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SEC. 623. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO REIMBURSE MEMBERS 
FOR SPOUSE RELICENSING COSTS PURSUANT TO 
A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION. 
Section 453 of title 37, United States Code, as amended 
by section 622, is further amended, in subsection (g)(3), by 
striking ‘‘December 31, 2024’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2029’’. 
SEC. 624. REIMBURSEMENT OF A MEMBER OF THE UNIFORMED 
SERVICES FOR COSTS TO RELOCATE A PET THAT 
ARISE FROM A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION. 
Section 453 of title 37, United States Code, as amended 
by sections 622, and 623, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(h) REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION OF PETS 
ARISING FROM CERTAIN PERMANENT CHANGES
OF STA-
TIONS.—(1) The Secretary concerned may reimburse a mem-
ber for any cost related to the relocation of a pet that arises 
from a permanent change of station of such member within 
the continental United States. Such reimbursement may not 
exceed $550 for each such permanent change of station. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned may reimburse a member 
for any cost related to the relocation of a pet that arises from 
a permanent change of station of such member to or from 
a duty station located outside the continental United States. 
Such reimbursement may not exceed $4,000 for each such 
permanent change of station.’’.
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SEC. 625. TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCES FOR 
CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO 
ATTEND A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION 
INSTITUTION OR TRAINING CLASSES. 
Section 453 of title 37, United States Code, as amended 
by sections 622, 623, and 624, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(i) ATTENDANCE AT PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDU-
CATION INSTITUTION OR TRAINING CLASSES.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary of the military department con-
cerned may authorize temporary duty status, and travel 
and transportation allowances payable to a member in 
such status, for a member under the jurisdiction of such 
Secretary who is reassigned— 
‘‘(A) between duty stations located within the 
United States; 
‘‘(B) for a period of not more than one year; 
‘‘(C) for the purpose of participating in profes-
sional military education or training classes, 
‘‘(D) with orders to return to the duty station 
where the member maintains primary residence and 
the dependents of such member reside. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary of the military department 
concerned assigns permanent duty status to a member 
described in paragraph (1), such member shall be eligi-
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ble for travel and transportation allowances including 
the following: 
‘‘(A) Transportation, including mileage at the 
same rate paid for a permanent change of station. 
‘‘(B) Per diem while traveling between the per-
manent duty station and professional military edu-
cation institution or training site. 
‘‘(C) Per diem paid in the same manner and 
amount as temporary lodging expenses. 
‘‘(D) Per diem equal to the amount of the 
basic allowance for housing under section 403 of 
this title paid to a member— 
‘‘(i) in the grade of such member; 
‘‘(ii) without dependents; 
‘‘(iii) who resides in the military housing 
area in which the professional military edu-
cation institution or training site is located. 
‘‘(E) Movement of household goods in an 
amount determined under applicable regulations.’’. 
SEC. 
626. 
CONFORMING 
AMENDMENTS 
TO 
UPDATE 
REF-
ERENCES TO TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION AU-
THORITIES. 
(a) BALANCED BUDGET
AND EMERGENCY DEFICIT 
CONTROL ACT
OF 1985.—Section 256(g)(2)(B)(ii) of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(2 U.S.C. 906(g)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking ‘‘sections 
403a and 475’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 403b and 405’’. 
(b) TITLE 5.—Title 5, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 4109(a)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘sections 
474 and 475’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 405 and 
452’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘sections 
476 and 479’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 452 and 
453(c)’’; 
(2) in section 5725(c)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘section 
476(b)(1)(H)(iii)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (c) and (d) 
of section 453’’; and 
(3) in section 5760— 
(A) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘section 
481h(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 451(a)’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)— 
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘section 
474(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 464’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘section 
481h(d)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 452(d)’’. 
(c) TITLE 10.—Title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 710—
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(A) in subsection (f)(4)(A), in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘section 474’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 452’’; and 
(B) in subsection (h)(4), by striking ‘‘section 
481f’’ and inserting ‘‘section 453(f)’’; 
(2) in section 1174a(b)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘sections 
474 and 476’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 452 and 453(c)’’; 
(3) in section 1175(j), by striking ‘‘sections 474 
and 476’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 452 and 453(c)’’; 
(4) in section 1175a(e)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘sections 
474 and 476’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 452 and 453(c)’’; 
(5) in section 1491(d)(3), by striking ‘‘section 
495(a)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 435(a)(2)’’; 
(6) in section 2013(b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘sections 
474 and 475’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 405 and 
452’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘sections 
476 and 479’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 452 and 
453(c)’’; 
(7) in section 2493(a)(4)(B)(ii), by striking ‘‘section 
481f(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 453(f)’’; 
(8) in section 2613(g), by striking ‘‘section 
481h(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 451(a)’’; and 
(9) in section 12503—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, 
by striking ‘‘sections 206 and 495’’ and inserting 
‘‘sections 206 and 435’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 495’’ and inserting ‘‘section 435’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘chapter 7’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 452’’. 
(d) TITLE 14.—Section 2764 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended, in the first and third sentences, by striking 
‘‘subsection (b) of section 476’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
453(c)’’. 
(e) TITLE 32.—Section 115 of title 32, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the third sentence, by strik-
ing ‘‘sections 206 and 495’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 206 
and 435’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘section 
495’’ and inserting ‘‘section 435’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘chapter 7’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 452’’. 
(f) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS-
TRATION COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS ACT OF 2002.— 
Section 236(f)(4)(A) of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 
2002 (33 U.S.C. 3036(f)(4)(A)) is amended, in the matter
530 
•HRES 1512 EH 
preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘section 474’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 452’’. 
(g) TITLE 36.—Section 2101(b)(2) of title 36, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 475’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 405’’. 
(h) TITLE 37.—Title 37, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 403— 
(A) in subsection (d)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 476’’ and inserting ‘‘section 452’’; and 
(B) in subsection (g)— 
(i) in paragraph (2), in the second sen-
tence, by striking ‘‘section 474’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 452’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘section 
476’’ and inserting ‘‘section 453(c)’’; 
(2) in section 420(b), by striking ‘‘sections 474– 
481’’ and inserting ‘‘section 452’’; 
(3) in section 422(a), by striking ‘‘section 480’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 452’’; 
(4) in section 427— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 476’’ and inserting ‘‘section 452’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘section 
476’’ and inserting ‘‘section 452’’;
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(5) 
in 
section 
433(b), 
by 
striking 
‘‘section 
474(d)(2)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 452’’; 
(6) in section 451(a)(2)(H)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘section 481f’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 453(f)’’; 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘section 481h’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 452(b)(12)’’; 
(C) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘section 481j’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 452(b)(13)’’; 
(D) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘section 481k’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 452(b)(14)’’; and 
(E) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘section 481l’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 452(b)(15)’’; 
(7) in section 1002(b)(1), by striking ‘‘section 
474(a)–(d), and (f),’’ and inserting ‘‘section 452’’; 
(8) in section 1003, by striking ‘‘sections 402–403b, 
474–477, 479–481, and 414’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 
402 through 403b, 405, 414, 452, and 453’’; and 
(9) in section 1006(g)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 477’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 452(c)(2)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘section 475a(a)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘section 452(b)(11)’’. 
(i) 
CHILD
NUTRITION
ACT
OF
1966.—Section 
17(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
1786(d)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 475’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 405’’. 
SEC. 627. PILOT PROGRAM TO REIMBURSE MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES FOR CERTAIN CHILD CARE COSTS 
INCIDENT TO A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION 
OR ASSIGNMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
carry out a pilot program to reimburse members of the 
Armed Forces for certain child care costs incident to a per-
manent change of station or assignment. 
(b) TRAVEL
AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCES.— 
Under the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall treat 
a designated child care provider as an authorized traveler if 
child care is not available to a member of the Armed Forces 
at a military child development center at the permanent duty 
location of such member not later than 30 days after the 
member arrives at such location. 
(c) 
REIMBURSEMENT
OF
CERTAIN
CHILD
CARE 
COSTS.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—Under the pilot program, the 
Secretary of Defense may reimburse a member of the 
Armed Forces for travel expenses for a designated child 
care provider when—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) the member is reassigned, either as a per-
manent change of station or permanent change of 
assignment, to a new duty station; 
(B) the movement of the member’s dependents 
is authorized at the expense of the United States 
under section 451 of title 37, United States Code, 
as part of the reassignment; 
(C) child care is not available at a military 
child development center at such duty station not 
later than 30 days after the member arrives at such 
duty station; and 
(D) the dependent child is on the wait list for 
child care at such military child development center. 
(2) MAXIMUM AMOUNTS.—Reimbursement provided 
to a member under this subsection may not exceed— 
(A) $500 for a reassignment between duty sta-
tions within the continental United States; and 
(B) $1,500 for a reassignment involving a duty 
station outside of the continental United States. 
(3) DEADLINE.—A member may not apply for reim-
bursement under this subsection later than one year 
after a reassignment described in paragraph (1). 
(4) CONCURRENT
RECEIPT
PROHIBITED.—In the 
event a household contains more than one member eligi-
ble for reimbursement under this subsection, reimburse-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
ment may be paid to one member among such members 
as such members shall jointly elect. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2027, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the 
pilot program, including the recommendation of the Secretary 
whether to make the pilot program permanent. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The pilot program shall terminate 
on September 30, 2028. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘authorized traveler’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 451 of title 37, United States 
Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘designated child care provider’’ 
means an adult selected by a member of the armed 
forces to provide child care to a dependent child of such 
member. 
(3) The term ‘‘military child development center’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 1800 of title 
10, United States Code. 
Subtitle D—Leave 
SEC. 631. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO LEAVE ENTITLEMENT 
AND ACCUMULATION. 
