322 
ment of Defense under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 
10, United States Code. 
SEC. 576. SKILLBRIDGE: APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than September 30, 2024, the 
Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, 
shall conduct a study to identify the private entities par-
ticipating in Skillbridge that offer positions in registered 
apprenticeship programs to covered members. 
(b) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary shall consult with 
officials and employees of the Department of Labor who 
have experience with registered apprenticeship programs 
to facilitate the Secretary entering into agreements with 
entities that offer positions described in subsection (a) in 
areas where the Secretary determines few such positions 
are available to covered members. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered member’’ means a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces eligible for Skillbridge. 
(2) The term ‘‘registered apprenticeship pro-
gram’’ means an apprenticeship program registered 
under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known 
as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, 
chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
323 
(3) The term ‘‘Skillbridge’’ means an employ-
ment skills training program under section 1143(e) 
of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 577. FEMALE MEMBERS OF CERTAIN ARMED FORCES 
AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE IN STEM. 
(a) STUDY; REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report containing the results of a study 
on how to— 
(1) increase participation of covered individuals 
in positions in the covered Armed Forces or Depart-
ment of Defense and related to STEM; and 
(2) change Skillbridge to help covered individ-
uals eligible for Skillbridge find civilian employment 
in positions related to STEM. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means 
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means a fe-
male— 
(A) member of a covered Armed Force; or
324 
(B) civilian employee of the Department of 
Defense. 
(3) The term ‘‘Skillbridge’’ means an employ-
ment skills training program under section 1143(e) 
of title 10, United States Code. 
(4) The term ‘‘STEM’’ means science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics. 
SEC. 578. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REPORT ON THIRD- 
PARTY JOB SEARCH TECHNOLOGY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Con-
gress a report on potential partnership opportunities with 
companies that provide third-party job search digital solu-
tions to assist active duty service members and veterans 
up to five years post-separation from the military find em-
ployment following their active duty service. Such report 
shall include the potential use and effectiveness of any 
such partnerships.
325 
SEC. 579. NOTIFICATION BY SECRETARY CONCERNED TO 
THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RE-
GARDING A MEMBER WITH A HISTORY OF 
OPIOID ABUSE. 
Section 1142(d) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘In the case’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) In the case of a member eligible for 
preseparation counseling under this section whom the Sec-
retary concerned knows has a history of opioid abuse, the 
Secretary concerned shall notify the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs of such history before the separation, retirement, 
or discharge of such member.’’. 
SEC. 580. REPORT ON SEPARATING MEMBERS WHO HAVE 
HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE AND MEDICAL 
RESERVE CORPS. 
By not later than 180 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report on the proc-
ess by which members of the Armed Forces with health 
care experience transition to civilian life and the number 
such members who join the Medical Reserve Corps.
326 
SEC. 580A. PROVISION OF MEDICAL INFORMATION RE-
GARDING A SEPARATING MEMBER. 
Subsection (d) of section 1142 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting 
‘‘TRANSMISSION
OF
MEDICAL
INFORMATION
TO 
MEMBER
AND DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘being medically separated or 
being retired under chapter 61 of this title’’ and in-
serting ‘‘separating or retiring from the armed 
forces’’; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘such member and’’ before 
‘‘the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’’; and 
(4) by striking ‘‘within 60 days of’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘not later than 12 days after’’. 
SEC. 
580B. 
TRAINING 
AND 
EDUCATION 
FOR 
TRANSITIONING MEMBERS THROUGH COM-
MUNITY COLLEGES. 
(a) SKILLBRIDGE.—The Secretary of Defense may 
conduct outreach to community colleges in order to enter 
into more agreements with such community colleges that 
may provide training or internships to members of the 
Armed Forces pursuant to the Skillbridge program estab-
lished under section 1143(e) of title 10, United States 
Code.
327 
(b) CENTERS FOR MILITARY AND VETERANS EDU-
CATION.—The Secretary of Defense may conduct outreach 
and provide assistance to community colleges to support 
the creation of centers at such community colleges through 
which members of the Armed Forces eligible for 
Skillbridge and veterans may receive job training. 
Subtitle I—Decorations and 
Awards 
SEC. 581. AUTHORIZATION FOR LAST MEMBER STANDING 
MEDAL. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Chapter 57 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 1135 and 1136 as 
sections 1136 and section 1137, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 1134 the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 1135. Last Member Standing medal 
‘‘(a) MEDAL
AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary con-
cerned may issue a service medal, to be known as the ‘Last 
Member Standing medal’, to persons eligible under sub-
section (c). 
‘‘(b) DESIGN.—The Last Member Standing medal 
shall be of an appropriate design approved by the Sec-
retary of Defense, with ribbons, lapel pins, and other ap-
purtenances.
328 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE PERSONS.—Subject to subsection (d), 
a person eligible to be issued the Last Member Standing 
medal is any member who— 
‘‘(1) served on active duty; 
‘‘(2) was deployed during war or overseas con-
tingency operation; 
‘‘(3) as a result of a combat instance during 
such war or overseas contingency, was the last sur-
viving member of a unit; 
‘‘(4) demonstrated extraordinary heroism in de-
fense of the United States during such combat in-
stance; and 
‘‘(5) whose character is recommended for rec-
ognition by their commanding officer and at least 
two peers. 
‘‘(d) ONE MEDAL AUTHORIZED.—Not more than one 
Last Member Standing medal may be issued to any per-
son. 
‘‘(e) ISSUANCE TO NEXT-OF-KIN.—If a person de-
scribed in subsection (c) is deceased, the Secretary con-
cerned may provide for issuance of the Last Member 
Standing medal to the next-of-kin of the person. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The issuance of a Last Member 
Standing medal shall be subject to such regulations as the 
Secretaries concerned shall prescribe for purposes of this
329 
section. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that any 
regulations prescribed under this subsection are uniform 
to the extent practicable.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of Defense should take appro-
priate actions to expedite— 
(1) the design of the Last Member Standing 
medal provided for by section 1136 of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a); and 
(2) the establishment and implementation of 
mechanisms to facilitate the issuance of the Last 
Member Standing Medal to persons eligible for the 
issuance of the medal under such section. 
SEC. 582. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO MARCELINO SERNA FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR DURING WORLD WAR I. 
(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 
Armed Forces, the President may posthumously award the 
Medal of Honor under section 7272 of such title to 
Marcelino Serna for the acts of valor described in the sub-
section (b).
330 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
described in this subsection are the actions of Marcelino 
Serna as a private in the Army during World War I, for 
which he was previously awarded the Distinguished-Serv-
ice Cross. 
SEC. 583. AWARD OF CERTAIN DECORATIONS TO CERTAIN 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO 
SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN. 
The Secretary concerned shall award to a member of 
the Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan between July 
14, 2021 and August 30, 2021 in support of Operation 
Allies Refuge— 
(1) the Afghanistan campaign medal; 
(2) the combat action ribbon; and 
(3) the humanitarian service medal. 
SEC. 584. 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.
331 
SEC. 585. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO E. ROYCE WILLIAMS FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR DURING THE KOREAN WAR. 
(a) WAIVER
OF
TIME
LIMITATIONS.—Notwith-
standing the time limitations specified in section 8298 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 Armed Forces, the President may award 
the Medal of Honor under section 8291 of such title to 
E. Royce Williams for the acts of valor described in sub-
section (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
described in this subsection are the actions of E. Royce 
Williams, as a lieutenant in the Navy, on November 18, 
1952, for which he was previously awarded the Navy Cross 
and the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit of South Korea. 
SEC. 586. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO JAMES CAPERS, JR. FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE MARINE CORPS 
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim-
itations specified in sections 8298(a) and 8300 of title 10, 
United States Code, or any other time limitation with re-
spect to the awarding of certain medals to persons who 
served in the Armed Forces, the President is authorized 
to award the Medal of Honor, under section 8291 of such
332 
title, to James Capers, Jr. for the acts of valor described 
in subsection (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
described in this subsection are the actions of James Ca-
pers, Jr., as a member of the Marine Corps, during the 
period of March 31 through April 3, 1967, during the 
Vietnam War, for which he was previously awarded the 
Silver Star. 
SEC. 587. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO THOMAS H. GRIFFIN FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY DURING 
THE VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—Congress recog-
nizes the following acts of valor by Thomas Helmut Grif-
fin: 
(1) Thomas Helmut Griffin distinguished him-
self by valorous actions against overwhelming odds 
while serving as a captain in the Army, Senior Advi-
sor, 4/5 Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, 
Army of the Republic of Vietnam. 
(2) From March 1, 1969 through March 3, 
1969, during the Vietnam War, such battalion was 
ordered to forestall an imminent attack on Quang 
Ngai City threatened by units of the North Viet-
namese Army (hereinafter, ‘‘NVA’’). The 4/5 Bat-
333 
talion engaged unabatedly with an entrenched NVA 
regiment over the course of three days. Captain 
Griffin (hereinafter, ‘‘CPT Griffin’’) risked his life 
and disregarded his personal safety, all above and 
beyond his duty, on some 20 occasions, to lead his 
battalion in the fight as well as direct gunships, air, 
and artillery strikes on the enemy positions. 
(3) During the initial phase of battle, CPT 
Griffin made numerous trips across 50 meters of 
open ground, while under heavy automatic weapon, 
rocket, and small arms fire, to advise on the conduct 
of the battle and better direct strikes against enemy 
forces. Fearing slaughter of his soldiers, CPT Grif-
fin, with one of his counterparts from the Army of 
the Republic of Vietnam (hereinafter, ‘‘ARVN’’), 
charged directly into heavy enemy fire and assaulted 
a machine gun bunker. CPT Griffin continued these 
runs, despite the enemy shooting the heels off CPT 
Griffin’s boots. 
(4) After taking out the NVA bunker, CPT 
Griffin brandished the captured machine gun and 
rocket launcher to exhort his battalion out of the kill 
zone and continue the assault into the enemy en-
trenchments while remaining exposed to heavy fire. 
CPT Griffin’s raw and intense close combat leader-
334 
ship galvanized his battalion to move out of the kill 
zone and continue their mission. 
(5) CPT Griffin’s ARVN counterpart was 
struck by close fire, and CPT Griffin unhesitatingly 
carried the wounded commander to safety while 
shielding him with his own body against rocket and 
artillery fire. CPT Griffin proceeded to carry four 
more wounded soldiers to safety while protecting 
them with his own body, returning each time against 
devastating enemy fire. While leading the final at-
tack, CPT Griffin was hit three times in the chest 
by enemy small arms fire, yet continued to lead at 
the forefront of his battalion until the mission was 
completed. Under CPT Griffin’s command and lead-
ership, the 4/5 Battalion continued to reduce the 
enemy regiment’s fighting capacity. 
(6) CPT Griffin’s personal leadership in intense 
close combat resulted in a major win for his bat-
talion against overwhelming odds, killing 93 enemy 
soldiers and saving the lives of over 300 allied sol-
diers by galvanizing and leading them out of the kill 
zone. 
(7) CPT Griffin’s selfless devotion to duty, his 
extraordinary heroism, conspicuous gallantry and in-
trepidity, and numerous risks of his life above and
335 
beyond the call of duty, are all in keeping with the 
highest traditions of the Army, and reflect great 
credit on himself, the Armed Forces, and the United 
States. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following with re-
gards to the original decision to award a Silver Star to 
Thomas Helmut Griffin: 
(1) When awarding him the Silver Star, CPT 
Griffin’s chain of command was unaware of the full 
extent of his valorous actions and the numerous 
risks he took for his soldiers, all above and beyond 
the call of duty. 
(2) Congress notes that although CPT Griffin 
was struck three times by enemy fire, and at one 
point was completely surrounded by the enemy, he 
continued to fight and lead his battalion against dev-
astating and overwhelming enemy fire. 
(3) Congress notes that CPT Griffin’s Com-
manding Officer, Colonel Dean E. Hutter (ret.), sent 
a letter to the Department of the Army dated No-
vember 6, 2013, in which he accounts for the revela-
tion of additional, substantive and material evidence 
not known at the time of the decision to award the 
Silver Star, and in which he describes as compelling 
‘‘the justice of upgrading CPT Griffin’s sustained
336 
and varied acts of combat valor to their rightful level 
of recognition, the Medal of Honor’’. 
(4) Congress further notes that Colonel Hutter 
issued a letter to former United States Representa-
tive Sam Farr on September 15, 2011, noting his 
support for an upgrade from a Silver Star to a 
Medal of Honor, having recognized CPT Griffin’s 
acts of valor as, ‘‘numerous, selfless demonstrations 
of personal risk in pressing a close-combat attack 
against a well-entrenched element of a battalion-size 
enemy formation’’. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF AWARD
OF MEDAL
OF 
HONOR TO THOMAS HELMUT GRIFFIN FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY DURING THE VIET-
NAM WAR.— 
(1) 
AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding 
the 
time limitations specified in section 7274 of title 10, 
United States Code, or any other time limitation 
with respect to the awarding of certain medals to 
persons who served in the Armed Forces, the Presi-
dent is authorized to award the Medal of Honor, 
under section 7271 of such title, to Thomas Helmut 
Griffin for the acts of valor described in subsection 
(b).
337 
(2) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of 
valor described in this subsection are the actions of 
Thomas H. Griffin during the period of March 1 
through March 3, 1969, while serving as a captain 
in the Army during the Vietnam War, for which he 
was previously awarded the Silver Star. 
Subtitle J—Other Personnel 
Matters, Reports, and Briefings 
SEC. 591. ARMED FORCES WORKPLACE SURVEYS. 
Subsection (c) of section 481 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and 
(5) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) Indicators of the assault (including un-
wanted sexual contact) that give reason to believe 
that the victim was targeted, or discriminated 
against, or both, for a status in a group.’’. 
SEC. 592. ELECTRONIC NOTARIZATION FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES. 
Section 1044a of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
338 
‘‘(e)(1) A person named in subsection (b) may exer-
cise the powers described in subsection (a) through elec-
tronic means, including under circumstances where the in-
dividual with respect to whom such person is performing 
the notarial act is not physically present in the same loca-
tion as such person. 
‘‘(2) A determination of the authenticity of a notarial 
act authorized in this section shall be made without regard 
to whether the notarial act was performed through elec-
tronic means. 
‘‘(3) A log or journal of a notarial act authorized in 
this section shall be considered for evidentiary purposes 
without regard to whether the log or journal is in elec-
tronic form.’’. 
SEC. 593. DUE DATE FOR REPORT ON EFFORTS TO PRE-
VENT AND RESPOND TO DEATHS BY SUICIDE 
IN THE NAVY. 
Section 599A(c) of the James M. Inhofe National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 
117–263) is amended by striking ‘‘180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘September 
30, 2024’’.
339 
SEC. 594. POSTING OF PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE 
988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE AT MILI-
TARY INSTALLATIONS. 
The Secretary of the military department concerned 
shall post promotional materials (including brochures, 
posters, and informational sheets) for the 988 Suicide and 
Crisis Lifeline at each military installation under the juris-
diction of such Secretary Promotional materials shall be 
posted in gyms, dining facilities, gas stations, exchanges, 
commissaries, package stores, barracks buildings, unit 
headquarters offices, and barbershops amongst other loca-
tions. Promotional materials shall also be posted to unit 
and installation webpages, social media, and included in 
newsletters. 
SEC. 595. PROHIBITION ON DRAG SHOWS AND DRAG QUEEN 
STORY HOUR. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by 
this Act may be obligated or expended for a drag show, 
drag queen story, or similar event. 
SEC. 596. DEFENSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY 
AND INCLUSION: REPORT; SUNSET. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding 
how the Secretary appointed members to the Defense Ad-
340 
visory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, including 
how the membership was fairly balanced consistent with 
section 1004(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) SUNSET.—Consistent with section 1013(a)(2) of 
title 5, United States Code, the Defense Advisory Com-
mittee on Diversity and Inclusion shall terminate not later 
than September 19, 2024. 
SEC. 597. FORCE STRUCTURE AND PERSONNEL REQUIRE-
MENTS OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES: 
REVIEW; BRIEFING; REPORT. 
(a) REVIEW REQUIRED; ELEMENTS.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
covered officials shall conduct a coordinated review of 
force structure and personnel requirements for special op-
erations forces under the jurisdictions of the covered offi-
cials to carry out special operations activities regarding 
the following: 
(1) Operational and campaign plans of the com-
mander of a combatant command. 
(2) The National Defense Strategy of 2022. 
(3) The Joint Concept for Competing (dated 
February 10, 2023) and any additional relevant 
Joint Operating Concepts. 
(4) Any Executive orders related to strategic 
competition.
341 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
commencement of the review under subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Defense shall brief the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives on 
the initial findings of the review. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after comple-
tion of the review under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
that includes the following: 
(1) A summary of the findings of the review. 
(2) Details of any proposed changes to force 
structure and personnel requirements. 
(3) The costs associated with any changes iden-
tified in paragraph (2) and the time required to exe-
cute such changes. 
(4) If the Secretary proposes a reduction in 
special operations forces force structure or personnel 
requirements, effects of such reductions on the abil-
ity to carry out plans described in subsection (a)(1). 
(d) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary of Defense may 
not make any reduction in force structure, personnel re-
quirements, or staffing levels to a special operations force 
until after the Secretary submits the report under sub-
section (c).
342 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered official’’ means the fol-
lowing. 
(A) The Secretary of the Army. 
(B) The Secretary of the Navy. 
(C) The Secretary of the Air Force. 
(D) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. 
(E) The Commander of United States Spe-
cial Operations Command. 
(2) The term ‘‘special operations activities’’ 
means the activities described in section 167(k) of 
title 10, United States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘special operations forces’’ means 
the forces described in section 167(j) of title 10, 
United States Code. 
(4) The term ‘‘force structure’’, when used with 
respect to an organization, means the type of organi-
zation, the mission of the organization, the personnel 
required to operate the organization, and the equip-
ment required to execute the mission of the organi-
zation.
343 
SEC. 598. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE DE-
PARTMENT OF DEFENSE COUNTERING EX-
TREMISM WORK GROUP. 
No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act 
may be used to fund the Department of Defense Coun-
tering Extremism Work Group. Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization 
of the Federal Government of the House of Representa-
tives a report containing all documents from the Group. 
The report required under the preceding sentence shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a 
classfied annex. 
SEC. 599. DIGITAL AMBASSADOR PROGRAM OF THE NAVY: 
CESSATION; REPORT; RESTART. 
(a) CESSATION.—The Secretary of the Navy shall 
cease all activities of the digital ambassador program of 
the Office of Information of the Department of the Navy. 
The Secretary shall notify each individual designated as 
a digital ambassador of such cessation and that the indi-
vidual is not authorized to act as a digital ambassador 
of the Navy. 
