operational program if 
authorized and funded by Congress to do so. The plan shall include 
the following: 
(1) A transition timeline. 
(2) Associated projected annual cost of operating the pro-
gram. 
(3) Additional infrastructure that might be needed, 
including associated costs. 
(4) A descriptive analysis of the relevant technical, 
engineering and commercial biotechnology ecosystem, including 
entities within the Department and external stakeholders. 
(5) Examples of projects from the pilot phase of the program 
and their outcomes. 
(6) The potential impact to Department capabilities of 
transitioning the program. 
(7) Any other details deemed necessary to include by the 
Secretary.
H. R. 5009—70 
SEC. 237. PILOT PROGRAM ON USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR 
CERTAIN WORKFLOW AND OPERATIONS TASKS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Beginning not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility 
and advisability of using artificial intelligence-enabled software to 
optimize the workflow and operations for— 
(1) depots, shipyards, or other manufacturing facilities run 
by the Department of Defense; and 
(2) contract administration for the Department, including— 
(A) the adjudication and review of contracts; and 
(B) activities related to the Modernization and Ana-
lytics Initiative managed by the Defense Contract Manage-
ment Agency. 
(b) METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
may carry out subsection (a) through— 
(1) the establishment of a new pilot program; or 
(2) the designation of an existing initiative of the Depart-
ment of Defense to serve as the pilot program required under 
such subsection. 
(c) SOFTWARE.—In carrying out the pilot program required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) use best in breed software platforms; 
(2) consider industry best practices in the selection of soft-
ware programs; 
(3) implement the program based on human centered 
design practices to best identify the business needs for improve-
ment; and 
(4) demonstrate connection to enterprise platforms of record 
with authoritative data sources. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the activities described 
in subsection (a)(1) under the pilot program, the Secretary of 
Defense shall consult with— 
(1) the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment; 
(2) the Secretary of the Army; 
(3) the Secretary of the Navy; and 
(4) the Secretary of the Air Force. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing 
the following information: 
(1) An evaluation of each software platform used in the 
pilot program. 
(2) An analysis of how workflows and operations were 
modified as part of the pilot program. 
(3) A quantitative assessment of the impact the software 
had at each of the locations in which the pilot program was 
carried out. 
SEC. 238. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR FUNDA-
MENTAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION WITH CERTAIN ACA-
DEMIC INSTITUTIONS. 
(a) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in subsection (b), none 
of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise 
made available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2025
H. R. 5009—71 
may be obligated or expended to award a grant or contract to 
an institution of higher education for the specific purposes of con-
ducting fundamental research in collaboration with a covered entity. 
(b) WAIVER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Science and Technology may waive the limitation under sub-
section (a), on a case-by-case basis, with respect to an individual 
grant or contract for an institution of higher education if the 
Assistant Secretary determines that such a waiver is in the 
national security interests of the United States. 
(2) CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which an award is made by the Department of 
Defense involving an institution of higher education with 
respect to which a waiver is made under paragraph (1), the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives notice of such waiver. 
(c) REPORT ANNEX.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On an annual basis, as a classified or 
controlled unclassified information annex to the annual report 
required by section 1286(f) of the John S McCain National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 
115–232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note) (as so redesignated by section 
226 of this title), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a report annex on the compliance 
of the Department of Defense and institutions of higher edu-
cation with the requirements of this section. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each report annex submitted pursuant to 
paragraph (1) shall include, for each waiver issued under sub-
section (b) during the period covered by the report— 
(A) a justification for the waiver; and 
(B) a detailed description of the type and extent of 
any collaboration between an institution of higher edu-
cation and a covered entity allowed pursuant to the waiver, 
including identification of the institution of higher edu-
cation and the covered entities involved, the type of tech-
nology involved, the duration of the collaboration, and 
terms and conditions on intellectual property assignment, 
as applicable, under the collaboration agreement. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘collaboration’’ means coordinated activity 
between an institution of higher education and a covered entity 
and includes— 
(A) sharing of research facilities, resources, or data; 
(B) sharing of technical know-how; 
(C) any financial or in-kind contribution intended to 
produce a research product; 
(D) sponsorship or facilitation of research fellowships, 
visas, or residence permits; 
(E) joint ventures, partnerships, or other formalized 
agreements for the purpose of conducting research or 
sharing resources, data, or technology; 
(F) inclusion of researchers as consultants, advisors, 
or members of advisory or review boards; and 
(G) such other activities as may be determined by 
the Secretary of Defense.
H. R. 5009—72 
(2) The term ‘‘covered entity’’— 
(A) means an academic institution that is included 
in the most recently updated list developed pursuant to 
1286(c)(9) of the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115– 
232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note); and 
(B) includes any individual employed by such an aca-
demic institution. 
(3) The term ‘‘fundamental research’’ has the meaning given 
that term in National Security Decision Directive-189 (NSSD- 
189), National Policy on the Transfer of Scientific, Technical 
and Engineering Information, dated September 21, 1985, or 
any successor document. 
(4) The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002) and includes— 
(A) 
any 
department, 
program, 
project, 
faculty, 
researcher, or other individual, entity, or activity of such 
institution; and 
(B) any branch of such institution within or outside 
the United States. 
Subtitle C—Plans, Reports, and Other 
Matters 
SEC. 
241. 
INCORPORATING 
HUMAN 
READINESS 
LEVELS 
INTO 
RESEARCH, 
DEVELOPMENT, 
TEST, 
AND 
EVALUATION 
ACTIVITIES. 
(a) REVIEW.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research 
and Engineering, shall initiate a review of the ANSI/HFES 
Standard 400-2021 to determine whether any elements of such 
standard may be incorporated into relevant Department of Defense 
procedures and guidance material— 
(1) to ensure the safety and effective implementation of 
technology by ensuring that human readiness levels are ade-
quately aligned with technology readiness levels; and 
(2) to reduce the likelihood that technology will be deployed 
before adequate human factors considerations are incorporated 
into such technology. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—In carrying out the review required by sub-
section (a), the Secretary of Defense— 
(1) shall conduct a review of ANSI/HFES Standard 400- 
2021; 
(2) shall conduct a preliminary analysis of the human 
readiness levels of the Department of Defense based on ANSI/ 
HFES Standard 400-2021 to determine whether and to what 
extent those readiness levels align with the current technology 
readiness levels of technology used in major research and 
development programs and major defense acquisition programs 
(as defined in section 4201 of title 10, United States Code); 
(3) shall consult with personnel responsible for such pro-
grams regarding the effect of incorporating ANSI/HFES
H. R. 5009—73 
Standard 400-2021 with respect to the schedule, cost, and 
performance of such programs; and 
(4) may consult with subject matter experts affiliated with 
the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a briefing on the progress of the review required 
by subsection (a). 
(d) DEFINITION.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘ANSI/HFES Standard 400-2021’’ means 
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Human 
Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Standard 400-2021 
(pertaining to human readiness level scale in the system 
development process). 
(2) The term ‘‘human readiness level’’ means a measure-
ment system used to evaluate the suitability and usability 
of a technology for human use. 
(3) The term ‘‘technology readiness level’’ means a measure-
ment system used to assess the maturity level of a particular 
technology. 
SEC. 242. BIOTECHNOLOGY ROADMAP. 
(a) ROADMAP REQUIRED.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research 
and Engineering, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition 
and Sustainment, and the Secretaries of the military departments, 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a bio-
technology roadmap. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—In the roadmap required by subsection (a), 
the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) identify the strategic objectives of the Department of 
Defense relating to biotechnology; 
(2) for each strategic objective, establish specific goals and 
milestones for the achievement of such objective, including 
timelines for meeting such goals and milestones; 
(3) in the case of each updated version of the roadmap 
following submittal of the initial roadmap under subsection 
(a), include— 
(A) a review of the goals and milestones established 
under paragraph (2) to ensure such goals and milestones 
continue to align with strategic objectives under paragraph 
(1); and 
(B) a description of any goals and milestones that 
changed as a result of such review; 
(4) identify the biotechnology development needs and prior-
ities for national security applications based on the strategic 
objectives identified in paragraph (1); 
(5) assess the technology maturity of each priority identified 
pursuant to paragraph (4); 
(6) describe funding sources for each priority identified 
pursuant to paragraph (4), including both current sources and 
sources covered by the future-years defense program submitted 
to Congress under section 221 of title 10, United States Code;
H. R. 5009—74 
(7) provide a plan, timeline, and metrics for research, 
development, testing, and evaluation activities for the priorities 
identified pursuant to paragraph (4); 
(8) assess opportunities for rapid acquisition and fielding 
of biotechnology in support of the priorities identified pursuant 
to paragraph (4); 
(9) identify and describe the role of each organization of 
the Department with responsibilities relating to biotechnology 
under the strategy, including investment priorities for the Office 
of Strategic Capital and the Defense Advanced Research 
Projects Agency; 
(10) assess the overall risk to the security of the United 
States of the biotechnology efforts covered by the strategy; 
(11) analyze any requirements of the Federal Government 
that hinder the ability of the Department to advance and use 
biotechnology; 
(12) provide for the development and support of the bio-
technology workforce of the Department, including personnel 
with responsibilities relating directly to biotechnology and per-
sonnel who indirectly support the biotechnology efforts of the 
Department such as personnel involved program management, 
acquisition, investment, and legal matters; 
(13) with respect to the biotechnology workforce described 
in paragraph (12)— 
(A) identify the total number of biotechnology positions 
required to support the objectives of the roadmap— 
(i) as of the date of the roadmap; and 
(ii) over the periods of five and 10 years following 
such date; 
(B) indicate the number of such positions that have 
been filled as of the date of the roadmap; 
(C) describe the positions included in the biotechnology 
workforce, including a description of— 
(i) the role of each position in supporting the objec-
tives under paragraph (1); and 
(ii) the qualifications required for each position, 
including any qualifications relating to seniority level, 
education, training, and security clearances; 
(D) identify any challenges affecting the ability of the 
Department to develop the biotechnology workforce and 
propose solutions to those challenges; 
(E) assess whether the codes used to define positions 
and roles within the workforce of the Department ade-
quately cover the range of positions and personnel that 
comprise the biotechnology workforce, such as personnel 
in research, engineering, and testing; 
(F) identify mechanisms to enable the Department to 
access outside expertise relating to biotechnology, including 
mechanisms to assemble a pool of outside experts who 
have been prequalified (including by obtaining any nec-
essary security clearances) to provide advice and assistance 
to the Department on matters relating to biotechnology 
on an as-needed basis; and 
(G) assess whether personnel occupying existing posi-
tions in the Department could be used to meet bio-
technology workforce needs with additional training and, 
if so, the nature and scope of the training required; and
H. R. 5009—75 
(14) address collaboration between the Department and 
international partners to advance research on biotechnology, 
which shall include— 
(A) a description of any international partnerships 
under which the United States is collaborating with part-
ners to conduct biotechnology research and development 
for defense purposes, including a description of any invest-
ment priorities for the Office of Strategic Capital and the 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency relating to 
such partnerships; 
(B) a description of any new international partnerships 
that may be entered into, or existing partnerships that 
may be modified, to provide for such collaboration; and 
(C) identification of any challenges affecting the ability 
of the Department engage in such collaboration with inter-
national partners, including— 
(i) any limitations on co-investments within inter-
national partnerships; 
(ii) any United States export controls or other tech-
nology protections that hinder information sharing 
within such partnerships; and 
(iii) any other challenges that may prevent the 
full utilization of such partnerships for such collabora-
tion. 
(c) BIENNIAL UPDATES.—Not less frequently than once every 
two years following the submittal of the initial roadmap under 
subsection (a) until the termination date specified in subsection 
(h), the Secretary shall— 
(1) review and update the roadmap; and 
(2) submit an updated version of the roadmap to the 
congressional defense committees. 
(d) FORM.—Each version of the roadmap required to be sub-
mitted under this section may be submitted in classified form, 
but if so submitted, shall include an unclassified executive sum-
mary. 
(e) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—On annual basis, the Secretary shall 
make an unclassified version of the most recent roadmap submitted 
under this section available on a publicly accessible website of 
the Department of Defense. 
(f) GAO EVALUATION AND REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits the 
initial roadmap pursuant to subsection (a), the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall— 
(1) complete an evaluation of the roadmap; and 
(2) submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
on the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to 
such evaluation. 
(g) BIOTECHNOLOGY DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘bio-
technology’’ means the application of science and technology to 
living organisms and to parts, products, and models of such orga-
nisms to alter living or non-living materials for the production 
of knowledge, goods, or services. 
(h) SUNSET.—This section shall terminate on the date that 
is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
H. R. 5009—76 
SEC. 243. PLAN TO ADVANCE INTERESTS OF DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE IN MATTERS RELATING TO ELECTROMAGNETIC 
SPECTRUM IN INTERNATIONAL FORA. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordina-
tion with the Chief Information Officer of the Department of 
Defense, shall develop and commence implementation of a five- 
year plan for advancing United States defense policy interests at 
meetings of relevant international organizations and other inter-
national fora relating to electromagnetic spectrum, including all 
phases of the World Radiocommunication Conferences preparatory 
process. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—At a minimum, the plan developed under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Actions and resourcing required to ensure that the 
Department of Defense has the personnel and expertise 
required to engage meaningfully in the international activities 
described in subsection (a). 
(2) Processes to increase pre-coordination with relevant 
domestic partners and Federal agencies on matters relating 
to the international activities described in subsection (a), 
including the defense industrial base and industry. 
(3) Appropriate avenues to increase cooperation activities 
with friendly foreign partners relating to the international 
activities described in subsection (a). 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Chief Information officer of the Department of Defense, 
shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a briefing on the plan developed 
under subsection (a), which shall include information on relevant 
funded and unfunded resourcing requirements for current and 
future fiscal years. 
SEC. 244. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE 
TECHNOLOGIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop a 
strategic plan to guide the research, development, test, and evalua-
tion, procurement, and implementation of quantum information 
science (referred to in this section as ‘‘QIS’’) technologies within 
the Department of Defense, including the covered Armed Forces, 
over the period of five years following the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The plan required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) Identification of QIS technologies that have the potential 
to solve operational challenges faced by the Department of 
Defense. 
(2) Plans to transition technologies identified under para-
graph (1) from the research, development, and prototyping 
phases into operational use within the Department. 
(3) Plans for the continuous evaluation, development, and 
implementation of QIS technology solutions within the Depart-
ment. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report that includes—
H. R. 5009—77 
(1) the strategic plan developed under subsection (a); and 
(2) an assessment of whether the budgets proposed for 
QIS-related activities of the Department of Defense and each 
of the covered Armed Forces appropriately balance the use 
of research, development, test, and evaluation funds designated 
as budget activity 1 (basic research), budget activity 2 (applied 
research), and budget activity 3 (advanced technology develop-
ment) (as those budget activity classifications are set forth 
in volume 2B, chapter 5 of the Department of Defense Financial 
Management Regulation (DOD 7000.14–R)) to achieve the objec-
tives of the strategic plan over near-, mid-, and long-term 
timeframes. 
(d) UPDATES.—Following the submittal of the initial strategic 
plan pursuant to subsection (c)(1), the Secretary of Defense may 
periodically update the plan as the Secretary determines necessary. 
(e) COVERED ARMED FORCE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine 
Corps, or Space Force. 
SEC. 245. DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD STUDY ON LONG-TERM OPER-
ATIONS AND AVAILABILITY OF KWAJALEIN ATOLL AS A 
MAJOR RANGE AND TEST FACILITY BASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Research and Engineering shall direct the Defense Science Board 
to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and advisability of 
designating the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site 
(RTS) and the United States Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll (USAG- 
KA) as facilities and resources comprising the Major Range and 
Test Facility Base, including with respect to the availability and 
mission capability of such test site and garrison. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study conducted under subsection (a) shall 
cover the following: 
(1) The history and rationale for the split funding of the 
United States facilities and capabilities on Kwajalein Atoll 
between an Army Garrison and a Major Range and Test Facility 
Base and whether those objectives have been achieved and, 
if not, an explanation of the reasons those objectives have 
not been achieved. 
(2) The status of the garrison infrastructure and operations. 
(3) The status of the test asset operability, usage, and 
maintainability. 
(4) The interrelationship between garrison infrastructure 
and test asset operability. 
(5) The status of the supported or supporting relationship 
between the United States Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll, 
the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, and 
the Lincoln Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology and the long-term outlook for this partnership. 
(6) The role of the Kwajalein Atoll in supporting current 
and future missions of the Department of Defense. 
(7) Such other matters as the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Research and Engineering or the Defense Science Board 
consider appropriate. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION.—The Defense Science Board 
shall complete the study required by subsection (a) by not later 
than May 15, 2025.
H. R. 5009—78 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 10 days after the completion of 
the study required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Research and Engineering shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report on the findings of the Defense Science 
Board with respect to the study. 
(e) DEFINITION OF MAJOR RANGE AND TEST FACILITY BASE.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘Major Range and Test Facility Base’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 4173 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
TITLE III—OPERATION AND 
MAINTENANCE 
Subtitle A—Authorization of Appropriations 
Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations. 
Subtitle B—Energy and Environment 
Sec. 311. Modification of definition of antenna structure project under Military 
Aviation and Installation Assurance Clearinghouse for review of mission 
obstructions. 
Sec. 312. Extension of period for cooperative agreements under Native American 
lands environmental mitigation program. 