(a) REPEAL OF OBSOLETE AUTHORITY.—Section 701 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) by striking subsection (d); and 
(2) by redesignating subsections (e) through (m) as 
subsections (d) through (l). 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 701 OF 
TITLE 10.—Section 701 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘subsections (d), 
(f), and (g)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (e) and (f)’’; 
(2) in subsection (f), as redesignated by subsection 
(a)(2), in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘subsections (b), 
(d), and (f)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (b) and (e)’’; 
and 
(3) in subsection (i), as so redesignated, in the first 
sentence, by striking ‘‘subsections (b), (d), and (f)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsections (b) and (e)’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO OTHER PROVISIONS 
OF LAW.— 
(1) TITLE 14.—Section 2508(a) of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 701(f)(2)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 701(e)’’. 
(2) TITLE 37.—Title 37, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(A) in section 501— 
(i) in subsection (b)(6), by striking ‘‘120 
days of leave under section 701(f)(1)’’ and in-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
serting ‘‘90 days of leave under section 
701(e)’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘section 
701(g)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 701(f)’’; and 
(B) in section 502(b), by striking ‘‘section 
701(h)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 701(g)’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section take effect on January 1, 2023. 
SEC. 632. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO ALLOW MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES TO ACCUMULATE LEAVE 
IN EXCESS OF 60 DAYS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 701 of title 10, United 
States Code, as amended by section 631, is further amended 
by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(e)(1) The Secretary concerned, under uniform regula-
tions to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, may au-
thorize a member described in paragraph (2) to retain not 
more than 30 days of excess leave. 
‘‘(2) A member described in this paragraph is a member 
who— 
‘‘(A)(i) serves on active duty for a continuous pe-
riod of at least 120 days for which the member is enti-
tled to special pay under section 310(a) of title 37; or
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(ii) is assigned to a deployable ship or mobile unit 
or to other duty designated for the purposes of this sec-
tion; 
‘‘(B) except for this subsection, would lose any ex-
cess leave at the end of the fiscal year; and 
‘‘(C) receives, from the first officer in a grade above 
O-6 in the chain of command of such member, written 
authorization to retain such excess leave. 
‘‘(3) Excess leave retained by a member under this sub-
section shall be forfeited unless used before the end of the 
second fiscal year after the end of the fiscal year in which 
the service or assignment described in paragraph (2)(A) ter-
minated. 
‘‘(4) In this subsection, the term ‘excess leave’ means 
leave accrued by a member in excess of the number of days 
of leave authorized to be accumulated under subsection (b).’’. 
(b) TRANSITION RULE.—Leave in excess of 90 days, ac-
cumulated by a member of the Armed Forces under section 
701 of such title before the effective date under subsection 
(c), is forfeited unless— 
(1) used by the member on or before September 30, 
2026; or 
(2) the retention of such leave is otherwise author-
ized by law.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) takes effect on January 1, 2023. 
SEC. 633. CONVALESCENT LEAVE FOR A MEMBER OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 701 of title 10, United 
States Code, as amended by sections 631 and 632, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(m)(1) Except as provided by subsection (h)(3), and 
under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, a 
member of the armed forces diagnosed with a medical condi-
tion is allowed convalescent leave if— 
‘‘(A) the medical or behavioral health provider of 
the member— 
‘‘(i) determines that the member is not yet fit 
for duty as a result of that condition; and 
‘‘(ii) recommends such leave for the member to 
provide for the convalescence of the member from 
that condition; and 
‘‘(B) the commanding officer of the member or the 
commander of the military medical treatment facility au-
thorizes such leave for the member. 
‘‘(2) A member may take not more than 30 days of con-
valescent leave under paragraph (1) with respect to a condi-
tion described in that paragraph unless—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(A) such leave in excess of 30 days is authorized 
by— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary concerned; or 
‘‘(ii) an individual at the level designated by 
the Secretary concerned, but not below the grade of 
O–5 or the civilian equivalent; or 
‘‘(B) the member is authorized to receive convales-
cent leave under subsection (h)(3) in conjunction with 
the birth of a child. 
‘‘(3)(A) Convalescent leave may be authorized under 
paragraph (1) only for a medical condition of a member and 
may not be authorized for a member in connection with a 
condition of a dependent or other family member of the mem-
ber. 
‘‘(B) In authorizing convalescent leave for a member 
under paragraph (1) with respect to a condition described in 
that paragraph, the commanding officer of the member or the 
commander of the military medical treatment facility, as the 
case may be, shall— 
‘‘(i) limit the duration of such leave to the min-
imum necessary in relation to the diagnosis, prognosis, 
and probable final disposition of the condition of the 
member; and 
‘‘(ii) authorize leave tailored to the specific medical 
needs of the member rather than (except for convales-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
cent leave provided for under subsection (h)(3)) author-
izing leave based on a predetermined formula. 
‘‘(4) A member taking convalescent leave under para-
graph (1) shall not have the member’s leave account reduced 
as a result of taking such leave. 
‘‘(5) In this subsection, the term ‘military medical treat-
ment facility’ means a facility described in subsection (b), (c), 
or (d) of section 1073d of this title.’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF CONVALESCENT LEAVE FOR BIRTH 
OF CHILD.—Paragraph (4) of subsection (h) of such section, 
as redesignated by section 632, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(4)’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(B) Convalescent leave may be authorized under sub-
paragraph (A) only for a medical condition of a member and 
may not be authorized for a member in connection with a 
condition of a dependent or other family member of the mem-
ber.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on January 1, 2023.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
Subtitle E—Family and Survivor 
Benefits 
SEC. 641. CLAIMS RELATING TO THE RETURN OF PERSONAL EF-
FECTS OF A DECEASED MEMBER OF THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
Section 1482(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(11)(A) Delivery of personal effects of a decedent 
to the next of kin or other appropriate person. 
‘‘(B) If the Secretary concerned enters into an 
agreement with an entity to carry out subparagraph (A), 
the Secretary concerned may, at the request of the per-
son described in such subparagraph, pursue a claim 
against such entity that arises from the failure of such 
entity to substantially perform such subparagraph. 
‘‘(C) If an entity described in subparagraph (B) 
fails to substantially perform subparagraph (A) by dam-
aging, losing, or destroying the personal effects of a de-
cedent, the Secretary concerned shall reimburse the per-
son designated under subsection (c) the greater of 
$1,000 or the fair market value of such damage, loss, or 
destruction. The Secretary concerned may request, from 
the person designated under subsection (c), proof of fair 
market value and ownership of the personal effects.’’.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 642. EXTENSION OF PARENT FEE DISCOUNT TO CHILD 
CARE EMPLOYEES. 
Section 1793 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) CHILD CARE EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT.—The Sec-
retary of Defense may, to support recruitment and retention 
initiatives, charge a child care employee, whose child attends 
a military child development center, a reduced fee for such 
attendance.’’. 
SEC. 643. SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN OPEN SEASON. 
(a) ELECTIONS BY PERSONS NOT CURRENTLY PARTICI-
PATING IN SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN.— 
(1) ELECTION OF SBP COVERAGE.—An eligible re-
tired or former member may elect to participate in the 
Survivor Benefit Plan during the open season described 
in subsection (e). 
(2) ELIGIBLE RETIRED OR FORMER MEMBERS.— 
For purposes of paragraph (1), an eligible retired or 
former member is a member or former member of the 
uniformed services who, on or before the day before the 
first day of the open season described in subsection 
(e)— 
(A) is entitled to retired pay; or 
(B) would be entitled to retired pay under 
chapter 1223 of title 10, United States Code (or 
chapter 67 of such title as in effect before October
543 
•HRES 1512 EH 
5, 1994), but for the fact that such member or 
former member is under 60 years of age. 
(3) STATUS UNDER SBP OF PERSONS MAKING ELEC-
TIONS.— 
(A) STANDARD
ANNUITY.—A person making 
an election under paragraph (1) by reason of eligi-
bility under paragraph (2)(A) shall be treated for 
all purposes as providing a standard annuity under 
the Survivor Benefit Plan. 
(B) RESERVE-COMPONENT ANNUITY.—A per-
son making an election under paragraph (1) by rea-
son of eligibility under paragraph (2)(B) shall be 
treated for all purposes as providing a reserve-com-
ponent annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan. 
(4) PREMIUMS FOR OPEN SEASON.— 
(A) PREMIUMS
TO
BE
CHARGED.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall prescribe in regulations pre-
miums that a person who makes an election under 
paragraph (1) shall be required to pay for partici-
pating in the Survivor Benefit Plan pursuant to the 
election. 
(B) 
AMOUNT
OF
PREMIUMS.—The 
total 
amount of the premiums to be paid by a person 
under the regulations prescribed under subpara-
graph (A) shall be equal to the sum of—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(i) the total amount by which the retired 
pay of the person would have been reduced be-
fore the effective date of the election under 
subsection (d) if the person had elected to par-
ticipate in the Survivor Benefit Plan (for the 
same base amount specified in the election) at 
the first opportunity that was afforded the per-
son to participate under chapter 73 of title 10, 
United States Code; 
(ii) interest on the amount by which the 
retired pay of the person would have been so 
reduced, computed from the date on which the 
retired pay would have been so reduced at such 
rate or rates and according to such method-
ology as the Secretary determines reasonable; 
and 
(iii) any additional amount that the Sec-
retary determines necessary to protect the ac-
tuarial soundness of the Department of De-
fense Military Retirement Fund against any in-
creased risk for the fund that is associated 
with the election. 
(C) PREMIUMS TO BE CREDITED TO RETIRE-
MENT
FUND.—Premiums paid under the regula-
tions prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall be
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•HRES 1512 EH 
credited to the Department of Defense Military Re-
tirement Fund. 
(b) ELECTIONS
BY
PERSONS
CURRENTLY
PARTICI-
PATING IN SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN.— 
(1) ELECTION OF TO DISCONTINUE SBP PARTICIPA-
TION.—A person participating in the Survivor Benefit 
Plan on the day before the first day of the open season 
described in subsection (e) may elect to discontinue such 
participation during the open season. 
(2) CONSENT OF BENEFICIARIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
paragraph (B), a person described in paragraph (1) 
may not make an election under that paragraph 
without the concurrence of— 
(i) each designated beneficiary of such 
person under the Survivor Benefit Plan; and 
(ii) the spouse of such person, if such per-
son is married. 
(B) EXCEPTION WHEN BENEFICIARY UNAVAIL-
ABLE.—A person may make an election under para-
graph (1) without a concurrence required under 
subparagraph (2) if the person establishes to the 
satisfaction of the Secretary concerned—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(i) that the whereabouts of the spouse or 
beneficiary, as the case may be, cannot be de-
termined; or 
(ii) that, due to exceptional circumstances, 
requiring the person to seek the consent of the 
spouse or beneficiary, as the case may be, 
would otherwise be inappropriate. 
(3) TREATMENT OF PREMIUMS.— 
(A) DISCONTINUATION
OF
REDUCTIONS
IN 
PAY.—As of the effective date under subsection (d) 
of an election by a person under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary concerned shall discontinue the reduction 
being made in the retired pay of the person arising 
from participation in the Survivor Benefit Plan or, 
in the case of a person who has been required to 
make deposits in the Treasury on account of par-
ticipation in the Survivor Benefit Plan, that person 
may discontinue making such deposits effective on 
such effective date. 
(B) TREATMENT OF PREVIOUS REDUCTIONS.— 
A person who makes an election under paragraph 
(1) is not entitled to a refund of any reduction or 
deposit described in subparagraph (A) made before 
such effective date. 
(c) MANNER OF MAKING ELECTIONS.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—An election under subsection (a) 
or (b) shall be made in writing, signed by the person 
making the election, and received by the Secretary con-
cerned before the end of the open season described in 
subsection (e). 
(2) CONDITIONS.—Except as provided in paragraph 
(3), an election under subsection (a) shall be made sub-
ject to the same conditions, and with the same opportu-
nities for designation of beneficiaries and specification of 
base amount, that apply under the Survivor Benefit 
Plan. 
(3) ELECTION MUST BE VOLUNTARY.—An election 
under subsection (a) or (b) is not effective unless the 
person making the election declares the election to be 
voluntary. An election under subsection (a) or (b) to par-
ticipate or not to participate in the Survivor Benefit 
Plan may not be required by any court. An election by 
a person under subsection (a) to participate in the Sur-
vivor Benefit Plan is not subject to the concurrence of 
a spouse or former spouse of the person. 
(4) DESIGNATION WITH RESPECT TO RESERVE-COM-
PONENT ANNUITY.—A person making an election under 
subsection (a) to provide a reserve-component annuity 
shall make a designation described in section 1448(e) of 
title 10, United States Code.
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(d) EFFECTIVE DATE
FOR ELECTIONS.—An election 
under subsection (a) or (b) shall be effective on the first day 
of the first calendar month following the month in which the 
election is received by the Secretary concerned. 
(e) OPEN SEASON DESCRIBED.—The open season de-
scribed in this subsection is the period beginning on the date 
of the enactment of this Act and ending on January 1, 2024. 
(f) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW.— 
The provisions of sections 1449, 1453, and 1454 of title 10, 
United States Code, are applicable to a person making an 
election, and to an election, under subsection (a) or (b) in the 
same manner as if the election were made under the Survivor 
Benefit Plan. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The terms ‘‘base amount’’, ‘‘reserve-component 
annuity’’, and ‘‘standard annuity’’ have the meanings 
given those terms in section 1447 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘Department of Defense Military Re-
tirement Fund’’ means the fund established under sec-
tion 1461(a) of title 10, United States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘retired pay’’ includes retainer pay. 
(4) The terms ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ and ‘‘uni-
formed services’’ have the meanings given those terms in 
section 101 of title 37, United States Code.
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(5) The term ‘‘Survivor Benefit Plan’’ means the 
program established under subchapter II of chapter 73 
of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 644. MILITARY INSTALLATIONS WITH LIMITED CHILD 
CARE: BRIEFING. 
(a) BRIEFING.—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 briefing re-
garding child care at military installations of the covered 
Armed Forces— 
(1) that are not served by a military child develop-
ment center; or 
(2) where the military child development center has 
few available spots. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The briefing under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements: 
(1) With regards to each military installation de-
scribed in such subsection: 
(A) The current and maximum possible enroll-
ment at the military child development center (if 
one exists). 
(B) Plans of the Secretary to expand an exist-
ing, or construct a new, military child development 
center.
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(C) The resulting capacity of each military 
child development center described in subparagraph 
(B). 
(D) The median cost of services at accredited 
child care facilities located near such military instal-
lation compared to the amount of assistance pro-
vided by the Secretary of the military department 
concerned to members for child care services. 
(2) Any policy recommendations of the Secretary of 
Defense— 
(A) to address the rising cost of child care near 
military installations; and 
(B) regarding the rates of child care fee assist-
ance provided to members of the covered Armed 
Forces. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the 
following: 
(A) The Army. 
(B) The Navy. 
(C) The Marine Corps. 
(D) The Air Force. 
(E) The Space Force.
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(2) The term ‘‘military child development center’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 1800 of title 
10, United States Code. 
SEC. 645. FOOD INSECURITY AMONG MILITARY FAMILIES: DATA 
COLLECTION; TRAINING; REPORT. 
(a) DATA COLLECTION.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with 
the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer 
Services of the Department of Agriculture, shall— 
(1) develop a survey, in collaboration with the De-
partment of Agriculture, to determine how many mem-
bers of the Armed Forces serving on active duty, and de-
pendents of such members, are food insecure; 
(2) issue the survey to such members and depend-
ents; 
(3) collect data related to the number of such mem-
bers and dependents who— 
(A) are eligible for the basic needs allowance 
under section 402b of title 37, United States Code; 
(B) receive such basic needs allowance; and 
(C) are surveyed on the use, by such members 
and dependents, of Federal nutrition assistance pro-
grams, including—
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(i) the supplemental nutrition assistance 
program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); 
(ii) the special supplemental nutrition pro-
gram for women, infants, and children under 
section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
(42 U.S.C. 1786); and 
(iii) the school lunch program under the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), and the school break-
fast program under section 4 of the Child Nu-
trition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); 
(4) develop and carry out a plan to train and des-
ignate an individual who will assist members at military 
installations on how and where to refer such members 
and their dependents for participation in Federal nutri-
tion assistance programs described in paragraph (3)(C); 
and 
(5) coordinate efforts of the Department of Defense 
to address food insecurity and nutrition. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
four subsequent years, the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Personnel & Readiness shall submit to the congressional de-
fense committees, the Committees on Agriculture and Edu-
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cation and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate, a report including the following: 
(1) The number of members of the Armed Forces 
serving on active duty and their dependents who are food 
insecure. 
(2) The number of such members and their depend-
ents who use the Federal nutrition assistance programs 
described in subsection (a)(3). 
(3) The number of such members and their depend-
ents described in subsection (a)(3). 
(4) The status of implementation of the plan under 
subsection (a)(5). 
Subtitle F—Defense Resale Matters 
SEC. 651. PROHIBITION OF THE SALE OF CERTAIN GOODS 
FROM THE XINJIANG UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS RE-
GION IN COMMISSARIES AND EXCHANGES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Subchapter III of chapter 147 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 2496. Sale of certain goods from the Xinjiang Uyghur 
Autonomous Region prohibited 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary of Defense may not 
knowingly permit the sale, at a commissary store or military 
exchange, of any good, ware, article, or merchandise—
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‘‘(1) containing any product mined, produced, or 
manufactured, wholly or in part, by forced labor from 
the XUAR; or 
‘‘(2) from an entity that has used labor from within 
or transferred from XUAR as part of a ‘poverty allevi-
ation’ or ‘pairing assistance’ program. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘forced labor’ means any work or 
service that is exacted from any person under the men-
ace of any penalty for nonperformance and that the 
worker does not offer to perform. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘XUAR’ means the Xinjiang Uyghur 
Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of such subchapter is amended by adding at 
the end the following new item: 
‘‘2496. Sale of certain goods from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 
prohibited.’’. 
Subtitle G—Miscellaneous Studies, 
Briefings and Reports 
SEC. 661. STUDY ON BASIC PAY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall seek 
to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit entity or a feder-
ally funded research and development center to conduct re-
search and analysis on the value of basic pay for members 
of the Armed Forces. The Secretary may include such re-
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search and analysis in the next quadrennial review of military 
compensation. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The research and analysis conducted 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the model used to determine 
the basic pay in the current basic pay tables, including— 
(A) an analysis of whether to update the cur-
rent model to meet the needs of the 2023 employ-
ment market; 
(B) a historical understanding of when the cur-
rent model was established and how frequently it 
has been during the last 10 years; 
(C) an understanding of the assumptions on 
which the model is based and how such assumptions 
are validated; 
(D) an analysis of time-in-grade requirements 
and how they may affect retention and promotion; 
and 
(E) an assessment of how recruiting and reten-
tion information is used to adjust the model. 
(2) An assessment of whether to modify current 
basic pay tables to consider higher rates of pay for spe-
cialties the Secretary determines are in critical need of 
personnel. 
(3) An analysis of—
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(A) how basic pay has compared with civilian 
pay since the 70th percentile benchmark for basic 
pay was established; and 
(B) whether to change the 70th percentile 
benchmark. 
(4) An assessment of whether— 
(A) to adjust the annual increase in basic pay, 
currently guided by changes in the Employment 
Cost Index as a measure of the growth in private- 
sector employment costs; or 
(B) to use a different index, such as the De-
fense Employment Cost Index. 
(5) Legislative and policy recommendations regard-
ing basic pay table based on analyses and assessments 
under paragraphs (1) through (4). 
(c) BRIEFINGS AND PROGRESS REPORT.— 
(1) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than April 1, 
2023, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate con-
gressional committees an interim briefing on the ele-
ments described in subsection (b). 
(2) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a progress report on the study under this sec-
tion.
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(3) FINAL BRIEFING.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a final briefing on the study under this section. 
(d) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional 
committees’’ means the following: 
(1) The Committee on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives. 
(2) The Committee on Armed Services of the Sen-
ate. 
SEC. 662. REPORT ON ACCURACY OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR 
HOUSING. 
(a) REPORT; ELEMENTS.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report on BAH. Such report shall contain 
the following elements: 
(1) The evaluation of the Secretary— 
(A) of the efficiency and accuracy of the cur-
rent system used to calculate BAH; 
(B) the appropriateness of using mean and me-
dian housing costs in such calculation;
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(C) of existing MHAs, in relation to choices in, 
and availability of, housing to servicemembers; 
(D) of the suitability of the six standard hous-
ing profiles in relation to the average family sizes 
of servicemembers, disaggregated by uniformed 
service, rank, and MHA; 
(E) of the flexibility of BAH to respond to 
changes in real estate markets; and 
(F) of residential real estate processes to deter-
mine rental rates. 
(2) The recommendation of the Secretary— 
(A) regarding the feasibility of including infor-
mation, furnished by Federal entities, regarding 
school districts, in calculating BAH; 
(B) whether to calculate BAH more frequently, 
including in response to a sudden change in the 
housing market; 
(C) whether to enter into an agreement with a 
covered entity, to compile data and develop an en-
terprise grade, objective, data-driven algorithm to 
calculate BAH; 
(D) whether to publish the methods used by 
the Secretary to calculate BAH on a publicly acces-
sible website of the Department of Defense; and
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(E) whether BAH calculations appropriately 
account for increased housing costs associated with 
Coast Guard facilities. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘BAH’’ means the basic allowance for 
housing for members of the uniformed services under 
section 403 of title 37, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered entity’’ means a nationally 
recognized entity in the field of commercial real estate 
that has data on local rental rates in real estate markets 
across the United States. 
(3) The term ‘‘MHA’’ means military housing area. 
(4) The term ‘‘servicemember’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 101 of the Servicemembers 
Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3911). 
SEC. 663. REVIEW OF DISLOCATION AND RELOCATION ALLOW-
ANCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—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-
port— 
(1) reviewing the adequacy of the amounts of dis-
location and relocation allowances paid under section 
452 of title 37, United States Code, to members of the 
covered Armed Forces, in connection with changes in
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such members’ temporary or permanent duty assignment 
locations, taking into consideration the rising costs of 
moving, challenges in the housing market, and other ex-
penses incurred by such members; 
(2) assessing the effects of delays in the issuance of 
orders relating to changes to temporary or permanent 
duty assignment locations on the timing of dislocation 
and relocation allowances paid to members of the cov-
ered Armed Forces; 
(3) assessing the feasibility and advisability of pay-
ing dislocation or relocation allowances to members of 
the covered Armed Forces who are permanently assigned 
from one unit to another with no change of permanent 
duty station when the units are within the same metro-
politan area; and 
(4) making recommendations with respect to the 
matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). 
(b) COVERED ARMED FORCES DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered Armed Forces’’ means the Army, 
Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. 
SEC. 664. COMPLEX OVERHAUL PAY: BRIEFING. 
(a) BRIEFING.—Not later than six months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate
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and House of Representatives a briefing regarding the feasi-
bility and advisability of establishing complex overhaul pay. 
(b) COMPLEX OVERHAUL PAY DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘complex overhaul pay’’ means a special 
monthly pay— 
(1) established pursuant to regulations prescribed 
under section 352 of title 37, United States Code; 
(2) paid to a member of the Armed Forces assigned 
to a naval vessel undergoing nuclear refueling or 
defueling, and any concurrent complex overhaul; 
(3) in addition to any other pay or allowance to 
which a member is entitled; and 
(4) in an amount equal to $200 per month. 
SEC. 665. STUDIES ON COMPENSATION FOR DOD CHILD CARE 
PROVIDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) STUDIES REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall, for each geographic area in which the Secretary of 
a military department operates a military child develop-
ment center, conduct a study— 
(A) comparing the total compensation, includ-
ing all pay and benefits, of child care employees of 
each military child development center in the geo-
graphic area to the total compensation of similarly 
credentialed employees in such geographic area; and
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(B) estimating the difference in average pay 
and the difference in average benefits between such 
child care employees. 
(2) SCHEDULE.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
complete the studies required under paragraph (1)— 
(A) for the geographic areas containing the 
military installations with the 25 longest wait lists 
for child care services at military child development 
centers, not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act; and 
(B) for geographic areas other than geographic 
areas described in subparagraph (A), not later than 
two years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(3) REPORTS.— 
(A) INTERIM
REPORT.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report summarizing the results of 
the studies required under paragraph (1) that have 
been completed as of the date of the submission of 
such report. 
(B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 120 days 
after the completion of all the studies required
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under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report summarizing 
the results of such studies. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘benefits’’ includes— 
(A) retirement benefits; 
(B) any insurance premiums paid by an em-
ployer; 
(C) education benefits, including tuition reim-
bursement and student loan repayment; and 
(D) any other compensation an employer pro-
vides to an employee for service performed as an 
employee (other than pay), as determined appro-
priate by the Secretary of Defense. 
(2) 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. 
(3) The term ‘‘pay’’ includes the basic rate of pay 
of an employee and any additional payments an em-
ployer pays to an employee for service performed as an 
employee.
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SEC. 666. BARRIERS TO HOME OWNERSHIP FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES: STUDY; REPORT. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than one year 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 or non-profit entity to conduct a 
study on the unique barriers to home ownership for members 
of the Armed Forces. 
(b) REPORT.—At the conclusion of the study under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a report containing the results of such study. 
TITLE VII—HEALTH CARE 
PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—TRICARE and Other Health Care Benefits 
Sec. 701. Improvements to TRICARE dental program. 
Sec. 702. Health benefits for members of the National Guard following required 
training or other duty to respond to a national emergency. 
Sec. 703. Improvement of referrals for specialty care under TRICARE Prime 
during permanent changes of station. 
Sec. 704. Confidentiality requirements for mental health care services for mem-
bers of the Armed Forces. 
Sec. 705. Audit of behavioral health care network providers listed in TRICARE 
directory. 
Sec. 706. Independent analysis of quality and patient safety review process 
under direct care component of TRICARE program. 
Sec. 707. Study on providing benefits under TRICARE Reserve Select and 
TRICARE dental program to members of the Selected Reserve 
and dependents thereof. 
Sec. 708. GAO study on certain contracts relating to TRICARE program and 
oversight of such contracts. 
Sec. 709. GAO study on coverage of mental health services under TRICARE 
program and relationship to certain mental health parity laws. 
Subtitle B—Health Care Administration 
Sec. 711. Accountability for wounded warriors undergoing disability evaluation.
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Sec. 712. Inclusion of level three trauma care capabilities in requirements for 
medical centers. 
Sec. 713.
Centers of excellence for specialty care in military health system. 
Sec. 714. Maintenance of Core Casualty Receiving Facilities to improve medical 
force readiness. 
Sec. 715. Congressional notification requirement to modify scope of services 
provided at military medical treatment facilities. 
Sec. 716. Improvements to processes to reduce financial harm caused to civil-
ians for care provided at military medical treatment facilities. 
Sec. 717. Authority to carry out studies and demonstration projects relating to 
delivery of health and medical care through use of other trans-
action authority. 
Sec. 718. Licensure requirement for certain health-care professionals providing 
services as part of mission relating to emergency, humani-
tarian, or refugee assistance. 
Sec. 719. Authorization of permanent program to improve opioid management 
in the military health system. 
Sec. 720. Modification of requirement to transfer research and development and 
public health functions to Defense Health Agency. 
Sec. 721. Access to certain dependent medical records by remarried former 
spouses. 
Sec. 722. Authority for Department of Defense program to promote early lit-
eracy among certain young children. 
Sec. 723. Plan for Accountable Care Organization demonstration. 
Sec. 724. Feasibility study and plan on establishing a Military Health System 
Medical Logistics Directorate and Military Health System 
Education and Training Directorate. 
Subtitle C—Reports and Other Matters 
Sec. 731. Briefing and report on reduction or realignment of military medical 
manning and medical billets. 
Sec. 732. Independent analysis of Department of Defense Comprehensive Au-
tism Care Demonstration program. 
Sec. 733. Clarification of membership requirements and compensation authority 
for independent suicide prevention and response review com-
mittee. 
Sec. 734. Termination of veterans’ advisory board on radiation dose reconstruc-
tion. 
Sec. 735. Brain health initiative of Department of Defense. 
Sec. 736. Establishment of partnership program between United States and 
Ukraine for military trauma care and research. 
Sec. 737. Improvements relating to behavioral health care available under mili-
tary health system. 
Sec. 738. Certification program in provision of mental health services to mem-
bers of the Armed Forces and military families. 
Sec. 739. Standardization of policies relating to service in Armed Forces by in-
dividuals diagnosed with HBV. 
Sec. 740. Suicide cluster: standardized definition for use by Department of De-
fense; congressional notification. 
Sec. 741. Limitation on reduction of military medical manning end strength: 
certification requirement and other reforms. 
Sec. 742. Feasibility study on establishment of Department of Defense intern-
ship programs relating to civilian behavioral health providers.
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Sec. 743. Updates to prior feasibility studies on establishment of new command 
on defense health. 
Sec. 744. Capability assessment and action plan with respect to effects of expo-
sure to open burn pits and other environmental hazards. 
Sec. 745. Kyle Mullen Navy SEAL medical training review. 
Sec. 746. Reports on composition of medical personnel of each military depart-
ment and related matters. 
Sec. 747. Report on effects of low recruitment and retention on operational 
tempo and physical and mental health of members of the 
Armed Forces. 
Sec. 748. Guidance for addressing healthy relationships and intimate partner 
violence through TRICARE Program. 
Sec. 749. Briefing on suicide prevention reforms for members of the Armed 
Forces. 
Subtitle A—TRICARE and Other 
Health Care Benefits 
SEC. 701. IMPROVEMENTS TO TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1076a of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The plans’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The plans’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) PREMIUM
SHARING
PLANS.—Effective as of 
January 1, 2026, the regulations prescribed pursuant to 
paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to premium 
sharing plans referred to in subsection (d)(1), the fol-
lowing elements: 
‘‘(A) A third party administrator shall manage 
the administrative features of such plans, including 
eligibility, enrollment, plan change and premium
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payment processes, submission of qualifying life 
events changes, and address changes. 
