505 
4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (Pub-
lic Law 94–437; 25 U.S.C. 1603).’’. 
SEC. 554. ESTABLISHMENT OF MENTORING AND CAREER 
COUNSELING PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 107 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 2158. Mentoring and career counseling program 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT; OBJECTIVES.—The Secretary 
of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the 
military departments and the Chief Diversity Officer, shall 
implement a program for mentoring and career counseling 
that— 
‘‘(1) ensures that all military occupational spe-
cialties and career fields reflect the demographics of 
the armed forces; and 
‘‘(2) ensures that members in all ranks and 
grades reflect the demographics of the armed forces. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND COMPONENTS.— 
The program under subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) include mentoring and career counseling 
efforts that start prior to the initial career field deci-
sion point and continue throughout the career of 
each participating member cadet or midshipman;
506 
‘‘(2) provide guidance on accession into the 
military occupational specialties and career fields 
that experience the highest rates and greatest num-
ber of promotions to a grade above O–6; and 
‘‘(3) promote information regarding career 
choices, including opportunities in the reserve com-
ponents, to optimize the ability of a participating 
member cadet, or midshipman to make informed ca-
reer choices from accession to retirement. 
‘‘(c) EVALUATION METRICS.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall establish and maintain metrics to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the program under this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 107 of such title is amended 
by at the end the following new item: 
‘‘2158. Mentoring and career counseling program.’’. 
(c) INTERIM REPORT.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 120 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report on 
the implementation of section 2158 of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following:
507 
(A) A description and assessment of the 
manner in which the Department of Defense 
shall implement the program under subsection 
(a) of such section 2158. 
(B) The initial evaluation metrics devel-
oped under subsection (c) of such section 2158. 
(C) An explanation of whether the pro-
gram will be carried out as part of another pro-
gram of the Department or through the estab-
lishment of a separate program. 
(D) A comprehensive description of the ad-
ditional personnel, resources, and training that 
will be required to implement the program, in-
cluding identification of the specific number of 
additional billets that will be needed to staff the 
program. 
(E) Recommendations of the Secretary for 
additional legislation that the Secretary deter-
mines e necessary to effectively and efficiently 
implement the program. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than Octo-
ber 1, 2021, and annually thereafter for 3 years, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees on Armed Services of the
508 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report on 
the program under section 2158 of title 10, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph 
(1) shall include, disaggregated by Armed Force, the 
following: 
(A) The latest evaluation metrics developed 
under subsection (c) of such section 2158. 
(B) 
The 
number 
of 
individuals, 
disaggregated by grade, ethnicity, race, and 
gender, who were eligible for participation in 
the program. 
(C) 
The 
number 
of 
individuals, 
disaggregated by grade, ethnicity, race, and 
gender, who opted out of participation in the 
program. 
(D) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
the program in advancing the careers of minor-
ity commissioned officers. 
(e) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) publish on an appropriate publicly available 
website of the Department of Defense the reports re-
quired under subsections (c) and (d); and 
(2) ensure that any data included with each 
such report is made available in a machine-readable
509 
format that is downloadable, searchable, and sort-
able. 
(f) IMPLEMENTATION DATE.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall implement the program under section 2158 of 
title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 
not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘minority person’’ means any in-
dividual who is a citizen of the United States and 
who is— 
(A) Asian American; 
(B) Native Hawaiian; 
(C) a Pacific Islander; 
(D) African American; 
(E) Hispanic; 
(F) Puerto Rican; 
(G) Native American; 
(H) an Alaska Native; or 
(I) female. 
(2) The term ‘‘minority commissioned officer’’ 
means any commissioned officer who is a minority 
person.
510 
(3) The term ‘‘machine-readable’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 3502(18) of title 
44, United States Code. 
SEC. 555. DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE FOREIGN LAN-
GUAGE CENTER. 
(a) AUTHORITY
TO
AWARD
BACHELOR’S
DE-
GREES.—Section 2168 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘Asso-
ciate’’ and inserting ‘‘Associate or Bachelor’’; 
and 
(2) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) Subject to subsection (b), the Commandant of 
the Defense Language Institute may confer— 
‘‘(1) an Associate of Arts degree in a foreign 
language upon any graduate of the Foreign Lan-
guage Center of the Institute who fulfills the re-
quirements for that degree; or 
‘‘(2) a Bachelor of Arts degree in a foreign lan-
guage upon any graduate of the Foreign Language 
Center of the Institute who fulfills the requirements 
for that degree.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 108 of title 10, United States
511 
Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 
2168 and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘2168. Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center: degree of Asso-
ciate or Bachelor of Arts in foreign language.’’. 
SEC. 556. DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE FOREIGN LAN-
GUAGE CENTER. 
(a) AUTHORITY
TO
AWARD
BACHELOR’S
DE-
GREES.—Section 2168 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘Asso-
ciate’’ and inserting ‘‘Associate or Bachelor’’; 
and 
(2) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) Subject to subsection (b), the Commandant of 
the Defense Language Institute may confer— 
‘‘(1) an Associate of Arts degree in a foreign 
language upon any graduate of the Foreign Lan-
guage Center of the Institute who fulfills the re-
quirements for that degree; or 
‘‘(2) a Bachelor of Arts degree in a foreign lan-
guage upon any graduate of the Foreign Language 
Center of the Institute who fulfills the requirements 
for that degree.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 108 of title 10, United States
512 
Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 
2168 and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘2168. Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center: degree of Asso-
ciate or Bachelor of Arts in foreign language.’’. 
SEC. 557. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PERMANENT PROFES-
SORS 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. 558. INFORMATION ON NOMINATIONS AND APPLICA-
TIONS FOR MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES. 
(a) CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATIONS PORTAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Superintendents of the mili-
tary service academies, shall ensure that there is a 
uniform online portal for all military service acad-
emies that enables Members of Congress to nomi-
nate individuals for appointment to each academy 
through a secure website. 
(2) INFORMATION COLLECTION AND REPORT-
ING.—The online portal established under paragraph 
(1) shall— 
(A) collect, from each Member of Con-
gress, the demographic information described in
513 
subsection (b) for each individual nominated by 
the Member; 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 in-
formation when preparing the report. 
(3) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—The por-
tal shall allow Members of Congress and their des-
ignees to view past nomination records for all appli-
cation cycles. 
(b) STANDARD CLASSIFICATIONS FOR COLLECTION 
OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.— 
(1) STANDARDS REQUIRED.—The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Superintendents of the military 
service academies, shall establish standard classifica-
tions that cadets, midshipmen, and applicants to the 
academies may use to self-identify gender, race, and 
ethnicity and to provide other demographic informa-
tion in connection with admission to or enrollment in 
an academy. 
(2) CONSISTENCY WITH OMB GUIDANCE.—The 
standard classifications established under paragraph 
(1) shall be consistent with the standard classifica-
tions specified in Office of Management and Budget
514 
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 in-
corporate the standard classifications established 
under paragraph (1) into— 
(A) applications for admission to the mili-
tary service academies; and 
(B) the military personnel records of ca-
dets and midshipmen enrolled in such acad-
emies. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS MILI-
TARY SERVICE ACADEMY APPLICANTS.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30 of each year beginning after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on 
the demographics of applicants to military service 
academies for the most recently concluded applica-
tion year. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph 
(1) shall include, with respect to each military serv-
ice academy, the following:
515 
(A) The number of individuals who sub-
mitted an application for admission to the acad-
emy in the application year covered by the re-
port. 
(B) Of the individuals who submitted an 
application for admission to the academy in 
such year— 
(i) the overall demographics of appli-
cant pool, disaggregated by the classifica-
tions established under subsection (b) and 
by Member of Congress; 
(ii) the number and percentage who 
received a nomination, disaggregated by 
the classifications established under sub-
section (b) and by Member of Congress; 
(iii) the number and percentage who 
received an offer for appointment to the 
academy, disaggregated by the classifica-
tions established under subsection (b) and 
by Member of Congress; and 
(iv) the number and percentage who 
accepted an appointment to the academy, 
disaggregated by the classifications estab-
lished under subsection (b) and by Member 
of Congress.
517 
(A) the United States Military Academy; 
(B) the United States Naval Academy; and 
(C) the United States Air Force Academy. 
(5) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Defense. 
SEC. 559. TRANSFORMATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL MILI-
TARY EDUCATION ENTERPRISE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) 
professional 
military 
education 
is 
foundational to the development of ethical and effec-
tive military leaders and vital to national security; 
(2) oversight of professional military education 
is an essential part of Congress’ constitutional re-
sponsibilities to regulate and maintain the Armed 
Forces of the United States; 
(3) reform of the professional military edu-
cation system, as directed by the congressional de-
fense committees, has played a central role in the in-
stitutionalization of jointness as envisioned by the 
Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorga-
nization Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–433); 
(4) the Goldwater-Nichols professional military 
education model has served the Nation well since the
518 
end of the Cold War by enabling successful joint 
military operations across the spectrum of conflict; 
(5) recent changes in the national security envi-
ronment require that the professional military edu-
cation enterprise adapt to prepare the joint force to 
successfully defend American interests in evolving 
areas of strategic competition; and 
(6) the Department of Defense must transform 
the professional military education enterprise to 
meet these challenges by emphasizing focused and 
rigorous intellectual study reflecting the hard won 
strategic insights of history, while leveraging ad-
vancements in the modern learning environment. 
(b) LIMITATION.—None of the funds authorized to 
be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available 
for fiscal year 2021 for the Department of Defense may 
be obligated or expended consolidate, close, or significantly 
change the curriculum of the National Defense University 
or any institution of professional military education of an 
Armed Force until a period of 120 days has elapsed fol-
lowing the date on which the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Personnel and Readiness submits the report required 
under subsection (c). 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.—
519 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense, acting through the Under Sec-
retary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report on 
the status of the professional military education en-
terprise. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A consolidated summary that— 
(i) lists all components of the profes-
sional military education enterprise of the 
Department of Defense, including all asso-
ciated schools, programs, research centers, 
and support activities; and 
(ii) for each such component, identi-
fies the assigned personnel strength, an-
nual student throughput, and budget de-
tails covering the period of 3 fiscal years 
preceding the date of the report. 
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness and 
shortfalls of the existing professional military 
education enterprise as measured against grad-
uate utilization, post-graduate evaluations, and
520 
the education and force development require-
ments of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff and the Chiefs of the Armed Forces. 
(C) Recommendations to improve the intel-
lectual readiness of the joint force through re-
forms designed to— 
(i) improve the warfighting readiness, 
intellectual fitness and cognitive ingenuity 
of military leaders; 
(ii) promote development of strategic 
thinkers capable of developing integrated 
political-military and cross-domain strate-
gies and new doctrinal concepts; 
(iii) enhance the effectiveness, coher-
ence, and efficiency of individual service 
approaches to professional military edu-
cation; 
(iv) improve the depth and rigor of 
professional military education curriculum 
in alignment with national defense strategy 
pacing threats while enhancing strategic 
relationships and operational integration 
with key allies and international security 
partners; and
521 
(v) foster the deliberate development 
of world-class faculty through increasing 
the value of faculty assignments and other 
appropriate measures. 
SEC. 560. 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 Masters of Arts, of the Na-
tional Defense University, or seek to reduce the number 
of students educated at the College, or its satellite pro-
gram, until 30 days after the date on which the congres-
sional 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 
Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Com-
bating Terrorism, the Chief Financial Officer of the De-
522 
partment, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and 
the Commander of United States Special Operations Com-
mand, shall— 
(1) assess requirements for joint professional 
military education and civilian leader education in 
the counterterrorism, irregular warfare, and asym-
metrical domains to support the Department and 
other national security institutions of the Federal 
Government; 
(2) determine whether the importance, chal-
lenges, and complexity of the modern counterter-
rorism environment and irregular and asymmetrical 
domains warrant— 
(A) a college at the National Defense Uni-
versity, or a college independent of the National 
Defense University whose leadership is respon-
sible to the Office of the Secretary 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;
523 
(3) review the plan proposed by the National 
Defense University for eliminating the College of 
International Security Affairs and reducing and re-
structuring the counterterrorism, irregular, and 
asymmetrical faculty, course offerings, joint profes-
sional military education and degree and certificate 
programs, and other services provided by the Col-
lege; and 
(4) assess the changes made to the College of 
International Security Affairs since January 1, 
2019, and the actions necessary to reverse those 
changes, including relocating the College and its as-
sociated budget, faculty, staff, students, and facili-
ties outside of the National Defense University. 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than February 1, 
2021, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional de-
fense committees a report on— 
(1) the findings of the Secretary with respect to 
the assessments, determination, and review con-
ducted under subsection (b); and 
(2) such recommendations as the Secretary may 
have for higher education in the counterterrorism, 
irregular, and asymmetrical domains.
524 
SEC. 560A. PUBLIC-PRIVATE CONSORTIUM TO IMPROVE 
PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense, 
acting through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
and in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Personnel and Readiness, shall establish and maintain 
a public-private consortium (referred to in this section as 
the ‘‘Consortium’’) to improve and broaden professional 
military education for military officers and civilian em-
ployees of the Federal Government. 
(b) DIRECTORS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President of the Na-
tional Defense University and the head of a civilian 
institution of higher education appointed in accord-
ance with paragraph (3) shall serve as co-directors 
of the Consortium. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES OF CO-DIRECTORS.—The 
co-directors shall be responsible for— 
(A) the administration and management of 
the Consortium; and 
(B) developing a common curriculum for 
professional military education using input re-
ceived from members of the Consortium. 
(3) APPOINTMENT OF CO-DIRECTOR FROM CI-
VILIAN INSTITUTION.—Not later than June 1, 2021, 
the Secretary of Defense shall appoint an individual
525 
who is the President or Chancellor of a civilian insti-
tution of higher education to serve as co-director of 
the Consortium as described in paragraph (1). 
(4) TERM OF CO-DIRECTOR.—The co-director 
appointed under paragraph (3) shall serve an initial 
term of 5 years. The Secretary of Defense may re-
appoint such co-director for one or more additional 
terms of not more than 5 years, as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate. 
(5) AUTHORITY.—In the event that a conflict 
arises between co-directors of the Consortium, the 
conflict shall be resolved by the Director for Joint 
Force Development of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J– 
7). 
(c) ACTIVITIES OF CONSORTIUM.—The Consortium 
shall carry out the following activities: 
(1) Bring the military education system (includ-
ing military service academies, institutions that pro-
vide professional military education, and other insti-
tutions the provide military education) together with 
a broad group of civilian institutions of higher edu-
cation, policy research institutes, and the commercial 
sector to develop and continually update a research- 
based curriculum to prepare early career, mid-ca-
reer, and senior military officers and civilian employ-
526 
ees of the Federal Government to succeed in an era 
that will be predominantly defined by great power 
competition and in which security challenges will 
transcend the traditional areas of defense expertise, 
becoming more complex and inter-related than be-
fore, with disruptions that will manifest rapidly and 
with little warning. 
(2) Train military officers and civilian edu-
cators serving in the joint professional military edu-
cation system to implement the curriculum developed 
under paragraph (2) at the institutions they serve. 
(3) On a regular basis, make recommendations 
to the Secretary about how the joint professional 
military education system should be modified to 
meet the challenges of apparent or possible future 
defense, national security, and international environ-
ments. 
(d) MEMBERS.—The Consortium shall be composed 
of representatives selected by the Secretary of Defense 
from the following organizations: 
(1) Organizations within the joint professional 
military education system. 
(2) Military service academies. 
(3) Other institutions of the Federal Govern-
ment that provide military education.
527 
(4) Civilian institutions of higher education. 
(5) Private sector and government policy re-
search institutes. 
(6) Organizations in the commercial sector, in-
cluding organizations from the industrial, finance, 
and technology sectors. 
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 
2022, and annually thereafter, the co-directors of the Con-
sortium shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the 
congressional defense committees a report that describes 
the activities carried out by the Consortium during the 
preceding year. 
(f) CIVILIAN INSTITUTION DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘civilian institution of higher education’’ 
means an institution of higher education (as defined in 
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001)) that is not owned or controlled by the Fed-
eral Government. 
SEC. 560B. PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE 
COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN 
THE SKILLBRIDGE PROGRAM. 
Section 1143(e)(2) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) A member of the armed forces is eligible for a 
program under this subsection if—
528 
‘‘(A) the member— 
‘‘(i) has completed at least 180 days on ac-
tive duty in the armed forces; and 
‘‘(ii) is expected to be discharged or re-
leased from active duty in the armed forces 
within 180 days of the date of commencement 
of participation in such a program; or 
‘‘(B) the member is a member of a reserve com-
ponent.’’. 
SEC. 560C. STUDY REGARDING VA PARTICIPATION IN TAP. 
Not later than December 31, 2022, the Secretaries 
of Defense and Veterans Affairs shall submit to the con-
gressional defense committees and the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a report on the results of a study on the feasibility of hav-
ing representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
present during counseling sessions under section 1142 of 
title 10, United States Code, to set up premium eBenefits 
accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs for mem-
bers of the Armed Forces participating in the Transition 
Assistance Program.
529 
SEC. 560D. GAO STUDY REGARDING TRANSFERABILITY OF 
MILITARY CERTIFICATIONS TO CIVILIAN OC-
CUPATIONAL 
LICENSES 
AND 
CERTIFI-
CATIONS. 
(a) STUDY; REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to Congress a report 
containing the results of a study regarding the transfer-
ability of military certifications to civilian occupational li-
censes and certifications. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall 
include the following: 
(1) Obstacles to transference of military certifi-
cations. 
(2) Any effects of the transferability of military 
certifications on recruitment and retention. 
(3) Examples of certifications obtained from the 
Federal Government that transfer to non-Federal 
employment. 
SEC. 560E. TRANSITION OUTREACH. 
The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 
Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor, shall encourage 
contact between members of the Armed Forces partici-
pating in the Transition Assistance Program under sec-
tions 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code, and 
local communities, to promote employment opportunities
530 
for such members. Such contact shall include, to the ex-
tent practicable, public-private partnerships. 
SEC. 560F. CONTINUED PARTICIPATION OF SEPARATED 
MEMBERS 
OF 
THE 
ARMED 
FORCES 
IN 
SKILLBRIDGE PROGRAMS. 
Section 1143(e) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para-
graph (4); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (3): 
‘‘(3) In the case of an eligible member who en-
rolls in a program under this subsection and who is 
discharged or released from active duty in the armed 
forces before the completion of the program, such 
member may continue to participate in the program 
until the completion of the program. The continued 
participation of such a member in such a program 
shall have no effect on the discharge or separation 
date of the member or the eligibility of the member 
for any pay or benefits.’’. 
SEC. 560G. EXPANSION OF SKILLBRIDGE PROGRAM TO IN-
CLUDE THE COAST GUARD. 
Section 1143(e) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended—
531 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘of a military 
department’’ and inserting ‘‘concerned’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘of the mili-
tary department’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘of Defense’’ 
and inserting ‘‘concerned’’. 
