H. R. 6395—197 
authority in subsection (c)(3)(C) to reduce the three-year 
service-in-grade requirement under subsection (c)(1), the 
requirement for notification under subsection (c)(3)(D) is satis-
fied if the notification is included in the certification submitted 
by the Secretary of Defense under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(e) CONDITIONAL RETIREMENT GRADE AND RETIREMENT FOR 
OFFICERS UNDER INVESTIGATION
FOR MISCONDUCT
OR PENDING 
ADVERSE PERSONNEL ACTION.—The retirement grade, and retire-
ment, of a person covered by this section who is under investigation 
for alleged misconduct or pending the disposition of an adverse 
personnel action at the time of retirement is as provided for by 
section 1370(d) of this title. In the application of such section 
1370(d) for purposes of this subsection, any reference ‘active duty’ 
shall be deemed not to apply, and any reference to a provision 
of section 1370 of this title shall be deemed to be a reference 
to the analogous provision of this section. 
‘‘(f) FINAL RETIREMENT GRADE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION
OF 
PENDING INVESTIGATION OR ADVERSE ACTION.—The final retirement 
grade under this section of a person described in subsection (e) 
following resolution of the investigation or personnel action con-
cerned is the final retirement grade provided for by section 1370(e) 
of this title. In the application of such section 1370(e) for purposes 
of this subsection, any reference to a provision of section 1370 
of this title shall be deemed to be a reference to the analogous 
provision of this section. In the application of paragraph (3) of 
such section 1370e(e) for purposes of this subsection, the reference 
to ‘chapter 71’ of this title shall be deemed to be a reference 
to ‘chapter 1223 of this title’. 
‘‘(g) FINALITY OF RETIRED GRADE DETERMINATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except for a conditional determination 
authorized by subsection (e), a determination of the retired 
grade of a person pursuant to this section is administratively 
final on the day the person is retired, and may not be reopened. 
‘‘(2) REOPENING.—A determination of the retired grade of 
a person may be reopened in accordance with applicable provi-
sions of section 1370(f) of this title. In the application of such 
section 1370(f) for purposes of this subsection, any reference 
to a provision of section 1370 of this title shall be deemed 
to be a reference to the analogous provision of this section. 
In the application of paragraph (7) of such section 1370(f) 
for purposes of this paragraph, the reference to ‘chapter 71 
of this title’ shall be deemed to be a reference to ‘chapter 
1223 of this title’. 
‘‘(h) HIGHEST PERMANENT GRADE DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘highest permanent grade’ means a grade at or below 
the grade of major general in the Army, Air Force, or Marine 
Corps or rear admiral in the Navy.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 69 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 1370 and 
inserting the following new items: 
‘‘1370. Regular commissioned officers. 
‘‘1370a. Officers entitled to retired pay for non-regular service.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
TO RETIRED 
GRADE RULES FOR THE ARMED FORCES.— 
(1) RETIRED PAY.—Title 10, United States Code, is amended 
as follows:
H. R. 6395—198 
(A) In section 1406(b)(2), by striking ‘‘section 1370(d)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 1370a’’. 
(B) In section 1407(f)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘by reason of 
denial of a determination or certification under section 
1370’’ and inserting ‘‘pursuant to section 1370 or 1370a’’. 
(2) ARMY.—Section 7341 of such title is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the fol-
lowing new subsection (a): 
‘‘(a)(1) The retired grade of a regular commissioned officer 
of the Army who retires other than for physical disability is deter-
mined under section 1370 of this title. 
‘‘(2) The retired grade of a reserve commissioned officer of 
the Army who retires other than for physical disability is deter-
mined under section 1370a of this title.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘he’’ and inserting ‘‘the member’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘the member’s’’. 
(3) NAVY
AND
MARINE
CORPS.—Such title is further 
amended as follows: 
(A) In section 8262(a), by striking ‘‘sections 689 and 
1370’’ and inserting ‘‘section 689, and section 1370 or 1370a 
(as applicable),’’. 
(B) In section 8323(c), by striking ‘‘section 1370 of 
this title’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1370 or 1370a of this 
title, as applicable’’. 
(4) AIR FORCE AND SPACE FORCE.—Section 9341 of such 
title is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the fol-
lowing new subsection (a): 
‘‘(a)(1) The retired grade of a regular commissioned officer 
of the Air Force or the Space Force who retires other than for 
physical disability is determined under section 1370 of this title. 
‘‘(2) The retired grade of a reserve commissioned officer of 
the Air Force or the Space Force who retires other than for physical 
disability is determined under section 1370a of this title.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘or a Regular or Reserve of the 
Space Force’’ after ‘‘Air Force’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘he’’ and inserting ‘‘the member’’; 
and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘the member’s’’. 
(5) RESERVE
OFFICERS.—Section 12771 of such title is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘section 1370(d)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 1370a of this title’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘section 1370(d)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 1370a’’. 
(c) OTHER REFERENCES.—In the determination of the retired 
grade of a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces entitled to 
retired pay under chapter 1223 of title 10, United States Code, 
who retires after the date of the enactment of this Act, any reference 
in a provision of law or regulation to section 1370 of title 10, 
United States Code, in such determination with respect to such 
officer shall be deemed to be a reference to section 1370a of title 
10, United States Code (as amended by subsection (a)).
H. R. 6395—199 
SEC. 509. REPEAL OF AUTHORITY FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT OF 
REGULAR 
NAVY 
OFFICERS 
DESIGNATED 
FOR 
ENGINEERING DUTY, AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DUTY, 
AND SPECIAL DUTY. 
(a) REPEAL.—Section 8137 of title 10, United States Code, is 
repealed. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of chapter 815 of such title is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 8137. 
SEC. 509A. PERMANENT PROGRAMS ON DIRECT COMMISSIONS TO 
CYBER POSITIONS. 
(a) PERMANENT
PROGRAMS.—Section 509 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114– 
328; 130 Stat. 2109; 10 U.S.C. 503 note) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading of subsection (a), by striking 
‘‘PILOT’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘pilot’’ each place it appears; and 
(3) by striking subsections (d) and (e). 
(b) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such section is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 509. PROGRAMS ON DIRECT COMMISSIONS TO CYBER POSI-
TIONS.’’. 
SEC. 509B. REVIEW OF SEAMAN TO ADMIRAL–21 PROGRAM. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Navy shall review 
the policies and procedures for the Seaman to Admiral–21 
program in effect during fiscal years 2010 through 2014. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The elements of the review shall include 
the following: 
(A) A determination whether officer candidates selected 
for the Seaman to Admiral–21 program after October 28, 
2009, and before 30 September 2014, were notified or other-
wise informed that they would not receive retirement credit 
for the months of active service used in pursuit of a bacca-
laureate-level degree under the program following comple-
tion of the program and upon appointment to the grade 
of ensign in the Navy. 
(B) An explanation of how and when the Navy imple-
mented the requirements of former section 6328(c) of title 
10, United States Code (currently section 8328(c) of that 
title) for Seaman to Admiral–21 participants. 
(C) The number of personnel who were selected for 
the Seaman to Admiral–21 program, completed a bacca-
laureate-level degree, and were appointed as an ensign 
in the Navy under the program from fiscal years 2010 
through 2014. 
(D) A determination whether the personnel described 
in subparagraph (C) should be eligible for retirement credit 
for the months of active service spent in pursuit of a 
baccalaureate-level degree. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report on the results of the review under subsection (a).
H. R. 6395—200 
(c) DEADLINE.—The Secretary of the Navy shall carry out this 
section by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Subtitle B—Reserve Component 
Management 
SEC. 511. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO ORDER RETIRED MEMBERS TO 
ACTIVE DUTY IN HIGH-DEMAND, LOW-DENSITY ASSIGN-
MENTS DURING WAR OR NATIONAL EMERGENCY. 
Section 688a of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new sub-
section (g): 
‘‘(g) EXCEPTIONS DURING PERIODS OF WAR OR NATIONAL EMER-
GENCY.—The limitations in subsections (c) and (f) shall not apply 
during a time of war or of national emergency declared by Congress 
or the President.’’. 
SEC. 512. EXPANSION OF JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING 
CORPS PROGRAM. 
Section 2031(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after ‘‘service to the United States’’ the following: 
‘‘(including an introduction to service opportunities in military, 
national, and public service)’’. 
SEC. 513. GRANTS TO SUPPORT STEM EDUCATION IN THE JUNIOR 
RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 102 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 2036. Grants to support science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics education 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Education, may carry out a program to make grants 
to eligible entities to assist such entities in providing education 
in covered subjects to students in the Junior Reserve Officers’ 
Training Corps. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out a program under sub-
section (a), the Secretary may coordinate with the following: 
‘‘(1) The Director of the National Science Foundation. 
‘‘(2) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration. 
‘‘(3) The heads of such other Federal, State, and local 
government entities the Secretary of Defense determines to 
be appropriate. 
‘‘(c) ACTIVITIES.—Activities funded with grants under this sec-
tion may include the following: 
‘‘(1) Training and other support for instructors to teach 
courses in covered subjects to students. 
‘‘(2) The acquisition of materials, hardware, and software 
necessary for the instruction of covered subjects.
H. R. 6395—201 
‘‘(3) Activities that improve the quality of educational mate-
rials, training opportunities, and curricula available to students 
and instructors in covered subjects. 
‘‘(4) Development of travel opportunities, demonstrations, 
mentoring programs, and informal education in covered subjects 
for students and instructors. 
‘‘(5) Students’ pursuit of certifications in covered subjects. 
‘‘(d) PREFERENCE.—In making any grants under this section, 
the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities that are 
eligible for assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.). 
‘‘(e) EVALUATIONS.—In carrying out a program under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall establish outcome-based metrics and 
internal and external assessments to evaluate the merits and bene-
fits of the activities funded with grants under this section with 
respect to the needs of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORITIES.—In carrying out a program under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, make use of 
the authorities under chapter 111 and sections 2601 and 2605 
of this title, and other authorities the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘eligible entity’ means a local education 
agency that hosts a unit of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘covered subjects’ means— 
‘‘(A) science; 
‘‘(B) technology; 
‘‘(C) engineering; 
‘‘(D) mathematics; 
‘‘(E) computer science; 
‘‘(F) computational thinking; 
‘‘(G) artificial intelligence; 
‘‘(H) machine learning; 
‘‘(I) data science; 
‘‘(J) cybersecurity; 
‘‘(K) robotics; 
‘‘(L) health sciences; and 
‘‘(M) other subjects determined by the Secretary of 
Defense to be related to science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 102 of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘2036. Grants to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics edu-
cation.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report on any activities carried out under section 
2036 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)). 
SEC. 514. PERMANENT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND RESILIENCE PRO-
GRAM FOR THE RESERVE COMPONENTS. 
Section 10219 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking subsection (h).
H. R. 6395—202 
SEC. 515. MODIFICATION OF EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM 
FOR MEMBERS OF SELECTED RESERVE. 
(a) MODIFICATION OF MAXIMUM REPAYMENT AMOUNT.—Section 
16301(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘$500’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,000’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE
DATE
AND
APPLICABILITY.—The amendment 
made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act and shall apply with respect to loan repayment under 
section 16301 of title 10, United States Code, for eligible years 
of service completed on or after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 516. INCLUSION OF DRILL OR TRAINING FOREGONE DUE TO 
EMERGENCY TRAVEL OR DUTY RESTRICTIONS IN COM-
PUTATIONS OF ENTITLEMENT TO AND AMOUNTS OF 
RETIRED PAY FOR NON-REGULAR SERVICE. 
(a) ENTITLEMENT TO RETIRED PAY.—Section 12732(a)(2) of title 
10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(F)(i) Subject to regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security 
with respect to matters concerning the Coast Guard when 
it is not operating as a service in the Department of the 
Navy, one point for each day of active service or one point 
for each drill or period of equivalent instruction that was 
prescribed by the Secretary concerned to be performed 
during the covered emergency period, if such person was 
prevented from performing such duty due to travel or duty 
restrictions imposed by the President, the Secretary of 
Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security with 
respect to the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(ii) A person may not be credited more than 35 points 
in a one-year period under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(iii) In this subparagraph, the term ‘covered emer-
gency period’ means the period beginning on March 1, 
2020, and ending on the day that is 60 days after the 
date on which the travel or duty restriction applicable 
to the person concerned is lifted.’’; and 
(2) in the matter following subparagraph (F), as inserted 
by paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and (E)’’ and inserting ‘‘(E), 
and (F)’’. 
(b) AMOUNT OF RETIRED PAY.—Section 12733(3) of such title 
is amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘or (D)’’ and inserting ‘‘(D), or (F)’’. 
(c) REPORTING.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year after the 
date on which the covered emergency period, as defined in 
subparagraph (F) of section 12732(a)(2) of such title, as added 
by subsection (a), ends, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on the use 
of the authority under such subparagraph. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report under this subsection shall 
include, with respect to each reserve component, the following: 
(A) The number of individuals granted credit as a 
result of a training cancellation.
H. R. 6395—203 
(B) The number of individuals granted credit as a 
result of another extenuating circumstance. 
(3) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 30 days after submitting 
the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
(A) publish the report on a publicly accessible website 
of the Department of Defense; and 
(B) ensure that any data in the report is made available 
in a machine-readable format that is downloadable, search-
able, and sortable. 
SEC. 517. QUARANTINE LODGING FOR MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE 
COMPONENTS 
WHO 
PERFORM 
CERTAIN 
SERVICE 
IN 
RESPONSE TO THE COVID–19 EMERGENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may provide, to 
a member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who 
performs a period of covered service, housing for not fewer than 
14 days immediately after the end of such period of covered service. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘active service’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered service’’ means active service per-
formed in response to the covered national emergency. 
(3) The term ‘‘covered national emergency’’ means the 
national emergency declared on March 13, 2020, by the Presi-
dent under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et 
seq.) with respect to COVID–19. 
SEC. 518. DIRECT EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN MEM-
BERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may carry out a 
pilot program to enhance the efforts of the Department of Defense 
to provide job placement assistance and related employment serv-
ices directly to members of the National Guard and Reserves in 
reserve active-status. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Any such pilot program shall be offered 
to, and administered by, the adjutants general appointed under 
section 314 of title 32, United States Code, or other officials in 
the States concerned designated by the Secretary for purposes of 
the pilot program. 
(c) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—As a condition on the provi-
sion of funds under this section to a State to support the operation 
of the pilot program in that State, the State must agree to contribute 
funds, derived from non-Federal sources, in an amount equal to 
at least 50 percent of the funds necessary for the operation of 
the pilot program in that State. 
(d) DEVELOPMENT.—In developing any such pilot program, the 
Secretary shall— 
(1) incorporate elements of State direct employment pro-
grams for members of the reserve components; and 
(2) use resources provided to members of the Armed Forces 
with civilian training opportunities through the SkillBridge 
transition training program administered by the Department 
of Defense. 
(e) DIRECT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM MODEL.—Any such pilot 
program shall use a job placement program model that focuses 
on working one-on-one with eligible members to cost-effectively 
provide job placement services, including— 
(1) identifying unemployed and underemployed individuals;
H. R. 6395—204 
(2) job matching services; 
(3) resume editing; 
(4) interview preparation; and 
(5) post-employment follow up. 
(f) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall develop outcome metrics 
to evaluate the success of any such pilot program. 
(g) REPORTING.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—If the Secretary carries out the 
pilot Program, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report describing the results 
of the pilot program not later than March 1, 2022. The Sec-
retary shall prepare the report in coordination with the Chief 
of the National Guard Bureau. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—A report under paragraph (1) shall include 
the following: 
(A) A description and assessment of the effectiveness 
and achievements of the pilot program, including the 
number of members of the reserve components of the 
Armed Forces hired and the cost-per-placement of partici-
pating members. 
(B) An assessment of the effects of the pilot program 
and increased reserve component employment on the readi-
ness of members of the reserve components and on the 
retention of members. 
(C) A comparison of the pilot program to other pro-
grams conducted by the Department of Defense to provide 
unemployment or underemployment support to members 
of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, including 
the best practices developed through and used in such 
programs. 
(D) Any other matters the Secretary of Defense deter-
mines appropriate. 
(h) DURATION; EXTENSION.— 
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the authority to carry out 
the pilot program expires on September 30, 2024. 
(2) The Secretary may elect to extend the pilot program 
for not more than two additional fiscal years. 
SEC. 519. PILOT PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH 
SROTC UNITS AND CSPI PROGRAMS AT HISTORICALLY 
BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND MINORITY 
INSTITUTIONS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAMS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense may 
carry out two pilot programs as follows: 
(1) A pilot program, with elements as provided for in sub-
section (c), at covered institutions in order to assess the feasi-
bility and advisability of mechanisms to reduce barriers to 
participation in the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
at such institutions by creating partnerships between satellite 
or extension Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units at 
such institutions and covered military installations. 
(2) In consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, a pilot program, with elements as provided for in sub-
section (d), in order to assess the feasibility and advisability 
of the provision of financial assistance to members of the Senior 
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and members of the Coast
H. R. 6395—205 
Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative, at cov-
ered institutions for participation in flight training. 
(b) DURATION.—The duration of each pilot program under sub-
section (a) may not exceed 5 years. 
(c) PILOT PROGRAM ON PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SATELLITE OR 
EXTENSION
SROTC UNITS
AND
COVERED
MILITARY
INSTALLA-
TIONS.— 
(1) PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall carry out the pilot program required by subsection (a)(1) 
at not fewer than five covered institutions selected by the 
Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTION.—Each covered institu-
tion selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program 
under subsection (a)(1) shall— 
(A) currently maintain a satellite or extension Senior 
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps unit under chapter 103 
of title 10, United States Code, that is located more than 
20 miles from the host unit of such unit; or 
(B) establish and maintain a satellite or extension 
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps unit that meets 
the requirements in subparagraph (A). 
(3) PREFERENCE
IN
SELECTION
OF
INSTITUTIONS.—In 
selecting covered institutions under this subsection for partici-
pation in the pilot program under subsection (a)(1), the Sec-
retary shall give preference to covered institutions that are 
located within 20 miles of a covered military installation of 
the same Armed Force as the host unit of the Senior Reserve 
Officers’ Training Corps of the covered institution concerned. 
(4) PARTNERSHIP
ACTIVITIES.—The activities conducted 
under the pilot program under subsection (a)(1) between a 
satellite or extension Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
unit and the covered military installation concerned shall 
include such activities designed to reduce barriers to participa-
tion in the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the 
covered institution concerned as the Secretary considers appro-
priate, including measures to mitigate travel time and expenses 
in connection with receipt of Senior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps instruction. 
(d) PILOT PROGRAM
ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR SROTC 
AND CSPI MEMBERS FOR FLIGHT TRAINING.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION BY SROTC AND CSPI MEM-
BERS.—A member of a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
unit, or a member of a Coast Guard College Student Pre- 
Commissioning Initiative program, at a covered institution may 
participate in the pilot program under subsection (a)(2) if the 
member meets such academic requirements at the covered 
institution, and such other requirements, as the Secretary con-
cerned shall establish for purposes of the pilot program. 
(2) PREFERENCE
IN
SELECTION
OF
PARTICIPANTS.—In 
selecting members under this subsection for participation in 
the pilot program under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary con-
cerned shall give a preference to members who will pursue 
flight training under the pilot program at a covered institution. 
(3) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FLIGHT TRAINING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned may provide 
any member of a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
unit or a College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative
H. R. 6395—206 
program who participates in the pilot program under sub-
section (a)(2) financial assistance to defray, whether in 
whole or in part, the charges and fees imposed on the 
member for flight training. 
(B) FLIGHT
TRAINING.—Financial assistance may be 
used under subparagraph (A) for a course of flight training 
only if the course meets Federal Aviation Administration 
standards and is approved by the Federal Aviation 
Administration and the applicable State approving agency. 
(C) USE.—Financial assistance received by a member 
under subparagraph (A) may be used only to defray the 
charges and fees imposed on the member as described 
in that subparagraph. 
(D) CESSATION
OF
ELIGIBILITY.—Financial assistance 
may not be provided to a member under subparagraph 
(A) as follows: 
(i) If the member ceases to meet the academic 
and other requirements established pursuant to para-
graph (1). 
(ii) If the member ceases to be a member of the 
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or the College 
Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative, as applicable. 
(e) EVALUATION METRICS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
establish metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot programs 
under subsection (a). 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
commencement of the pilot programs under subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
report on the pilot programs. The report shall include the 
following: 
(A) A description of each pilot program, including in 
the case of the pilot program under subsection (a)(2) the 
requirements established pursuant to subsection (d)(1). 
(B) The evaluation metrics established under sub-
section (e). 
(C) Such other matters relating to the pilot programs 
as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(2) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 
end of each fiscal year in which the Secretary carries out 
the pilot programs, the Secretary shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the pilot programs during such fiscal 
year. Each report shall include, for the fiscal year covered 
by such report, the following: 
(A) In the case of the pilot program required by sub-
section (a)(1), a description of the partnerships between 
satellite or extension Senior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps units and covered military installations under the 
pilot program. 
(B) In the case of the pilot program required by sub-
section (a)(2), the following: 
(i) The number of members of Senior Reserve Offi-
cers’ Training Corps units, and the number of members 
of Coast Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning 
Initiative programs, at covered institutions selected
H. R. 6395—207 
for purposes of the pilot program, including the number 
of such members participating in the pilot program. 
(ii) The number of recipients of financial assistance 
provided under the pilot program, including the 
number who— 
(I) completed a ground school course of instruc-
tion in connection with obtaining a private pilot’s 
certificate; 
(II) completed flight training, and the type 
of training, certificate, or both received; 
(III) were selected for a pilot training slot in 
the Armed Forces; 
(IV) initiated pilot training in the Armed 
Forces; or 
(V) successfully completed pilot training in the 
Armed Forces. 
(iii) The amount of financial assistance provided 
under the pilot program, broken out by covered institu-
tion, course of study, and such other measures as the 
Secretary considers appropriate. 
(C) Data collected in accordance with the evaluation 
metrics established under subsection (e). 
(3) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days prior to the 
completion of the pilot programs, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a report on the pilot programs. The 
report shall include the following: 
(A) A description of the pilot programs. 
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of each pilot 
program. 
(C) A description of the cost of each pilot program, 
and an estimate of the cost of making each pilot program 
permanent. 
(D) An estimate of the cost of expanding each pilot 
program throughout all eligible Senior Reserve Officers’ 
Training Corps units and College Student Pre-Commis-
sioning Initiative programs. 
(E) Such recommendations for legislative or adminis-
trative action as the Secretary considers appropriate in 
light of the pilot programs, including recommendations for 
extending or making permanent the authority for each 
pilot program. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered institution’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 262(g)(2) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92). 
(2) The term ‘‘covered military installation’’ means an 
installation of the Department of Defense for the regular compo-
nents of the Armed Forces. 
(3) The term ‘‘flight training’’ means a course of instruction 
toward obtaining any of the following: 
(A) A private pilot’s certificate. 
(B) A commercial pilot certificate. 
(C) A certified flight instructor certificate. 
(D) A multi-crew pilot’s license. 
(E) A flight instrument rating.
H. R. 6395—208 
(F) Any other certificate, rating, or pilot privilege the 
Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of this section. 
SEC. 519A. REPORT REGARDING FULL-TIME NATIONAL GUARD DUTY 
IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report regarding how 
it is determined whether to authorize full-time National Guard 
duty in response to the covered national emergency. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall include 
the following: 
(1) The number of requests described in subsection (a). 
(2) The number of such requests approved and the number 
of requests denied. 
(3) For each such request— 
(A) the time elapsed from receipt of request to disposi-
tion of request; and 
(B) whether costs (including pay and benefits for mem-
bers of the National Guard) were a factor in determining 
whether to grant or deny the request. 
(4) For each such request approved, an estimate of the 
time between approval and the time when the first such 
member of the National Guard was placed on full-time National 
Guard duty in response to such request. 
(5) For each such request denied, the reason for denial 
and how such denial was explained to the requestor. 
(6) A description of how the process of review for such 
requests differed from previous requests for a determination 
whether to authorize full-time National Guard duty under sec-
tion 502(f) of title 32, United States Code. 
(7) Recommendations of the Secretary to improve the 
review of such requests in order to better respond to such 
requests. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered national emergency’’ means the 
national emergency declared on March 13, 2020, by the Presi-
dent under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et 
seq.) with respect to COVID-19. 
(2) The term ‘‘full-time National Guard duty’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 519B. STUDY AND REPORT ON NATIONAL GUARD SUPPORT TO 
STATES RESPONDING TO MAJOR DISASTERS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study on the process by which the National Guard provides 
support to other Federal agencies and to States during major disas-
ters. The report shall include the following: 
(1) With regards to authorization of full-time National 
Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32, United States 
Code— 
(A) a review of the process of such authorization, 
including authorization approval, funding approval, and 
mission assignment; 
(B) a review of data regarding the frequency and speed 
of such authorizations during fiscal years 2015 through 
2020; and
H. R. 6395—209 
(C) measures of performance or effectiveness. 
(2) The effectiveness of the funding transfer process 
between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the 
Department of Defense. 
(3) The development and promulgation of training and 
education materials for the National Guard and other compo-
nents of the Department of Defense. 
(4) An analysis of lessons learned from the response to 
COVID-19, including— 
(A) policy gaps identified by the Secretary; and 
(B) any recommendations of the Secretary to improve 
such process. 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report that includes the findings of the study 
conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 519C. REPORT ON GUIDANCE FOR USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEMS BY THE NATIONAL GUARD. 
(a) REVIEW.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) review current guidance on the use of unmanned air-
craft systems by the National Guard for covered activities 
within the United States; and 
(2) submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
containing recommendations of the Secretary regarding how 
to expedite the review of requests for use of unmanned aircraft 
systems described in paragraph (1). 
(b) COVERED ACTIVITIES DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘covered activities’’ means— 
(1) emergency operations; 
(2) search and rescue operations; 
(3) defense support to civil authorities; and 
(4) support under section 502(f) of title 32, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 519D. STUDY AND REPORT ON ROTC RECRUITMENT. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study 
that assesses— 
(1) whether members of the Armed Forces who served 
in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps are more or 
less likely than members who served in the Senior Reserve 
Officers’ Training Corps to achieve or receive recommendations 
for higher ranks; 
(2) whether there is a correlation between race or ethnicity 
and the rank ultimately achieved by such members; 
(3) whether individuals who serve in the Junior Reserve 
Officers’ Training Corps are likelier to join the Armed Forces 
than other individuals; and 
(4) the feasibility of establishing a program to create a 
pathway for minorities into higher ranks in the Armed Forces. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 2022, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the results 
of the study conducted under subsection (a).
H. R. 6395—210 
Subtitle C—General Service Authorities 
and Correction of Military Records 
SEC. 521. INCREASED ACCESS TO POTENTIAL RECRUITS. 
(a) SECONDARY SCHOOLS.—Section 503 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘and telephone 
listings,’’ and all that follows through the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘electronic mail addresses (which shall 
be the electronic mail addresses provided by the school, 
if available), and telephone listings, notwithstanding sub-
section (a)(5) of section 444 of the General Education Provi-
sions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g).’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and telephone 
listing’’ and inserting ‘‘electronic mail address, and tele-
phone listing’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (d). 
(b) INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—Section 983(b)(2)(A) 
of such title is amended by striking ‘‘and telephone listings’’ and 
inserting ‘‘electronic mail addresses (which shall be the electronic 
mail addresses provided by the institution, if available), and tele-
phone listings’’. 
SEC. 522. SUNSET AND TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS OF THE PHYSICAL 
DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW. 
Section 1554a of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(g) SUNSET.—(1) On or after the date of the enactment of 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2021, the Secretary of Defense may sunset 
the Physical Disability Board of Review under this section. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary sunsets the Physical Disability Board 
of Review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transfer any 
remaining requests for review pending at that time, and shall 
assign any new requests for review under this section, to a board 
for the correction of military records operated by the Secretary 
concerned under section 1552 of this title.. 
‘‘(3) Subsection (c)(4) shall not apply with respect to any review 
conducted by a board for the correction of military records under 
paragraph (2).’’. 
SEC. 523. HONORARY PROMOTION MATTERS. 
(a) HONORARY PROMOTIONS ON INITIATIVE OF DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE.—Chapter 80 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after section 1563 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1563a. Honorary promotions on the initiative of the 
Department of Defense 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Under regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary may make an honorary promotion 
(whether or not posthumous) of a former member or retired member 
of the armed forces to any grade not exceeding the grade of major 
general, rear admiral (upper half), or an equivalent grade in the 
Space Force if the Secretary determines that the promotion is 
merited.
H. R. 6395—211 
‘‘(2) The authority to make an honorary promotion under this 
subsection shall apply notwithstanding that the promotion is not 
otherwise authorized by law. 
‘‘(b) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary may not make an 
honorary promotion pursuant to subsection (a) until 60 days after 
the date on which the Secretary submits to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a notice of the determination to make the promotion, including 
a detailed discussion of the rationale supporting the determination. 
‘‘(c) NOTICE OF PROMOTION.—Upon making an honorary pro-
motion pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall expeditiously 
notify the former member or retired member concerned, or the 
next of kin of such former member or retired member if such 
former member or retired member is deceased, of the promotion. 
‘‘(d) NATURE OF PROMOTION.—Any promotion pursuant to this 
section is honorary, and shall not affect the pay, retired pay, or 
other benefits from the United States to which the former member 
or retired member concerned is entitled or would have been entitled 
based on the military service of such former member or retired 
member, nor affect any benefits to which any other person is or 
may become entitled based on the military service of such former 
member or retired member.’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES ON REVIEW OF PROPOSALS 
FROM CONGRESS.— 
(1) STANDARDIZATION OF AUTHORITIES WITH AUTHORITIES 
ON INITIATIVE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—Section 1563 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘the post-
humous or honorary promotion or appointment of a 
member or former member of the armed forces, or 
any other person considered qualified,’’ and inserting 
‘‘the honorary promotion (whether or not posthumous) 
of a former member or retired member of the armed 
forces’’; and 
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘the post-
humous or honorary promotion or appointment’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the promotion’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘the posthumous or 
honorary promotion or appointment’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
honorary promotion’’. 
(2) AUTHORITY TO MAKE HONORARY PROMOTIONS FOLLOWING 
REVIEW OF PROPOSALS.—Such section is further amended— 
(A) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); 
and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY TO MAKE.—(1) Under regulations prescribed 
by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Defense may make 
an honorary promotion (whether or not posthumous) of a former 
member or retired member of the armed forces to any grade not 
exceeding the grade of major general, rear admiral (upper half), 
or an equivalent grade in the Space Force following the submittal 
of the determination of the Secretary concerned under subsection 
(b) in connection with the proposal for the promotion if the deter-
mination is to approve the making of the promotion.
H. R. 6395—212 
‘‘(2) The Secretary of Defense may not make an honorary pro-
motion under this subsection until 60 days after the date on which 
the Secretary concerned submits the determination in connection 
with the proposal for the promotion under subsection (b), and the 
detailed rationale supporting the determination as described in 
that subsection, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives and the requesting Member in 
accordance with that subsection. 
‘‘(3) The authority to make an honorary promotion under this 
subsection shall apply notwithstanding that the promotion is not 
otherwise authorized by law. 
‘‘(4) Any promotion pursuant to this subsection is honorary, 
and shall not affect the pay, retired pay, or other benefits from 
the United States to which the former member or retired member 
concerned is or would have been entitled based upon the military 
service of such former member or retired member, nor affect any 
benefits to which any other person may become entitled based 
on the military service of such former member or retired member.’’. 
(3) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such section 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1563. Consideration of proposals from Members of Con-
gress for honorary promotions: procedures for 
review and promotion’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of chapter 80 of such title is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 1563 and inserting the following new items: 
‘‘1563. Consideration of proposals from Members of Congress for honorary pro-
motions: procedures for review and promotion. 
‘‘1563a. Honorary promotions on the initiative of the Department of Defense.’’. 
SEC. 524. EXCLUSION OF OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF MEMBERS FROM 
RECORDS 
FURNISHED 
TO 
PROMOTION 
SELECTION 
BOARDS. 
(a) ACTIVE DUTY OFFICERS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
include in the regulations prescribed pursuant to section 615(a) 
of title 10, United States Code, a prohibition on the inclusion 
of an official photograph of an officer in the information furnished 
to a selection board pursuant to section 615(b) of such title. 
(b) RESERVE OFFICERS.—The Secretary of Defense shall include 
in regulations prescribed pursuant to section 14107(a)(1) of title 
10, United States Code, a prohibition on the inclusion of an official 
photograph of an officer in the information furnished to a selection 
board pursuant to section 14107(a)(2) of such title. 
(c) ENLISTED MEMBERS.—Each Secretary of a military depart-
ment shall prescribe regulations that prohibit the inclusion of an 
official photograph of an enlisted member in the information fur-
nished to a board that considers enlisted members under the juris-
diction of such Secretary for promotion. 
(d) REPORT ON EXCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—Not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretaries 
of the military departments, submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
setting forth the following: 
(1) A recommendation for the redaction or removal from 
information furnished to selection boards convened to consider 
officers or enlisted members for promotion to the next higher
H. R. 6395—213 
grade of such information, if any, relating to an officer or 
enlisted member, as applicable, that is currently furnished 
to such a selection board as the Secretary considers appropriate 
for redaction or removal in order to eliminate inappropriate 
bias in the promotion selection process. 
(2) An assessment of the anticipated effects on the pro-
motion process for officers or enlisted members, as applicable, 
of the redaction or removal from information furnished to selec-
tion boards of information recommended for redaction or 
removal pursuant to paragraph (1). 
(3) An implementation plan that describes and assesses 
the manner in which the redaction or removal of such informa-
tion will be achieved, including a description and assessment 
of the following: 
(A) Any required changes to policies, processes, or sys-
tems, including any information technology required. 
(B) The cost of implementing such changes. 
(C) The estimated timeline for completion of the 
implementation of such changes (which may not be later 
than the day that is two years after the date of the report). 
(D) The duty title of the officer or employee of the 
Department Defense to be assigned responsibility for imple-
menting such changes. 
SEC. 525. REPORT REGARDING REVIEWS OF DISCHARGES AND DISMIS-
SALS BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than September 30, 2021, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
regarding the number of former members of the Armed Forces 
who— 
(1) were discharged or dismissed from the Armed Forces; 
(2) on or after September 21, 2011, applied to the Secretary 
of the military department concerned for an upgrade in the 
characterization of such discharge or dismissal; and 
(3) assert in such application that such discharge or dis-
missal arose from a policy of the Department of Defense 
regarding the sexual orientation of a member before September 
21, 2011. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall include 
the following: 
(1) The number of applications described in subsection 
(a) and the percentages of such applications granted and denied, 
disaggregated by— 
(A) Armed Force; 
(B) grade; 
(C) characterization of discharge or dismissal originally 
received; and 
(D) characterization of discharge or dismissal received 
pursuant to an application described in subsection (a)(2). 
(2) If the Secretary can determine the number without 
reviewing applications described in subsection (a) on a case- 
by-case basis, the number of such applications— 
(A) that were denied; and 
(B) in which the discharge or dismissal was based 
solely on misconduct of the discharged or dismissed 
member.
H. R. 6395—214 
(c) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 90 days after the Secretary 
submits the report under this section, the Secretary shall publish 
the report on a publicly accessible website of the Department of 
Defense. 
Subtitle D—Prevention and Response To 
Sexual Assault, Harassment, and Related 
Misconduct 
SEC. 531. MODIFICATION OF TIME REQUIRED FOR EXPEDITED 
DECISIONS IN CONNECTION WITH APPLICATIONS FOR 
CHANGE OF STATION OR UNIT TRANSFER OF MEMBERS 
WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR RELATED 
OFFENSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 673(b) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘72 hours’’ both places it appears and 
inserting ‘‘five calendar days’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 
(a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and shall apply to decisions on applications for permanent change 
of station or unit transfer made under section 673 of title 10, 
United States Code, on or after that date. 