(b) RESTART.—The Secretary may not restart such 
program until 60 days after the date on which the Sec-
retary submits to the Committees on Armed Services of
344 
the Senate and House of Representatives a report con-
taining the following: 
(1) All policies and documents of the program. 
(2) The number of digital ambassadors des-
ignated. 
(3) The process and criteria for such designa-
tion. 
(4) The duties of a digital ambassador. 
(5) The online platforms (including social 
media) on which an individual is authorized under 
such program to perform duties of a digital ambas-
sador. 
(6) The determination of the Secretary that 
such program complies with applicable laws, regula-
tions, and guidance. 
SEC. 599A. REPORT ON MILITARY ONESOURCE. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report regarding the Military 
OneSource program of the Department of Defense. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall 
include the following elements:
345 
(1) A history of the program, including origin, 
development, and expansion. 
(2) An accounting of costs to the Federal Gov-
ernment to operate the program during fiscal years 
2019 through 2023. 
(3) Use of the program during fiscal years 
2019 through 2023, including— 
(A) the total number of individuals who 
used the program, disaggregated by whether 
such use was through a phone call or the 
website; 
(B) the number of members of the Armed 
Forces 
who 
have 
used 
the 
program, 
disaggregated by Armed Force, race, gender, 
age, marital status, and duty location; and 
(C) the most commonly used services of-
fered through the program. 
(4) How records for such usage are kept and 
protected. 
(5) A list of all services offered through the 
program. 
(6) The cost of any service to a member. 
(7) Services to be added to the program. 
(8) Criteria by which services offered through 
the program are added or discontinued.
346 
SEC. 599B. STUDY ON SERVICE BY NEURODIVERGENT INDI-
VIDUALS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally 
funded research and development center that meets the 
criteria described in subsection (b), under which such cen-
ter shall conduct a study to— 
(1) evaluate how the Secretary may maximize 
the talent of neurodivergent populations; 
(2) determine the extent to which current poli-
cies prevent the contributions of neurodivergent pop-
ulations in the Department of Defense; and 
(3) develop recommendations for modifying in-
ternal policies and practices of the Department to 
improve employment of neurodivergent individuals in 
such Department. 
(b) FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT CENTER.—A federally funded research and develop-
ment center described in this subsection is such a center 
that the Secretary determines— 
(1) primarily focus on studies and analysis; 
(2) has a record of— 
(A) conducting research and analysis using 
a multidisciplinary approach; and
347 
(B) publishing analyses to inform public 
debate; and 
(3) demonstrated specific competencies in— 
(A) policies regarding military personnel 
and readiness, as applied to the national de-
fense strategy; 
(B) personnel assignment policies of the 
Department of Defense; 
(C) evaluating the practices of the civilian 
workforce in integrating neurodivergent individ-
uals; 
(D) how such practices could be applied to 
the military; and 
(E) military recruitment policies. 
(c) STUDY.—A federally funded research and devel-
opment center that enters into an agreement under sub-
section (a) shall conduct a comprehensive study on the re-
cruitment and personnel management of neurodivergent 
individuals who are members of the covered Armed Forces 
and civilian employees of the Department of Defense. 
Such study shall— 
(1) evaluate the diagnostic procedures of the 
Department and standards for neurodivergent condi-
tions, noting any inconsistencies or areas for im-
provement;
348 
(2) evaluate how members with neurodivergent 
conditions are currently managed by the Secretaries 
of the military departments, including medical treat-
ments and behavioral strategies; 
(3) evaluate the unique skills and talents that 
neurodivergent individuals can bring to the Depart-
ment of Defense, including in emerging fields like 
cyber operations and intelligence; and 
(4) identify potential challenges or barriers to 
successful inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in 
such Department. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the center that conducts 
the study shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report 
containing the following: 
(1) The findings of the study under subsection 
(c). 
(2) Recommendations for changes to— 
(A) the medical evaluation process for ini-
tial accessions; and 
(B) evaluations for military occupational 
specialty assignments. 
(3) Any additional information determined ap-
propriate regarding the improvement by the Sec-
retary of recruitment, management, and retention of
349 
neurodivergent members of the covered Armed 
Forces and civilian employees of the Department of 
Defense. 
(e) COVERED ARMED FORCE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the Army, 
Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force. 
SEC. 599C. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF ROTC ON RECRUITING. 
Not later than one year 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 
House of Representatives a report regarding the effects 
of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps on recruiting for 
the Armed Forces. 
SEC. 599D. REPORT ON COLLEGE-LEVEL CREDITS FOR 
MILITARY RECRUITS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on cur-
rent enlistment standards, and whether it is necessary for 
all college-level credits earned by a military recruit to be 
placed on a transcript from an accredited, degree-granting 
institution.
350 
SEC. 599E. STUDY AND REPORT ON REFORMS TO CERTAIN 
GRACE PERIODS UNDER TRANSITION ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE. 
(a) STUDY.—The Undersecretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness shall conduct a comprehensive study 
on military grace period reforms, specifically focusing on 
the impact of unit tasking during TAP on the ability of 
servicemembers to transition to civilian life. The study 
shall include the following elements: 
(1) A review of the current practices within the 
military branches regarding unit tasking during 
TAP ans its effect on service members’ transition 
process. 
(2) An analysis of the challenges faced by serv-
ice members when balancing their primary duties 
with the demands of TAP including the impact on 
their mental health, family life, and overall pre-
paredness for civilian life. 
(3) An assessment of current military grace pe-
riods that allow for unplanned periods of leave, tem-
porary duty, deployments, or other unplanned peri-
ods of non-availability, and an evaluation of the ef-
fectiveness of the such current military grace peri-
ods.
351 
(4) Recommendations for the creation of a code 
or policy that allows servicemembers who are cur-
rently enrolled in TAP to report in only to their re-
spective 
command, 
ensuring 
that 
such 
servicemembers can fully focus on the transition 
process. 
(5) A description of any necessary resources, 
support systems, or additional training required to 
implement the proposed reforms effectively. 
(6) Any other relevant information or rec-
ommendations deemed necessary by the Undersecre-
tary of Defense to improve TAP and facilitate a suc-
cessful transition for servicemembers. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the study, the Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representative and the 
Senate a report that includes— 
(1) the findings, conclusions, and recommenda-
tions resulting from the study under subsection (a); 
and 
(2) a comprehensive plan of action, including 
proposed timelines, milestones, and resource require-
ments, for the implementation of the recommended 
military grace period reforms under such subsection.
352 
(c) COORDINATION.—The Undersecretary of Defense 
for Personnel and Readiness may request and utilize the 
support of other relevant government agencies, as appro-
priate, in conducting such study. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘military grace period reforms’’ 
refers to a set of changes or amendments made to 
existing laws or policies that establish a designated 
period of time, commonly known as a grace period, 
during certain administrative processes or restric-
tions that may apply to service members in transi-
tion. 
(2) The term ‘‘TAP’’ means the Transition As-
sistance Program of the Department of Defense 
under sections 1142 and 1144, of title 10, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 599F. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING MILITARY 
SERVICE BY INDIVIDUALS WITH AMPUTA-
TIONS. 
It is the sense of Congress that increasing geopolitical 
threats, combined with recruitment challenges experienced 
by the Armed Forces, are a threat to the national security 
interests of the United States, therefore, the Secretary of 
Defense should issue medical waivers to an individual 
seeking to serve in the Armed Forces who is precluded
353 
from serving solely because of a non-service-connected am-
putation. 
SEC. 599G. FEASIBILITY STUDY AND REPORT ON PORT-
ABILITY OF CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL CRE-
DENTIALS HELD BY SERVICEMEMBERS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 
in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
shall conduct a study on the feasibility of ensuring that 
an eligible professional credential held by a servicemember 
is considered valid in the jurisdiction of an applicable li-
censing authority for use at an appropriate scope of prac-
tice in the appropriate field after the date on which such 
servicemember is discharged or released from active mili-
tary, naval, air, or space service under conditions other 
than dishonorable. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the Secretary of Defense completes such study, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that in-
cludes— 
(1) the findings of such study; and 
(2) recommendations relating to ways in which 
the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs may 
collaborate with an applicable licensing authority to 
ensure a servicemember may use an eligible profes-
354 
sional credential held by such servicemember in the 
jurisdiction of such licensing authority at an appro-
priate scope of practice in the appropriate field after 
the date described in subsection (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘applicable licensing authority’’ 
means, with respect to a servicemember, the licens-
ing authority of the State in which the servicemem-
ber resides. 
(2) The term ‘‘eligible professional credential’’ 
means a professional credential, including a profes-
sional credential in the field of airplane mechanics, 
obtained using expenses paid pursuant to the pro-
gram under section 2015 of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘expenses’’ has the meaning given 
such term in such section. 
(4) The term ‘‘servicemember’’ has the meaning 
given 
such 
term 
in 
section 
101 
of 
the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 4025a). 
(5) The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the several 
States and territories and the District of Columbia.
355 
TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND 
OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS 
Subtitle A—Basic Pay, Retired Pay, 
and Leave 
SEC. 601. PARENTAL LEAVE PARITY FOR MEMBERS OF CER-
TAIN RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
(a) PARENTAL LEAVE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 40 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 710 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 711. Parental leave for members of certain reserve 
components of the armed forces 
‘‘(a)(1) Under regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of Defense, a member of a reserve component of 
the armed forces described in subsection (b) is allowed pa-
rental leave for a duration of up to 12 inactive-duty train-
ing periods, under section 206 of title 37, during the one- 
year period beginning after the following events: 
‘‘(A) the birth or adoption of a child of the member 
and to care for such child; or 
‘‘(B) the placement of a minor child with the member 
for adoption or long-term foster care. 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary concerned, under uniform reg-
ulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, may
356 
authorized leave described under subparagraph (A) to be 
taken after the one-year period described in subparagraph 
(A) in the case of a member described in subsection (b) 
who, except for this subparagraph, would lose unused pa-
rental leave at the end of the one-year period described 
in subparagraph (A) as a result of— 
‘‘(i) operational requirements; 
‘‘(ii) professional military education obligations; 
or 
‘‘(iii) other circumstances that the Secretary de-
termines reasonable and appropriate. 
‘‘(B) The regulations prescribed under clause (i) shall 
require that any leave authorized to be taken after the 
one-year period described in subparagraph (A) shall be 
taken within a reasonable period of time, as determined 
by the Secretary of Defense, after cessation of the cir-
cumstances warranting the extended deadline.; 
‘‘(b) A member described in this subsection is a mem-
ber of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force who is a member of— 
‘‘(1) the selected reserve who is entitled to com-
pensation under section 206 of title 37; or 
‘‘(2) the individual ready reserve who is entitled 
to compensation under section 206 of title 37 when 
attending or participating in a sufficient number of
357 
periods of inactive-duty training during a year to 
count the year as a qualifying year of creditable 
service toward eligibility for retired pay.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 40 of such title is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 710 the following new item: 
‘‘711. Parental leave for members of the reserve component of the armed 
forces.’’. 
(b) COMPENSATION.—Section 206(a) of title 37, 
United States Code, is amended by amending paragraph 
(4) to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) for a regular period of instruction, period 
of appropriate duty, or such other equivalent train-
ing that a member would be required to perform but 
does not perform because such member was author-
ized to take parental leave pursuant to section 711 
of title 10.’’. 
(c) CONTRIBUTION OF LEAVE TOWARD ENTITLE-
MENT TO RETIRED PAY.—Section 12732(a)(2)(G) of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘12 per 
period’’ and all that follows through the end of the sen-
tence and inserting the following: ‘‘1 per inactive-duty 
training period, under section 206 of title 37, during 
which the member is on parental leave under section 711 
of this title.’’.
359 
SEC. 602. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY 
OF A MILITARY DEPARTMENT TO PAY A MEM-
BER WHO IS ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE OR 
OVER LEAVE FOR SUCH ABSENCE. 
Section 503(a) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘or the Secretary of the military de-
partment concerned determines to pay such pay and allow-
ances’’ before the period at the end. 
SEC. 603. REPORT ON MODERNIZED RETIREMENT SYSTEM. 
Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
regarding implementation of the modernized retirement 
system pursuant to amendments in part I of subtitle D 
of title VI of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92). Such report shall 
include the following elements: 
(1) An analysis of data collected on the effects 
of financial literacy training modules, including 
quantifiable outcomes that assess the effect of finan-
cial security training for members of the uniformed 
services during fiscal years 2015 through 2023. 
(2) Recommendations of the Secretary regard-
ing tools or resources needed for the Secretary to 
improve financial literacy training for our such 
members.
360 
SEC. 604. PROGRAM TO ASSIST SERVICE MEMBERS AT RISK 
OF SUICIDE. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the De-
fense Health Agency, shall develop and implement a cen-
tralized program to monitor and provide assistance to 
members of the Armed Forces at risk of suicide who have 
been recently discharged from health care, as outlined in 
Recommendation 6.29 of the final report issued by the 
Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review 
Committee. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The centralized 
program referred to in subsection (a) shall specify: 
(1) The individual and agency responsible for 
conducting service member follow up. 
(2) The time when initial follow-up will occur. 
(3) The times when subsequent follow-ups will 
occur. 
(4) The manner in which patients will be con-
tacted. 
(5) The process for documentation of follow-up 
attempts. 
(6) The procedures for ensuring patient safety 
where patient is unreachable.
361 
(7) The processes for medical treatment facili-
ties to link mortality data to health care delivery 
data in order to better identify settings and patients 
at higher risk of suicide, further inform local suicide 
prevention strategies for targeted high-risk groups, 
and ensure compliance with reporting and inves-
tigating suicides occurring within 72 hours of dis-
charge from a hospital. 
(c) MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AT RISK OF 
SUICIDE.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘mem-
bers of the Armed Forces at risk of suicide’’ includes 
members of the Armed Forces who have attempted suicide 
and members of the Armed Forces who have been dis-
charged as patients and who have been clinically assessed 
as benefitting from follow-up support related to suicide 
prevention. 
SEC. 605. ELIMINATION OF CAP ON ADDITIONAL RETIRED 
PAY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE 
WHO SERVED DURING THE VIETNAM ERA. 
Title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 1402(f)(2), by striking ‘‘The 
amount’’ and inserting ‘‘Except in the case of a 
member who served during the Vietnam Era (as that
362 
term is defined in section 12731 of this title), the 
amount’’; 
(2) in section 7361(a)(2), by inserting ‘‘(except 
in the case of a member who served during the Viet-
nam Era, as that term is defined in section 12731 
of this title)’’ after ‘‘based’’; and 
(3) in section 9361(a)(2), by inserting ‘‘(except 
in the case of a member who served during the Viet-
nam Era, as that term is defined in section 12731 
of this title)’’ after ‘‘based’’. 
Subtitle B—Bonus and 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, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2024’’. 
(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, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2024’’:
363 
(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, 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2024’’. 
(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, 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2024’’: 
(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.
364 
(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. 
(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) of title 37, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (7)(E), relating to an area 
covered by a major disaster declaration or con-
taining an installation experiencing an influx of mili-
tary personnel, by striking ‘‘December 31, 2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2024’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (8)(C), relating to an area 
where actual housing costs differ from current rates 
by more than 20 percent, by striking ‘‘September 
30, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2024’’.
365 
SEC. 612. AUTHORIZATION OF MONTHLY BONUS PAY FOR A 
JUNIOR MEMBER OF THE UNIFORMED SERV-
ICES DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2024. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Beginning on January 1, 
2024, if the Secretary concerned determines that pre-
vailing economic conditions may adversely affect an eligi-
ble member, the Secretary concerned may pay a monthly 
bonus to each eligible member. 
(b) AMOUNT OF PAY.—Each bonus payment under 
this section shall be in an amount equal to a percentage, 
determined by the Secretary concerned, of the rate— 
(1) in effect on December 31, 2023; and 
(2) of, for an eligible member— 
(A) pay under section 204 of title 37, 
United States Code; or 
(B) compensation under section 206 of 
title 37, United States Code. 
(c) RELATIONSHIP
TO OTHER PAY
AND ALLOW-
ANCES.—Bonus pay paid to an eligible member under this 
section is in addition to any other pay and allowances to 
which the eligible member is entitled. 
(d) TERMINATION.—No bonus may be paid under 
this section after December 31, 2024. 
(e) ELIGIBLE MEMBER DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘eligible member’’ means a member of the uni-
formed services who—
366 
(1) is entitled to pay or compensation described 
in subsection (b)(2); and 
(2) is in a grade below E-6. 
SEC. 613. DETERMINATION OF COLD WEATHER LOCATION 
FOR PURPOSES OF ASSIGNMENT OR SPECIAL 
DUTY PAY. 
For purposes of assignment or special duty pay under 
section 352 of title 37, United States Code, the Secretary 
concerned shall determine that a duty station is a cold 
weather location if, at such duty station, a member of the 
uniformed services receives training in— 
(1) mountaineering; 
(2) proficiency in an alpine environment; or 
(3) proficiency in a cold weather environment. 
SEC. 614. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING ASSIGNMENT IN-
CENTIVE PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE AIR 
FORCE ASSIGNED TO CREECH AIR FORCE 
BASE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report on the feasibility of 
paying assignment incentive pay under section 307a of 
title 37, United States Code, to members of the Air Force
367 
assigned to Creech Air Force Base. The study shall in-
clude— 
(1) an assessment of the financial stress experi-
enced by such members, especially junior members 
with families, associated with— 
(A) the daily commute to and from the 
base; 
(B) the unique demands of the mission to 
remotely pilot aircraft; and 
(C) limited access to essential services, in-
cluding child care, housing, and readily acces-
sible health care; and 
(2) the overall cost to the United States, and fi-
nancial relief provided by, such assignment incentive 
pay authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force in 
2008 for such members. 
Subtitle C—Allowances 
SEC. 621. BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE: EXCLUSION OF BASIC 
ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING FROM THE CAL-
CULATION OF GROSS HOUSEHOLD INCOME 
OF AN ELIGIBLE MEMBER OF THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
Section 402b(k)(1)(B) of title 37, United States 
Code, is amended—
368 
(1) by striking ‘‘in the case’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘portion of’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘that the Secretary concerned 
elects to exclude’’ and inserting ‘‘paid to such mem-
ber’’. 
SEC. 622. IMPROVED CALCULATION OF BASIC ALLOWANCE 
FOR HOUSING FOR JUNIOR ENLISTED MEM-
BERS. 
Section 403 of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended, in subsection (b)(5), by striking ‘‘and shall be 
based’’ and all that follows and inserting a period. 
SEC. 623. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY OF A COMMANDING 
OFFICER TO AUTHORIZE A BASIC ALLOW-
ANCE FOR HOUSING FOR A MEMBER PER-
FORMING INITIAL FIELD OR SEA DUTY. 