SEC. 560H. ESTABLISHMENT OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES 
FOR THE CREDENTIALING OPPORTUNITIES 
ON-LINE PROGRAMS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall establish additional performance measures to evalu-
ate the effectiveness of the COOL programs of each 
Armed Force in connecting members of the Armed Forces 
with professional credential programs. Such measures 
shall include the following: 
(1) The percentage of members of the Armed 
Force concerned described in section 1142(a) of title 
10, United States Code, who participate in a profes-
sional credential program through the COOL pro-
gram of the Armed Force concerned. 
(2) The percentage of members of the Armed 
Force concerned described in paragraph (1) who 
have completed a professional credential program de-
scribed in that paragraph.
532 
(3) The percentage of members of the Armed 
Force concerned described in paragraphs (1) and (2) 
who are employed not later than one year after sepa-
ration or release from the Armed Forces. 
(b) COORDINATION.—To carry out this section, the 
Secretary of Defense may coordinate with the Secretaries 
of Veterans Affairs and Labor. 
SEC. 560I. AUTHORITY OF MILITARY EDUCATIONAL INSTI-
TUTIONS TO ACCEPT RESEARCH GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military 
departments, shall issue regulations under which faculty 
of military educational institutions shall be authorized to 
accept research grants from individuals and entities out-
side the Department of Defense. 
(b) MILITARY
EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘military educational in-
stitution’’ means a postsecondary educational institution 
established within the Department of Defense. 
SEC. 560J. REPORT ON OFFICER TRAINING IN IRREGULAR 
WARFARE. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional
533 
committees a report on the training in irregular warfare, 
if any, provided to officers of the Armed Forces as part 
of the regular course of instruction for such officers. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include— 
(1) the level of instruction in irregular warfare 
typically provided to officers; 
(2) the number of hours of instruction at each 
level; and 
(3) a description of the subject areas covered by 
the instruction. 
(c) EXCLUSION OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING.—The re-
port under subsection (a) shall not include information on 
specialized or branch-specific training in irregular warfare 
provided to certain officers as part of a specialized course 
of instruction. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Sen-
ate; and 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives.
534 
(2) The term ‘‘irregular warfare’’ has the 
meaning given that term in the Joint Operating 
Concept of the Department of Defense titled ‘‘Irreg-
ular 
Warfare: 
Countering 
Irregular 
Threats’’, 
version 2.0, dated May 17, 2010. 
SEC. 560K. REPORT REGARDING COUNTY, TRIBAL, AND 
LOCAL VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in consultation 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) METRICS.—In determining the effects described 
in subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall use 
metrics including the following: 
(1) Feedback from members described in sub-
section (a) and from veterans regarding interactions 
with CVSOs. 
(2) Greater use of benefits (including health 
care, employment services, education, and home 
loans) available to veterans under laws administered 
by the Secretary of—
535 
(A) Veterans Affairs; 
(B) Labor; 
(C) Health and Human Services; 
(D) Housing and Urban Development; or 
(E) Education. 
(3) Greater use of benefits available to veterans 
not described in paragraph (2). 
(4) Frequencies of post-demobilization follow-up 
meetings initiated by— 
(A) a CVSO; or 
(B) a veteran. 
(5) Awareness and understanding of local sup-
port services (including CVSOs) available to vet-
erans. 
(c) 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 de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(3) Barriers to expanding the presence of 
CVSOs at demobilization centers nationwide. 
(4) Recommendations of the Secretary of De-
fense regarding the presence of CVSOs at demobili-
zation centers.
536 
(d) 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. 
SEC. 560L. LIMITED EXCEPTION FOR ATTENDANCE OF EN-
LISTED PERSONNEL AT SENIOR LEVEL AND 
INTERMEDIATE 
LEVEL 
OFFICER 
PROFES-
SIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION COURSES. 
Section 559 of the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115– 
232; 132 Stat. 1775) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘None of the 
funds’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in sub-
section (b), none of the funds’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Funds authorized to be appro-
priated or otherwise made available for the Department 
of Defense may be obligated or expended for the purpose 
of the attendance of enlisted personnel at senior level and
537 
intermediate level officer professional military education 
courses if— 
‘‘(1) the enlisted personnel attending such 
courses have completed professional military edu-
cation at the appropriate grade prior to attendance; 
‘‘(2) the Secretary concerned (as defined in sec-
tion 101(a)(9) of title 10, United States Code) es-
tablishes a screening and selection process to choose 
enlisted personnel to attend such courses; 
‘‘(3) with respect to attendees of resident pro-
grams— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary concerned establishes a 
utilization policy for enlisted graduates of such 
programs; and 
‘‘(B) attendees of such programs agree to 
a 3-year service obligation after completion of 
such programs; 
‘‘(4) the Secretary concerned authorizes enlisted 
personnel to attend only after the Secretary deter-
mines all requirements for attendance of officers at 
such courses have been met; and 
‘‘(5) an officer is not denied attendance at such 
courses for the primary purpose of allowing enlisted 
personnel to attend.’’.
538 
SEC. 560M. LIMITATION ON ELIGIBILITY OF FOR-PROFIT IN-
STITUTIONS 
TO 
PARTICIPATE 
IN 
EDU-
CATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2006a of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) in the case of program offered by a propri-
etary institution of higher education, the institution 
derives not less than ten percent of such institution’s 
revenues from sources other than Federal edu-
cational assistance funds as required under sub-
section (c).’’. 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION
ON PARTICIPATION
OF PROPRI-
ETARY INSTITUTIONS.—The Secretary of Defense may 
not approve an educational program offered by a propri-
539 
etary institution of higher education, and no educational 
assistance under a Department of Defense educational as-
sistance program or authority covered by this section may 
be provided to such an institution, unless the institution 
derives not less than ten percent of such institution’s reve-
nues from sources other than Federal educational assist-
ance funds.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by 
adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘Federal educational assistance 
funds’ means any Federal funds provided under this 
title, the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001 et seq.), or any other Federal law, through a 
grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, 
or other means to a proprietary institution of higher 
education, including Federal financial assistance 
that is disbursed or delivered to an institution or on 
behalf of a student or to a student to be used to at-
tend the institution, except that such term shall not 
include any monthly housing stipend provided under 
the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program 
under chapter 33 of title 38. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘proprietary institution of higher 
education’ has the meaning given that term in sec-
540 
tion 102(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1002(b)).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
Subtitle G—Military Family Readi-
ness and Dependents’ Education 
SEC. 561. FAMILY READINESS: DEFINITIONS; COMMUNICA-
TION STRATEGY; REPORT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military 
departments, shall define the terms ‘‘military family readi-
ness’’ and ‘‘military family resiliency’’. 
(b) COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of 
the military departments, shall establish and implement 
a strategy regarding communication with military fami-
lies. The strategy shall include the following: 
(1) The use of a variety of modes of commu-
nication to ensure the broadest means of commu-
nicating with military families.
541 
(2) Updating an existing annual standardized 
survey that assesses military family readiness to ad-
dress the following issues: 
(A) Communication with beneficiaries. 
(B) Child care. 
(C) Education, 
(D) Spousal employment. 
(E) The Exceptional Family Member Pro-
gram. 
(F) Financial literacy. 
(G) Financial stress. 
(H) Health care (including copayments, 
network adequacy, and the availability of ap-
pointments with health care providers). 
(c) 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 Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives a report regarding 
the feasibility of implementing the recommendations in— 
(1) chapter 3 of the report of the Inspector 
General of the Department of Defense for fiscal year 
2020, ‘‘Ensuring Wellness and Wellbeing of Service- 
Members and their Families’’; and 
(2) the report, dated July 2019, of the National 
Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, ti-
542 
tled ‘‘Strengthening the Military Family Readiness 
System for a Changing American Society’’. 
SEC. 562. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF SPECIAL 
OPERATIONS FORCES AND IMMEDIATE FAM-
ILY MEMBERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1788a of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting 
‘‘Support programs: special operations 
forces personnel; immediate family mem-
bers’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Consistent’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘for the immediate family 
members of members of the armed forces as-
signed to special operations forces’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) The Commander may enter into an agreement 
with a nonprofit entity to provide family support serv-
ices.’’. 
(3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘the imme-
diate family members of members of the armed 
forces assigned to special operations forces’’ and in-
serting ‘‘covered individuals’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)(2)—
543 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘fam-
ily members of members of the armed forces as-
signed to special operations forces’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘covered individuals’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘family members of members of the armed 
forces assigned to special operations forces’’ 
and inserting ‘‘covered individuals’’; and 
(5) in subsection (e)(4)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘psychological support, 
spiritual support, and’’ before ‘‘costs’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘immediate family mem-
bers of members of the armed forces assigned 
to special operations forces’’ and inserting ‘‘cov-
ered personnel’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) The term ‘covered personnel’ means— 
‘‘(A) members of the Armed Forces (in-
cluding the reserve components) assigned to 
special operations forces; 
‘‘(B) support service personnel assigned to 
special operations; 
‘‘(C) individuals separated or retired from 
service described in subparagraph (A) or (B) 
for not more than three years; and
544 
‘‘(D) immediate family members of individ-
uals described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(C).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 88 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 
1788a and inserting the following: 
‘‘1788a. Support programs: special operations forces personnel; immediate fam-
ily members.’’. 
SEC. 563. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 
TO CERTAIN IN-HOME CHILD CARE PRO-
VIDERS 
FOR 
MEMBERS 
OF 
THE 
ARMED 
FORCES AND SURVIVORS OF MEMBERS WHO 
DIE IN COMBAT IN THE LINE OF DUTY. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—Section 1798 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, or to an in-home child 
care provider,’’ after ‘‘youth program services’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE IN-HOME CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.— 
The Secretary may determine that an in-home child care
545 
provider is eligible for financial assistance under this sec-
tion.’’. 
(b) IN-HOME CHILD CARE PROVIDER DEFINED.— 
Section 1800 of such title is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(5) The term ‘in-home child care provider’ 
means an individual (including a nanny, babysitter, 
or au pair) who provides child care services in the 
home of the child.’’. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than July 1, 2021, the 
Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations that es-
tablish eligibility requirements and amounts of financial 
assistance for an in-home child care provider under sub-
section (c) of section 1798 of title 10, United States Code, 
as amended by subsection (a). 
SEC. 564. EXPANSION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER 
MY CAREER ADVANCEMENT ACCOUNT PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 580F of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘or maintenance (including 
continuing education courses)’’ after ‘‘pursuit’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Such 
financial assistance may be applied to the costs of
546 
national tests that may earn a participating military 
spouse course credits required for a degree approved 
under the program (including the College Level Ex-
amination Program tests and the Subject Standard-
ized Tests of the Defense Activity for Non-Tradi-
tional Education Support Division of the Depart-
ment of Defense).’’ 
SEC. 565. CHILD CARE. 
(a) 24-HOUR CHILD CARE.—If the Secretary of De-
fense determines it feasible, the Secretary shall furnish 
child care to each child of a member of the Armed Forces 
or employee of the Department of Defense while that 
member or employee works on rotating shifts at a military 
installation. 
(b) METRICS.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall develop and implement metrics to evaluate the effec-
tiveness of the child care priority system of the Depart-
ment of Defense, including— 
(1) the speed of placement for children of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces on active duty; 
(2) the type of child care offered; 
(3) available spaces in such system, if any; and 
(4) other metrics to monitor the child care pri-
ority system determined by the Secretary.
547 
(c) 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 Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives a report regarding 
the results of a study that evaluates— 
(1) the sufficiency of the stipend furnished by 
the Secretary to members of the Armed Forces for 
civilian child care; and 
(2) whether the amount of such stipend should 
be based on— 
(A) cost of living in the applicable locale; 
and 
(B) the capacity of licensed civilian child 
care providers in the local market. 
SEC. 566. CONTINUATION OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE UPON 
DEATH OF CHILD. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall amend 
the regulations prescribed pursuant to subsections (i) and 
(j) of section 701 of title 10, United States Code, to pro-
vide that the eligibility of primary and secondary care-
givers for paid parental leave that has already been ap-
proved shall not terminate upon the death of the child for 
whom such leave is taken.
548 
SEC. 567. STUDY AND REPORT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION 
ACTIVITY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study on the performance of the Department of Defense 
Education Activity. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) A review of the curriculum relating to 
health, resiliency, and nutrition taught in schools op-
erated by the Department of Defense Education Ac-
tivity and a comparison of such curriculum to appro-
priate education benchmarks. 
(2) An analysis of the outcomes experienced by 
students in such schools, as measured by— 
(A) the performance of such students on 
the 
National 
Assessment 
of 
Educational 
Progress carried out under section 303(b)(3) of 
the 
National 
Assessment 
of 
Educational 
Progress 
Authorization 
Act 
(20 
U.S.C. 
9622(b)(3)); and 
(B) any other methodologies used by the 
Department of Defense Education Activity to 
measure individual student outcomes. 
(3) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
School Liaison Officer program of the Department
549 
of Defense Education Activity in achieving the goals 
of the program with an emphasis on goals relating 
to special education and family outreach. 
(c) 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 Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives a report that in-
cludes the findings of the study conducted under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 
568. 
COMPTROLLER 
GENERAL 
OF 
THE 
UNITED 
STATES REPORT ON THE STRUCTURAL CON-
DITION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDU-
CATION ACTIVITY SCHOOLS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a report setting forth an assess-
ment by the Comptroller General of the structural condi-
tion of schools of the Department of Defense Education 
Activity, both within the continental United States 
(CONUS) and outside the continental United States 
(OCONUS). 
(b) VIRTUAL SCHOOLS.—The report shall include an 
assessment of the virtual infrastructure or other means 
by which students attend Department of Defense Edu-
550 
cation Activity schools that have no physical structure, in-
cluding the satisfaction of the military families concerned 
with such infrastructure or other means. 
SEC. 569. PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR 
ENROLLMENT AT DOMESTIC DEPENDENT EL-
EMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—Beginning not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot 
program under which a dependent of a full-time, active- 
duty member of the Armed Forces may enroll in a covered 
DODEA school at the military installation to which the 
member is assigned, on a space-available basis as de-
scribed in subsection (c), without regard to whether the 
member resides on the installation as described in 
2164(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the pilot program 
under this section are— 
(1) to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of 
expanding enrollment in covered DODEA schools; 
and 
(2) to determine how increased access to such 
schools will affect military and family readiness. 
(c) ENROLLMENT ON SPACE-AVAILABLE BASIS.—A 
student participating in the pilot program under this sec-
551 
tion may be enrolled in a covered DODEA school only if 
the school has the capacity to accept the student, as deter-
mined by the Director of the Department of Defense Edu-
cation Activity. 
(d) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
carry out the pilot program under this section at not more 
than four military installations at which covered DODEA 
schools are located. The Secretary shall select military in-
stallations for participation in the program based on— 
(1) the readiness needs of the Secretary of a 
the military department concerned; and 
(2) the capacity of the DODEA schools located 
at the installation to accept additional students, as 
determined by the Director of the Department of 
Defense Education Activity. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out the 
pilot program under this section shall terminate 4 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(f) COVERED DODEA SCHOOL DEFINED.—In this 
Section, the term ‘‘covered DODEA school’’ means a do-
mestic dependent elementary or secondary school operated 
by the Department of Defense Education Activity that— 
(1) has been established on or before the date 
of the enactment of this Act; and 
(2) is located in the continental United States.
552 
SEC. 570. CONTINUED ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS WITH SIG-
NIFICANT NUMBERS OF MILITARY DEPEND-
ENT STUDENTS. 
(a) ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS WITH SIGNIFICANT 
NUMBERS OF MILITARY DEPENDENT STUDENTS.—Of the 
amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2021 
in division D of this Act and available for operation and 
maintenance for Defense-wide activities as specified in the 
funding table in section 4301 of this Act, $40,000,000 
shall be available only for the purpose of providing assist-
ance to local educational agencies under subsection (a) of 
section 572 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 20 U.S.C. 
7703b). 
(b) IMPACT AID FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DIS-
ABILITIES.—Of the amount authorized to be appropriated 
for fiscal year 2021 in division D of this Act and available 
for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities 
as specified in the funding table in section 4301 of this 
Act, $10,000,000 shall be available for payments under 
section 363 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106– 
398; 20 U.S.C. 7703a). 
(c) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 7013(9) of the Ele-
553 
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7713(9)). 
SEC. 570A. STANDARDIZATION OF THE EXCEPTIONAL FAM-
ILY MEMBER PROGRAM. 
(a) POLICY.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 
in coordination with the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments, shall, to the extent practicable, standardize the Ex-
ceptional Family Member Program (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘EFMP’’) across the military depart-
ments. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The EFMP, standardized under 
subsection (a), shall include the following: 
(1) Processes for the identification and enroll-
ment of dependents of covered members with special 
needs. 
(2) A process for the permanent change of or-
ders for covered members, to ensure seamless con-
tinuity of services at the new permanent duty sta-
tion. 
(3) A review process for installations to ensure 
that health care furnished through the TRICARE 
program, special needs education programs, and in-
stallation-based family support programs are avail-
able to military families enrolled in the EFMP.
554 
(4) A standardized respite care benefit across 
the covered Armed Forces, including the number of 
hours available under such benefit to military fami-
lies enrolled in the EFMP. 
(5) Outcomes and metrics to evaluate the 
EFMP. 
(6) A requirement that the Secretary of each 
military department provide a dedicated EFMP at-
torney, who specializes 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 deter-
mines has historically not supported families 
enrolled in the EFMP. 
(7) The option for a family enrolled in the 
EFMP to continue to receive all services under that 
program and the bachelor allowance for housing 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.
555 
(8) A process to discuss policy challenges and 
opportunities, best practices adopted across the cov-
ered Armed Forces, a forum period for discussion 
with members of military families with special needs, 
and other matters the Secretary of Defense deter-
mines appropriate. 
(c) CASE MANAGEMENT.—The Secretary of Defense, 
in coordination with the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments, shall develop an EFMP case management model, 
including the following: 
(1) A single EFMP office, located at the head-
quarters 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 installa-
tion 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 Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives a report on the im-
plementation of the items identified under subsections (a),
556 
(b), and (c), including any recommendations of the Sec-
retary regarding legislation. 
(e) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 1 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 Represent-
atives a report on— 
(1) whether military families have higher rates 
of disputes and loss of free and appropriate public 
education under section 504 of the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973 (Public Law 93–112; 29 U.S.C. 794) 
than civilian counterparts; and 
(2) an analysis of the number of due process 
hearings that were filed by school districts against 
children of members of the Armed Forces. 
(f) 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 mem-
ber— 
(A) of a covered Armed Force; and 
(B) with a dependent with special needs.
557 
SEC. 570B. TRAINING PROGRAM REGARDING FOREIGN 
DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than September 30, 
2021, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a program 
for training members of the Armed Forces and employees 
of the Department of Defense regarding the threat of for-
eign disinformation campaigns specifically targeted at 
such individuals and the families of such individuals. 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than October 30, 
2021, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to 
the congressional defense committees regarding the pro-
gram under subsection (a). 
SEC. 570C. REOPENING OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES OF THE 
ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
CENTER. 