‘‘(B) Such plans shall include the following 
three enrollment options: 
‘‘(i) Self. 
‘‘(ii) Self plus one. 
‘‘(iii) Family. 
‘‘(C) In the United States, to the extent prac-
ticable, individuals eligible to enroll in such a plan 
shall be offered options to enroll in plans of not 
fewer than two and not more than four dental in-
surance carriers. 
‘‘(D) To the extent practicable, each carrier 
described in subparagraph (C)— 
‘‘(i) shall manage dental care delivery 
matters, including claims adjudication (with re-
quired electronic submission of claims), coordi-
nation of benefits, covered services, enrollment 
verification, and provider networks; 
‘‘(ii) shall, in addition to offering a stand-
ard option plan, offer a non-standard option 
plan; 
‘‘(iii) may offer a non-standard option 
plan managed as a dental health maintenance 
organization plan;
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‘‘(iv) shall establish and operate dental 
provider networks that provide— 
‘‘(I) accessible care with a prevention 
or wellness focus; 
‘‘(II) continuity of care; 
‘‘(III) coordinated care (including ap-
propriate dental and medical referrals); 
‘‘(IV) patient-centered care (including 
effective communications, individualized 
care, and shared decision-making); and 
‘‘(V) high-quality, safe care; 
‘‘(v) shall develop and implement adult 
and pediatric dental quality measures, includ-
ing effective measurements for— 
‘‘(I) access to care; 
‘‘(II) continuity of care; 
‘‘(III) cost; 
‘‘(IV) adverse patient events; 
‘‘(V) oral health outcomes; and 
‘‘(VI) patient experience; and 
‘‘(vi) may conduct in the provider net-
works established and operated by the carrier 
under clause (iv), to the extent practicable, 
pilot programs on the development of a model
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of care based on the model of care commonly 
referred to as patient-centered dental homes.’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘The 
member’s’’ and inserting ‘‘During the period pre-
ceding January 1, 2026, the member’s’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘of each 
year,’’ and inserting ‘‘of each year during the period 
preceding January 1, 2026,’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘The 
Secretary of Defense’’ and inserting ‘‘During the 
period preceding January 1, 2026, the Secretary of 
Defense’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraphs: 
‘‘(E) Beginning on January 1, 2026, the amount of 
the premium required under subparagraph (A)— 
‘‘(i) for standard option plans, shall be estab-
lished by the Secretary annually such that in the 
aggregate (taking into account the adjustments 
under subparagraph (F) and subsection (e)(3), the 
Secretary’s share of each premium is 60 percent of 
the premium for each enrollment category (self, self 
plus one, and family, respectively) of each standard 
option plan; and
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‘‘(ii) for non-standard option plans, shall be 
equal to the amount determined under clause (i) 
plus 100 percent of the additional premium amount 
applicable to such non-standard option plan. 
‘‘(F) Beginning on January 1, 2026, the Secretary 
of Defense shall reduce the monthly premium required 
to be paid under paragraph (1) in the case of enlisted 
members in pay grade E–1, E–2, E–3, or E–4.’’; 
(3) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) Beginning on January 1, 2026, the Secretary of 
Defense shall reduce copayments required to be paid under 
paragraph (1) in the case of enlisted members in pay grade 
E–1, E–2, E–3, or E–4.’’; 
(4) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘The Secretary of 
Defense may not reduce benefits provided under a plan 
established under this section until’’ and inserting ‘‘Dur-
ing the period preceding January 1, 2026, the Secretary 
of Defense may not reduce benefits provided under a 
plan established under this section, and on or after Jan-
uary 1, 2026, the Secretary may not reduce benefits pro-
vided under a standard option plan under this section, 
until’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
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‘‘(l) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘non-standard option plan’ means a 
high option dental insurance plan that includes covered 
services in addition to, or provides greater coverage with 
respect to, services covered under a standard option 
plan. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘standard option plan’ means a den-
tal insurance plan that provides for the coverage of pre-
ventive services, basic restorative services, and specialty 
dental care services at a level that is at least commensu-
rate with the coverage of the same services provided 
under the premium sharing plans under this section dur-
ing the period preceding January 1, 2026.’’. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—Pursuant to the authority under sec-
tion 1076a(b)(1) of title 10, United States Code, as amended 
by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) not later than January 1, 2025, prescribe an in-
terim final rule to carry out the amendments made by 
subsection (a); and 
(2) after prescribing the interim final rule under 
subparagraph (A) and considering public comments with 
respect to such interim final rule, prescribe a final rule, 
effective on January 1, 2026, to carry out such amend-
ments.
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(c) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than January 1 of each of 
2024, 2025, and 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall provide 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate a briefing on the status of the 
implementation of the amendments made by subsection (a). 
SEC. 702. HEALTH BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL 
GUARD 
FOLLOWING 
REQUIRED 
TRAINING 
OR 
OTHER DUTY TO RESPOND TO A NATIONAL EMER-
GENCY. 
(a) TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CARE.—Subsection (a)(2) 
of section 1145 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) A member of the National Guard who is sepa-
rated from full-time National Guard Duty to which 
called or ordered under section 502(f) of title 32 for a 
period of active service of more than 30 days to perform 
duties that are authorized by the President or the Sec-
retary of Defense for the purpose of responding to a na-
tional emergency declared by Congress or the President 
and supported by Federal funds.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such section is fur-
ther amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)—
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(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘active duty’’ and in-
serting ‘‘active service’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘paragraph 
(2)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B) or (G) of 
paragraph (2)’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘active duty’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘active service’’; and 
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘or 
(D)’’ and inserting ‘‘(D), or (G)’’; 
(D) in paragraph (5), in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B), by striking ‘‘active duty’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘active service’’; and 
(E) in paragraph (7)(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘service on active duty’’ 
and inserting ‘‘active service’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘active duty for’’ and in-
serting ‘‘active service for’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘active duty’’ 
and inserting ‘‘active service’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘active 
duty’’ and inserting ‘‘active service’’.
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SEC. 703. IMPROVEMENT OF REFERRALS FOR SPECIALTY CARE 
UNDER TRICARE PRIME DURING PERMANENT 
CHANGES OF STATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 714 of the John S. McCain 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 
(Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 1095f note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
(f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following 
new subsection (e): 
‘‘(e) IMPROVEMENT OF SPECIALTY CARE REFERRALS 
DURING PERMANENT CHANGES OF STATION.—In conducting 
evaluations and improvements under subsection (d) to the re-
ferral process described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
ensure beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime who are un-
dergoing a permanent change of station receive referrals from 
their primary care manager to such specialty care providers 
in the new location as the beneficiary may need before under-
going the permanent change of station.’’. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a briefing on the contrac-
tual and technical barriers preventing record sharing between 
civilian provider networks under the TRICARE program that 
lead to increased wait times for care for members of the
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Armed Forces and the dependents thereof undergoing perma-
nent changes of station across provider network regions. 
SEC. 704. CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MENTAL 
HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to reinforce the policies of 
eliminating stigma in obtaining mental health care services 
and further encouraging help-seeking behavior by members of 
the Armed Forces, not later than July 1, 2023, the Secretary 
of Defense shall— 
(1) update and reissue Department of Defense In-
struction 6490.08, titled ‘‘Command Notification Re-
quirements to Dispel Stigma in Providing Mental Health 
Care to Service Members’’ and issued on August 17, 
2011, taking into account— 
(A) experience implementing the Instruction; 
and 
(B) opportunities to more effectively dispel 
stigma in obtaining mental health care services and 
encourage help-seeking behavior; and 
(2) develop standards within the Department of De-
fense that— 
(A) ensure, except in a case in which there is 
an exigent circumstance, the confidentiality of men-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
tal health care services provided to members who 
voluntarily seek such services; 
(B) include a model for making determinations 
with respect to exigent circumstances that clarifies 
the responsibilities regarding the determination of 
the effect on military function and the prevention of 
self-harm by the individual; and 
(C) in a case in which there is an exigent cir-
cumstance, prevent health care providers from dis-
closing more than the minimum amount of informa-
tion necessary to address the exigent circumstance. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The standards required by subsection 
(a)(2) shall include the following elements: 
(1) Requirements for confidentiality regarding the 
request and receipt by a member of the Armed Forces 
of mental health care services under the self-initiated re-
ferral process under section 1090a(e) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(2) Requirements for confidentiality regarding the 
results of any drug testing incident to such mental 
health care services. 
(3) Procedures that reflect best practices of the 
mental health profession with respect to suicide preven-
tion.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(4) A prohibition against retaliating against a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces who requests mental health 
care services. 
(5) Such other elements as the Secretary deter-
mines will most effectively support the policies of— 
(A) eliminating stigma in obtaining mental 
health care services; and 
(B) encouraging help-seeking behavior by 
members of the Armed Forces. 
(c) JOINT POLICY WITH THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2023, the 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall issue a joint policy that provides, except in a 
case in which there is an exigent circumstance, for the 
confidentiality of mental health care services provided by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to members of the 
Armed Forces, including the reserve components, under 
section 1712A, 1720F, 1720H, or 1789 of title 38, 
United States Code, or other applicable law. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The joint policy issued under 
paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable, include 
standards comparable to the standards developed under 
subsection (a)(2).
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than July 1, 2023, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
copy of the standards developed under subsection (a)(2) and 
the joint policy issued under subsection (c). 
(e) EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘exigent circumstance’’ means a circumstance 
in which the Secretary of Defense determines the need to pre-
vent serious harm to an individual or essential military func-
tion clearly outweighs the need for confidentiality of informa-
tion obtained by a health care provider incident to mental 
health care services voluntarily sought by a member of the 
Armed Forces. 
SEC. 705. AUDIT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE NETWORK 
PROVIDERS LISTED IN TRICARE DIRECTORY. 
(a) AUDIT REQUIRED.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct an audit of the behavioral health 
care providers listed in the TRICARE directory. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate a report on the findings of 
the audit under subsection (a). Such report shall include the 
following:
579 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) An identification of the following, disaggregated 
by provider specialty and TRICARE provider network 
region: 
(A) The number of such behavioral health care 
providers with respect to which there are duplicate 
listings in the TRICARE directory. 
