SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON LIMITING OF CERTAIN PARENTAL 
GUARDIANSHIP RIGHTS OF CADETS AND MID-
SHIPMEN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Secretaries of the 
military departments and the Superintendent of each mili-
tary service academy, as appropriate, shall prescribe in 
regulations policies ensuring that the parental guardian-
ship rights of cadets and midshipmen are protected con-
sistent with individual and academic responsibilities. 
(b) PROTECTION
OF
PARENTAL
GUARDIANSHIP 
RIGHTS.—The regulations prescribed under subsection (a) 
shall provide that— 
(1) a cadet or midshipman of a military service 
academy may not be required to give up his or her 
parental guardianship rights in the event of a preg-
nancy occurring after the beginning of the cadet’s or 
midshipman’s first day of academic courses; 
(2) except as provided under subsection (c), 
military service academy may not dis-enroll a cadet 
or midshipman who becomes pregnant or fathers a 
child while enrolled at the academy; and 
(3) a cadet or midshipman who becomes preg-
nant while enrolled at a military service academy 
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shall be allowed to take leave for up to one year and 
return to the academy to resume classes afterward. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS ENROLLED AT 
MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES.—The regulations pre-
scribed under subsection (a) shall require cadets and mid-
shipmen with dependents to establish a family care plan 
with appropriate academy leadership. The family care plan 
shall include the following provisions: 
(1) The care plan must include a full-time pro-
vider responsible for the dependent who is not en-
rolled at the military service academy, as another 
parent or guardian of the dependent or a family 
member of the cadet or midshipman. The full-time 
care provider must have either full power-of-attorney 
authority or guardianship rights in order to prevent 
situations where the cadet or midshipman is pulled 
away from his or her duties and responsibilities at 
the military service academy. The cadet or mid-
shipman may not rely on base facilities or child-care 
services, and must be able to function as any other 
cadet, including residing in academy dormitories. 
(2) Except as provided under subsection (d), 
the cadet or midshipman may not receive additional 
benefits or concessions from the military service 
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academy on account of having a dependent, such as 
money or time off. 
(3) A cadet or midshipman with a dependent 
may not be excused on account of such dependent 
from standard classes, training, traveling, fitness re-
quirements, or any other responsibilities inherent to 
attending a military service academy. 
(4) If both parents of a dependent are cadets 
or midshipmen, they must agree on the family care 
plan or face expulsion (with no incurred obligations). 
(d) OPTIONS
FOR PREGNANT CADETS
AND MID-
SHIPMEN.—The regulations prescribed under subsection 
(a) shall provide that females becoming pregnant while en-
rolled at a military service academy shall have, at a min-
imum, the following options: 
(1) At the conclusion of the current semester or 
when otherwise deemed medically appropriate, tak-
ing leave from the military service academy for up 
to one year followed by a return to full cadet or mid-
shipman status. 
(2) Full release from the military service acad-
emy and any related obligations. 
(3) Enlistment in active-duty service, with all of 
the attendant benefits. 
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(e) TREATMENT OF MALES FATHERING A CHILD 
WHILE ENROLLED AT MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES.— 
The regulations prescribed under subsection (a) shall pro-
vide that males fathering a child while enrolled at a mili-
tary service academy— 
(1) shall not be required to give up parental 
rights; and 
(2) shall not acquire any benefits or leave con-
siderations as a result of fathering a child, except 
that— 
(A) academy leadership shall establish poli-
cies to allow cadets and midshipmen at least 
one week of leave to attend the birth, which 
must be used in conjunction with the birth; and 
(B) in the event the male father becomes 
the sole financial provider for a dependent, the 
academy shall provide the father the same op-
tions available to a cadet or midshipman who 
becomes a mother while enrolled, including re-
maining enrolled in accordance with a family 
care plan established pursuant to subsection (c) 
or selecting one of the options outlined in para-
graphs (2) and (3) of subsection (d). 
(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed as requiring or providing for the 
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changing of admission requirements at any of the military 
service academies. 
SEC. 3. MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY DEFINED. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘military service academy’’ 
means the following: 
(1) The United States Military Academy, West 
Point, New York. 
(2) The United States Naval Academy, Annap-
olis, Maryland. 
(3) The United States Air Force Academy, Col-
orado Springs, Colorado. 
(4) The United States Coast Guard Academy, 
New London, Connecticut. 
(5) The United States Merchant Marine Acad-
emy, Kings Point, New York. 
Æ 
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