The Secretary of the Army shall reopen all child care 
facilities of the Engineer Research and Development Cen-
ter that were closed during fiscal year 2020. 
SEC. 570D. IMPROVEMENTS TO PARTNER CRITERIA OF THE 
MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PARTNER-
SHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) EVALUATION; UPDATES.—Not later than 160 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall evaluate the partner criteria set 
forth in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership 
Program and implement updates that the Secretary deter-
558 
mines will improve such criteria without diminishing the 
need for partners to exhibit sound business practices, 
broad diversity efforts, and relative financial stability. 
Such updates shall expand the number of the following 
entities that meet such criteria: 
(1) Institutions of primary, secondary, and 
higher education. 
(2) Software and coding companies. 
(3) Local small businesses. 
(4) Companies that employ telework. 
(b) NEW PARTNERSHIPS.—Upon completion of the 
evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary, in coopera-
tion with the Department of Labor, shall seek to enter 
into agreements with entities described in paragraphs (1) 
through (4) of subsection (a) that are located near mili-
tary installations (as that term is defined in section 2687 
of title 10, United States Code). 
(c) REVIEW; REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
implementation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
review updates under subsection (a) and publish a report 
regarding such review on a publicly-accessible website of 
the Department of Defense. Such report shall include the 
following: 
(1) Military spouse employment rates related to 
types of entities described in subsection (a).
559 
(2) Application rates, website clicks, and other 
basic metrics that measure the interest level of mili-
tary spouses in types of entities described in sub-
section (a). 
(3) Recommendations for increasing military 
spouse employment opportunities in the types of en-
tities described in subsection (a). 
Subtitle H—Diversity and 
Inclusion 
SEC. 571. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
(a) STANDARD DIVERSITY METRICS AND ANNUAL 
REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Section 113 of title 10, 
United States Code is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1), the 
following new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2) a report from each military department on 
the goals, barriers, and status of diversity and inclu-
sion of that military department;’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g)(1)(B), by inserting after 
clause (vi), the following new clause (vii):
560 
‘‘(vii) Strategic metrics and bench-
marks evaluating how the officer and en-
listed corps reflects the eligible United 
States population across all armed forces 
and ranks.’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsections (m) and (n) as 
subsections (n) and (o), respectively; and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (k), the fol-
lowing new subsections (l) and (m): 
‘‘(l)(1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish and 
maintain a standard set of strategic metrics and bench-
marks toward objectives of: 
‘‘(A) an officer and enlisted corps that reflects 
the eligible U.S. population across all armed forces 
and ranks; and 
‘‘(B) a military force that is able to prevail in 
its wars, prevent and deter conflict, defeat adver-
saries and succeed in a wide range of contingencies, 
and preserve and enhance the all-volunteer force. 
‘‘(2) In implementing the requirement in paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) establish a universal data collection system 
to ensure comparability across each military depart-
ment;
561 
‘‘(B) establish standard definitions of demo-
graphic groups, a common methodology, and a com-
mon reporting structure across each military depart-
ment; 
‘‘(C) conduct annual barrier analyses to review 
demographic diversity patterns across the military 
life cycle, starting with accessions; and 
‘‘(D) each year meet with the Secretaries of the 
military departments, the Chiefs of Staff of the 
armed forces, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 
of Staff to assess progress towards the objective 
under paragraph (1) and establish recommendations 
to meet such objective. 
‘‘(m) The Secretary shall include in each national de-
fense strategy under subsection (g)— 
‘‘(1) the demographics, disaggregated by grade, 
ethnicity, race, gender, and military occupational 
specialty, for— 
‘‘(A) accession into the armed forces; 
‘‘(B) the enlisted corps; 
‘‘(C) the commissioned officers; 
‘‘(D) graduates of the military service 
academies; 
‘‘(E) the rate of promotion in the pro-
motion zone;
562 
‘‘(F) the rate of promotion below the zone 
for promotion; 
‘‘(G) the rates of retention; 
‘‘(H) command selection; 
‘‘(I) special assignments; 
‘‘(J) career broadening assignments; 
‘‘(K) aides to general officers and flag offi-
cers; and 
‘‘(L) any other matter the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate; 
‘‘(2) an analysis of assignment patterns by eth-
nicity, race, and gender; 
‘‘(3) an analysis of attitudinal survey data by 
ethnicity, race, and gender; 
‘‘(4) an assessment of the available pool of 
qualified of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pa-
cific Islander, African American, Hispanic, Puerto 
Rican, Native American, Alaska Native and female 
candidates for pay grades O–9 and O–10; 
‘‘(5) identification of persistent, group-specific 
deviations from overall averages and plans to inves-
tigate underlying causes; and 
‘‘(6) summaries of progress made on previous 
actions.’’.
563 
(b) NATIONAL GUARD DIVERSITY REPORTING.—Sec-
tion 10504 of title 10, United States Code is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection (d): 
‘‘(d) REPORT ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less than once every 
four years, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau 
shall report in writing to the Secretary of Defense 
and the Congress on the status of diversity in each 
State, Territory, and the District of Columbia for all 
ranks of the Army and Air National Guard. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under para-
graph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) the demographics, disaggregated by 
State, grade, ethnicity, race, gender, and mili-
tary occupational specialty, for— 
‘‘(i) 
accession 
into 
the 
National 
Guard; 
‘‘(ii) the enlisted corps; 
‘‘(iii) the commissioned officers; 
‘‘(iv) the rate of promotion in the pro-
motion zone; 
‘‘(v) the rate of promotion below the 
zone for promotion; 
‘‘(vi) the rates of retention; 
‘‘(vii) command selection;
564 
‘‘(viii) special assignments; 
‘‘(ix) career broadening assignments; 
‘‘(x) aides to a general officer; and 
‘‘(xi) any other matter the Chief of 
the National Guard Bureau determines ap-
propriate; 
‘‘(B) an analysis of assignment patterns by 
ethnicity, race, and gender; 
‘‘(C) an analysis of attitudinal survey data 
by ethnicity, race, and gender; 
‘‘(D) an assessment of the available pool of 
qualified of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, 
Pacific Islander, African American, Hispanic, 
Puerto Rican, Native American, Alaska Native 
and female candidates for pay grades O–9 and 
O–10; 
‘‘(E) identification of persistent, group-spe-
cific deviations from overall averages and plans 
to investigate underlying causes; and 
‘‘(F) summaries of progress made on pre-
vious actions. 
‘‘(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Chief of the 
National Guard Bureau shall—
565 
‘‘(A) publish on an appropriate publicly 
available website of the National Guard the re-
ports required under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) ensure that any data included with 
the report is made available in a machine-read-
able format that is downloadable, searchable, 
and sortable.’’. 
(c) COAST GUARD DIVERSITY REPORTING.—Section 
5101 of title 14, United States Code is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1), the 
following new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2) the goals, barriers, and status of diversity 
and inclusion;’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section (c): 
‘‘(c) Not less than once every 4 years, the Secretary 
shall include in the annual request under subsection (a)— 
‘‘(1) the demographics, disaggregated by grade, 
ethnicity, race, gender, and military occupational 
specialty, for— 
‘‘(A) accession into the Coast Guard; 
‘‘(B) the enlisted corps;
566 
‘‘(C) the commissioned officers; 
‘‘(D) graduates of the Coast Guard Acad-
emy; 
‘‘(E) the rate of promotion in the pro-
motion zone; 
‘‘(F) the rate of promotion below the zone 
for promotion; 
‘‘(G) the rates of retention; 
‘‘(H) command selection; 
‘‘(I) special assignments; 
‘‘(J) career broadening assignments; 
‘‘(K) aides to a flag officer; and 
‘‘(L) any other matter the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate; 
‘‘(2) an analysis of assignment patterns by eth-
nicity, race, and gender; 
‘‘(3) an analysis of attitudinal survey data by 
ethnicity, race, and gender; 
‘‘(4) an assessment of the available pool of 
qualified of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pa-
cific Islander, African American, Hispanic, Puerto 
Rican, Native American, Alaska Native and female 
candidates for pay grades O–9 and O–10;
567 
‘‘(5) identification of persistent, group-specific 
deviations from overall averages and plans to inves-
tigate underlying causes; and 
‘‘(6) summaries of progress made on previous 
actions.’’. 
(d) REQUIREMENT TO CONSIDER MINORITY OFFI-
CERS FOR O–9 AND O–10 GRADES.— 
(1) ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, 
AND SPACE FORCE.—Section 601 of title 10, United 
States Code is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsections: 
‘‘(e) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall 
consider all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Is-
lander, African American, Hispanic, Puerto Rican, Native 
American, Alaska Native and female candidates prior to 
recommending to the President an initial appointment to 
the grade of lieutenant general or vice admiral, or an ini-
tial appointment to the grade of general or admiral. 
‘‘(f) When seeking the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate under subsection (a), the President shall submit to the 
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a certification 
that— 
‘‘(1) all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pa-
cific Islander, African American, Hispanic, Puerto
568 
Rican, Native American, Alaska Native and female 
candidates were considered for appointment; and 
‘‘(2)(A) none of the candidates under subpara-
graph (A) met the qualifications needed by an offi-
cer serving in that position or office to carry out ef-
fectively the duties and responsibilities of that posi-
tion or office; or 
‘‘(B) the officers in the positions designated 
under subsection (a) represent the diversity of the 
armed forces to the extent practicable.’’. 
(2) COAST GUARD.—Section 305(a) of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) The Commandant shall consider all Asian Amer-
ican, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, African Amer-
ican, Hispanic, Puerto Rican, Native American, Alaska 
Native and female candidates prior to recommending to 
the President an initial appointment to the grade of vice 
admiral, or an initial appointment to the grade of admiral. 
‘‘(5) When seeking the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate under subsection (a), the President shall submit to the 
committee of the Senate with jurisdiction over the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating a certification 
that—
569 
‘‘(A) all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pa-
cific Islander, African American, Hispanic, Puerto 
Rican, Native American, Alaska Native and female 
candidates were considered for appointment; and 
‘‘(B)(i) none of the candidates under subpara-
graph (A) met the qualifications needed by an offi-
cer serving in that position or office to carry out ef-
fectively the duties and responsibilities of that posi-
tion or office; or 
‘‘(ii) the officers in the positions designated 
under subsection (a) represent the diversity of the 
armed forces to the extent practicable.’’. 
SEC. 572. ESTABLISHMENT OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 
ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 7 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting before section 187 
the following: 
‘‘§ 186. Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the De-
partment of Defense (referred to in this section as the 
‘Secretary’) shall establish a council to be known as the 
‘Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council of the Depart-
ment of Defense’ (referred to in this section as the ‘Coun-
cil’).
570 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Council shall provide advice and 
recommendations to the Secretary on matters concerning 
diversity and inclusion in the Department of Defense, re-
lating to the following: 
‘‘(1) Aligning diversity and inclusion with the 
strategic goals of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(2) Conducting strategic outreach efforts to 
identify, attract, and recruit individuals that rep-
resent the demographic diversity of the United 
States. 
‘‘(3) Developing, mentoring, and retaining a di-
verse and inclusive Armed Forces. 
‘‘(4) 
Encouraging 
leadership 
development 
through diversity and inclusion practices and proc-
esses. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be com-
posed of not fewer than 22 members, including the 
Federal officials and officers specified in paragraph 
(2), and not fewer than 12 members appointed by 
the Secretary from nongovernmental positions de-
scribed in paragraph (3). 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS.—The 
Federal officials and officers specified in this para-
graph are the following:
571 
‘‘(A) The Chief Diversity Officer of the 
Department of Defense. 
‘‘(B) The Under Secretary of Defense for 
Personnel and Readiness. 
‘‘(C) The Chief of Staff of the Army. 
‘‘(D) The Chief of Naval Operations. 
‘‘(E) The Chief of Staff of the Air Force. 
‘‘(F) The Chief of Space Operations. 
‘‘(G) The Chief of Staff of the Air Force. 
‘‘(H) The Commandant of the Marine 
Corps. 
‘‘(I) The Commandant of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(J) The Chief of the National Guard Bu-
reau. 
‘‘(3) NONGOVERNMENTAL
POSITIONS.—Non-
governmental positions described in this paragraph 
are the following: 
‘‘(A) Five presidents or chancellors of in-
stitutions of higher education, including private 
and public institutions representing diverse 
areas of the United States. 
‘‘(B) Senior leaders of the defense indus-
tries of the United States. 
‘‘(C) Senior leaders of veterans or military 
service organizations.
572 
‘‘(D) Veterans (as defined in section 101 
of title 38). 
‘‘(E) Others determined appropriate by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(4) TIMING
OF
APPOINTMENTS.—Appoint-
ments to the Council shall be made not later than 
four months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
‘‘(5) TERMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be 
appointed for a term of two years. 
‘‘(B) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed 
to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration 
of the term for which the member’s predecessor 
was appointed shall be appointed only for the 
remainder of that term. A member may serve 
after the expiration of that term until a suc-
cessor has been appointed. 
‘‘(6) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
‘‘(A) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of 
the Council shall be the Chief Diversity Officer 
of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(B) 
VICE
CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Vice 
Chairperson shall be designated by the Sec-
retary at the time of the appointment of the
573 
members pursuant to paragraph (4), and when 
a vacancy of the Vice Chairperson occurs, as 
the case may be. 
‘‘(d) MEETING.— 
‘‘(1) MEETINGS.—The Council shall meet not 
fewer than four times each year at the call of the 
Chairperson or Vice Chairperson. 
‘‘(2) QUORUM.—Twelve members of the Coun-
cil, including six appointed under subsection (c)(2) 
and six appointed under subsection (c)(3), shall con-
stitute a quorum. 
‘‘(e) COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION ON COMPENSATION.—Except 
as provided in paragraph (2), members of the Coun-
cil may not receive additional pay, allowances, or 
benefits by reason of their service on the Council. 
‘‘(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5. 
‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 
the request of the Council, the Secretary shall provide to 
the Council, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 
support services necessary for the Council to carry out its 
responsibilities under this Act.
574 
‘‘(g) REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date on which the Council holds its initial meeting under 
subsection (d) and annually thereafter, the Council shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
containing a detailed statement of the advice and rec-
ommendations of the Council pursuant to subsection (b).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 7 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting before the item relating to 
section 187 the following: 
‘‘186. Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council.’’. 
SEC. 573. ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL INSPECTOR GEN-
ERAL FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES 
IN THE ARMED FORCES; AMENDMENTS TO IN-
SPECTOR GENERAL ACT. 
(a) SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR RACIAL AND 
ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN THE ARMED FORCES.— 
(1) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section 
are the following: 
(A) To provide for the independent and ob-
jective conduct and supervision of audits and 
investigations relating to racial and ethnic dis-
parities in military personnel and military jus-
tice systems, and white supremacy among mili-
tary personnel.
575 
(B) To provide recommendations to the 
Secretary of Defense and to Congress on ac-
tions necessary to eliminate racial and ethnic 
disparities in military personnel and military 
justice systems. 
(2) OFFICE
OF
INSPECTOR
GENERAL.—To 
carry out the purposes of paragraph (1), there is 
hereby established, in the Department of Defense, 
the Office of the Special Inspector General for Ra-
cial and Ethnic Disparities in the Armed Forces. 
(3) APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.— 
(A) 
NOMINATION; 
APPOINTMENT.—The 
head of the Office of the Special Inspector Gen-
eral for Racial and Ethnic Disparities is the 
Special Inspector General for Racial and Ethnic 
Disparities (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Inspector General’’), who shall be appointed 
by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate. 
(B) QUALIFICATIONS.—The appointment 
of the Inspector General shall be made solely on 
the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability 
in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, 
management analysis, public administration, or 
investigations.
576 
(C) DEADLINE
FOR
NOMINATION.—The 
nomination of an individual as Inspector Gen-
eral shall be made not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(D) COMPENSATION.—The annual rate of 
basic pay of the Inspector General shall be the 
annual rate of basic pay provided for positions 
at level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 
(E) PROHIBITION
ON
POLITICAL
ACTIVI-
TIES.—For purposes of section 7324 of title 5, 
United States Code, the Inspector General shall 
not be considered an employee who determines 
policies to be pursued by the United States in 
the nationwide administration of Federal law. 
(F) REMOVAL.—The Inspector General 
shall be removable from office in accordance 
with the provisions of section 3(b) of the In-
spector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). 
(4) ASSISTANT
INSPECTORS
GENERAL.—The 
Inspector General shall, in accordance with applica-
ble laws and regulations governing the civil service, 
appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Military 
Justice who shall have the responsibility for auditing
577 
and investigation activities relating to racial and eth-
nic disparities within the military justice system. 
(5) SUPERVISION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Inspector General shall 
report directly to, and be under the general su-
pervision of the Secretary of Defense. 
(B) INDEPENDENCE TO CONDUCT INVES-
TIGATIONS AND AUDITS.—No officer of the De-
partment of Defense shall prevent or prohibit 
the Inspector General from initiating, carrying 
out, or completing any audit or investigation re-
lated to racial and ethnic disparities or from 
issuing any subpoena during the course of any 
such audit or investigation. 
(6) DUTIES.— 
(A) OVERSIGHT OF MILITARY JUSTICE.—It 
shall be the duty of the Inspector General to 
conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and 
investigations of— 
(i) the effect of military justice poli-
cies and practices on racial and ethnic dis-
parities, including overrepresentation of 
minorities in actions related to investiga-
tions, courts-martial, nonjudicial punish-
578 
ments, and other military justice actions as 
determined by the Inspector General; 
(ii) the effect of military personnel 
policies and practices, including recruiting, 
accessions, and promotions, on racial and 
ethnic disparities, including underrepresen-
tation of minorities among members of the 
Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary of a military department in 
grades above E–7; 
(iii) the scope and efficacy of existing 
diversity and inclusion offices and pro-
grams within the Department of Defense; 
and 
(iv) 
white 
supremacist 
activities 
among military personnel and any other 
issues, determined by the Inspector Gen-
eral, necessary to address racial and ethnic 
disparities within the Armed Forces under 
the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a mili-
tary department. 
(B) OTHER
DUTIES
RELATED
TO
OVER-
SIGHT.—The Inspector General shall establish, 
maintain, and oversee such systems, procedures, 
and controls as the Inspector General considers
579 
appropriate to discharge the duties under sub-
paragraph (A). 
(C) 
DUTIES
AND
RESPONSIBILITIES 
UNDER INSPECTOR GENERAL ACT OF 1978.—In 
addition to the duties specified in subpara-
graphs (A) and (B), the Inspector General shall 
also have the duties and responsibilities of in-
spectors general under the Inspector General 
Act of 1978. 
(D) COORDINATION OF EFFORTS.—In car-
rying out the duties, responsibilities, and au-
thorities of the Inspector General under this 
section, the Inspector General shall coordinate 
with, and receive the cooperation of each of the 
following: 
(i) The Inspector General of the De-
partment of Defense. 
(ii) The Inspector General of the 
Army. 
(iii) The Inspector General of the 
Navy. 
(iv) The Inspector General of the Air 
Force. 
