I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6211 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense 
to conduct annual surveys on military community belonging and support 
in military communities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 9, 2021 
Mr. BROWN of Maryland introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Defense to conduct annual surveys on military 
community belonging and support in military commu-
nities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Rela-
tions in Military Communities Act of 2021’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:09 Dec 17, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6211.IH
H6211
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND MILITARY 
COMMUNITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 23 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 481a 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 481b. Program to improve relations between mem-
bers of the Armed Forces and military 
communities 
‘‘(a) SURVEY.—(1) The Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Office of Diversity Management and Equal 
Opportunity, shall conduct a biennial survey of covered in-
dividuals regarding relations between covered individuals 
and covered communities. 
‘‘(2) The survey shall be conducted to solicit informa-
tion from covered individuals regarding the following: 
‘‘(A) Rank, age, racial, ethnic, and gender de-
mographics of the covered individuals. 
‘‘(B) Relationships of covered individuals with 
the covered community, including support services 
and acceptance of the military community. 
‘‘(C) Availability of housing, employment oppor-
tunities for military spouses, health care, education, 
and other relevant issues. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:09 Dec 17, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6211.IH
H6211
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(D) Initiatives of local government and com-
munity organizations in addressing diversity, equity, 
and inclusion. 
‘‘(E) Physical safety while in a covered commu-
nity but outside the military installation located in 
such covered community. 
‘‘(F) Any other matters designated by the Sec-
retary of Defense. 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.—Additional activities 
under this section may include the following: 
‘‘(1) Facilitating local listening sessions and in-
formation exchanges. 
‘‘(2) Developing educational campaigns. 
‘‘(3) Supplementing existing local and national 
defense community programs. 
‘‘(4) Sharing best practices and activities. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—To support activities under 
this section, the Secretary of Defense may coordinate with 
local governments or not-for-profit organizations that rep-
resent covered individuals. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—(1) Not later than September 30 of 
every other year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a report on the most recent 
survey under subsection (a). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:09 Dec 17, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6211.IH
H6211
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) with respect to each covered community— 
‘‘(i) the results of the survey required 
under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(ii) activities conducted to address racial 
inequity in the community; 
‘‘(B) aggregate results of the survey required 
under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(C) best practices for creating positive rela-
tionships between covered individuals and covered 
communities. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary of Defense shall— 
‘‘(A) designate ten geographically diverse mili-
tary installations for review in each survey; 
‘‘(B) make the results of each report under 
paragraph (1) available on a publicly accessible 
website of the Department of Defense; and 
‘‘(C) ensure that any data included with the re-
port is made available in a machine-readable format 
that is downloadable, searchable, and sortable. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘covered community’ means a 
military installation designated under subsection 
(e)(3)(A) and the area within 10 miles of such mili-
tary installation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:09 Dec 17, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6211.IH
H6211
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS