I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2090 
To establish the National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 1, 2007 
Mr. KLINE of Minnesota (for himself, Mr. HAYES, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mrs. 
BACHMANN, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. PE-
TERSON of Minnesota, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. WALZ of Minnesota, Mr. 
ELLISON, Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. OBERSTAR, 
and Mr. WILSON of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To establish the National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration 
Program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Yellow Ribbon Re-
integration Program Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL GUARD YELLOW RIBBON REINTEGRA-
TION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, 
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shall establish a national combat veteran reintegration 
program to provide National Guard members and their 
families with sufficient information, services, referral, and 
proactive outreach opportunities throughout the entire de-
ployment cycle. This program shall be known as the Yel-
low Ribbon Reintegration Program. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration 
Program shall consist of informational events and activi-
ties for Reserve Component members, their families, and 
community members through the four phases of the de-
ployment cycle: 
(1) Pre-deployment. 
(2) Deployment. 
(3) Demobilization. 
(4) Post-deployment-reconstitution. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary and National 
Guard Bureau Chief shall consult with the following par-
ties during establishment of the program: 
(1) The Adjutant General of the Minnesota Na-
tional Guard and officials associated with the State’s 
‘‘Beyond the Yellow Ribbon’’ Reintegration Pro-
gram. 
(2) Adjutants General of the remaining 53 
States and territories. 
(d) ORGANIZATION.— 
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(1) EXECUTIVE
AGENT.—The Secretary shall 
designate the National Guard Bureau as the Depart-
ment of Defense executive agent for the Yellow Rib-
bon Reintegration Program. 
(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE FOR RE-
INTEGRATION PROGRAMS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The National Guard 
Bureau shall establish the Office for Reintegra-
tion Programs within the National Guard Bu-
reau Joint Staff. This office shall administer all 
reintegration programs in coordination with 
State National Guard organizations. 
(B) OFFICE COMPOSITION.—The Office for 
Reintegration Programs shall consist of six full- 
time National Guard Bureau personnel to ad-
minister the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Pro-
gram. The office shall be responsible for coordi-
nation with existing National Guard family and 
support programs. The Directors of the Army 
National Guard and Air National Guard may 
appoint liaison officers to work with the perma-
nent office staff. The office shall closely coordi-
nate with the Army National Guard and Air 
National Guard Directorates for Manpower and 
Personnel with respect to existing family sup-
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port structure, mobilization schedules, training 
schedules, training plans and programs, and 
any other personnel issues. 
(3) ADVISORY BOARD.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The Chief of the Na-
tional Guard Bureau shall appoint an advisory 
board to analyze and report areas of success 
and areas for necessary improvements. The ad-
visory board shall include, but is not limited to, 
the Director of the Army National Guard, the 
Director of the Air National Guard, the Assist-
ant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, 
an Adjutant General on a rotational basis as 
determined by the Chief of the National Guard 
Bureau, the Director of the National Guard 
Bureau Manpower and Personnel Directorate 
(J–1), and any other Department of Defense, 
Federal Government agency, or outside organi-
zation as determined by the Chief of the Na-
tional Guard Bureau. The members of the advi-
sory board may designate representatives in 
their stead. 
(B) SCHEDULE.—The advisory board shall 
meet on a schedule as determined by the Chief 
of the National Guard Bureau. 
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(C) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—The ad-
visory board shall issue internal reports as nec-
essary and shall submit an initial report to the 
Committees on Armed Services not later than 
180 days after the end of a one-year period 
from establishment of the Office for Reintegra-
tion Programs. This report shall contain— 
(i) an evaluation of the reintegration 
program’s implementation by State Na-
tional Guard organizations; 
(ii) an assessment of any unmet re-
source requirements; 
(iii) an assessment of the reintegra-
tion program’s inclusion of other Reserve 
Component service members and the neces-
sity for further expansion to incorporate all 
the Reserve Components; and 
(iv) recommendations regarding closer 
coordination between the Office of Re-
integration Programs and State National 
Guard organizations. 
The advisory board shall submit annual reports 
to the Committees on Armed Services following 
this initial report by the first week in March. 
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(4) ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTER FOR EXCEL-
LENCE IN REINTEGRATION.—The Chief shall estab-
lish a Center for Excellence in Reintegration. The 
Center shall collect and analyze ‘‘lessons learned’’ 
and suggestions from State National Guard organi-
zations with existing or developing reintegration pro-
grams. The Center shall also assist in developing 
training aids and briefing materials and training 
representatives from State National Guard organiza-
tions. 