Section 403 of title 37, United States Code, as 
amended by section 622, is further amended, in subsection 
(f)— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘certifies that the member 
was necessarily required to procure quarters at 
the member’s expense.’’ and inserting an em 
dash; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraphs:
369 
‘‘(A) certifies that the member was required to 
procure housing at the member’s expense; or 
‘‘(B) determines that quarters at the duty sta-
tion or in the field environment are inadequate or an 
impediment to morale, good order, or discipline.’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(B)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘the Secretary may author-
ize’’ and inserting ‘‘a commanding officer may 
authorize’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘who is serving in pay 
grade E–4 or E–5’’ and inserting ‘‘who is serv-
ing in a pay grade below E-6’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘members serving in pay 
grades E-4 and E-5’’ and inserting ‘‘such mem-
bers. In authorizing an allowance under this 
subparagraph, the commanding officer shall 
consider the availability of quarters for the 
member and whether such quarters are inad-
equate or an impediment to morale, good order, 
or discipline’’. 
SEC. 624. DUAL BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING FOR 
TRAINING. 
Section 403 of title 37, United States Code, as 
amended by sections 622 and 623, is further amended,
370 
in subsection (g)(3), by striking ‘‘Paragraphs’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Except in the case of a member of a reserve compo-
nent without dependents who is called or ordered to active 
duty to attend training for at least 140 days but fewer 
than 365 days, paragraphs’’. 
SEC. 625. BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING: PILOT PRO-
GRAM TO OUTSOURCE RATE CALCULATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into 
an agreement with a covered entity pursuant to which the 
covered entity shall calculate, using industry-standard ma-
chine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms, the 
monthly rates of BAH for not fewer than 15 MHAs. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report containing the evalua-
tion of the Secretary of the rates calculated by a covered 
entity pursuant to an agreement under subsection (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘BAH’’ means the basic allow-
ance for housing for members of the uniformed serv-
ices under section 403 of title 37, United States 
Code.
371 
(2) The term ‘‘covered entity’’ means a nation-
ally recognized entity in the field of single-family 
housing that has data on local rental rates in real 
estate markets across the United States. 
(3) The term ‘‘MHA’’ means military housing 
area. 
SEC. 626. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING FOR 
MILITARY PERSONNEL IN GUAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded 
research and development center for an independent as-
sessment of housing of military personnel assigned to duty 
stations in Guam. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—An assessment under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) A survey of the housing needs for current 
and future military personnel to be stationed in 
Guam, accommodating the varying needs of single 
and married members of the Armed Forces at var-
ious stages of their careers. 
(2) Possible options for the Secretary to build 
new housing to accommodate future service members 
and resolve existing housing shortages.
372 
(3) Possible strategies for the Secretary to miti-
gate the impact of military personnel on the local 
housing supply in Guam. 
(c) REPORT.—An entity that enters into an agree-
ment to conduct the assessment described in subsection 
(a) shall submit to the Secretary and the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a report containing the findings of the assessment 
not later than December 31, 2024. 
SEC. 627. BRIEFINGS ON PILOT PROGRAM ON HIRING OF 
SPECIAL NEEDS INCLUSION COORDINATORS 
FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CHILD DE-
VELOPMENT CENTERS. 
Section 576(d) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 
1792 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3); and 
(2) by inserting, after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2) BRIEFINGS ON IMPLEMENTATION.—Begin-
ning on January 31, 2024, until the termination of 
the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall 
provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a quarterly
373 
briefing on the implementation of the pilot program. 
Each such briefing shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) The process for selecting child devel-
opment centers under subsection (b). 
‘‘(B) How a special needs inclusion coordi-
nator hired under the pilot program coordinates 
with the head of the child development center 
concerned and the commander of the military 
installation concerned. 
‘‘(C) How many special needs inclusion co-
ordinators have been hired under the pilot pro-
gram.’’. 
SEC. 628. FAMILY SEPARATION ALLOWANCE: INCREASE; RE-
VIEW. 
(a) INCREASE.—Section 427(a) of title 37, United 
States Code, is amended, in paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘$250’’ and inserting ‘‘$400’’. 
(b) REVIEW.—In each quadrennial review of military 
compensation conducted after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and under section 1008(b) of such title, the 
President shall include— 
(1) a review of the family separation allowance 
under section 427 of such title (or successor allow-
ance); and
374 
(2) the recommendation of the President re-
garding whether to increase the amount of such al-
lowance to better compensate a member of the uni-
formed services for separation from family during 
service described in such paragraph. 
SEC. 629. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO EQUAL BASIC 
ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING FOR STATEN IS-
LAND AND NEW YORK CITY. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of De-
fense should prescribe the same basic allowance for hous-
ing under section 403(b) of title 37, United States Code, 
for the military housing area that includes Staten Island, 
New York, as the basic allowance for housing prescribed 
for the military housing area that includes New York City, 
New York. 
Subtitle D—Family Readiness and 
Survivor Benefits 
SEC. 631. MODIFICATIONS TO TRANSITIONAL COMPENSA-
TION FOR DEPENDENTS OF MEMBERS SEPA-
RATED FOR DEPENDENT ABUSE. 
(a) COVERED PUNITIVE ACTIONS.—Section 1059 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended, in subsection 
(b)— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and 
inserting a semicolon;
375 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) who is— 
‘‘(A) convicted of a dependent-abuse of-
fense in a district court of the United States or 
a State court; and 
‘‘(B) separated from active duty pursuant 
to a sentence of a court-martial, or administra-
tively separated, voluntarily or involuntarily, 
from active duty, for an offense other than the 
dependent-abuse offense; or 
‘‘(4) who is— 
‘‘(A) accused but not convicted of a de-
pendent-abuse offense; 
‘‘(B) determined, as a result of a review by 
the commander of the member and based on a 
preponderance of evidence, to have committed 
the dependent-abuse offense; and 
‘‘(C) required to forfeit all pay and allow-
ances pursuant to a sentence of a court-martial 
for an offense other than the dependent-abuse 
offense.’’.
376 
(b) RECIPIENTS OF PAYMENTS.—Subsection (d) of 
such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘resulting in 
the separation’’ and inserting ‘‘referred to in sub-
section (b)’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘determined as of the 
date’’ and inserting ‘‘determined— 
‘‘(A) as of the date’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘offense or, in a case’’ and 
inserting ‘‘offense— 
‘‘(B) in a case’’. 
(C) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) in a case described in subsection 
(b)(4), as of, as applicable— 
‘‘(i) the first date on which the indi-
vidual is held in pretrial confinement relat-
ing to the dependent-abuse offense of 
which the individual is accused after the 7- 
day review of pretrial confinement required 
by Rule 305(i)(2) of the Rules for Courts- 
Martial; or
377 
‘‘(ii) the date on which a review by a 
commander of the individual determines 
there is probable cause that the individual 
has committed that offense.’’. 
(c) COMMENCEMENT
OF
PAYMENT.—Subsection 
(e)(1) of such section is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
inserting after ‘‘offense’’ the following: ‘‘or an 
offense described in subsection (b)(3)(B)’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(if the basis’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘offense)’’; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; or’’ ; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) in the case of a member described in sub-
section (b)(4), shall commence as of, as applicable— 
‘‘(i) the first date on which the member is 
held in pretrial confinement relating to the de-
pendent-abuse offense of which the member is 
accused after the 7-day review of pretrial con-
378 
finement required by Rule 305(i)(2) of the 
Rules for Courts-Martial; or 
‘‘(ii) the date on which a review by a com-
mander of the member determines there is 
probable cause that the member has committed 
that offense.’’. 
(d) DEFINITION
OF
DEPENDENT
CHILD.—Sub-
section (l) of such section is amended, in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1)— 
(1) by striking ‘‘resulting in the separation of 
the former member or’’ and inserting ‘‘referred to in 
subsection (b) or’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘resulting in the separation of 
the former member and’’ and inserting ‘‘and’’. 
(e) DELEGATION OF DETERMINATIONS RELATING TO 
EXCEPTIONAL
ELIGIBILITY.—Paragraph (4) of sub-
section (m) of such section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) The Secretary concerned may delegate the au-
thority under paragraph (1) to the first general or flag 
officer (or civilian equivalent) in the chain of command 
of the member.’’. 
SEC. 632. LODGING EXPENSES FOR DEPENDENTS OF MEM-
BERS SEPARATED FOR DEPENDENT ABUSE. 
Section 1059 of title 10, United States Code, as 
amended by section 631, is further amended—
379 
(1) in the heading, by adding ‘‘; lodging ex-
penses’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (k), (l), and 
(m) as subsections (m), (n), and (l), respectively; 
(3) by striking ‘‘subsection (k)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘subsection (m)’’; and 
(4) by inserting, after subsection (j), the fol-
lowing new subsection (k): 
‘‘(k) LODGING EXPENSES.—A dependent or former 
dependent entitled to payment of monthly transitional 
compensation under this section shall, while receiving pay-
ments in accordance with this section, be entitled to lodg-
ing expenses for a period not longer than 30 days.’’. 
SEC. 633. ACCESS TO COMMISSARY AND EXCHANGE PRIVI-
LEGES 
FOR 
REMARRIED 
SURVIVING 
SPOUSES. 
Section 1062 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary of Defense’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) CERTAIN UNREMARRIED FORMER SPOUSES.— 
The Secretary of Defense’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘commissary and exchange 
privileges’’ and inserting ‘‘use commissary stores 
and MWR retail facilities’’;
380 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) CERTAIN REMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSES.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe such regulations 
as may be necessary to provide that a surviving spouse 
of a deceased member of the armed forces, regardless of 
the marital status of the surviving spouse, is entitled to 
use commissary stores and MWR retail facilities to the 
same extent and on the same basis as an unremarried sur-
viving spouse of a member of the uniformed services.’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) MWR RETAIL FACILITIES DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘MWR retail facilities’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 1063 of this title.’’. 
SEC. 634. AUTHORITY FOR PEER MENTORING PROGRAM 
FOR MILITARY DEPENDENTS. 
Subchapter I of chapter 88 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 1788a the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 1788b. Authority for peer mentoring program 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
may carry out a peer mentoring program for dependents 
of members. Under such program, a mentor shall seek to
381 
meet with a mentee once per month to discuss challenges 
for military families. 
‘‘(b) TRAINING.—A dependent who elects to serve as 
a mentor in such a program shall receive training from 
a mental health care provider.’’. 
SEC. 635. EXPANSION OF QUALIFYING EVENTS FOR WHICH 
A MEMBER OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES 
MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR SPOUSAL RELI-
CENSING OR BUSINESS COSTS DUE TO THE 
MEMBER’S RELOCATION. 
Section 453(g) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking the subsection heading and in-
serting ‘‘REIMBURSEMENT OF QUALIFYING SPOUSE 
RELICENSING COSTS AND BUSINESS COSTS’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘or qualified business costs’’ 
and inserting ‘‘and qualified business costs’’; 
(B) by amending subparagraph (A) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(A) the member relocates to a new jurisdiction 
or geographic area as the result of— 
‘‘(i) an assignment to a duty station;
382 
‘‘(ii) a reassignment, either as a result of 
a permanent change of station or permanent 
change of assignment, between duty stations; 
‘‘(iii) a transfer from a regular component 
of a uniformed service into the Selected Reserve 
of the Ready Reserve of a uniformed service, if 
the member is authorized a final move from the 
last duty station to the new jurisdiction or geo-
graphic area; or 
‘‘(iv) placement on the temporary disability 
retired list under chapter 61 of title 10; and’’; 
and 
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘re-
assignment’’ and inserting ‘‘relocation’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘reassign-
ment’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘reloca-
tion’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘movement described in’’ and all that follows 
through the semicolon and inserting ‘‘the mem-
ber’s relocation described in paragraph (1);’’; 
and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘re-
assignment’’ and inserting ‘‘relocation’’; and
383 
(5) in paragraph (5)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘movement described in’’ and all that follows 
through the semicolon and inserting ‘‘the mem-
ber’s relocation described in paragraph (1);’’; 
and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘re-
assignment’’ and inserting ‘‘relocation’’. 
SEC. 636. STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED 
MILITARY SPOUSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 455(f) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED MILITARY 
SPOUSES.— 
‘‘(A) DURATION
AND
EFFECT
ON
PRIN-
CIPAL AND INTEREST.—A borrower of a loan 
made under this part who meets the require-
ments of subparagraph (B) shall be eligible for 
a deferment for an aggregate period of 180 
days, during which periodic installments of 
principal need not be paid, and interest—
384 
‘‘(i) shall not accrue, in the case of 
a— 
‘‘(I) 
Federal 
Direct 
Stafford 
Loan; or 
‘‘(II) a Federal Direct Consolida-
tion Loan that consolidated only Fed-
eral Direct Stafford Loans, or a com-
bination of such loans and Federal 
Stafford Loans for which the student 
borrower received an interest subsidy 
under section 428; or 
‘‘(ii) shall accrue and be capitalized or 
paid by the borrower, in the case of a Fed-
eral Direct PLUS Loan, a Federal Direct 
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a Federal 
Direct Consolidation Loan not described in 
clause (i)(II). 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—A borrower of a loan 
made under this part shall be eligible for a 
deferment under subparagraph (A) if the bor-
rower— 
‘‘(i) is the spouse of a member of the 
Armed Forces serving on active duty; and 
‘‘(ii) has experienced a loss of employ-
ment as a result of relocation to accommo-
385 
date a permanent change in duty station of 
such member. 
‘‘(C) DOCUMENTATION AND APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A borrower may 
establish eligibility for a deferment under 
subparagraph (A) by providing to the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(I) the documentation described 
in clause (ii); or 
‘‘(II) such other documentation 
as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
‘‘(ii) DOCUMENTATION.—The docu-
mentation described in this clause is— 
‘‘(I) evidence that the borrower is 
the spouse of a member of the Armed 
Forces serving on active duty; 
‘‘(II) evidence that a military 
permanent change of station order 
was issued to such member; and 
‘‘(III)(aa) evidence that the bor-
rower is eligible for unemployment 
benefits due to a loss of employment 
resulting from relocation to accommo-
386 
date such permanent change in duty 
station; or 
‘‘(bb) a written certification, or 
an equivalent as approved by the Sec-
retary, that the borrower is registered 
with a public or private employment 
agency due to a loss of employment 
resulting from relocation to accommo-
date such permanent change in duty 
station.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 637. GRANTS TO ASSIST CAREGIVERS IN MILITARY 
FAMILIES. 
(a) GRANTS.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 
shall award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to 
support demonstration projects focused on addressing the 
challenges and alleviating the burdens faced by caregivers 
in military families. 
(1) AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall award such 
grants in amounts of not more than $1,500,000.
387 
(2) DURATION.—The Secretary shall award 
such grants for periods of three years and not more 
than $500,000 per year. 
(b) ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.—To be 
eligible to receive an award under this section, an eligible 
nonprofit organization shall— 
(1) be a 501(c)(3) organization under the 
United States Internal Revenue Code at the time of 
the enactment of this Act; 
(2) have a demonstrated capacity, through an 
existing data platform or other ongoing data collec-
tion efforts, to effectively capture data for the pur-
poses of informing program implementation and 
monitoring program effectiveness; and 
(3) have a demonstrated history and expertise 
in the provision of educational, health, or social sup-
port services specific to caregivers. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible nonprofit organiza-
tion shall use amounts received from an award under this 
section to provide at least one of the following activities: 
(1) Best-practice training for caregivers in mili-
tary families focused on self-care and education re-
lated to family members’ conditions, collaboration 
with clinical health providers, and financial literacy.
388 
(2) Reference and liaison services connecting 
caregivers in military families to Department of De-
fense resources, and to other Federal resources and 
programs for which they or their family members 
may qualify. 
(3) Organization and facilitation of peer-sup-
port networks designed to connect caregivers in mili-
tary families with each-other as part of directed 
mental and behavioral health therapy. 
(4) Development of pilot programs to identify 
and assess the impact of innovative ideas intended 
to support caregivers in military families. 
(5) Capacity building to expand existing evi-
dence-based programs, tailor existing programs to 
support the unique needs of caregivers in military 
families, or evaluate the effectiveness of existing pro-
grams in supporting caregivers in military families. 
(d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, a qualified nonprofit organization shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require, including information describing in de-
tail the services that the applicant will use grant funds 
to provide for caregivers in military families. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
389 
(1) The term ‘‘caregiver in a military family’’ 
shall refer to a member of the uniformed services in 
an active status, or the dependent of such a mem-
ber, who is a caregiver for a family member. 
(2) The terms ‘‘active status’’ and ‘‘uniformed 
services’’ have the meanings given such terms in sec-
tion 101 of title 10, United States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘caregiver’’ means an adult fam-
ily member or a dependent who has a significant re-
lationship with, and who provides a broad range of 
assistance to, an individual with a chronic or other 
health condition, disability, or functional limitation. 
(4) The term ‘‘dependent’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 1072 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(5) The term ‘‘family member’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 1720G of title 38, 
United States Code with regards to a member of the 
uniformed services in an active status, or the de-
pendent of such a member. 
SEC. 638. MYSTEP: PROVISION ONLINE AND IN MULTIPLE 
LANGUAGES. 
The Secretary concerned may provide all services of 
the Military Spouse Transition Program (commonly re-
ferred to as ‘‘MySTeP’’) online and in English, Spanish,
390 
Tagalog, and the rest of the 10 most commonly spoken 
languages in the United States. 
SEC. 639. EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM: MODI-
FICATION OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE 
OFFICE OF SPECIAL NEEDS. 
Subsection (c) of section 1781c of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘(including 
health care and educational services)’’ after ‘‘serv-
ices’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘, deter-
mining the market capacity, usage, and availability 
of such resources,’’ after ‘‘and training’’. 
SEC. 640. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES OF 
SERVICEMEMBERS 
AND 
THEIR 
SPOUSES: 
PROMOTION; REPORT. 
(a) PROMOTION.—Not later than September 30, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the De-
fense-State Liaison Office, shall consult with licensing au-
thorities of States to increase awareness of section 705A 
of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 4025a). 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall submit, to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
391 
tives, and publish, a report containing the results of a 
study regarding compliance by States with section 705A 
of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 4025a). 
Such report shall include the determination of the Comp-
troller General regarding the following: 
(1) The extent to which States have complied 
with such section. 
(2) The efficacy of such compliance. 
(3) Whether a State has a designated official to 
oversee such compliance. 
SEC. 640A. GUIDE FOR SURVIVORS TO CLAIM THE PER-
SONAL EFFECTS OF A DECEASED MEMBER 
OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary of 
Defense, in consultation of the Secretaries of the military 
departments, shall publish and post on the website of Mili-
tary OneSource a guide regarding how a survivor of a de-
ceased member of the Armed Forces may— 
(1) receive the personal effects of such member; 
and 
(2) file a claim with the Secretary of the mili-
tary department concerned if the survivor believes 
such effects were disposed of incorrectly.
392 
SEC. 640B. IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL 
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO MILITARY 
FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. 
The Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) provide a centralized location for, and pro-
mote awareness of, information about foster and 
adoption-related policies and available Department 
of Defense support to better assist military foster 
and adoptive families, including by providing such 
information through Military OneSource, using a 
designated point person on an installation, or 
through an existing installation program office; 
(2) ensure that the Secretary of the Air Force, 
in coordination with the Director of Defense Human 
Resource Activity, revises AFI 36-3026, Volume 1, 
in cooperation with other components of the Depart-
ment of Defense, as appropriate, to make it con-
sistent with Department of Defense regulations on 
the required documents to enroll foster children in 
the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting Sys-
tem; and 
(3) ensure that the Secretaries of the military 
departments identify opportunities to regularly pro-
mote to all employees responsible for enrollment in 
the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System 
awareness of accurate information and guidance,
393 
with respect to enrolling both foster and pre-adop-
tive children, including by coordinating with relevant 
offices to promote awareness of the guidance 
through annual trainings or other training mecha-
nisms. 
SEC. 640C. PROHIBITIONS ON PROVISION OF GENDER 
TRANSITION SERVICES THROUGH AN EXCEP-
TIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No gender transition procedures, 
including surgery or medication, may be provided to a 
minor dependent child through an EFMP. 
(b) REFERRALS.—No referral for procedures de-
scribed in subsection (a) may be provided to a minor de-
pendent child through an EFMP. 
(c) REASSIGNMENT.—No change of duty station may 
be approved through an EFMP for the purpose of pro-
viding a minor dependent child with access to procedures 
described in subsection (a). 
(d) EFMP DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Ex-
ceptional Family Member Program’’ means a program 
under section 1781c(e) of title 10, United States Code.
394 
Subtitle E—Child Care 
SEC. 641. INCREASE IN THE TARGET FUNDING LEVEL FOR 
MILITARY CHILD CARE. 
Section 1791 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended, in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘115 percent of’’ 
after ‘‘not less than’’. 
SEC. 642. RECURRING REVIEW AND REVISION OF PAY FOR 
MILITARY CHILD CARE EMPLOYEES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subsection (c) of section 
1792 of title 10, United States Code is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘For the pur-
pose’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall review 
and revise the pay scale for child care employees not 
less than once every five years. 
‘‘(B) In conducting a review under subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall consider factors in-
cluding— 
‘‘(i) the pay scale for employees of the De-
partment of Defense Education Activity with
395 
similar training, seniority, and experience to 
that of child care employees; 
‘‘(ii) the rates of compensation paid to em-
ployees of the local educational agency with 
similar training, seniority, and experience to 
that of child care employees; 
‘‘(iii) the value of the care provided by 
child care employees, in the short and long 
term, to the children cared for, their families, 
and the armed forces; and 
‘‘(iv) any other factor the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall carry out the first review and revision under para-
graph (2) of such subsection, as added by this section, 
not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) REPORT.—When the Secretary of Defense con-
ducts the second review and revision under such para-
graph (2), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report assessing how the first such 
revision affected— 
(1) the hiring and retention of child care em-
ployees; and
396 
(2) the quality of care at military child develop-
ment centers. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘child 
care employee’’ and ‘‘military child development center’’ 
have the meanings given such terms in section 1800 of 
title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 643. DISCOUNTED CHILD CARE FOR CHILD CARE EM-
PLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
Section 1793(d) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘, a reduced fee for such attend-
ance.’’ and inserting an em dash; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) no fee for the first such child under the 
age of 13; 
‘‘(2) not more than 50 percent of the amount 
of the fee otherwise chargeable for such attendance 
of the second such child under the age of 13; and 
‘‘(3) a reduced fee for each subsequent child.’’.
397 
SEC. 644. EXPANSION OF PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FI-
NANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES FOR IN-HOME CHILD CARE. 
Section 589(b)(1) of the William M. (Mac) Thorn-
berry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2021 (Public Law 116–283) is amended— 
(1) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing ‘‘, and in the following locations:’’ 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(A) Fort Drum, New York. 
‘‘(B) Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. 
‘‘(C) Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. 
‘‘(D) Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 
Twentynine Palms, California.’’. 
SEC. 645. WAIT TIMES FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES PRO-
VIDED THROUGH MILITARY CHILD DEVELOP-
MENT CENTERS: PUBLICATION; FEASIBILITY 
OF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT. 
(a) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall publish and maintain, on a website of the Depart-
ment of Defense that is accessible by members of the 
Armed Forces, waiting lists for child care services at mili-
tary child development centers.
398 
(b) ESTIMATES.—On the website described in sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall publish a tool that uses 
data collected by the Secretary to estimate how long a 
member assigned to serve at a military installation will 
wait before receiving child care services at the military 
child development center of such military installation. 
(c) FEASIBILITY REPORT.—Not later than March 30, 
2024, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a report regarding the feasibility of implementing the 
business management system of the Child and Youth Pro-
grams of the Department of the Air Force for all military 
departments in order to increase member satisfaction by 
improving communication with members on such waiting 
lists and facilitating payments and paperwork for such 
child care services. 
(d) MILITARY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘military child develop-
ment center’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
1800 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 646. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF CHILD CARE ON READI-
NESS AND RETENTION. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with an
399 
FFRDC described in subsection (b), under which such 
FFRDC shall conduct a study on the effects of child care 
for members of the covered Armed Forces and civilian em-
ployees of the Department of Defense on readiness and 
retention in the covered Armed Forces. Such a study shall 
include the following: 
(1) The effects of the availability, affordability, 
and quality of such child care on— 
(A) unit readiness and retention; 
(B) the ability of such members and em-
ployees to perform their duties; 
(C) the quality of the performance of such 
duties; and 
(D) the job satisfaction of such members 
and employees. 
(2) Other matters regarding the availability, af-
fordability, and quality of such child care that the 
FFRDC determines appropriate. 
(b) FFRDC.—An FFRDC described in this sub-
section is an FFRDC that the Secretary of Defense deter-
mines— 
(1) primarily focuses on studies and analysis; 
(2) has a record of— 
(A) conducting research and analysis using 
a multidisciplinary approach; and
400 
(B) publishing analyses to inform public 
debate; and 
(3) has demonstrated specific competencies in 
policies regarding military personnel and readiness, 
as applied to the national defense strategy. 
(c) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than six months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, an FFRDC 
that enters into an agreement under subsection (a) shall 
submit to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Represent-
atives an interim report. Such report shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A progress report on the study. 
(2) Interim findings of the study. 
(d) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 15 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, an FFRDC that 
enters into an agreement under subsection (a) shall sub-
mit to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a final report. Such final report shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The findings of the study. 
(2) Strategies to remedy deficiencies in child 
care described in subsection (a), and the timelines 
and costs to implement such strategies.
401 
(3) Incidents that affect unit readiness and re-
tention. 
(4) Other information the FFRDC determines 
appropriate regarding the effects of such child care 
on readiness and retention in the covered Armed 
Forces. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means 
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
(2) The term ‘‘FFRDC’’ means a federally 
funded research and development center. 
SEC. 647. PROVISION OF TEMPORARY CHILD CARE SERV-
ICES. 
The Secretary of Defense shall provide temporary 
child care services at military child development centers 
for the children of members of the Armed Forces during 
a permanent change of station, temporary duty, or any 
other similar deployment. 
SEC. 648. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING CHILD CARE 
FOR MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPO-
NENTS PERFORMING INACTIVE-DUTY TRAIN-
ING. 
(a) STUDY AND REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 
September 30, 2024, the Secretary of Defense shall sub-
402 
mit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report regarding the feasi-
bility of providing child care— 
(1) through the military child development cen-
ter of a military installation; and 
(2) to a member of the reserve components 
while such member performs inactive-duty training 
at such military installation. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘inactive-duty training’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of title 37, 
United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘military child development cen-
ter’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
1800 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 649. REPORT ON AT-HOME CHILD CARE PROGRAMS OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE; FEASIBILITY 
STUDY. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 39 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report on at- 
home child care programs offered by each military depart-
ment. Such report shall include—
403 
(1) an identification of the number of such at- 
home child care programs that have opened, closed, 
or relocated during the period beginning on the date 
of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date 
that this three years after such date; 
(2) a summary of difficulties, if any, experi-
enced by military spouses employed at such at-home 
child care programs with respect to— 
(A) obtaining necessary certifications or 
licences; and 
(B) opening, closing, or relocating such an 
at-home child care program; and 
(3) a summary of effects, if any, that the open-
ing, closing, or relocation of such an at-home child 
care program has on the employment rate of mili-
tary spouses residing in geographic proximity to 
such at-home child care program. 
(b) FEASIBILITY STUDY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall conduct a feasibility study on— 
(A) standardizing the requirements of each 
military department relating to licensing and 
certification for at-home child care providers;
404 
(B) removing barriers, if any, to the ex-
pansion of at-home child care programs de-
scribed in subsection (a); and 
(C) supporting the employment of military 
spouses in such at-home child care programs. 
(2) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the submission of the report 
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report 
that includes the findings of such feasibility study. 
Subtitle F—Dependent Education 
SEC. 651. RIGHTS OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN ATTENDING 
SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY. 
Chapter 108 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 2164 the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 2164a. Rights of parents of children attending 
schools operated by the Department of 
Defense Education Activity 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The parent of a child who at-
tends a school operated by the Department of Defense 
Education Activity has the following rights:
405 
‘‘(1) The right to review the curriculum of the 
school. 
‘‘(2) The right to be informed if the school or 
Department of Defense Education Activity alters the 
school’s academic standards or learning benchmarks. 
‘‘(3) The right to meet with each teacher of 
their child not less than twice during each school 
year. 
‘‘(4) The right to review the budget, including 
all revenues and expenditures, of the school. 
‘‘(5) The right to review all instructional mate-
rials and teacher professional development materials 
used by the school. 
‘‘(6) The right to inspect a list of the books and 
other reading materials contained in the library of 
the school. 
‘‘(7) The right to address the school advisory 
committee or the school board. 
‘‘(8) The right to information about the school’s 
discipline policy and any violent activity in the 
school. 
‘‘(9) The right to information about any plans 
to eliminate gifted and talented programs or acceler-
ated coursework at the school.
406 
‘‘(b) DISCLOSURES
AND
NOTIFICATIONS.—Con-
sistent with the parental rights specified in subsection (a), 
a school operated by the Department of Defense Edu-
cation Activity shall— 
‘‘(1) post on a publicly accessible website of the 
school— 
‘‘(A) the curriculum for each course and 
grade level; 
‘‘(B) the academic standards or other 
learning benchmarks used by the school; 
‘‘(C) notice of any proposed revisions to 
such standards or benchmarks and a copy of 
any such revisions; 
‘‘(D) the budget for the school year, in-
cluding all revenues and expenditures (including 
expenditures made for items and services pro-
vided by private entities); and 
‘‘(2) provide the parents of a child attending 
the school with— 
‘‘(A) the opportunity to meet in-person 
with each teacher of their child not less fre-
quently than twice during each school year at a 
time mutually agreed upon by both parties; and 
‘‘(B) notice of such opportunity at the be-
ginning of each school year;
407 
‘‘(3) make all instructional and educator profes-
sional development materials, including teachers’ 
manuals, films, tapes, books or other reading mate-
rials, or other supplementary materials used in any 
survey, analysis, or evaluation, available for inspec-
tion by the parents of children attending the school; 
‘‘(4) at the beginning of each school year, pro-
vide parents a list of reading materials in the school 
library, including a list of any reading materials that 
were added to or removed from the list of materials 
from the prior year; 
‘‘(5) notify parents in a timely manner of any 
plans to eliminate gifted and talented programs or 
accelerated coursework at the school; 
‘‘(6) except as provided in paragraph (7), notify 
parents of any medical examinations or screenings 
the school may administer to their child and receive 
written consent from parents for any such examina-
tion or screening prior to conducting the examina-
tion or screening; 
‘‘(7) in the event of an emergency that requires 
a medical examination or screening without time for 
parental notification, promptly notify parents of 
such examination or screening and, not later than 
24 hours after the incident occurs, provide an expla-
408 
nation of the emergency that prevented notification 
prior to such examination or screening; 
‘‘(8) notify parents of any medical information 
that will be collected on their child, receive written 
parental consent prior to collecting such information, 
and provide parents an opportunity to inspect such 
information at the parent’s request; and 
‘‘(9) notify parents of any policy changes involv-
ing their reporting obligations under the Family Ad-
vocacy Program of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(c) 
SCHOOL
ADVISORY
COMMITTEES
AND 
BOARDS.—Not less frequently than four times per year, 
a school advisory committee or school board for a school 
operated by the Department of Defense Education Activ-
ity shall provide parents of children attending the school 
with the opportunity to address the advisory committee 
or school board on any matters relating to the school or 
the educational services provided to their children. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘school 
operated by the Department of Defense Education Activ-
ity’ means— 
‘‘(1) a Department of Defense domestic depend-
ent elementary or secondary school, as described in 
section 2164 of this title; or
409 
‘‘(2) any elementary or secondary school or pro-
gram for dependents operated by the Department of 
Defense Education Activity.’’. 
SEC. 652. CERTAIN ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL 
AGENCIES THAT BENEFIT DEPENDENTS OF 
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL. 
(a) CONTINUATION OF AUTHORITY TO ASSIST LOCAL 
EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES THAT BENEFIT DEPENDENTS 
OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.—Of the amount au-
thorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2024 by section 
301 and available for operation and maintenance for De-
fense-wide activities as specified in the funding table in 
section 4301, $50,000,000 shall be available only for the 
purpose of providing assistance to local educational agen-
cies 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 2024 pursuant to section 301 and available 
for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities 
as specified in the funding table in section 4301, 
$20,000,000 shall be available for payments under section 
363 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authoriza-
410 
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (as enacted into law by Pub-
lic Law 106–398; 114 Stat. 1654A–77; 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-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7713(9)). 
SEC. 653. VERIFICATION OF REPORTING OF ELIGIBLE FED-
ERALLY CONNECTED CHILDREN FOR PUR-
POSES OF FEDERAL IMPACT AID PROGRAMS. 
(a) CERTIFICATION.—On an annual basis, each com-
mander of a military installation under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary of a military department shall submit to 
such Secretary a written certification verifying whether 
the commander has confirmed the information contained 
in all impact aid source check forms received from local 
educational agencies as of the date of such certification. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later June 30 of each year, each 
Secretary of a military department shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report, based on the 
information received under subsection (a), that identi-
fies— 
(1) each military installation under the jurisdic-
tion of such Secretary that has confirmed the infor-
mation contained in all impact aid source check
411 
forms received from local educational agencies as of 
the date of the report; and 
(2) each military installation that has not con-
firmed the information contained in such forms as of 
such date. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘impact aid source check form’’ 
means a form submitted to the Department of De-
fense by a local educational agency to verify infor-
mation relating to eligible federally connected chil-
dren counted for purposes of the Federal impact aid 
program under section 7003 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7703). 
(2) The term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has 
the meaning given that term section 8101 of the El-
ementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7801). 
SEC. 654. FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS 
OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Director of the Department of Defense Edu-
cation Activity, shall require that each student of a high 
school operated by the Activity complete a dedicated
412 
course of instruction in financial literacy as a prerequisite 
to graduating from such school. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The graduation requirement 
under subsection (a) shall apply with respect to students 
of high schools operated by the Department of Defense 
Education Activity beginning with the cohort of students 
who enter ninth grade in the first school year that begins 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘‘high 
school’’ has the meaning given that term in section 8101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 7801). 
SEC. 655. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ROUTINE MENTAL HEALTH 
CHECK-UPS IN SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION AC-
TIVITY. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Beginning in the 
first academic year to begin after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish 
and implement a pilot program (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘Pilot’’) to provide routine metal health check-ups 
for students in covered DODEA schools. 
(b) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out the 
Pilot in not fewer than five covered DODEA schools, one 
of which shall be located outside the United States.
413 
(c) ACTIVITIES.—Under the Pilot, the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) subject to subsection (e), ensure that stu-
dents at covered DODEA schools receive routine 
mental health check-ups, which may include the use 
of mental health screening tools, such as the Patient 
Health Questionnaire-2 or the Patient Health Ques-
tionnaire-9; 
(2) ensure that such mental health check-ups— 
(A) consist of biannual or semesterly men-
tal and behavioral health screenings for dis-
orders common in children aged 3-17, includ-
ing— 
(i) an initial virtual screening test for 
all students; and 
(ii) a follow-up screening carried out 
by a school psychologist or school nurse for 
students with specific needs identified 
through the initial screening; and 
(B) include questions about a student’s 
mood and emotional state; 
(3) train licensed mental and behavioral health 
professionals to conduct mental health check-ups, in-
cluding training in—
414 
(A) recognizing the signs and symptoms of 
mental illnesses; 
(B) safely de-escalating crises involving in-
dividuals with a mental illness; and 
(C) ensuring the safety and well-being of 
children with intellectual and developmental dis-
abilities; 
(4) establish a streamlined diagnosis-to-treat-
ment process, including a comprehensive process 
through which a student with needs identified 
through a mental health check-up— 
(A) may be referred to certified community 
behavioral health clinic in the community in 
which the school is located; and 
(B) may receive additional care or treat-
ment through comprehensive school-based serv-
ices; 
(5) mobilize school nurses and counselors to fa-
cilitate screening in collaboration with administra-
tors and teachers; 
(6) conduct awareness-building educational ef-
forts in conjunction with the screening process; 
(7) implement a robust school-based and tele-
health support system (including options for indi-
415 
vidual or group therapy) for students seeking sup-
port after diagnosis; and 
(8) make resources available to the communities 
surrounding schools for individuals with a mental ill-
ness through a coordinated referral process with 
local community-based health clinics and school- 
based mental health clinics if such school-based men-
tal health clinics are available and have the capacity 
and expertise to handle complex mental health situa-
tions. 
(d) REFERRAL PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) AGREEMENTS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 
CLINICS.—For purposes of the comprehensive refer-
ral process described in subsection (c)(4), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall seek to enter into memo-
randa of understanding or other agreements with 
Federally-funded community behavioral health clin-
ics in communities in which covered DODEA schools 
are located pursuant to which a school may refer 
students to such a clinic. The requirement to estab-
lish such a referral process may not be satisfied sole-
ly by providing a list of nearby community behav-
ioral health clinics to parents of students at covered 
DODEA schools.
416 
(2) EXCEPTION.—In a case in which the Sec-
retary of Defense is unable to meet the requirements 
of paragraph (1) because there is no Federally-fund-
ed community behavioral health clinic in a commu-
nity in which a covered DODEA school is located, 
the Secretary of Defense shall develop and make 
available a comprehensive guide to the mental health 
resources that are available to students and parents 
in that community. 