Sec. 313. Extension of requirement to establish a schedule of black start exercises 
to assess the energy resilience and energy security of military installa-
tions. 
Sec. 314. Change in timeframe for report on ability of Department of Defense to 
meet requirements for energy resilience and energy security measures 
on military installations. 
Sec. 315. Repeal of limitation on procurement of drop-in fuels; annual report. 
Sec. 316. Extension of prohibition on required disclosure. 
Sec. 317. Increase of transfer authority for funding of study and assessment on 
health implications of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination 
in drinking water by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 
Sec. 318. Initiative to control and combat the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetle 
in Hawaii. 
Sec. 319. Prohibition on implementation of regulation relating to minimizing risk 
of climate change. 
Sec. 320. Implementation of Inspector General recommendations relating to over-
sight of defense fuel support points. 
Sec. 321. Provision by Secretary of the Air Force of meteorological data for Air 
Force and Army. 
Subtitle C—Logistics and Sustainment 
Sec. 331. Joint Safety Council report and briefing requirements. 
Sec. 332. Modifications to Comptroller General annual reviews of F–35 sustainment 
efforts. 
Sec. 333. Plans regarding condition and maintenance of prepositioned stockpiles of 
Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. 
Sec. 334. Warehouse utilization organization alignment. 
Sec. 335. Authority for Government-owned, Government-operated facilities to ac-
cess production base support funds. 
Sec. 336. Pre-positioned stocks of finished defense textile articles. 
Subtitle D—Reports 
Sec. 341. Modification of readiness reports to include total number of combat readi-
ness upgrades or downgrades. 
Sec. 342. Extension and expansion of incident reporting requirements for Depart-
ment of Defense. 
Sec. 343. Annual briefing on operational readiness of 53rd Weather Reconnaissance 
Squadron prior to commencement of official hurricane season. 
Subtitle E—Other Matters 
Sec. 351. Extension of authority for Secretary of Defense to use Department of De-
fense reimbursement rate for transportation services provided to certain 
non-Department of Defense entities.
H. R. 5009—79 
Sec. 352. Improvements to FireGuard Program of National Guard. 
Sec. 353. Counter unmanned aerial system threat library. 
Sec. 354. Limitation on availability of funds for travel expenses of Office of Sec-
retary of Defense until submission of certain documents. 
Sec. 355. Anti-lock brake system and electronic stability control kit for certain 
Army vehicles. 
Sec. 356. Program for advanced manufacturing in the Indo-Pacific region. 
Subtitle A—Authorization of 
Appropriations 
SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2025 for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and 
agencies of the Department of Defense for expenses, not otherwise 
provided for, for operation and maintenance, as specified in the 
funding table in section 4301. 
Subtitle B—Energy and Environment 
SEC. 311. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF ANTENNA STRUCTURE 
PROJECT UNDER MILITARY AVIATION AND INSTALLATION 
ASSURANCE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR REVIEW OF MISSION 
OBSTRUCTIONS. 
Section 183a(h)(2)(A)(ii) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘under this title’’ and inserting ‘‘by law’’. 
SEC. 312. EXTENSION OF PERIOD FOR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS 
UNDER NATIVE AMERICAN LANDS ENVIRONMENTAL MITI-
GATION PROGRAM. 
Section 2713(c)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘two calendar years’’ and inserting ‘‘five calendar years’’. 
SEC. 313. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE 
OF BLACK START EXERCISES TO ASSESS THE ENERGY 
RESILIENCE 
AND 
ENERGY 
SECURITY 
OF 
MILITARY 
INSTALLATIONS. 
Section 2920(d)(2)(C)(ii) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2027’’ and inserting ‘‘2032’’. 
SEC. 314. CHANGE IN TIMEFRAME FOR REPORT ON ABILITY OF 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR 
ENERGY RESILIENCE AND ENERGY SECURITY MEASURES 
ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2920(g) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘2029’’ and inserting ‘‘2027’’. 
(b) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than June 30, 2025, 
the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense 
committees a briefing on the progress of the Secretary in meeting 
the requirements under section 2920(a) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 315. REPEAL OF LIMITATION ON PROCUREMENT OF DROP-IN 
FUELS; ANNUAL REPORT. 
(a) REPEAL.—Section 2922h of title 10, United States Code, 
is repealed.
H. R. 5009—80 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Subchapter II of chapter 173 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 2922j. Annual report on purchase of drop-in fuel 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than annually, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report that, for the 
year covered by the report— 
‘‘(1) identifies each instance in which the Secretary pur-
chased drop-in fuel that was not cost-competitive with tradi-
tional fuel; and 
‘‘(2) for each instance identified under paragraph (1), states 
whether the purchase was based on a military requirement 
or not. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘drop-in fuel’ means a neat or blended liquid 
hydrocarbon fuel designed as a direct replacement for a tradi-
tional fuel with comparable performance characteristics and 
compatible with existing infrastructure and equipment. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘traditional fuel’ means a liquid hydrocarbon 
fuel derived or refined from petroleum.’’. 
SEC. 316. EXTENSION OF PROHIBITION ON REQUIRED DISCLOSURE. 
Section 318(a)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amended by striking 
‘‘one-year period’’ and inserting ‘‘three-year period’’. 
SEC. 317. INCREASE OF TRANSFER AUTHORITY FOR FUNDING OF 
STUDY AND ASSESSMENT ON HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF 
PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES CONTAMINA-
TION IN DRINKING WATER BY AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUB-
STANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY. 
Clause (iv) of section 316(a)(2)(B) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 131 
Stat. 1350), as most recently amended by section 333 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118– 
31), is further amended by striking ‘‘during fiscal year 2024’’ and 
inserting ‘‘a year during fiscal years 2024 through 2025’’. 
SEC. 318. INITIATIVE TO CONTROL AND COMBAT THE SPREAD OF 
COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE IN HAWAII. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall enhance 
efforts to manage, control, and interdict the coconut rhinoceros 
beetle on military installations in Hawaii. 
(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The efforts required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Carrying out science-based management and control 
programs to reduce the effect of the coconut rhinoceros beetle 
on military installations and to prevent the introduction or 
spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle to areas where such 
beetle has not yet been established. 
(2) Providing support for interagency and intergovern-
mental response efforts to control, interdict, monitor, and eradi-
cate the coconut rhinoceros beetle on military installations in 
Hawaii. 
(3) Pursuing chemical, biological, and other control tech-
niques, technology transfer, and best practices to support
H. R. 5009—81 
management, control, interdiction and, where possible, eradi-
cation of the coconut rhinoceros beetle from Hawaii. 
(4) Establishing an early detection and rapid response 
mechanism to monitor and deploy coordinated efforts if the 
coconut rhinoceros beetle, or another newly detected invasive 
alien species, is detected at new sites on military installations 
in Hawaii. 
(5) Carrying out such other activities as the Secretary 
determines appropriate to manage, control, and interdict the 
coconut rhinoceros beetle on military installations in Hawaii. 
(c) ANNUAL BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 
each of the next three years, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy 
for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall provide to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate a briefing on the implementation of this section, 
which shall include detailed information about the efforts of the 
Secretary to manage, control, and interdict the coconut rhinoceros 
beetle on military installations in Hawaii. 
SEC. 319. PROHIBITION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF REGULATION 
RELATING TO MINIMIZING RISK OF CLIMATE CHANGE. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act 
or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for 
fiscal year 2025 may be used to finalize or implement any rule 
based on the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking titled ‘‘Federal 
Acquisition Regulation: Minimizing the Risk of Climate Change 
in Federal Acquisitions’’ (October 15, 2021; 86 Fed. Reg. 57404). 
SEC. 320. IMPLEMENTATION OF INSPECTOR GENERAL RECOMMENDA-
TIONS RELATING TO OVERSIGHT OF DEFENSE FUEL SUP-
PORT POINTS. 
With respect to each recommendation of the Inspector General 
of the Department of Defense contained in the report published 
by the Inspector General on April 11, 2024, and titled ‘‘Audit 
of the Defense Logistics Agency Oversight of Defense Fuel Support 
Points’’ (DODIG–2024–075), by not later than May 1, 2026, the 
Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) implement such recommendation; or 
(2) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing 
an explanation of why the Secretary has not implemented the 
recommendation. 
SEC. 321. PROVISION BY SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE OF METEORO-
LOGICAL DATA FOR AIR FORCE AND ARMY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall provide meteorological and environ-
mental services for operations of the Department of the Air Force 
and shall provide meteorological services for the Department of 
the Army. 
(b) EXCEPTION FOR BALLISTICS DATA.—The requirement under 
subsection (a) shall not apply to meteorological ballistics data for 
the Department of the Army.
H. R. 5009—82 
Subtitle C—Logistics and Sustainment 
SEC. 331. JOINT SAFETY COUNCIL REPORT AND BRIEFING REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
Section 185 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (k)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Chair’’ and inserting ‘‘Chairperson’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘semi-annual’’ and inserting ‘‘bian-
nual’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘March 31, 2023, and not later 
than’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘thereafter’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘a report’’ and inserting ‘‘an 
annual report’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) for the year covered by the report— 
‘‘(i) releasable information regarding any mishap that 
occurred during such year; and 
‘‘(ii) an identification of any corrective or preventative 
action implemented pursuant to a recommendation made 
in a safety or legal investigation report of such a mishap.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(l) BIANNUAL
BRIEFINGS.—Not later than March 31 and 
December 31 of each year, the Chairperson of the Council shall 
provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the 
contents of the report required to be submitted under subsection 
(k)(1) that covers the six-month period preceding the date of the 
briefing.’’. 
SEC. 332. MODIFICATIONS TO COMPTROLLER GENERAL ANNUAL 
REVIEWS OF F–35 SUSTAINMENT EFFORTS. 
Section 357 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘2025, 2026, 
and 2027’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(including’’ and inserting ‘‘, which 
may include’’; and 
(ii) by striking the closing parenthesis; and 
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘ as a result of such 
review’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘of the following:’’ and 
all that follows through the period at the end of paragraph 
(4) and inserting ‘‘of matters regarding the sustainment or
H. R. 5009—83 
affordability of the F–35 Lighting II aircraft program that 
the Comptroller General, after consulting with staff from the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate, determines to be of critical importance to 
the long-term viability of such program.’’. 
SEC. 333. PLANS REGARDING CONDITION AND MAINTENANCE OF 
PREPOSITIONED STOCKPILES OF NAVY, MARINE CORPS, 
AND AIR FORCE. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy and 
the Secretary of the Air Force shall each develop a plan to 
improve 
the 
required 
inspection 
procedures 
for 
the 
prepositioned stockpiles of the Armed Force concerned, for the 
purpose of identifying deficiencies and conducting maintenance 
repairs at levels necessary to ensure such prepositioned stock-
piles are mission capable. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
NAVY
AND
MARINE 
CORPS PLAN.—The plan of the Secretary of the Navy required 
under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an analysis of the readiness of ships of the Navy 
and Marine Corps that hold or facilitate the off-loading 
of prepositioned stockpiles; and 
(B) suggestions for improving inspection procedures 
of such ships. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
on which the Secretary concerned completes the development of 
a plan under subsection (a), and not less frequently than twice 
each year thereafter for the three-year period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall 
inspect the prepositioned stockpiles of the Armed Force concerned 
in accordance with the procedures under such plan. 
(c) BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) BRIEFING ON PLAN.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary concerned 
shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing 
on the plan of the Secretary developed under subsection (a). 
(2) BRIEFINGS ON STATUS OF PREPOSITIONED STOCKPILES.— 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for the three-year 
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
each Secretary concerned shall provide to the congressional 
defense committees a briefing on the status and condition of 
the prepositioned stockpiles of the Armed Force concerned. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Armed Force concerned’’ means— 
(A) the Navy and the Marine Corps, with respect to 
the Secretary of the Navy; 
(B) the Air Force, with respect to the Secretary of 
the Air Force. 
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means— 
(A) the Secretary of the Navy, with respect to matters 
concerning the Navy and the Marine Corps; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Air Force, with respect to 
matters concerning the Air Force.
H. R. 5009—84 
SEC. 334. WAREHOUSE UTILIZATION ORGANIZATION ALIGNMENT. 
(a) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military department 
and the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency shall provide 
to the congressional defense committees a briefing that— 
(1) identifies the designated organization or command that 
will serve as the global integrator of that military department 
or agency and assume responsibilities as the manager of the 
storage network of that military department or agency; and 
(2) sets forth a comprehensive plan of the Secretary con-
cerned or the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency, as 
the case may be— 
(A) to deploy storage space management tools, as 
authorized by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Sustainment, across the network of that military depart-
ment or agency; and 
(B) to evaluate approaches for identifying improved 
supply chain processes, visibility, mission alignment, and 
cost savings and avoidances enabled through space consoli-
dation. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the fol-
lowing five years, each Secretary of a military department and 
the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report containing the following: 
(1) Plans for reconstituting commercially-stored inventory 
of the Department of Defense into the warehouses of the 
Department on military installations. 
(2) Information on barriers to reconstituting such inventory 
from commercial storage locations. 
SEC. 335. AUTHORITY FOR GOVERNMENT-OWNED, GOVERNMENT- 
OPERATED FACILITIES TO ACCESS PRODUCTION BASE 
SUPPORT FUNDS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations pro-
viding that Government-owned, Government-operated facilities are 
eligible to receive production base support funding from the Army. 
SEC. 336. PRE-POSITIONED STOCKS OF FINISHED DEFENSE TEXTILE 
ARTICLES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may establish pre- 
positioned stocks of finished defense textile articles, such as uni-
forms and protective gear, to support the rapid mobilization and 
sustainment of members of the Armed Forces during a contingency 
operation. 
(b) PLAN
TO REDUCE DELAYS.—The Secretary shall develop 
a plan for phasing in and targeting policy changes relating to 
defense textile articles to reduce delinquencies and mitigate delays 
between policy decisions that may result in the miscalculation of 
stockpiling in order to ensure ample finished textiles are available 
to prevent a scenario in which the demand for certain articles 
is ramping down by the time the supply chain can ramp up to 
meet the need.
H. R. 5009—85 
Subtitle D—Reports 
SEC. 341. MODIFICATION OF READINESS REPORTS TO INCLUDE TOTAL 
NUMBER OF COMBAT READINESS UPGRADES OR DOWN-
GRADES. 
Paragraph (5) of section 482(b) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) The total number of upgrades and the total number 
of downgrades of the combat readiness of a unit that were 
issued by the commander of the unit, disaggregated by armed 
force.’’. 
SEC. 342. EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF INCIDENT REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
Section 363 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 2722 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024’’ and inserting 
‘‘fiscal years 2022 through 2029’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘to the National Crime 
Information Center and local law enforcement.’’ and inserting 
‘‘to— 
‘‘(1) the National Crime Information Center; 
‘‘(2) local law enforcement; and 
‘‘(3) the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives.’’. 
SEC. 343. ANNUAL BRIEFING ON OPERATIONAL READINESS OF 53RD 
WEATHER 
RECONNAISSANCE 
SQUADRON 
PRIOR 
TO 
COMMENCEMENT OF OFFICIAL HURRICANE SEASON. 
Not later than March 31, 2025, and annually thereafter for 
each of the subsequent two years, the commanding officer of the 
22nd Air Force shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on 
the operational readiness of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance 
Squadron. Each such briefing shall address spares, personnel, sup-
porting infrastructure, and such other matters as the commanding 
officer determines appropriate. 
Subtitle E—Other Matters 
SEC. 351. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 
TO USE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REIMBURSEMENT 
RATE FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROVIDED TO 
CERTAIN NON-DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ENTITIES. 
Section 2642(b) of title 10, United States Code is amended 
by striking ‘‘October 1, 2024’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2026’’. 
SEC. 352. IMPROVEMENTS TO FIREGUARD PROGRAM OF NATIONAL 
GUARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 510 of title 32, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) IN GEN-
ERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
H. R. 5009—86 
‘‘(b) CONTRACTS
AND
AGREEMENTS.—(1) The Secretary of 
Defense may enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with 
a qualified individual or entity for the performance of duties to 
supplement members of the National Guard in carrying out the 
FireGuard Program under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) In association with a contract or cooperative agreement 
entered into under paragraph (1) with a qualified individual or 
entity, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, in coordination 
with relevant State, local, and commercial entities, shall execute 
a memorandum of understanding with the qualified individual or 
entity, which shall clearly delineate the roles, responsibilities, func-
tions, timelines, and end dates for the transition of the duties 
to be performed under the contract or cooperative agreement. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘qualified individual or entity’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) any individual who possesses a requisite security clear-
ance for handling classified remote sensing data for the purpose 
of wildfire detection and monitoring; or 
‘‘(B) any corporation, firm, partnership, company, nonprofit, 
Federal agency or sub-agency, or State or local government, 
with contractors or employees who possess a requisite security 
clearance for handling such data.’’. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and any National 
Guard units affected by subsection (b) of section 510 of title 
32, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall submit 
to Congress a report that includes an evaluation of the effective-
ness of the FireGuard Program under such section and of 
opportunities to further engage civilian capacity within the 
program. 
(2) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The report under paragraph (1) 
shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of the efficacy of the FireGuard 
Program in detecting and monitoring wildfires, including 
the speed of detection. 
(B) A plan to facilitate production and dissemination 
of unclassified remote sensing information for use by 
civilian organizations, including Federal, State, and local 
government organizations, in carrying out wildfire detec-
tion activities. 