SEC. 532. CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. 
(a) CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 80 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 1561a the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 1561b. Confidential reporting of sexual harassment 
‘‘(a) REPORTING PROCESS.—Notwithstanding section 1561 of this 
title, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe in regulations a 
process by which a member of an armed force under the jurisdiction 
of the Secretary of a military department may confidentially allege 
a complaint of sexual harassment to an individual outside the 
immediate chain of command of the member. 
‘‘(b) RECEIPT OF COMPLAINTS.—An individual designated and 
trained to receive complaints under the process under subsection 
(a) shall— 
‘‘(1) maintain the confidentiality of the member alleging 
the complaint; 
‘‘(2) explain to the member alleging the complaint the dif-
ferent avenues of redress available to resolve the complaint 
and the different consequences of each avenue on the manner 
in which the complaint will be investigated (if at all), including 
an explanation of the following: 
‘‘(A) The manner in which to file a complaint con-
cerning alleged sexual harassment with the official or office 
designated for receipt of such complaint through such 
avenue of redress. 
‘‘(B) That confidentiality in connection with the com-
plaint cannot be maintained when there is a clear and 
present risk to health or safety. 
‘‘(C) If the alleged sexual harassment also involves 
an allegation of sexual assault, including sexual contact—
H. R. 6395—215 
‘‘(i) the manner in which to file a confidential 
report with a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator 
or a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim 
Advocate; and 
‘‘(ii) options available pursuant to such reporting, 
including a Restricted Report or Unrestricted Report, 
and participation in the Catch a Serial Offender Pro-
gram. 
‘‘(D) The services and assistance available to the 
member in connection with the complaint and the alleged 
sexual harassment. 
‘‘(c) EDUCATION
AND TRACKING.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall— 
‘‘(1) educate members under the jurisdiction of the Secre-
taries of the military departments regarding the process estab-
lished under this section; and 
‘‘(2) track complaints alleged pursuant to the process. 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—Not later than April 30, 2023, and April 30 
every two years thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report containing data on the complaints of 
sexual harassment alleged pursuant to the process under subsection 
(a) during the previous two calendar years. Any data on such 
complaints shall not contain any personally identifiable informa-
tion.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 80 of such title is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1561b the following new 
item: 
‘‘1561b. Confidential reporting of sexual harassment.’’. 
(b) PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a report setting forth a plan for 
the implementation of the process for confidential reporting of 
sexual harassment required by section 1561b of title 10, United 
States Code (as added by subsection (a)). The plan shall include 
the date on which the process is anticipated to be fully implemented. 
(c) PLAN FOR ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS TO IDENTIFY 
SERIAL HARASSERS.—Not later than one year after the implementa-
tion of the process for confidential reporting of sexual harassment 
required by section 1561b of title 10, United States Code (as so 
added), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report setting forth a plan to allow an individual who files 
a confidential report of sexual harassment pursuant to the process 
to elect to permit a military criminal investigative organization 
to access certain information in the confidential report, including 
identifying information of the alleged perpetrator (if available), 
for the purpose of identifying individuals who are suspected of 
multiple incidents of sexual harassments, without such access 
affecting the confidential nature of the confidential report. The 
report shall specify the information to be accessible by criminal 
investigative organizations pursuant to the plan.
H. R. 6395—216 
SEC. 533. ADDITIONAL BASES FOR PROVISION OF ADVICE BY THE 
DEFENSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION 
OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. 
Section 550B of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1380; 10 U.S.C. 
1561 note) is amended in subsection (c)(2)— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph 
(E); and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) Efforts among private employers to prevent sexual 
assault and sexual harassment among their employees. 
‘‘(D) Evidence-based studies on the prevention of sexual 
assault and sexual harassment in the Armed Forces, 
institutions of higher education, and the private sector.’’. 
SEC. 534. ADDITIONAL MATTERS FOR 2021 REPORT OF THE DEFENSE 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL 
MISCONDUCT. 
Section 550B of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1380; 10 U.S.C. 
1561 note), as amended by section 533 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding at the end of subsection (d) the following: 
‘‘The report in 2021 shall also include the following: 
‘‘(1) A description and assessment of the extent and 
effectiveness of the inclusion by the Armed Forces of sexual 
assault prevention and response training in leader professional 
military education (PME), especially in such education for per-
sonnel in junior noncommissioned officer grades. 
‘‘(2) An assessment of the feasibility of— 
‘‘(A) the screening before entry into military service 
of recruits who may have been the subject or perpetrator 
of prior incidents of sexual assault and harassment, 
including through background checks; and 
‘‘(B) the administration of screening tests to recruits 
to assess recruit views and beliefs on equal opportunity, 
and whether such views and beliefs are compatible with 
military service. 
‘‘(3) An assessment of the feasibility of conducting exit 
interviews of members of the Armed Forces upon their dis-
charge release from the Armed Forces in order to determine 
whether they experienced or witnessed sexual assault or harass-
ment during military service and did not report it, and an 
assessment of the feasibility of combining such exit interviews 
with the Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) Program of the 
Department of Defense. 
‘‘(4) An assessment whether the sexual assault reporting 
databases of the Department are sufficiently anonymized to 
ensure privacy while still providing military leaders with the 
information as follows: 
‘‘(A) The approximate length of time the victim and 
the assailant had been at the duty station at which the 
sexual assault occurred. 
‘‘(B) The percentage of sexual assaults occurring while 
the victim or assailant were on temporary duty, leave, 
or otherwise away from their permanent duty station.
H. R. 6395—217 
‘‘(C) The number of sexual assaults that involve an 
abuse of power by a commander or supervisor.’’. 
SEC. 535. INCLUSION OF ADVISORY DUTIES ON THE COAST GUARD 
ACADEMY AMONG DUTIES OF DEFENSE ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. 
Section 550B of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1380; 10 U.S.C. 
1561 note), as amended by sections 533 and 534 of this Act, is 
further amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by inserting ‘‘, including the 
United States Coast Guard Academy,’’ after ‘‘academy’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as sub-
sections (e), (f), and (g), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new sub-
section (d): 
‘‘(d) ADVISORY DUTIES ON COAST GUARD ACADEMY.—In pro-
viding advice under subsection (c)(1)(B), the Advisory Committee 
shall also advise the Secretary of the Department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating in accordance with this section on policies, 
programs, and practices of the United States Coast Guard 
Academy.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e) and paragraph (2) of subsection (g), 
as redesignated by paragraph (2) of this section, by striking 
‘‘the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘the Committees on Armed Services and Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committees on Armed 
Services and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives’’. 
SEC. 536. MODIFICATION OF REPORTING AND DATA COLLECTION ON 
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL OFFENSES. 
Section 547 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 
1561 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘accused of’’ and inserting ‘‘suspected 
of’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘assault’’ and inserting ‘‘offense’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘accused of’’ and 
inserting ‘‘suspected of’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘assaults’’ and inserting ‘‘offenses’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘an accusation’’ and inserting ‘‘sus-
picion of’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new sub-
section (b): 
‘‘(b) GUIDANCE REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall issue 
guidance to ensure the uniformity of the data collected by each 
Armed Force for purposes of subsection (a). At a minimum, such 
guidance shall establish— 
‘‘(1) standardized methods for the collection of the data 
required to be reported under such subsection; and
H. R. 6395—218 
‘‘(2) standardized definitions for the terms ‘sexual offense’, 
‘collateral miconduct’, and ‘adverse action’.’’; and 
(4) by amending subsection (c), as redesignated by para-
graph (2), to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘covered individual’ means an individual who 
is identified in the case files of a military criminal investigative 
organization as a victim of a sexual offense that occurred while 
that individual was serving on active duty as a member of 
the Armed Forces. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘suspected of’, when used with respect to 
a covered individual suspected of collateral misconduct or 
crimes as described in subsection (a), means that an investiga-
tion by a military criminal investigative organization reveals 
facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable person 
to believe that the individual committed an offense under 
chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice).’’. 
SEC. 537. MODIFICATION OF ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING SEXUAL 
ASSAULTS INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ADDITIONAL RECIPIENTS.—Subsection (d) of section 1631 
of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2011 (Public Law 111–383; 10 U.S.C. 1561 note) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives’’ after ‘‘House of Representatives’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
shall apply to reports required to be submitted under such section 
on or after such date. 
SEC. 538. COORDINATION OF SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL 
TRAUMA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans 
Affairs shall jointly develop, implement, and maintain a standard 
of coordinated care for members of the Armed Forces who are 
survivors of sexual trauma. Such standard shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(b) MINIMUM ELEMENTS.—The standard developed and imple-
mented under subsection (a) by the Secretaries of Defense and 
Veterans Affairs shall include the following: 
(1) INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that— 
(A) Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Uni-
formed Victim Advocates receive annual training on 
resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding 
sexual trauma; 
(B) information regarding services furnished by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to survivors of sexual trauma 
is provided to each such survivor; and 
(C) information described in subparagraph (B) is posted 
in the following areas in each facility of the Department 
of Defense: 
(i) An office of the Family Advocacy Program. 
(ii) An office of a mental health care provider. 
(iii) Each area in which sexual assault prevention 
staff normally post notices or information.
H. R. 6395—219 
(iv) High-traffic areas (including dining facilities). 
(2) COORDINATION BETWEEN STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENTS.— 
The Secretaries shall ensure that a Sexual Assault Response 
Coordinator or Uniformed Victim Advocate of the Department 
of Defense who receives a report of an instance of sexual 
trauma connects the survivor to the Military Sexual Trauma 
Coordinator of the Department of Veterans Affairs at the 
facility of that Department nearest to the residence of that 
survivor if that survivor is a member separating or retiring 
from the Armed Forces. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
(1) REPORT ON RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs shall provide a 
report to the appropriate committees of Congress regarding 
the availability of residential treatment programs for survivors 
of sexual trauma, including— 
(A) barriers to access for such programs; and 
(B) resources required to reduce such barriers. 
(2) INITIAL REPORT.—Upon implementation of the standard 
under subsection (a), the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans 
Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the standard. 
(3) PROGRESS
REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days after 
submitting the initial report under paragraph (2), and on 
December 1 of each subsequent year, the Secretaries of Defense 
and Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress of the Secre-
taries in implementing and improving the standard. 
(4) UPDATES.—Whenever the Secretaries of Defense and 
Veterans Affairs update the standard developed under sub-
section (a), the Secretaries shall jointly submit to the appro-
priate committees of Congress a report on such update, 
including a comprehensive and detailed description of such 
update and the reasons for such update. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘sexual trauma’’ means a condition described 
in section 1720D(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means— 
(A) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate; and 
(B) the Committees on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate. 
SEC. 539. POLICY FOR MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES ON SEPARATION 
OF ALLEGED VICTIMS AND ALLEGED PERPETRATORS IN 
INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall, in consulta-
tion with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Super-
intendent of each military service academy, prescribe in regulations 
a policy under which a cadet or midshipman of a military service 
academy who is the alleged victim of a sexual assault and a cadet 
or midshipman who is the alleged perpetrator of such assault shall, 
to the extent practicable, each be given the opportunity to complete 
their course of study at the academy without— 
(1) taking classes together; or
H. R. 6395—220 
(2) otherwise being in close proximity to each other during 
mandatory activities. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that 
the policy developed under subsection (a)— 
(1) permits an alleged victim to elect not to be covered 
by the policy with respect to a particular incident of sexual 
assault; 
(2) protects the alleged victim as necessary, including by 
prohibiting retaliatory harassment; 
(3) minimizes the prejudicial impact of the policy, to the 
extent practicable, on both the alleged victim and the alleged 
perpetrator, and allows the alleged victim and the alleged per-
petrator to complete their course of study at the institution 
with minimal disruption; 
(4) protects the privacy of both the alleged victim and 
the alleged perpetrator by ensuring that information about 
the alleged sexual assault and the individuals involved is not 
revealed to third parties who are not specifically authorized 
to receive such information in the course of performing their 
regular duties, except that such policy shall not preclude the 
alleged victim or the alleged perpetrator from making such 
disclosures to third parties; and 
(5) minimizes the burden on the alleged victim when taking 
steps to separate the alleged victim and alleged perpetrator. 
(c) SPECIAL RULE.—The policy developed under subsection (a) 
shall not preclude a military service academy from taking other 
administrative or disciplinary action when appropriate. 
(d) MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘military service academy’’ means the following: 
(1) The United States Military Academy. 
(2) The United States Naval Academy. 
(3) The United States Air Force Academy. 
(4) The United States Coast Guard Academy. 
SEC. 539A. SAFE-TO-REPORT POLICY APPLICABLE ACROSS THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall, in consulta-
tion with the Secretaries of the military departments, prescribe 
in regulations a safe-to-report policy described in subsection (b) 
that applies with respect to all members of the Armed Forces 
(including members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces) 
and cadets and midshipmen at the military service academies. 
(b) 
SAFE-TO-REPORT
POLICY.—The 
safe-to-report 
policy 
described in this subsection is a policy that prescribes the handling 
of minor collateral misconduct involving a member of the Armed 
Forces who is the alleged victim of sexual assault. 
(c) AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES.—The regulations under sub-
section (a) shall specify aggravating circumstances that increase 
the gravity of minor collateral misconduct or its impact on good 
order and discipline for purposes of the safe-to-report policy. 
(d) TRACKING
OF COLLATERAL MISCONDUCT INCIDENTS.—In 
conjunction with the issuance of regulations under subsection (a), 
Secretary shall develop and implement a process to track incidents 
of minor collateral misconduct that are subject to the safe-to-report 
policy. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
H. R. 6395—221 
(1) The term ‘‘Armed Forces’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, except 
such term does not include the Coast Guard. 
(2) The term ‘‘military service academy’’ means the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The United States Military Academy. 
(B) The United States Naval Academy. 
(C) The United States Air Force Academy. 
(3) The term ‘‘minor collateral misconduct’’ means any 
minor misconduct that is potentially punishable under chapter 
47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice), that— 
(A) is committed close in time to or during the sexual 
assault, and directly related to the incident that formed 
the basis of the sexual assault allegation; 
(B) is discovered as a direct result of the report of 
sexual assault or the ensuing investigation into the sexual 
assault; and 
(C) does not involve aggravating circumstances (as 
specified in the regulations prescribed under subsection 
(c)) that increase the gravity of the minor misconduct or 
its impact on good order and discipline. 
SEC. 539B. ACCOUNTABILITY OF LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE FOR DISCHARGING THE SEXUAL HARASS-
MENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT. 
(a) 
STRATEGY
ON
HOLDING
LEADERSHIP
ACCOUNTABLE 
REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement 
Department of Defense-wide a strategy to hold individuals in posi-
tions of leadership in the Department (including members of the 
Armed Forces and civilians) accountable for the promotion, support, 
and enforcement of the policies and programs of the Department 
on sexual harassment. 
(b) OVERSIGHT FRAMEWORK.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The strategy required by subsection (a) 
shall provide for an oversight framework for the efforts of 
the Department of Defense to promote, support, and enforce 
the policies and programs of the Department on sexual harass-
ment. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The oversight framework required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) Long-term goals, objectives, and milestones in 
connection with the policies and programs of the Depart-
ment on sexual harassment. 
(B) Strategies to achieve the goals, objectives, and mile-
stones referred to in subparagraph (A). 
(C) Criteria for assessing progress toward the achieve-
ment of the goals, objectives, and milestones referred to 
in subparagraph (A). 
(D) Criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the poli-
cies and programs of the Department on sexual harass-
ment. 
(E) Mechanisms to ensure that adequate resources are 
available to the Office of the Secretary of Defense to develop 
and discharge the oversight framework. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
H. R. 6395—222 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report on the actions taken to carry out this 
section, including the strategy developed and implemented pursuant 
to subsection (a), and the oversight framework developed and imple-
mented pursuant to subsection (b). 
SEC. 539C. REPORTS ON STATUS OF INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGED 
SEX-RELATED OFFENSES. 
(a) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 
December 31, 2025, the Secretary of each military department 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on 
the status of investigations into alleged sex-related offenses. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each report under subsection (a) shall include, 
with respect to investigations into alleged sex-related offenses car-
ried out by military criminal investigative organizations under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned during the preceding year, 
the following: 
(1) The total number of investigations. 
(2) For each investigation— 
(A) the date the investigation was initiated; and 
(B) an explanation of whether the investigation is in- 
progress or complete as of the date of the report and, 
if complete, the date on which the investigation was com-
pleted. 
(3) The total number of investigations that are complete 
as of the date of the report. 
(4) The total number of investigations that are in-progress 
as of the date of the report. 
(5) For investigations lasting longer than 180 days, a gen-
eral explanation of the primary reasons for the extended dura-
tion of such investigations. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘alleged sex-related offense’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 1044(e)(h) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘complete’’ when used with respect to an 
investigation of an alleged sex-related offense, means the active 
phase of the investigation is sufficiently complete to enable 
the appropriate authority to reach a decision with respect to 
the disposition of charges for the offense. 
SEC. 539D. REPORT ON ABILITY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE 
COORDINATORS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND 
RESPONSE VICTIM ADVOCATES TO PERFORM DUTIES. 
(a) SURVEY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 30, 2021, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall conduct a survey regarding the ability 
of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Sexual Assault 
Prevention and Response Victim Advocates to perform their 
duties. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The survey required under paragraph (1) 
shall assess— 
(A) the current state of support provided to Sexual 
Assault Response Coordinators and Sexual Assault Preven-
tion and Response Victim Advocates, including— 
(i) perceived professional or other reprisal or 
retaliation; and
H. R. 6395—223 
(ii) access to sufficient physical and mental health 
services as a result of the nature of their work; 
(B) the ability of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators 
and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advo-
cates to contact and access their installation commander 
or unit commander; 
(C) the ability of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators 
and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advo-
cates to contact and access the immediate commander of 
victims and alleged offenders; 
(D) the responsiveness and receptiveness of com-
manders to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinators; 
(E) the support and services provided to victims of 
sexual assault; 
(F) the understanding of others of the process and 
their willingness to assist; 
(G) the adequacy of the training received by Sexual 
Assault Response Coordinators and Sexual Assault Preven-
tion and Response Victim Advocates to effectively perform 
their duties; and 
(H) any other factors affecting the ability of Sexual 
Assault Response Coordinators and Sexual Assault Preven-
tion and Response Victim Advocates to perform their duties. 