(B) The number of such behavioral health care 
providers that, as of the commencement of the 
audit, were listed in the TRICARE directory as 
available and accepting new TRICARE patients. 
(C) The number of such behavioral health care 
providers that, as a result of the audit, the Comp-
troller General determines are no longer available or 
accepting new TRICARE patients. 
(D) The number of such behavioral health care 
providers that were not previously listed in the 
TRICARE directory as available and accepting new 
TRICARE patients but that, as a result of the 
audit, the Comptroller General determines are so 
available and accepting. 
(E) The number of behavioral health care pro-
viders listed in the TRICARE directory that are no 
longer practicing. 
(F) The number of behavioral health care pro-
viders that, in conducting the audit, the Comp-
580 
•HRES 1512 EH 
troller General could not reach for purposes of 
verifying information relating to availability or sta-
tus. 
(2) An identification of the number of TRICARE 
beneficiaries in each TRICARE region, disaggregated by 
beneficiary category. 
(3) A description of the methods by which the Sec-
retary of Defense measures the following: 
(A) The accessibility and accuracy of the 
TRICARE directory, with respect to behavioral 
health care providers listed therein. 
(B) The adequacy of behavioral health care 
providers under the TRICARE program. 
(4) A description of the efforts of the Secretary of 
Defense to recruit and retain behavioral health care pro-
viders. 
(5) Recommendations by the Comptroller General, 
based on the findings of the audit, on how to improve 
the availability of behavioral health care providers that 
are network providers under the TRICARE program, in-
cluding through the inclusion of specific requirements in 
the next generation of TRICARE contracts. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) The term ‘‘TRICARE directory’’ means the di-
rectory of network providers under the TRICARE pro-
gram. 
(2) The term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 1072 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 706. INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF QUALITY AND PATIENT 
SAFETY REVIEW PROCESS UNDER DIRECT CARE 
COMPONENT OF TRICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) AGREEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded 
research and development center for the federally funded 
research and development center to carry out the activi-
ties described in subsections (b) and (c). 
(2) TIMING.—The Secretary shall seek to enter into 
the agreement described in paragraph (1) not later Octo-
ber 1, 2023. 
(b) ANALYSIS BY FFRDC.— 
(1) ANALYSIS.—Under an agreement between the 
Secretary and a federally funded research and develop-
ment center entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the 
federally funded research and development center shall 
conduct an analysis of the quality and patient safety re-
view process for health care provided under the direct
582 
•HRES 1512 EH 
care component of the TRICARE program and develop 
recommendations for the Secretary based on such anal-
ysis. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The analysis conducted and rec-
ommendations developed under paragraph (1) shall in-
clude, with respect to the direct care component of the 
TRICARE program, an assessment of the following: 
(A) The procedures under such component re-
garding credentialing and privileging for health care 
providers (and an assessment of compliance with 
such procedures). 
(B) The processes under such component for 
quality assurance, standard of care, and incident re-
view (and an assessment of compliance with such 
processes). 
(C) The accountability processes under such 
component for health care providers who are found 
to have not met a required standard of care. 
(D) The transparency activities carried out 
under such component, including an assessment of 
the publication of clinical quality metrics (at the 
level of military medical treatment facilities and 
other operational medical units of the Department 
of Defense), and a comparison with similar metrics 
for non-Department health care entities.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(E) The standardization activities carried 
under such component, including activities aimed at 
eliminating unwarranted variation in clinical quality 
metrics at the level of military medical treatment 
facilities and other operational medical units of the 
Department. 
(F) The implementation under such component 
of the requirements of section 744 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 
(Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3708; 10 U.S.C. 
1071 note), including with respect to health care 
delivery on ships and planes, in deployed settings, 
and in all other circumstances outside of military 
medical treatment facilities. 
(G) The organizational roles and responsibil-
ities of military health system entities involved in 
clinical quality management functions under such 
component, including the Assistant Secretary of De-
fense for Health Affairs, the Director of the De-
fense Health Agency, and the Surgeons General of 
the Army, Navy, and Air Force, each of whom shall 
conduct and submit to the federally funded research 
and development center an internal assessment of 
the respective entity regarding each element set 
forth under this paragraph.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(3) INFORMATION ACCESS AND PRIVACY.— 
(A) ACCESS
TO
RECORDS.—Notwithstanding 
section 1102 of title 10, United States Code, the 
Secretary shall provide the federally funded re-
search and development center with access to such 
records of the Department of Defense as the Sec-
retary may determine necessary for purposes of the 
federally funded research and development center 
conducting the analysis and developing the rec-
ommendations under paragraph (1). 
(B) PRIVACY
OF
INFORMATION.—In con-
ducting the analysis and developing the rec-
ommendations under paragraph (1), the federally 
funded research and development center— 
(i) shall maintain any personally identifi-
able information in records accessed by the 
federally funded research and development cen-
ter pursuant to subparagraph (A) in accord-
ance with applicable laws, protections, and best 
practices regarding the privacy of information; 
and 
(ii) may not permit access to such infor-
mation by any individual or entity not engaged 
in conducting such analysis or developing such 
recommendations.
585 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(c) BRIEFING AND REPORTS.— 
(1) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives and the Senate an 
interim briefing on— 
(A) the selection of a federally funded research 
and development center with which the Secretary 
shall seek to enter into an agreement with under 
subsection (a); 
(B) any related guidance issued by the Sec-
retary; and 
(C) the methodology for conducting the study 
to be used by such federally funded research and 
development center. 
(2) REPORT TO SECRETARY.—Under an agreement 
entered into between the Secretary and a federally fund-
ed research and development center under subsection 
(a), the federally funded research and development cen-
ter, not later than one year after the date of the execu-
tion of the agreement, shall submit to the Secretary a 
report on the findings of the federally funded research 
and development center with respect to the analysis con-
ducted and recommendations developed under subsection 
(b).
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 120 
days after the date on which the Secretary receives the 
report of the federally funded research and development 
center under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate such report, along with 
an assessment by the Secretary of the analysis, findings, 
and recommendations contained therein and the plan of 
the Secretary for strengthening clinical quality manage-
ment in the military health system. 
(4) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall make the 
report under paragraph (2) available on a public website 
in unclassified form. 
(d) TRICARE PROGRAM DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 707. STUDY ON PROVIDING BENEFITS UNDER TRICARE RE-
SERVE SELECT AND TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM 
TO MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE AND 
DEPENDENTS THEREOF. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense may conduct a 
study on the feasibility, potential cost effects to the budget 
of the Department of Defense, changes in out-of-pocket costs 
to beneficiaries, and effects on other Federal programs of ex-
panding eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select and the
587 
•HRES 1512 EH 
TRICARE dental program to include all members of the Se-
lected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of a reserve component 
of the Armed Forces, the dependents thereof, and the non- 
dependent children thereof under the age of 26. 
(b) SPECIFICATIONS.—If the Secretary conducts the 
study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall include in the 
study an assessment of the following: 
(1) Cost-shifting to the Department of Defense to 
support the expansion of TRICARE Reserve Select and 
the TRICARE dental program from— 
(A) health benefit plans under chapter 89 of 
title 5, United States Code; 
(B) employer-sponsored health insurance; 
(C) private health insurance; 
(D) insurance under a State health care ex-
change; and 
(E) the Medicaid program under title XIX of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.). 
(2) New costs for the Department of Defense to en-
roll in TRICARE Reserve Select and the TRICARE 
dental program members of the Selected Reserve of the 
Ready Reserve of a reserve component of the Armed 
Forces who were previously uninsured. 
(3) The resources needed to implement TRICARE 
Reserve Select and the TRICARE dental program for all
588 
•HRES 1512 EH 
such members, the dependents thereof, and the non-de-
pendent children thereof under the age of 26. 
(4) Cost-savings, if any, resulting from the expan-
sion of TRICARE Reserve Select and the TRICARE 
dental program with regard to increased training days 
performed in support of mass medical events during bat-
tle assemblies of the reserve components, including an 
assessment of the impact of such expansion on— 
(A) medical readiness; 
(B) overall deployability rates; 
(C) deployability timelines; 
(D) fallout rates at mobilization sites; 
(E) cross-leveling of members of the reserve 
components to backfill medical fallouts at mobiliza-
tion sites; and 
(F) any other readiness metrics affected by 
such expansion. 
(5) Any effect of such expansion on recruitment and 
retention of members of the Armed Forces, including 
members of the Ready Reserve of the reserve compo-
nents of the Armed Forces. 
(6) Cost-savings, if any, in contracts that imple-
ment the Reserve Health Readiness Program of the De-
partment of Defense.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(c) DETERMINATION OF COST EFFECTS.—If the Sec-
retary conducts the study under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall include in such study an assessment of the potential 
cost effects to the budget of the Department of Defense for 
scenarios of expanded eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select 
and the TRICARE dental program as follows: 
(1) Premium free for members of the Selected Re-
serve of the Ready Reserve of a reserve component of 
the Armed Forces, the dependents thereof, and the non- 
dependent children thereof under the age of 26. 
(2) Premium free for such members and subsidized 
premiums for such dependents and non-dependent chil-
dren. 
(3) Subsidized premiums for such members, de-
pendents, and non-dependent children. 
(d) USE OF A FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT CENTER.—The Secretary may enter into a 
contract with a federally funded research and development 
center the Secretary determines is qualified and appropriate 
to conduct the study under subsection (a). 
(e) BRIEFING; REPORT.— 
(1) BRIEFING.—If the Secretary conducts the study 
under subsection (a), not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the
590 
•HRES 1512 EH 
Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on 
the methodology and approach of the study. 
(2) REPORT.—If the Secretary conducts the study 
under subsection (a), 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 Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives a report on the re-
sults of the study. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘TRICARE dental program’’ means 
dental benefits under section 1076a of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘TRICARE Reserve Select’’ means 
health benefits under section 1076d of such title. 
SEC. 708. GAO STUDY ON CERTAIN CONTRACTS RELATING TO 
TRICARE PROGRAM AND OVERSIGHT OF SUCH 
CONTRACTS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on certain contracts relating to 
the TRICARE program and the oversight provided by the Di-
rector of the Defense Health Agency with respect to such 
contracts. 