(C) An assessment of the sustainability of the 
Fireguard program, including the cost, the effects on readi-
ness, and the effects on other required missions. 
SEC. 353. COUNTER UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM THREAT LIBRARY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, through 
the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, shall 
establish and maintain a threat library, or expand and maintain 
an existing threat library, to coordinate efforts across the Depart-
ment of Defense to counter unmanned aircraft systems. 
(b) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED.—The threat library required 
under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) classified and unclassified information relating to known 
or suspected threats from unmanned aircraft systems;
H. R. 5009—87 
(2) proposed solutions for countering such known threats; 
and 
(3) a comprehensive listing of global incursions from 
unmanned aircraft systems at installations of the Department 
of Defense. 
(c) DISSEMINATION.—The Secretary of the Army, through the 
Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, shall 
establish a framework to share the information contained in the 
threat library required under subsection (a) with the military 
departments, the combatant commands, other Federal agencies, 
and relevant industries, as determined by the Secretary of the 
Army, in order to maintain technological superiority in aerial 
defense. 
SEC. 354. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR TRAVEL 
EXPENSES OF OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE UNTIL 
SUBMISSION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS. 
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or 
otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for operation and 
maintenance, defense-wide, and available for the Office of the Sec-
retary of Defense for travel expenses, not more than 75 percent 
may be obligated or expended until the date on which the Secretary 
of Defense has submitted to the congressional defense committees 
all of the following documents: 
(1) The implementation plan for the Joint Concept for 
Competing released on February 10, 2023, as required by sec-
tion 1088 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 419; 10 U.S.C. 113 
note). 
(2) The Department of Defense Operations in the Informa-
tion Environment Implementation Plan, as referenced in the 
Strategy for Operations in the Information Environment 
released in July 2023. 
(3) The Special Operations Forces joint operating concept 
for competition and conflict, as required by section 1047(a) 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 
(Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1905). 
(4) Unredacted copies of documents requested by the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the Senate during the period 
beginning on January 1, 2024, and ending on June 1, 2024. 
SEC. 355. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY 
CONTROL KIT FOR CERTAIN ARMY VEHICLES. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—By not later than September 30, 2033, the 
Secretary of the Army shall ensure that all high-mobility multipur-
pose wheeled vehicles of the Army are equipped with an anti- 
lock brake system and electronic stability control kit. 
(b) PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a plan to carry out subsection 
(a). Such plan shall include each of the following: 
(1) A description of the steps required to increase produc-
tion of anti-lock brake systems and electronic stability control 
kits and retrofit high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles 
at Red River Army Depot, Texas, and its associated flyaway 
teams.
H. R. 5009—88 
(2) An identification of any challenges to meeting the 
requirement under subsection (a) and a list of steps required 
to address those challenges. 
(3) An estimated monthly rate of retrofits needed to meet 
the requirement under subsection (a). 
(4) A funding plan for carrying out the steps referred 
to in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(5) An identification of any authorities or funding required 
for any secondary destination transportation necessary to carry 
out the plan. 
(c) ANNUAL CERTIFICATION.—Not later than each of March 1, 
2025, March 1, 2026, and March 1, 2027, the Secretary of the 
Army shall certify to the congressional defense committees that 
the budget of the Army will enable the Army to meet the require-
ment under subsection (a). 
SEC. 356. PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN THE INDO- 
PACIFIC REGION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Secretary of the Navy and in consultation with the 
Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, shall carry 
out a program under which the Secretary shall establish an 
advanced manufacturing facility on or near a military installation 
within the area of responsibility of the United States Indo-Pacific 
Command for the purpose of— 
(1) meeting flexible manufacturing requirements to support 
the submarine, shipbuilding, and other defense activity indus-
trial bases; 
(2) fostering partnerships between industry, local univer-
sities, and workforce training programs to develop a local 
workforce in the vicinity of such facility capable of meeting 
advanced manufacturing demands; 
(3) coordinating responses to requirements of the Sub-
marine Industrial Base Task Force, the United States Indo- 
Pacific Command, the Innovation Capability and Modernization 
Office of the Department of Defense, the Industrial Base Anal-
ysis and Sustainment program of the Department, and other 
relevant defense organizations; 
(4) providing for the manufacturing of unmanned vehicles, 
including surface and underwater vehicles, and develops ship 
maintenance capabilities; and 
(5) responding to needs across the uniformed services and 
the defense industrial base. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) ensure that the advanced manufacturing facility under 
such subsection is capable of— 
(A) applying advanced manufacturing to small and 
large metal and composite structures; 
(B) manufacturing systems and components that— 
(i) 
use 
appropriate 
advanced 
manufacturing 
methods including hybrid and additive (for example, 
additive manufacturing, powder bed fusion manufac-
turing, cold spray manufacturing, or other similar 
manufacturing capabilities); and
H. R. 5009—89 
(ii) maintain a set of modern local machining sys-
tems with at least five-axis capability sufficient to sup-
port requirements; 
(C) maintaining a production capability across critical 
materials of the Navy in order to respond to emerging 
repair and production requirements during conflict; and 
(2) ensure broad workforce participation by establishing 
the facility either outside of a military installation (but very 
close to a military installation) or onboard a military installa-
tion with readily available access to a civilian trainee workforce. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than December 1 of the year after the 
year during which a facility is established under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report summa-
rizing the actions taken under the program established under such 
subsection, including information on how the program is supporting 
initiatives of the United States Indo-Pacific Command. 
(d) ADVANCED MANUFACTURING DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘advanced manufacturing’’ means a manufacturing process 
using the following techniques: 
(1) Additive manufacturing. 
(2) Wire-arc additive manufacturing. 
(3) Powder bed fusion manufacturing. 
(4) Other similar manufacturing capabilities. 
TITLE IV—MILITARY PERSONNEL 
AUTHORIZATIONS 
Subtitle A—Active Forces 
Sec. 401. End strengths for active forces. 
Sec. 402. Annual end strength authorization for the Space Force. 
Sec. 403. Temporary exclusion of mental health care providers from authorized 
strengths of certain officers on active duty. 
Subtitle B—Reserve Forces 
Sec. 411. End strengths for Selected Reserve. 
Sec. 412. End strengths for Reserves on active duty in support of the Reserves. 
Sec. 413. End strengths for military technicians (dual status). 
Sec. 414. Maximum number of reserve personnel authorized to be on active duty 
for operational support. 
Subtitle C—Authorization of Appropriations 
Sec. 421. Military personnel. 
Subtitle D—Reports 
Sec. 431. Annual defense manpower profile report: expansion of justifications for 
end strengths. 
Subtitle A—Active Forces 
SEC. 401. END STRENGTHS FOR ACTIVE FORCES. 
The Armed Forces are authorized strengths for active duty 
personnel as of September 30, 2025, as follows: 
(1) The Army, 442,300. 
(2) The Navy, 332,300. 
(3) The Marine Corps, 172,300. 
(4) The Air Force, 320,000. 
(5) The Space Force, 9,800.
H. R. 5009—90 
SEC. 402. ANNUAL END STRENGTH AUTHORIZATION FOR THE SPACE 
FORCE. 
(a) END STRENGTH AUTHORIZATION BY LAW FOR SPACE FORCE 
TO BE A SINGLE NUMBER FOR MEMBERS IN SPACE FORCE ACTIVE 
STATUS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Subsection (a) of section 115 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) The end strength for the Space Force for members 
in space force active status.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such subsection is further 
amended— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘AND 
SELECTED RESERVE’’ and inserting ‘‘, SELECTED RESERVE, 
AND SPACE FORCE’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘each of the armed 
forces (other than the Coast Guard)’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps’’. 
(b) CORRESPONDING
LIMITATION
ON
APPROPRIATIONS.—Sub-
section (c) of such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting a 
semicolon; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(3) the use of members of the Space Force in space force 
active status unless the end strength for the Space Force for 
that fiscal year for members in space force active status has 
been authorized by law; or’’. 
(c) AUTHORITY FOR VARIANCES OF END STRENGTH.— 
(1) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—Subsection (f) of such section 
is amended— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘AND 
SELECTED RESERVE’’ and inserting ‘‘, SELECTED RESERVE, 
AND SPACE FORCE’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(A)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)(A) or (3) of subsection (a)’’. 
(2) SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE.—Subsection (g) of such 
section is amended— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘AND 
SELECTED RESERVE’’ and inserting ‘‘, SELECTED RESERVE, 
AND SPACE FORCE’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(a)(1)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)(A) or (3) of sub-
section (a)’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The amendments made by para-
graphs (1) and (2) shall take effect upon the date specified 
under paragraph (2) of section 1736(a) of the Space Force 
Personnel Management Act (title XVII of Public Law 118– 
31; 137 Stat. 677) for the expiration of the authority provided 
by paragraph (1) of that section. 
(4) 
CONFORMING
CROSS-REFERENCE
AMENDMENTS
TO 
SFPMA.—Section 1736(a)(1) of the Space Force Personnel 
Management Act (title XVII of Public Law 118–31) is amended 
by striking ‘‘section 115(a)(1)(A)’’ both places it appears and 
inserting ‘‘section 115(a)(3)’’.
H. R. 5009—91 
SEC. 403. TEMPORARY EXCLUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE PRO-
VIDERS FROM AUTHORIZED STRENGTHS OF CERTAIN 
OFFICERS ON ACTIVE DUTY. 
(a) TEMPORARY EXCLUSION.—During fiscal years 2025 through 
2027, officers who are licensed mental health providers (including 
clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, mental health 
nurse practitioners, and psychiatric physician assistants) shall be 
excluded in computing and determining authorized strengths under 
section 523 of title 10, United States Code. 
(b) PROPOSAL.—Not later than September 30, 2025, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing 
recommendations of the Secretary regarding amendments to sub-
section (b) of such section that would eliminate permanent exclu-
sions to computations and determinations under such section. 
Subtitle B—Reserve Forces 
SEC. 411. END STRENGTHS FOR SELECTED RESERVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Armed Forces are authorized strengths 
for Selected Reserve personnel of the reserve components as of 
September 30, 2025, as follows: 
(1) The Army National Guard of the United States, 325,000. 
(2) The Army Reserve, 175,800. 
(3) The Navy Reserve, 57,700. 
(4) The Marine Corps Reserve, 32,500. 
(5) The Air National Guard of the United States, 108,300. 
(6) The Air Force Reserve, 67,000. 
(7) The Coast Guard Reserve, 7,000. 
(b) END STRENGTH REDUCTIONS.—The end strengths prescribed 
by subsection (a) for the Selected Reserve of any reserve component 
shall be proportionately reduced by— 
(1) the total authorized strength of units organized to serve 
as units of the Selected Reserve of such component which 
are on active duty (other than for training) at the end of 
the fiscal year; and 
(2) the total number of individual members not in units 
organized to serve as units of the Selected Reserve of such 
component who are on active duty (other than for training 
or for unsatisfactory participation in training) without their 
consent at the end of the fiscal year. 
(c) END STRENGTH INCREASES.—Whenever units or individual 
members of the Selected Reserve for any reserve component are 
released from active duty during any fiscal year, the end strength 
prescribed for such fiscal year for the Selected Reserve of such 
reserve component shall be increased proportionately by the total 
authorized strengths of such units and by the total number of 
such individual members. 
SEC. 412. END STRENGTHS FOR RESERVES ON ACTIVE DUTY IN SUP-
PORT OF THE RESERVES. 
Within the end strengths prescribed in section 411(a), the 
reserve components of the Armed Forces are authorized, as of 
September 30, 2025, the following number of Reserves to be serving 
on full-time active duty or full-time duty, in the case of members
H. R. 5009—92 
of the National Guard, for the purpose of organizing, administering, 
recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components: 
(1) The Army National Guard of the United States, 30,845. 
(2) The Army Reserve, 16,511. 
(3) The Navy Reserve, 10,132. 
(4) The Marine Corps Reserve, 2,400. 
(5) The Air National Guard of the United States, 25,982. 
(6) The Air Force Reserve, 6,311. 
SEC. 413. END STRENGTHS FOR MILITARY TECHNICIANS (DUAL 
STATUS). 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The minimum number of military technicians 
(dual status) as of the last day of fiscal year 2025 for the reserve 
components of the Army and the Air Force (notwithstanding section 
129 of title 10, United States Code) shall be the following: 
(1) For the Army National Guard of the United States, 
22,294. 
(2) For the Army Reserve, 6,492. 
(3) For the Air National Guard of the United States, 10,744. 
(4) For the Air Force Reserve, 6,697. 
(b) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF TEMPORARY MILITARY TECHNI-
CIANS (DUAL STATUS).—The number of temporary military techni-
cians (dual status) under subsection (a) may not exceed 25 percent 
of the total number authorized under such subsection. 
(c) PROHIBITION.—A State may not coerce a military technician 
(dual status) to accept an offer of realignment or conversion to 
any other military status, including as a member on Active Guard 
and Reserve duty. No action may be taken against an individual, 
or the position of such individual, who refuses such an offer solely 
on the basis of such refusal. 
SEC. 414. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RESERVE PERSONNEL AUTHORIZED 
TO BE ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. 
During fiscal year 2025, the maximum number of members 
of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who may be serving 
at any time on full-time operational support duty under section 
115(b) of title 10, United States Code, is the following: 
(1) The Army National Guard of the United States, 17,000. 
(2) The Army Reserve, 13,000. 
(3) The Navy Reserve, 6,200. 
(4) The Marine Corps Reserve, 3,000. 
(5) The Air National Guard of the United States, 16,000. 
(6) The Air Force Reserve, 14,000. 
Subtitle C—Authorization of 
Appropriations 
SEC. 421. MILITARY PERSONNEL. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Funds are hereby 
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for the use 
of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of the Depart-
ment of Defense for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for mili-
tary personnel, as specified in the funding table in section 4401.
H. R. 5009—93 
(b) CONSTRUCTION OF AUTHORIZATION.—The authorization of 
appropriations in the subsection (a) supersedes any other authoriza-
tion of appropriations (definite or indefinite) for such purpose for 
fiscal year 2025. 
Subtitle D—Reports 
SEC. 431. ANNUAL DEFENSE MANPOWER PROFILE REPORT: EXPAN-
SION OF JUSTIFICATIONS FOR END STRENGTHS. 
Section 115a of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Congress’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives, and furnish to any Member of Con-
gress upon request,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The justification and explanation required by paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) An explanation of how personnel end strength level 
requests address threats described in the national defense 
strategy under section 113(g) of this title. 
‘‘(B) The rationale for recommended increases or decreases 
in active, reserve, and civilian personnel for each component 
of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(C) The actual end strength number for each armed force 
for the prior fiscal year, compared to authorized end strength 
levels. 
‘‘(D) The shortfall in recruiting by each armed force as 
a percentage, as the Secretary determines appropriate.’’. 
TITLE V—MILITARY PERSONNEL 
POLICY 
Subtitle A—Officer Policy 
Sec. 501. Redistribution of general officers of the Marine Corps on active duty. 
Sec. 502. Authority to exclude additional positions from limitations on the number 
of general officers and flag officers on active duty. 
Sec. 503. Eligibility for consideration for promotion: time-in-grade and other re-
quirements. 
Sec. 504. Temporary authority to increase the number of nurse officers rec-
ommended for promotion. 
Sec. 505. Talent management and personnel retention for members of the Armed 
Forces. 
Sec. 506. Consideration of merit by special selection review boards. 
Sec. 507. Effect of failure of selection for promotion: captains and majors of the 
Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force and lieutenants and 
lieutenant commanders of the Navy. 
Sec. 508. Modification of authority to separate officers when in the best interest of 
the service. 
Sec. 509. Remote appearance before a board of inquiry. 
Sec. 509A. Marine Corps Deputy Commandants. 
Sec. 509B. Improvements relating to Medical Officer of the Marine Corps position. 
Sec. 509C. Vice Chief of Space Operations; vacancy in position of Chief of Space 
Operations. 
Sec. 509D. Repeal of active duty service requirement for warrant officer appoint-
ments in Air Force and Space Force. 
Sec. 509E. Removal of officers from a list of Space Force officers recommended for 
promotion. 
Sec. 509F. Pilot program on peer and subordinate assessments of certain officers.
H. R. 5009—94 
Subtitle B—Reserve Component Management 
Sec. 511. Authority to extend military technicians until age 62. 
Sec. 512. Extension of time period for transfer or discharge of certain Army and Air 
Force reserve component general officers. 
Sec. 513. Expanded authority to continue reserve component officers in certain 
military specialties on the reserve active-status list. 
Sec. 514. Transfer to the Space Force of covered space functions of the Air National 
Guard of the United States. 
Sec. 515. Notice to Congress regarding reapportionment of National Guard force 
structure. 
Subtitle C—General Service Authorities, Decorations and Awards, and Military 
Records 
Sec. 521. Technical and conforming amendments relating to members of the Space 
Force. 
Sec. 522. Modified authority to provide protection to senior leaders of the Depart-
ment of Defense and other specified persons. 
Sec. 523. Improving military administrative review. 
Sec. 524. Determination of active duty service commitment for recipients of fellow-
ships, grants, and scholarships. 
Sec. 525. Authority to designate certain separated members of the Air Force as 
honorary separated members of the Space Force. 
Sec. 526. Authorizations for certain awards. 