(b) REPORT.—Upon completion of the survey required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives a report on the results of the survey and any actions to 
be taken as a result of the survey. 
SEC. 539E. BRIEFING ON SPECIAL VICTIMS’ COUNSEL PROGRAM. 
(a) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Judge Advocates General 
of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard and 
the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps 
shall each provide to the congressional defense committees a 
briefing on the status of the Special Victims’ Counsel program 
of the Armed Force concerned. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing under subsection (a) shall 
include, with respect to the Special Victims’ Counsel program of 
the Armed Force concerned, the following: 
(1) An assessment of whether the Armed Force is in compli-
ance with the provisions of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) relating to the 
Special Victims’ Counsel program and, if not, what steps have 
been taken to achieve compliance with such provisions. 
(2) An estimate of the average caseload of each Special 
Victims’ Counsel. 
(3) A description of any staffing shortfalls in the Special 
Victims’ Counsel program or other programs of the Armed 
Force resulting from the additional responsibilities required 
of the Special Victims’ Counsel program under the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. 
(4) An explanation of the ability of Special Victims’ Counsel 
to adhere to requirement that a counsel respond to a request 
for services within 72 hours of receiving such request. 
(5) An assessment of the feasibility of providing cross- 
service Special Victims’ Counsel representation in instances
H. R. 6395—224 
where a Special Victims’ Counsel from a different Armed Force 
is co-located with a victim at a remote base. 
SEC. 539F. BRIEFING ON PLACEMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES IN ACADEMIC STATUS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF 
SEXUAL ASSAULT ONTO NON-RATED PERIODS. 
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall brief the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
on the feasibility and advisability, and current practice (if any) 
of the Department of Defense, of granting requests by members 
of the Armed Forces who are in academic status (whether at the 
military service academies or in developmental education programs) 
and who are victims of sexual assault to be placed on a Non- 
Rated Period for their performance report. 
Subtitle E—Military Justice and Other 
Legal Matters 
SEC. 541. RIGHT TO NOTICE OF VICTIMS OF OFFENSES UNDER THE 
UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE REGARDING CER-
TAIN POST-TRIAL MOTIONS, FILINGS, AND HEARINGS. 
Section 806b(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code (article 
6b(a)(2)) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subpara-
graphs (E) and (F), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new 
subparagraph (D): 
‘‘(D) A post-trial motion, filing, or hearing that may 
address the finding or sentence of a court-martial with 
respect to the accused, unseal privileged or private informa-
tion of the victim, or result in the release of the accused.’’. 
SEC. 542. QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGES AND STANDARD OF REVIEW 
FOR COURTS OF CRIMINAL APPEALS. 
(a) QUALIFICATIONS OF CERTAIN JUDGES.—Section 866(a) of title 
10, United States Code (article 66(a) of the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice), is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Each Judge’’ and inserting: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Judge’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS.—In addition to any other 
qualifications specified in paragraph (1), any commissioned 
officer or civilian assigned as an appellate military judge to 
a Court of Criminal Appeals shall have not fewer than 12 
years of experience in the practice of law before such assign-
ment.’’. 
(b) STANDARD OF REVIEW.—Paragraph (1) of section 866(d) of 
title 10, United States Code (article 66(d) of the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice), is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) CASES APPEALED BY ACCUSED.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In any case before the Court of 
Criminal Appeals under subsection (b), the Court may act 
only with respect to the findings and sentence as entered 
into the record under section 860c of this title (article 
60c). The Court may affirm only such findings of guilty
H. R. 6395—225 
as the Court finds correct in law, and in fact in accordance 
with subparagraph (B). The Court may affirm only the 
sentence, or such part or amount of the sentence, as the 
Court finds correct in law and fact and determines, on 
the basis of the entire record, should be approved. 
‘‘(B) FACTUAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW.—(i) In an appeal 
of a finding of guilty under subsection (b), the Court may 
consider whether the finding is correct in fact upon request 
of the accused if the accused makes a specific showing 
of a deficiency in proof. 
‘‘(ii) After an accused has made such a showing, the 
Court may weigh the evidence and determine controverted 
questions of fact subject to— 
‘‘(I) appropriate deference to the fact that the trial 
court saw and heard the witnesses and other evidence; 
and 
‘‘(II) appropriate deference to findings of fact 
entered into the record by the military judge. 
‘‘(iii) If, as a result of the review conducted under 
clause (ii), the Court is clearly convinced that the finding 
of guilty was against the weight of the evidence, the Court 
may dismiss, set aside, or modify the finding, or affirm 
a lesser finding.’’. 
(c) REVIEW BY UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 
ARMED
FORCES
OF
FACTUAL
SUFFICIENCY
RULINGS.—Section 
867(c)(1) of title 10, United States Code (article 67(c)(1) of the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) the findings set forth in the entry of judgment, as 
affirmed, dismissed, set aside, or modfied by the Court of 
Criminal Appeals as incorrect in fact under section 866(d)(1)(B) 
of this title (article 66(d)(1)(B)).’’. 
(d) INCLUSION
OF
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
IN
ANNUAL 
REPORTS.—Section 946a(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code (article 
146a(b)(2) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) an analysis of each case in which a Court of 
Criminal Appeals made a final determination that a finding 
of a court-martial was clearly against the weight of the 
evidence, including an explanation of the standard of appel-
late review applied in such case.’’. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATES AND APPLICABILITY.— 
(1) QUALIFICATIONS OF CERTAIN JUDGES.—The amendments 
made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to the 
assignment of appellate military judges on or after that date. 
(2) REVIEW AMENDMENTS.—The amendments made by sub-
sections (b) and (c) shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and shall apply with respect to any case in which 
every finding of guilty entered into the record under section 
860c of title 10, United States Code (article 60c of the Uniform
H. R. 6395—226 
Code of Military Justice), is for an offense that occurred on 
or after that date. 
SEC. 543. PRESERVATION OF COURT-MARTIAL RECORDS. 
Section 940a of title 10, United States Code (article 140a of 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) PRESERVATION
OF
COURT-MARTIAL
RECORDS
WITHOUT 
REGARD TO OUTCOME.—The standards and criteria prescribed by 
the Secretary of Defense under subsection (a) shall provide for 
the preservation of general and special court-martial records, with-
out regard to the outcome of the proceeding concerned, for not 
fewer than 15 years.’’. 
SEC. 544. AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS FOR NATIONAL INSTANT 
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. 
Section 101(b) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 
2007 (34 U.S.C. 40911(b)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new para-
graph (2): 
‘‘(2) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 business days after 
the final disposition of a judicial proceeding conducted 
within the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense 
shall make available to the Attorney General records which 
are relevant to a determination of whether a member of 
the Armed Forces involved in such proceeding is disquali-
fied from possessing or receiving a firearm under subsection 
(g) or (n) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code, 
for use in background checks performed by the National 
Instant Criminal Background Check System. 
‘‘(B) JUDICIAL
PROCEEDING
DEFINED.—In this para-
graph, the term ‘judicial proceeding’ means a hearing— 
‘‘(i) of which the person received actual notice; 
and 
‘‘(ii) at which the person had an opportunity to 
participate with counsel.’’. 
SEC. 545. REMOVAL OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING AND OTHER 
INFORMATION OF CERTAIN PERSONS FROM INVESTIGA-
TIVE REPORTS, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CENTRAL 
INDEX OF INVESTIGATIONS, AND OTHER RECORDS AND 
DATABASES. 
(a) POLICY AND PROCESS REQUIRED.—Not later than October 
1, 2021, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and maintain 
a policy and process through which any covered person may request 
that the person’s name, personally identifying information, and 
other information pertaining to the person shall, in accordance 
with subsection (c), be corrected in, or expunged or otherwise 
removed from, the following: 
(1) A law enforcement or criminal investigative report of 
the Department of Defense or any component of the Depart-
ment. 
(2) An index item or entry in the Department of Defense 
Central Index of Investigations (DCII). 
(3) Any other record maintained in connection with a report 
described in paragraph (1), or an index item or entry described
H. R. 6395—227 
in paragraph (2), in any system of records, records database, 
records center, or repository maintained by or on behalf of 
the Department. 
(b) COVERED PERSONS.—For purposes of this section, a covered 
person is any person whose name was placed or reported, or is 
maintained— 
(1) in the subject or title block of a law enforcement or 
criminal investigative report of the Department of Defense 
(or any component of the Department); 
(2) as an item or entry in the Department of Defense 
Central Index of Investigations; or 
(3) in any other record maintained in connection with a 
report described in paragraph (1), or an index item or entry 
described in paragraph (2), in any system of records, records 
database, records center, or repository maintained by or on 
behalf of the Department. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The policy and process required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following elements: 
(1) BASIS FOR CORRECTION OR EXPUNGEMENT.—That the 
name, personally identifying information, and other information 
of a covered person shall be corrected in, or expunged or other-
wise removed from, a report, item or entry, or record described 
in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) in the following 
circumstances: 
(A) Probable cause did not or does not exist to believe 
that the offense for which the person’s name was placed 
or reported, or is maintained, in such report, item or entry, 
or record occurred, or insufficient evidence existed or exists 
to determine whether or not such offense occurred. 
(B) Probable cause did not or does not exist to believe 
that the person actually committed the offense for which 
the person’s name was so placed or reported, or is so 
maintained, or insufficient evidence existed or exists to 
determine whether or not the person actually committed 
such offense. 
(C) Such other circumstances, or on such other bases, 
as the Secretary may specify in establishing the policy 
and process, which circumstances and bases may not be 
inconsistent with the circumstances and bases provided 
by subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—While not dispositive as to the exist-
ence of a circumstance or basis set forth in paragraph (1), 
the following shall be considered in the determination whether 
such circumstance or basis applies to a covered person for 
purposes of this section: 
(A) The extent or lack of corroborating evidence against 
the covered person concerned with respect to the offense 
at issue. 
(B) Whether adverse administrative, disciplinary, 
judicial, or other such action was initiated against the 
covered person for the offense at issue. 
(C) The type, nature, and outcome of any action 
described in subparagraph (B) against the covered person. 
(3) PROCEDURES.—The policy and process required by sub-
section (a) shall include procedures as follows: 
(A) Procedures under which a covered person may 
appeal a determination of the applicable component of the
H. R. 6395—228 
Department of Defense denying, whether in whole or in 
part, a request for purposes of subsection (a). 
(B) Procedures under which the applicable component 
of the Department will correct, expunge or remove, take 
other appropriate action on, or assist a covered person 
in so doing, any record maintained by a person, organiza-
tion, or entity outside of the Department to which such 
component provided, submitted, or transmitted information 
about the covered person, which information has or will 
be corrected in, or expunged or removed from, Department 
records pursuant to this section. 
(C) The timeline pursuant to which the Department, 
or a component of the Department, as applicable, will 
respond to each of the following: 
(i) A request pursuant to subsection (a). 
(ii) An appeal under the procedures required by 
subparagraph (A). 
(iii) A request for assistance under the procedures 
required by subparagraph (B). 
(D) Mechanisms through which the Department will 
keep a covered person apprised of the progress of the 
Department on a covered person’s request or appeal as 
described in subparagraph (C). 
(d) APPLICABILITY.—The policy and process required to be devel-
oped by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall not be subject 
to the notice and comment rulemaking requirements under section 
553 of title 5, United States Code. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than October 1, 2021, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a report on the actions taken 
to carry out this section, including a comprehensive description 
of the policy and process developed and implemented by the Sec-
retary under subsection (a). 
SEC. 546. BRIEFING ON MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR VICARIOUS 
TRAUMA FOR CERTAIN PERSONNEL IN THE MILITARY JUS-
TICE SYSTEM. 
(a) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Judge Advocates General 
of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force and the Staff Judge 
Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps shall jointly 
brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives on the mental health support for vicarious 
trauma provided to personnel in the military justice system specified 
in subsection (b). 
(b) PERSONNEL.—The personnel specified in this subsection are 
the following: 
(1) Court-martial convening authorities who are members 
of the Armed Forces. 
(2) Trial counsel. 
(3) Defense counsel. 
(4) Military judges. 
(5) Special Victims’ Counsel. 
(6) Military investigative personnel. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The briefing required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
H. R. 6395—229 
(1) A description and assessment of the mental health 
support for vicarious trauma provided to personnel in the mili-
tary justice system specified in subsection (b), including a 
description of the support services available and the support 
services being used. 
(2) A description and assessment of mechanisms to elimi-
nate or reduce stigma in the pursuit by such personnel of 
such mental health support. 
(3) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
providing such personnel with breaks between assignments 
or cases as part of such mental health support in order to 
reduce the effects of vicarious trauma. 
(4) A description and assessment of the extent, if any, 
to which duty of such personnel on particular types of cases, 
or in particular caseloads, contributes to vicarious trauma, 
and of the extent, if any, to which duty on such cases or 
caseloads has an effect on retention of such personnel in the 
Armed Forces. 
(5) A description of the extent, if any, to which such per-
sonnel are screened or otherwise assessed for vicarious trauma 
before discharge or release from the Armed Forces. 
(6) Such other matters in connection with the provision 
of mental health support for vicarious trauma to such personnel 
as the Judge Advocates General and the Staff Judge Advocate 
jointly consider appropriate. 
SEC. 547. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT 
ON IMPLEMENTATION BY THE ARMED FORCES OF RECENT 
GAO RECOMMENDATIONS AND STATUTORY REQUIRE-
MENTS ON ASSESSMENT OF RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND GENDER 
DISPARITIES IN THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report, in writing, 
on a study, conducted by the Comptroller General for purposes 
of the report, on the implementation by the Armed Forces of the 
following: 
(1) The recommendations in the May 2019 report of the 
General Accountability Office entitled ‘‘Military Justice: DOD 
and the Coast Guard Need to Improve Their Capabilities to 
Assess Racial and Gender Disparities’’ (GAO–19–344). 
(2) Requirements in section 540I(b) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 
133 Stat. 1369; 10 U.S.C. 810 note), relating to assessments 
covered by such recommendations. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include, for each recommendation and requirement specified in 
that subsection, the following: 
(1) A description of the actions taken or planned by the 
Department of Defense, the military department concerned, 
or the Armed Force concerned to implement such recommenda-
tion or requirement. 
(2) An assessment of the extent to which the actions taken 
to implement such recommendation or requirement, as 
described pursuant to paragraph (1), are effective or meet the 
intended objective.
H. R. 6395—230 
(3) Any other matters in connection with such recommenda-
tion or requirement, and the implementation of such rec-
ommendation or requirement by the Armed Forces, that the 
Comptroller General considers appropriate. 
(c) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than May 1, 2021, the Comptroller 
General shall provide the committees referred to in subsection 
(a) one or more briefings on the status of the study required by 
that subsection, including any preliminary findings and rec-
ommendations of the Comptroller General as a result of the study 
as of the date of such briefing. 
SEC. 548. LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS AND SURVIVING 
SPOUSES AND DEPENDENTS. 
(a) AVAILABILITY
OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE
AT FACILITIES
OF 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 59 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 5906. Availability of legal assistance at Department facili-
ties 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than three times each 
year, the Secretary shall facilitate the provision by a qualified 
legal assistance clinic of pro bono legal assistance described in 
subsection (c) to eligible individuals at not fewer than one medical 
center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or such other facility 
of the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate, in each 
State. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this section, an 
eligible individual is— 
‘‘(1) any veteran; 
‘‘(2) any surviving spouse; or 
‘‘(3) any child of a veteran who has died. 
‘‘(c) PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE DESCRIBED.—The pro bono 
legal assistance described in this subsection is the following: 
‘‘(1) Legal assistance with any program administered by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) Legal assistance associated with— 
‘‘(A) improving the status of a military discharge or 
characterization of service in the Armed Forces, including 
through a discharge review board; or 
‘‘(B) seeking a review of a military record before a 
board of correction for military or naval records. 
‘‘(3) Such other legal assistance as the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) considers appropriate; and 
‘‘(B) determines may be needed by eligible individuals. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FACILITIES.—Space in a medical 
center or facility designated under subsection (a) shall be reserved 
for and may only be used by the following, subject to review and 
removal from participation by the Secretary: 
‘‘(1) A veterans service organization or other nonprofit 
organization. 
‘‘(2) A legal assistance clinic associated with an accredited 
law school. 
‘‘(3) A legal services organization. 
‘‘(4) A bar association.
H. R. 6395—231 
‘‘(5) Such other attorneys and entities as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
‘‘(e) LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN RURAL AREAS.—In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary shall ensure that pro bono legal assistance 
is provided under subsection (a) in rural areas. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITION OF VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION.—In this 
section, the term ‘veterans service organization’ means any 
organization recognized by the Secretary for the representation 
of veterans under section 5902 of this title.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 59 of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘5906. Availability of legal assistance at Department facilities.’’. 
(b) PILOT PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH AND SUPPORT LEGAL ASSIST-
ANCE CLINICS.— 
(1) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a pilot program to assess the feasi-
bility and advisability of awarding grants to eligible entities 
to establish new legal assistance clinics, or enhance existing 
legal assistance clinics or other pro bono efforts, for the 
provision of pro bono legal assistance described in sub-
section (c) of section 5906 of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), on a year-round basis to individ-
uals who served in the Armed Forces, including individuals 
who served in a reserve component of the Armed Forces, 
and who were discharged or released therefrom, regardless 
of the conditions of such discharge or release, at locations 
other than medical centers and facilities described in sub-
section (a) of such section. 
(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in subparagraph 
(A) shall be construed to limit or affect— 
(i) the provision of pro bono legal assistance to 
eligible individuals at medical centers and facilities 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 
5906(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a); or 
(ii) any other legal assistance provided pro bono 
at medical centers or facilities of the Department as 
of the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—For purposes of the pilot program, 
an eligible entity is— 
(A) a veterans service organization or other nonprofit 
organization specifically focused on assisting veterans; 
(B) an entity specifically focused on assisting veterans 
and associated with an accredited law school; 
(C) a legal services organization or bar association; 
or 
(D) such other type of entity as the Secretary considers 
appropriate for purposes of the pilot program. 