(b) MATTERS.—The study under subsection (a) shall in-
clude an assessment of the following:
591 
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(1) TRICARE MANAGED
CARE
SUPPORT
CON-
TRACTS.—With respect to TRICARE managed care sup-
port contracts (including the TRICARE managed care 
support contract for which the Director of the Defense 
Health Agency published a request for proposals on 
April 15, 2021, commonly referred to as ‘‘T-5’’), the 
process used in awarding such contracts. 
(2) OTHER CONTRACTS.—With respect to each con-
tract relating to the TRICARE program other than a 
contract specified in paragraph (1) entered into by the 
Director of the Defense Health Agency during the period 
beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on September 
30, 2022, where the value of such contract is greater 
than $500,000,000, the following: 
(A) The total number of such contracts, 
disaggregated by fiscal year, contract type, type of 
product or service procured, and total expenditure 
under each such contract by fiscal year. 
(B) The total number of bid protests filed with 
respect to such contracts, and the outcome of such 
protests. 
(C) The total number of such contracts award-
ed through means other than full and open competi-
tion.
592 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(3) DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY CONTRACT OVER-
SIGHT.—With respect to the period beginning on Octo-
ber 1, 2017, and ending on September 30, 2022, the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The staff of the Defense Health Agency re-
sponsible for performing oversight of the contracts 
specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), including the 
following: 
(i) The number of such staff. 
(ii) Any professional training requirements 
for such staff. 
(iii) Any acquisition certifications or ac-
creditations held by such staff. 
(B) Any office or other element of the Defense 
Health Agency responsible for contract award, ad-
ministration, or oversight with respect to the 
TRICARE program, including the organizational 
structure, responsibilities, authorities, and key roles 
of each such office or element. 
(C) The process used by the Director of the 
Defense Health Agency for determining staffing 
needs and competencies relating to contract award, 
administration, or oversight with respect to the 
TRICARE program. 
(c) INTERIM BRIEFING; REPORT.—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General shall provide to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate an interim briefing on the study under subsection 
(a). 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report 
containing the results of the study under subsection (a). 
SEC. 709. GAO STUDY ON COVERAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH SERV-
ICES UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM AND RELATION-
SHIP TO CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LAWS. 
(a) STUDY AND REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall— 
(1) conduct a study to describe— 
(A) coverage of mental health services under 
the TRICARE program; 
(B) any limits on such coverage that are not 
also imposed on health services other than mental 
health services under the TRICARE program; and 
(C) the efforts of the Department of Defense 
to align coverage of mental health services under
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•HRES 1512 EH 
the TRICARE program with coverage requirements 
under mental health parity laws; and 
(2) submit to the Secretary of Defense, the congres-
sional defense committees, and (with respect to any find-
ings concerning the Coast Guard when it is not oper-
ating as a service in the Department of the Navy), the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report containing 
the findings of such study. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘mental health parity laws’’ means— 
(A) section 2726 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–26); 
(B) section 712 of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1185a); 
(C) section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9812); or 
(D) any other Federal law that applies the re-
quirements under any of the sections described in 
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), or requirements that 
are substantially similar to those provided under 
any such section, as determined by the Comptroller 
General.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) The term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 1072 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
Subtitle B—Health Care 
Administration 
SEC. 711. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS UNDER-
GOING DISABILITY EVALUATION. 
(a) POLICY.—Not later than April 1, 2023, the Sec-
retary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries con-
cerned, shall establish a policy to ensure accountability for 
actions taken under the authorities of the Defense Health 
Agency and the Armed Forces, respectively, concerning 
wounded, ill, and injured members of the Armed Forces dur-
ing the integrated disability evaluation system process. Such 
policy shall include the following: 
(1) A restatement of the requirement that, in ac-
cordance with section 1216(b) of title 10, United States 
Code, a determination of fitness for duty of a member 
of the Armed Forces under chapter 61 of title 10, 
United States Code, is the responsibility of the Secretary 
concerned. 
(2) A description of the role of the Director of the 
Defense Health Agency in supporting the Secretaries 
concerned in carrying out determinations of fitness for 
duty as specified in paragraph (1).
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(3) A description of how the medical evaluation 
board processes of the Armed Forces are integrated with 
the Defense Health Agency, including with respect to 
case management, appointments, and other relevant 
matters. 
(4) A requirement that, in determining fitness for 
duty of a member of the Armed Forces under chapter 
61 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary con-
cerned shall consider the results of any medical evalua-
tion of the member provided under the authority of the 
Defense Health Agency pursuant to section 1073c of 
title 10, United States Code. 
(5) A description of how the Director of the De-
fense Health Agency adheres to the medical evaluation 
processes of the Armed Forces, including an identifica-
tion of each applicable regulation or policy to which the 
Director is required to so adhere. 
(6) An assessment of the feasibility of affording 
various additional due process protections to members of 
the Armed Forces undergoing the medical evaluation 
board process. 
(7) A restatement of the requirement that wounded, 
ill, and injured members of the Armed Forces may not 
be denied any due process protection afforded under ap-
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plicable law or regulation of the Department of Defense 
or the Armed Forces. 
(8) A description of the types of due process protec-
tions specified in paragraph (7), including an identifica-
tion of each specific due process protection. 
(b) CLARIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING 
MEDICAL EVALUATION BOARDS.—Section 1073c of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection 
(i); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following 
new subsection (h): 
‘‘(h) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION
REGARDING
SECRE-
TARIES CONCERNED AND MEDICAL EVALUATION BOARDS.— 
Nothing in this section shall be construed as transferring to 
the Director of the Defense Health Agency, or otherwise re-
voking, any authority or responsibility of the Secretary con-
cerned under chapter 61 of this title with respect to a mem-
ber of the armed forces (including with respect to the admin-
istration of morale and welfare and the determination of fit-
ness for duty for the member) while the member is being con-
sidered by a medical evaluation board.’’. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than February 1, 2023, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
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ate a briefing on the status of the implementation of sub-
sections (a) and (b). 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate a report on the implementa-
tion of subsections (a) and (b), lessons learned as a result of 
such implementation, and the recommendations of the Sec-
retary relating to the policy on wounded, ill, and injured 
members of the Armed Forces undergoing the integrated dis-
ability evaluation system process. 
(e) SECRETARY CONCERNED DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 712. INCLUSION OF LEVEL THREE TRAUMA CARE CAPA-
BILITIES IN REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL CEN-
TERS. 
Section 1073d(b)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘or level two’’ and inserting ‘‘, level two, 
or level three’’. 
SEC. 713. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPECIALTY CARE IN 
MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM. 
(a) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.—Section 1073d(b)(4) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
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‘‘(4)(A) The Secretary shall designate certain major 
medical centers as regional centers of excellence for the provi-
sion of specialty care services in the areas of specialty care 
described in subparagraph (D). A major medical center may 
be designated as a center of excellence under this subpara-
graph for more than one such area of specialty care. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary may designate certain medical cen-
ters as satellite centers of excellence for the provision of spe-
cialty care services for specific conditions, such as the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(i) Post-traumatic stress. 
‘‘(ii) Traumatic brain injury. 
‘‘(iii) Such other conditions as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) Centers of excellence designated under this para-
graph shall serve the purposes of— 
‘‘(i) ensuring the military medical force readiness of 
the Department of Defense and the medical readiness of 
the armed forces; 
‘‘(ii) improving the quality of health care furnished 
by the Secretary to eligible beneficiaries; and 
‘‘(iii) improving health outcomes for eligible bene-
ficiaries. 
‘‘(D) The areas of specialty care described in this sub-
paragraph are as follows:
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‘‘(i) Oncology. 
‘‘(ii) Burn injuries and wound care. 
‘‘(iii) Rehabilitation medicine. 
‘‘(iv) Psychological health and traumatic brain in-
jury. 
‘‘(v) Amputations and prosthetics. 
‘‘(vi) Neurosurgery. 
‘‘(vii) Orthopedic care. 
‘‘(viii) Substance abuse. 
‘‘(ix) Infectious diseases and preventive medicine. 
‘‘(x) Cardiothoracic surgery. 
‘‘(xi) Such other areas of specialty care as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(E)(i) Centers of excellence designated under this para-
graph shall be the primary source within the military health 
system for the receipt by eligible beneficiaries of specialty 
care. 
‘‘(ii) Eligible beneficiaries seeking a specialty care serv-
ice through the military health system shall be referred to a 
center of excellence designated under subparagraph (A) for 
that area of specialty care or, if the specialty care service 
sought is unavailable at such center, to an appropriate spe-
cialty care provider in the private sector. 
‘‘(F) Not later than 90 days prior to the designation of 
a center of excellence under this paragraph, the Secretary
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shall notify the Committees on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate of such designation. 
‘‘(G) In this paragraph, the term ‘eligible beneficiary’ 
means any beneficiary under this chapter.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE.—The Secretary of Defense shall des-
ignate certain major medical centers as regional centers of 
excellence in accordance with section 1073d(b)(4)(A) of title 
10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 180 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 House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report that sets forth the plan of the Department of De-
fense to designate centers of excellence under section 
1073d(b)(4) of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph (1) 
shall include the following: 
(A) A list of the centers of excellence to be des-
ignated under such section 1073d(b)(4) and the lo-
cations of such centers.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(B) A description of the specialty care services 
to be provided at each such center and a staffing 
plan for each such center. 
(C) A description of how each such center shall 
improve— 
(i) the military medical force readiness of 
the Department and the medical readiness of 
the Armed Forces; 
(ii) the quality of care received by eligible 
beneficiaries; and 
(iii) the health outcomes of eligible bene-
ficiaries. 
(D) A comprehensive plan for the referral of 
eligible beneficiaries for specialty care services at 
centers of excellence designated under such section 
1073d(b)(4) and appropriate specialty care pro-
viders in the private sector. 