Sec. 527. Posthumous advancement of General John D. Lavelle, United States Air 
Force, on the retired list. 
Subtitle D—Recruitment 
Sec. 531. Expansion of report on future servicemember preparatory course. 
Sec. 532. Promoting military, national, and public service. 
Sec. 533. Military recruiter physical access to campuses. 
Sec. 534. Military Entrance Processing Command: acceleration of review of medical 
records. 
Sec. 535. Medical Accession Records Pilot program: notice of termination. 
Sec. 536. Provision of information regarding Federal service to certain persons in-
eligible to enlist in certain Armed Forces. 
Sec. 537. Reimbursement of applicants to certain Armed Forces for certain medical 
costs incurred during military entrance processing. 
Sec. 538. Authority to modernize recruitment for the Army. 
Sec. 539. Program of military recruitment and education at the National Sep-
tember 11 Memorial and Museum. 
Sec. 539A. Maritime workforce promotion and recruitment. 
Subtitle E—Training 
Sec. 541. Improvements to financial literacy training. 
Sec. 542. Extension of JROTC programs to the Job Corps. 
Sec. 543. Minimum number of participating students required to establish or main-
tain a unit of JROTC. 
Sec. 544. JROTC waiting list. 
Sec. 545. Number of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units. 
Sec. 546. Required constitutional law training. 
Sec. 547. Prohibition on Federal funds for the Department of Defense Countering 
Extremism Work Group. 
Subtitle F—Member Education 
Sec. 551. Expansion of international engagement authorities for Service Academies. 
Sec. 552. Modification of authority to engage in funded and unfunded law edu-
cation programs. 
Sec. 553. Additional admissions authority for the Uniformed Services University of 
the Health Sciences. 
Sec. 554. Professional military education: technical correction to definitions. 
Sec. 555. Distance education option for professional military education. 
Sec. 556. Authority to accept gifts of services for professional military education in-
stitutions. 
Sec. 557. Alternative service obligation for a cadet or midshipman who becomes a 
professional athlete. 
Sec. 558. Service Academies: Boards of Visitors. 
Sec. 559. Modernizing Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class college tuition assist-
ance program to account for inflation. 
Sec. 559A. Information on nominations and applications for military service acad-
emies.
H. R. 5009—95 
Sec. 559B. Ensuring access to certain higher education benefits. 
Sec. 559C. Service Academies: referral of applicants to the senior military colleges 
and units of the Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps. 
Sec. 559D. Pilot program to provide graduate education opportunities for enlisted 
members of the Army and Navy. 
Sec. 559E. Prohibition on use of Federal funds to endorse critical race theory. 
Subtitle G—Military Justice and Other Legal Matters 
Sec. 561. Clarifying amendment to Article 2 of the Uniform Code of Military Jus-
tice. 
Sec. 562. Authority of special trial counsel with respect to certain offenses occur-
ring before effective date of military justice reforms. 
Sec. 563. Detailing of appellate defense counsel. 
Sec. 564. Modification to offense of aiding the enemy under the Uniform Code of 
Military Justice. 
Sec. 565. Removal of marriage as a defense to article 120b offenses. 
Sec. 566. Consolidation of military justice reporting requirements for the military 
departments. 
Sec. 567. Term of office for judges of the Court of Military Commission Review. 
Sec. 568. Continuity of coverage under certain provisions of title 18, United States 
Code. 
Sec. 569. Correction of certain citations in title 18, United States Code, relating to 
sexual offenses. 
Sec. 569A. Modification of timeline for potential implementation of study on unani-
mous court-martial verdicts. 
Sec. 569B. Removal of personally identifying and other information of certain per-
sons from the Department of Defense Central Index of Investigations. 
Sec. 569C. Expanded command notifications to victims of domestic violence. 
Sec. 569D. Extension of Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, 
and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces. 
Sec. 569E. Analysis on the advisability of revising Military Rule of Evidence 513. 
Sec. 569F. Analysis of prohibition on broadcast and distribution of digitally manip-
ulated intimate images under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. 
Subtitle H—Career Transition 
Sec. 571. Pathway for individualized counseling for members of the reserve compo-
nents under TAP. 
Sec. 572. Extension of Troops-to-Teachers Program. 
Sec. 573. Extension and expansion of report on the Transition Assistance Program 
of the Department of Defense. 
Sec. 574. Military training and competency records. 
Subtitle I—Family Programs and Child Care 
Sec. 581. Interstate compacts for portability of occupational licenses of military 
spouses: permanent authority. 
Sec. 582. Military Spouse Career Accelerator program. 
Sec. 583. Competitive pay for Department of Defense child care personnel. 
Sec. 584. Posting of national child abuse hotline at military child development cen-
ters. 
Sec. 585. Additional information in outreach campaign relating to waiting lists for 
military child development centers. 
Sec. 586. Expansion of annual briefing regarding waiting lists for military child de-
velopment centers. 
Sec. 587. Improvements 
relating 
to 
portability 
of 
professional 
licenses 
of 
servicemembers and their spouses. 
Sec. 588. Child care services and youth program services for dependents. 
Sec. 589. Child care services and youth program services for dependents: period of 
services for a member with a spouse seeking employment. 
Sec. 589A. Child development program staffing and compensation model. 
Sec. 589B. Inclusive Playground Pilot Program. 
Subtitle J—Dependent Education 
Sec. 591. Advisory committees for Department of Defense domestic dependents 
schools. 
Sec. 592. Eligibility of dependents of certain deceased members of the Armed 
Forces for enrollment in Department of Defense domestic dependent ele-
mentary and secondary schools. 
Sec. 593. Expansion of eligibility for virtual programs operated by Department of 
Defense Education Activity. 
Sec. 594. Authorization for school meal programs at Department of Defense de-
pendent schools.
H. R. 5009—96 
Sec. 595. Eligibility of certain dependents for enrollment in domestic dependent ele-
mentary and secondary schools. 
Sec. 596. Staffing of Department of Defense Education Activity schools to maintain 
maximum student-to-teacher ratios. 
Sec. 597. Enrollment in defense dependents’ education system of children of foreign 
military members assigned to United Nations Command. 
Sec. 598. Certain assistance to local educational agencies that benefit dependents 
of military and civilian personnel. 
Sec. 599. Training requirements teachers in 21st century schools of the Department 
of Defense Education Activity. 
Sec. 599A. Overseas transfer program for educators in schools operated by the De-
partment of Defense Education Activity. 
Sec. 599B. Parental right to notice of student nonproficiency in reading or language 
arts. 
Subtitle A—Officer Policy 
SEC. 501. REDISTRIBUTION OF GENERAL OFFICERS OF THE MARINE 
CORPS ON ACTIVE DUTY. 
Section 525(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘17’’ and inserting 
‘‘18’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘22’’ and replacing 
with ‘‘21.’’ 
SEC. 502. AUTHORITY TO EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FROM 
LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF GENERAL OFFICERS 
AND FLAG OFFICERS ON ACTIVE DUTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 526 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) through (j) as sub-
sections (h) through (k), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting, after subsection (f), the following new 
subsection (g): 
‘‘(g) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ADAPTIVE FORCE ACCOUNT.—The 
limitations in subsection (a) and in section 525(a) of this title 
do not apply to a general officer or flag officer assigned to the 
Secretary of Defense Adaptive Force Account as designated by 
the Secretary of Defense. The total number of positions designated 
as the Secretary of Defense Adaptive Force Account for purposes 
of this subsection shall not exceed 35.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
501(a)(3) 
of 
the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 525 note) is hereby repealed. 
SEC. 503. ELIGIBILITY FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PROMOTION: TIME- 
IN-GRADE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) WARRANT OFFICERS.—Section 577 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or an approved retirement date’’ 
after ‘‘an established separation date that is within 90 days after 
the date on which the board is convened’’. 
(b) OFFICERS.—Section 619(c)(2)(C) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or an approved retirement date’’ 
after ‘‘an established separation date that is within 90 days after 
the date the board is convened’’. 
(c) RESERVE COMPONENTS.—Section 14301(f) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) NONCONSIDERATION OF OFFICERS SCHEDULED FOR REMOVAL 
FROM RESERVE ACTIVE-STATUS LIST.—The Secretary of the military
H. R. 5009—97 
department concerned may, by regulation, preclude from consider-
ation by a selection board by which an officer would otherwise 
be eligible to be considered, an officer who has an established 
separation date that is within 90 days after the date the board 
is convened or an approved retirement date.’’. 
SEC. 504. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF 
NURSE OFFICERS RECOMMENDED FOR PROMOTION. 
Section 616(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The number’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) Subject 
to paragraph (2), the number’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph 
(2): 
‘‘(2) During the period beginning on January 1, 2025, and 
ending on December 31, 2030, the number of officers recommended 
for promotion by a selection board convened under section 611(a) 
of this title may not equal or exceed 100 percent of the number 
of officers included in the promotion zone established under section 
623 of this title for consideration by the board, for nurse officers 
recommended for promotion to major or lieutenant commander, 
if the Secretary concerned determines that such greater number 
is necessary to maintain or improve medical readiness.’’. 
SEC. 505. TALENT MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL RETENTION FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS TO OPT-OUT OF PROMOTION BOARD 
CONSIDERATION.— 
(1) REGULAR
OFFICERS.—Section 619(e)(2)(A) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘training,’’ after ‘‘Department,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘assignment or education’’ and inserting 
‘‘assignment, education, or training’’. 
(2) RESERVE OFFICERS.—Section 14301(j)(2)(A) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘training,’’ after ‘‘Department,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘assignment or education’’ and inserting 
‘‘assignment, education, or training’’. 
(b) EFFECT OF FAILURE OF SELECTION FOR PROMOTION FOR 
CERTAIN OFFICERS.— 
(1) FIRST LIEUTENANTS AND LIEUTENANTS (JUNIOR GRADE).— 
Section 631(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the President 
approves the report of the board which considered him 
for the second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary concerned 
releases the promotion results of the board which consid-
ered the officer for the second time to the public’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the President 
approves the report of the board which considered him 
for the second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary concerned 
releases the promotion results of the board which consid-
ered the officer for the second time to the public’’. 
(2) CAPTAINS AND MAJORS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND 
MARINE CORPS AND LIEUTENANTS AND LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS 
OF THE NAVY.—Section 632(a)(2) of such title is amended by 
striking ‘‘the President approves the report of the board which 
considered him for the second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Sec-
retary concerned releases the promotion results of the board 
which considered the officer for the second time to the public’’.
H. R. 5009—98 
(3) REGULAR NAVY AND REGULAR MARINE CORPS OFFICERS 
DESIGNATED FOR LIMITED DUTY.—Section 8372 of such title is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘the President 
approves the report of the selection board in which the 
officer is considered as having failed of selection for pro-
motion to the grade of commander or lieutenant colonel 
for the second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary concerned 
releases the promotion results of the board which consid-
ered the officer for the second time to the public’’; 
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘the President 
approves the report of the selection board in which the 
officer is considered as having failed of selection for pro-
motion to the grade of lieutenant commander or major 
for the second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary concerned 
releases the promotion results of the board which consid-
ered the officer for the second time to the public’’; and 
(C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘the President 
approves the report of the selection board in which the 
officer is considered as having failed of selection for pro-
motion to the grade of lieutenant or captain, respectively, 
for the second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary concerned 
releases the promotion results of the board which consid-
ered the officer for the second time to the public’’. 
(4) RESERVE FIRST LIEUTENANTS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, 
AND MARINE CORPS AND RESERVE LIEUTENANTS (JUNIOR GRADE) 
OF THE NAVY.—Section 14504 of such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘the President 
approves the report of the board which considered the 
officer for the second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary 
concerned releases the promotion results of the board which 
considered the officer for the second time to the public’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘President approves 
the report of the selection board which resulted in the 
second failure’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary concerned 
releases the promotion results of the board which consid-
ered the officer for the second time to the public’’. 
(5) RESERVE CAPTAINS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINE 
CORPS AND RESERVE LIEUTENANTS OF THE NAVY.—Section 14505 
of such title is amended by striking ‘‘the President approves 
the report of the board which considered the officer for the 
second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary concerned releases 
the promotion results of the board which considered the officer 
for the second time to the public’’. 
(6) RESERVE MAJORS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINE 
CORPS AND RESERVE LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS OF THE NAVY.— 
Section 14506 of such title is amended by striking ‘‘the Presi-
dent approves the report of the board which considered the 
officer for the second time’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary con-
cerned releases the promotion results of the board which consid-
ered the officer for the second time to the public’’. 
SEC. 506. CONSIDERATION OF MERIT BY SPECIAL SELECTION REVIEW 
BOARDS. 
(a) REGULAR COMPONENTS.—Section 628a(d)(4)(A) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘ranks in the upper
H. R. 5009—99 
half of an order of merit created by the special selection review 
board or’’ before ‘‘ranks on an order of merit created by the special 
selection review board as better qualified’’. 
(b) RESERVE COMPONENTS.—Section 14502a(d)(4)(A) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘ranks in the upper 
half of an order of merit created by the special selection review 
board or’’ before ‘‘ranks on an order of merit created by the special 
selection review board as better qualified’’. 
SEC. 507. EFFECT OF FAILURE OF SELECTION FOR PROMOTION: CAP-
TAINS AND MAJORS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, MARINE 
CORPS, AND SPACE FORCE AND LIEUTENANTS AND 
LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS OF THE NAVY. 
Section 632(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(c)(1) If an officer is subject to discharge under subsection 
(a)(1) and, as of the date on which the officer is to be discharged 
under that subsection, the officer has not completed the officer’s 
active duty service obligation, the officer shall be retained on active 
duty until completion of such active duty service obligation, and 
then be discharged under subsection (a)(1), unless sooner retired 
or discharged under another provision of law. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned may waive the applicability of 
paragraph (1) to any officer if the Secretary determines that comple-
tion of the active duty service obligation of that officer is not 
in the best interest of the service.’’. 
SEC. 508. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO SEPARATE OFFICERS 
WHEN IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE SERVICE. 
Section 1182(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: 
‘‘(1)(A) If a board of inquiry determines that an officer should 
be retained, the officer’s case is closed unless the board substan-
tiated a basis for separation and, upon recommendation from the 
service chief, the Secretary of the military department determines 
that the board’s retention recommendation is clearly erroneous 
in light of the evidence considered by the board, a miscarriage 
of justice, and inconsistent with the best interest of the service. 
In such cases, the Secretary of the military department may sepa-
rate the officer after providing a written justification of the decision 
to separate. 
‘‘(B) An officer considered for separation under this section 
must be notified and afforded the opportunity to present matters 
for the Secretary of the military department to consider when 
making the separation determination. The Secretary of the military 
department shall review the case to determine whether the reten-
tion recommendation of the board is clearly contrary to the substan-
tial weight of the evidence in the record and whether the officer’s 
conduct discredits the Service, adversely affects good order and 
discipline, and adversely affects the officer’s performance of duty. 
‘‘(C) Exercise of authority to separate an officer under this 
section shall be reserved for unusual cases where such action is 
essential to the interests of justice, discipline, and proper adminis-
tration of the service.’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
(3) and (4), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new para-
graph:
H. R. 5009—100 
‘‘(2) Authority to direct administrative separation after a board 
of inquiry’s recommendation to retain an officer may only be dele-
gated to a civilian official within a military department appointed 
by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
The least favorable characterization in such cases will be general 
(under honorable conditions).’’. 
SEC. 509. REMOTE APPEARANCE BEFORE A BOARD OF INQUIRY. 
(a) REGULAR OFFICERS.—Section 1185 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘shall be’’ and inserting 
‘‘subject to subsection (c), shall be’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) The Secretary concerned may determine that, in exceptional 
circumstances, the appearance of an officer before the proceedings 
of a board of inquiry may be via means other than in person.’’. 
(b) RESERVE OFFICERS.—Section 14904 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘shall be’’ and inserting 
‘‘subject to subsection (c), shall be’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) REMOTE APPEARANCE.—The Secretary concerned may deter-
mine that, in exceptional circumstances, the appearance of an officer 
before the proceedings of a board of inquiry may be via means 
other than in person.’’. 
SEC. 509A. MARINE CORPS DEPUTY COMMANDANTS. 
Section 8045 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘not more than seven Deputy Commandants’’ and inserting 
‘‘not more than eight Deputy Commandants’’. 
SEC. 509B. IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE 
MARINE CORPS POSITION. 
(a) MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE MARINE CORPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 806 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 8048. Medical Officer of the Marine Corps 
‘‘(a) There is a Medical Officer of the Marine Corps who shall 
be appointed from among flag officers of the Navy. 
‘‘(b) The Medical Officer of the Marine Corps, while so serving, 
shall hold the grade of rear admiral (lower half).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 806 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8047 
the following new item: 
‘‘8048. Medical Officer of the Marine Corps.’’. 
(b) EXCLUSION FROM CERTAIN DISTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS.—Sec-
tion 525 of such title is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) A naval officer while serving as the Medical Officer of 
the Marine Corps is in addition to the number that would otherwise 
be permitted for the Navy for officers serving on active duty in 
the grade of rear admiral (lower half) under subsection (a).’’.
H. R. 5009—101 
(c) EXCLUSION FROM ACTIVE DUTY STRENGTH LIMITATIONS.— 
Section 526 of such title, as amended by section 502, is further 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) through (k) as sub-
sections (h) through (l), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) EXCLUSION OF MEDICAL OFFICER OF MARINE CORPS.—The 
limitations of this section do not apply to the flag officer who 
is serving as the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps.’’. 