(3) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall ensure that at least 
one grant is awarded under paragraph (1)(A) to at least one 
eligible entity in each State, if the Secretary determines that 
there is such an entity in a State that has applied for, and 
meets requirements for the award of, such a grant.
H. R. 6395—232 
(4) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
program during the five-year period beginning on the date 
on which the Secretary establishes the pilot program. 
(5) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity seeking a grant under 
the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary an application 
therefore at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require. 
(6) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall select eligible entities 
who submit applications under paragraph (5) for the award 
of grants under the pilot program using a competitive process 
that takes into account the following: 
(A) Capacity of the applicant entity to serve veterans 
and ability of the entity to provide sound legal advice. 
(B) Demonstrated need of the veteran population the 
applicant entity would serve. 
(C) Demonstrated need of the applicant entity for 
assistance from the grants. 
(D) Geographic diversity of applicant entities. 
(E) Such other criteria as the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
(7) GRANTEE REPORTS.—Each recipient of a grant under 
the pilot program shall, in accordance with such criteria as 
the Secretary may establish, submit to the Secretary a report 
on the activities of the recipient and how the grant amounts 
were used. 
(c) REVIEW OF PRO BONO ELIGIBILITY OF FEDERAL WORKERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, 
in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director 
of the Office of Government Ethics, conduct a review of the 
rules and regulations governing the circumstances under which 
attorneys employed by the Federal Government can provide 
pro bono legal assistance. 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In conducting the review required 
by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall develop recommendations 
for such legislative or administrative action as the Secretary 
considers appropriate to facilitate greater participation by Fed-
eral employees in pro bono legal and other volunteer services 
for veterans. 
(3) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress— 
(A) the findings of the Secretary with respect to the 
review conducted under paragraph (1); and 
(B) the recommendations developed by the Secretary 
under paragraph (2). 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the status of the implementation 
of this section. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CONGRESS.—The term 
‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
H. R. 6395—233 
(2) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘veterans 
service organization’’ means any organization recognized by 
the Secretary for the representation of veterans under section 
5902 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 549. CLARIFICATION OF TERMINATION OF LEASES OF PREMISES 
AND MOTOR VEHICLES OF SERVICEMEMBERS WHO INCUR 
CATASTROPHIC INJURY OR ILLNESS OR DIE WHILE IN 
MILITARY SERVICE. 
(a) CATASTROPHIC INJURIES AND ILLNESSES.—Paragraph (4) of 
section 305(a) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 
3955(a)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) CATASTROPHIC INJURY OR ILLNESS OF LESSEE.— 
‘‘(A) TERMINATION.—If the lessee on a lease described 
in subsection (b) incurs a catastrophic injury or illness 
during a period of military service or while performing 
covered service, during the one-year period beginning on 
the date on which the lessee incurs such injury or illness— 
‘‘(i) the lessee may terminate the lease; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a lessee who lacks the mental 
capacity to contract or to manage his or her own affairs 
(including disbursement of funds without limitation) 
due to such injury or illness, the spouse or dependent 
of the lessee may terminate the lease. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 
‘‘(i) The term ‘catastrophic injury or illness’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 439(g) of title 
37, United States Code. 
‘‘(ii) The term ‘covered service’ means full-time 
National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, 
or inactive-duty training (as such terms are defined 
in section 101(d) of title 10, United States Code).’’. 
(b) DEATHS.—Paragraph (3) of such section is amended by 
striking ‘‘The spouse of the lessee’’ and inserting ‘‘The spouse or 
dependent of the lessee’’. 
SEC. 549A. MULTIDISCIPLINARY BOARD TO EVALUATE SUICIDE 
EVENTS. 
(a) GUIDANCE REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall issue 
guidance that requires each suicide event involving of a member 
of a covered Armed Force to be reviewed by a multidisciplinary 
board established at the command or installation level, or by the 
Chief of the covered Armed Force. Such guidance shall require 
that, for each suicide event reviewed by such a board, the board 
shall— 
(1) clearly define the objective, purpose, and outcome of 
the review; 
(2) take a multidisciplinary approach to the review and 
include, as part of the review process, leaders of military units, 
medical and mental health professionals, and representatives 
of military criminal investigative organizations; and 
(3) take appropriate steps to protect and share information 
obtained from ongoing investigations into the event (such as 
medical and law enforcement reports). 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION BY COVERED ARMED FORCES.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date on which the guidance is issued under 
subsection (a), the Chiefs of the covered Armed Forces shall imple-
ment the guidance.
H. R. 6395—234 
(c) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on the progress 
of the Secretary in implementing the guidance required under sub-
section (a). 
(d) COVERED ARMED FORCES DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘covered Armed Forces’’ means the Army, Navy, Air Force, 
Marine Corps, and Space Force. 
SEC. 549B. IMPROVEMENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TRACKING 
OF AND RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS OF CHILD ABUSE, 
ADULT CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN, AND SERIOUS HARM-
FUL 
BEHAVIOR 
BETWEEN 
CHILDREN 
AND 
YOUTH 
INVOLVING 
MILITARY 
DEPENDENTS 
ON 
MILITARY 
INSTALLATIONS. 
(a) IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall, consistent 
with recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United 
States in Government Accountability Office report GA0–20– 
110, take actions in accordance with this section in order to 
improve the efforts of the Department of Defense to track 
and respond to incidents of serious harm to children involving 
dependents of members of the Armed Forces that occur on 
military installations (in this section referred to as ‘‘covered 
incidents of serious harm to children’’). 
(2) SERIOUS HARM TO CHILDREN DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘serious harm to children’’ includes the following: 
(A) Caregiver child abuse involving physical abuse, 
sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect. 
(B) Non-caregiver adult crimes against children. 
(C) Serious harmful behaviors between children and 
youth of a physical, sexual, or emotional nature. 
(b) DATA COLLECTION AND TRACKING OF INCIDENTS OF HARM 
TO CHILDREN.— 
(1) NON-CAREGIVER ADULT CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall establish a process for the Depart-
ment of Defense to track reported covered incidents of serious 
harm to children described in subsection (a)(2)(B) in which 
the alleged offender is an adult who is not a parent, guardian, 
or someone in a caregiving role at the time of the incident. 
The information so tracked shall comport with the information 
tracked by the Department in reported covered incidents of 
serious harm to children in which the alleged offender is a 
parent, guardian, or someone in a caregiving role at the time 
of the incident. 
(2) SERIOUS HARMFUL BEHAVIORS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND 
YOUTH.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
develop and maintain in the Department of Defense a 
centralized database to track incidents of serious harmful 
behaviors between children and youth described in sub-
section (a)(2)(C), including information across the Depart-
ment on problematic sexual behavior in children and youth 
that are reported to an appropriate office, as determined 
by the Secretary, or investigated by a military criminal 
investigative organization, regardless of whether the
H. R. 6395—235 
alleged offender was another child, an adult, or someone 
in a non-caregiving role at the time of an incident. 
(B) ELEMENTS.—The centralized database required by 
this paragraph shall include, for each incident within the 
database, the following: 
(i) Information pertinent to a determination by 
the Department on whether such incident meets the 
definition of an incident of serious harmful behavior 
between children and youth. 
(ii) The results of any investigation of such incident 
by a military criminal investigative organization. 
(iii) Information on the ultimate disposition of the 
incident, if any, including any administrative or pros-
ecutorial action taken. 
(C) ANNUAL REPORTS ON INFORMATION.—The informa-
tion collected and maintained in the centralized database 
required by this paragraph shall be reported on an annual 
basis as part of the annual reports by the Secretary on 
child abuse and domestic abuse in the military as required 
by section 574 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2141). 
(D) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than March 31, 2021, and 
every six months thereafter until the centralized database 
required by this paragraph is fully operational, the Sec-
retary shall brief the Committees on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives on the status 
of the database. 
(3) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REPORTING GUIDANCE.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall issue guidance regarding which 
incidents of serious harmful behavior between children and 
youth require reporting to the Family Advocacy Program, a 
military criminal investigative organization, or another compo-
nent of the Department of Defense designated by the Secretary. 
(c) RESPONSE PROCEDURES FOR INCIDENTS OF SERIOUS HARM 
TO CHILDREN REPORTED TO FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAMS.— 
(1) INCIDENT
DETERMINATION
COMMITTEE
MEMBERSHIP.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the voting member-
ship of each Incident Determination Committee, as defined 
in paragraph (7), on a military installation includes medical 
personnel with the knowledge and expertise required to deter-
mine whether a reported incident of serious harm to a child 
meets the criteria of the Department of Defense for treatment 
as child abuse. 
(2) SCREENING REPORTED INCIDENTS OF SERIOUS HARM TO 
CHILDREN.— 
(A) DEVELOPMENT
OF
STANDARDIZED
PROCESS.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall develop a standardized process 
by which the Family Advocacy Programs of the military 
departments screen reported covered incidents of serious 
harm to children to determine whether to present such 
incident to an Incident Determination Committee. 
(B) MONITORING.—The Secretary of each military 
department shall develop a process to monitor the manner 
in which reported incidents of serious harm to children 
are screened by each installation under the jurisdiction 
of such Secretary in order to ensure that such screening
H. R. 6395—236 
complies with the standardized screening process developed 
pursuant to subparagraph (A). 
(3) REQUIRED NOTIFICATIONS.— 
(A) DOCUMENTATION.—The Secretary of each military 
department shall require that installation Family Advocacy 
Programs and military criminal investigative organizations 
under the jurisdiction of such Secretary document in their 
respective databases the date on which they notified the 
other of a reported incident of serious harm to a child. 
(B) OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary of each military depart-
ment shall require that the Family Advocacy Program of 
such military department, and the headquarters of the 
military criminal investigative organizations of such mili-
tary department, develop processes to oversee the docu-
mentation of notifications required by subparagraph (A) 
in order to ensure that such notifications occur on a con-
sistent basis at installation level. 
(4) CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAM-
INERS.— 
(A) GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS FOR EXAMINERS.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall specify geographic regions in which 
military families reside for purposes of the availability 
of and access to certified pediatric sexual assault examiners 
in such regions. 
(B) AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall ensure that— 
(i) one or more certified pediatric sexual assault 
examiners are located in each geographic region speci-
fied pursuant to subparagraph (A); and 
(ii) examiners so located serve as certified pediatric 
sexual assault examiners throughout such region, with-
out regard to Armed Force or installation. 
(5) REMOVAL
OF
CHILDREN
FROM
UNSAFE
HOMES
OVER-
SEAS.—The Secretary of Defense shall issue policy that clarifies 
and standardizes across the Armed Forces the circumstances 
under which a commander may remove a child from a poten-
tially unsafe home at an installation overseas. 
(6) RESOURCE GUIDE FOR VICTIMS OF SERIOUS HARM TO 
CHILDREN.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of each military 
department shall develop and maintain a comprehensive 
guide on resources available through the Department of 
Defense and such military department for military families 
under the jurisdiction of such Secretary who are victims 
of serious harm to children. 
(B) ELEMENTS.—Each guide under this paragraph shall 
include the following: 
(i) Information on the response processes of the 
Family Advocacy Programs and military criminal 
investigative organizations of the military department 
concerned. 
(ii) Lists of available support services, such as 
legal, medical, and victim advocacy services, through 
the Department of Defense and the military depart-
ment concerned.
H. R. 6395—237 
(C) DISTRIBUTION.—A resource guide under this para-
graph shall be presented to a military family by an installa-
tion Family Advocacy Program and military criminal inves-
tigative personnel when a covered incident of serious harm 
to a child involving a child in such family is reported. 
(D) AVAILABILITY ON INTERNET.—A current version of 
each resource guide under this paragraph shall be available 
to the public on an Internet website of the military depart-
ment concerned available to the public. 
(7) INCIDENT DETERMINATION COMMITTEE DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘‘Incident Determination Committee’’ 
means a committee established at a military installation that 
is responsible for reviewing reported incidents of child abuse 
and determining whether such incidents constitute serious 
harm to children according to the applicable criteria of the 
Department of Defense. 
(d) COORDINATION
AND COLLABORATION WITH NON-MILITARY 
RESOURCES.— 
(1) CONSULTATION WITH STATES.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall— 
(A) continue the outreach efforts of the Department 
of Defense to the States in order to ensure that States 
are notified when a member of the Armed Forces or a 
military dependent is involved in a reported incident of 
serious harm to a child off a military installation; and 
(B) increase efforts at information sharing between 
the Department and the States on such incidents of serious 
harm to children, including entry into memoranda of under-
standing with State child welfare agencies on information 
sharing in connection with such incidents. 
(2) COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE.— 
(A) MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Secretary 
of each military department shall seek to enter into a 
memorandum of understanding with the National Chil-
dren’s Alliance, or similar organization, under which— 
(i) the children’s advocacy center services of the 
Alliance are available to all installations in the conti-
nental United States under the jurisdiction of such 
Secretary; and 
(ii) members of the Armed Forces under the juris-
diction of such Secretary are made aware of the nature 
and availability of such services. 
(B) PARTICIPATION OF CERTAIN ENTITIES.—Each memo-
randum of understanding under this paragraph shall pro-
vide for the appropriate participation of the Family 
Advocacy Program and military criminal investigative 
organizations of the military department concerned in 
activities under such memorandum of understanding. 
(C) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of each military 
department shall provide to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a briefing on the status of the development of a memo-
randum of understanding with the National Children’s Alli-
ance under this paragraph, together with information on 
which installations, if any, under the jurisdiction of such 
Secretary have entered into a written agreement with a
H. R. 6395—238 
local children’s advocacy center with respect to serious 
harm to children on such installations. 
SEC. 549C. INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall seek to 
enter into a contract or other agreement with an appropriate 
entity in the private sector (including a Federally funded 
research and development center) for the conduct of an analysis 
and the development of recommendations on means to improve 
the effectiveness of the covered Armed Forces in responding 
to and preventing domestic violence. 
(2) EXPERTISE.—The entity with which the Secretary enters 
into a contract or agreement pursuant to this section shall 
have expertise in— 
(A) scientific and other research relating to domestic 
violence; and 
(B) science-based strategies for the prevention, inter-
vention, and response to domestic violence. 
(b) SCOPE OF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Under the 
contract or agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the 
entity concerned shall analyze and develop recommendations for 
the Secretary with respect to each of the following: 
(1) The risk of domestic violence at various stages of mili-
tary service, including identification of— 
(A) stages at which there is a higher than average 
risk of domestic violence; and 
(B) stages at which the implementation of domestic 
violence prevention strategies may have the greatest 
preventive effect. 
(2) The use and dissemination of domestic violence preven-
tion resources throughout the stages of military service, 
including providing new members with training in domestic 
violence prevention. 
(3) Best practices for the targeting of domestic violence 
prevention resources toward those with a higher risk of 
domestic violence. 
(4) Strategies to prevent domestic violence by training, 
educating, and assigning prevention-related responsibilities 
to— 
(A) commanders; 
(B) medical, behavioral, and mental health service pro-
viders; 
(C) family advocacy program representatives; 
(D) Military Family Life Consultants; and 
(E) other individuals and entities with responsibilities 
that may be relevant to addressing domestic violence. 
(5) The efficacy of providing survivors of domestic violence 
with the option to request expedited transfers, and the effects 
of such transfers. 
(6) Improvements to procedures for reporting appropriate 
legal actions to the National Crime Information Center, and 
the efficacy of such procedures. 
(7) The effects of domestic violence on— 
(A) housing for military families; 
(B) the education of military dependent children;
H. R. 6395—239 
(C) member work assignments and careers; and 
(D) the health of members and their families, including 
short-term and long-term health effects and effects on 
mental health. 
(8) Age-appropriate training and education programs for 
students attending schools operated by the Department of 
Defense Education Activity that are designed to assist such 
students in learning positive relationship behaviors in families 
and with intimate partners. 
(9) The potential effects of requiring military protective 
orders to be issued by a military judge, including whether 
such a requirement would increase the enforcement of military 
protective orders by civilian law enforcement agencies outside 
the boundaries of military installations. 
(10) Whether prevention of domestic violence would be 
enhanced by raising the disposition authority for offenses of 
domestic violence to an officer who is— 
(A) in grade 0–6 or above; 
(B) in the chain of command of the accused; and 
(C) authorized by chapter 47 of title 10, United States 
Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), to convene 
special courts martial. 
(11) Means of improving access to resources for survivors 
of domestic violence throughout the stages of military service. 
(12) Any other matters the Secretary specifies in the con-
tract or agreement with respect to— 
(A) decreasing the frequency of domestic violence com-
mitted by or upon members of the covered Armed Forces 
and their dependents; and 
(B) reducing the severity of such violence. 
(c) ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND FACILITIES.—The Secretary 
shall provide the entity with which the Secretary contracts or 
enters into an agreement pursuant to subsection (a) such access 
to information and facilities of the Department of Defense as the 
Secretary and the entity jointly consider appropriate for the analysis 
and development of recommendations required by the contract. 
(d) REPORT TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The contract or agreement pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall require the entity with which the Secretary 
contracts or enters into agreement to submit to the Secretary 
a report on the analysis conducted and recommendations devel-
oped by the entity under the contract or agreement by not 
later than one year after the date of entry into the contract 
or agreement. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required pursuant to paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
(A) A comprehensive description of the analysis con-
ducted by the entity concerned under the contract or agree-
ment. 
(B) A list of the recommendations developed by the 
entity, including, for each such recommendation, a justifica-
tion for such recommendation. 
(C) Such other matters as the Secretary shall specify 
in the contract or agreement. 
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after receipt 
of the report required pursuant to subsection (d), the Secretary
H. R. 6395—240 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a report on means to improve 
the effectiveness of the covered Armed Forces in responding 
to and preventing domestic violence. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) The report received by the Secretary pursuant to 
subsection (d). 
