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(C) members who have experienced multiple
recent deployments; and
(D) members who have been wounded or in-
jured during deployment; and
(2) develop recommendations on means of im-
proving assistance to members of the National Guard
and Reserve described in subsection (a) in meeting the
needs identified in paragraph (1) on their return
from deployment as described in subsection (a).
(d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out its responsibil-
ities under subsection (c), the working group established
under subsection (a) shall consult with the following:
(1) Appropriate personnel of the Small Business
Administration.
(2) Representatives of employers who employ
members of the National Guard and Reserve described
in subsection (a) on their return to civilian employ-
ment as described in that subsection.
(3) Representatives of employee assistance orga-
nizations.
(4) Representatives of associations of employers.
(5) Representatives of organizations that assist
wounded or injured members of the National Guard
and Reserves in finding or sustaining employment.
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(6) Representatives of such other public or pri-
vate organizations and entities as the working group
considers appropriate.
(e) REPORT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the working
group established under subsection (a) shall submit to
the Secretary of Defense and Congress a report on its
activities under subsection (c).
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following:
(A) The results of the identification and as-
sessment required under subsection (c)(1).
(B) The recommendations developed under
subsection (c)(2), including recommendations on
the following:
(i) The provision of outreach and
training to employers, employment assist-
ance organizations, and associations of em-
ployers on the employment and transition
needs of members of the National Guard
and Reserve described in subsection (a)
upon their return from deployment as de-
scribed in that subsection.
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(ii) The provision of outreach and
training to employers, employment assist-
ance organizations, and associations of em-
ployers on the needs of family members of
such members.
(iii) The improvement of collaboration
between the pubic and private sectors in
order to ensure the successful transition of
such members into civilian employment
upon their return from such deployment.
(3) AVAILABILITY
TO
PUBLIC.—The Secretary
shall take appropriate actions to make the report
under paragraph (1) available to the public, includ-
ing through the Internet website of the Department of
Defense.
(f) TERMINATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The working group established
under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that
is two years after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(2) INTERIM DUTIES.—During the period begin-
ning on the date of the submittal of the report re-
quired by subsection (e) and the termination of the
working group under paragraph (1), the working
group shall serve as an advisory board to the Office
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for Employers and Employment Assistance Organiza-
tions under section 683.
(g) EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘employment assistance
organization’’ means an organization or entity, whether
public or private, that provides assistance to individuals
in finding or retaining employment, including organiza-
tions and entities under military career support programs.
SEC. 683. OFFICE FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYMENT AS-
SISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) DESIGNATION OF OFFICE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall
designate an office within the Department of Defense
to assist employers, employment assistance organiza-
tions, and associations of employers in facilitating
the successful transition to civilian employment of
members of the National Guard and Reserve return-
ing from deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom or
Operation Enduring Freedom.
(2) NAME.—The office designated under this sub-
section shall be known as the ‘‘Office for Employers
and Employment Assistance Organizations’’ (in this
section referred to as the ‘‘Office’’).
(3) HEAD.—The Secretary shall designate an in-
dividual to act as the head of the Office.
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(4) INTEGRATION.—In designating the Office, the
Secretary shall ensure close communication between
the Office and the military departments, including
the commands of the reserve components of the Armed
Forces.
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The Office shall have the following
functions:
(1) To provide education and technical assist-
ance to employers, employment assistance organiza-
tions, and associations of employers to assist them in
facilitating the successful transition to civilian em-
ployment of members of the National Guard and Re-
serve described in subsection (a) on their return from
deployment as described in that subsection.
(2) To provide education and technical assist-
ance to employers, employment assistance organiza-
tions, and associations of employers to assist them in
facilitating the successful adjustment of family mem-
bers of the National Guard and Reserve to the deploy-
ment and return from deployment of members of the
National Guard and Reserve as described in that sub-
section.