SEC. 509C. VICE CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS; VACANCY IN POSITION 
OF CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS. 
(a) VICE CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS.—Chapter 908 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 9083, 9084, 9085, and 9086 
as sections 9084, 9085, 9086, and 9087, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 9082 the following new section 
9083: 
‘‘§ 9083. Vice Chief of Space Operations 
‘‘(a) APPOINTMENT.—There is a Vice Chief of Space Operations, 
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, from the general officers of the Space Force. 
‘‘(b) GRADE.—The Vice Chief of Space Operations, while so 
serving, has the grade of general without vacating the permanent 
grade of the officer. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Vice Chief of Space Operations shall have 
such authorities and duties with respect to the Space Force as 
the Chief of Space Operations, with the approval of the Secretary 
of the Air Force, may delegate to or prescribe for the Vice Chief 
of Space Operations. Orders issued by the Vice Chief of Space 
Operations in performing such duties have the same effect as orders 
issued by the Chief of Space Operations.’’. 
(b) VACANCY IN POSITION OF CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS.— 
Section 9082 of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(f) VACANCY IN POSITION OF CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS.— 
When there is a vacancy in the position of Chief of Space Operations 
or during the absence or disability of the Chief of Space Oper-
ations— 
‘‘(1) the Vice Chief of Space Operations shall perform the 
duties of the Chief of Space Operations until a successor is 
appointed or the absence or disability ceases; or 
‘‘(2) if there is a vacancy in the position of the Vice Chief 
of Space Operations or the Vice Chief of Space Operations 
is absent or disabled, unless the President directs otherwise, 
the most senior officer of the Space Force in the Space Staff 
who is not absent or disabled and who is not restricted in 
performance of duty shall perform the duties of the Chief of 
Space Operations until the earliest of— 
‘‘(A) the appointment of a successor to the Chief of 
Space Operations or the Vice Chief of Space Operations; 
or 
‘‘(B) the cessation of the absence or disability of the 
Chief of Space Operations or Vice Chief of Space Oper-
ations.’’.
H. R. 5009—102 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by striking the items relating 
to sections 9083, 9084, 9085, and 9086 and inserting the following 
new items: 
‘‘9083. Vice Chief of Space Operations. 
‘‘9084. Office of the Chief of Space Operations: function; composition. 
‘‘9085. Office of the Chief of Space Operations: general duties. 
‘‘9086. Regular Space Force: composition. 
‘‘9087. Space Development Agency.’’. 
SEC. 509D. REPEAL OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR 
WARRANT OFFICER APPOINTMENTS IN AIR FORCE AND 
SPACE FORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9160 of title 10, United States Code, 
is hereby repealed. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of chapter 915 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 9160. 
SEC. 509E. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS FROM A LIST OF SPACE FORCE 
OFFICERS RECOMMENDED FOR PROMOTION. 
Section 20241(f) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘section 14310’’ and inserting ‘‘section 629 or 14310’’. 
SEC. 509F. PILOT PROGRAM ON PEER AND SUBORDINATE ASSESS-
MENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall imple-
ment, in a covered Armed Force, a five-year pilot program, pursuant 
to which— 
(1) an officer described in subsection (b) shall be assessed 
by peers and subordinates; and 
(2) the results of such assessments may be available to 
a command selection or command qualification board concerned; 
and 
(3) the command selection or command qualification board 
may consider such results in determining whether to rec-
ommend such officer for such selection or qualification. 
(b) COVERED OFFICERS.—An officer described in this subsection 
is a regular officer— 
(1) eligible for consideration for command; 
(2) in grade O-5 or O-6; and 
(3) in a career field— 
(A) specified in subsection (c); or 
(B) determined by the Secretary concerned. 
(c) COVERED CAREER FIELDS.—The career fields specified in 
this subsection are the following: 
(1) In the Navy, surface warfare, submarine warfare, spe-
cial warfare, or explosive ordnance disposal. 
(2) In the Marine Corps, infantry, logistics, or field artillery. 
(3) In the Air Force, operations or logistics. 
(4) In the Space Force, space operations. 
(d) SELECTION OF ASSESSORS.—The Secretary concerned may 
select an individual to assess an officer under the pilot program 
if the Secretary determines such individual has worked with the 
officer closely enough to have an informed opinion regarding the 
officer’s leadership abilities. An officer may not have any input 
regarding the selection of an individual who shall assess such 
officer.
H. R. 5009—103 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than three months after the termination 
of a pilot program, a Secretary concerned shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
and Senate a report regarding the pilot program. Elements of 
each such report shall include the following: 
(1) The determination of the Secretary concerned whether 
the pilot program improved the command selection or command 
qualification process of the covered Armed Force. 
(2) The rationale and findings of the Secretary concerned 
in determining whether to use such assessments in the com-
mand selection or command qualification process of such cov-
ered Armed Force. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the Army, 
Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force. 
(2) The terms ‘‘regular’’ and ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ have 
the meanings given such term in section 101 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
Subtitle B—Reserve Component 
Management 
SEC. 511. AUTHORITY TO EXTEND MILITARY TECHNICIANS UNTIL AGE 
62. 
(a) MILITARY TECHNICIAN.—Section 10216(f) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘60’’ and inserting ‘‘62.’’ 
(b) RETENTION
ON
RESERVE
ACTIVE-STATUS
LIST.—Section 
14702(b) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘60’’ and inserting 
‘‘62’’. 
SEC. 512. EXTENSION OF TIME PERIOD FOR TRANSFER OR DISCHARGE 
OF CERTAIN ARMY AND AIR FORCE RESERVE COMPONENT 
GENERAL OFFICERS. 
Section 14314 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) 
as subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D), respectively; 
(B) by striking ‘‘Within’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) Except as 
provided in paragraph (2), within’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) For any general officer covered by paragraph (1) who is 
released from a joint duty assignment or other non-joint active- 
duty assignment, the Secretary concerned shall complete the 
transfer or discharge required by paragraph (1) not later than 
60 days after the officer’s release.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(3)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(C)’’. 
SEC. 513. EXPANDED AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE RESERVE COMPONENT 
OFFICERS IN CERTAIN MILITARY SPECIALTIES ON THE 
RESERVE ACTIVE-STATUS LIST. 
(a) AUTHORITY FOR CONTINUATION ON THE RESERVE ACTIVE- 
STATUS LIST.—Chapter 1409 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 14701 the following new section:
H. R. 5009—104 
‘‘§ 14701a. Continuation on reserve active-status list: officers 
in certain military specialties and career tracks 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the military department 
concerned may authorize a reserve commissioned officer in a grade 
above O-2 to remain on the reserve active-status list after the 
date otherwise provided for the separation or retirement of the 
officer under section 14505, 14506, or 14507 of this title, as 
applicable, if the officer has a military occupational specialty, rating, 
or specialty code in a military specialty designated pursuant to 
subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) MILITARY SPECIALTIES.—The Secretary of a military depart-
ment shall designate the military specialties in which a military 
occupational specialty, rating, or specialty code, as applicable, 
assigned to members of the armed forces under the jurisdiction 
of such Secretary authorizes the members to be eligible for continu-
ation on the reserve active-status list as provided in subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(c) DURATION OF CONTINUATION.—An officer continued on the 
reserve active-status list pursuant to this section shall, if not earlier 
retired, transferred to the Retired Reserve, or discharged, be sepa-
rated in accordance with section 14513 or 14514 of this title, as 
applicable, on the first day of the month after the month in which 
the officer completes 40 years of commissioned service. 
‘‘(d) REGULATIONS.—The Secretaries of the military depart-
ments shall carry out this section in accordance with regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. The regulations shall specify 
the criteria to be used by the Secretaries of the military departments 
in designating military specialties for purposes of subsection (b).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of chapter 1409 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 14701 the following 
new item: 
‘‘14701a. Continuation on reserve active-status list: officers in certain military spe-
cialties and career tracks.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Title 10, United States Code, 
is further amended— 
(1) in section 1558(b)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘14701a,’’ after 
‘‘14701,’’; 
(2) in section 14505, by inserting ‘‘or 14701a’’ after ‘‘14701’’; 
(3) in section 14506, by inserting ‘‘14701a,’’ after ‘‘14701,’’; 
and 
(4) in section 14507, by inserting ‘‘, 14701a,’’ after ‘‘14701’’ 
both places it appears. 
SEC. 514. TRANSFER TO THE SPACE FORCE OF COVERED SPACE FUNC-
TIONS OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
(a) TRANSFER OF COVERED SPACE FUNCTIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—During the transition period, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force shall transfer to the Space Force the 
covered space functions of the Air National Guard of the United 
States. The transfer shall occur without regard to section 104 
of title 32, United States Code, or section 18238 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
(2) PERSONNEL BILLETS LIMITATIONS.—With regard to per-
sonnel billets, the statutory waiver under paragraph (1) is
H. R. 5009—105 
limited to 578 personnel billets of the Air National Guard, 
as follows: 
(A) 33 personnel from the State of Alaska. 
(B) 126 personnel from the State of California. 
(C) 119 personnel from the State of Colorado. 
(D) 75 personnel from the State of Florida. 
(E) 130 personnel from the State of Hawaii. 
(F) 69 personnel from the State of Ohio. 
(G) 26 personnel assigned to Headquarters, Air 
National Guard. 
(b) TRANSFER OF UNITS.—Upon the transfer to the Space Force 
of a covered space function of the Air National Guard of the United 
States, the Secretary of the Air Force may— 
(1) change the status of a unit related to such covered 
space function of the Air National Guard of the United States 
from a unit of the Air National Guard of the United States 
to a unit of the Space Force; 
(2) deactivate the covered space function of the Air National 
Guard of the United States; or 
(3) assign the covered space function of the Air National 
Guard of the United States a new Federal mission. 
(c) TRANSFER OF COVERED MEMBERS.— 
(1) OFFICERS.—During the transition period, the Secretary 
of Defense may, with the consent of the covered officer, transfer 
a covered officer of the Air National Guard of the United 
States to, and appoint the covered officer in, the Space Force. 
(2) ENLISTED MEMBERS.—During the transition period, the 
Secretary of the Air Force may, with the consent of the covered 
enlisted member, transfer a covered enlisted member of the 
Air National Guard of the United States to the Space Force. 
Upon such a transfer, the covered enlisted member shall cease 
to be a member of the Air National Guard of the United 
States and be discharged from enlistment as a Reserve of 
the Air Force. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE OF TRANSFERS.—A transfer under this 
subsection shall be effective on the date specified by the Sec-
retary of Defense, in the case of an officer, or the Secretary 
of the Air Force, in the case of an enlisted member. No date 
so specified may be after the last day of the transition period. 
(4) LIMITATIONS.—A covered officer or covered enlisted 
member transferred under paragraph (1) or (2)— 
(A) may consent to a transfer under this subsection 
during the period, beginning on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, that is the longer of one year, or a period 
determined by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary 
of the Air Force, as applicable; and 
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, shall not be 
subject to a permanent change of duty station during the 
period of three years beginning on the day that the covered 
officer or covered enlisted member consents to such 
transfer. 
(d) REGULATIONS.—A transfer under subsection (c) shall be 
carried out under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
Defense. In the case of a covered officer, applicable regulations 
shall include those prescribed pursuant to section 716 of title 10, 
United States Code.
H. R. 5009—106 
(e) TERM OF INITIAL ENLISTMENT IN THE SPACE FORCE.—In 
the case of a covered enlisted member who is transferred to the 
Space Force under subsection (c), the Secretary of the Air Force 
may accept the initial enlistment of the covered enlisted member 
in the Space Force for a period of less than two years if such 
period is not shorter than the period remaining, as of the date 
of the transfer, in the term of enlistment in a reserve component 
of the Air Force of such covered enlisted member. 
(f) END STRENGTH ADJUSTMENTS UPON TRANSFERS FROM THE 
AIR NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES.—Upon the transfer 
to the Space Force of a covered space function of the Air National 
Guard of the United States during the transition period, the end 
strength authorized for the Space Force pursuant to section 
115(a)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, for the fiscal year 
during which the transfer occurs, shall be increased by the number 
of billets associated with such transfer. 
(g) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.—For purposes of the transfer 
of covered members of the Air National Guard of the United States 
under subsection (c)— 
(1) the Air National Guard of the United States and the 
Space Force shall be considered to be components of the same 
Armed Force; and 
(2) the Space Force officer list shall be considered to be 
an active-duty list of such Armed Force. 
(h) RETRAINING
AND
REASSIGNMENT
FOR
MEMBERS
NOT 
TRANSFERRING.—If a covered member of the Air National Guard 
of the United States does not consent to a transfer under subsection 
(c), the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to the covered 
member retraining and reassignment, in a reserve component of 
the Air Force, that the Secretary determines appropriate for such 
covered member. 
(i) PROTECTION OF RANK AND PAY.—A covered member of the 
Air National Guard who transfers to the Space Force under sub-
section (c) shall not lose rank or pay solely as a result of such 
transfer. 
(j) SPACE FORCE UNITS
IN AFFECTED STATES.—In order to 
reduce the cost of transferring to the Space Force a covered space 
function of the Air National Guard of the United States, and to 
reduce the impact of such a transfer on an affected State, the 
following provisions apply: 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Space Force 
shall continue to perform the mission of a covered space func-
tion of the Air National Guard of the United States within 
the affected State during a period not shorter than 10 years 
following the date of such transfer. 
(2) Except when the Secretary of the Air Force determines 
that it would not be in the best interests of the United States, 
the Secretary may not, during the 10-year period following 
such a transfer, move a covered space function of the Air 
National Guard of the United States out of an affected State 
until 120 days after the congressional defense committees 
receive, from the Secretary of the Air Force, notice of such 
move, including— 
(A) details of such move; and 
(B) an explanation regarding why the move is nec-
essary to support the National Defense Strategy.
H. R. 5009—107 
(3) Unless the Secretary of the Air Force determines that 
it would not be in the best interests of the United States, 
the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the 
Governor of an affected State under which the Space Force 
may be a tenant on an installation— 
(A) of the National Guard of the affected State; and 
(B) that was the home station of a covered space func-
tion of the Air National Guard of the United States. 
(k) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘active-duty list’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘affected State’’ means Alaska, California, 
Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, or Ohio. 
(3) The term ‘‘covered’’, with respect to a member of the 
Air National Guard of the United States, has the meaning 
given such term in section 1733 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 
137 Stat. 676). 
(4) The term ‘‘covered space function of the Air National 
Guard of the United States’’ means any of the following units 
of the Air National Guard of the United States associated 
with the performance of a space-related function, including 
personnel, equipment, and resources: 
(A) 213th Space Warning Squadron, Alaska Air 
National Guard. 
(B) 148th Space Operations Squadron, California Air 
National Guard. 
(C) 216th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Cali-
fornia Air National Guard. 
(D) 137th Space Warning Squadron, Colorado Air 
National Guard. 
(E) 138th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Colorado 
Air National Guard. 
(F) 114th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Florida 
Air National Guard. 
(G) 150th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Hawaii 
Air National Guard. 
(H) 109th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Hawaii 
Air National Guard. 
(I) 126th Intelligence Squadron, Ohio Air National 
Guard. 
(5) The term ‘‘Space Force officer list’’ means the list main-
tained under section 20235 of title 10, United States Code. 
(6) The term ‘‘transition period’’ means the period beginning 
on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the 
last day of the eighth fiscal year beginning after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 515. NOTICE TO CONGRESS REGARDING REAPPORTIONMENT OF 
NATIONAL GUARD FORCE STRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days before reapportioning 
the force structure of the National Guard of a State, including 
by converting a position into a military technician (dual status), 
the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the military department concerned, shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a notice of such reapportionment.
H. R. 5009—108 
(b) FORM; ELEMENTS.—A notice under subsection (a)— 
(1) may be submitted in unclassified form with a classified 
annex; and 
(2) shall include the following elements: 
(A) A description of such reapportionment, including 
the number of such conversions and any changes to the 
number of personnel. 
(B) A description of the projected operational effect 
of such reapportionment on the mission of the National 
Guard of such State. 
(C) A description of any end strength requirements 
that justify such reapportionment. 
(D) Recommendations for any change to statutory end 
strengths that may be necessary to offset such require-
ments. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘military technician (dual status)’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 10216 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 901 of title 32, United States Code. 
Subtitle C—General Service Authorities, 
Decorations and Awards, and Military 
Records 
SEC. 521. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO 
MEMBERS OF THE SPACE FORCE. 
(a) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF; 
GRADE AND RANK.—Section 152(c) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘general, in the case of the Navy, admiral, 
or, in the case of an officer of the Space Force, the equivalent 
grade’’ and inserting ‘‘general or, in the case of the Navy, admiral’’. 
(b) 
JOINT
REQUIREMENTS
OVERSIGHT
COUNCIL.—Section 
181(c)(1)(F) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘in the grade 
equivalent to the grade of general in the Army, Air Force, or 
Marine Corps, or admiral in the Navy’’ and inserting ‘‘in the grade 
of general’’. 
