197
(1) measures that would improve the programs 
and activities of the Department and the Adminis-
tration that are designed to address the economic 
concerns, as well as the business challenges and op-
portunities, of entrepreneurial service members; and 
(2) measures that would improve the coordina-
tion of the programs and activities relating to entre-
preneurial service members conducted by—
(A) the National Committee for Employer 
Support of the National Guard and Reserve; 
(B) Veterans Business Outreach Centers; 
(C) Federal procurement entities; and 
(D) any other elements within, or affiliates 
of, the Department of Defense or the Small 
Business Administration. 
(b) PLAN.—The task force shall develop within 90 
days after its first meeting, and revise as appropriate 
thereafter, a plan for carrying out the duty under sub-
section (a). 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the duty under 
subsection (a), the task force shall consult with appro-
priate Federal, State, and local agencies and appropriate 
elements of the private sector, including academic institu-
tions and industry representatives. 
(d) COMPOSITION.—
198
(1) CO-CHAIRS.—The task force shall have two 
co-chairs, one an officer or employee of the Depart-
ment of Defense assigned by the Secretary, and one 
an officer or employee of the Small Business Admin-
istration assigned by the Administrator. The initial 
assignments shall be made within 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) OTHER MEMBERS.—The Secretary, in co-
ordination with the Administrator, shall appoint the 
remaining task force members, numbering not less 
than 8 and not more than 15. The selections shall 
be made within 120 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. The Secretary, in coordination 
with the Administrator, shall ensure that the task 
force includes individuals from both public service 
and the private sector, and that each of the fol-
lowing groups is represented on the task force: 
(A) Entrepreneurial service members who 
are owners of small businesses. 
(B) Small businesses that employ entrepre-
neurial service members as essential employees. 
(C) Associations that further the interests 
of small businesses, members of the reserve 
components of the Armed Forces, or both.
199
(D) Any other entities that the Secretary, 
in coordination with the Administrator, con-
siders appropriate. 
(3) COMPENSATION.—An individual serving as 
a member of the task force shall not receive com-
pensation by reason of that service. 
(e) MEETINGS.—
(1) FREQUENCY.—The task force shall meet 
not less frequently than twice per year. The initial 
meeting shall be held within 150 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the task force shall constitute a quorum. 
(f) REPORTS.—The task force shall provide to the 
Secretary and the Administrator not only the minutes of 
each meeting, but also a report of its findings and rec-
ommendations, should there be any, within 90 days of 
each meeting. Not later than 60 days after the receipt of 
such a report—
(1) the Secretary shall submit a copy of the re-
port to the Committee on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate; and 
(2) the Administrator shall submit a copy of the 
report to the Committee on Small Business of the
200
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate. 
(g) DETAIL OF CERTAIN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—
The Secretary may detail an officer or employee of the 
Department of Defense, and the Administrator may detail 
an officer or employee of the Small Business Administra-
tion, to the task force without additional reimbursement 
and without interruption or loss of civil status or privilege. 
(h) EXPENSES.—The Department of Defense and the 
Small Business Administration shall share equally in the 
cost of supporting the task force. 
(i) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘entrepre-
neurial service member’’ means an individual who is 
both—
(1) an actual or prospective owner of, or an es-
sential employee of, a small business; and 
(2) a member of a reserve component of the 
Armed Forces. 
(j) TERMINATION.—The task force shall terminate 
September 30, 2009. 
SEC. 593. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON MILITARY 
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General shall submit to Congress a report con-
201
cerning the frequency and consequences of members of the 
Armed Forces claiming status as a military conscientious 
objector between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 
2006. 
(b) CONTENT OF REPORT.—The report shall specifi-
cally address the following: 
(1) The number of all applications for status as 
a military conscientious objector, even if the applica-
tion was not acted on or other discharge given, bro-
ken down by military branch, including the Coast 
Guard, and regular and reserve components. 
(2) Number of discharges or reassignments 
given. 
(3) The process used to consider applications, 
including average time frame and any reassignment 
to non-combatant duties while claim pending. 
(4) Reasons for approval or disapproval of ap-
plications. 
(5) Any difference in benefits upon discharge as 
a military conscientious objector compared to other 
discharges. 
(6) The effect of stop loss provisions in First 
Gulf War and currently, cancellation of orders to 
combat or rear attachment duty while claim pend-
ing.
202
(7) Pre-war statistical comparisons. 
SEC. 594. COMMISSION ON THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RE-
SERVES. 
(a) SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF COMMISSION.—Sub-
section (f)(2) of section 513 of the Ronald W. Reagan Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 
(Public Law 108–375; 118 Stat. 1882) is amended by 
striking ‘‘one year’’ and inserting ‘‘18 months’’. 
(b) ADDITIONAL MATTERS TO BE REVIEWED BY 
COMMISSION.—The Commission on the National Guard 
and Reserves shall include among the matters it studies 
(in addition to the matters specified in subsection (c) of 
such section 513) the following: 
(1) PROVISIONS
OF
H.R. 5200, 109TH
CON-
GRESS.—The advisability and feasibility of imple-
menting the provisions of H.R. 5200 of the 109th 
Congress, as introduced in the House of Representa-
tives on April 26, 2006. 
(2) CHIEF OF NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU.—As 
an alternative to implementation of the provisions of 
the bill specified in paragraph (1) that provide for 
the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to be a 
member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to hold the 
grade of general, the advisability and feasibility of 
providing for the Chief of the National Guard Bu-