(e) STUDENT PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.—In carrying 
out the Pilot, the Secretary shall ensure that a parent or 
guardian of a student at a covered DODEA school— 
(1) is provided with— 
(A) notice that a student may receive a 
mental health check-up under the Pilot; 
(B) an opportunity to opt the student out 
of any such mental health check-up before it is 
administered; and 
(C) a copy of the results of each mental 
health check-up for such student; and 
(2) gives informed consent before— 
(A) the referral of a student to a commu-
nity-based health clinic as described in sub-
section (b)(4)(A); or
417 
(B) the disclosure of any information con-
cerning such student to such a clinic. 
(f) EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after 
commencing the Pilot, and not less frequently than every 
180 days thereafter until termination of the Pilot, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall conduct an evaluation of the Pilot, 
which shall include evaluation of— 
(1) Pilot processes; and 
(2) student outcomes under the Pilot. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Pilot shall terminate after 
two academic years. 
(h) REPORT.—Not later than one year after termi-
nation of the Pilot, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a report on the Pilot. The 
report shall include— 
(1) the results of the evaluations conducted 
under subsection (f); 
(2) the recommendation of the Secretary wheth-
er to make the Pilot permanent; and 
(3) such other information as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘certified community behavioral 
health clinic’’ means a certified community behav-
418 
ioral health clinic as such term is used in section 
223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 
2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note). 
(2) The term ‘‘covered DODEA school’’ means 
an elementary school or secondary school— 
(A) operated by the Department of De-
fense Education Activity within or outside the 
United States; and 
(B) selected by the Secretary to participate 
in the Pilot. 
(3) The terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’ have the meanings given those terms 
in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
SEC. 656. BRIEFINGS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL 
PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS 
OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY. 
(a) QUARTERLY BRIEFINGS REQUIRED.—Not later 
than January 30, 2024, and on a quarterly basis there-
after until December 31, 2029, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the 
progress of the Secretary in implementing universal pre-
419 
kindergarten programs in schools operated by the Depart-
ment of Defense Education Activity. 
(b) CONTENTS OF INITIAL BRIEFING.—The initial 
briefing under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) identification of all locations under the ju-
risdiction of the Department of Defense at which 
universal pre-kindergarten programs and child devel-
opment centers are co-located; and 
(2) an estimate of the number of children ex-
pected to transfer from child development centers to 
pre-kindergarten programs as a result of such pro-
grams being offered. 
(c) CONTENTS OF SUBSEQUENT BRIEFINGS.—Fol-
lowing the initial briefing under subsection (a), each sub-
sequent briefing shall include— 
(1) the total anticipated costs of funding uni-
versal pre-kindergarten programs in schools operated 
by the Department of Defense Education Activity; 
(2) the estimated differential between the cost 
of caring for a child in a child development center 
versus the cost of a child’s participation in a pre- 
kindergarten program; 
(3) the estimated differential between the costs 
of employing caregivers in child development centers
420 
versus the costs of employing teachers in pre-kinder-
garten programs; 
(4) the child-to-caregiver ratio requirements for 
child development centers versus the child-to-teacher 
ratio requirements for pre-kindergarten programs; 
(5) a needs assessment of facilities for universal 
pre-kindergarten programs based on anticipated ca-
pacity; 
(6) an assessment of the availability of teachers 
for pre-kindergarten programs; and 
(7) an indication of whether, and to what ex-
tent, members of the Armed Forces have expressed 
a preference for enrolling their children in pre-kin-
dergarten programs rather than continuing care for 
such children in child development centers. 
SEC. 657. STUDY TO REVIEW WEIGHTED STUDENT UNITS 
FOR IMPACT AID PAYMENTS FOR ELIGIBLE 
FEDERALLY CONNECTED CHILDREN WITH 
DISABILITIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Education, shall conduct a 
study to review the weighted student units used for the 
calculation of impact aid payments for eligible federally 
connected children with disabilities under section 7003 of
421 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7703). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) An explanation of the method used to estab-
lish the weighted student units used for the calcula-
tion of impact aid payments for eligible federally 
connected children with disabilities under section 
7003 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7703). 
(2) A review of the criteria and any special fac-
tors used to determine the eligibility of federally con-
nected children with disabilities under such section. 
(3) An examination of the adequacy of the sys-
tem used to determined weighted student units for 
children with disabilities compared to other eligible 
federally connected children, taking into consider-
ation the cost of any support services required. 
(4) Recommendations for improving the effi-
ciency and effectiveness of impact aid payments for 
eligible federally connected children with disabilities. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
422 
port on the results of the study conducted under sub-
section (a). 
(d) 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-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7713(9)). 
SEC. 658. PROCESS TO ENSURE INTERSTATE RECIPROCITY 
IN EDUCATIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR 
MILITARY DEPENDENT STUDENTS. 
(a) PROCESS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Edu-
cation, in consultation with States and local educational 
agencies, shall establish a process to ensure that a depend-
ent of a member of the Armed Forces who receives edu-
cational accommodations while attending an elementary or 
secondary school in a State, and who then transfers to 
an elementary or secondary school in a different State due 
to the relocation of the member of the Armed Forces of 
whom the student is a dependent, shall have such edu-
cational accommodations recognized by the destination 
State without requiring the dependent to reapply for such 
accommodations. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The terms ‘‘elementary school’’, ‘‘local edu-
cational agency’’, ‘‘secondary school’’, and ‘‘State’’
423 
have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) The term ‘‘educational accommodation’’ 
means an individualized education program (as de-
fined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabil-
ities Education Act) or the approval of a student to 
participate in a gifted and talented program. 
SEC. 659. REQUIREMENT TO DISCLOSE CURRICULUM OF 
SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY. 
Section 2164 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(m) REQUIREMENT TO DISCLOSE CURRICULUM.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall make available, on a pub-
licly accessible website, the curriculum for each grade level 
of each elementary and secondary school operated the De-
partment of Defense Education Activity.’’. 
SEC. 660. PROHIBITION ON AUTHORIZING FEDERAL FUNDS 
FOR DODEA FOR RACE-BASED THEORIES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—No Federal funds shall be au-
thorized for the Department of Defense Education Activ-
ity to promote race-based theories described in subsection 
(b) or compel teachers or students to affirm, adhere to,
424 
adopt, or process beliefs in a manner that violates title 
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 
(b) RACE-BASED THEORIES DESCRIBED.—The race- 
based theories described in this subsection are the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Any race is inherently superior or inferior 
to any other race, color, or national origin. 
(2) The United States is a fundamentally racist 
country. 
(3) The Declaration of Independence or Con-
stitution of the United States are fundamentally rac-
ist documents. 
(4) An individual’s moral character or worth is 
determined by the individual’s race, color, or na-
tional origin. 
(5) An individual, by virtue of the individual’s 
race, is inherently racist or oppressive, whether con-
sciously or unconsciously. 
(6) An individual, because of the individual’s 
race, bears responsibility for the actions committed 
by other members of the individual’s race, color, or 
national origin. 
(c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.— 
(1) PROTECTED SPEECH NOT RESTRICTED.— 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict
425 
the speech of a student, teacher, or any other indi-
vidual outside of a school setting. 
(2) ACCESS TO MATERIALS FOR THE PURPOSE 
OF RESEARCH OR INDEPENDENT STUDY.—Nothing 
in this section shall be construed to prevent an indi-
vidual from accessing materials that advocate theo-
ries described in subsection (b) for the purpose of 
research or independent study. 
(3) CONTEXTUAL EDUCATION.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to prevent a school from 
stating theories described in subsection (b) or as-
signing materials that advocate such theories for 
educational purposes in contexts that make it clear 
the school does not sponsor, approve, or endorse 
such theories or materials. 
(d) PROMOTE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘promote’’, when used with respect to a race-based theory 
described in subsection (b), means— 
(1) to include such theories or materials that 
advocate such theories in curricula, reading lists, 
seminars, workshops, trainings, or other educational 
or professional settings in a manner that could rea-
sonably give rise to the appearance of official spon-
sorship, approval, or endorsement;
426 
(2) to contract with, hire, or otherwise engage 
speakers, consultants, diversity trainers, and other 
persons for the purpose of advocating such theories; 
(3) to compel students to profess a belief in 
such theories; or 
(4) to segregate students or other individuals by 
race in any setting, including in educational or train-
ing sessions. 
SEC. 661. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR 
CERTAIN BOOKS IN SCHOOLS OPERATED BY 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION 
ACTIVITY. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by 
this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2024 
or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of De-
fense Education Activity may be obligated or expended to 
purchase or maintain in a school library any book that 
contains pornographic material or espouses radical gender 
ideology. 
SEC. 662. PROHIBITION ON SALE OF CHINESE GOODS IN 
COMMISSARY STORES AND MILITARY EX-
CHANGES. 
The Secretary of Defense shall prohibit the sale, at 
a commissary store or military exchange, of goods— 
(1) manufactured in China;
427 
(2) assembled in China; or 
(3) imported into the United States from 
China. 
TITLE VII—HEALTH CARE 
PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—TRICARE and Other 
Health Benefits 
SEC. 701. TRICARE DENTAL PLAN FOR THE SELECTED RE-
SERVE. 
Section 1076a of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the header, by striking ‘‘selected 
reserve and’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘for members of the 
Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve 
and’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), in the header, by in-
serting ‘‘Individual Ready’’ after ‘‘other’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) PLAN FOR SELECTED RESERVE.—A dental 
benefits plan for members of the Selected Reserve of 
the Ready Reserve.’’;
428 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) NO-PREMIUM PLAN.—(A) The dental in-
surance plan established under subsection (a)(5) is 
a no-premium plan. 
‘‘(B) Members enrolled in a no-premium plan 
may not be charged a premium for benefits provided 
under the plan.’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘a mem-
ber of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve 
or’’; 
(4) by redesignating subsections (f) through (k) 
as subsections (g) through (l), respectively; 
(5) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing new subsection (f): 
‘‘(f) COPAYMENTS UNDER NO PREMIUM PLANS.—A 
member who receives dental care under a no-premium plan 
referred to in subsection (d)(3) shall pay no charge for 
any care described in subsection (c).’’; and 
(6) in subsection (i), as redesignated by para-
graph (4), by striking ‘‘subsection (k)(2)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (l)(2)’’.
429 
SEC. 702. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 
HEALTH 
BENEFITS 
UNDER 
TRICARE 
RE-
SERVE SELECT FOR SURVIVORS OF A MEM-
BER OF THE SELECTED RESERVE. 
Section 1076d(c) of the title 10, United States Code 
is amended by striking ‘‘six months’’ and inserting ‘‘three 
years’’. 
SEC. 703. CLARIFICATION OF APPLICABILITY OF REQUIRED 
MENTAL HEALTH SELF-INITIATED REFERRAL 
PROCESS FOR MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED 
RESERVE. 
Section 1090b(e) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘described in para-
graph (3)’’ after ‘‘member of the armed forces’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) A member of the armed forces described in 
this paragraph is a member on active duty for a pe-
riod of longer than 30 days or a member of the Se-
lected Reserve.’’.
430 
SEC. 704. NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES FOR MILI-
TARY FAMILIES. 
Section 1781 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES.—(1) In 
carrying out its duties under subsection (b), the Office 
may coordinate programs and activities for the provision 
of non-medical counseling services to military families 
through the Department of Defense Military and Family 
Counseling Program. 
‘‘(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
mental health professional described in paragraph (3) may 
provide non-medical counseling services at any location in 
a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or posses-
sion of the United States, without regard to where the 
provider or recipient of such services is located, if the pro-
vision of such services is within the scope of the authorized 
Federal duties of the provider. 
‘‘(3) A mental health professional described in this 
subsection is a person who is— 
‘‘(A) a mental health professional who holds a 
current license or certification that is— 
‘‘(i) issued by a State, the District of Co-
lumbia, or a territory or possession of the 
United States; and
431 
‘‘(ii) recognized by the Secretary of De-
fense; 
‘‘(B) a member of the uniformed services, a ci-
vilian employee of the Department of Defense, or a 
contractor designated by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) performing authorized duties for the De-
partment of Defense under a program or activity re-
ferred to in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(4) In this subsection, the term ‘non-medical coun-
seling services’ means mental health care services that are 
non-clinical, short-term and solution focused, and address 
topics related to personal growth, development, and posi-
tive functioning.’’. 
SEC. 705. DOULAS AND INTERNATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED 
LACTATION CONSULTANTS (IBCLCS): CER-
TIFICATION 
ASSISTANCE 
FOR 
MILITARY 
SPOUSES; EXPANSION OF DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECT. 
(a) ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY SPOUSES TO OBTAIN 
DOULA AND IBCLC CERTIFICATIONS.—Section 1784a of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection (d):
432 
‘‘(d) DOULA AND IBCLC CERTIFICATIONS.—In car-
rying out the programs authorized by subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall provide assistance to the spouse of a mem-
ber of the armed forces described in subsection (b) in ob-
taining a doula and IBCLC certification provided by an 
organization that receives reimbursement under the 
extramedical maternal health providers demonstration 
project required by section 746 of the William M. (Mac) 
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 1073 note).’’. 
(b) EXPANSION OF DOULA AND LACTATION CARE 
FURNISHED BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.— 
(1) EXPANSION OF EXTRAMEDICAL MATERNAL 
HEALTH
PROVIDERS
DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT.— 
Section 746 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 1073 note) 
is amended— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(e) 
through (h) as subsections (f) through (i), re-
spectively; and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (d) the 
following new subsection (e): 
‘‘(e) COVERAGE OF DOULA AND LACTATION CARE.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
433 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2024, the Secretary shall ensure that the demonstration 
project includes coverage of labor doula care and lactation 
care, or reimbursement for such care, for all beneficiaries 
under the TRICARE program, including access— 
‘‘(1) by members of the Armed Forces on active 
duty; 
‘‘(2) by beneficiaries outside the continental 
United States; and 
‘‘(3) at military medical treatment facilities.’’. 
(2) HIRING OF DOULAS AND IBCLCS.—The hir-
ing authority for each military medical treatment fa-
cility may hire a team of doulas and IBCLCs to 
work in coordination with lactation support per-
sonnel or labor and delivery units at such facility. 
SEC. 706. MEDICAL TESTING AND RELATED SERVICES FOR 
FIREFIGHTERS 
OF 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
DE-
FENSE. 
(a) PROVISION OF SERVICES.—During the annual 
periodic health assessment of each firefighter of the De-
partment of Defense, or at such other intervals as may 
be specified in this subsection, the Secretary shall provide 
to the firefighter (at no cost to the firefighter) appropriate 
medical testing and related services to detect, document 
the presence or absence of, and prevent, certain cancers.
434 
Such services shall meet, at a minimum, the following cri-
teria: 
(1) BREAST
CANCER.—With respect to the 
breast cancer screening, if the firefighter is a female 
firefighter— 
(A) such services shall include the provi-
sion of a mammogram to the firefighter— 
(i) on at least a biannual basis if the 
firefighter is 40 years old to 49 years old 
(inclusive); 
(ii) on at least an annual basis if the 
firefighter is at least 50 years old; and 
(iii) as clinically indicated (without re-
gard to age); and 
(B) in connection with such provision, a li-
censed radiologist shall review the most recent 
mammogram provided to the firefighter, as 
compared to prior mammograms so provided, 
and provide to the firefighter the results of such 
review. 
(2) COLON
CANCER.—With respect to colon 
cancer screening— 
(A) if the firefighter is at least 40 years 
old, and as otherwise clinically indicated, such 
services shall include the communication to the
435 
firefighter of the risks and benefits of stool- 
based blood testing; 
(B) if the firefighter is at least 45 years 
old, and as clinically indicated (without regard 
to age), such services shall include the provi-
sion, at regular intervals, of visual examinations 
(such as a colonoscopy, CT colonoscopy, or 
flexible sigmoidoscopy) or stool-based blood 
testing; and 
(C) in connection with such provision, a li-
censed physician shall review and provide to the 
firefighter the results of such examination or 
testing, as the case may be. 
(3) PROSTATE CANCER.—With respect to pros-
tate cancer screening, if the firefighter is a male 
firefighter, the communication to the firefighter of 
the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screenings 
and the provision to the firefighter of a prostate-spe-
cific antigen test— 
(A) on an annual basis, if the firefighter is 
at least 50 years old; 
(B) on an annual basis, if the firefighter is 
at least 40 years old and is a high-risk indi-
vidual; and
436 
(C) as clinically indicated (without regard 
to age). 
(4) OTHER CANCERS.—Such services shall in-
clude routine screenings for any other cancer the 
risk or occurrence of which the Director of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention has identi-
fied as higher among firefighters than among the 
general public, the provision of which shall be car-
ried out during the annual periodic health assess-
ment of the firefighter. 
(b) OPTIONAL NATURE.—A firefighter of the Depart-
ment of Defense may opt out of the receipt of a medical 
testing or related service provided under subsection (a). 
(c) USE OF CONSENSUS TECHNICAL STANDARDS.— 
In providing medical testing and related services under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall use consensus technical 
standards in accordance with section 12(d) of the National 
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 
U.S.C. 272 note). 
(d) DOCUMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In providing medical testing 
and related services under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary—
437 
(A) shall document the acceptance rates of 
such tests offered and the rates of such tests 
performed; 
(B) shall document tests results, to iden-
tify trends in the rates of cancer occurrences 
among firefighters; and 
(C) may collect and maintain additional in-
formation from the recipients of such tests and 
other services, to allow for appropriate scientific 
analysis. 
(2) PRIVACY.—In analyzing any information of 
an individual documented, collected, or maintained 
under paragraph (1), in addition to complying with 
other applicable privacy laws, the Secretary shall en-
sure the name, and any other personally identifiable 
information, of the individual is removed from such 
information prior to the analysis. 
(3) SHARING
WITH
CENTERS
FOR
DISEASE 
CONTROL
AND
PREVENTION.—The Secretary may 
share data from any tests performed under sub-
section (a) with the Director of the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention, as appropriate, to in-
crease the knowledge and understanding of cancer 
occurrences among firefighters. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
438 
(1) The term ‘‘firefighter’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 707 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub-
lic Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1441; 10 U.S.C. 1074m 
note). 
(2) The term ‘‘high-risk individual’’ means an 
individual who— 
(A) has at least one first-degree relative 
who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer at 
an early age; or 
(B) is otherwise determined by the Sec-
retary to be high risk with respect to prostate 
cancer. 
SEC. 707. TEMPORARY REQUIREMENT FOR CONTRACEP-
TION 
COVERAGE 
PARITY 
UNDER 
THE 
TRICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
ensure that, during the one-year period beginning on the 
date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
the Act, the imposition or collection of cost-sharing for 
certain services is prohibited as follows: 
(1) PHARMACY BENEFITS PROGRAM.—Notwith-
standing subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), of section 
1074g(a)(6) of title 10, United States Code, cost- 
sharing may not be imposed or collected with respect
439 
to any eligible covered beneficiary for any prescrip-
tion contraceptive on the uniform formulary pro-
vided through a retail pharmacy described in section 
1074g(a)(2)(E)(ii) of such title or through the na-
tional 
mail-order 
pharmacy 
program 
of 
the 
TRICARE Program. 