(5) STATE
DEPLOYMENT
CYCLE
SUPPORT 
TEAMS.—The Office for Reintegration Programs 
shall employ 270 full-time employees to administer 
the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program at the 
State level. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau 
shall assign State Deployment Cycle Support Team 
members based on State need, geographical disper-
sion, and military population. The Office for Re-
integration Programs is encouraged to employ 
wounded service members and returning combat vet-
erans whenever possible. The primary function of 
team members should be— 
(A) developing and managing the re-
integration curriculum; 
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(B) contracting and recruiting for nec-
essary service providers; and 
(C) ensuring that providers’ skills adapt to 
the unique military nature of the reintegration 
program. 
(e) PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Office for Reintegration 
Programs shall analyze the demographics, placement 
of State Family Assistance Centers (FAC), and 
FAC resources before a mobilization alert is issued 
to affected State National Guard organizations. The 
Office of Reintegration Programs shall consult with 
affected State National Guard organizations fol-
lowing the issuance of a mobilization alert and im-
plement the reintegration events in accordance with 
the Reintegration Program phase model. 
(2) PRE-DEPLOYMENT
PHASE.—The Pre-De-
ployment Phase shall constitute the time from first 
notification of mobilization until deployment of the 
mobilized National Guard unit. Events and activities 
shall focus on providing education and ensuring the 
readiness of service members, families, and commu-
nities for the rigors of a combat deployment and 
shall include the following: 
(A) Service member readiness. 
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(B) Marriage counseling. 
(C) Youth counseling. 
(D) Family counseling. 
(E) Single service member counseling. 
(F) Information on resources available to 
service members and families. 
(G) Introduction to the Military OneSource 
program. 
(H) Department of Veterans Affairs re-
sources. 
(I) Small business planning. 
(J) Financial planning and education. 
(3) DEPLOYMENT PHASE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Deployment Phase 
shall constitute the period from deployment of 
the mobilized National Guard unit until the 
unit arrives at a demobilization station inside 
the continental United States. Events and serv-
ices provided shall focus on the challenges and 
stress associated with separation and having a 
service member in a combat zone. Events and 
services include support activities listed in sub-
paragraph (B) and reintegration preparation 
activities listed in subparagraph (C). Informa-
tion sessions should utilize State National 
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Guard resources in coordination with the Em-
ployer Support of Guard and Reserve Office, 
Transition Assistance Advisors, and the State 
Family Programs Director. 
(B) SUPPORT ACTIVITIES.— 
(i) Youth counseling. 
(ii) Family counseling. 
(iii) Community outreach. 
(iv) Continued contact with spouses 
and parents. 
(v) Information on resources available 
to family members, to include access to 
Military OneSource and child care. 
(vi) TRICARE and healthcare. 
(vii) Military pay and allowances. 
(C) REINTEGRATION PREPARATION ACTIVI-
TIES.— 
(i) 
FAMILY
INFORMATION
SES-
SIONS.—Family 
information 
sessions 
should prepare family members for the 
homecoming of their service member and 
to inform them on what they can do to 
make this transition as easy as possible. 
The sessions are designed to increase the 
family member’s knowledge of the re-
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integration process and to provide re-
sources to them as they go through the 
steps of reintegration. Information sessions 
should be offered at locations and times so 
as to accommodate as many family mem-
bers as possible. 
(ii) COMMUNITY
INFORMATION
SES-
SIONS.—The Community information ses-
sions should educate community leaders, 
clergy, schools, employers, mental health 
professionals, and family readiness groups 
(FRG) about the challenges of reintegra-
tion, and what they can do to assist com-
bat veterans and their families to success-
fully reintegrate back into the community. 
Information sessions should be offered at 
locations and times so as to accommodate 
as many participants as possible. 
(4) DEMOBILIZATION PHASE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Demobilization 
Phase shall constitute the period from arrival of 
the National Guard unit at the demobilization 
station until its departure for home station. In 
the interest of returning service members as 
soon as possible to their home stations, re-
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integration briefings during the Demobilization 
Phase shall be minimized. State Deployment 
Cycle Support Teams are encouraged, however, 
to assist demobilizing service members in enroll-
ing in the Department of Veterans Affairs sys-
tem using form 1010EZ during the Demobiliza-
tion Phase. State Deployment Cycle Support 
Teams may provide other events from the Ini-
tial Reintegration Activity as determined by the 
State National Guard organizations. Remaining 
events shall be conducted during the Post-De-
ployment-Reconstitution Phase. 