(B) For each recommendation included in the report 
pursuant to subsection (d) by reason of paragraph (2)(B) 
of that subsection— 
(i) an assessment by the Secretary of the feasibility 
and advisability of implementing such recommenda-
tion; and 
(ii) if the Secretary considers the implementation 
of such recommendation feasible and advisable, a 
description of the actions taken, or to be taken, to 
implement such recommendation. 
(C) Such other matters relating to the improvement 
of the effectiveness of the covered Armed Forces in 
responding to and preventing domestic violence as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate in light of the report pursuant 
to subsection (d). 
(f) FUNDING.—Of the amount authorized to be appropriated 
for fiscal year 2021 for the Department of Defense by section 301 
and available for operation and maintenance, Defense wide, as 
specified in the funding table in section 4301, $1,000,000 shall 
be available for contract or agreement entered into pursuant to 
subsection (a). 
(g) COVERED ARMED FORCES DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘covered Armed Forces’’ means the Army, the Navy, the Air 
Force, and the Marine Corps. 
Subtitle F—Diversity and Inclusion 
SEC. 551. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 
AND RELATED MATTERS. 
(a) STANDARD DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION METRICS AND ANNUAL 
REPORT REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 113 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (c)— 
(i) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as para-
graphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following 
new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2) a report from each military department on the status 
of diversity and inclusion in such department;’’; 
(B) in subsection (g)(1)(B), by inserting after clause 
(vi), the following new clause (vii): 
‘‘(vii) Strategic goals related to diversity and inclusion in 
the armed forces, and an assessment of measures of perform-
ance related to the efforts of the armed forces to reflect the 
diverse population of the United States eligible to serve in 
the armed forces.’’;
H. R. 6395—241 
(C) by redesignating subsections (m) and (n) as sub-
sections (n) and (o), respectively; and 
(D) by inserting after subsection (k) the following new 
subsections (l) and (m): 
‘‘(l)(1) The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, 
shall establish metrics to measure— 
‘‘(A) efforts to reflect across all grades comprising the officer 
and enlisted corps of each armed force the diverse population 
of the United States eligible to serve in the armed forces; 
and 
‘‘(B) the efforts of the armed forces to generate and main-
tain a ready military force that will prevail in war, prevent 
and deter conflict, defeat adversaries, and succeed in a wide 
range of contingencies. 
‘‘(2) In implementing the requirement in paragraph (1), the 
Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the 
Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall— 
‘‘(A) ensure that data elements, data collection methodolo-
gies, and reporting processes and structures pertinent to each 
metric established pursuant to that paragraph are comparable 
across the armed forces, to the extent practicable; 
‘‘(B) establish standard classifications that members of the 
armed forces may use to self-identify their gender, race, or 
ethnicity, which classifications shall be consistent with Office 
of Management and Budget Number Directive 15, entitled ‘Race 
and Ethnic Standards for Federal Statistics and Administrative 
Reporting’, or any successor directive; 
‘‘(C) define conscious and unconscious bias with respect 
to matters of diversity and inclusion, and provide guidance 
to eliminate such bias; 
‘‘(D) conduct a barrier analysis to review demographic 
diversity patterns across the military life cycle, starting with 
enlistment or accession into the armed forces, in order to— 
‘‘(i) identify barriers to increasing diversity; 
‘‘(ii) develop and implement plans and processes to 
resolve or eliminate any barriers to diversity; and 
‘‘(iii) review the progress of the armed forces in imple-
menting previous plans and processes to resolve or elimi-
nate barriers to diversity; 
‘‘(E) develop and implement plans and processes to ensure 
that advertising and marketing to promote enlistment or acces-
sion into the armed forces is representative of the diverse 
population of the United States eligible to serve in the armed 
forces; and 
‘‘(F) meet annually with the Secretaries of the military 
departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and 
the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces to assess progress 
toward diversity and inclusion across the armed forces and 
to elicit recommendations and advice for enhancing diversity 
and inclusion in the armed forces 
‘‘(m) Accompanying each national defense strategy provided 
to the congressional defense committees in accordance with sub-
section (g)(1)(D), the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with 
the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating, shall provide a report that sets forth a detailed discus-
sion, current as of the preceding fiscal year, of the following:
H. R. 6395—242 
‘‘(1) The number of officers and enlisted members of the 
armed forces, including the reserve components, disaggregated 
by gender, race, and ethnicity, for each grade in each armed 
force. 
‘‘(2) The number of members of the armed forces, including 
the reserve components, who were promoted during the fiscal 
year covered by such report, disaggregated by gender, race, 
and ethnicity, for each grade in each armed force, and of the 
number so promoted, the number promoted below, in, and 
above the applicable promotion zone. 
‘‘(3) The number of members of the armed forces, including 
the reserve components, who were enlisted or accessed into 
the armed forces during the fiscal year covered by such report, 
disaggregated by gender, race, and ethnicity, in each armed 
force. 
‘‘(4) The number of graduates of each military service 
academy during the fiscal year covered by such report, 
disaggregated by gender, race, and ethnicity, for each military 
department and the United States Coast Guard. 
‘‘(5) The number of members of the armed forces, including 
the reserve components, who reenlisted or otherwise extended 
a commitment to military service during the fiscal year covered 
by such report, disaggregated by gender, race, and ethnicity, 
for each grade in each armed force. 
‘‘(6) An assessment of the pool of officers best qualified 
for promotion to grades O–9 and O–10, disaggregated by gender, 
race, and ethnicity, in each military department and the United 
States Coast Guard. 
‘‘(7) Any other matter the Secretary considers appropriate.’’. 
(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS.—Not later than 72 
hours after submitting to the congressional defense committees 
a report required by subsection (m) of section 113 of title 
10, United States Code (as amended by paragraph (1)), the 
Secretary of Defense shall make the report available on an 
Internet website of the Department of Defense available to 
the public. In so making a report available, the Secretary 
shall ensure that any data included in the report is made 
available in a machine-readable format that is downloadable, 
searchable, and sortable. 
(3) CONSTRUCTION OF METRICS.— 
(A) WITH MERIT-BASED PROCESSES.—Any metric estab-
lished pursuant to subsection (l) of section 113 of title 
10, United States Code (as so amended), may not be used 
in a manner that undermines the merit-based processes 
of the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard, 
including such processes for accession, retention, and pro-
motion. 
(B) WITH OTHER MATTERS.—Any such metric may not 
be used to identify or specify specific quotas based upon 
diversity characteristics. The Secretary concerned shall con-
tinue to account for diversified language and cultural skills 
among the total force of the Armed Forces. 
(4) REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Sec-
tion 115a of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (g); and 
(B) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).
H. R. 6395—243 
(b) REQUIREMENT TO CONSIDER ALL BEST QUALIFIED OFFICERS 
FOR PROMOTION TO O–9 AND O–10 GRADES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 601 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(e) Prior to making a recommendation to the Secretary of 
Defense for the nomination of an officer for appointment to a 
position of importance and responsibility under this section, which 
appointment would result in the initial appointment of the officer 
concerned in the grade of lieutenant general or general in the 
Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps, vice admiral or admiral in 
the Navy, or the commensurate grades in the Space Force, the 
Secretary concerned shall consider all officers determined to be 
among the best qualified for such position.’’. 
(2) COAST GUARD.—Section 305(a) of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) Prior to making a recommendation to the President for 
the nomination of an officer for appointment to a position of impor-
tance and responsibility under this section, which appointment 
would result in the initial appointment of the officer concerned 
in the grade of vice admiral, the Commandant shall consider all 
officers determined to be among the best qualified for such posi-
tion.’’. 
(c) REPORT ON FINDINGS OF DEFENSE BOARD ON DIVERSITY 
AND INCLUSION IN THE MILITARY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Upon the completion by the Defense 
Board on Diversity and Inclusion in the Military of its report 
on actionable recommendations to increase diversity and ensure 
equal opportunity across all grades of the Armed Forces, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
report on the report of the Defense Board, including the findings 
and recommendations of the Defense Board. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) A comprehensive description of the findings and 
recommendations of the Defense Board in its report 
referred to in paragraph (1). 
(B) A comprehensive description of any actionable rec-
ommendations of the Defense Board in its report. 
(C) A description of the actions proposed to be under-
taken by the Secretary in connection with such rec-
ommendations, and a timeline for implementation of such 
actions. 
(D) Any data used by the Defense Board and in the 
development of its findings and recommendations. 
(E) A description of the resources used by the Defense 
Board for its report, and a description and assessment 
of any shortfalls in such resources for purposes of the 
Defense Board. 
(d) DEFENSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY AND INCLU-
SION IN THE ARMED FORCES MATTERS.— 
(1) REPORT.—At the same time the Secretary of Defense 
submits the report required by subsection (c), the Secretary 
shall also submit to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the
H. R. 6395—244 
Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in 
the Armed Forces. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) The mission statement or purpose of the Advisory 
Committee, and any proposed objectives and goals of the 
Advisory Committee. 
(B) A description of current members of the Advisory 
Committee and the criteria used for selecting members. 
(C) A description of the duties and scope of activities 
of the Advisory Committee. 
(D) The reporting structure of the Advisory Committee. 
(E) An estimate of the annual operating costs and 
staff years of the Advisory Committee. 
(F) An estimate of the number and frequency of 
meetings of the Advisory Committee. 
(G) Any subcommittees, established or proposed, that 
would support the Advisory Committee. 
(3) NOTICE AND WAIT ON DISSOLUTION.—The Secretary may 
not dissolve the Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and 
Inclusion in the Armed Forces until 60 days after the date 
on which the Secretary submits to the committees of Congress 
specified in paragraph (1) a notice on the dissolution of the 
Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 552. NATIONAL EMERGENCY EXCEPTION FOR TIMING REQUIRE-
MENTS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN SURVEYS OF MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) MEMBERS OF REGULAR AND RESERVE COMPONENTS.—Sub-
section (d) of section 481 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) WHEN SURVEYS REQUIRED.—(1) The Armed Forces Work-
place and Gender Relations Surveys of the Active Duty and the 
Armed Forces Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of the 
Reserve Components shall each be conducted once every two years. 
The surveys may be conducted within the same year or in two 
separate years, and shall be conducted in a manner designed to 
reduce the burden of the surveys on members of the armed forces. 
‘‘(2) The two Armed Forces Workplace and Equal Opportunity 
Surveys shall be conducted at least once every four years. The 
surveys may be conducted within the same year or in two separate 
years, and shall be conducted in a manner designed to reduce 
the burden of the surveys on members of the armed forces. 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense may postpone the conduct 
of a survey under this section if the Secretary determines that 
conducting such survey is not practicable due to a war or national 
emergency declared by the President or Congress. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall ensure that a survey postponed under 
subparagraph (A) is conducted as soon as practicable after the 
end of the period of war or national emergency concerned, or earlier 
if the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary shall notify Congress of a determination 
under subparagraph (A) not later than 30 days after the date 
on which the Secretary makes such determination.’’. 
(b) CADETS AND MIDSHIPMEN.—
H. R. 6395—245 
(1) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—Section 7461(c) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense may postpone the conduct 
of an assessment under this subsection if the Secretary determines 
that conducting such assessment is not practicable due to a war 
or national emergency declared by the President or Congress. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that an assessment 
postponed under subparagraph (A) is conducted as soon as prac-
ticable after the end of the period of war or national emergency 
concerned, or earlier if the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary of Defense shall notify Congress of a deter-
mination under subparagraph (A) not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the Secretary makes such determination.’’. 
(2) UNITED
STATES
NAVAL
ACADEMY.—Section 8480(c) of 
such title is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense may postpone the conduct 
of an assessment under this subsection if the Secretary determines 
that conducting such assessment is not practicable due to a war 
or national emergency declared by the President or Congress. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that an assessment 
postponed under subparagraph (A) is conducted as soon as prac-
ticable after the end of the period of war or national emergency 
concerned, or earlier if the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary of Defense shall notify Congress of a deter-
mination under subparagraph (A) not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the Secretary makes such determination.’’. 
(3) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.—Section 9461(c) 
of such title is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense may postpone the conduct 
of an assessment under this subsection if the Secretary determines 
that conducting such assessment is not practicable due to a war 
or national emergency declared by the President or Congress. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that an assessment 
postponed under subparagraph (A) is conducted as soon as prac-
ticable after the end of the period of war or national emergency 
concerned, or earlier if the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary of Defense shall notify Congress of a deter-
mination under subparagraph (A) not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the Secretary makes such determination.’’. 
(c) DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.—Section 
481a of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) POSTPONEMENT.—(1) The Secretary of Defense may post-
pone the conduct of a survey under this section if the Secretary 
determines that conducting such survey is not practicable due to 
a war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that a survey postponed under 
paragraph (1) is conducted as soon as practicable after the end 
of the period of war or national emergency concerned, or earlier 
if the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall notify Congress of a determination 
under paragraph (1) not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the Secretary makes such determination.’’.
H. R. 6395—246 
SEC. 553. QUESTIONS REGARDING RACISM, ANTI-SEMITISM, AND 
SUPREMACISM IN WORKPLACE SURVEYS ADMINISTERED 
BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. 
Section 593 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) QUESTIONS REQUIRED.—’’ before ‘‘The 
Secretary’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, racist, anti-Semitic, 
or supremacist’’ after ‘‘extremist’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than March 1, 2021, the Secretary 
shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a briefing including— 
‘‘(1) the text of the questions included in surveys under 
subsection (a); and 
‘‘(2) which surveys include such questions.’’. 
SEC. 554. INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT OF DIVERSITY AND INCLU-
SION 
IN 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
DEFENSE; 
SUPREMACIST, 
EXTREMIST, OR CRIMINAL GANG ACTIVITY IN THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL DEPUTY INSPECTOR GEN-
ERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
appoint, in the Office of the Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Defense, an additional Deputy Inspector General who— 
(A) shall be a member of the Senior Executive Service 
of the Department; and 
(B) shall report directly to and serve under the 
authority, direction, and control of the Inspector General. 
(2) DUTIES.—Subject to the Inspector General Act of 1978 
(Public Law 95–452; 5 U.S.C. App.), the Deputy Inspector Gen-
eral shall have the following duties: 
(A) Conducting and supervising audits, investigations, 
and evaluations of policies, programs, systems, and proc-
esses of the Department— 
(i) to determine the effect of such policies, pro-
grams, systems, and processes regarding personnel on 
diversity and inclusion in the Department; and 
(ii) to prevent and respond to supremacist, 
extremist, and criminal gang activity of a member 
of the Armed Forces, including the duties of the 
Inspector General under subsection (b). 
(B) Additional duties prescribed by the Secretary or 
Inspector General. 
(3) COORDINATION OF EFFORTS.—In carrying out the duties 
under paragraph (2), the Deputy Inspector General shall coordi-
nate with, and receive the cooperation of the following: 
(A) The Inspector General of the Army. 
(B) The Inspector General of the Navy. 
(C) The Inspector General of the Air Force. 
(D) The other Deputy Inspectors General of the Depart-
ment. 
(4) REPORTS.— 
(A) ONE-TIME REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General
H. R. 6395—247 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
describing, with respect to the Deputy Inspector General 
appointed under this subsection: 
(i) the duties and responsibilities to be assigned 
to such Deputy Inspector General; 
(ii) the organization, structure, staffing, and 
funding of the office established to support such Deputy 
Inspector General in the execution of such duties and 
responsibilities; 
(iii) challenges to the establishment of such Deputy 
Inspector General and such office, including any short-
falls in personnel and funding; and 
(iv) the date by which the Inspector General 
expects such Deputy Inspector General and the office 
will reach full operational capability. 
(B) SEMIANNUAL
REPORTS.—Not later than 30 days 
after the end of the second and fourth quarters of each 
fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Deputy 
Inspector General shall submit to the Secretary and the 
Inspector General a report including a summary of the 
activities of the Deputy Inspector General during the two 
fiscal quarters preceding the date of the report. 
(C) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Deputy Inspector General 
shall submit, through the Secretary and Inspector General, 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives annual reports presenting 
findings and recommendations regarding— 
(i) the effects of policies, programs, systems, and 
processes of the Department, regarding personnel, on 
diversity and inclusion in the Department; and 
(ii) the effectiveness of such policies, programs, 
systems, and processes in preventing and responding 
to supremacist, extremist, and criminal gang activity 
of a member of the Armed Forces. 
(D) OCCASIONAL REPORTS.—The Deputy Inspector Gen-
eral shall, from time to time, submit to the Secretary 
and the Inspector General additional reports as the Sec-
retary or Inspector General may direct. 
(E) ONLINE PUBLICATION.—The Deputy Inspector Gen-
eral shall publish each report under this paragraph on 
a publicly accessible website of the Department not later 
than 21 days after submitting such report to the Secretary, 
Inspector General, or the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
STANDARD
POLICIES, PROCESSES, 
TRACKING
MECHANISMS, 
AND
REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS
FOR 
SUPREMACIST, EXTREMIST, AND CRIMINAL GANG ACTIVITY IN CER-
TAIN ARMED FORCES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish 
policies, processes, and mechanisms, standard across the cov-
ered Armed Forces, that ensure that— 
(A) all allegations (and related information) that a 
member of a covered Armed Force has engaged in a prohib-
ited activity, are referred to the Inspector General of the 
Department of Defense;
H. R. 6395—248 
(B) the Inspector General can document and track 
the referral, for purposes of an investigation or inquiry 
of an allegation described in paragraph (1), to— 
(i) a military criminal investigative organization; 
(ii) an inspector general; 
(iii) a military police or security police organiza-
tion; 
(iv) a military commander; 
(v) another organization or official of the Depart-
ment; or 
(vi) a civilian law enforcement organization or offi-
cial; 
(C) the Inspector General can document and track 
the referral, to a military commander or other appropriate 
authority, of the final report of an investigation or inquiry 
described in subparagraph (B) for action; 
(D) the Inspector General can document the determina-
tion of whether a member described in subparagraph (A) 
engaged in prohibited activity; 
(E) the Inspector General can document whether a 
member of a covered Armed Force was subject to action 
(including judicial, disciplinary, adverse, or corrective 
administrative action) or no action, as the case may be, 
based on a determination described in subparagraph (D); 
and 
(F) the Inspector General can provide, or track the 
referral to a civilian law enforcement agency of, any 
information described in this paragraph. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than December 1 of each year begin-
ning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on the policies, processes, and mechanisms 
implemented under paragraph (1). Each report shall include, 
with respect to the fiscal year preceding the date of the report, 
the following: 
(A) The total number of referrals received by the 
Inspector General under paragraph (1)(A); 
(B) The total number of investigations and inquiries 
conducted pursuant to a referral described in paragraph 
(1)(B); 
(C) The total number of members of a covered Armed 
Force who, on the basis of determinations described in 
paragraph (1)(D) that the members engaged in prohibited 
activity, were subject to action described in paragraph 
(1)(E), including— 
(i) court-martial, 
(ii) other criminal prosecution, 
(iii) non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice; or 
(iv) administrative action, including involuntary 
discharge from the Armed Forces, a denial of reenlist-
ment, or counseling. 