(2) TRICARE SELECT.—Notwithstanding any 
provision under section 1075 of title 10, United 
States Code, cost-sharing may not be imposed or 
collected for a covered service that is provided by a 
network provider under the TRICARE program to 
any beneficiary under such section except for— 
(A) a member of the Coast Guard; or 
(B) an individual who is a beneficiary be-
cause such individual is a dependent of a mem-
ber of the Coast Guard. 
(3) TRICARE PRIME.—Notwithstanding sub-
sections (a), (b), and (c) of section 1075a of title 10, 
United States Code, cost-sharing may not be im-
posed or collected for a covered service that is pro-
vided under TRICARE Prime to any beneficiary 
under such section except for— 
(A) a member of the Coast Guard; or
440 
(B) an individual who is a beneficiary be-
cause such individual is a dependent of a mem-
ber of the Coast Guard. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered service’’ means any 
method of contraception approved, granted, or 
cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, any 
contraceptive care (including with respect to inser-
tion, removal, and follow up), any sterilization proce-
dure, or any patient education or counseling service 
provided in connection with any such method, care, 
or procedure. 
(2) The term ‘‘eligible covered beneficiary’’ 
means an eligible covered beneficiary as such term 
is used in section 1074g of title 10, United States 
Code except for— 
(A) a member of the Coast Guard, Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
or Public Health Service; or 
(B) an individual who is an eligible covered 
beneficiary because such individual is a depend-
ent of a member described in subparagraph (A). 
(3) The terms ‘‘TRICARE Program’’ and 
‘‘TRICARE Prime’’ have the meaning given such
441 
terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 708. NALOXONE AND FENTANYL: REGULATIONS; RE-
PORT. 
(a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than January 1, 2024, 
the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secre-
taries of the military departments shall prescribe regula-
tions regarding naloxone and fentanyl on military installa-
tions. Such regulations shall— 
(1) ensure that naloxone is available for mem-
bers of the Armed Forces— 
(A) on all military installations; and 
(B) in each operational environment; and 
(2) establish a standardized tracking system— 
(A) for naloxone distributed under para-
graph (1); and 
(B) of the illegal use of fentanyl and other 
controlled substances in the military depart-
ments. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than June 1, 2024, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a report regarding naloxone and fentanyl. Such re-
port shall include the following elements:
442 
(1) Progress in the implementation of regula-
tions prescribed under subsection (a). 
(2) The prevalence and incidence of the illegal 
use of fentanyl and other controlled substances in 
the military departments during the five years pre-
ceding the report. 
(3) Processes of the military departments to 
mitigate substance abuse, particularly with regards 
to fentanyl. 
(c) NALOXONE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘naloxone’’ means naloxone and any other medication 
used to reverse opioid overdose. 
SEC. 709. RATES OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROVIDERS OF 
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In furnishing applied behavior 
analysis under the TRICARE program to individuals de-
scribed in paragraph (2) during the period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on De-
cember 31, 2024, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure 
that the reimbursement rates for providers of applied be-
havior analysis are not less than the rates that were in 
effect on May 1, 2023. 
(b) INDIVIDUALS DESCRIBED.—Individuals described 
in this paragraph are individuals who are covered bene-
ficiaries by reason of being a member or former member
443 
of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force, including the reserve components thereof, or a de-
pendent of such a member or former member. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘cov-
ered beneficiary’’ and ‘‘TRICARE program’’ have the 
meaning given those terms in section 1072 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 710. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PILOT PROGRAM ON 
HEALTH EFFECTS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA 
USE BY VETERANS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, subject to the avail-
ability in advance of appropriations, the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs, shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to 
study the effect of marijuana use by covered individuals 
with respect to the health outcomes of such individuals 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘pilot program’’). 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—Under the pilot program, the Sec-
retary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, shall carry out the following activities: 
(1) Conducting preclinical research or a clinical 
investigation pursuant to an investigational new 
drug exemption under section 505(i) of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)),
444 
in accordance with a research protocol that has been 
reviewed and approved under such section with re-
spect to such research or investigation. 
(2) Assessing and, subject to the Health Insur-
ance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 
(Public Law 104–191) and other applicable laws re-
garding privacy, compiling and publishing relevant 
data collected by State-approved marijuana regu-
latory programs and made available to the Secretary 
of Defense. 
(3) Such other activities as the Secretary of De-
fense may determine appropriate for purposes of the 
pilot program. 
(c) LOCATION; RELATIONSHIP TO CERTAIN LAWS.— 
(1) 
LOCATION; 
RELATIONSHIP
TO
STATE 
LAW.—The pilot program shall be conducted in one 
or more States with a State-approved marijuana reg-
ulatory program, and shall be conducted in accord-
ance with applicable State law with respect to the 
manufacture, distribution, dispensing, or possession 
of marijuana, to the extent such activity occurs as 
part of such pilot program. 
(2) RELATIONSHIP
TO
CONTROLLED
SUB-
STANCES ACT.—The Controlled Substances Act (21 
U.S.C. 801 et seq.) and Article 112a of the Uniform
445 
Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. 912a) shall not 
apply with respect to the manufacture, distribution, 
dispensing, or possession of marijuana under the 
pilot program as part of preclinical research or a 
clinical investigation conducted under subsection 
(b)(1), to the extent such activity occurs as part of 
the pilot program and in compliance with Medical 
Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act 
(Public Law 117–215). 
(3) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—Nothing in this 
subtitle shall affect or modify— 
(A) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); 
(B) section 351 of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act (42 U.S.C. 262); 
(C) 
the 
Medical 
Marijuana 
and 
Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Public 
Law 117–215); or 
(D) any authority of the Commissioner of 
Food and Drugs or the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services under a provision of law speci-
fied in subparagraphs (A) through (C) (includ-
ing the authority of the Commissioner or Sec-
retary to promulgate regulations or guidelines
447 
(g) FUNDING LIMITATION.—Amounts authorized to 
be made available to the Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health 
Care Fund established under chapter 56 of title 10, 
United States Code, are not authorized to be transferred 
or otherwise made available to carry out the pilot program. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means 
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
(3) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means any 
member of a covered Armed Force or veteran diag-
nosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, depres-
sion, or anxiety, or prescribed pain management, by 
a health professional furnishing care at a facility of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs or through the 
Veterans Community Care Program under section 
1703 of title 38, United States Code.
448 
(4) The term ‘‘marijuana’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 102(16) of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(16)). 
SEC. 711. PILOT PROGRAM ON CRYOPRESERVATION AND 
STORAGE OF GAMETES OF CERTAIN MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a pilot program to reimburse not more than 
200 covered members for expenses incurred in the testing, 
cryopreservation, shipping, and storage of gametes of such 
covered members in a private storage facility determined 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
(b) AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT.—A covered mem-
ber shall receive not more than— 
(1) $500 in the case of a member who preserves 
sperm; and 
(2) $7,500 in the case of a member who pre-
serves eggs. 
(c) INFORMATION TO PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary 
shall provide to a covered member participating in the 
pilot program information regarding providers of services 
described in subsection (a) located near the covered mem-
ber. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE.—Not later than—
449 
(1) 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall notify covered members 
of the pilot program; and 
(2) 60 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(A) submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives an implementation plan for the 
pilot program; and 
(B) carry out the pilot program. 
(e) NO LIABILITY OR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION.— 
The United States shall not be— 
(1) considered a party to any agreement be-
tween a covered member who participates in the 
pilot program and a private gamete storage facility; 
or 
(2) responsible for the management of gametes 
cryopreserved, or stored for which a covered member 
receives reimbursement under such pilot program. 
(f) ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVE.—A covered 
member who participates in the pilot program shall com-
plete an advanced medical directive that specifies how 
gametes preserved under the pilot program shall be han-
dled upon the death of such covered member.
450 
(g) PROMOTION
OF PILOT PROGRAM.—Not later 
than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall promote the pilot program to covered 
members in the course of annual health examinations and 
pre-deployment screenings. 
(h) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the Sec-
retary establishes the pilot program, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives a report on the pilot 
program. Such report shall include the following: 
(1) Usage by covered members. 
(2) Demographics of participating covered 
members. 
(3) Costs of services to participating covered 
members. 
(4) The feasibility of expanding the pilot pro-
gram. 
(5) The feasibility of making the pilot program 
permanent. 
(6) Other information determined appropriate 
by the Secretary. 
(i) TERMINATION.—The pilot program shall termi-
nate one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
451 
(1) The term ‘‘covered member’’ means a mem-
ber of a covered Armed Force serving on active 
duty— 
(A) who has received orders (including de-
ployment orders) for duty for which the mem-
ber may receive hazardous duty pay under sec-
tion 351 of title 37, United States Code; 
(B) whom the Secretary determines is like-
ly to receive such orders in the next 120 days; 
(C) who will, under orders, be geographi-
cally separated from a spouse, domestic part-
ner, or dating partner for a period exceeding 
180 days; or 
(D) whose application to participate in the 
pilot program that the Secretary approves. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered Armed Forces’’ means 
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
(3) The term ‘‘deployment’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 991(b) of title 10, United 
States Code.
452 
SEC. 712. PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS FOR CERTAIN 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO 
SERVED IN KABUL. 
(a) INITIAL EVALUATION.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall provide an initial psychological evaluation 
to each member of the Armed Forces who— 
(1) served at the Hamid Karzai International 
Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, between August 15 
and August 29, 2021; and 
(2) has not already received a psychological 
evaluation with respect to such service. 
(b) ADDITIONAL EVALUATIONS.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall provide to each member of the Armed 
Forces who receives a psychological evaluation under sub-
section (a), or would have received such an evaluation but 
for the application of subsection (a)(2)— 
(1) an additional psychological evaluation not 
later than two years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act; and 
(2) a second additional psychological evaluation 
not later than five years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 220 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense
453 
committees a report on the number of members of the 
Armed Forces, broken down by component (National 
Guard, Reserve, and Active), that are eligible for, and re-
ceive, an initial psychological evaluation— 
(1) under subsection (a); or 
(2) otherwise resulting from service at the 
Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Af-
ghanistan, between August 15 and August 29, 2021. 
SEC. 713. AUTHORITY TO EXPAND THE TRICARE COMPETI-
TIVE PLANS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—To the extent practicable, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall seek to expand the TRICARE 
Competitive Plans Demonstration Project to not fewer 
than 10 locations on or after October 1, 2024. 
(b) TRICARE COMPETITIVE PLANS DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECT DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘TRICARE Competitive Plans Demonstration Project’’ 
means the project designed to test the contract acquisition 
strategy of providing an opportunity for local, regional, 
and national health plans to participate in the competition 
for managed care support functions under the TRICARE 
program, in accordance with section 705(c)(3) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 
(Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 1073a note).
454 
SEC. 714. STUDY ON PROVIDER TRAINING GAPS WITH RE-
SPECT TO SCREENING AND TREATMENT OF 
MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Af-
fairs, shall conduct a study to identify gaps in the training 
of covered providers with respect to the screening and 
treatment of maternal mental health conditions. Such 
study shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the level of experience of 
covered providers with, and the attitudes of such 
providers regarding, the treatment of pregnant and 
postpartum women with mental or substance use 
disorders; and 
(2) recommendations for the training of covered 
providers, taking into account any training gaps 
identified pursuant to the study. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report con-
taining the findings of the study under section (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered provider’’ means a ma-
ternal health care provider or behavioral health pro-
455 
vider furnishing services under the military health 
system (including under the TRICARE program). 
(2) The term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 1072 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 715. EXPANSION OF WOUNDED WARRIOR SERVICE 
DOG PROGRAM. 
Section 745 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 
U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(b) GRANT AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the Wound-
ed Warrior Service Dog Program, the Secretary of 
Defense shall award grants on a competitive basis 
directly to eligible entities in accordance with this 
subsection. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall 
be a nonprofit organization, the primary function of 
which is raising, training, and furnishing assistance 
dogs.
456 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible entity desiring 
a grant under this subsection shall submit to the 
Secretary of Defense an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information and 
assurances as such Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
‘‘(4) CONSIDERATION FOR GRANT AMOUNT.—In 
determining the amount of a grant awarded under 
this subsection, such Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(A) the merits of the application sub-
mitted pursuant to paragraph (3); 
‘‘(B) whether, and to what extent, there is 
demand by covered members or covered vet-
erans for assistance dogs provided by the eligi-
ble entity desiring such grant; and 
‘‘(C) the capacity and capability of such el-
igible entity to raise and train assistance dogs 
to meet such demand. 
‘‘(5) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity award-
ed a grant under this subsection shall use such 
grant to plan, design, establish, or operate a pro-
gram to furnish assistance dogs to covered members 
and covered veterans, or any combination thereof.
457 
‘‘(6) LIMITATION
ON
GRANT
AMOUNT.—The 
amount of a grant awarded under this subsection 
may not exceed $2,000,000.’’. 
SEC. 716. PROHIBITION ON PAYMENT AND REIMBURSE-
MENT BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF EX-
PENSES RELATING TO ABORTION SERVICES. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) consistent with section 1093 of title 10, 
United States Code, the Department of Defense may 
not use any funds for abortions except where the life 
of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were 
carried to term or in a case in which the pregnancy 
is the result of an act of rape or incest; 
(2) the Secretary of Defense has no legal au-
thority to implement any policies in which funds are 
to be used for such purpose; and 
(3) the Department of Defense Memorandum 
titled ‘‘Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health 
Care’’, dated October 20, 2022, is therefore unlawful 
and must be rescinded. 
(b) REPEAL OF MEMORANDUM.— 
(1) REPEAL.—The Department of Defense 
memorandum titled ‘‘Ensuring Access to Reproduc-
458 
tive Health Care’’, dated October 20, 2022, shall 
have no force or effect. 
(2) PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS 
TO CARRY OUT MEMORANDUM.—No funds may be 
obligated or expended to carry out the memorandum 
specified in paragraph (1) or any successor to such 
memorandum. 
(c) PROHIBITION.—Section 1093 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITION
ON PAYMENT
OR REIMBURSE-
MENT OF CERTAIN FEES.—(1) The Secretary of Defense 
may not pay for or reimburse any fees or expenses, includ-
ing travel expenses, relating to a health-care professional 
gaining a license in a State if the purpose of gaining such 
license is to provide abortion services. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) The term ‘health-care professional’ means 
a member of the armed forces, civilian employee of 
the Department of Defense, personal services con-
tractor under section 1091 of this title, or other in-
dividual who provides health care at a military med-
ical treatment facility. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘license’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 1094 of this title.’’.
459 
SEC. 717. PROHIBITION ON COVERAGE OF CERTAIN SEX RE-
ASSIGNMENT 
SURGERIES 
AND 
RELATED 
SERVICES UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM. 
Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed by inserting after section 1076f the following new sec-
tion (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning 
of such chapter accordingly): 
‘‘§ 1076g. TRICARE program: prohibition on coverage 
and furnishment of certain sex reassign-
ment surgeries and related services 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—The medical care to which indi-
viduals are entitled to under this chapter does not include 
the services described in subsection (b) and the Secretary 
of Defense may not furnish any such service. 
‘‘(b) SERVICES DESCRIBED.—The services described 
in this subsection are the following: 
‘‘(1) Sex reassignment surgeries furnished for 
the 
purpose 
of 
the 
gender 
alteration 
of 
a 
transgender individual. 
‘‘(2) Hormone treatments furnished for the 
purpose of the gender alteration of a transgender in-
dividual.’’.
460 
Subtitle B—Health Care 
Administration 
SEC. 721. CLARIFICATION OF GRADE OF SURGEON GEN-
ERAL OF THE NAVY. 
Section 8077 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) GRADE.—The Surgeon General, while so serv-
ing, shall hold the grade of O–9.’’. 
SEC. 722. CLARIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES REGARD-
ING THE INTEGRATED DISABILITY EVALUA-
TION SYSTEM. 
(a) CLARIFICATION.—Subsection (h) of section 1073c 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘SECRETARIES 
CONCERNED AND MEDICAL EVALUATION BOARDS’’ 
and inserting ‘‘AUTHORITY OVER MEMBERS’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Nothing’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) Notwithstanding the responsibilities and au-
thorities of the Defense Health Agency with respect to the 
administration of military medical treatment facilities as 
set forth in this section (including medical evaluations of 
members of the armed forces), the Secretary of each mili-
461 
tary department shall maintain personnel authority over, 
and responsibility for, any member of the armed forces 
under the jurisdiction of the military department con-
cerned while the member is being considered by a medical 
evaluation board or is otherwise subject to the integrated 
disability evaluation system. Such responsibility shall in-
clude the following: 
‘‘(A) Responsibility for administering the mo-
rale and welfare of the member. 
‘‘(B) Responsibility for determinations of fit-
ness for duty of the member under chapter 61 of 
this title. 
‘‘(3) Notwithstanding the responsibilities and au-
thorities of the Defense Health Agency with respect to the 
administration of the integrated disability evaluation sys-
tem, a commander shall, at all times, maintain absolute 
responsibility for, and authority over, a member of the 
armed forces referred to the integrated disability evalua-
tion system. Such responsibility and authority include the 
following: 
‘‘(A) The authority to pause any process of the 
integrated disability evaluation system regarding the 
member. 
‘‘(B) The authority to withdraw the member 
from the integrated disability evaluation system if
462 
the commander determines that any policy, proce-
dure, regulation, or other guidance has not been fol-
lowed in the member’s case. 
‘‘(4) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of Defense, a member referred to the integrated 
disability evaluation system may file an appeal of such re-
ferral with the Secretary of the military department con-
cerned. Such an appeal— 
‘‘(A) shall be in addition to any appeals process 
established as part of the integrated disability eval-
uation system; 
‘‘(B) shall include a hearing before an officer 
who may convene a general court-martial and who is 
in the chain of command of the member; and 
‘‘(C) shall be adjudicated not later than 90 
days after such filing.’’. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
prescribe regulations to carry out paragraphs (2) through 
(4) of such subsection, as added by this section, not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than February 1, 2024, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a briefing on the implementation of such paragraphs.
463 
SEC. 723. SHARING OF MEDICAL DATA REGARDING MEM-
BERS OF THE COAST GUARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 1110c. Sharing of medical data regarding members 
of the Coast Guard 
‘‘(a) SHARING OF DATA.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall provide, on an annual basis, to the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard, data regarding medical care— 
‘‘(1) provided at military medical treatment fa-
cilities established under section 1073c of this title 
to members of the Coast Guard and beneficiaries of 
such members; and 
‘‘(2) received by members of the Coast Guard 
and beneficiaries of such members through the 
TRICARE program. 