(c) ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.— 
(1) APPOINTMENTS.—Section 531(a) of such title is 
amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and Regular Marine 
Corps in the grades of ensign, lieutenant (junior grade), 
and lieutenant in the Regular Navy, and in the equivalent 
grades in the Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Regular Marine 
Corps, and Space Force, and in the grades of ensign, 
lieutenant (junior grade), and lieutenant in the Regular 
Navy’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and Regular Marine 
Corps in the grades of lieutenant commander, commander, 
and captain in the Regular Navy, and in the equivalent 
grades in the Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Regular Marine 
Corps, and Space Force, and in the grades of lieutenant 
commander, commander, and captain in the Regular Navy’’.
H. R. 5009—109 
(2) SERVICE
CREDIT
UPON
ORIGINAL
APPOINTMENT
AS
A 
COMMISSIONED
OFFICER.—Section 533(b)(2) of such title is 
amended by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps, captain in the Navy, 
or an equivalent grade in the Space Force’’ and inserting 
‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force, or captain in the Navy’’. 
(d) SELECTION BOARDS.— 
(1) CONVENING OF SELECTION BOARDS.—Section 611(a) of 
such title is amended by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force’’. 
(2) JQO MEMBER REQUIRED FOR BOARDS TO CONSIDER OFFI-
CERS WHO ARE JOINT QUALIFIED OFFICERS.—Section 612(c)(3)(A) 
of such title is amended by inserting ‘‘or the Space Force’’ 
after ‘‘of the Marine Corps’’. 
(e) PROMOTION ZONE DEFINITION.—Section 645(1)(A) of such 
title is amended by striking ‘‘and Marine Corps,’’ both places it 
appears and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, and Space Force,’’. 
(f) RETIRED GRADE.— 
(1) REGULAR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.—Section 1370(g) of 
such title is amended by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps, rear 
admiral in the Navy, or an equivalent grade in the Space 
Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force, or rear 
admiral in the Navy’’. 
(2) OFFICERS ENTITLED TO RETIRED PAY FOR NON-REGULAR 
SERVICE.—Section 1370a of such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ 
both places it appears and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or 
Space Force’’; and 
(B) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force,’’. 
(g) TITLE OF CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE SPACE FORCE.— 
(1) RETIRED BASE PAY.—Section 1406(i)(3)(B)(v) of such title 
is amended by striking ‘‘The senior enlisted advisor of the 
Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Chief Master Sergeant of the Space 
Force’’. 
(2) PAY OF SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBERS.—Section 210(c)(5) 
of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘The 
senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘The 
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force’’. 
(3) PERSONAL MONEY ALLOWANCE.—Section 414(b) of title 
37, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the senior 
enlisted advisor of the Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘the Chief 
Master Sergeant of the Space Force’’. 
(4) BASIC
PAY
RATE.—Footnote 2 of the table titled 
‘‘ENLISTED MEMBERS’’ in section 601(c) of the John Warner 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public 
Law 109–364; 37 U.S.C. 1009 note) is amended by striking 
‘‘the senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force’’ and inserting 
‘‘Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force’’. 
(h) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SPECIALLY SELECTED 
MEMBERS.—Section 2107 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Marine Corps,, as the 
case may be’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘lieutenant, ensign, or 
an equivalent grade in the Space Force,’’ and inserting ‘‘lieuten-
ant or ensign,’’.
H. R. 5009—110 
(i) DESIGNATION OF SPACE SYSTEMS COMMAND AS A FIELD COM-
MAND
OF
THE
UNITED
STATES
SPACE
FORCE.—Section 
9016(b)(6)(B)(iv)(II) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘Space 
and Missile Systems Center’’ and inserting ‘‘Space Systems Com-
mand’’. 
(j) CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS.—Section 9082 of such title 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘, flag, or equivalent’’ 
each place it appears; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘grade in the Space Force 
equivalent to the grade of general in the Army, Air Force, 
and Marine Corps, or admiral in the Navy’’ and inserting 
‘‘grade of general’’. 
(k) AWARDS AND DECORATIONS.— 
(1) DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.—Section 9279(a) of such 
title is amended— 
(A) by adding ‘‘or Space Force’’ after ‘‘Air Force’’; and 
(B) by adding ‘‘or space’’ after ‘‘aerial’’. 
(2) AIRMAN’S MEDAL.—Section 9280(a)(1) of such title is 
amended by adding ‘‘or Space Force’’ after ‘‘Air Force’’. 
(l) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.— 
Section 9414b(a)(2)(B) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘or 
the equivalent grade in the Space Force’’. 
(m) ORDERS TO ACTIVE DUTY: WITHOUT CONSENT OF MEMBER 
OF THE SPACE FORCE.—Section 20106(d) of such title is amended 
by striking ‘‘pertaining’’. 
(n) CONVENING OF SELECTION BOARDS OF THE SPACE FORCE.— 
Section 
20211(b) 
of 
such 
title 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘20238(a)(4)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘20239(c)(4)(A)’’. 
(o) COMPOSITION OF SELECTION BOARDS OF THE SPACE FORCE.— 
Section 20212(a)(1) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘Secretary 
of Air Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the Air Force’’. 
(p) REPORTS OF SELECTION BOARDS OF THE SPACE FORCE.— 
Section 20216(c) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘20214(g)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘20215(g)’’. 
(q) ELIGIBILITY FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PROMOTION: GENERAL 
RULES
OF
THE SPACE FORCE.—Section 20231 of such title is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘20238(a)(4)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘20239(c)(4)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘20232’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 20232’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(2)(E), by striking ‘‘Secretary Air Force’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the Air Force’’. 
(r) OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PROMOTION IN THE 
SPACE FORCE.—Section 20234(b) of such title is amended by striking 
‘‘pursuant subsection (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘pursuant to subsection 
(a)’’. 
(s) PROMOTIONS IN THE SPACE FORCE: HOW MADE.—Section 
20239 of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (C)(ii) 
of such section’’ and inserting ‘‘section 741(d)(4)(C)(ii) of this 
title’’.
H. R. 5009—111 
(t) GENERAL OFFICERS
OF
THE SPACE FORCE CEASING
TO 
OCCUPY
POSITIONS
COMMENSURATE
WITH
GRADE.—Section 
20243(a)(3) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘as a’’. 
(u) FAILURE
OF SELECTION
FOR PROMOTION
IN
THE SPACE 
FORCE.—Section 20251 of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘14504 and section 631 and 632’’ and inserting ‘‘14504, 
631, and 632’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘section 14201 or 
611’’ and inserting ‘‘section 14201 or section 611’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘14502(b)’’ and inserting 
‘‘14501(b)’’. 
(v) SPECIAL SELECTION BOARDS OF THE SPACE FORCE; CORREC-
TION OF ERRORS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The second section 20251 of such title 
is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘((1)’’ and inserting ‘‘(1)’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘sch’’ and inserting ‘‘such’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘a officer’’ and 
inserting ‘‘an officer’’; and 
(B) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ‘‘which of officer’’ 
and inserting ‘‘which an officer’’. 
(2) REDESIGNATION.—Such section is redesignated as sec-
tion 20252 of such title (and the heading of such section and 
the table of sections at the beginning of subchapter IV of 
part I of chapter 2005 of such title are amended accordingly). 
(w) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATED 
TO SEPARATION
OF
A MEMBER
OF
THE SPACE FORCE.—Section 
20401(b) of such title is amended by inserting ‘‘, and’’ after ‘‘1174(b)’’. 
(x) RETENTION BOARDS OF THE SPACE FORCE.—Section 20502 
of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘THAN an Officer Has 
Failed to Establish That the Officer Should Be Retained’’ 
and inserting ‘‘THAT AN OFFICER HAS FAILED TO ESTABLISH 
THAT THE OFFICER SHOULD BE RETAINED’’; and 
(B) by moving paragraph (1) to appear in line with 
the subsection heading and adjusting the margins accord-
ingly; and 
(2) in subsection (d), in the heading, by striking ‘‘THAN’’ 
and inserting ‘‘THAT’’. 
(y) PROMOTION AUTHORITY FLEXIBILITY OF THE SPACE FORCE.— 
Section 1737(b)(3)(A) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 678) is amended 
by striking ‘‘20213’’ and inserting ‘‘20212’’. 
SEC. 522. MODIFIED AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO SENIOR 
LEADERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER 
SPECIFIED PERSONS. 
(a) EXPANSION.—Section 714 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘WITHIN THE UNITED 
STATES’’;
H. R. 5009—112 
(2) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘within the United States’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b)(1), in the matter preceding sub para-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘within the United States’’. 
(b) LIMITATION ON DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.—Such section 
is further amended, in subsection (b)(3), by inserting ‘‘or the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security’’ after ‘‘only to 
the Deputy Secretary of Defense’’. 
(c) WRITTEN DETERMINATIONS INCLUDE DENIALS.—Such section 
is further amended, in subsection (b)(4)— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘whether’’ before ‘‘to provide’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘the authorized’’ and inserting ‘‘any author-
ized’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘the arrangements for the’’ and inserting 
‘‘any arrangements for such’’. 
(d) REPORTING.—Such section is further amended, in subsection 
(b)(6)(A)— 
(1) by striking ‘‘each determination made under paragraph 
(4) to provide protection and security to an individual’’ and 
inserting ‘‘an initial determination made under paragraph (4), 
or a determination to deny the renewal of protection and secu-
rity’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘In the case of 
determination to continue protection and security, the Secretary 
shall make such submission not less than twice each year.’’ 
(e) TEMPORARY PROTECTION.—Such section is further amended, 
in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) TEMPORARY
PROTECTION.—The Secretary of Defense 
may temporarily provide physical protection and personal secu-
rity under this subsection to an individual— 
‘‘(A) pending the determination of the Secretary under 
paragraph (4) regarding such individual; and 
‘‘(B) for a period not to exceed 30 days.’’. 
SEC. 523. IMPROVING MILITARY ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1552(a) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) Each final decision of the board under this subsection 
shall be made available to the public in electronic form on a central-
ized Internet website. The information provided shall include a 
summary of each decision, to be indexed by subject matter, except 
that the Secretary shall protect the privacy of claimants by 
redacting all personally identifiable information.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect on October 1, 2026. 
SEC. 524. DETERMINATION OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE COMMITMENT 
FOR RECIPIENTS OF FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, AND SCHOL-
ARSHIPS. 
Section 2603(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘three times the length of the period of the education 
or training.’’ and inserting ‘‘determined by the Secretary concerned, 
which may not be less than twice the length of the period of 
the education or training. Notwithstanding section 2004(c) of this 
title, the service obligation required under this subsection may 
run concurrently with any service obligations incurred under 
chapter 101 of this title in accordance with regulations established 
by the Secretary concerned.’’.
H. R. 5009—113 
SEC. 525. AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN SEPARATED MEMBERS 
OF THE AIR FORCE AS HONORARY SEPARATED MEMBERS 
OF THE SPACE FORCE. 
Chapter 933 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 9254. Authority to designate certain separated members 
of the Air Force as honorary separated members 
of the Space Force 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe 
regulations that authorize an eligible individual to be designated 
as an honorary separated member of the Space Force. An eligible 
individual so designated may be referred to as a ‘Legacy Guardian’. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—Regulations prescribed under this section may 
include the following elements: 
‘‘(1) Eligibility criteria, including applicable dates of service 
and constructive service credit, for designation under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(2) An application process through which an eligible indi-
vidual, or a survivor of a deceased eligible individual, may 
apply for such designation of such eligible individual. 
‘‘(3) A certificate, approved device, or other insignia of 
such designation. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Designation of an eligible indi-
vidual under this section shall not be construed to entitle such 
eligible individual to any benefit in addition to those established 
by this section or pursuant to regulations prescribed under this 
section. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘eligible individual’ means an individual— 
‘‘(1) whom the Secretary of the Air Force determines served 
in support of space operations as a member of the Air Force; 
and 
‘‘(2) who separates (or previously separated) from the armed 
forces as a member of the Air Force.’’. 
SEC. 526. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR CERTAIN AWARDS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO 
RODERICK W. EDMONDS.—Notwithstanding the time limitations 
specified in section 7274 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 
posthumously award the Medal of Honor, under section 7271 of 
such title, to Roderick W. Edmonds for his actions as a master 
sergeant in the Army during the period of January 27 through 
March 30, 1945. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE 
CROSS TO WILLIAM D. OWENS.—Notwithstanding the time limita-
tions specified in section 7274 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 posthumously award the Distinguished Service Cross, under 
section 7272 of such title, to William D. Owens for his actions 
as a staff sergeant in the Army during the period of June 6 through 
June 8, 1944, at La Fiere Bridge, for which he was previously 
awarded the Bronze Star.
H. R. 5009—114 
SEC. 527. POSTHUMOUS ADVANCEMENT OF GENERAL JOHN D. 
LAVELLE, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, ON THE RETIRED 
LIST. 
(a) ADVANCEMENT.—General John D. Lavelle, United States 
Air Force (retired), is entitled to hold the rank of lieutenant general 
while on the retired list of the Air Force. 
(b) ADDITIONAL BENEFITS NOT TO ACCRUE.—The advancement 
of General John D. Lavelle on the retired list of the Air Force 
under subsection (a) shall not affect the retired pay or other benefits 
from the United States to which General John D. Lavelle would 
have been entitled based upon his military service or affect any 
benefits to which any other person may become entitled based 
on his military service. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as authorizing the advancement of General John D. 
Lavelle to a rank higher than lieutenant general. 
Subtitle D—Recruitment 
SEC. 531. EXPANSION OF REPORT ON FUTURE SERVICEMEMBER PRE-
PARATORY COURSE. 
Section 546 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. 520 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.—Prior to attending initial 
basic training, all enlisted persons attending the course estab-
lished under this section must achieve a score on the Armed 
Forces Qualification Test that is— 
‘‘(A) at least 10 points higher than the individual’s 
most recent score taken prior to the individual’s date of 
enlistment; or 
‘‘(B) no longer subject to the restrictions of section 
520 of title 10, United States Code.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘course graduation 
requirements within 180 days of enlistment’’ and inserting 
‘‘meaningful progress, as determined by the Secretary con-
cerned, within 90 days of enlistment’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); 
and 
(B) by inserting, after paragraph (3), the following 
new paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) The determination of the Secretary regarding the 
effectiveness of the preparatory course. 
‘‘(5) Recommendations of the Secretary regarding— 
‘‘(A) how to improve the preparatory course; 
‘‘(B) whether to expand the preparatory course.’’. 
SEC. 532. PROMOTING MILITARY, NATIONAL, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. 
(a) SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM DATA SHARING AMENDMENTS.— 
Section 15(e) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3813(e)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the names and addresses’’ and inserting 
‘‘the full names, email addresses (if available), dates of birth, 
phone numbers (if available), and mailing addresses’’; and
H. R. 5009—115 
(2) by striking ‘‘Names and addresses furnished’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Full names, email addresses, dates of birth, phone 
numbers, and mailing addresses furnished’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect 120 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
SEC. 533. MILITARY RECRUITER PHYSICAL ACCESS TO CAMPUSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subpart 2 of Part F of title VIII of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7901 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 8528 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 8528A. MILITARY RECRUITER ACCESS TO SECONDARY SCHOOL 
CAMPUSES. 
‘‘Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this 
Act shall provide military recruiters the same access to the campus 
of each secondary school served by the local educational agency 
for the purpose of recruiting students who are at least 17 years 
of age that is provided to any prospective employer, institution 
of higher education, or other recruiter.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(c) COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND REPORTING.—On an annual 
basis, the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) collect information from military recruiters regarding 
the compliance of local educational agencies with the require-
ments of section 8528A of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (as added by subsection (a)); and 
(2) based on such information, prepare and submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report that— 
(A) identifies each local educational agency that the 
Secretary determines to be in violation of such section; 
and 
(B) explains the reasons for such determination. 
SEC. 534. MILITARY ENTRANCE PROCESSING COMMAND: ACCELERA-
TION OF REVIEW OF MEDICAL RECORDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall implement 
a program to use health care providers, from any component of 
the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of such Secretary, to sup-
port United States Military Entrance Processing Command (in this 
section, referred to as ‘‘MEPCOM’’) and accelerate the review of 
medical records, as determined necessary by the Secretary. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a briefing on actions taken to carry out subsection (a). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a report regarding the program under subsection (a) that includes 
an explanation of any effect the program has had on recruitment, 
including the speed of medical waiver processing.
H. R. 5009—116 
SEC. 535. MEDICAL ACCESSION RECORDS PILOT PROGRAM: NOTICE 
OF TERMINATION. 
The Secretary of Defense shall notify the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives at least one 
year before terminating the Medical Accession Records Pilot pro-
gram. 
SEC. 
536. 
PROVISION 
OF 
INFORMATION 
REGARDING 
FEDERAL 
SERVICE TO CERTAIN PERSONS INELIGIBLE TO ENLIST 
IN CERTAIN ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe 
regulations directing the Secretary of a military department to 
provide, to a person described in subsection (b), information 
regarding opportunities for Federal, or other public, service for 
which the person may be qualified. 
(b) CERTAIN PERSONS NOT QUALIFIED TO ENLIST.—A person 
described in this subsection is a person ineligible to serve in a 
covered Armed Force. 
(c) COVERED ARMED FORCE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air 
Force, or Space Force. 
SEC. 537. REIMBURSEMENT OF APPLICANTS TO CERTAIN ARMED 
FORCES 
FOR 
CERTAIN 
MEDICAL 
COSTS 
INCURRED 
DURING MILITARY ENTRANCE PROCESSING. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Defense may reimburse an 
individual who applies to join a covered Armed Force for costs 
incurred by such individual for a medical appointment required 
for military entrance processing. 