(7) POWERS AND AUTHORITIES.—
580 
(A) AUTHORITIES UNDER INSPECTOR GEN-
ERAL ACT OF 1978.—In carrying out the duties 
specified in paragraph (6), the Inspector Gen-
eral shall have the authorities provided in sec-
tion 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978. 
(B) AUDIT
STANDARDS.—The Inspector 
General shall carry out the duties specified in 
paragraph (6)(A) in accordance with section 
4(b)(1) of the Inspector General Act of 1978. 
(8) PERSONNEL, FACILITIES, AND OTHER RE-
SOURCES.— 
(A) PERSONNEL.—The Inspector General 
may select, appoint, and employ such officers 
and employees as may be necessary for carrying 
out the duties of the Inspector General, subject 
to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
governing appointments in the competitive serv-
ice, and the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating 
to classification and General Schedule pay 
rates. 
(B) EMPLOYMENT OF EXPERTS AND CON-
SULTANTS.—The Inspector General may obtain 
services as authorized by section 3109 of title 
5, United States Code, at daily rates not to ex-
581 
ceed the equivalent rate prescribed for grade 
GS–15 of the General Schedule by section 5332 
of such title. 
(C) CONTRACTING
AUTHORITY.—To the 
extent and in such amounts as may be provided 
in advance by appropriations Acts, the Inspec-
tor General may enter into contracts and other 
arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and 
other services with public agencies and with pri-
vate persons, and make such payments as may 
be necessary to carry out the duties of the In-
spector General. 
(D) RESOURCES.—The Secretary of De-
fense, as appropriate, shall provide the Inspec-
tor General with appropriate and adequate of-
fice space at appropriate locations of the De-
partment of Defense, together with such equip-
ment, office supplies, and communications fa-
cilities and services as may be necessary for the 
operation of such offices, and shall provide nec-
essary maintenance services for such offices and 
the equipment and facilities located therein. 
(E) ASSISTANCE
FROM
FEDERAL
AGEN-
CIES.—
582 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Upon request of 
the Inspector General for information or 
assistance from any department, agency, 
or other entity of the Federal Government, 
the head of such entity shall, insofar as is 
practicable and not in contravention of any 
existing law, furnish such information or 
assistance to the Inspector General, or an 
authorized designee. 
(ii) REPORTING OF REFUSED ASSIST-
ANCE.—Whenever information or assist-
ance requested by the Inspector General is, 
in the judgment of the Inspector General, 
unreasonably refused or not provided, the 
Inspector General shall report the cir-
cumstances to the Secretary of Defense, as 
appropriate, and to the appropriate con-
gressional committees without delay. 
(9) REPORTS.— 
(A) QUARTERLY
REPORTS.—Not later 
than 30 days after the end of each fiscal-year 
quarter, the Inspector General shall submit 
quarterly reports to the Secretary of Defense 
and the congressional defense committees sum-
583 
marizing the activities of the Inspector General 
for the previous quarter. 
(B) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—The Inspector 
General shall submit annual reports to the Sec-
retary of Defense and the congressional defense 
committees presenting recommendations for 
changes to policy, practice, regulation, and stat-
ute to eliminate disparities within the military 
personnel and military justice systems and to 
eliminate white supremacist activities among 
military personnel. Each such report shall in-
clude an accounting and detailing of every inci-
dent of white supremacist activity documented 
in the Department of Defense. 
(C) OCCASIONAL REPORTS.—The Inspector 
General shall, from time to time, submit addi-
tional reports containing findings and rec-
ommendations at the discretion of the Inspector 
General. 
(D) ONLINE PUBLICATION.—The Inspector 
General shall publish each report under this 
paragraph on a publicly available website not 
later than 7 days after submission to the Sec-
retary of Defense and the congressional defense 
committees.
584 
(10) FUNDING.—This section shall be carried 
out using not more than $10,000,000 of funds au-
thorized to be appropriated in this Act for Operation 
and Maintenance, Defense-wide, and no additional 
amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this section. 
(b) AMENDMENTS
TO
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL 
ACT.—The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) 
is amended— 
(1) in section 3(b)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘An Inspec-
tor General’’; 
(B) by inserting after the first sentence 
the following: ‘‘An Inspector General may only 
be removed by the President before the expira-
tion of the term of the Inspector General for 
permanent incapacity, neglect of duty, malfea-
sance, conviction of a felony or conduct involv-
ing moral turpitude, knowing violation of a law, 
gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, or 
abuse of authority.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) If an Inspector General is removed by the Presi-
dent under paragraph (1) fewer than 30 days after the
585 
President has communicated in writing the reasons for 
such removal pursuant to paragraph (1), the Inspector 
General shall submit to the Council of the Inspectors Gen-
eral on Integrity and Efficiency a report that includes the 
following information: 
‘‘(A) A description of the facts and cir-
cumstances of each investigation involving a senior 
government employee (as defined in section 5 of this 
Act) being conducted by that Inspector General at 
the time of such removal. 
‘‘(B) Any other matter that the Inspector Gen-
eral determines to include. 
‘‘(3) Any individual serving as the head of an Office 
of Inspector General, after the removal of an Inspector 
General under paragraph (1), shall issue to the Council 
of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency a 
report identifying any instances in which an investigation 
or matter described in paragraph (2) is closed prior to 
its completion, with a description of the reasons for closing 
the investigation or matter.’’; and 
(2) in section 8G(e), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) In the event of the removal of an Inspector Gen-
eral, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity 
and Efficiency shall—
586 
‘‘(A) investigate the reasons for removal pro-
vided by the President; 
‘‘(B) publish a report including the determina-
tion of the Council whether the reasons described in 
subparagraph (A) are in accordance with the rel-
evant provisions relating to for cause removal; 
‘‘(C) review any investigation that was being 
conducted by the Inspector General at the time of 
such removal; and 
‘‘(D) submit, to the congressional committees 
the Council determine to be relevant, a report that 
includes the determination of the Council whether an 
investigation described in subparagraph (C) moti-
vated such removal.’’. 
SEC. 574. QUESTIONS REGARDING RACISM, ANTI-SEMITISM, 
AND SUPREMACISM IN WORKPLACE SURVEYS 
ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF DE-
FENSE. 
Section 593 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) is amend-
ed, in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, racist, xenophobic, 
anti-Semitic, or supremacist’’ after ‘‘extremist’’.
587 
SEC. 575. REPORT ON DEMOGRAPHICS OF OFFICERS AP-
POINTED TO CERTAIN GRADES. 
Not later than the first October 1 to occur after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
each Secretary of a military department shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report summarizing the gen-
der and race of each individual who received an appoint-
ment under section 531 or 601 of title 10, United States 
Code, during the immediately preceding fiscal year. 
SEC. 576. PLANS TO INCREASE FEMALE AND MINORITY 
REPRESENTATION IN THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) PLANS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 
and each Secretary of a military department shall develop 
plans to increase, with respect to female and minority 
members of the Armed Forces and cadets or midshipmen 
under the jurisdiction of that Secretary, the following: 
(1) Recruitment. 
(2) Retention. 
(3) Representation in grades above E–7. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each plan developed under this sec-
tion shall include clearly defined goals, performance meas-
ures, and timeframes. 
(c) GOALS.—A goal under subsection (b) shall be to 
exceed, by not less than 100 percent, the rate at which 
the number of members described in subsection (a)(3) in-
588 
creased during the 5 years immediately preceding the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) SUBMITTAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
and each Secretary of a military department shall submit 
to the committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a copy of each plan devel-
oped under this section by that Secretary. 
(e) REPORT.—Three months after submitting a plan 
under subsection (d) and quarterly thereafter for 5 years, 
the Secretary of Defense and each Secretary of a military 
department shall submit to the committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report indicating the number of female and minority 
members in grades above E–7 in each Armed Force under 
the jurisdiction of that Secretary. 
SEC. 577. EVALUATION OF BARRIERS TO MINORITY PAR-
TICIPATION 
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 agreement with a feder-
ally funded research and development center with
589 
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 mi-
nority 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 minor-
ity (including English language learners) par-
ticipation in the recruitment, accession, assess-
ment, and training processes. 
(E) The status and effectiveness of the re-
sponse to the recommendations contained in the 
report of the RAND Corporation titled ‘‘Bar-
riers to Minority Participation in Special Oper-
590 
ations Forces’’ and any follow-up recommenda-
tions. 
(F) Recommendations to increase the num-
bers of minority officers in the Armed Forces. 
(G) Recommendations to increase minority 
participation in covered units. 
(H) Any other matters the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(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 com-
mittees upon request. 
(b) DESIGNATION.—The study conducted under sub-
section (a) shall be known as the ‘‘Study on Reducing Bar-
riers to Minority Participation in Elite Units in the Armed 
Services’’. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), not later than March 1, 2023, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall commence the implementa-
tion of each recommendation included in the final 
report submitted under subsection (a)(3).
591 
(2) EXCEPTIONS.— 
(A) 
DELAYED
IMPLEMENTATION.—The 
Secretary of Defense may commence implemen-
tation of a recommendation described para-
graph (1) later than March 1, 2023, if— 
(i) the Secretary submits to the con-
gressional defense committees, not later 
than January 1, 2023, written notice of 
the intent of the Secretary to delay imple-
mentation of the recommendation; and 
(ii) includes, as part of such notice, a 
specific justification for the delay in imple-
menting the recommendation. 
(B) 
NONIMPLEMENTATION.—The 
Sec-
retary of Defense may elect not to implement a 
recommendation described in paragraph (1), 
if— 
(i) the Secretary submits to the con-
gressional defense committees, not later 
than January 1, 2023, written notice of 
the intent of the Secretary not to imple-
ment the recommendation; and 
(ii) includes, as part of such notice—
592 
(I) the reasons for the Sec-
retary’s decision not to implement the 
recommendation; and 
(II) a summary of alternative ac-
tions the Secretary will carry out to 
address the purposes underlying the 
recommendation. 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN.—For each rec-
ommendation 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 im-
plement the recommendation; and 
(B) a schedule, with specific milestones, 
for completing the implementation of the rec-
ommendation. 
(d) COVERED UNITS DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘covered units’’ means the following: 
(1) Army Special Forces. 
(2) Army Rangers. 
(3) Navy SEALs. 
(4) Air Force Combat Control Teams. 
(5) Air Force Pararescue.
593 
(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 Sec-
retary of Defense as special operations forces. 
(11) Pilot and navigator military occupational 
specialties. 
SEC. 578. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON EFFORTS TO IN-
CREASE DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION 
IN FILM, TELEVISION, AND PUBLISHING. 
(a) PROMULGATION OF POLICY.—The Secretary of 
Defense and each Secretary of a military department shall 
promulgate a policy to promote, to the maximum extent 
possible, the depiction of marginalized communities in 
projects with the film, television, and publishing industries 
carried out through the respective offices of public affairs. 
(b) CONSIDERATION
OF DEPICTION
OF CERTAIN 
COMMUNITIES.—The Secretary of Defense and each Sec-
retary of a military department shall consider the pro-
motion of a marginalized community as an affirmative fac-
tor in any decision to provide assistance to a production 
studio or publishing company through the respective of-
fices of public affairs.
594 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in coordination with each Secretary of a mili-
tary department, shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report on— 
(1) the policies promulgated under subsection 
(a); and 
(2) the activities carried out by the Secretary of 
Defense and each such Secretary of a military de-
partment pursuant to such subsection. 
(d) DEFINITION OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘marginalized community’’ 
means a community— 
(1) that is (or historically was) under-rep-
resented in the film, television, and publishing indus-
tries, including— 
(A) women; 
(B) racial and ethnic minorities; 
(C) individuals with disabilities; 
(D) members of the LGBTQ community; 
(E) individuals of all ages; and 
(F) other individuals from under-rep-
resented communities; and 
(2) whose members have served in the Armed 
Forces.
595 
SEC. 579. PLAN TO IMPROVE RESPONSES TO PREGNANCY 
AND CHILDBIRTH BY MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments, shall develop a plan to ensure that the career of 
a covered individual is not unduly affected because of 
being a covered individual. The plan shall address the fol-
lowing policy considerations: 
(1) Enforcement and implementation of the 
Pregnancy Discrimination Act (Public Law 95–555; 
42 U.S.C. 2000e(k)) by the Department of Defense 
and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commis-
sion with regards to civilian employees of the De-
partment of Defense. 
(2) The need for individual determinations re-
garding the ability of members of the Armed Forces 
to serve during and after pregnancy. 
(3) Responses to the effects specific to covered 
individuals who reintegrate into home life after de-
ployment. 
(4) Pregnancy discrimination training, includ-
ing comprehensive education of new policies to di-
minish stigma, stereotypes, and negative perceptions
596 
regarding covered individuals, including with regards 
to commitment to the Armed Forces and abilities. 
(5) Opportunities to maintain readiness when 
positions are unfilled due to pregnancy, medical con-
ditions arising from pregnancy or childbirth, preg-
nancy convalescence, or parental leave. 
(6) Reasonable accommodations for covered in-
dividuals in general and specific accommodations 
based on career field or military occupational spe-
cialty. 
(7) Reissuing school enrollments or special as-
signments to covered individuals. 
(8) Extended assignments and performance re-
porting periods for covered individuals. 
(9) A mechanism by which covered individuals 
may report harassment or discrimination, including 
retaliation, relating to being a covered individual. 
(b) REPORT ON PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
detailing the plan required under this section and a strat-
egy to implement the plan. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall—
597 
(1) complete implementation of the plan under 
this section; and 
(2) submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report detailing the research performed, con-
siderations, and policy changes implemented under 
this section. 
(d) COVERED INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered individual’’ means a member of 
the Armed Forces or employee of the Department of De-
fense who— 
(1) is pregnant; 
(2) gives birth to a child; or 
(3) incurs a medical condition arising from 
pregnancy or childbirth. 
Subtitle I—Decorations and 
Awards 
SEC. 581. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ATOMIC VETERANS 
SERVICE MEDAL. 
(a) SERVICE MEDAL REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall design and produce a military service medal, 
to be known as the ‘‘Atomic Veterans Service Medal’’, to 
honor retired and former members of the Armed Forces 
who are radiation-exposed veterans (as such term is de-
fined in section 1112(c)(3) of title 38, United States 
Code).
598 
(b) DISTRIBUTION OF MEDAL.— 
(1) ISSUANCE TO RETIRED AND FORMER MEM-
BERS.—At the request of a radiation-exposed vet-
eran, the Secretary of Defense shall issue the Atom-
ic Veterans Service Medal to the veteran. 
(2) ISSUANCE TO NEXT-OF-KIN.—In the case of 
a radiation-exposed veteran who is deceased, the 
Secretary may provide for issuance of the Atomic 
Veterans Service Medal to the next-of-kin of the per-
son. 
(3) APPLICATION.—The Secretary shall prepare 
and disseminate as appropriate an application by 
which radiation-exposed veterans and their next-of- 
kin may apply to receive the Atomic Veterans Serv-
ice Medal. 
SEC. 582. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE DISTIN-
GUISHED-SERVICE CROSS FOR RAMIRO F. 
OLIVO FOR ACTS OF VALOR DURING THE 
VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim-
itations specified in section 7274 of title 10, United States 
Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the 
awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the 
United States Armed Forces, the President of the United 
States is authorized to award the Distinguished-Service
599 
Cross under section 7272 of such title to Ramiro F. Olivo 
for the acts of valor during the Vietnam War described 
in subsection (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
described in this subsection are the actions of Ramiro F. 
Olivo on May 9, 1968, as a member of the Army while 
serving in the Republic of Vietnam with Company C, 1st 
Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. 
SEC. 583. ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS OF OPERATION END 
SWEEP FOR VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL. 
The Secretary of the military department concerned 
may, upon the application of an individual who is a vet-
eran who participated in Operation End Sweep, award 
that individual the Vietnam Service Medal. 
Subtitle J—Miscellaneous Reports 
and Other Matters 
SEC. 591. EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
STARBASE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2193b of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘science, mathematics, and technology’’ 
and inserting ‘‘science, technology, engineer-
ing, art and design, and mathematics’’;
600 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘science, 
mathematics, 
and 
technology’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘science, technology, engineering, art and design, 
and mathematics’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘mathematics, 
science, and technology’’ and inserting ‘‘science, 
technology, engineering, art and design, and mathe-
matics’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 111 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 
2193b and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘2193b. Improvement of education in technical fields: program for support of 
elementary and secondary education in science, technology, en-
gineering, art and design, and mathematics.’’. 
SEC. 592. INCLUSION OF CERTAIN OUTLYING AREAS IN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STARBASE PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 2193b(h) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘the Commonwealth of the North-
ern Mariana Islands, American Samoa,’’ before ‘‘and 
Guam’’.
601 
SEC. 593. PROHIBITION ON CHARGING FOR OR COUNTING 
CERTAIN ACRONYMS ON HEADSTONES OF IN-
DIVIDUALS INTERRED AT ARLINGTON NA-
TIONAL CEMETERY. 
The Secretary of the Army shall prescribe regulations 
or establish policies that, with regards to the headstone 
for an individual interred at Arlington National Cemetery, 
prohibit the charging of a fee for, or counting towards 
character or line count, the following acronyms: 
(1) ‘‘KIA’’ for an individual killed in action. 
(2) ‘‘MIA’’ for an individual who was missing 
in action. 
(3) ‘‘POW’’ for an individual who was a pris-
oner of war. 
SEC. 594. REPORT ON PLACEMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES IN ACADEMIC STATUS WHO 
ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ONTO 
NON-RATED PERIODS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment 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 on the feasibility 
and advisability, and current practice (if any), of the De-
partment 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 edu-
602 
cation programs) and who are victims of sexual assault 
to be placed on a Non-Rated Period for their performance 
report. 
SEC. 595. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ADVERTISING 
RECRUITING EFFORTS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Chiefs of the 
Armed Forces, in coordination with the Recruiting Com-
mands of the Armed Forces, should give all due consider-
ation to the use of local broadcasting and traditional news 
publishers when advertising. 
SEC. 596. STUDY ON FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF COVID–19 ON 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND BEST 
PRACTICES TO PREVENT FUTURE FINANCIAL 
HARDSHIPS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study on the financial hardships experienced by mem-
bers of the Armed Forces (including the reserve compo-
nents) as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study shall— 
(1) examine the financial hardships members of 
the Armed Forces experience as a result of the 
COVID–19 pandemic, including the effects of stop 
movement orders, loss of spousal income, loss of 
hazardous duty incentive pay, school closures, loss of 
childcare, loss of educational benefits, loss of drill
603 
and exercise pay, cancelled deployments, and any ad-
ditional financial stressors identified by the Sec-
retary; 
(2) recommend best practices to provide assist-
ance for members of the Armed Forces experiencing 
the financial hardships listed in paragraph (1); and 
(3) identify actions that can be taken by the 
Secretary to prevent financial hardships listed in 
paragraph (1) from occurring in the future. 
(c) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—For the 
purposes of the study, the Secretary shall— 
(1) consult with the Director of the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau; and 
(2) with respect to members of the Coast 
Guard, coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland 
Security. 