‘‘(b) CAPABILITY
AND CAPACITY REPORTS.—The 
Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the 
Defense Health Agency, shall provide to the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard capability and capacity reports regard-
ing members of the Coast Guard, and beneficiaries of such 
members, who receive treatment at military medical treat-
ment facilities. 
‘‘(c) HIPAA LIMITATION.—None of the information 
shared under this section shall include personally identifi-
464 
able information, sensitive patient health information, or 
information that violates the Health Insurance Portability 
and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191).’’. 
(b) PLAN; REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense and the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
develop a plan to carry out section 1110c of such title, 
as added by this section, and submit a report containing 
such plan to the appropriate congressional committees. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION DATE.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary and Commandant shall carry out section 1110c of 
such title, as added by this section. 
(d) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con-
gressional committees’’ means the following: 
(1) The Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate. 
(2) The Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives. 
(3) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
(4) The Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives.
465 
SEC. 724. ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE MILI-
TARY HEALTH SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE 
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMBAT-
ANT COMMANDS. 
(a) DEFENSE
HEALTH
AGENCY
REGIONS
IN 
CONUS.—Section 712(c) of the John S. McCain National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public 
Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 1073c note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘HEALTHAGENCY’’ and inserting ‘‘HEALTH 
AGENCY’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘not more than two’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘military’’. 
(b) 
DEFENSE
HEALTH
AGENCY
REGIONS 
OCONUS.—Section 712(d) of such Act (Public Law 115– 
232; 10 U.S.C. 1073c note) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘not more than two’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘defense 
health regions’’ and inserting ‘‘Defense Health 
Agency regions’’. 
(c) 
PLANNING
AND
COORDINATION.—Section 
712(e)(1)(A) of such Act (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 
1073c note) is amended by striking ‘‘defense health re-
gion’’ and inserting ‘‘Defense Health Agency region’’.
466 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2023. 
SEC. 725. MANDATORY TRAINING ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF 
PERFLUOROALKYL OR POLYFLUOROALKYL 
SUBSTANCES. 
The Secretary of Defense shall provide to each med-
ical provider of the Department of Defense mandatory 
training with respect to the potential health effects of 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances. 
SEC. 
726. 
ESTABLISHMENT 
OF 
MILITARY 
PHARMA-
CEUTICAL AND MEDICAL DEVICE VULNER-
ABILITY WORKING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, the Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness, and the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall establish a military 
pharmaceutical and medical device vulnerability working 
group. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—Each member of the working 
group shall be a member of the Armed Forces or a civilian 
employee of the Department of Defense.
467 
(c) COCHAIRS.—The Secretary shall appoint a chair 
of the working group. The working group shall elect a co-
chair from among its members. 
(d) DUTIES.—The duties of the working group shall 
include the following: 
(1) To provide a forum for members of the 
working group to discuss issues involving access, 
threats, and vulnerabilities to pharmaceuticals, 
therapeutics and medical devices in operational envi-
ronments of the Department. 
(2) To assess and catalog the work currently 
being performed within the Department regarding 
such access, threats, and vulnerabilities. 
(3) To identify current vulnerabilities, including 
supply chain issues, active pharmaceutical ingredient 
supplies, device component issues and cyber and 
electronic threats that may disrupt operations of the 
Department. 
(4) To identify medications necessary for the 
Department in specific circumstances (such as 
armed conflict) that are critical for operational read-
iness in each combatant command. 
(5) To develop an annually updated list of 
pharmaceuticals critical to the Department (includ-
ing medications identified under paragraph (4)) and
468 
related quantities needed to mitigate the risk of sup-
ply disruptions for military treatment facilities. 
(6) To develop a risk assessment matrix regard-
ing such pharmaceuticals and medical devices to 
highlight related risks to missions of the combatant 
commands and the military health system. 
(7) To include any information in the joint 
medical estimate of the Department or a similar re-
port that highlights information that would be clas-
sified as sensitive or requiring a security classifica-
tion above unclassified. 
(8) To develop a plan for the allocation of 
scarce pharmaceutical resources within the Depart-
ment during supply chain disruptions and potential 
conflicts with competitors highlighted in the national 
defense strategy. 
(9) To develop a plan for stockpiling essential 
medications to ensure availability of a 180-day sup-
ply during armed conflict or other supply chain dis-
ruptions. 
(10) 
To 
develop 
a 
plan 
that 
mitigates 
vulnerabilities to active pharmaceutical ingredient 
supply chains and reduces dependence on active 
pharmaceutical ingredients from foreign sources.
469 
(e) MEETINGS.—The working group shall meet at the 
call of the chair or cochairs and not less than once per 
quarter of the calendar year. 
(f) BRIEFING AND REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL
BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives 
an interim report on the organization, activities, 
plans, actions and milestones of the working group. 
(2) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30 of each year, beginning in 2025 and end-
ing in 2028, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report describing the activities, 
funding, plans, actions, and milestones of the work-
ing group, and other matters determined by the Sec-
retary, during the preceding year. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The working group shall termi-
nate on September 30, 2028. 
SEC. 727. ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICAL AND SURGICAL 
CONSUMABLES STANDARDIZATION WORKING 
GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than March 1, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a working
470 
group of logistics experts, medical experts, and surgical 
experts from across the military departments and the De-
fense Health Agency to standardize the medical and sur-
gical consumable supplies procured and used within the 
Department of Defense. 
(b) CHAIR.—The Secretary shall appoint an officer 
in a grade above O-6 to serve as chair of the working 
group. 
(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the working group in-
clude the following: 
(1) To identify a list of the consumable medical 
and surgical supplies acquired by the Department, 
by national item identification number or national 
stock number. 
(2) To identify, of the supplies identified under 
paragraph (1)— 
(A) unique items; and 
(B) non-unique items that are functionally 
interchangeable. 
(3) Disaggregate such list by the offeror of the 
supplies, member of the acquisition workforce (as 
defined in section 101 of title 10, United States 
Code) responsible for procurement of the supplies, 
and the entity or end user of such supplies.
471 
(4) To revise and standardize the catalog for 
consumable medical and surgical supplies of the De-
partment of Defense, including the elimination un-
necessary and duplicate supplies. 
(5) To ensure supplies identified under para-
graph (1) are provided to the appropriate entity or 
end user in a regular and timely manner. 
(6) To coordinate with the Director of the De-
fense Logistics Agency to conduct regular stress 
tests of the surge requirements for such supplies. 
(7) To generate methods to encourage health 
care providers in the Defense Health Agency to pro-
cure such supplies through the catalog described in 
paragraph (4) instead of through other means. 
(d) BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) INTERIM.—Not later than October 1, 2024, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a briefing on the activities of the 
working group. 
(2) FINAL.—Not later than December 31, 
2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a final briefing on the ac-
tivities of the working group.
472 
(e) TERMINATION.—The working group shall termi-
nate two years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 728. PILOT PROGRAM ON REMOTE HEALTH MONI-
TORING TECHNOLOGIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall carry out a pilot program to furnish, to certain mem-
bers of the Armed Forces, technologies that offer remote 
health monitoring. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS
FOR PILOT PROGRAM.—The 
pilot program shall include members— 
(1) of special operations forces; and 
(2) the Center for Initial Military Training of 
the Army, including members undergoing— 
(A) basic combat training; and 
(B) the future soldier preparatory course. 
(c) CRITERIA
FOR TECHNOLOGIES.—Technologies 
furnished under the pilot program shall— 
(1) use facial detection technology; and 
(2) provide information on a member’s— 
(A) heart rate, including variability; 
(B) blood pressure; 
(C) blood oxygen saturation level; and 
(D) respiratory rate. 
(d) BRIEFING.—Not later than six months after com-
mencing the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide to
473 
the congressional defense committees a briefing on the 
pilot program, including— 
(1) an explanation of— 
(A) the types of technologies considered for 
the pilot program; 
(B) the success of the pilot program in in-
creasing awareness of the physical and mental 
health of members furnished such technologies; 
and 
(C) any potential barriers to the expansion 
of the pilot program; and 
(2) recommendations for how the Secretary 
may use readily available remote health monitoring 
technologies to enhance physical and mental health 
awareness of members of the Armed Forces. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The pilot program shall termi-
nate five years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 729. TASK FORCE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ON 
MENTAL HEALTH. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a task force to examine matters relating 
to the mental health of members of the Armed Forces (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘task force’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
474 
(1) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall appoint to the task force individuals who 
have demonstrated expertise in the following areas: 
(A) National mental health policy. 
(B) Military personnel policy. 
(C) Research in the field of mental health. 
(D) Clinical care in mental health. 
(E) Military chaplain or pastoral care. 
(2) NUMBER; COMPOSITION.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall appoint not more than 15 individuals 
to the task force in accordance with the following: 
(A) 
DEPARTMENT
OF
DEFENSE
AP-
POINTEES.—The appointees shall include— 
(i) at least one member of each of the 
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and 
the National Guard; 
(ii) at least one surgeon general of an 
Armed Force; and 
(iii) at least one dependent of a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces who has experi-
ence working with military families. 
(B) NON-DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AP-
POINTEES.—Not fewer than 7 of the appointees 
shall be individuals who are not members of the 
Armed Forces, civilian employees of the Depart-
475 
ment of Defense, or dependents of such mem-
bers, and shall include— 
(i) an officer or employee of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs; and 
(ii) an officer or employee of the Sub-
stance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration of the Department of 
Health and Human Services. 
(C) DEADLINE.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall appoint all members by not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(D) CO-CHAIRS.—There shall be two co- 
chairs of the task force, of whom— 
(i) one shall be designated by the Sec-
retary at the time of appointment from 
among the individuals appointed under 
subparagraph (A); and 
(ii) one shall be selected from among 
the members appointed under subpara-
graph (B) by the members so appointed. 
(c) ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON MEN-
TAL HEALTH SERVICES.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date on which all members of the task force have
476 
been appointed, the task force shall submit to the 
Secretary of Defense a report containing an assess-
ment of, and recommendations for improving, the ef-
ficacy of mental health services provided to members 
of the Armed Forces by the Secretary of Defense. 
(2) USE
OF
OTHER
EFFORTS.—In preparing 
the report under paragraph (1), the task force shall 
take into consideration completed and ongoing ef-
forts by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs to improve the efficacy of mental 
health care provided to members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(3) ELEMENTS.—The assessment and rec-
ommendations specified in paragraph (1) (including 
recommendations for legislative or administrative ac-
tion) shall include measures to improve the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The awareness of the potential for 
mental health conditions of members of the 
Armed Forces. 
(B) The access to, and efficacy of, existing 
programs (include telehealth programs) in pri-
mary care and mental health care to prevent, 
identify, and treat mental health conditions of
477 
members of the Armed Forces, including pro-
grams for— 
(i) forward-deployed troops; 
(ii) members of the reserve compo-
nents; and 
(iii) members assigned to remote or 
austere duty locations. 
(C) The access to adequate telehealth re-
sources, including— 
(i) for members described in subpara-
graph (B) and immediate family members 
(including military spouses), including ac-
cess to equipment, bandwidths, and plat-
forms used to deliver care; and 
(ii) through the use of partnerships, 
consultation, and collaboration with private 
sector organizations and institutions, in-
cluding with respect to using telehealth to 
provide mental health care. 
(D) The assessment of disruptions to men-
tal health care as a result of frequent changes 
to eligibility and coverage for members of the 
National Guard under the TRICARE program, 
as well as potential benefits of more consistent 
care.
478 
(E) Analysis of the potential effect on ac-
cess and outcomes for members serving on ac-
tive duty as a result of proposed cuts to mili-
tary end strengths regarding members with 
medical military occupational specialties. 
(F) The access to and programs for family 
members of members of the Armed Forces, in-
cluding family members overseas. 
(G) Access to, and quality of, private men-
tal health care received by members of the 
Armed Forces through the TRICARE program. 
(H) The reduction or elimination of bar-
riers to care, including the stigma associated 
with mental health conditions, by measures in-
cluding enhanced confidentiality for members of 
the Armed Forces who seek care for such condi-
tions. 
(I) The awareness of mental health serv-
ices available to dependents of members of the 
Armed Forces. 
(J) The adequacy of outreach, education, 
and support programs on mental health matters 
for families of members of the Armed Forces. 
(K) The early identification and treatment 
of mental health and substance abuse problems
479 
through the use of internal mass media commu-
nications (including radio, and television, social 
media) and other education tools to change atti-
tudes within the Armed Forces regarding men-
tal health and substance abuse treatment. 
(L) The transition from mental health care 
furnished by the Secretary of Defense to such 
care furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
(M) The availability of long-term follow-up 
and access to care for mental health conditions 
for members of the Individual Ready Reserve 
and the Selected Reserve and for discharged, 
separated, or retired members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(N) Collaboration between the heads of ele-
ments of the Department of Defense with re-
sponsibility for, or jurisdiction over, the provi-
sion of mental health services. 
(O) Coordination between the Secretary of 
Defense and civilian communities, including 
State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, 
and local support organizations, with respect to 
mental health services.
480 
(P) Coordination between the Secretary of 
Defense and the heads of relevant Federal 
stakeholders, including the Assistant Secretary 
for Mental Health and Substance Use, the Di-
rector of the National Institutes of Health, and 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention. 
(Q) The scope and efficacy of curricula 
and training on mental health matters for com-
manders in the Armed Forces. 
(R) The efficiency and effectiveness of pre- 
and post-deployment mental health screenings, 
including mental health screenings for members 
of the Armed Forces. 
(S) The effectiveness of mental health pro-
grams provided in languages other than 
English. 
(T) Tracking the use of behavioral health 
services and related outcomes, including wait 
times, continuity of care, symptom resolution, 
and maintenance of improvements resulting 
from treatment. 
(U) The awareness of 24/7 mental health 
resources, including the National Suicide Pre-
vention Lifeline.
481 
(V) Other matters the task force deter-
mines appropriate. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION.— 
(A) MEMBERS
OF
THE
ARMED
FORCES; 
UNITED
STATES
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Each member of the task force who is a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces or a civilian officer or 
employee of the United States Government shall 
serve without compensation (other than com-
pensation to which entitled as a member of the 
Armed Forces or an officer or employee of the 
United States Government, as the case may 
be). 
(B) OTHER
MEMBERS.—Any member of 
the task force not described in subparagraph 
(A) shall be treated for purposes of section 
3161 of title 5, United States Code, as having 
been appointed under subsection (b) of such 
section. 
(2) OVERSIGHT.—The Under Secretary of De-
fense for Personnel and Readiness shall oversee the 
activities of the task force. 
(3) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Director 
of the Washington Headquarters Services of the De-
482 
partment of Defense shall provide the task force 
with personnel, facilities, and other administrative 
support as necessary for the performance of the du-
ties of the task force. 
(4) ACCESS TO FACILITIES.—The Under Sec-
retary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in 
coordination with the Secretaries of the military de-
partments, shall ensure appropriate access by the 
task force to military installations and facilities for 
purposes of the discharge of the duties of the task 
force. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The task force shall terminate 
90 days after the date on which the Secretary submits 
to the appropriate congressional committees the report of 
the task force under subsection (c)(1). 
(f) PLAN OF THE SECRETARY.—Not later than 180 
days after receiving the report of the task force under sub-
section (c)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall develop a 
plan based on the recommendations of the task force and 
submit such plan to the congressional defense committees. 
(g) REPORTS BY THE SECRETARY.—For each of the 
five years following the receipt of the report of the task 
force under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port on the recommendations made by the task force with
483 
respect to the Department of Defense. Each such report 
shall include— 
(1) for each such recommendation, the deter-
mination of the Secretary of Defense as to whether 
to implement the recommendation; 
(2) in the case of a recommendation the Sec-
retary intends to implement, the intended timeline 
for implementation, a description of any additional 
resources or authorities required for such implemen-
tation, and the plan for such implementation; 
(3) in the case of a recommendation the Sec-
retary determines is not advisable or feasible, the 
analysis and justification of the Secretary in making 
that determination; and 
(4) in the case of a recommendation the Sec-
retary determines is already being implemented, the 
analysis and justification of the Secretary in making 
that determination. 
(h) BRIEFINGS BY THE SECRETARY.—Not less fre-
quently than annually during the five-year period following 
the receipt of the report of the task force under subsection 
(c)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the con-
gressional defense committees a briefing on—
484 
(1) the progress of the Secretary of Defense in 
analyzing and implementing the recommendations 
made by the task force; 
(2) any programs, projects, or other activities of 
the Department of Defense that are being carried 
out to implement such recommendations; and 
(3) the amount of funding provided for such 
programs, projects, and activities. 
(i) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 
Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate. 
SEC. 730. DISCLOSURES BY ENTITIES RECEIVING GRANTS 
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR BIO-
MEDICAL RESEARCH. 
Any entity that receives a grant from the Secretary 
of Defense for biomedical research shall— 
(1) disclose to the Secretary each corporate par-
ent, affiliate, and subsidiary of such entity; and 
(2) certify to the Secretary that such entity 
does not receive funding from—
485 
(A) the Chinese Communist Party; 
(B) a company included in the non-SDN 
Chinese military-industrial complex companies 
list maintained by the Secretary of the Treas-
ury; or 
(C) an entity on the sanctions list of the 
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Depart-
ment of the Treasury. 
SEC. 731. DROP BOXES ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FOR 
DEPOSIT OF UNUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
a report to the Committee on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives on the effectiveness of the program es-
tablished under Department of Defense Instruction 
6025.25, titled the ‘‘Drug Take Back Program’’, or suc-
cessor program. Such report shall include such rec-
ommendations on actions to improve or expand the pro-
gram as the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate. 
SEC. 732. INDIVIDUAL ACQUISITION FOR COMMERCIAL 
LEASING SERVICES. 
Section 877(c) of the John S. McCain National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 is amended 
by striking ‘‘shall terminate on December 31, 2022’’ and 
inserting ‘‘shall terminate on December 31, 2032’’.
486 
SEC. 733. IMPROVEMENTS TO TRICARE PROVIDER DIREC-
TORIES. 
(a) VERIFICATION; UPDATES.—A managed support 
contractor that supports TRICARE and maintains a di-
rectory of health care providers shall verify and update 
such directory not less than once every 90 days. 
(b) DATABASES.—A managed support contractor de-
scribed in subsection (a) shall update a database not later 
than two days after receipt of information that affects 
such database. 
(c) ANNUAL REVIEWS.—The Director of the Defense 
Health Agency shall review directories described in sub-
section (a) not less than once each year. 
SEC. 734. WAIVER OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS TO FACILI-
TATE URGENT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH 
CARE 
SERVICES 
BY 
MEMBERS 
OF 
THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
The Director of the Defense Health Agency shall 
waive any requirement for a member of the Armed Forces 
to undergo an intake screening from a provider of the De-
partment of Defense at a military medical treatment facil-
ity prior to receiving a mental health care service from 
a TRICARE-authorized civilian provider if the Director 
determines— 
(1) such service may not be provided at a mili-
tary medical treatment facility during the 48-hour
487 
period following the time at which the member pre-
sents with the condition requiring such service; and 
(2) urgent circumstances necessitate the rapid 
provision of such service. 