(D) The total number of members of a covered Armed 
Force described in paragraph (1)(A) who were not subject 
to action described in paragraph (1)(E), notwithstanding 
determinations described in paragraph (1)(D) that such 
members engaged in prohibited activity.
H. R. 6395—249 
(E) The total number of referrals described in para-
graph (1)(F). 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 
means— 
(i) the Committee on the Judiciary and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the Senate; and 
(ii) the Committee on the Judiciary and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(B) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means an Armed 
Force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military 
department. 
(C) The term ‘‘prohibited activity’’ means an activity 
prohibited under Department of Defense Instruction 
1325.06, titled ‘‘Handling Dissident and Protest Activities 
Among Members of the Armed Forces’’, or any successor 
instruction. 
SEC. 555. POLICY TO IMPROVE RESPONSES TO PREGNANCY AND 
CHILDBIRTH BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
(a) POLICY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordina-
tion with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop 
a policy to ensure that the career of a member of the Armed 
Forces is not unduly affected because the member is a covered 
member. The policy shall address the following: 
(1) Enforcement and implementation of the applicable 
requirements of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (Public Law 
95–555; 42 U.S.C. 2000e(k)). 
(2) The need for individual determinations regarding the 
ability of members of the Armed Forces to serve during and 
after pregnancy. 
(3) Responses to the effects specific to covered members 
who reintegrate into home life after deployment. 
(4) Education and training on pregnancy discrimination 
to diminish stigma, stereotypes, and negative perceptions 
regarding covered members, including with regards to commit-
ment to the Armed Forces and abilities. 
(5) Opportunities to maintain readiness when positions 
are unfilled due to pregnancy, medical conditions arising from 
pregnancy or childbirth, pregnancy convalescence, or parental 
leave. 
(6) Reasonable accommodations for covered members in 
general and specific accommodations based on career field or 
military occupational specialty. 
(7) Consideration of deferments at military educational 
institutions for covered members. 
(8) Extended assignments and performance reporting 
periods for covered members. 
(9) A mechanism by which covered members may report 
harassment or discrimination, including retaliation, relating 
to being a covered member. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days 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—
H. R. 6395—250 
(1) a briefing summarizing the policy developed under this 
section; and 
(2) a copy of the policy. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered member’’ means a member of an 
Armed Force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a mili-
tary department who— 
(A) is pregnant; 
(B) gives birth to a child; or 
(C) incurs a medical condition arising from pregnancy 
or childbirth. 
(2) The term ‘‘military educational institution’’ means a 
postsecondary educational institution established within the 
Department of Defense. 
SEC. 556. TRAINING ON CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUC-
TIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
In accordance with Department of Defense Instruction 1300.17, 
dated September 1, 2020, and applicable law, the Secretary of 
Defense shall implement training on relevant Federal statutes, 
Department of Defense Instructions, and the regulations of each 
military department, including the responsibility of commanders 
to maintain good order and discipline. 
SEC. 557. EVALUATION OF BARRIERS TO MINORITY PARTICIPATION 
IN CERTAIN UNITS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Personnel and Readiness shall seek to enter into an agree-
ment with a federally funded research and development center 
with relevant expertise to conduct an evaluation of the barriers 
to minority participation in covered units of the Armed Forces. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The evaluation required under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following elements: 
(A) A description of the racial, ethnic, and gender 
composition of covered units. 
(B) A comparison of the participation rates of minority 
populations in covered units to participation rates of the 
general population as members and as officers of the Armed 
Forces. 
(C) A comparison of the percentage of minority officers 
in the grade of O–7 or higher who have served in each 
covered unit to such percentage for all such officers in 
the Armed Force of that covered unit. 
(D) An identification of barriers to minority (including 
English language learners) participation in the recruit-
ment, accession, assessment, and training processes. 
(E) The status and effectiveness of the response to 
the recommendations contained in the report of the RAND 
Corporation titled ‘‘Barriers to Minority Participation in 
Special Operations Forces’’ and any follow-up recommenda-
tions. 
(F) Recommendations to increase the numbers of 
minority officers in the Armed Forces. 
(G) Recommendations to increase minority participa-
tion in covered units.
H. R. 6395—251 
(H) Any other matters the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall— 
(A) submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report on the results of the study by not later than 
January 1, 2022; and 
(B) provide interim briefings to such committees upon 
request. 
(b) DESIGNATION.—The study conducted under subsection (a) 
shall be known as the ‘‘Study on Reducing Barriers to Minority 
Participation in Elite Units in the Armed Services’’. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), not 
later than March 1, 2023, the Secretary of Defense shall com-
mence the implementation of each recommendation included 
in the final report submitted under subsection (a)(3). 
(2) EXCEPTIONS.— 
(A) DELAYED
IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of 
Defense may commence implementation of a recommenda-
tion described paragraph (1) later than March 1, 2023, 
if— 
(i) the Secretary submits to the congressional 
defense committees, not later than January 1, 2023, 
written notice of the intent of the Secretary to delay 
implementation of the recommendation; and 
(ii) includes, as part of such notice, a specific jus-
tification for the delay in implementing the rec-
ommendation. 
(B) NONIMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
may elect not to implement a recommendation described 
in paragraph (1), if— 
(i) the Secretary submits to the congressional 
defense committees, not later than January 1, 2023, 
written notice of the intent of the Secretary not to 
implement the recommendation; and 
(ii) includes, as part of such notice— 
(I) the reasons for the Secretary’s decision not 
to implement the recommendation; and 
(II) a summary of alternative actions the Sec-
retary will carry out to address the purposes 
underlying the recommendation. 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—For each recommendation that 
the Secretary implements under this subsection, the Secretary 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees an 
implementation plan that includes— 
(A) a summary of actions the Secretary has carried 
out, or intends to carry out, to implement the recommenda-
tion; and 
(B) a schedule, with specific milestones, for completing 
the implementation of the recommendation. 
(d) COVERED UNITS DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘cov-
ered units’’ means the following: 
(1) Army Special Forces. 
(2) Army Rangers. 
(3) Navy SEALs. 
(4) Air Force Combat Control Teams. 
(5) Air Force Pararescue.
H. R. 6395—252 
(6) Air Force Special Reconnaissance. 
(7) Marine Raider Regiments. 
(8) Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance. 
(9) Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team. 
(10) Any other forces designated by the Secretary of 
Defense as special operations forces. 
(11) Pilot and navigator military occupational specialties. 
SEC. 558. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT 
ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AT THE MILITARY SERVICE 
ACADEMIES. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report that the following: 
(1) The aggregate number of equal opportunity claims filed 
with respect to each military service academy during 2019 
and 2020. 
(2) Of the number of claims specified pursuant to paragraph 
(1) for each military service academy, the number of such 
claims that were substantiated. 
(3) The results of any completed climate survey of cadets 
or midshipmen, as applicable, conducted by each military 
service academy, and any authorized organization external to 
such military service academy, during the two-year period 
ending on December 31, 2020 (or such longer period the Comp-
troller General determines appropriate). 
(4) An analysis of the data reported pursuant to paragraphs 
(1) through (3), an assessment whether the data indicates one 
or more trends in equal opportunity at the military service 
academies, and, if so, a description and assessment of each 
such trend. 
(5) A description and assessment of the Equal Opportunity 
programs and other programs to improve the climate of each 
military service academy, based on matters raised by equal 
opportunity claims, climate surveys, and such other evidence 
or assessments the Comptroller General determines appro-
priate, including an assessment whether such programs address 
trends identified pursuant to the analysis conducted for pur-
poses of paragraph (4). 
Subtitle G—Decorations and Awards 
SEC. 561. EXTENSION OF TIME TO REVIEW WORLD WAR I VALOR 
MEDALS. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Section 584(f) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 
Stat. 1281) is amended by striking ‘‘five’’ and inserting ‘‘six’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect as if enacted on the date of the enactment of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public 
Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1281). 
SEC. 562. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR CERTAIN AWARDS. 
(a) DISTINGUISHED-SERVICE CROSS TO RAMIRO F. OLIVO FOR 
ACTS OF VALOR DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.—
H. R. 6395—253 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—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 cer-
tain medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the 
President may award the Distinguished-Service Cross under 
section 7272 of such title to Ramiro F. Olivo for the acts 
of valor described in paragraph (2). 
(2) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor described 
in this paragraph are the actions of Ramiro F. Olivo on May 
9, 1968, as a member of the Army serving in the Republic 
of Vietnam. 
(b) MEDAL OF HONOR TO RALPH PUCKETT, JR., FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR DURING THE KOREAN WAR.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—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 cer-
tain medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the 
President may award the Medal of Honor under section 7271 
of such title to Ralph Puckett, Jr. for the acts of valor described 
in paragraph (2). 
(2) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor described 
in this paragraph are the actions of Ralph Puckett, Jr. on 
November 25 and 26, 1950, as a member of the Army serving 
in Korea, for which he was awarded the Distinguished-Service 
Cross. 
(c) MEDAL OF HONOR TO DWIGHT M. BIRDWELL FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—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 cer-
tain medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the 
President may award the Medal of Honor under section 7271 
of such title to Dwight M. Birdwell for the acts of valor 
described in paragraph (2). 
(2) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor described 
in this paragraph are the actions of Dwight M. Birdwell on 
January 31, 1968, as a member of the Army serving in the 
Republic of Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Silver 
Star. 
(d) MEDAL OF HONOR TO ALWYN C. CASHE FOR ACTS OF VALOR 
DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—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 cer-
tain medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the 
President may award the Medal of Honor under section 7271 
of such title to Alwyn C. Cashe for the acts of valor described 
in paragraph (2). 
(2) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor described 
in this paragraph are the actions of Alwyn C. Cashe on October 
17, 2005, as a member of the Army serving in Iraq in support 
of Operation Iraqi Freedom, for which he was posthumously 
awarded the Silver Star. 
(e) MEDAL OF HONOR TO EARL D. PLUMLEE FOR ACTS OF VALOR 
DURING OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time limitations 
specified in section 7274 of title 10, United States Code, or
H. R. 6395—254 
any other time limitation with respect to the awarding of cer-
tain medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the 
President may award the Medal of Honor under section 7271 
of such title to Earl D. Plumlee for the acts of valor described 
in paragraph (2). 
(2) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor described 
in this paragraph are the actions of Earl D. Plumlee on August 
28. 2013, as a member of the Army serving in Afghanistan 
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, for which he was 
awarded the Silver Star. 
SEC. 563. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON ESTABLISHMENT OF SERVICE MEDAL 
FOR RADIATION-EXPOSED VETERANS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED; REPORT.—Not later than May 1, 2021, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
containing the results of a study assessing the feasibility of estab-
lishing a service medal to award to radiation-exposed veterans. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report shall contain the following: 
(1) An analysis of how the decorations and awards of the 
Department of Defense have been updated to reflect the nature 
of military service across generations and conflicts. 
(2) An assessment of the conditions of service of radiation- 
exposed veterans. 
(3) Any plan of the Secretary to recognize (by means of 
a decoration or award) current, retired, or former members 
of the Armed Forces exposed to toxic materials or environments 
in the course of military service, including radiation-exposed 
veterans. 
(4) An assessment of the feasibility of establishing an 
atomic veterans service device to be added to the National 
Defense Service Medal or another appropriate medal. 
(5) A determination of the direct or indirect costs to the 
Department that would arise from the establishment of such 
a device or other appropriate medal. 
(6) Any other element the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(c) MEETING REQUIRED.—In the course of the feasibility study, 
the Secretary shall hold no fewer than one meeting with representa-
tives of organizations that advocate for radiation-exposed veterans 
(including leadership of the National Association of Atomic Vet-
erans, Inc.) to discuss the study and to work with such organizations 
on steps towards a mutually agreeable and timely recognition of 
the valued service of radiation-exposed veterans. 
(d) RADIATION-EXPOSED VETERAN DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘radiation-exposed veteran’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 1112 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 564. EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF SILVER 
STAR SERVICE BANNER DAY. 
Congress supports the designation of a ‘‘Silver Star Service 
Banner Day’’ and recommends that the President issues each year 
a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe 
Silver Star Service Banner Day with appropriate programs, cere-
monies, and activities.
H. R. 6395—255 
Subtitle H—Member Education, Training, 
Transition, and Resilience 
SEC. 571. MENTORSHIP AND CAREER COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR 
OFFICERS TO IMPROVE DIVERSITY IN MILITARY LEADER-
SHIP. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 656 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as 
subsections (c) through (f), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
subsection (b): 
‘‘(b) MENTORING AND CAREER COUNSELING PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) PROGRAM REQUIRED AS PART OF PLAN.—With the goal 
of having the diversity of the population of officers serving 
in each branch, specialty, community, and grade of each armed 
force reflect the diversity of the population in such armed 
force as a whole, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall include in the plan required by subsection (a) a mentoring 
and career counseling program for officers. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—The program required by this subsection 
shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) The option for any officer to participate in the 
program. 
‘‘(B) For each officer who elects to participate in the 
program, the following: 
‘‘(i) One or more opportunities for mentoring and 
career counseling before selection of the officer’s 
branch, specialty, or community. 
‘‘(ii) Ongoing opportunities for mentoring and 
career counseling following selection of the officer’s 
branch, specialty, or community, and continuing 
through the officer’s military career. 
‘‘(C) Mentoring and counseling during opportunities 
under subparagraph (B) consisting of the following: 
‘‘(i) Information on officer retention and promotion 
rates in each grade, branch, specialty, and community 
of the armed force concerned, including the rate at 
which officers in each branch, specialty, or community 
of such armed force are promoted to a grade above 
O–6. 
‘‘(ii) Information on career and service pathways, 
including service in the reserve components. 
‘‘(iii) Such other information as may be required 
to optimize the ability of an officer to make informed 
career decisions through the officer’s military career.’’. 
(2) PERFORMANCE METRICS.—Subsection (c) of such section, 
as redesignated by paragraph (1)(A), is amended— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ‘‘AND MEN-
TORING AND CAREER COUNSELING PROGRAM’’ after ‘‘DEVEL-
OPING AND IMPLEMENTING PLAN’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and the mentoring and career coun-
seling program under subsection (b)’’ after ‘‘the plan under 
subsection (a)’’.
H. R. 6395—256 
(3) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such sec-
tion is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 656. Diversity in military leadership: plan; mentoring and 
career counseling program’’. 
(B) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 656 and inserting the following 
new item: 
‘‘656. Diversity in military leadership: plan; mentoring and career counseling pro-
gram.’’. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, 
in coordination with the Secretary of the Department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating, submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the mentoring and career 
counseling program established pursuant to subsection (b) of 
section 656 of title 10, United States Code (as amended by 
subsection (a)). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) A description of the manner in which each Armed 
Force will implement the mentoring and counseling pro-
gram, 
(B) A description of the metrics that will be used 
to measure progress in developing and implementing the 
mentoring and career counseling program. 
(C) For each Armed Force, an explanation whether 
the mentoring and career counseling program will be car-
ried out as part of another program of such Armed Force 
or through the establishment of a separate subprogram 
or subprograms of such Armed Force. 
(D) A description of the additional resources, if any, 
that will be required to implement the mentoring and 
career counseling program, including the specific number 
of additional personnel authorizations that will be required 
to staff the program. 
(E) Such other information on the mentoring and 
career counseling program as the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating consider appropriate. 
(3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ 
means— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives. 
SEC. 572. EXPANSION OF SKILLBRIDGE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE THE 
COAST GUARD. 
Section 1143(e) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
H. R. 6395—257 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘of a military department’’ 
and inserting ‘‘concerned’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘of the military depart-
ment’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘of Defense’’ and inserting 
‘‘concerned’’. 
SEC. 573. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PERMANENT PROFESSORS AT THE 
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY. 
Section 9431(b)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘23’’ and inserting ‘‘25’’. 
SEC. 574. ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS WITH 2021 AND 2022 CERTIFI-
CATIONS ON THE READY, RELEVANT LEARNING INITIA-
TIVE OF THE NAVY. 
(a) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS WITH 2021 CERTIFICATIONS.—In 
submitting to Congress in 2021 the certifications required by section 
545 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2018 (Public Law 115–91; 131 Stat. 1396; 10 U.S.C. 8431 note 
prec.), relating to the Ready, Relevant Learning initiative of the 
Navy, the Secretary of the Navy shall also submit each of the 
following: 
(1) A framework for a life cycle sustainment plan for the 
Ready, Relevant Learning initiative meeting the requirements 
in subsection (b). 
(2) A report on the use of readiness assessment teams 
in training addressing the elements specified in subsection 
(c). 
(b) LIFE CYCLE SUSTAINMENT PLAN FRAMEWORK.—The frame-
work for a life cycle sustainment plan required by subsection (a)(1) 
shall address each of the following: 
(1) Product support management. 
(2) Supply support. 
(3) Packaging, handling, storage, and transportation. 
(4) Maintenance planning and management. 
(5) Design interface. 
(6) Sustainment engineering. 
(7) Technical data. 
(8) Computer resources. 
(9) Facilities and infrastructure. 
(10) Manpower and personnel. 
(11) Support equipment. 
(12) Training and training support. 
(13) Course content and relevance. 
(14) Governance, including the acquisition and program 
management structure. 