(b) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The maximum amount an individual 
may be reimbursed under this section is $100. 
(c) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 16 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and once each year thereafter for two 
years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing 
on reimbursements under this section. Such a briefing shall include, 
with respect to the most recent one-year period after such date, 
the following elements: 
(1) The number of individuals reimbursed. 
(2) The total funds spent each on such reimbursements. 
(3) The number of civilian employees hired by the Secretary 
to carry out this section. 
(4) The effect, if any, of such reimbursements on— 
(A) the time required to complete military entrance 
processing; and 
(B) recruitment. 
(5) Other information the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(d) SUNSET.—The authority to reimburse under this section 
shall terminate on the day that is three years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(e) COVERED ARMED FORCE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air 
Force, or Space Force.
H. R. 5009—117 
SEC. 538. AUTHORITY TO MODERNIZE RECRUITMENT FOR THE ARMY. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—During fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the 
Army may modernize recruitment for the Army in order to attract 
and retain fit and ready individuals to serve as members of the 
Army. To carry out such modernization, the Secretary may take 
steps including the following: 
(1) Establish a military occupational specialty for enlisted 
members who specialize in talent acquisition. 
(2) Establish a professional recruiting force of warrant 
officers who specialize in talent acquisition, data analytics, 
and other human resource functions necessary to develop exper-
tise in recruiting and military accessions. 
(3) Routinely determine which areas of the United States 
yield greater-than-average numbers of recruits and, with regard 
to each such area— 
(A) build relationships with sources of such recruits, 
including schools; and 
(B) assign additional recruiting personnel. 
(4) Consider using a commercially available, off-the-shelf, 
recruiting platform. 
(b) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than the last day of each quarter 
of fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a briefing on the use of the authority under this 
section. Each such briefing shall include the following: 
(1) An up-to-date timeline, milestones, resources used, and 
resources needed for such use. 
(2) The number of enlisted members, officers, and civilian 
employees of the Army required to use such authority. 
(3) Policies altered or prescribed by the Secretary to use 
such authority and recruit a capable and ready all-volunteer 
force. 
(4) Related legislative recommendations of the Secretary. 
SEC. 539. PROGRAM OF MILITARY RECRUITMENT AND EDUCATION AT 
THE NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—Not later than September 30, 2025, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with the 
entity that operates the National September 11 Memorial and 
Museum (in this section referred to as ‘‘the Museum’’) under which 
the Secretary and such entity shall carry out a program at the 
Museum to promote military recruitment and education. 
(b) PROGRAM.—A program under subsection (a) shall include 
the following: 
(1) Provision of informational materials to promote enlist-
ment in the covered Armed Forces, by the Secretary to such 
entity, for distribution at the Museum. 
(2) Education and exhibits, developed jointly by the Sec-
retary and such entity, and provided to the public by employees 
of the Museum, to— 
(A) enhance understanding of the military response 
to the attacks on September 11, 2001; and 
(B) encourage enlistment and re-enlistment in the cov-
ered Armed Forces. 
(c) COVERED ARMED FORCE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air 
Force, or Space Force.
H. R. 5009—118 
SEC. 539A. MARITIME WORKFORCE PROMOTION AND RECRUITMENT. 
(a) CONTRACT FOR TARGETED CAMPAIGN.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of the Navy, in coordination with the heads of such other Federal 
agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate, shall seek to 
enter into a contract with an entity described in subsection (b), 
through a competitive bidding process, for the establishment a 
targeted campaign to educate and recruit potential workers 
regarding careers in the maritime sector, including by— 
(1) promoting maritime workforce in the United States 
including careers in the maritime industry afloat, including 
in the United States Merchant Marine, sailing in the Military 
Sealift Command, and related positions in the maritime sector; 
and 
(2) promoting the United States shipbuilding industry and 
highlighting the critical need to attract skilled workers in the 
shipbuilding and related maritime sectors. 
(b) ENTITY DESCRIBED.—An entity described in this subsection 
is a reputable marketing, recruiting, and public relations firm with 
expertise in developing and deploying branding, content, advertising 
buys, and local and national engagement strategies. 
(c) CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES.—A contract entered into under sub-
section (a) shall provide that the campaign carried out pursuant 
to the contract shall— 
(1) emphasize the importance of the maritime workforce 
for national security; 
(2) showcase the numerous career opportunities available 
in the maritime domain; 
(3) highlight the career opportunities in the maritime 
sector; 
(4) promote the excitement, benefits, and appeal of a career 
in the maritime industry; 
(5) inform potential workers of the points of entry available 
to join and receive training for such employment, including— 
(A) the United States Merchant Marine Academy; 
(B) State and regional maritime academies described 
in chapter 515 of title 46, United States Code; 
(C) centers of excellence for domestic maritime 
workforce training and education designated under section 
51706 of title 46, United States Code; 
(D) the Military to Mariners Act (46 U.S.C. 7302 note); 
(E) merchant mariner and shipbuilding labor union 
training facilities; 
(F) merchant mariner and shipbuilding apprenticeship 
programs approved by the Secretary of Labor; 
(G) shipbuilding industry training programs; and 
(H) any other potential resources as identified by the 
Secretary of the Navy; 
(6) inform potential workers of sources of financial assist-
ance for training for individuals interested in joining such 
industry; and 
(7) attract workers to the United States merchant marine, 
shipbuilding, and related sectors. 
(d) TARGET AUDIENCE.—A contract entered into under sub-
section (a) shall provide that in carrying out the campaign carried 
out pursuant to the contract, the entity shall target a diverse 
audience, including—
H. R. 5009—119 
(1) potential workers interested in maritime careers; 
(2) educational institutions, including K-12 educational 
institutions and community colleges, and the students of such 
institutions considering vocational training in maritime fields; 
(3) military veterans; 
(4) individuals seeking career transitions; and 
(5) the general public. 
(e) REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.— 
(1) QUARTERLY
REPORT.—A contract entered into under 
subsection (a) shall provide that, not later than 30 days after 
the end of each quarter of each fiscal year during which a 
campaign is carried out pursuant to the contract, the entity 
carrying out the campaign, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Navy and the heads of such other Federal agencies 
as the Secretary determines appropriate, shall submit to the 
relevant congressional committees quarterly reports detailing 
the progress, outreach, and effect of the campaign, including 
the effectiveness of such campaigns in increasing applications 
for employment in the United States Merchant Marine and 
shipbuilding sectors. 
(2) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
conclusion of a campaign carried out pursuant to a contract 
entered into under subsection (a), the entity carrying out the 
campaign, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy and 
the heads of such other Federal agencies as the Secretary 
determines appropriate, shall submit to the relevant congres-
sional committees a comprehensive final report on the cam-
paign. 
(f) EXPIRATION OF AVAILABLE FUNDS.—No funds may be author-
ized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out 
this section after the date that is three years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(g) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘relevant congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on 
Armed Services, and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on 
Armed Services, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
Subtitle E—Training 
SEC. 541. IMPROVEMENTS TO FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a)(2) of section 992 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘grade E–4’’ and 
inserting ‘‘grade E–6’’; 
(2) by striking subparagraph (D); and 
(3) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (K) as sub-
paragraphs (D) through (J), respectively. 
(b) PROVISION OF RETIREMENT INFORMATION.—Such section is 
further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
(e) and (f), respectively; and
H. R. 5009—120 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new sub-
section (d): 
‘‘(d) PROVISION OF RETIREMENT INFORMATION.—In each training 
under subsection (a) and in each meeting to provide counseling 
under subsection (b), a member of the armed forces shall be provided 
with— 
‘‘(1) all forms relating to retirement that are relevant to 
the member, including with respect to the Thrift Savings Plan; 
and 
‘‘(2) information with respect to how to find additional 
information.’’. 
SEC. 542. EXTENSION OF JROTC PROGRAMS TO THE JOB CORPS. 
Section 2031 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘, including Job Corps 
centers as defined in section 147 of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197),’’ after ‘‘secondary edu-
cational institutions’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by inserting ‘‘, or is a Job Corps 
center as defined in section 147 of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197)’’ after ‘‘military depart-
ment concerned’’. 
SEC. 543. MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING STUDENTS REQUIRED 
TO ESTABLISH OR MAINTAIN A UNIT OF JROTC. 
Section 2031(b)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘not less than (i) 10 percent of the number 
of students enrolled in the institution who are in a grade 
above the 7th grade and physically co-located with the 9th 
grade participating unit, or (ii) 100, whichever is less;’’ and 
inserting an em dash; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new clauses: 
‘‘(i) in the case of an educational institution with fewer 
than 1,000 enrolled students, the lesser of— 
‘‘(I) 10 percent of the number of such students 
who are in a grade above the 7th grade and physically 
co-located with the 9th grade participating unit; and 
‘‘(II) 50; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of an educational institution with 1,000 
or more enrolled students— 
‘‘(I) 50; or 
‘‘(II) a number, determined by the Secretary of 
the military department concerned, that is higher than 
50 and not more than 100;’’. 
SEC. 544. JROTC WAITING LIST. 
Section 2031(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) maintain a prioritized waiting list that includes all 
secondary educational institutions that have made a request 
for a unit under this section and have not yet been approved 
by 
the 
Secretary 
concerned, 
and 
prescribe 
regulations 
describing the factors to be considered in assigning priority,
H. R. 5009—121 
including the length of time an institution has been waiting 
for a unit.’’. 
SEC. 545. NUMBER OF JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS 
UNITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2031 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended, in the first subsection designated subsection (i), by 
striking ‘‘support not fewer than 3,400, and not more than 4,000, 
units’’ and inserting ‘‘support not fewer than 3,500, and not more 
than 4,100, units’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect on October 1, 2026. 
SEC. 546. REQUIRED CONSTITUTIONAL LAW TRAINING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
ensure that all newly commissioned officers of the Armed Forces 
receive training on the Constitution of the United States prior 
to reporting to their first operational assignment. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The training required under subsection (a) 
shall include— 
(1) education on the centrality of the Constitution to the 
commitment officers make to serve in the Armed Forces; 
(2) emphasis on the loyalty of officers to the Constitution; 
and 
(3) instruction on the importance of, and basis for, civilian 
control over the military. 
SEC. 547. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE COUNTERING EXTREMISM WORK GROUP. 
No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be 
used to fund the Department of Defense Countering Extremism 
Working Group established by the Secretary of Defense memo-
randum on April 9, 2021. 
Subtitle F—Member Education 
SEC. 551. EXPANSION OF INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT AUTHORITIES 
FOR SERVICE ACADEMIES. 
Section 347 of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in 
subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘60’’ and inserting ‘‘80’’. 
SEC. 552. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE IN FUNDED AND 
UNFUNDED LAW EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) PERMANENT EXPANSION OF LAW EDUCATION PROGRAMS.— 
Section 2004 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; 
(B) by striking the second sentence; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary con-
cerned, the Secretary of a military department may fund edu-
cational expenses for members of the armed forces detailed under 
paragraph (1). Not more than 25 officers and enlisted members 
from each military department may commence such training in 
any single fiscal year.
H. R. 5009—122 
‘‘(3) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary con-
cerned, the Secretary of a military department may also detail 
members under paragraph (1) without funding any educational 
expenses. A member detailed pursuant to this paragraph shall 
not count against the limitation in paragraph (2).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘(A) in the case of a member 
detailed pursuant to subsection (a)(1),’’ after ‘‘(1)’’; 
(iii) in clause (ii), as redesignated by clause (i) 
of this subparagraph, by adding ‘‘or’’ after the semi-
colon; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) in the case of a member detailed pursuant to sub-
section (a)(2), either— 
‘‘(i) have served on active duty for a period of not 
less than two years nor more than eight years and be 
an officer in the pay grade O-3 or below when the training 
is to begin; or 
‘‘(ii) have served on active duty for a period of not 
less than four years nor more than ten years and be an 
enlisted member in the pay grade of E-5, E-6, or E-7 
when the training is to begin;’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking ‘‘period of two 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘period of— 
‘‘(i) two years for each year or part thereof of 
legal training under subsection (a)(1); or 
‘‘(ii) one year for each year or part thereof of legal 
training under subsection (a)(2).’’. 
(b) TEMPORARY EXPANSION.—During each of the three years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of a 
military department may fund educational expenses under section 
2004(a) of such title, as amended by subsection (a), for 35 members 
of such military department. 
(c) CLARIFICATION OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES WHILE DETAILED 
OR ASSIGNED AS A STUDENT FULL-TIME AT A CIVILIAN INSTITUTION.— 
Section 502(b) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: ‘‘Nothing in this subsection may be con-
strued to deprive a member, detailed or assigned by the Secretary 
concerned as a full-time student at a civilian institution to pursue 
a program of education that is substantially the same as a program 
of education offered to civilians, of pay or allowances to which 
such member is entitled.’’. 
SEC. 553. ADDITIONAL ADMISSIONS AUTHORITY FOR THE UNIFORMED 
SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES. 
Chapter 104 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 2114 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 2114a. Eligibility of members of foreign militaries to enroll 
in the University 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—(1) The Secretary of Defense may permit an 
individual who is a member of the military of a foreign country—
H. R. 5009—123 
‘‘(A) to enroll (including as a full-time student) and receive 
instruction— 
‘‘(i) as a medical student of the University; or 
‘‘(ii) in a postdoctoral, postgraduate, or certificate pro-
gram of the University; and 
‘‘(B) to participate in training exercises of the University. 
‘‘(2) Enrollment of an individual under this section— 
‘‘(A) shall be subject to— 
‘‘(i) the academic capacity of the University described 
in section 2112(b) of this title; and 
‘‘(ii) an international agreement or qualifying non- 
binding instrument (as such terms are defined in section 
112b of title 1); and 
‘‘(B) may not decrease the number of members of the uni-
formed services enrolled in the University; and 
‘‘(C) may not be given priority over the enrollment of a 
member of the uniformed services. 
‘‘(3) The number of individuals simultaneously enrolled under 
this section may not exceed— 
‘‘(A) 10, in the case of medical students of the University; 
and 
‘‘(B) 40, with regards to all postdoctoral, postgraduate, and 
certificate programs of the University. 
‘‘(b) QUALIFICATIONS; SELECTION.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary may select an individual to enroll under this 
section— 
‘‘(1) who was nominated for such enrollment by the medical 
command of the military of a foreign country; and 
‘‘(2) pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
regarding— 
‘‘(A) qualifications for such enrollment that are com-
parable to the qualifications required of a United States 
citizen; and 
‘‘(B) procedures for such selection. 
‘‘(c) REIMBURSEMENT.—(1) The Secretary shall require the for-
eign country of an individual enrolled under this section to 
reimburse the United States for the cost of providing instruction 
to such individual. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall prescribe rates for such reimbursement 
that equal or exceed the cost to the United States of providing 
such instruction to a member of the uniformed services. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, reimburse-
ment with regards to an individual enrolled under this section. 
‘‘(4) Amounts received by the Secretary under this subsection 
shall— 
‘‘(A) be used to defray the costs of providing instruction 
to an individual enrolled under this section; 
‘‘(B) be credited to appropriations available for the mainte-
nance and operation of the University; and 
‘‘(C) remain available for until expended. 
‘‘(5) The source and the disposition of such amounts shall 
be specifically identified in records of the University. 
‘‘(d) APPLICABILITY OF REGULATIONS AND POLICIES.—(1) Subject 
to paragraphs (2) through (4), and to the determination of the 
Secretary, an individual enrolled under this section shall be subject 
to the same regulations and policies that apply to a member of 
the uniformed services enrolled in the University.
H. R. 5009—124 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may prescribe regulations regarding access 
to classified information by an individual enrolled under this section 
that differ from the regulations that apply to a member of the 
uniformed services enrolled in the University. 
‘‘(3) An individual enrolled under this section shall not be 
entitled to an appointment in a uniformed service by reason of 
completing of a program of the University. 
‘‘(4) Section 2114 of this title shall not apply to an individual 
enrolled under this section.’’. 
SEC. 554. PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION: TECHNICAL CORREC-
TION TO DEFINITIONS. 
Section 2151 of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in 
subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘National Defense Intelligence College’’ 
and inserting ‘‘National Intelligence University’’. 
SEC. 555. DISTANCE EDUCATION OPTION FOR PROFESSIONAL MILI-
TARY EDUCATION. 
Section 2154 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) DISTANCE EDUCATION.—(1) Any distance education program 
offered to satisfy Phase I or Phase II instruction under paragraph 
(1) or (2) of subsection (a) shall include a pathway for a student 
who is a member of a reserve component to fully complete the 
course of instruction while physically separated from the course 
instructors and without any in-person attendance required to grad-
uate from such program. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘distance education’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 103 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003).’’. 
SEC. 556. AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT GIFTS OF SERVICES FOR PROFES-
SIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 2601(a)(2)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or a professional military education institution’’ after 
‘‘museum program’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 557. ALTERNATIVE SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR A CADET OR MID-
SHIPMAN WHO BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE. 
(a) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—Section 7448 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) In the section heading, by striking ‘‘agreement to 
serve as officer’’ and inserting ‘‘service obligation’’. 