SEC. 735. POLICY OF DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY ON EX-
PANDED RECOGNITION OF BOARD CERTIFI-
CATIONS FOR PHYSICIANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the De-
fense Health Agency shall revise the policy of the Defense 
Health Agency related to credentialing and privileging 
under the military health system to expand the recognition 
of board certification for physicians under such policy to 
a wide range of additional board certifications in medical 
specialties and subspecialties. 
(b) BASELINE STANDARDS FOR RECOGNITION.—To 
receive recognition, a physician board certification must 
meet the standards for recognition set forth, which shall 
ensure that the specialty or subspecialty board certifi-
cation reflects that any board certified physician has been 
certified by one of the following certifying bodies: 
(1) Under Multi-Specialty Organizations a phy-
sician should be board certified by one of the fol-
lowing:
488 
(A) The American Board of Medical Spe-
cialties. 
(B) The American Osteopathic Association. 
(C) The American Board of Physician Spe-
cialties. 
(2) Under Singular Specialty Organizations a 
physician should be board certified by one of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Certifying Boards approved by the 
Council on Podiatric Medical Educations. 
(B) The American Board of Oral and Max-
illofacial Surgery. 
(C) The American Board of Pain Medicine. 
(3) Should the physician board certification not 
be listed contact the identified organization of which 
each certifying body must maintain the following; 
(A) 
A 
website 
that 
allows 
for 
the 
verification of the certification that meets the 
standards of the NCQA, URAC, et al. 
(B) Must be a 501 nonprofit organization 
with a headquarter office. 
(C) Have a full-time certification staff with 
a psychometrician maintaining all testing psy-
chometric processes.
489 
(D) Must maintain certification through 
continuous maintenance or recertification proc-
esses, with a requirement of continuous knowl-
edge development that maintains a demonstra-
tion component of testing [and/or] assessment. 
This will ensure physicians maintain their 
knowledge in the specialty or subspecialty in 
which they practice safeguarding patient safety 
and care. 
(E) Primary source verification of edu-
cation and training of all applicants. 
SEC. 736. PROHIBITION OF MASK MANDATE TO PREVENT 
THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 ON A MILITARY IN-
STALLATION IN THE UNITED STATES. 
The Secretary of Defense may not require that an 
individual wear a mask, in order to prevent the spread 
of COVID-19, on a military installation inside the United 
States. 
Subtitle C—Studies and Reports 
SEC. 741. AMENDMENTS TO REPORT ON BEHAVIORAL 
HEALTH WORKFORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE. 
Section 737 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117– 
263) is amended as follows:
490 
(1) In subsection (c)(1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (H) as 
subparagraph (M); and 
(B) by inserting, after subparagraph (G), 
the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(H) The number of behavioral health pro-
viders performing active duty who are perma-
nently assigned to positions outside of their 
field of training (including command, recruit-
ment or training, and staff assignments). 
‘‘(I) The extent to which collateral duties 
affect the ability of behavioral health providers 
described in subparagraph (H) to provide care. 
‘‘(J) The number of civilian behavioral 
health providers with collateral administrative 
duties, and the extent to which such duties af-
fect such providers/ ability to provide care. 
‘‘(K) The effects of preventing behavioral 
health providers from serving in positions rel-
evant to their fields. 
‘‘(L) An analysis of how a full-time equiva-
lent is calculated and the feasibility of stand-
ardizing the calculation within and across the 
Armed Forces.’’.
491 
(2) In subsection (e), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(11) The term ‘behavioral health provider’ in-
cludes a— 
‘‘(A) licensed independent clinical social 
worker; 
‘‘(B) psychologist; 
‘‘(C) licensed mental health counselor; 
‘‘(D) licensed marriage and family thera-
pist; 
‘‘(E) psychiatric nurse mental health clin-
ical specialist; or 
‘‘(F) psychiatrist.’’. 
SEC. 742. COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY ON FORCE RESIL-
IENCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and House of Representatives and pub-
lish a comprehensive strategy on force resilience that pro-
vides a proactive, intentional approach to holistic health 
within the Total Force Fitness framework of the Depart-
ment of Defense. Such strategy shall include the following: 
(1) Priorities and objectives determined by the 
Secretary.
492 
(2) Assessments of the effectiveness of current 
models, including the Holistic Health and Fitness 
model, and focusing on other models that are data- 
driven and evidence-based. 
(3) Implementation of the recommendation in 
the Report to Congress on the Department of De-
fense Plan to Achieve the Vision of the DoD Task 
Force on Mental Health, dated September 19, 2007, 
to provide embedded health care and support profes-
sional in high-risk units. 
(4) Provision of care in all health domains. 
(5) A reevaluation of operational requirements 
to ensure that embedded positions are appropriately 
billeted, funded, trained, and deployable (if deemed 
necessary). 
(6) Participation of the prevention workforce of 
the Department. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 90 days after 
publishing the strategy under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall implement such strategy. 
(c) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report not less than once each year 
on the progress of the implementation of the strategy until 
the Secretary determines all objectives of the strategy have
493 
been achieved. Each such report shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Challenges or barriers to implementation of 
the strategy. 
(2) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
embedded health care professionals and support pro-
fessionals. 
(3) Any workforce challenges in finding quali-
fied trained professionals to implement elements of 
the strategy. 
(4) Improvements to the strategy implemented 
by the Secretary. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means 
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
(2) The term ‘‘health care professional’’ in-
cludes a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical 
social worker, nurse practitioner, or mental health 
technician. 
(3) The term ‘‘high-risk unit’’ means a unit of 
a covered Armed Force that the Secretary of the 
military department concerned determines is exposed 
to high levels of stress, trauma, and operational
494 
tempo, and is more likely to experience negative 
health outcomes. 
(4) The term ‘‘support professional’’ means 
trained a professional in a field that immediately 
supports force resilience, such as a chaplain, nutri-
tionist, athletic trainer, or financial counselor. 
SEC. 743. STUDY ON NON-CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH SERV-
ICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments, shall conduct a study regarding the following: 
(1) How NCMH programs (including the Mili-
tary and Family Life Counseling Program), are im-
plemented throughout the Department of Defense, 
including distribution of NCMH professionals. 
(2) The differences in roles and responsibilities 
between NCMH professionals and clinical mental 
health professionals. 
(3) How the effectiveness of NCMH profes-
sionals and NCMH programs are measured. 
(4) The processes by which NCMH profes-
sionals— 
(A) track services they provide;
495 
(B) refer and track such referrals to clin-
ical mental health professionals, chaplains, and 
other service providers; and 
(C) ease the transition for such a referral 
to ensure a treatment plan continues smoothly. 
(5) The costs to the United States of NCMH 
programs of the Department during the calendar 
years 2019 through 2023. 
(6) The outcomes of NCMH programs. 
(7) Recommendations for the future of NCMH 
programs. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than June 1, 2024, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a report containing the results of the study under 
this section. 
(c) NCMH DEFINED.—The term ‘‘NCMH’’ means 
non-clinical mental health. 
SEC. 744. CLINICAL STUDY ON TREATMENT OF CERTAIN 
MEMBERS 
WITH 
CERTAIN 
CONDITIONS 
USING CERTAIN PSYCHEDELIC SUBSTANCES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall carry out a clinical study in military treatment facili-
ties on the treatment of members of the covered Armed
496 
Forces serving on active duty with a covered condition 
using covered psychedelic substances. 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year 
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 the 
results of the clinical study. The report shall include the 
following: 
(1) The number of members of the covered 
Armed Forces who participated in the clinical study. 
(2) The findings of such clinical study. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means 
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered condition’’ means any of 
the following: 
(A) Post-traumatic stress. 
(B) Traumatic brain injury. 
(C) Chronic traumatic encephalopathy. 
(3) The term ‘‘covered psychedelic substances’’ 
means any of the following: 
(A) 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine 
(commonly known as ‘‘MDMA’’). 
(B) Psilocybin.
497 
(C) Ibogaine. 
(D) 
5–Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine 
(commonly known as ‘‘DMT’’). 
SEC. 745. STUDY ON OPIOID ALTERNATIVES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall carry out a study in military treatment fa-
cilities on the efficacy of opioid alternatives for pain man-
agement. 
(b) 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 Senate and 
House of Representatives a report on the results of the 
study under this section. Such report shall include rec-
ommendations of the Secretary regarding the use of opioid 
alternatives in military treatment facilities. 
(c) OPIOID ALTERNATIVE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘opioid alternative’’ includes the following: 
(1) Cryotherapy. 
(2) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. 
(3) Sensory deprivation. 
SEC. 746. REPORT ON OVERDOSES BY MEMBERS OF CER-
TAIN ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT ON MILITARY OVERDOSES.—
498 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an-
nually thereafter for four subsequent years, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the number of 
annual overdoses among members of the covered 
Armed Forces. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following elements: 
(A) The total number of such members 
who suffered a fatal overdose during the pre-
vious calendar year, including— 
(i) demographic information, including 
gender, race, age, military department, 
rank, grade, station, and number of pre-
vious deployments; 
(ii) the location of the fatal overdose, 
including whether the overdose was on a 
military installation; and 
(iii) a list of the substances involved 
in the fatal overdose. 
(B) Of the members identified under sub-
paragraph (A)— 
(i) the number of members who pre-
viously had a non-fatal overdose;
499 
(ii) the number of members who re-
ceived mental health or substance use dis-
order services prior to a fatal or non-fatal 
overdose, including a description of wheth-
er such services were received from a pri-
vate sector provider; 
(iii) the number of members with co- 
morbid mental health diagnoses; 
(iv) the number of members who had 
been prescribed opioids, benzodiazepines, 
or stimulants; 
(v) the number of members who were 
previously prescribed or provided naloxone; 
(vi) the number of members who had 
a positive drug test prior to the fatal over-
dose, including any substance identified in 
such test; 
(vii) the number of members referred, 
including by self-referral, to medical treat-
ment, including medication treatment for 
opioid use disorder; 
(viii) with respect to each members 
identified in clause (vii), whether the mem-
bers was referred after a positive drug test 
and the source of such referral;
500 
(ix) of the members identified in 
clause (vii), the number of members who 
engaged in such medical treatment; and 
(x) the number of members who suf-
fered a fatal overdose in which a bystander 
was present. 
(C) The total number of such members 
who suffered a non-fatal overdose during the 
previous calendar year, including— 
(i) demographic information, including 
gender, race, age, military department, 
rank, grade, station, and number of pre-
vious deployments; 
(ii) a list of the substances involved in 
the non-fatal overdose; and 
(iii) a determination of whether the 
non-fatal overdose was intentional. 
(D) Of the members identified in subpara-
graph (C)— 
(i) the number of members who pre-
viously had a non-fatal overdose; 
(ii) the number of members who re-
ceived mental health or substance use dis-
order services prior to a non-fatal overdose;
501 
(iii) the number of members with co- 
morbid mental health diagnoses prior to a 
non-fatal overdose; 
(iv) the number of members who had 
been prescribed opioids, benzodiazepines, 
or stimulants prior to a non-fatal overdose; 
(v) the number of members who had 
a positive drug test prior to the fatal over-
dose, including any substance identified in 
such test; 
(vi) the number of members who suf-
fered a non-fatal overdose in which a by-
stander was present; 
(vii) the number of members who had 
been categorized as high risk and pre-
scribed or provided naloxone prior to a 
non-fatal overdose; 
(viii) the number of members who suf-
fered a non-fatal overdose in which 
naloxone was administered; 
(ix) the number of members referred 
to medical treatment, including medication 
treatment for opioid use disorder, following 
a non-fatal overdose;
502 
(x) of the members identified in clause 
(ix), the number of members who engaged 
in such medical treatment; 
(xi) the number of members referred, 
including by self-referral, to medical treat-
ment, including medication treatment for 
opioid use disorder; 
(xii) with respect to each members 
identified in clause (xi), whether the mem-
bers was referred after a positive drug test 
and the source of such referral; 
(xiii) of the members identified in 
clause (xi), the number of members who 
engaged in such medical treatment; and 
(xiv) 
the 
number 
of 
intentional 
overdoses. 
(E) An analysis of discernable patterns in 
fatal and non-fatal overdoses of such members, 
and existing or anticipated responses to such 
patterns by the Secretary of Defense. 
(F) A description of existing or anticipated 
response efforts to fatal and non-fatal overdoses 
at military bases that have rates of fatal 
overdoses that exceed the average rate of fatal 
overdoses in the United States.
503 
(G) The number of such members who are 
in recovery or currently taking a prescription 
medication for opioid use disorder. 
(H) The number of military family mem-
bers of such members who receive substance 
use disorder treatment at a medical facility of 
the Department of Defense. 
(I) An assessment of the availability of 
substance use disorder treatment for such mem-
bers who— 
(i) transferred military bases; or 
(ii) returned to the United States fol-
lowing an overseas tour. 
(J) The number of medical facilities of, or 
affiliated with, the Department of Defense that 
have opioid treatment programs. 
(K) A description of punitive measures 
taken by the Secretary of Defense in response 
to substance misuse, substance use disorder, or 
overdose by such members. 
(L) The number of military family mem-
bers who live on a military base who suffered 
a fatal or non-fatal overdose during the pre-
vious calendar year, including—
504 
(i) demographic information, including 
gender, race, age, and relationship to a 
members; 
(ii) the location of the overdose; 
(iii) a list of the substances involved 
in the overdose; and 
(iv) a determination of whether the 
overdose was intentional. 
(3) REPORTING ON FEWER THAN FIVE MEM-
BERS.—If the number of such members or military 
family members identified under any subparagraph 
of paragraph (2) is fewer than five, the Secretary of 
Defense shall for, such subparagraph— 
(A) not report the exact number of such 
members or military family members identified; 
and 
(B) report that fewer than five such mem-
bers or military family members were identified. 
(4) PRIVACY.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to authorize the disclosure by the Sec-
retary of Defense of personally identifiable informa-
tion of such members or military family members, 
including anonymized personal information that 
could be used to re-identify such members or mili-
tary family members.
505 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the congressional defense committees; 
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and 
(C) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means 
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
(3) The term ‘‘military family member’’ means 
a family member of a member of a covered Armed 
Force, including a spouse, parent, dependent, child, 
or guardian of a child of such a member. 
SEC. 747. FEASIBILITY REPORT REGARDING DHA EMPLOY-
MENT OF CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH PRO-
VIDERS AWAITING LICENSURE. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than September 
30, 2024, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report on the feasibility of revising 
policies of DHA regarding the supervision of covered men-
tal health employees in order to align with the policies set 
forth in VHA Directive 1027 of the Veterans Health Ad-
506 
ministration (dated October 23, 2019). In determining 
such feasibility, the Secretary shall consider issues includ-
ing the following: 
(1) The need to employ covered mental health 
employees in DHA. 
(2) The capacity of licensed mental health pro-
fessionals employed in DHA to supervise covered 
mental health employees. 
(3) The effects of such alignment on access by 
members of the Armed Forces to mental health care. 
(4) The potential risks and costs to the United 
States of such alignment. 
(5) Any statutory or regulatory changes nec-
essary for such alignment. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered mental health employee’’ 
means an individual— 
(A) employed by the Defense Health Agen-
cy as a psychologist, social worker, professional 
mental health counselor, or marriage and family 
therapist; and 
(B) who has yet to be licensed in such pro-
fession by a State. 
(2) The term ‘‘DHA’’ means the Defense 
Health Agency.
507 
(3) The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 901 of title 32, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 748. STUDY ON HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVID-
UALS SUPPORTING THE MISSIONS OF UNITED 
STATES FORCES, JAPAN, AND JOINT REGION 
MARIANAS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Commander, United 
States Indo-Pacific Command, shall conduct a study to de-
termine whether health care services available to covered 
individuals is sufficient to support— 
(1) the missions of United States Forces, 
Japan, and Joint Region Marianas; and 
(2) the National Defense Strategy. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under this section shall 
include the following elements: 
(1) With regards to health care services fur-
nished through the military health system to covered 
individuals, an assessment of— 
(A) the sufficiency of such services; and 
(B) challenges to such services. 
(2) A assessment of the availability of health 
care services to covered individuals, including— 
(A) the sufficiency of such services; and 
(B) challenges to such services.
508 
(3) A mission risk assessment for United States 
Forces, Japan, and Joint Region Marianas if health 
care services furnished through the military health 
system were available in the following scenarios: 
(A) To members, civilian employees of the 
Department of Defense, and dependents of such 
members and employees, only. 
(B) To covered individuals on a space- 
available basis, pursuant to the policy memo-
randum of the Defense Health Agency dated 
March 1, 2023. 
(C) To all covered individuals. 
(4) A mission cost analysis based on the risk 
assessment under paragraph (3). 
(5) Recommendations of the Commander re-
garding the assessment under paragraph (3) and the 
analysis under paragraph (4), including a rec-
ommendation regarding which scenario in paragraph 
(3) best supports the National Defense Strategy for 
the areas of responsibility of United States Forces, 
Japan, and Joint Region Marianas. 
(c) BRIEFINGS; REPORT.—The Commander, in co-
ordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Health Affairs, shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives—
509 
(1) an interim briefing on the study not later 
than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act; 
(2) a final briefing not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(3) a final report not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, including rec-
ommendations regarding legislation or funding to 
improve care services furnished through the military 
health system to covered individuals. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means an in-
dividual who supports the mission of United States 
Forces, Japan, or Joint Region Marianas, includ-
ing— 
(A) a member of the Armed Forces; 
(B) an employee of the Federal Govern-
ment; 
(C) a dependent of a member described in 
subparagraph (B) or an employee described in 
subparagraph (C); or 
(D) an employee of an entity that has en-
tered into an agreement with the United States. 
(2) The term ‘‘health care services’’ includes 
such health care services furnished—
510 
(A) through the military health system; 
and 
(B) by a source not described in subpara-
graph (A). 
SEC. 749. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL PTSD COLLABORATIVE 
RESEARCH. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM FOR INCREASED COOPERATION 
ON POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER RESEARCH BE-
TWEEN UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL.— 
(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Psychological Health and Traumatic 
Brain Injury Research Program, should seek to ex-
plore scientific collaboration between American aca-
demic institutions and nonprofit research entities, 
and Israeli institutions with expertise in researching, 
diagnosing, and treating post-traumatic stress dis-
order. 
(2) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of De-
fense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs and the Secretary of State, shall award 
grants to eligible entities to carry out collaborative 
research between the United States and Israel with 
respect to post-traumatic stress disorders. The Sec-
retary of Defense shall carry out the grant program