(15) Such other elements in the life cycle sustainment 
of the Ready, Relevant Learning initiative as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
(c) REPORT ON USE OF READINESS ASSESSMENT TEAMS.—The 
report required by subsection (a)(2) shall set forth the following: 
(1) A description and assessment of the extent to which 
the Navy is currently using Engineering Readiness Assessment 
Teams and Combat Systems Readiness Assessment Teams to 
conduct unit-level training and assistance in each capacity as 
follows: 
(A) To augment non-Ready, Relevant Learning initia-
tive training.
H. R. 6395—258 
(B) As part of Ready, Relevant Learning initiative 
training. 
(C) To train students on legacy, obsolete, one of a 
kind, or unique systems that are still widely used by the 
Navy. 
(D) To train students on military-specific systems that 
are not found in the commercial maritime world. 
(2) A description and assessment of potential benefits, and 
anticipated timelines and costs, in expanding Engineering 
Readiness Assessment Team and Combat Systems Readiness 
Assessment Team training in the capacities specified in para-
graph (1). 
(3) Such other matters in connection with the use of readi-
ness assessment teams in connection with the Ready, Relevant 
Learning initiative as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(d) LIFE
CYCLE
SUSTAINMENT
PLAN
WITH
2022 CERTIFI-
CATIONS.—In submitting to Congress in 2022 the certifications 
required by section 545 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2018, the Secretary shall also submit the approved 
life cycle sustainment plan for the Ready, Relevant Learning initia-
tive of the Navy, based on the framework for the plan developed 
for purposes of subsection (a)(1). 
SEC. 575. INFORMATION ON NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR 
MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES. 
(a) NOMINATIONS PORTAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Superintendents of the military service 
academies, shall ensure that there is a uniform online portal 
for all military service academies that enables Members of 
Congress and other nominating sources to nominate individuals 
for appointment to each academy through a secure website. 
(2) INFORMATION COLLECTION AND REPORTING.—The online 
portal established under paragraph (1) shall have the ability 
to— 
(A) collect, from each nominating source, the demo-
graphic information described in subsection (b) for each 
individual nominated to attend a military service academy; 
and 
(B) collect the information required to be included in 
each annual report of the Secretary under subsection (c) 
in a manner that enables the Secretary to automatically 
compile such information when preparing the report. 
(3) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—The portal shall allow 
Members of Congress, other nominating sources, and their des-
ignees to view their past nomination records for all application 
cycles. 
(b) STANDARD CLASSIFICATIONS
FOR COLLECTION
OF DEMO-
GRAPHIC DATA.— 
(1) STANDARDS REQUIRED.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Superintendents of the military service academies, 
shall establish standard classifications that cadets, mid-
shipmen, and applicants to the academies may use to report 
gender, race, and ethnicity and to provide other demographic 
information in connection with admission to or enrollment in 
an academy.
H. R. 6395—259 
(2) CONSISTENCY
WITH
OMB
GUIDANCE.—The standard 
classifications established under paragraph (1) shall be con-
sistent with the standard classifications specified in Office of 
Management and Budget Directive No. 15 (pertaining to race 
and ethnic standards for Federal statistics and administrative 
reporting) or any successor directive. 
(3) INCORPORATION INTO APPLICATIONS AND RECORDS.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall incorporate the standard classifications 
established under paragraph (1) into— 
(A) applications for admission to the military service 
academies; and 
(B) the military personnel records of cadets and mid-
shipmen enrolled in such academies. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS MILITARY SERVICE 
ACADEMY APPLICANTS.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than September 30 of 
each year beginning after the establishment of the online portal, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
on the demographics of applicants to military service academies 
for the most recently concluded application year. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph (1) shall 
include, with respect to each military service academy, the 
following: 
(A) The number of individuals who submitted an 
application for admission to the academy in the application 
year covered by the report. 
(B) Of the individuals who submitted an application 
for admission to the academy in such year— 
(i) the overall demographics of applicant pool, 
disaggregated by the classifications established under 
subsection (b); 
(ii) the number and percentage who received a 
nomination, disaggregated by the classifications estab-
lished under subsection (b); 
(iii) the number and percentage who received an 
offer for appointment to the academy, disaggregated 
by the classifications established under subsection (b); 
and 
(iv) the number and percentage who accepted an 
appointment to the academy, disaggregated by the 
classifications established under subsection (b). 
(3) CONSULTATION.—In preparing each report under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Superintendents 
of the military service academies. 
(4) AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS AND DATA.—The Secretary 
shall— 
(A) make the results of each report under paragraph 
(1) available on a publicly accessible website of the Depart-
ment of Defense; and 
(B) ensure that any data included with the report 
is made available in a machine-readable format that is 
downloadable, searchable, and sortable. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
H. R. 6395—260 
(1) The term ‘‘application year’’ means the period beginning 
on January 1 of one year and ending on June 1 of the following 
year. 
(2) The term ‘‘machine-readable’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 3502(18) of title 44, United States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘military service academy’’ means— 
(A) the United States Military Academy; 
(B) the United States Naval Academy; and 
(C) the United States Air Force Academy. 
SEC. 576. REPORT ON POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO CERTAIN MILI-
TARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than December 1, 2021, the 
Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
setting forth the results of a review and assessment, obtained 
by the Secretary for purposes of the report, of the potential effects 
on the military education provided by the educational institutions 
of the Department of Defense specified in subsection (b) of the 
actions described in subsection (c). 
(b) EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS
OF
THE
DEPARTMENT
OF 
DEFENSE.—The educational institutions of the Department of 
Defense specified in this subsection are the following: 
(1) The senior level service schools and intermediate level 
service schools (as such terms are defined in section 2151(b) 
of title 10, United States Code). 
(2) The Air Force Institute of Technology. 
(3) The National Defense University. 
(4) The Joint Special Operations University. 
(5) The Army Armament Graduate School. 
(6) Any other military educational institution of the Depart-
ment specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section. 
(c) ACTIONS.—The actions described in this subsection with 
respect to the educational institutions of the Department of Defense 
specified in subsection (b) are the following: 
(1) Modification of admission and graduation requirements. 
(2) Expansion of use of case studies in curricula for profes-
sional military education. 
(3) Reduction or expansion of degree-granting authority. 
(4) Reduction or expansion of the acceptance of research 
grants. 
(5) Reduction or expansion of the number of attending 
students generally. 
(6) Modification of military personnel career milestones 
in order to prioritize instructor positions. 
(7) Increase in educational and performance requirements 
for military personnel selected to be instructors. 
(8) Expansion of visiting or adjunct faculty. 
(9) Modification of civilian faculty management practices, 
including employment practices. 
(10) Reduction of the number of attending students through 
the sponsoring of education of an increased number of students 
at non-Department of Defense institutions of higher education.
H. R. 6395—261 
(d) ADDITIONAL
ELEMENTS.—In addition to the matters 
described in subsection (a), the review and report under this section 
shall also include the following: 
(1) A consolidated summary that lists all components of 
the professional military education enterprise of the Depart-
ment of Defense, including all associated schools, programs, 
research centers, and support activities. 
(2) For each component identified under paragraph (1), 
the assigned personnel strength, annual student throughput, 
and budget details of the three fiscal years preceding the date 
of the report. 
(3) An assessment of the differences between admission 
standards and graduation requirements of the educational 
institutions of the Department of Defense specified in sub-
section (b) and such admission standards and graduation 
requirements of public and private institutions of higher edu-
cation that the Secretary determines comparable to the edu-
cational institutions of the Department of Defense. 
(4) An assessment of the requirements of the goals and 
missions of the educational institutions of the Department of 
Defense specified in subsection (b) and any need to adjust 
such goals and missions to meet national security requirements 
of the Department. 
(5) An assessment of the effectiveness and shortfalls of 
the existing professional military education enterprise as meas-
ured against graduate utilization, post-graduate evaluations, 
and the education and force development requirements of the 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chiefs of the 
Armed Forces. 
(6) Any other matters the Secretary determines appropriate 
for purposes of this section. 
SEC. 577. COLLEGE OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS OF THE 
NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary of Defense may not eliminate, 
divest, downsize, or reorganize the College of International Security 
Affairs, nor its satellite program, the Joint Special Operations Mas-
ters of Arts, of the National Defense University, or seek to reduce 
the number of students educated at the College, or its satellite 
program, until 30 days after the date on which the congressional 
defense committees receive the report required by subsection (c). 
(b) ASSESSMENT, DETERMINATION, AND REVIEW.—The Under 
Secretary of Defense for Policy, in consultation with the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict, 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics 
and Global Threats, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense 
for Stability and Humanitarian Affairs, the Deputy Assistant Sec-
retary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism, 
the Chief Financial Officer of the Department, the Chairman of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Commander of United States 
Special Operations Command, shall— 
(1) assess requirements for joint professional military edu-
cation and civilian leader education in the counterterrorism, 
irregular warfare, and asymmetrical domains to support the 
Department and other national security institutions of the Fed-
eral Government;
H. R. 6395—262 
(2) determine whether the importance, challenges, and com-
plexity of the modern counterterrorism environment and irreg-
ular and asymmetrical domains warrant— 
(A) a college at the National Defense University, or 
a college independent of the National Defense University 
whose leadership is responsible to the Office of the Sec-
retary of Defense; and 
(B) the provision of resources, services, and capacity 
at levels that are the same as, or decreased or enhanced 
in comparison to, those resources, services, and capacity 
in place at the College of International Security Affairs 
on January 1, 2019; 
(3) review the plan proposed by the National Defense 
University for eliminating the College of International Security 
Affairs and reducing and restructuring the counterterrorism, 
irregular, and asymmetrical faculty, course offerings, joint 
professional military education and degree and certificate pro-
grams, and other services provided by the College; and 
(4) assess the changes made to the College of International 
Security Affairs since January 1, 2019, and the actions nec-
essary to reverse those changes, including relocating the College 
and its associated budget, faculty, staff, students, and facilities 
outside of the National Defense University. 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than February 1, 2021, the 
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report on— 
(1) the findings of the Secretary with respect to the assess-
ments, determination, and review conducted under subsection 
(b); and 
(2) such recommendations as the Secretary may have for 
higher education in the counterterrorism, irregular, and asym-
metrical domains. 
SEC. 578. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CREDENTIALING OPPORTUNITIES 
ON-LINE PROGRAMS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) STUDY
ON PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall conduct a study to determine additional performance 
measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the Credentialing 
Opportunities On-Line programs (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘COOL programs’’) of each Armed Force in connecting members 
of the Armed Forces with professional credential programs. The 
study shall include the following: 
(1) The percentage of members of the Armed Force con-
cerned described in section 1142(a) of title 10, United States 
Code, who participate in a professional credential program 
through the COOL program of the Armed Force concerned. 
(2) The percentage of members of the Armed Force con-
cerned described in paragraph (1) who have completed a profes-
sional credential program described in that paragraph. 
(3) The amount of funds obligated and expended to execute 
the COOL program of each Armed Force during the five fiscal 
years immediately preceding the date of the study. 
(4) Any other element determined by the Secretary of 
Defense. 
(b) INFORMATION TRACKING.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
establish a process to standardize the tracking of information 
regarding the COOL programs across the Armed Forces.
H. R. 6395—263 
(c) COORDINATION.—To carry out this section, the Secretary 
of Defense may coordinate with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs 
and Labor. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report on— 
(1) the study conducted under subsection (a); and 
(2) the process established under subsection (b), including 
a timeline to implement such process. 
SEC. 579. GAO STUDY REGARDING TRANSFERABILITY OF MILITARY 
CERTIFICATIONS TO CIVILIAN OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES 
AND CERTIFICATIONS. 
(a) STUDY; REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the results 
of a study regarding the transferability of military certifications 
to civilian occupational licenses and certifications. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall include 
the following: 
(1) Obstacles to transference of military certifications. 
(2) Any effects of the transferability of military certifi-
cations on recruitment and retention. 
(3) Examples of certifications obtained from the Federal 
Government that transfer to non-Federal employment. 
(4) An assessment of the effectiveness of the credentialing 
programs of each Armed Force. 
SEC. 579A. REPORT REGARDING COUNTY, TRIBAL, AND LOCAL VET-
ERANS SERVICE OFFICERS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services and on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and Senate a report regarding the effects 
of the presence of CVSOs at demobilization centers on members 
of the Armed Forces making the transition to civilian life. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall include 
the following: 
(1) The number of demobilization centers that host CVSOs. 
(2) The locations of demobilization centers described in 
paragraph (1). 
(3) Barriers to expanding the presence of CVSOs at 
demobilization centers nationwide. 
(4) Recommendations of the Secretary of Defense regarding 
the presence of CVSOs at demobilization centers. 
(c) CVSO DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘CVSO’’ 
includes— 
(1) a county veterans service officer; 
(2) a Tribal veterans service officer; 
(3) a Tribal veterans representative; or 
(4) another State, Tribal, or local entity that the Secretary 
of Defense determines appropriate.
H. R. 6395—264 
Subtitle I—Military Family Readiness and 
Dependents’ Education 
SEC. 
581. 
FAMILY 
READINESS: 
DEFINITIONS; 
COMMUNICATION 
STRATEGY; REVIEW; REPORT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Not later than six months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordina-
tion with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall act 
on recommendation one of the report, dated July 2019, of the 
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, titled 
‘‘Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a 
Changing American Society’’, by establishing definitions of ‘‘family 
well-being’’, ‘‘family readiness’’, and ‘‘family resilience’’ for use by 
the Department of Defense. 
(b) COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 
in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, 
shall— 
(1) ensure that the Secretary of Defense has carried out 
section 561 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2010 (10 U.S.C. 1781 note); 
(2) implement a strategy to use of a variety of modes 
of communication to ensure the broadest means of commu-
nicating with military families; and 
(3) establish a process to measure the effectiveness of the 
modes of communication described in paragraph (2). 
(c) REVIEW.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a 
review of current programs, policies, services, resources, and prac-
tices of the Department for military families as outlined in rec-
ommendation four of the report described in subsection (a). 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after completing the review 
under subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives a report detailing the results of the review and 
how the Secretary shall improve programs, policies, services, 
resources, and practices for military families, based on the review. 
SEC. 582. IMPROVEMENTS TO EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1781c of title 10, United States Code 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘enhance’’ and inserting 
‘‘standardize, enhance,’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ‘‘and standard’’ after 
‘‘comprehensive’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘update from time 
to time’’ and inserting ‘‘regularly update’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) Ability to request a second review of the approved 
assignment within or outside the continental United States 
if the member believes the location is inappropriate for the 
member’s family and would cause undue hardship.
H. R. 6395—265 
‘‘(D) Protection from having a medical recommendation for 
an approved assignment overridden by the commanding officer. 
‘‘(E) Ability to request continuation of location when there 
is a documented substantial risk of transferring medical care 
or educational services to a new provider or school at the 
specific time of permanent change of station.’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘of an individ-
ualized services plan (medical and educational)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘by an appropriate office of an individualized 
services plan (whether medical, educational, or both)’’; 
and 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the fol-
lowing new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(H) Procedures for the development of an individualized 
services plan for military family members with special needs 
who have requested family support services and have a com-
pleted family needs assessment. 
‘‘(I) Requirements to prohibit disenrollment from the Excep-
tional Family Member Program unless there is new supporting 
medical or educational information that indicates the original 
condition is no longer present, and to track disenrollment data 
in each armed force.’’. 
(b) STANDARDIZATION.—Not later than six months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall, 
to the extent practicable, standardize the Exceptional Family 
Member Program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘EFMP’’) across 
the military departments. The EFMP, standardized under this sub-
section, shall include the following: 
(1) Processes for the identification and enrollment of 
dependents of covered members with special needs. 
(2) A process for the permanent change of orders for covered 
members, to ensure seamless continuity of services at the new 
permanent duty station. 
(3) If an order for assignment is declined for a military 
family with special needs, the member will receive a reason 
for the decline of that order. 
(4) A review process for installations to ensure that health 
care furnished through the TRICARE program, special needs 
education programs, and installation-based family support pro-
grams are available to military families enrolled in the EFMP. 
(5) A standardized respite care benefit across the covered 
Armed Forces, including the number of hours available under 
such benefit to military families enrolled in the EFMP. 
(6) Performance metrics for measuring, across the Depart-
ment and with respect to each military department, the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Assignment coordination and support for military 
families with special needs, including a systematic process 
for evaluating each military department’s program for the 
support of military families with special needs. 
(B) The reassignment of military families with special 
needs, including how often members request reassign-
ments, for what reasons, and from what military installa-
tions.
H. R. 6395—266 
(C) The level of satisfaction of military families with 
special needs with the family and medical support they 
are provided. 
(7) A requirement that the Secretary of each military 
department provide legal services by an attorney, trained in 
education law, at each military installation— 
(A) the Secretary determines is a primary receiving 
installation for military families with special needs; and 
(B) in a State that the Secretary determines has 
historically not supported families enrolled in the EFMP. 
(8) The option for a family enrolled in the EFMP to continue 
to receive all services under that program and a family separa-
tion allowance, if otherwise authorized, if— 
(A) the covered member receives a new permanent 
duty station; and 
(B) the covered member and family elect for the family 
not to relocate with the covered member. 
(9) The solicitation of feedback from military families with 
special needs, and discussions of challenges and best practices 
of the EFMP, using existing family advisory organizations. 
(c) CASE MANAGEMENT.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordina-
tion with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop 
an EFMP case management model, including the following: 
(1) A single EFMP office, located at the headquarters of 
each covered Armed Force, to oversee implementation of the 
EFMP and coordinate health care services, permanent change 
of station order processing, and educational support services 
for that covered Armed Force. 
(2) An EFMP office at each military installation with case 
managers to assist each family of a covered member in the 
development of a plan that addresses the areas specified in 
subsection (b)(1). 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section, 
including any recommendations of the Secretary regarding addi-
tional legislation. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means an Armed 
Force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military 
department. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered member’’ means a member— 
(A) of a covered Armed Force; and 
(B) with a dependent with special needs. 
SEC. 583. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS 
FORCES AND IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1788a of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting ‘‘Support pro-
grams: special operations forces personnel; immediate 
family members’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘for the immediate family 
members of members of the armed forces assigned to special 
operations forces’’;