(B) INITIAL REINTEGRATION ACTIVITY.— 
The purpose of this reintegration program is to 
educate service members about the resources 
that are available to them and to connect serv-
ice members to service providers who can assist 
them in overcoming the challenges of reintegra-
tion. The Initial Reintegration Activity should 
include, but is not limited to— 
(i) informing service members of their 
veterans’ benefits; 
(ii) assisting with unemployment and 
enrollment in employment transition serv-
ices; 
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(iii) a driver safety briefing given by 
qualified law enforcement officials; 
(iv) identification of high-risk service 
members and establishment of plans for 
follow-on care; 
(v) identification of service members 
requiring follow-on health care; 
(vi) legal briefings and legal assist-
ance; and 
(vii) an opportunity for sexual assault 
victims 
to 
confidentially 
report 
such 
crimes. 
(5) 
POST-DEPLOYMENT-RECONSTITUTION 
PHASE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Post-Deployment- 
Reconstitution Phase shall constitute the period 
from arrival at home station until 180 days fol-
lowing demobilization. Activities and services 
provided shall focus on reconnecting service 
members with their families and communities 
and providing resources and information nec-
essary for successful reintegration. Reintegra-
tion events shall begin with elements of the Ini-
tial Reintegration Activity program that were 
not completed during the Demobilization Phase. 
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(B) 30-DAY, 60-DAY, AND
90-DAY
RE-
INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES.—The State National 
Guard organizations shall hold reintegration ac-
tivities at the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day inter-
val following demobilization. These activities 
shall focus on reconnecting service members 
and family members with the service providers 
from Initial Reintegration Activity to ensure 
service members and their families understand 
what benefits they are entitled to and what re-
sources are available to help them overcome the 
challenges of reintegration. The Reintegration 
Activities should also provide a forum for serv-
ice members and families to address negative 
behaviors related to combat stress and transi-
tion. One of the Reintegration Activities shall 
be for service members only to conduct a thor-
ough Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment 
(PDHRA) of combat veterans and provide any 
remaining medical or dental services. Activities, 
events, and services provided at the 30-day, 60- 
day, and 90-day Reintegration Activities shall 
include, but not be limited to— 
(i) PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES.— 
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(I) Battlemind Training II for 
service members and their families. 
(II) Prevention and Relationship 
Enhancement Program (PREP) Mar-
riage Enrichment Workshop to focus 
on assisting service members to recon-
nect with their spouses. 
(III) Single service member chal-
lenges workshop. 
(IV) Parenting workshop to as-
sist service members to reconnect with 
their children. 
(V) Local services station pro-
gram with representatives from legal, 
TRICARE, Education Services, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, State 
Veterans Centers, State Workforce of-
fices, chaplain’s office, County Vet-
erans 
Service 
Officers, 
Military 
OneSource, State tax officials, State 
Youth Programs, and National Guard 
unit administration offices. 
(VI) Anger management work-
shop. 
(VII) Substance abuse workshop. 
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(VIII) Gambling abuse workshop. 
(IX) Law enforcement briefing. 
(X) 
TRICARE 
and 
Military 
OneSource representatives. 
(XI) PDHRA with on-site sup-
port from Department of Veterans Af-
fairs Medical Centers, State veterans’ 
office representatives, and case man-
agers provided by the Department of 
Defense. 
(XII) Periodic Health Assess-
ment (PHA), if not provided during 
the Demobilization Phase. 
(XIII) Hearing audiogram, if not 
provided during the Demobilization 
Phase. 
(XIV) Dental examination, if not 
provided during the Demobilization 
Phase. 
(XV) Tuberculosis test. 
(XVI) Reintegration program as-
sessment. 
(XVII) Completion of any pend-
ing personnel or administrative ac-
tions. 
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(ii) SERVICE
MEMBER
PAY.—Service 
members shall receive appropriate pay for 
days spent attending the Reintegration Ac-
tivities. 
(C) MONTHLY
INDIVIDUAL
REINTEGRA-
TION PROGRAM.—The Office for Reintegration 
Programs, in coordination with State National 
Guard organizations, shall offer a monthly re-
integration program for individual service mem-
bers released from active duty or formerly in a 
medical hold status. The program shall focus on 
the special needs of this service member subset 
and the Office for Reintegration Programs shall 
develop an appropriate program of services and 
information. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized 
to be appropriated $23,000,000 for subsection (d) and 
such sums as may be necessary for subsection (e). 
Æ 
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