(d) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
on the study under subsection (a). 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘financial hardship’’ means a loss 
of income or an unforeseen expense as a result of 
closures and changes in operations in response to 
the COVID–19 pandemic; and
604 
(2) the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and House of Representatives. 
SEC. 597. SENSE OF CONGRESS HONORING THE DOVER AIR 
FORCE BASE, DELAWARE, HOME TO THE 
436TH AIRLIFT WING, THE 512TH AIRLIFT 
WING, AND THE CHARLES C. CARSON CENTER 
FOR MORTUARY AFFAIRS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress find the following: 
(1) The Dover Air Force Base is home more 
than 4,000 active-duty military and civilian employ-
ees tasked with defending the United States of 
America. 
(2) The Dover Air Force Base supports the 
mission of the th Airlift Wing, known as ‘‘Eagle 
Wing’’ and the 512th Airlift Wing, known as Liberty 
Wing. 
(3) The ‘‘Eagle Wing’’ serves as a unit of the 
Eighteenth Air Force headquartered with the Air 
Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illi-
nois. 
(4) The ‘‘Eagle Wing’’ flies hundreds of mis-
sions throughout the world and provides a quarter of 
the United States’ strategic airlift capability and
605 
boasts a global reach to over 100 countries around 
the world. 
(5) The Dover Air Force Base houses incredible 
aircrafts utilized by the United States Air Force, in-
cluding the C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17A 
Globemaster III aircraft. 
(6) The Dover Air Force Base operates the 
largest and busiest air freight terminal in the De-
partment of Defense, fulfilling an important role in 
our Nation’s military. 
(7) The Air Mobility Command Museum is lo-
cated on the Dover Air Force base and welcomes 
thousands of visitors each year to learn more about 
the United States Air Force. 
(8) The Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary 
Affairs fulfills our Nation’s sacred commitment of 
ensuring dignity, honor and respect to the fallen and 
care service and support to their families. 
(9) The mortuary mission at Dover Air Force 
Base dates back to 1955 and is the only Department 
of Defense mortuary in the continental United 
States. 
(10) Service members who serve at the Center 
for Mortuary Affairs are often so moved by their 
work that they voluntarily elect to serve multiple
606 
tours because they feel called to serve our fallen he-
roes. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—Congress— 
(1) honors and expresses sincerest gratitude to 
the women and men of the Dover Air Force Base for 
their distinguished service; 
(2) acknowledges the incredible sacrifice and 
service of the families of active duty members of the 
United States military; 
(3) encourages the people of the United States 
to keep in their thoughts and their prayers the 
women and men of the United States Armed Forces; 
and 
(4) recognizes the incredibly unique and impor-
tant work of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Oper-
ations and the role they play in honoring our fallen 
heroes. 
SEC. 598. GAO STUDY OF WOMEN INVOLUNTARILY SEPA-
RATED OR DISCHARGED DUE TO PREGNANCY 
OR PARENTHOOD. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than September 
30, 2021, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study regarding women involuntarily sepa-
rated or discharged from the Armed Forces due to preg-
607 
nancy or parenthood during the period of 1951 through 
1976. The study shall identify— 
(1) the number of such women, disaggregated 
by— 
(A) Armed Force; 
(B) grade; 
(C) race; and 
(D) ethnicity; 
(2) the characters of such discharges or separa-
tions; 
(3) discrepancies in uniformity of such dis-
charges or separations; 
(4) how such discharges or separations affected 
access of such women to health care and benefits 
through the Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
(5) recommendations for improving access of 
such women to resources through the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after com-
pleting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller 
General shall submit to Congress a report containing the 
results of that study.
608 
SEC. 599. REPORT REGARDING TRANSPORTATION OF RE-
MAINS OF CERTAIN DECEDENTS BY THE SEC-
RETARY OF A MILITARY DEPARTMENT. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit a report to Congress regarding 
the transportation of the remains of decedents under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military department pur-
suant to section 1481 of title 10, United States Code. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall 
include the following: 
(1) Whether the Secretary of Defense maintains 
of a list or database of airports that accept remains 
of decedents. 
(2) How information in the list or database de-
scribed in paragraph (1) is transmitted to casualty 
assistance call officers. 
(3) Regulations and guidance prescribed by the 
Secretary of Defense or Secretaries of the military 
departments regarding transportation of the remains 
of decedents. 
(4) Any changes made during 2020 to regula-
tions or guidance described in paragraph (3) by the 
Secretary of the Navy.
609 
(5) Recommendations of the Secretary of De-
fense to improve regulations or guidance described 
in paragraph (3). 
SEC. 599A. POSTPONEMENT OF CONDITIONAL DESIGNA-
TION OF EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL 
CORPS AS A BASIC BRANCH OF THE ARMY. 
Section 582(b) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 10 U.S.C. 
763 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘October 1, 
2020’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2025’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘September 30, 2020’’ and in-
serting ‘‘September 30, 2025’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘, 
the explosive ordnance disposal commandant 
(chief of explosive ordnance disposal),’’ before 
‘‘qualified’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) The explosive ordnance disposal com-
mandant (chief of explosive ordnance disposal) 
has ensured that explosive ordnance disposal 
soldiers have the mobility skills necessary to
610 
support special operations forces (as identified 
in section 167(j) of title 10, United States 
Code). Such skills include airborne, air assault, 
combat diver, fast roping insertion and extrac-
tion, helocasting, military free-fall, and off-road 
driving.’’. 
SEC. 599B. ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING COST OF LIVING 
FOR MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
Section 136 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel 
and Readiness shall submit annually to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Represent-
atives a report containing an analysis of the costs of living, 
nationwide, for— 
‘‘(1) members of the Armed Forces on active 
duty; and 
‘‘(2) employees of the Department of Defense.’’. 
SEC. 599C. REPORT ON PRESERVATION OF THE FORCE AND 
FAMILY PROGRAM OF UNITED STATES SPE-
CIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than March 1, 
2021, the Commander of United States Special Oper-
611 
ations Command shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a report on the Preservation of the Force and Family 
Program of United States Special Operations Command 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Program’’). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall 
include the following: 
(1) The current structure of professional staff 
employed by the Program. 
(2) A comparison of the current mission re-
quirements and the capabilities of existing personnel 
of the Program. 
(3) An analysis of any emergent needs or skill 
sets of the Program. 
(4) A cost-benefit analysis of hiring, as special-
ists— 
(A) contractors; 
(B) civilian personnel of the Department of 
Defense; or 
(C) members of the Armed Forces. 
SEC. 599D. GAO STUDY OF MEMBERS ABSENT WITHOUT 
LEAVE OR ON UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE. 
(a) STUDY; REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 
2021, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Sen-
612 
ate and House of Representatives a report containing the 
results of a study regarding how the Armed Forces handle 
cases of members absent without leave or on unauthorized 
absence. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under this section shall 
include the following: 
(1) The procedures and guidelines established 
by each Armed Force for the investigation of such 
a case. 
(2) The guidelines for distinguishing between— 
(A) common cases; 
(B) cases that may involve foul play or ac-
cident; and 
(C) cases wherein the member may be in 
danger. 
(3) The current guidelines for cooperation and 
coordination between military investigative agencies 
and— 
(A) local law enforcement agencies; and 
(B) Federal law enforcement agencies. 
(4) The current guidelines for use of traditional 
and social media in conjunction with such cases. 
(5) Military resources available for such cases 
and any apparent shortfalls in such resources.
613 
(6) How the procedures for such cases vary be-
tween Armed Forces. 
(7) How the procedures described in paragraph 
(6) vary from procedures used by local and Federal 
law enforcement. 
(8) Best practices for responding to and inves-
tigating such cases. 
(9) Any other matter the Comptroller General 
determines appropriate. 
TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND 
OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS 
Subtitle A—Pay and Allowances 
SEC. 601. INCREASE IN BASIC PAY. 
Effective on January 1, 2021, the rates of monthly 
basic pay for members of the uniformed services are in-
creased by 3.0 percent. 
SEC. 602. BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE FOR LOW-INCOME 
REGULAR MEMBERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 37, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 402a 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 402b. Basic needs allowance for low-income reg-
ular members 
‘‘(a) ALLOWANCE REQUIRED.—(1) Subject to para-
graph (2), the Secretary of Defense shall pay to each cov-
614 
ered member a basic needs allowance in the amount deter-
mined for such member under subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) In the event a household contains two or more 
covered members entitled to receive the allowance under 
this section in a given year, only one allowance may be 
paid for that year to a covered member among such cov-
ered members whom such covered members shall jointly 
elect. 
‘‘(b) AMOUNT
OF ALLOWANCE
FOR
A COVERED 
MEMBER.—(1) The amount of the monthly allowance pay-
able to a covered member under subsection (a) for a year 
shall be the aggregate amount equal to— 
‘‘(A) the aggregate amount equal to— 
‘‘(i) 130 percent of the Federal poverty guide-
lines of the Department of Health and Human Serv-
ices for the location and number of persons in the 
household of the covered member for such year; 
minus 
‘‘(ii) the gross household income of the covered 
member during the preceding year; and 
‘‘(B) divided by 12. 
‘‘(2) The monthly allowance payable to a covered 
member for a year shall be payable for each of the 12 
months following March of such year.
615 
‘‘(c) NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY.—(1)(A) Not later than 
December 31 each year, the Director of the Defense Fi-
nance and Accounting Service shall notify, in writing, each 
individual whom the Director estimates will be a covered 
member during the following year of the potential entitle-
ment of that individual to the allowance described in sub-
section (a) for that following year. 
‘‘(B) The preliminary notice under subparagraph (A) 
shall include information regarding financial management 
and assistance programs administered by the Secretary of 
Defense for which a covered member is eligible. 
‘‘(2) Not later than January 31 each year, each indi-
vidual who seeks to receive the allowance for such year 
(whether or not subject to a notice for such year under 
paragraph (1)) shall submit to the Director such informa-
tion as the Director shall require for purposes of this sec-
tion in order to determine whether or not such individual 
is a covered member for such year. 
‘‘(3) Not later than February 28 each year, the Di-
rector shall notify, in writing, each individual the Director 
determines to be a covered member for such year. 
‘‘(d) ELECTION NOT TO RECEIVE ALLOWANCE.—(1) 
A covered member otherwise entitled to receive the allow-
ance under subsection (a) for a year may elect, in writing, 
not to receive the allowance for such year. Any election
616 
under this subsection shall be effective only for the year 
for which made. Any election for a year under this sub-
section is irrevocable. 
‘‘(2) A covered member who does not submit informa-
tion described in subsection (d)(2) for a year as otherwise 
required by that subsection shall be deemed to have elect-
ed not to receive the allowance for such year. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘covered member’ means a reg-
ular member of an armed force under the jurisdic-
tion of the Secretary of a military department— 
‘‘(A) who has completed initial entry train-
ing; 
‘‘(B) whose gross household income during 
the most recent year did not exceed an amount 
equal to 130 percent of the Federal poverty 
guidelines of the Department of Health and 
Human Services for the location and number of 
persons in the household of the covered member 
for such year; and 
‘‘(C) who does not elect under subsection 
(d) not to receive the allowance for such year. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘gross household income’ of a 
covered member for a year for purposes of para-
graph (1)(B) does not include any basic allowance
617 
for housing received by the covered member (and 
any dependents of the covered member in the house-
hold of the covered member) during such year under 
section 403 of this title. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
prescribe regulations for the administration of this section. 
Subject to subsection (e)(2), such regulations shall specify 
the income to be included in, and excluded from, the gross 
household income of individuals for purposes of this sec-
tion.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 402a the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘402b. Basic needs allowance for low-income regular members.’’. 
SEC. 603. REORGANIZATION OF CERTAIN ALLOWANCES 
OTHER THAN TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION 
ALLOWANCES. 
(a) PER DIEM FOR DUTY OUTSIDE THE CONTI-
NENTAL UNITED STATES.— 
(1) TRANSFER TO CHAPTER 7.—Section 475 of 
title 37, United States Code, is transferred to chap-
ter 7 of such title, inserted after section 403b, and 
redesignated as section 405. 
(2) REPEAL
OF
TERMINATION
PROVISION.— 
Section 405 of title 37, United States Code, as
618 
added by paragraph (1), is amended by striking sub-
section (f). 
(b) ALLOWANCE FOR FUNERAL HONORS DUTY.— 
(1) TRANSFER TO CHAPTER 7.—Section 495 of 
title 37, United States Code, is transferred to chap-
ter 7 of such title, inserted after section 433a, and 
redesignated as section 435. 
(2) REPEAL
OF
TERMINATION
PROVISION.— 
Section 435 of title 37, United States Code, as 
added by paragraph (1), is amended by striking sub-
section (c). 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) CHAPTER 7.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 7 of title 37, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 403b the following new item: 
‘‘405. Travel and transportation allowances: per diem while on duty outside the 
continental United States.’’; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 433a the following new item: 
‘‘435. Funeral honors duty: allowance.’’. 
(2) CHAPTER 8.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 8 of title 37, United States 
Code, is amended by striking the items relating to 
sections 475 and 495.
619 
SEC. 604. SINGLE MILITARY HOUSING AREA FOR EACH MU-
NICIPALITY WITH A POPULATION GREATER 
THAN 500,000. 
Section 403(b)(2) of title 37, United States Code is 
amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ be-
fore ‘‘The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) No municipality with a population greater than 
500,000 may be covered by more than one military hous-
ing area.’’. 
SEC. 605. EXPANSION OF TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION 
ALLOWANCES 
TO 
INCLUDE 
FARES 
AND 
TOLLS. 
Section 452(c)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘(including fares and tolls, without 
regard to distance travelled)’’ after ‘‘transportation’’. 
SEC. 606. COMPENSATION AND CREDIT FOR RETIRED PAY 
PURPOSES FOR MATERNITY LEAVE TAKEN 
BY MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPO-
NENTS. 
(a) COMPENSATION.—Section 206(a) of title 37, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end;
620 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) for each of 6 days for each period during 
which the member is on maternity leave.’’. 
(b) CREDIT FOR RETIRED PAY PURPOSES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The period of maternity 
leave taken by a member of the reserve components 
of the Armed Forces in connection with the birth of 
a child shall count toward the member’s entitlement 
to retired pay, and in connection with the years of 
service used in computing retired pay, under chapter 
1223 of title 10, United States Code, as 12 points. 
(2) SEPARATE CREDIT FOR EACH PERIOD OF 
LEAVE.—Separate crediting of points shall accrue to 
a member pursuant to this subsection for each pe-
riod of maternity leave taken by the member in con-
nection with a childbirth event. 
(3) WHEN CREDITED.—Points credited a mem-
ber for a period of maternity leave pursuant to this 
subsection shall be credited in the year in which the 
period of maternity leave concerned commences. 
(4) CONTRIBUTION OF LEAVE TOWARD ENTI-
TLEMENT TO RETIRED PAY.—Section 12732(a)(2) of
621 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by insert-
ing after subparagraph (E) the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(F) Points at the rate of 12 per period 
during which the member is on maternity 
leave.’’. 
(5) COMPUTATION OF YEARS OF SERVICE FOR 
RETIRED
PAY.—Section 12733 of such title is 
amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following new paragraph (5): 
‘‘(5) One day for each point credited to the per-
son under subparagraph (F) of section 12732(a)(2) 
of this title.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section shall take effect on the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect 
to periods of maternity leave that commence on or after 
that date.
622 
Subtitle B—Bonuses and Special 
Incentive Pays 
SEC. 611. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING 
BONUS AND SPECIAL PAY AUTHORITIES. 
(a) 
AUTHORITIES
RELATING
TO
RESERVE 
FORCES.—Section 910(g) of title 37, United States Code, 
relating to income replacement payments for reserve com-
ponent members experiencing extended and frequent mo-
bilization for active duty service, is amended by striking 
‘‘December 31, 2020’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2021’’. 
(b) TITLE 10 AUTHORITIES RELATING TO HEALTH 
CARE PROFESSIONALS.—The following sections of title 
10, United States Code, are amended by striking ‘‘Decem-
ber 31, 2020’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2021’’: 
(1) Section 2130a(a)(1), relating to nurse offi-
cer candidate accession program. 
(2) Section 16302(d), relating to repayment of 
education loans for certain health professionals who 
serve in the Selected Reserve. 
(c) AUTHORITIES RELATING
TO NUCLEAR OFFI-
CERS.—Section 333(i) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2020’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2021’’.
623 
(d) AUTHORITIES RELATING TO TITLE 37 CONSOLI-
DATED SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AU-
THORITIES.—The following sections of title 37, United 
States Code, are amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2020’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2021’’: 
(1) Section 331(h), relating to general bonus 
authority for enlisted members. 
(2) Section 332(g), relating to general bonus 
authority for officers. 
(3) Section 334(i), relating to special aviation 
incentive pay and bonus authorities for officers. 
(4) Section 335(k), relating to special bonus 
and incentive pay authorities for officers in health 
professions. 
(5) Section 336(g), relating to contracting 
bonus for cadets and midshipmen enrolled in the 
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. 
(6) Section 351(h), relating to hazardous duty 
pay. 
(7) Section 352(g), relating to assignment pay 
or special duty pay. 
(8) Section 353(i), relating to skill incentive 
pay or proficiency bonus.
624 
(9) Section 355(h), relating to retention incen-
tives for members qualified in critical military skills 
or assigned to high priority units. 
(e) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY INCREASE 
IN RATES OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING.—Section 
403(b)(7)(E) of title 37, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘December 31, 2020’’ and inserting ‘‘Decem-
ber 31, 2021’’. 
SEC. 612. INCREASE IN CERTAIN HAZARDOUS DUTY INCEN-
TIVE PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED 
SERVICES. 
Section 351(b) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘$250’’ both places it appears and 
inserting ‘‘$275’’. 
SEC. 613. STANDARDIZATION OF PAYMENT OF HAZARDOUS 
DUTY INCENTIVE PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
UNIFORMED SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 351(c) of title 37, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) PAYMENT.—Hazardous duty pay shall be paid 
on a monthly basis.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2020, and shall 
apply with respect to duty performed in any month begin-
ning on or after that date.
625 
SEC. 614. CLARIFICATION OF 30 DAYS OF CONTINUOUS 
DUTY ON BOARD A SHIP REQUIRED FOR FAM-
ILY SEPARATION ALLOWANCE FOR MEMBERS 
OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES. 
Section 427(a)(1)(B) of title 37, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ‘‘(or under orders to remain on 
board the ship while at the home port)’’ after ‘‘of the 
ship’’. 
SEC. 615. EXPANSION OF REIMBURSABLE STATE LICEN-
SURE AND CERTIFICATION COSTS FOR A 
MILITARY SPOUSE ARISING FROM RELOCA-
TION. 
Section 476(p)(5) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘and’’ and inserting ‘‘fees, continuing education 
courses, and’’. 
Subtitle C—Family and Survivor 
Benefits 
SEC. 621. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINAN-
CIAL ASSISTANCE TO CIVILIAN PROVIDERS 
OF CHILD CARE SERVICES OR YOUTH PRO-
GRAM SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO DIE IN 
THE LINE OF DUTY. 