(c) RESOURCES TO BE PROVIDED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the functions
specified in subsection (b), the Office shall provide
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employers, employment assistance organizations, and
associations of employers resources, services, and as-
sistance that include the following:
(A) Guidelines on best practices and effec-
tive strategies.
(B) Education on the physical and mental
health conditions that can and may be experi-
enced by members of the National Guard and
Reserve described in subsection (a) on their re-
turn from deployment as described in that sub-
section in transitioning to civilian employment,
including 
Post 
Traumatic 
Stress 
Disorder
(PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), in-
cluding education on—
(i) the detection of warning signs of
such conditions;
(ii) the medical, mental health, and
employment services available to such mem-
bers, including materials on services offered
by the Department of Defense, the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs (including through
the vet center program under section 1712A
of title 38, United States Code), the Depart-
ment of Labor, military support programs,
and community mental health clinics; and
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(iii) the mechanisms for referring such
members for services described in clause (ii)
and for other medical and mental health
screening and care when appropriate.
(C) Education on the range and types of
potential physical and mental health effects of
deployment and post-deployment adjustment on
family members of members of the National
Guard and Reserve described in subsection (a),
including education on—
(i) the detection of warning signs of
such effects on family members of members
of the National Guard and Reserves;
(ii) the medical, mental health, and
employment services available to such fam-
ily members, including materials on such
services as described in subparagraph
(B)(ii); and
(iii) mechanisms for referring such
family members for services described in
clause (ii) and for medical and mental
health screening and care when appro-
priate.
(D) Education on mechanisms, strategies,
and resources for accommodating and employing
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wounded or injured members of the National
Guard and Reserves in work settings.
(2) PROVISION OF RESOURCES.—The Office shall
make resources, services, and assistance available
under this subsection through such mechanisms as the
head of the Office considers appropriate, including the
Internet, video conferencing, telephone services, work-
shops, trainings, presentations, group forums, and
other mechanisms.
(d) PERSONNEL AND OTHER RESOURCES.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall assign to the Office such personnel,
funding, and other resources as are required to ensure the
effective discharge by the Office of the functions under sub-
section (b).
(e) REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES.—
(1) ANNUAL REPORT BY OFFICE.—Not later than
one year after the designation of the Office, and an-
nually thereafter, the head of the Office, in consulta-
tion with the working group established pursuant to
section 682 (while in effect), shall submit to the Sec-
retary of Defense a written report on the progress and
outcomes of the Office during the one-year period end-
ing on the date of such report.
(2) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than
60 days after receipt of a report under paragraph (1),
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the Secretary shall transmit such report to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and the
House of Representatives, together with—
(A) such comments on such report, and such
assessment of the effectiveness of the Office, as the
Secretary considers appropriate; and
(B) such recommendations on means of im-
proving the effectiveness of the Office as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate.
(3) AVAILABILITY
TO
PUBLIC.—The Secretary
shall take appropriate actions to make each report
under paragraph (2) available to the public, includ-
ing through the Internet website of the Office.
(f) EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘employment assistance
organization’’ means an organization or entity, whether
public or private, that provides assistance to individuals
in finding or retaining employment, including organiza-
tions and entities under military career support programs.
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SEC. 684. ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPARTMENT
OF 
DEFENSE 
TASK 
FORCE 
ON 
MENTAL
HEALTH RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH OF
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RE-
SERVE 
DEPLOYED 
IN 
OPERATION 
IRAQI
FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREE-
DOM.
(a) ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—Section 723 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2006 (Public Law 109–163; 119 Stat. 3348) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and
(g) as subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following
new subsection (d):
‘‘(d) ASSESSMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF
MEMBERS OF NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE DEPLOYED
IN OIF OR OEF.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the activities
required under subsection (c), the task force shall, not
later than 12 months after the date of the enactment
of the Heroes at Home Act of 2006, submit to the Sec-
retary a report containing an assessment and rec-
ommendations on the needs with respect to mental
health of members of the National Guard and Reserve
who are deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Op-