(2) In subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The Secretary of 
the Army’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to paragraph (4), the 
Secretary of the Army’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) Each academic year, the Secretary of the Army may 
transfer not more than three cadets, who obtain employment in 
violation of paragraph (5) of subsection (a), to the Selected Reserve 
of the Army. Each cadet so transferred shall— 
‘‘(A) serve as a commissioned officer— 
‘‘(i) in an appropriate grade or rating, determined by 
the Secretary of the Army; and 
‘‘(ii) for a period, determined by the Secretary of the 
Army, not longer than 10 years; and
H. R. 5009—125 
‘‘(B) while so serving, participate in efforts to recruit and 
retain members of the armed forces.’’. 
(3) In subsection (c)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘unless such cadet 
receives a transfer under paragraph (4) of subsection (b)’’ before 
the semicolon. 
(4) In subsection (f), by striking ‘‘the alternative obligation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an alternative obligation’’. 
(b) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.—Section 8459 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) In the section heading, by striking ‘‘agreement for 
length of service’’ and inserting ‘‘service obligation’’. 
(2) In subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The Secretary of 
the Navy’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to paragraph (4), the 
Secretary of the Navy’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) Each academic year, the Secretary of the Navy may transfer 
not more than three midshipmen, who obtain employment in viola-
tion of paragraph (5) of subsection (a), to the Selected Reserve 
of the Navy or the Selected Reserve of the Marine Corps. Each 
midshipman so transferred shall— 
‘‘(A) serve as a commissioned officer— 
‘‘(i) in an appropriate grade or rating, determined by 
the Secretary of the Navy; and 
‘‘(ii) for a period, determined by the Secretary of the 
Navy, not longer than 10 years; and 
‘‘(B) while so serving, participate in efforts to recruit and 
retain members of the armed forces.’’. 
(3) In subsection (c)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘unless such mid-
shipman receives a transfer under paragraph (4) of subsection 
(b)’’ before the semicolon. 
(4) In subsection (f), by striking ‘‘the alternative obligation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an alternative obligation’’. 
(c) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.—Section 9448 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) In the section heading, by striking ‘‘agreement to 
serve as officer’’ and inserting ‘‘service obligation’’. 
(2) In subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The Secretary of 
the Air Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to paragraph (4), 
the Secretary of the Air Force’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) Each academic year, the Secretary of the Air Force may 
transfer not more than three cadets, who obtain employment in 
violation of paragraph (5) of subsection (a), to the Selected Reserve 
of the Air Force. Each cadet so transferred shall— 
‘‘(A) serve as a commissioned officer— 
‘‘(i) in an appropriate grade or rating, determined by 
the Secretary of the Air Force; and 
‘‘(ii) for a period, determined by the Secretary of the 
Air Force, not longer than 10 years; and 
‘‘(B) while so serving, participate in efforts to recruit and 
retain members of the armed forces.’’.
H. R. 5009—126 
(3) In subsection (c)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘unless such cadet 
receives a transfer under paragraph (4) of subsection (b)’’ before 
the semicolon. 
(4) In subsection (f), by striking ‘‘the alternative obligation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an alternative obligation’’. 
SEC. 558. SERVICE ACADEMIES: BOARDS OF VISITORS. 
(a) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—Section 7455 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) A Board of Visitors to the Academy is constituted annually 
of— 
‘‘(1) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate, or the designee of such chair; 
‘‘(2) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate, or the designee of the ranking member; 
‘‘(3) two other members of the Senate designated by the 
Majority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member 
of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
‘‘(4) two other members of the Senate designated by the 
Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member 
of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
‘‘(5) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives, or the designee of such chair; 
‘‘(6) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives, or the designee of the 
ranking member; 
‘‘(7) two other members of the House of Representatives 
designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives; 
‘‘(8) one other member of the House of Representatives 
designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representa-
tives; and 
‘‘(9) six persons designated by the President.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f), by inserting ‘‘and the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives’’ 
after ‘‘the President’’ both places it appears. 
(b) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.—Section 8468 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) A Board of Visitors to the Academy is constituted annually 
of— 
‘‘(1) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate, or the designee of such chair; 
‘‘(2) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate, or the designee of the ranking member; 
‘‘(3) two other members of the Senate designated by the 
Majority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member 
of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
‘‘(4) two other members of the Senate designated by the 
Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member 
of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
‘‘(5) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives, or the designee of such chair;
H. R. 5009—127 
‘‘(6) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives, or the designee of the 
ranking member; 
‘‘(7) two other members of the House of Representatives 
designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives; 
‘‘(8) one other member of the House of Representatives 
designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representa-
tives; and 
‘‘(9) six persons designated by the President.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f), by inserting ‘‘and the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives’’ 
after ‘‘the President’’ both places it appears. 
(c) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.—Section 9455 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) A Board of Visitors to the Academy is constituted annually 
of— 
‘‘(1) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate, or the designee of such chair; 
‘‘(2) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate, or the designee of the ranking member; 
‘‘(3) two other members of the Senate designated by the 
Majority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member 
of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
‘‘(4) two other members of the Senate designated by the 
Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member 
of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
‘‘(5) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives, or the designee of such chair; 
‘‘(6) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives, or the designee of the 
ranking member; 
‘‘(7) two other members of the House of Representatives 
designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives; 
‘‘(8) one other member of the House of Representatives 
designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representa-
tives; and 
‘‘(9) six persons designated by the President.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f), by inserting ‘‘and the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives’’ 
after ‘‘the President’’ both places it appears. 
SEC. 559. MODERNIZING MARINE CORPS PLATOON LEADERS CLASS 
COLLEGE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ACCOUNT 
FOR INFLATION. 
Section 16401 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘$5,200’’ and inserting 
‘‘$13,800’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ‘‘1,200’’ and inserting 
‘‘450’’.
H. R. 5009—128 
SEC. 559A. INFORMATION ON NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR 
MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES. 
Section 575(a)(1) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116– 
283; 10 U.S.C. 7442 note) is amended by striking ‘‘Not later than 
two years after the date of the enactment of this Act’’ and inserting 
‘‘Not later than December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 559B. ENSURING ACCESS TO CERTAIN HIGHER EDUCATION BENE-
FITS. 
(a) DATA MATCHING REQUIRED.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Education shall jointly complete a data 
matching process— 
(1) to identify each individual who, while serving as a 
covered employee of the Department of Defense, made one 
or more student loan payments eligible to be counted for pur-
poses of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program under 
section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087e(m)); and 
(2) without requiring further information or action from 
such individual— 
(A) to certify the total period of such employment for 
purposes of such program; and 
(B) to count the total number of qualifying payments 
made by the individual for purposes of such program during 
such period. 
(b) COVERED EMPLOYEE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘covered employee’’ means an individual who, at any time beginning 
on or after October 1, 2007, was— 
(1) a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty 
for a period of more than 30 consecutive days; or 
(2) a civilian employee of the Department of Defense. 
SEC. 559C. SERVICE ACADEMIES: REFERRAL OF APPLICANTS TO THE 
SENIOR MILITARY COLLEGES AND UNITS OF THE SENIOR 
RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish 
a system whereby a covered individual may elect to have the 
Secretary share information regarding such covered individual with 
a senior military college or a unit of the Senior Reserve Officer 
Training Corps. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means an individual who 
applied for an appointment as a cadet or midshipman at a 
Service Academy. 
(2) The term ‘‘senior military college’’ means a school speci-
fied in section 2111a of title 10, United States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘Service Academy’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 347 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 559D. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE GRADUATE EDUCATION 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE ARMY 
AND NAVY. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary 
of the Army may jointly conduct a pilot program (referred to in
H. R. 5009—129 
this section as the ‘‘Program’’) under which certain enlisted per-
sonnel of the covered Armed Forces may enroll in a master’s degree 
program at the Naval Postgraduate School. 
(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretaries concerned may 
carry out the Program— 
(1) in accordance with this section; 
(2) in accordance with such regulations as may be pre-
scribed by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of the Program; 
and 
(3) in a manner consistent with the Graduate Education 
Program–Enlisted pilot program of the Marine Corps. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY OF PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretaries concerned 
shall establish criteria for determining the eligibility of enlisted 
members of the covered Armed Forces for participation in the 
Program. 
(d) SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS.—Selection of a member for 
the Program shall be based on consideration of— 
(1) the eligibility criteria established under subsection (c); 
(2) professional performance; 
(3) promotion potential; 
(4) retention potential; 
(5) academic background, capabilities, and accomplish-
ments; 
(6) the needs of the Navy and Army; and 
(7) input from the component within each covered Armed 
Force with primary responsibility for determining the duty 
assignments of enlisted members. 
(e) POST-PARTICIPATION SERVICE.—Subject to such terms, condi-
tions, and exceptions as the Secretaries concerned may establish, 
an enlisted member who receives a master’s degree under the 
Program shall serve for a period of not less than two years in 
a duty assignment that is relevant to the degree obtained by the 
member under the Program. 
(f) FRAMEWORK
FOR FILLING BILLETS.—In conjunction with 
selecting enlisted members for participation in the Program as 
described in subsection (d), the Secretaries concerned shall establish 
a framework for assigning enlisted personnel who are not partici-
pating in the Program— 
(1) to fill the billets of the members participating in the 
Program while such members are completing a course of study 
at the Naval Postgraduate School; and 
(2) to fill the billets of members who received a master’s 
degree under the Program while such members are engaged 
in post-participation service as described in subsection (e). 
(g) IDENTIFICATION
OF DEGREE PROGRAMS.—The Secretaries 
concerned shall coordinate with the President of the Naval Post-
graduate School to identify specific master’s degree programs offered 
by the School in which Program participants may enroll. In identi-
fying such programs, the Secretaries shall consider— 
(1) the needs of the Navy and Army; 
(2) the capacity of the Naval Postgraduate School; and 
(3) the extent to which enrollment in a specific program 
is expected to have a positive effect on the career trajectories 
of participants. 
(h) INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.—The Secretaries concerned 
shall take such actions as are necessary to notify and inform 
enlisted members about the Program.
H. R. 5009—130 
(i) REPORT.—Before the expiration of the six-year period 
described in subsection (j), the Secretaries concerned, in coordina-
tion with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report that includes— 
(1) an assessment of whether and to what extent the Pro-
gram has met the needs of the covered Armed Forces and 
had positive effects on participating enlisted members, 
including with respect to— 
(A) career trajectory, including potential pay increases; 
(B) retention; 
(C) recruitment; 
(D) job performance; 
(E) merit-based promotions and merit-based promotion 
reorder; and 
(F) compatibility with the objectives outlined in the 
2022 National Defense Strategy to modernize the Armed 
Services, spur innovation, and outpace and outthink adver-
saries of the United States; 
(2) the recommendations of the Secretaries regarding 
whether the Program should be extended or made permanent; 
(3) an assessment of the funding and capabilities that 
may be needed to make the Program permanent; and 
(4) any other matters the Secretaries determine to be rel-
evant. 
(j) SUNSET.—The Program shall terminate six years after the 
date on which the Program commences under this section. 
(k) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the Army or 
Navy. 
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means— 
(A) the Secretary of the Army, with respect to matters 
concerning the Army; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Navy, with respect to matters 
concerning the Navy. 
SEC. 559E. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO ENDORSE 
CRITICAL RACE THEORY. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—No funds authorized to be appropriated by 
this Act may be used to endorse critical race theory— 
(1) at an academic institution operated by the Department 
of Defense; 
(2) in training provided to a member of the Armed Forces; 
or 
(3) in professional military education. 
(b) PROTECTION OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to supersede the institutional autonomy 
or academic freedom of instructors involved in the selection of 
textbooks, supplemental materials, or other classroom materials, 
or in the preparation or presentation of classroom instruction or 
lectures. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘‘critical race theory’’ 
means the theory that individuals, by virtue of race, ethnicity, 
color, or national origin, bear collective guilt and are inherently 
responsible for actions committed in the past by other individuals 
of such race, ethnicity, color, or national origin.
H. R. 5009—131 
Subtitle G—Military Justice and Other 
Legal Matters 
SEC. 561. CLARIFYING AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 2 OF THE UNIFORM 
CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. 
Section 802(a)(14) of title 10, United States Code (article 
2(a)(14) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended by 
inserting ‘‘20601 or’’ before ‘‘20603’’. 
SEC. 562. AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL TRIAL COUNSEL WITH RESPECT 
TO CERTAIN OFFENSES OCCURRING BEFORE EFFECTIVE 
DATE OF MILITARY JUSTICE REFORMS. 
Section 824a(d) of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
section 531 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 258), is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘section 920 (article 
120),’’ and inserting ‘‘section 919a (article 119a), section 920 
(article 120), section 920a (article 120a),’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(2) THE STANDALONE OFFENSE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.— 
After January 1, 2025, a special trial counsel may, at the 
sole and exclusive discretion of the special trial counsel, exercise 
authority over the following offenses: 
‘‘(A) The standalone offense of sexual harassment 
punishable under section 934 of this title (article 134) 
in each instance in which— 
‘‘(i) the offense occurs after January 26, 2022, and 
on or before January 1, 2025; and 
‘‘(ii) a formal complaint is substantiated in accord-
ance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary con-
cerned. 
‘‘(B) A conspiracy to commit an offense specified in 
subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 881 of this 
title (article 81). 
‘‘(C) A solicitation to commit an offense specified in 
subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 882 of this 
title (article 82). 
‘‘(D) An attempt to commit an offense specified in 
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) as punishable under section 
880 of this title (article 80).’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘or (2)’’ after 
‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)(2)(A) or paragraph (1) or (2) 
of this subsection’’. 
SEC. 563. DETAILING OF APPELLATE DEFENSE COUNSEL. 
Subsection (b) of section 865 of title 10, United States Code 
(article 65 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘the Judge Advocate General shall for-
ward the record’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘the Judge 
Advocate General shall forward—
H. R. 5009—132 
‘‘(A) the record’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), as designated by subpara-
graph (A) of this paragraph, by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(B) a copy of the record of trial to an appellate defense 
counsel who shall be detailed to review the case and, upon 
request of the accused, to represent the accused before 
the Court of Criminal Appeals.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
‘‘shall’’ and inserting ‘‘shall, upon written request of 
the accused’’; 
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘, upon request of 
the accused,’’; and 
(iii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘upon written request 
of the accused,’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘accused’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘waives’’ and inserting ‘‘accused waives’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting a period; and 
(iii) by striking clause (ii). 
SEC. 564. MODIFICATION TO OFFENSE OF AIDING THE ENEMY UNDER 
THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. 
Section 903b(2) of title 10, United States Code (article 103b(2) 
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended by inserting 
‘‘provides military education, military training, or tactical advice 
to,’’ after ‘‘gives intelligence to,’’. 
SEC. 565. REMOVAL OF MARRIAGE AS A DEFENSE TO ARTICLE 120B 
OFFENSES. 
Section 920b of title 10, United States Code (article 120b of 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (f); 
(2) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections 
(f) and (g), respectively; and 
(3) in subsection (f), as redesignated by paragraph (2), 
by striking ‘‘not legally married to the person committing the 
sexual act, lewd act, or use of force’’. 
SEC. 
566. 
CONSOLIDATION 
OF 
MILITARY 
JUSTICE 
REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Section 946a(b) of title 10, United States 
Code (article 146a(b) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as para-
graphs (3) through (6), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1), the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) Data on the number and status of completed cases, 
including— 
‘‘(A) information on race, ethnicity, rank, and sex demo-
graphic for the victim and the accused; 
‘‘(B) the enumerated offenses preferred and referred; 
‘‘(C) the types of court-martial; and
H. R. 5009—133 
‘‘(D) the results for each case, including cases that 
resulted in nonjudicial punishment or administrative sepa-
ration.’’. 
(b) REPEAL
OF DUPLICATIVE MILITARY JUSTICE REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 486 of title 
10, United Sates Code, is repealed. 
(2) JOHN S. MCCAIN NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT 
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019.—Section 547 of the John S. McCain 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public 
Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 1561 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 567. TERM OF OFFICE FOR JUDGES OF THE COURT OF MILITARY 
COMMISSION REVIEW. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF TERM OF OFFICE.—Section 950f(b) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appro-
priately; 
(B) by striking ‘‘The term of an appellate military 
judge assigned to the Court under paragraph (2) or 
appointed to the Court under paragraph (3)’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘(A) The term of an appellate military judge 
assigned or appointed to the Court under this subsection’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(B) The term of a civilian judge of the Court appointed under 
paragraph (3) shall expire on the date that is 10 years after the 
date on which the judge was appointed.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) Judges of the Court may be removed from office by the 
President (in the case of a judge appointed under paragraph (3)) 
or the Secretary of Defense (in the case of an appellate military 
judge assigned under paragraph (2)) upon notice and hearing, for— 
‘‘(A) neglect of duty; 
‘‘(B) misconduct; or 
‘‘(C) mental or physical disability.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—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. 
(2) APPLICABILITY TO EXISTING CIVILIAN JUDGES.—The term 
of any civilian judge of the United States Court of Military 
Commission Review who will have served as such a judge 
for a period of 10 or more years as of the effective date described 
in paragraph (1) shall expire on such effective date. 
SEC. 568. CONTINUITY OF COVERAGE UNDER CERTAIN PROVISIONS 
OF TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE. 
(a) SECTION 202.—Section 202(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in the third sentence, by inserting ‘‘an officer of the 
Space Force not serving on sustained duty pursuant to section 
20105 of title 10,’’ after ‘‘of the Armed Forces,’’; and