Section 1798(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘in combat-related incidents’’.
626 
SEC. 622. EXPANSION OF DEATH GRATUITY FOR ROTC 
GRADUATES. 
Section 623(b) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) is amended 
by striking ‘‘the date of the enactment of this Act’’ and 
inserting ‘‘May 1, 2017’’. 
SEC. 623. RECALCULATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 
PROVIDERS OF CHILD CARE SERVICES AND 
YOUTH PROGRAM SERVICES FOR DEPEND-
ENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2021, the 
Secretary of Defense shall develop a method by which to 
determine appropriate amounts of financial assistance 
under section 1798 of title 10, United States Code. In 
such development, the Secretary shall take into consider-
ation the following: 
(1) Grades of members of the Armed Forces. 
(2) The cost of living in an applicable locale. 
(3) Whether a military installation has a mili-
tary child development center, including any wait list 
length. 
(4) Whether a military child development center 
has vacant child care employee positions. 
(5) The capacity of licensed civilian child care 
providers in an applicable locale.
627 
(6) The average cost of licensed civilian child 
care services available in an applicable locale. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than August 1, 2021, the 
Secretary shall submit a report the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
on the method developed under this section. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘child 
care employee’’ and ‘‘military child development center’’ 
have the meanings given those terms in section 1800 of 
title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 624. PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN MILITARY FAMILY HOUS-
ING TO A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES 
WHOSE SPOUSE AGREES TO PROVIDE FAMILY 
HOME DAY CARE SERVICES. 
(a) PRIORITY.—If the Secretary of a military depart-
ment determines that not enough child care employees are 
employed at a military child development center on a mili-
tary installation under the jurisdiction of that Secretary 
to adequately care for the children of members of the 
Armed Forces stationed at that military installation, the 
Secretary, to the extent practicable, may give priority for 
covered military family housing to a member whose spouse 
is an eligible military spouse. 
(b) NUMBER OF PRIORITY POSITIONS.—A Secretary 
of a military department may grant priority under sub-
628 
section (a) only to the minimum number of eligible mili-
tary spouses that the Secretary determines necessary to 
provide adequate child care to the children of members 
stationed at a military installation described in subsection 
(a). 
(c) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section may be 
construed to require the Secretary of a military depart-
ment to provide covered military family housing that has 
been adapted for disabled individuals to a member under 
this section instead of to a member with one more depend-
ents enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program. 
(d) RESULT
OF FAILURE TO PROVIDE FAMILY 
HOME DAY CARE SERVICES OR LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.— 
The Secretary of the military department concerned may 
remove a household provided covered military family hous-
ing under this section therefrom if the Secretary deter-
mines the spouse of that member has failed to abide by 
an agreement described in subsection (e)(3) or has ceased 
to be an eligible military spouse. Such removal may not 
occur sooner than 60 days after the date of such deter-
mination. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The terms ‘‘child care employee’’, ‘‘family 
home day care’’, and ‘‘military child development
629 
center’’ have the meanings given those terms in sec-
tion 1800 of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered military family housing’’ 
means military family housing— 
(A) located on a military installation de-
scribed in subsection (a); and 
(B) that the Secretary of the military de-
partment concerned determines is large enough 
to provide family home day care services to no 
fewer than six children (not including children 
in the household of the eligible military spouse). 
(3) The term ‘‘eligible military spouse’’ means 
a military spouse who— 
(A) is eligible for military family housing; 
(B) is eligible to provide family home day 
care services; 
(C) has provided family home day care 
services for at least 1 year; and 
(D) agrees in writing to provide family 
home day care services in covered military fam-
ily housing for a period determined by the Sec-
retary of the military department concerned.
630 
SEC. 625. STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF TSP CONTRIBUTIONS 
BY MILITARY SPOUSES. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall conduct a study on potential enhancements to the 
military Thrift Savings Plan administered by the Federal 
Retirement Thrift Investment Board. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) An evaluation of the effect of allowing mili-
tary spouses to contribute or make eligible retire-
ment account transfers to the military Thrift Sav-
ings Plan account of the member of the Armed 
Forces to whom that military spouse in married. 
(2) Legislation the Secretary determines nec-
essary to permit contributions and transfers de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(3) An evaluation of whether and to what ex-
tent employer-funded matching of contributions de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may encourage further par-
ticipation in the military Thrift Savings Plan. 
(c) REPORTING.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than February 
1, 2021, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board a 
report on the results of the study under subsection 
(a).
631 
(2) ANALYSIS.—Not later than 60 days after 
receiving the report under paragraph (1), the Fed-
eral Thrift Savings Retirement Board shall analyze 
the report under paragraph (1), generate rec-
ommendations and comments it determines appro-
priate, and submit such analysis, recommendations, 
and comments to the Secretary. 
(3) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than April 1, 
2021, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives the report under paragraph (1) and the 
analysis, recommendations, and comments under 
paragraph (2). 
SEC. 626. GOLD STAR FAMILIES PARKS PASS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be referred to 
as the ‘‘Gold Star Families Parks Pass Act’’. 
(b) GOLD STAR FAMILIES PARKS PASS.—Section 
805(b) of division J of the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2005 (16 U.S.C. 6804(b); 118 Stat. 3386), is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) GOLD STAR FAMILIES PARKS PASS.—The 
Secretary shall make the National Parks and Fed-
eral Recreational Lands Pass available, at no cost, 
to members of Gold Star Families, as defined by
632 
section 3.2 of Department of Defense Instruction 
1348.36.’’. 
SEC. 627. MODIFICATION TO FIRST DIVISION MONUMENT. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘First Infantry Recognition of Sacrifice in Theater Act’’ 
or the ‘‘FIRST Act’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.—The Society of the First In-
fantry Division (an organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and ex-
empt from taxation under section 501(a) of that code), 
may make modifications (including construction of addi-
tional plaques and stone plinths on which to put the 
plaques) to the First Division Monument located on Fed-
eral land in President’s Park in the District of Columbia 
that was set aside for memorial purposes of the First In-
fantry Division, in order to honor the members of the 
First Infantry Division who paid the ultimate sacrifice 
during United States operations, including Operation 
Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, 
and Operation Enduring Freedom. The First Infantry Di-
vision at the Department of the Army shall collaborate 
with the Department of Defense to provide to the Society 
of the First Infantry Division the list of names to be 
added.
633 
(c) NON-APPLICATION OF COMMEMORATIVE WORKS 
ACT.—Subsection (b) of section 8903 of title 40, United 
States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Commemorative 
Works Act’’), shall not apply to actions taken under sub-
section (b) of this section. 
(d) FUNDING.—Federal funds may not be used to 
pay any expense of the activities of the Society of the First 
Infantry Division which are authorized by this section. 
SEC. 628. CHERYL LANKFORD MEMORIAL EXPANSION OF 
ASSISTANCE FOR GOLD STAR SPOUSES AND 
OTHER DEPENDENTS. 
Section 633(a) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (10 U.S.C. 1475 note) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through 
(4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Each Secretary’’; 
(3) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
inserting ‘‘a casualty assistance officer who is’’ after 
‘‘jurisdiction of such Secretary’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘spouses and other dependents 
of members’’ and all that follows through ‘‘services:’’ 
and inserting an em dash; and 
(5) by inserting before subparagraph (A), as re-
designated, the following:
634 
‘‘(A) a spouse and any other dependent of a 
member of such Armed Force (including the reserve 
components thereof) who dies on active duty; and 
‘‘(B) a dependent described in subparagraph 
(A) if the spouse of the deceased member dies and 
the dependent (or the guardian of such dependent) 
requests such assistance. 
‘‘(2) Casualty assistance officers described in para-
graph (1) shall provide to spouses and dependents de-
scribed in that paragraph the following services:’’. 
SEC. 629. EXTENSION OF COMMISSARY AND EXCHANGE 
BENEFITS 
FOR 
SURVIVING 
REMARRIED 
SPOUSES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF A 
MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO DIES 
WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY OR CERTAIN RE-
SERVE DUTY. 
(a) PROCEDURES FOR ACCESS OF SURVIVING RE-
MARRIED SPOUSES REQUIRED.—The Secretary of De-
fense, acting jointly with the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, shall establish procedures by which an eligible remar-
ried spouse may obtain unescorted access, as appropriate, 
to military installations in order to use commissary stores 
and MWR retail facilities to the same extent and on the 
same basis as an unremarried surviving spouse of a mem-
ber of the uniformed services is entitled to by law or policy.
635 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.— Any procedures established 
under this section shall— 
(1) be applied consistently across the Depart-
ment of Defense and the Department of Homeland 
Security, including all components of the Depart-
ments; 
(2) minimize any administrative burden on sur-
viving remarried spouse or dependent child, includ-
ing through the elimination of any requirement for 
a remarried spouse to apply as a personal agent for 
continued access to military installations in accom-
paniment of a dependent child; 
(3) take into account measures required to en-
sure the security of military installations, including 
purpose and eligibility for access and renewal perio-
dicity; and 
(4) take into account such other factors as the 
Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland 
Security considers appropriate. 
(c) DEADLINE.—The procedures required by sub-
section (a) shall be established by the date that is not later 
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘eligible remarried spouse’’ means 
an individual who is a surviving former spouse of a
636 
covered member of the Armed Forces, who has re-
married after the death of the covered member of 
the Armed Forces and has guardianship of depend-
ent children of the deceased member; 
(2) the term ‘‘covered member of the Armed 
Forces’’ means a member of the Armed Forces who 
dies while serving— 
(A) on active duty; or 
(B) on such reserve duty as the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity may jointly specify for purposes of this 
section. 
Subtitle D—Defense Resale Matters 
SEC. 631. BASE RESPONDERS ESSENTIAL NEEDS AND DIN-
ING ACCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 54 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 1066. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: 
protective services civilian employees 
‘‘(a) ELIGIBILITY OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES CIVIL-
IAN EMPLOYEES.—An individual employed as a protective 
services civilian employee at a military installation shall 
be permitted to purchase food and hygiene items at a com-
637 
missary store or MWR retail facility located on that mili-
tary installation. 
‘‘(b) USER FEE AUTHORITY.—(1) The Secretary of 
Defense shall prescribe regulations that impose a user fee 
on individuals who are eligible solely under this section 
to purchase merchandise at a commissary store or MWR 
retail facility. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall set the user fee under this 
subsection at a rate that the Secretary determines will off-
set any increase in expenses arising from this section 
borne by the Department of the Treasury on behalf of 
commissary stores associated with the use of credit or 
debit cards for customer purchases, including expenses re-
lated to card network use and related transaction proc-
essing fees. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall deposit funds collected pur-
suant to a user fee under this subsection in the General 
Fund of the Treasury. 
‘‘(4) Any fee under this subsection is in addition to 
the uniform surcharge under section 2484(d) of this title. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘MWR retail facility’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 1063 of this 
title.
638 
‘‘(2) The term ‘protective services civilian em-
ployee’ means a position in any of the following se-
ries (or successor classifications) of the General 
Schedule: 
‘‘(A) Security Administration (GS–0080). 
‘‘(B) Fire Protection and Prevention (GS– 
0081). 
‘‘(C) Police (GS–0083). 
‘‘(D) Security Guard (GS–0085). 
‘‘(E) 
Emergency 
Management 
(GS– 
0089).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 54 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
item: 
‘‘1066. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: protective services civilian 
employees.’’. 
SEC. 632. FIRST RESPONDER ACCESS TO MOBILE EX-
CHANGES. 
Section 1146 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROVIDERS DURING A 
DECLARED MAJOR DISASTER OR EMERGENCY.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to allow an 
emergency response provider (as that term is defined in
639 
section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public 
Law 107–296; 6 U.S.C. 101)) to use a mobile commissary 
or exchange store deployed to an area covered by a dec-
laration of a major disaster or emergency under section 
401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170).’’. 
SEC. 633. UPDATED BUSINESS CASE ANALYSIS FOR CON-
SOLIDATION OF THE DEFENSE RESALE SYS-
TEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2021, the 
Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, 
in coordination with the Undersecretary of Defense for 
Personnel and Readiness, shall update the study titled 
‘‘Study to Determine the Feasibility of Consolidation of 
the Defense Resale Entities’’ and dated December 4, 
2018, to include a new business case analysis that— 
(1) establishes new baselines for— 
(A) savings from the costs of goods sold; 
(B) costs of new information technology 
required for such consolidation; and 
(C) costs of headquarters relocation arising 
from such consolidation; and 
(2) addresses each recommendation for execu-
tive action in the Government Accountability Office 
report GAO–20–418SU.
640 
(b) REVIEW AND COMMENT.—Not later than April 
1, 2021, the Secretary of Defense shall make the updated 
business case analysis (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘updated BCA’’) available to the Secretaries of the mili-
tary departments for comment. 
(c) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 
Not later than June 1, 2021, the Secretary of Defense 
shall make any comments made under subsection (b) and 
the updated BCA available to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
(d) DELAY OF CONSOLIDATION.—The Secretary of 
Defense may not take any action to consolidate military 
exchanges and commissaries until the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives notify the Secretary in writing of receipt and accept-
ance of the updated BCA. 
Subtitle E—Other Personnel 
Benefits 
SEC. 641. MAINTENANCE OF FUNDING FOR STARS AND 
STRIPES. 
(a) FUNDING.— 
(1) OPERATION
AND
MAINTENANCE.—Of the 
amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2021 in division D of this Act and available for 
operations and maintenance for Defense-wide activi-
641 
ties as specified in the funding table in section 4301 
of this Act, $9,000,000 shall be made available for 
the purpose of maintaining the operations and publi-
cation of Stars and Stripes. 
(2) 
CONTINGENCY
OPERATIONS.—Of 
the 
amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2021 in division D of this Act and available for 
overseas contingency operations for Defense-wide ac-
tivities as specified in the funding tables in section 
4301 of this Act, $6,000,000 shall be made available 
for the purpose of maintaining the operations and 
publication of Stars and Stripes. 
(b) REPORT ON BUSINESS CASE ANALYSIS.—Not 
later than March 1, 2021, the Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the editor of Stars and Stripes, shall 
submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives detailing the 
business case analysis for various options for Stars and 
Stripes. The report shall contain the following elements: 
(1) An analysis of the pros and cons of, and 
business case for, continuing the operation and pub-
lication of Stars and Stripes at its current levels, in-
cluding other options for the independent reporting 
currently provided, especially in a deployed environ-
ment.
642 
(2) An analysis of the modes of communication 
used by Stars and Stripes. 
(3) An analysis of potential reduced operations 
of Stars and Stripes. 
(4) An analysis of the operation of Stars and 
Stripes solely as a non-appropriated entity. 
(5) An analysis of operating Stars and Stripes 
as a category B morale, welfare, and recreation enti-
ty. 
(6) An assessment of the value of the avail-
ability of Stars and Stripes (in print or an electronic 
version) to deployed or overseas members of the 
Armed Forces. 
SEC. 642. BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING. 
Section 403 of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(p) INFORMATION ON RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS 
UNDER SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall provide to each member of a uni-
formed service who receives a basic allowance for housing 
under this section information on the rights and protec-
tions available to such member under the Servicemembers 
Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.).’’.
643 
TITLE VII—HEALTH CARE 
PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—TRICARE and Other 
Health Care Benefits 
SEC. 701. EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS 
FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
Section 1074m of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS FOR PARTICI-
PATION IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.—(1) The Secretary shall 
provide to a member described in paragraph (2) mental 
health assessments under this section in a frequency and 
schedule that the Secretary determines to be as similar 
as practicable to the frequency and schedule for such as-
sessments under subsection (a)(1). 
‘‘(2) A member described in this paragraph is a mem-
ber who, while not deployed in support of a contingency 
operation, participated in warfighting activities that had 
a direct and immediate impact on a combat operation or 
other military operation.’’. 
SEC. 702. MANDATORY REFERRAL FOR MENTAL HEALTH 
EVALUATION. 
Section 1090a of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended—
644 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(e) PROCESS APPLICABLE
TO MEMBER DISCLO-
SURE.—The regulations required by subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) establish a phrase that enables a member 
of the armed forces to trigger a referral of the mem-
ber by a commanding officer or supervisor for a 
mental health evaluation; 
‘‘(2) require a commanding officer or supervisor 
to make such referral as soon as practicable fol-
lowing disclosure by the member to the commanding 
officer or supervisor of the phrase established under 
paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(3) ensure that the process protects the con-
fidentiality of the member in a manner similar to 
the confidentiality provided for members making re-
stricted reports under section 1565b(b) of this 
title.’’. 
SEC. 703. ASSESSMENTS AND TESTING RELATING TO EXPO-
SURE 
TO 
PERFLUOROALKYL 
AND 
POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES. 
(a) PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall ensure that any periodic health as-
645 
sessment provided to a member of the Armed Forces in-
cludes an evaluation of whether the member has been— 
(1) based or stationed at a military installation 
identified by the Department of Defense as a loca-
tion with a known or suspected release of 
perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stances during the period in which the member was 
based or stationed at the military installation; or 
(2) exposed to such substances, including by 
evaluating any information in the health record of 
the member. 
(b) SEPARATION HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAMINA-
TIONS.—Section 1145(a)(5) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that each 
physical examination of a member under subparagraph 
(A) includes an assessment of whether the member was— 
‘‘(i) based or stationed at a military installation 
identified by the Department as a location with a 
known or suspected release of perfluoroalkyl sub-
stances or polyfluoroalkyl substances during the pe-
riod in which the member was based or stationed at 
the military installation; or
646 
‘‘(ii) exposed to such substances, including by 
assessing any information in the health record of the 
member.’’. 
(c) 
DEPLOYMENT
ASSESSMENTS.—Section 
1074f(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) An assessment of whether the member 
was— 
‘‘(i) based or stationed at a military instal-
lation identified by the Department as a loca-
tion with a known or suspected release of 
perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stances during the period in which the member 
was based or stationed at the military installa-
tion; or 
‘‘(ii) exposed to such substances, including 
by assessing any information in the health 
record of the member.’’. 
(d) PROVISION OF BLOOD TESTING.— 
(1) MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If a covered evaluation 
of a member of the Armed Forces results in a 
positive determination of potential exposure to 
perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stances, the Secretary of Defense shall provide
647 
to that member, during that covered evaluation 
and at no additional cost to that member, blood 
testing to determine and document potential ex-
posure to such substances. 
(B) INCLUSION IN HEALTH RECORD.—The 
results of blood testing of a member of the 
Armed Forces conducted under subparagraph 
(A) shall be included in the health record of the 
member. 
(2) COVERED EVALUATION DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘‘covered evaluation’’ means— 
(A) a periodic health assessment conducted 
in accordance with subsection (a); 
(B) a separation history and physical ex-
amination conducted under section 1145(a)(5) 
of title 10, United States Code, as amended by 
subsection (b); and 
(C) a deployment assessment conducted 
under section 1074f(b)(2) of such title, as 
amended by subsection (c). 
SEC. 704. IMPROVEMENT TO BREAST CANCER SCREENING. 
Section 1074d(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘, including through the use of digital breast 
tomosynthesis’’.
648 
SEC. 705. WAIVER OF FEES CHARGED TO CERTAIN CIVIL-
IANS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT 
PROVIDED AT MILITARY MEDICAL TREAT-
MENT FACILITIES. 
Section 1079b of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection (b): 
‘‘(b) WAIVER OF FEES.—Under the procedures im-
plemented under subsection (a), a military medical treat-
ment facility may waive a fee charged under such proce-
dures to a civilian who is not a covered beneficiary if— 
‘‘(1) after insurance payments, if any, the civil-
ian is not able to pay for the trauma or other med-
ical care provided to the civilian; and 
‘‘(2) the provision of such care enhanced the 
medical readiness of the health care provider or 
health care providers furnishing such care.’’. 
SEC. 706. EXPANSION OF BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER 
TRICARE EXTENDED CARE HEALTH OPTION 
PROGRAM. 
(a) EXTENDED BENEFITS FOR ELIGIBLE DEPEND-
ENTS.—Subsection (e) of section 1079 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
649 
‘‘(e)(1) Extended benefits for eligible dependents 
under subsection (d) may include comprehensive health 
care services (including services necessary to maintain, or 
minimize or prevent deterioration of, function of the pa-
tient) and case management services with respect to the 
qualifying condition of such a dependent, and include, to 
the extent such benefits are not provided under provisions 
of this chapter other than under this section, the following: 
‘‘(A) Diagnosis and screening. 
‘‘(B) Inpatient, outpatient, and comprehensive 
home health care supplies and services which may 
include cost effective and medically appropriate serv-
ices other than part-time or intermittent services 
(within the meaning of such terms as used in the 
second sentence of section 1861(m) of the Social Se-
curity Act). 
‘‘(C) Rehabilitation and habilitation services 
and devices. 
‘‘(D) Institutional care in private nonprofit, 
public, and State institutions and facilities and, if 
appropriate, transportation to and from such institu-
tions and facilities. 
‘‘(E) Custodial care, notwithstanding the prohi-
bition in section 1077(b)(1) of this title.
650 
‘‘(F) In accordance with paragraph (2), respite 
care for the primary caregiver of the eligible depend-
ent. 
‘‘(G) In accordance with paragraph (3), service 
and modification of durable equipment and assistive 
technology devices. 
‘‘(H) Special education. 
‘‘(I) Vocational training, which may be fur-
nished to an eligible dependent in the residence of 
the eligible dependent or at a facility in which such 
training is provided. 
‘‘(J) In accordance with paragraph (4), adapta-
tions to the private residence and vehicle of the eligi-
ble dependent. 
‘‘(K) Such other services and supplies as deter-
mined appropriate by the Secretary, notwithstanding 
the limitations in subsection (a)(12). 
‘‘(2) Respite care under paragraph (1)(F) shall be 
provided subject to the following conditions: 
‘‘(A) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary for purposes of this paragraph, such res-
pite care shall be limited to— 
‘‘(i) 50 hours per month for a primary 
caregiver not covered by clause (ii); or
651 
‘‘(ii) 40 hours per week for cases where the 
Secretary determines that the plan of care for 
the eligible dependent includes frequent inter-
ventions by the primary caregiver. 
‘‘(B) Unused hours of respite care may not be 
carried over to another month. 
‘‘(C) Such respite care may be provided to an 
eligible beneficiary regardless of whether the eligible 
beneficiary is receiving another benefit under this 
subsection. 
‘‘(3)(A) Service and modification of durable equip-
ment and assistive technology devices under paragraph 
(1)(G) may be provided only upon determination by the 
Secretary that the service or modification is necessary for 
the use of such equipment or device by the eligible depend-
ent. 
‘‘(B) Service and modification of durable equipment 
and assistive technology devices under such paragraph 
may not be provided— 
‘‘(i) in the case of misuse, loss, or theft of the 
equipment or device; or 
‘‘(ii) for a deluxe, luxury, or immaterial feature 
of the equipment or device, as determined by the 
Secretary.
652 
‘‘(C) Service and modification of durable equipment 
and assistive technology devices under such paragraph 
may include training of the eligible dependent and imme-
diate family members of the eligible dependent on the use 
of the equipment or device. 
‘‘(4)(A) Adaptations to the private residence and ve-
hicle of the eligible dependent under paragraph (1)(J) may 
be provided if such adaptations— 
‘‘(i) are determined to be medically necessary 
by the provider responsible for the care of the eligi-
ble dependent with respect to the qualifying condi-
tion; and 
‘‘(ii) are necessary to assist in— 
‘‘(I) the reduction of the disabling effects 
of the qualifying condition; or 
‘‘(II) 
maintenance 
of 
the 
present 
functionality of the eligible dependent. 
‘‘(B) With respect to a vehicle, adaptations may be 
provided under such paragraph if the vehicle is the pri-
mary means of transportation of the eligible dependent.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (f) of 
such section is amended by striking ‘‘paragraph (3) or (4) 
of subsection (e)’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘subparagraph (C), (D), (G), (H), or (I) of subsection 
(e)(1)’’.
653 
(c) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN OFFICE OF SPE-
CIAL NEEDS ANNUAL REPORT.—Section 1781c(g)(2) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(C) With respect to the Extended Care Health 
Option program under section 1079(d) of ths title— 
‘‘(i) the utilization rates of services under 
such program by eligible dependents (as such 
term is defined in such section) during the prior 
year; 
‘‘(ii) a description of gaps in such services, 
as ascertained by the Secretary from informa-
tion provided by families of eligible dependents; 
‘‘(iii) an assessment of factors that prevent 
knowledge of and access to such program, in-
cluding a discussion of actions the Secretary 
may take to address these factors; and 
‘‘(iv) an assessment of the average wait 
time for an eligible dependent enrolled in the 
program to access alternative health coverage 
for a qualifying condition (as such term is de-
fined in such section), including a discussion of
654 
any adverse health outcomes associated with 
such wait.’’. 
(d) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—The Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to Con-
gress a report containing a study on caregiving available 
through programs such as State Home and Community 
Based Services and the Program of Comprehensive Assist-
ance for Family Caregivers of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs under section 1720G of title 38, United States 
Code. The report shall— 
(1) include input from payers, administrators, 
consumers, and advocates in order to analyze best 
practices for administering programs to support 
caregivers of individuals with intellectual or physical 
disabilities; and 
(2) compare the provision of respite and related 
care through the Extended Care Health Option pro-
gram under section 1079(d) of title 10, United 
States Code, to recognized best practices and, if 
needed, make recommendations for improvement. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect October 1, 2020. 
(f) FUNDING.— 
(1) INCREASE.—Notwithstanding the amounts 
set forth in the funding tables in division D, the
655 
amount authorized to be appropriated in section 
1405 for the Defense Health Program, as specified 
in the corresponding funding table in section 4501, 
for Defense Health Program, In-House Care, is 
hereby increased by $15,000,000. 
(2) OFFSET.—Notwithstanding the amounts set 
forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount 
authorized to be appropriated in section 1405 for 
the Defense Health Program, as specified in the cor-
responding funding table in section 4501, for De-
fense Health Program, Private Sector Care, is here-
by reduced by $15,000,000. 
SEC. 707. PROVISION OF HEARING AIDS FOR DEPENDENTS 
OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE 
COMPONENTS. 
Section 1077(g) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘In addition’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 
In addition’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) For purposes of providing hearing aids under 
subsection (a)(16), a dependent of a member of the re-
serve components who is enrolled in the TRICARE pro-
gram under section 1076d of this title shall be deemed
656 
to be a dependent of a member of the uniformed services 
on active duty.’’. 
Subtitle B—Health Care 
Administration 
SEC. 711. PROTECTION OF THE ARMED FORCES FROM IN-
FECTIOUS DISEASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1073d 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1073e. Protection of armed forces from infectious 
diseases 
‘‘(a) PROTECTION.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
ensure that the armed forces have the diagnostic equip-
ment, testing capabilities, and personal protective equip-
ment necessary to protect members of the armed forces 
from the threat of infectious diseases and to treat mem-
bers who contract infectious diseases. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall ensure the following: 
‘‘(1) Each military medical treatment facility 
has the testing capabilities described in such sub-
section. 
‘‘(2) Each deployed naval vessel has the testing 
capabilities described in such subsection.
657 
‘‘(3) Members of the armed forces deployed in 
support of a contingency operation outside of the 
United States have access to the testing capabilities 
described in such subsection, including at field hos-
pitals, combat support hospitals, field medical sta-
tions, and expeditionary medical facilities. 
‘‘(4) The Department of Defense maintains a 
stock of personal protective equipment in a quantity 
sufficient for each member of the armed forces, in-
cluding the reserve components thereof. 
‘‘(c) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—(1) The Sec-
retary shall include with the defense budget materials (as 
defined by section 231(f) of this title) for a fiscal year 
a plan to research and develop vaccines for infectious dis-
eases. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the medical lab-
oratories of the Department of Defense are equipped with 
the technology needed to facilitate rapid research in the 
case of a pandemic.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1073d the following new 
item: 
‘‘1073e. Protection of armed forces from infectious diseases.’’.
658 
SEC. 712. INCLUSION OF DRUGS, BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, 
AND CRITICAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES IN NA-
TIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FOR NATIONAL 
TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL BASE. 
(a) NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FOR NATIONAL 
TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL BASE.—Section 2501(a) 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(11) Providing for the provision of drugs, bio-
logical products, vaccines, and critical medical sup-
plies (including personal protective equipment, diag-
nostic and testing capabilities, and lifesaving breath-
ing apparatuses required for the treatment of severe 
respiratory illness and respiratory distress) required 
to enable combat readiness and protect the health of 
the armed forces.’’. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of 
Food and Drugs, and the heads of other depart-
ments and agencies of the Federal Government that 
the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate, 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a report on vulnerabilities to the drugs, bio-
659 
logical products, vaccines, and critical medical sup-
plies of the Department of Defense. 
(2) MATTERS
INCLUDED.—The report under 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an identification and origin of any fin-
ished drugs, as identified by the Secretary of 
Defense, and the essential components of such 
drugs, including raw materials, chemical compo-
nents, and active pharmaceutical ingredients 
that are necessary for the manufacture of such 
drugs, whose supply is at risk of disruption 
during a time of war or national emergency; 
(B) an identification of shortages of fin-
ished drugs, biological products, vaccines, and 
critical medical supplies essential for combat 
readiness and the protection of the health of the 
Armed Forces, as identified by the Secretary of 
Defense; 
(C) an identification of the defense and 
geopolitical contingencies that are sufficiently 
likely to arise that may lead to the discontinu-
ance, interruption or meaningful disruption in 
the supply of a drug, biological product, vac-
cine, or critical medical supply, and rec-
ommendations regarding actions the Secretary
660 
of Defense should take to reasonably prepare 
for the occurrence of such contingencies; 
(D) an identification of any barriers that 
exist to manufacture finished drugs, biological 
products, vaccines, and critical medical supplies 
in the United States, including with respect to 
regulatory barriers by the Federal Government 
and whether the raw materials may be found in 
the United States; 
(E) an identification of potential partners 
of the United States with whom the United 
States can work with to realign the manufac-
turing capabilities of the United States for such 
finished drugs, biological products, vaccines, 
and critical medical supplies; 
(F) an assessment conducted by the Sec-
retary of Defense of the resilience and capacity 
of the current supply chain and industrial base 
to support national defense upon the occurrence 
of the contingencies identified in subparagraph 
(C), including with respect to— 
(i) the manufacturing capacity of the 
United States; 
(ii) gaps in domestic manufacturing 
capabilities, including non-existent, extinct,
661 
threatened, and single-point-of-failure ca-
pabilities; and 
(iii) supply chains with single points 
of failure and limited resiliency; and 
(G) recommendations to enhance and 
strengthen the surge requirements and readi-
ness contracts of the Department of Defense to 
ensure the sufficiency of the stockpile of the 
Department of, and the ready access by the De-
partment to, critical medical supplies, pharma-
ceuticals, vaccines, counter-measure prophy-
laxis, and personal protective equipment, includ-
ing with respect to the effectiveness of the the-
ater lead agent for medical materiel program in 
support of the combatant commands. 
(3) FORM.—The report under paragraph (1) 
shall be submitted in classified form. 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional 
committees’’ means the following: 
(i) The congressional defense commit-
tees. 
(ii) The Committee on Energy and 
Commerce and the Committee on Home-
662 
land Security of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(iii) The Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate. 
(B) The term ‘‘critical medical equipment’’ 
includes personal protective equipment, diag-
nostic tests, testing supplies, and lifesaving 
breathing apparatuses required to treat severe 
respiratory illnesses and distress. 
SEC. 713. CONTRACT AUTHORITY OF THE UNIFORMED 
SERVICES 
UNIVERSITY 
OF 
THE 
HEALTH 
SCIENCES. 
Section 2113(g)(1) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(G) notwithstanding section 2304(k) of 
this title, to enter into such contracts, coopera-
tive agreements, or grants on a sole-source
663 
basis pursuant to section 2304(c)(5) of this 
title.’’. 
SEC. 714. EXTENSION OF ORGANIZATION REQUIREMENTS 
FOR DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY. 
Section 1073c(e) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2022’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2025’’. 
SEC. 715. MODIFICATION TO LIMITATION ON THE REALIGN-
MENT OR REDUCTION OF MILITARY MEDICAL 
MANNING END STRENGTH. 
Section 719 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 
1454) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘may not realign or re-
duce military medical end strength authorizations 
until’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘may not realign 
or reduce military medical end strength authoriza-
tions during the one-year period following the date 
of the enactment of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and after such pe-
riod, may not realign or reduce such authorizations 
unless’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting before the 
period at the end the following: ‘‘, including with re-
664 
spect to both the homeland defense mission and pan-
demic influenza’’. 
SEC. 716. MODIFICATIONS TO IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR 
RESTRUCTURE OR REALIGNMENT OF MILI-
TARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES. 
Section 703(d) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 
2199) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph 
(D) and inserting the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) A description of how the Secretary 
will carry out subsection (b), including with re-
spect to— 
‘‘(i) the standards required for health 
care providers to accept and transition cov-
ered beneficiaries to the purchased care 
component of the TRICARE program; 
‘‘(ii) a method to monitor and report 
on quality benchmarks for the beneficiary 
population that is required to transition to 
such component of the TRICARE pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(iii) a process by which the Defense 
Health Agency will ensure that such com-
665 
ponent of the TRICARE program has the 
required capacity.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) NOTICE AND WAIT.—The Secretary may 
not implement the plan under paragraph (1) un-
less— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary has submitted the plan 
to the congressional defense committees; and 
‘‘(B) a 1-year period elapses following the 
later of the date of such submission or the date 
of the enactment of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.’’. 
SEC. 717. POLICY TO ADDRESS OPIOID PRESCRIPTION 
ABUSE PREVENTION. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
develop a policy and tracking mechanism for opioids that 
monitors and prohibits the over prescribing of opioids to 
ensure compliance with clinical practice guidelines and 
prescribing guidelines published by the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Ad-
ministration. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The requirements under subsection 
(a) shall include the following:
666 
(1) Limit the prescribing of opioids to the mor-
phine milligram equivalent level per day specified in 
the guideline published by the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention titled ‘‘CDC Guideline for 
Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain—United 
States, 2016’’, or such successor guideline. 
(2) Limit the supply of opioids to within clini-
cally accepted guidelines. 
(3) Develop a waiver process for specific patient 
categories that will require treatment beyond the 
limit specified in paragraph (1) and, as appropriate, 
ensure overdose reversal drugs are co-prescribed. 
(4) Implement controls to ensure that the pre-
scriptions in the military health system data reposi-
tory exist and that the dispense date and the metric 
quantity field for opioid prescriptions in liquid form 
are consistent among all systems. 
(5) Implement opioid prescribing controls with-
in the electronic health record system known as 
‘‘Genesis’’ and document if an overdose reversal 
drug was co-prescribed. 
(6) Develop metrics that can be used by the 
Defense Health Agency and each military medical 
treatment facility to actively monitor and limit the 
over prescribing of opioids and to monitor the co-
667 
prescribing of overdose reversal drugs as accessible 
interventions. 
(7) Develop a report that tracks progression to-
ward reduced levels of opioid use and includes an 
identification of prevention best practices established 
by the Department. 
SEC. 718. ADDITION OF BURN PIT REGISTRATION TO ELEC-
TRONIC HEALTH RECORDS OF MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS. 
(a) UPDATES TO ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS.— 
Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of the en-
actment of this Act— 
(1) the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that 
the electronic health record maintained by such Sec-
retary of a member of the Armed Forces registered 
with the burn pit registry is updated with any infor-
mation contained in such registry; and 
(2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall en-
sure that the electronic health record maintained by 
such Secretary of a veteran registered with the burn 
pit registry is updated with any information con-
tained in such registry. 
(b) BURN PIT REGISTRY DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘burn pit registry’’ means the registry estab-
lished under section 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other
668 
Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 
112–260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note). 
SEC. 719. MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN MEDICAL SERVICES 
AT MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILI-
TIES AT SERVICE ACADEMIES. 
Section 1073d of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(f) MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN MEDICAL SERVICES 
AT SERVICE ACADEMIES.—(1) In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each mili-
tary medical treatment facility located at a Service Acad-
emy (as defined in section 347 of this title) provides each 
covered medical service unless the Secretary determines 
that a civilian health care facility located not fewer than 
five miles from the Service Academy provides the covered 
medical service. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘covered medical 
service’ means the following: 
‘‘(A) Emergency room services. 
‘‘(B) Orthopedic services. 
‘‘(C) General surgery services. 
‘‘(D) Ear, nose, and throat services. 
‘‘(E) Gynecological services. 
‘‘(F) Ophthalmology services.
669 
‘‘(G) In-patient services. 
‘‘(H) Any other medical services that the rel-
evant Superintendent of the Service Academy deter-
mines necessary to maintain the readiness and 
health of the cadets or midshipmen and members of 
the armed forces at the Service Academy.’’. 
SEC. 720. EXTRAMEDICAL MATERNAL HEALTH PROVIDERS 
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. 
(a) DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT
REQUIRED.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Defense shall commence the conduct 
of a demonstration project designed to evaluate the cost, 
quality of care, and impact on maternal and fetal out-
comes of using extramedical maternal health providers 
under the TRICARE program to determine the appro-
priateness of making coverage of such providers under the 
TRICARE program permanent. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.—The 
demonstration project under subsection (a) shall include, 
for participants in the demonstration project, the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Access to doulas. 
(2) Access to lactation consultants who are not 
otherwise authorized to provide services under the 
TRICARE program.
670 
(c) PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary shall establish a 
process under which covered beneficiaries may enroll in 
the demonstration project in order to receive the services 
provided under the demonstration project. 
(d) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 
demonstration project for a period of 5 years beginning 
on the date on which notification of the commencement 
of the demonstration project is published in the Federal 
Register. 
(e) SURVEY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter for the duration of the demonstration 
project, the Secretary shall administer a survey to 
determine— 
(A) how many members of the Armed 
Forces or spouses of such members give birth 
while their spouse or birthing partner is unable 
to be present due to deployment, training, or 
other mission requirements; 
(B) how many single members of the 
Armed Forces give birth alone; and 
(C) how many members of the Armed 
Forces or spouses of such members use doula 
support or lactation consultants.
671 
(2) MATTERS COVERED BY THE SURVEY.—The 
survey administered under paragraph (1) shall in-
clude an identification of the following: 
(A) The race, ethnicity, age, sex, relation-
ship status, military service, military occupa-
tion, and rank, as applicable, of each individual 
surveyed. 
(B) If individuals surveyed were members 
of the Armed Forces or the spouses of such 
members, or both. 
(C) The length of advanced notice received 
by individuals surveyed that the member of the 
Armed Forces would be unable to be present 
during the birth, if applicable. 
(D) Any resources or support that the in-
dividuals surveyed found useful during the 
pregnancy and birth process, including doula or 
lactation counselor support. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN.—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 the House of Rep-
resentatives a plan to implement the demonstration 
project.
672 
(2) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the commencement of the demonstration 
project, and annually thereafter for the dura-
tion of the demonstration project, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives a report on the cost of the demonstration 
project and the effectiveness of the demonstra-
tion project in improving quality of care and 
the maternal and fetal outcomes of covered 
beneficiaries enrolled in the demonstration 
project. 
(B) MATTERS
COVERED.—Each report 
submitted under subparagraph (A) shall ad-
dress, at a minimum, the following: 
(i) The number of covered bene-
ficiaries who are enrolled in the demonstra-
tion project. 
(ii) The number of enrolled covered 
beneficiaries who have participated in the 
demonstration project. 
(iii) The results of the surveys under 
subsection (f).
673 
(iv) The cost of the demonstration 
project. 
(v) An assessment of the quality of 
care provided to participants in the dem-
onstration project. 
(vi) An assessment of the impact of 
the demonstration project on maternal and 
fetal outcomes. 
(vii) An assessment of the effective-
ness of the demonstration project. 
(viii) Recommendations for adjust-
ments to the demonstration project. 
(ix) The estimated costs avoided as a 
result of improved maternal and fetal 
health outcomes due to the demonstration 
project. 
(x) Recommendations for extending 
the demonstration project or implementing 
permanent coverage under the TRICARE 
program of extramedical maternal health 
providers. 
(xi) An identification of legislative or 
administrative action necessary to make 
the demonstration project permanent.
674 
(C) FINAL
REPORT.—The final report 
under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted not 
later than 90 days after the termination of the 
demonstration project. 
(g) EXPANSION OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.— 
(1) REGULATIONS.—If the Secretary deter-
mines that the demonstration project is successful, 
the Secretary may prescribe regulations to include 
extramedical maternal health providers as health 
care providers authorized to provide care under the 
TRICARE program. 
(2) CREDENTIALING
AND
OTHER
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The Secretary may establish credentialing 
and other requirements for doulas and lactation con-
sultants through public notice and comment rule-
making for purposes of including doulas and lacta-
tion consultations as health care providers author-
ized to provide care under the TRICARE program 
pursuant to regulations prescribed under paragraph 
(1). 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EXTRAMEDICAL MATERNAL HEALTH PRO-
VIDER.—The term ‘‘extramedical maternal health 
provider’’ means a doula or lactation consultant.
675 
(2) COVERED
BENEFICIARY; 
TRICARE
PRO-
GRAM.—The 
terms 
‘‘covered 
beneficiary’’ 
and 
‘‘TRICARE program’’ have the meanings given 
those terms in section 1072 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
Subtitle C—Matters Relating to 
COVID–19 
SEC. 721. COVID–19 MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM REVIEW 
PANEL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a panel to be known as the ‘‘COVID–19 
Military Health System Review Panel’’ (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘panel’’). 
(b) COMPOSITION.— 
(1) MEMBERS.—The panel shall be composed of 
the following members: 
(A) The President of the Uniformed Serv-
ices University of the Health Sciences. 
(B) The Director of the Defense Health 
Agency. 
(C) The Surgeon General of the Army. 
(D) The Surgeon General of the Navy. 
(E) The Surgeon General of the Air Force. 
(F) The Joint Staff Surgeon.
676 
(G) The Deputy Assistant Secretary of De-
fense for Health Readiness Policy and Over-
sight. 
(H) The Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Health Resources Management and 
Policy. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The chairperson of the 
panel shall be the President of the Uniformed Serv-
ices University of the Health Sciences. 
(3) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 
for the life of the panel. 
(c) DUTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The panel shall— 
(A) review the response of the military 
health system to the coronavirus disease 2019 
(COVID–19) and the effects of COVID–19 on 
such system, including by analyzing any 
strengths or weaknesses of such system identi-
fied as a result COVID–19; and 
(B) using information from the review, 
make such recommendations as the panel con-
siders appropriate with respect to any policy, 
practice, organization, manning level, funding 
level, or legislative authority relating to the 
military health system.
677 
(2) ELEMENTS OF REVIEW.—In conducting the 
review under paragraph (1), each member of the 
panel shall lead a review of at least one of the fol-
lowing elements, with respect to the military health 
system: 
(A) Policy, including any policy relating to 
force health protection or medical standards for 
the appointment, enlistment, or induction of in-
dividuals into the Armed Forces. 
(B) Public health activities, including any 
activity relating to risk communication, surveil-
lance, or contact tracing. 
(C) Research, diagnostics, and thera-
peutics. 
(D) Logistics and technology. 
(E) Force structure and manning. 
(F) Governance and organization. 
(G) Operational capabilities and oper-
ational support. 
(H) Education and training. 
(I) Health benefits under the TRICARE 
program. 
(J) Engagement and security activities re-
lating to global health.
678 
(K) The financial impact of COVID–19 on 
the military health system. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than June 1, 2021, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report that includes the findings of the panel 
as a result of the review under subsection (c)(1)(A), to-
gether with such recommendations as the panel considers 
appropriate under subsection (c)(1)(B). 
(e) TERMINATION.—The panel shall terminate on 
June 1, 2021. 
SEC. 722. COVID–19 GLOBAL WAR ON PANDEMICS. 
(a) STRATEGY.—The Secretary of Defense shall de-
velop a strategy for pandemic preparedness and response 
that includes the following: 
(1) Identification of activities necessary to be 
carried out prior to a pandemic to ensure prepared-
ness and effective communication of roles and re-
sponsibilities within the Department of Defense, in-
cluding— 
(A) reviewing the frequency of each exer-
cise conducted by the Department or a military 
department that relates to a pandemic or severe 
influenza season or related force health protec-
tion;
679 
(B) ensuring such exercises are appro-
priately planned, resourced, and practiced; 
(C) including a consideration of the capa-
bilities and capacities necessary to carry out the 
strategy under this section, and related oper-
ations for force health protection, and ensuring 
that these are included in each cost evaluation, 
Defense-wide review, or manning assessment of 
the Department of Defense that affects such 
capabilities and capacities; 
(D) reviewing the placement, exploring 
broader utilization of global health engagement 
liaisons, and increasing the scope of global 
health activities of the Department of Defense; 
(E) assessing a potential career track re-
lating to health protection research for mem-
bers of the Armed Forces and civilian employ-
ees of the Department of Defense; 
(F) providing to members of the Armed 
Forces guidance on force health protection prior 
to and during a pandemic or severe influenza 
season, including guidance on specific behaviors 
or actions required, such as self-isolating, social 
distancing, and additional protective measures
680 
to be carried out after contracting a novel virus 
or influenza; 
(G) reviewing and updating the inventory 
of medical supplies and equipment of the De-
partment of Defense that is available for oper-
ational support to the combatant commands 
prior to and during a pandemic (such as vac-
cines, biologics, drugs, preventive medicine, 
antiviral medicine, and equipment relating to 
trauma support), including a review of— 
(i) the sufficiency of prepositioned 
stocks; and 
(ii) 
the 
effectiveness 
of 
the 
Warstopper Program of the Defense Logis-
tics Agency, or such successor program; 
(H) reviewing and updating distribution 
plans of the Department of Defense for critical 
medical supplies and equipment within the in-
ventory of the Department of Defense, includ-
ing vaccines and antiviral medicines; and 
(I) reviewing and updating research on in-
fectious diseases and preventive medicine con-
ducted by the military health system, including 
research conducted by the Health Related Com-
munities of Interest of the Department of De-
681 
fense, the Joint Program Committees, the over-
seas medical laboratories of the Department of 
Defense, the Armed Forces Health Surveillance 
Branch, or other elements of the Department of 
Defense that conduct research in support of 
members of the Armed Forces or beneficiaries 
under the TRICARE program. 
(2) Review of Department of Defense systems 
for health surveillance and detection to ensure con-
tinuous situational awareness and early warning 
with respect to a pandemic, including a review of— 
(A) the levels of funding and investment, 
and the overall value, of the Global Emerging 
Infections Surveillance and Response System of 
the Department of Defense, including the value 
demonstrated by the role of such system in— 
(i) improving the Department of De-
fense prevention and surveillance of, and 
the response to, infectious diseases that 
may impact members of the Armed Forces; 
(ii) informing decisions relating to 
force health protection across the geo-
graphic combatant commands; 
(iii) ensuring laboratory readiness to 
support pandemic response efforts and to
682 
understand infectious disease threats to 
the Armed Forces; and 
(iv) coordinating and collaborating 
with partners, such as the geographic com-
batant commands, other Federal agencies, 
and international partners; 
(B) the levels of funding and investment, 
and the overall value, of the overseas medical 
laboratories of the Department of Defense, in-
cluding the value demonstrated by the role of 
such laboratories in conducting research and 
forming partnerships with other elements of the 
Department of Defense, other Federal agencies, 
international partners in the country in which 
such laboratory is located, and, as applicable, 
the private sector of the United States; and 
(C) the levels of funding and investment, 
and the overall value, of the Direct HIV/AIDS 
Prevention Program of the Department of De-
fense, including the value demonstrated by the 
role of such program in developing (in coordina-
tion with other Federal agencies) programs for 
the prevention, care, and treatment of the 
human immunodeficiency virus infection and 
acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
683 
(3) Identification of activities to limit the 
spread of an infectious disease outbreak among 
members of the Armed Forces and beneficiaries 
under the TRICARE program, including activities to 
mitigate the health, social, and economic impacts of 
a pandemic on such members and beneficiaries, in-
cluding by— 
(A) reviewing the role of the Department 
of Defense in the National Disaster Medical 
System under section 2812 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh–11) and imple-
menting plans across the Department that le-
verage medical facilities, personnel, and re-
sponse capabilities of the Federal Government 
to support requirements under such Act relat-
ing to medical surge capacity; 
(B) determining the range of public health 
capacity, medical surge capacity, administrative 
capacity, and veterinary capacity necessary for 
the Armed Forces to— 
(i) support operations during a pan-
demic; and 
(ii) develop mechanisms to reshape 
force structure during such pandemic as
684 
necessary (contingent upon primary mis-
sion requirements); and 
(C) determining the range of activities for 
operational medical support and infrastructure 
sustainment that the Department of Defense 
and other Federal agencies have the capacity to 
implement during a pandemic (contingent upon 
primary mission requirements), and develop 
plans for the implementation of such activities. 
(b) STUDY ON RESPONSE TO COVID–19.—The Sec-
retary shall conduct a study on the response of the mili-
tary health system to the coronavirus disease 2019 
(COVID–19). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than June 1, 2021, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report containing— 
(1) the strategy under subsection (a); and 
(2) the study under subsection (b), including 
any findings or recommendations from the study 
that relate to an element of the strategy under sub-
section (a), such as recommended changes to policy, 
funding, practices, manning, organization, or legisla-
tive authority. 
(d) INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT ON RESPONSE TO 
COVID–19.—Not later than June 1, 2021, the Inspector
685 
General of the Department of Defense shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees and the Secretary of De-
fense a report on— 
(1) the total dollar amount of waste, fraud, and 
abuse uncovered in any Department of Defense 
spending under the Defense Production Act of 1950 
with respect to the COVID–19 pandemic; and 
(2) any recommendations on how to combat 
waste, fraud, and abuse in future spending related 
to pandemic preparedness and response. 
SEC. 723. REGISTRY OF TRICARE BENEFICIARIES DIAG-
NOSED WITH COVID–19. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than June 1, 2021, 
the Secretary of Defense shall establish and maintain a 
registry of TRICARE beneficiaries who have been diag-
nosed with COVID–19. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The registry under subsection (a) 
shall include, with respect to each TRICARE beneficiary 
included in the registry, the following: 
(1) The demographic information of the bene-
ficiary. 
(2) Information on the industrial or occupa-
tional history of the beneficiary, to the extent such 
information is available in the records regarding the 
COVID–19 diagnosis of the beneficiary.
686 
(3) Administrative information regarding the 
COVID–19 diagnosis of the beneficiary, including 
the date of the diagnosis and the location and source 
of the test used to make the diagnosis. 
(4) Any symptoms of COVID–19 manifested in 
the beneficiary. 
(5) Any treatments for COVID–19 taken by the 
beneficiary, or other medications taken by the bene-
ficiary, when the beneficiary was diagnosed with 
COVID–19. 
(6) Any pathological data characterizing the in-
cidence of COVID–19 and the type of treatment for 
COVID–19 provided to the beneficiary. 
(7) Information on any respiratory illness of the 
beneficiary recorded prior to the COVID–19 diag-
nosis of the beneficiary. 
(8) Any information regarding the beneficiary 
contained in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn 
Pit Registry established under section 201 of the 
Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Im-
provement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–260; 38 
U.S.C. 527, note). 
(9) Any other information determined appro-
priate by the Secretary.
687 
(c) REPORT.—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 House of 
Representatives and the Senate a report on establishing 
the registry under subsection (a), including— 
(1) a plan to implement the registry; 
(2) the cost of implementing the registry; 
(3) the location of the registry; and 
(4) any recommended legislative changes with 
respect to establishing the registry. 
(d) TRICARE BENEFICIARY DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘TRICARE beneficiary’’ means the fol-
lowing: 
(1) An individual covered by section 1074(a) of 
title 10, United States Code. 
(2) A covered beneficiary (as defined in section 
1072 of title 10, United States Code). 
SEC. 724. PANDEMIC HEALTH ASSESSMENTS EVALUATE EX-
POSURE TO OPEN BURN PITS AND TOXIC AIR-
BORNE CHEMICALS. 
(a) EXPOSURE TO OPEN BURN PITS AND TOXIC AIR-
BORNE CHEMICALS OR OTHER AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS 
AS PART OF HEALTH ASSESSMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS DURING A PAN-
DEMIC AND INCLUSION OF INFORMATION IN REGISTRY.—
688 
(1) HEALTH ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of 
Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall en-
sure that the first health assessment conducted for 
a member of the Armed Forces or veteran after the 
individual tested positive for a virus certified by the 
Federal Government as a pandemic includes an eval-
uation of whether the individual has been— 
(A) based or stationed at a location where 
an open burn pit was used; or 
(B) exposed to toxic airborne chemicals or 
other airborne contaminants relating to service 
in the Armed Forces, including an evaluation of 
any information recorded as part of the Air-
borne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. 
(2) INCLUSION
OF
INDIVIDUALS
IN
REG-
ISTRY.—If an evaluation conducted under paragraph 
(1) with respect to an individual establishes that the 
individual was based or stationed at a location where 
an open burn pit was used, or that the individual 
was exposed to toxic airborne chemicals or other air-
borne contaminants, the individual shall be enrolled 
in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Reg-
istry unless the member elects to not enroll in such 
registry.
689 
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed to preclude eligibility of 
a veteran for benefits under the laws administered 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by reason of 
the history of exposure of the veteran to an open 
burn pit not being recorded in an evaluation con-
ducted under paragraph (1). 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) AIRBORNE HAZARDS AND OPEN BURN 
PIT REGISTRY.—The term ‘‘Airborne Hazards 
and Open Burn Pit Registry’’ means the reg-
istry established by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs under section 201 of the Dignified Bur-
ial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement 
Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–260; 38 U.S.C. 
527 note). 
(B) OPEN
BURN
PIT.—The term ‘‘open 
burn pit’’ has the meaning given that term in 
section 201(c) of the Dignified Burial and 
Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 
2012 (Public Law 112–260; 126 Stat. 2422; 38 
U.S.C. 527 note). 
(b) STUDY ON IMPACT OF VIRAL PANDEMICS ON 
MEMBERS
OF ARMED FORCES
AND VETERANS WHO 
HAVE EXPERIENCED TOXIC EXPOSURE.—
690 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall conduct a study, through the Airborne 
Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (in this 
subsection referred to as the ‘‘Center’’), on the 
health impacts of infection with a virus designated 
as a global pandemic, including a coronavirus, to 
members of the Armed Forces and veterans who 
have been exposed to open burn pits and other toxic 
exposures for the purposes of understanding the 
health impacts of the virus and whether individuals 
infected with the virus are at increased risk of severe 
symptoms due to previous conditions linked to toxic 
exposure. 
(2) PREPARATION FOR FUTURE PANDEMIC.— 
The Secretary, through the Center, shall analyze po-
tential lessons learned through the study conducted 
under paragraph (1) to assist in preparing the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs for potential future 
pandemics. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) 
CORONAVIRUS.—The 
term 
‘‘coronavirus’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 506 of the Coronavirus Preparedness 
and Response Supplemental Appropriations 
Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–123).
691 
(B) OPEN
BURN
PIT.—The term ‘‘open 
burn pit’’ has the meaning given that term in 
section 201(c) of the Dignified Burial and 
Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 
2012 (Public Law 112–260; 126 Stat. 2422; 38 
U.S.C. 527 note). 
SEC. 
725. 
PROVISION 
OF 
INFORMATION 
REGARDING 
COVID–19 IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. 
(a) TRANSLATION OF MATERIALS.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall— 
(1) translate any written material of the De-
partment of Defense prepared in the English lan-
guage for the general public relating to the COVID– 
19 pandemic into the languages specified in sub-
section (b) by not later than 7 days after the date 
on which such material is made available; and 
(2) make such translated written material avail-
able to the public. 
(b) LANGUAGES SPECIFIED.—The languages speci-
fied in this subsection are the following: 
(1) Arabic. 
(2) Cambodian. 
(3) Chinese. 
(4) French. 
(5) Greek.
692 
(6) Haitian Creole. 
(7) Hindi. 
(8) Italian. 
(9) Japanese. 
(10) Korean. 
(11) Laotian. 
(12) Polish. 
(13) Portuguese. 
(14) Russian. 
(15) Spanish. 
(16) Tagalog. 
(17) Thai. 
(18) Urdu. 
(19) Vietnamese. 
(c) DEFINITION OF COVID–19 PANDEMIC.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘COVID–19 pandemic’’ means the pub-
lic health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services pursuant to section 319 of the Public 
Health Service Act on January 31, 2020, entitled ‘‘Deter-
mination that a Public Health Emergency Exists Nation-
wide as the Result of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus’’.