(E) A plan to assist eligible beneficiaries with 
travel and lodging, if necessary, in connection with 
the receipt of specialty care services at centers of 
excellence 
designated 
under 
such 
section 
1073d(b)(4) or appropriate specialty care providers 
in the private sector. 
(F) A plan to transfer specialty care providers 
of the Department to centers of excellence des-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
ignated under such section 1073d(b)(4), in a num-
ber as determined by the Secretary to be required 
to provide specialty care services to eligible bene-
ficiaries at such centers. 
(G) A plan to monitor access to care, bene-
ficiary satisfaction, experience of care, and clinical 
outcomes to understand better the impact of such 
centers on the health care of eligible beneficiaries. 
(d) ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARY DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘eligible beneficiary’’ means any beneficiary under 
chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 714. MAINTENANCE OF CORE CASUALTY RECEIVING FA-
CILITIES TO IMPROVE MEDICAL FORCE READI-
NESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1073d(b) of title 10, United 
States Code, as amended by section 713, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall designate and 
maintain certain military medical treatment facilities as core 
casualty receiving facilities, to ensure the medical capability 
and capacity required to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate 
large volumes of combat casualties and, as may be directed 
by the President or the Secretary, provide a medical response 
to events the President determines or declares as natural dis-
asters, mass casualty events, or other national emergencies.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall ensure that the military med-
ical treatment facilities selected for designation pursuant to 
subparagraph (A) are geographically located to facilitate the 
aeromedical evacuation of casualties from theaters of oper-
ations. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary— 
‘‘(i) shall ensure that the Secretaries of the military 
departments assign military personnel to core casualty 
receiving facilities designated under subparagraph (A) at 
not less than 90 percent of the staffing level required to 
maintain the operating bed capacity necessary to support 
operation planning requirements; 
‘‘(ii) may augment the staffing of military personnel 
at core casualty receiving facilities under subparagraph 
(A) with civilian employees of the Department of De-
fense to fulfil the staffing requirement under clause (i); 
and 
‘‘(iii) shall ensure that each core casualty receiving 
facility under subparagraph (A) is staffed with a civilian 
Chief Financial Officer and a civilian Chief Operating 
Officer with experience in the management of civilian 
hospital systems, for the purpose of ensuring continuity 
in the management of the facility. 
‘‘(D) In this paragraph:
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(i) The term ‘core casualty receiving facility’ 
means a Role 4 medical treatment facility that serves as 
a medical hub for the receipt and treatment of casual-
ties, including civilian casualties, that may result from 
combat or from an event the President determines or de-
clares as a natural disaster, mass casualty event, or 
other national emergency. 
‘‘(ii) The term ‘Role 4 medical treatment facility’ 
means a medical treatment facility that provides the full 
range of preventative, curative, acute, convalescent, re-
storative, and rehabilitative care.’’. 
(b) TIMELINE FOR ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) DESIGNATION.—Not later than October 1, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall designate four mili-
tary medical treatment facilities as core casualty receiv-
ing facilities under section 1073d(b)(5) of title 10, 
United States Code (as added by subsection (a)). 
(2) OPERATIONAL.—Not later than October 1, 
2025, the Secretary shall ensure that each such des-
ignated military medical treatment facility is fully 
staffed and operational as a core casualty receiving facil-
ity, in accordance with the requirements of such section 
1073d(b)(5).
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SEC. 715. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT TO 
MODIFY SCOPE OF SERVICES PROVIDED AT MILI-
TARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES. 
Section 1073d of title 10, United States Code, as 
amended by section 714, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(f) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED TO MODIFY SCOPE OF 
SERVICES PROVIDED
AT MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT 
FACILITIES.—(1) The Secretary of Defense may not modify 
the scope of medical care provided at a military medical 
treatment facility, or the beneficiary population served at the 
facility, unless— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary submits to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a notification of the proposed modification in 
scope; 
‘‘(B) a period of 180 days has elapsed following the 
date on which the Secretary submits such notification; 
and 
‘‘(C) if the proposed modification in scope involves 
the termination or reduction of inpatient capabilities at 
a military medical treatment facility located outside the 
United States, the Secretary has provided to each mem-
ber of the armed forces or covered beneficiary receiving 
services at such facility a transition plan for the con-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
tinuity of health care for such member or covered bene-
ficiary. 
‘‘(2) Each notification under paragraph (1) shall contain 
information demonstrating, with respect to the military med-
ical treatment facility for which the modification in scope has 
been proposed, the extent to which the commander of the 
military installation at which the facility is located has been 
consulted regarding such modification, to ensure that the pro-
posed modification in scope would have no impact on the 
operational plan for such installation.’’. 
SEC. 716. IMPROVEMENTS TO PROCESSES TO REDUCE FINAN-
CIAL HARM CAUSED TO CIVILIANS FOR CARE PRO-
VIDED AT MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FA-
CILITIES. 
(a) CLARIFICATION OF FEE WAIVER PROCESS.—Section 
1079b of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) WAIVER OF FEES.—The Director of the Defense 
Health Agency may issue a waiver for a fee that would other-
wise be charged under the procedures implemented under 
subsection (a) to a civilian provided medical care who is not 
a covered beneficiary if the provision of such care enhances 
the knowledge, skills, and abilities of health care providers, 
as determined by the Director of the Defense Health Agen-
cy.’’; and
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
(d). 
(b) MODIFIED PAYMENT PLAN
FOR CERTAIN CIVIL-
IANS.—Such section is further amended— 
(1) by inserting after subsection (b), as amended by 
subsection (a), the following: 
‘‘(c) MODIFIED PAYMENT PLAN FOR CERTAIN CIVIL-
IANS.—(1)(A) If a civilian specified in subsection (a) is cov-
ered by a covered payer at the time care under this section 
is provided, the civilian shall only be responsible to pay the 
standard copays, coinsurance, deductibles, or nominal fees 
that are otherwise applicable under the covered payer plan. 
‘‘(B) Except with respect to the copays, coinsurance, 
deductibles, and nominal fees specified in subparagraph 
(A)— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of Defense may bill only the cov-
ered payer for care provided to a civilian described in 
subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) payment received by the Secretary from the 
covered payer of a civilian for care provided under this 
section that is provided to the civilian shall be considered 
payment in full for such care. 
‘‘(2) If a civilian specified in subsection (a) does not 
meet the criteria under paragraph (1), is underinsured, or 
has a remaining balance and is at risk of financial harm, the
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•HRES 1512 EH 
Director of the Defense Health Agency shall reduce each fee 
that would otherwise be charged to the civilian under this 
section according to a sliding fee discount program, as pre-
scribed by the Director of the Defense Health Agency. 
‘‘(3) If a civilian specified in subsection (a) does not 
meet the criteria under paragraph (1) or (2), the Director of 
the Defense Health Agency shall implement an additional 
catastrophic waiver to prevent severe financial harm. 
‘‘(4) The modified payment plan under this subsection 
may not be administered by a Federal agency other than the 
Department of Defense.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘covered payer’ means a third-party 
payer or other insurance, medical service, or health plan. 
‘‘(2) The terms ‘third-party payer’ and ‘insurance, 
medical service, or health plan’ have the meaning given 
those terms in section 1095(h) of this title.’’. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by sub-
sections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to care provided 
on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 717. AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT STUDIES AND DEM-
ONSTRATION PROJECTS RELATING TO DELIVERY 
OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE THROUGH USE 
OF OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1092(b) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or transactions (other 
than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants)’’ after 
‘‘contracts’’. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a briefing on how the Sec-
retary intends to use the authority to enter into transactions 
under section 1092(b) of title 10, United States Code, as 
amended by subsection (a). 
SEC. 718. LICENSURE REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN HEALTH- 
CARE PROFESSIONALS PROVIDING SERVICES AS 
PART OF MISSION RELATING TO EMERGENCY, HU-
MANITARIAN, OR REFUGEE ASSISTANCE. 
Section 1094(d)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘ contractor not covered under section 
1091 of this title who is providing medical treatment as part 
of a mission relating to emergency, humanitarian, or refugee 
assistance,’’ after ‘‘section 1091 of this title,’’.
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SEC. 719. AUTHORIZATION OF PERMANENT PROGRAM TO IM-
PROVE OPIOID MANAGEMENT IN THE MILITARY 
HEALTH SYSTEM. 
Section 716 of the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115– 
232; 10 U.S.C. 1090 note), is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘Beginning 
not’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in subsection 
(e), beginning not’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
(f); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following 
new subsection (e): 
‘‘(e) ALTERNATIVE INITIATIVE
TO IMPROVE OPIOID 
MANAGEMENT.—As an alternative to the pilot program under 
this section, the Director of the Defense Health Agency, not 
later than January 1, 2023— 
‘‘(1) may implement a permanent program to im-
prove opioid management for beneficiaries under the 
TRICARE program; and 
‘‘(2) if the Director decides to implement such a 
permanent program, shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives the specifications of and reasons for imple-
menting such program.’’.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) The term ‘‘covered caregiver’’ means a member 
of the Armed Forces who is a caregiver of a young child. 
(2) The term ‘‘young child’’ means any child from 
birth to the age of five years old, inclusive. 
SEC. 723. PLAN FOR ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION DEM-
ONSTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 
acting through the Director of the Defense Health Agency, 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a plan for the con-
duct of the Accountable Care Organization demonstration, 
notice of which was published in the Federal Register on Au-
gust 16, 2019 (84 Fed. Reg. 41974), (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘Demonstration’’). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The plan under subsection (a) shall in-
clude, the following: 
(1) A description of how the Demonstration shall be 
conducted to deliver improved health outcomes, improved 
quality of care, and lower costs under the TRICARE 
program. 
(2) A description of the results for the TRICARE 
program that the Secretary plans to achieve through the 
Demonstration, with respect to the following outcome 
measures:
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) Clinical performance. 
(B) Utilization improvement. 
(C) Beneficiary engagement. 
(D) Membership growth and retention. 
(E) Case management. 
(F) Continuity of care. 
(G) Use of telehealth. 
(3) A description of how the Demonstration shall be 
conducted to shift financial risk from the Department of 
Defense to civilian health care providers. 
(4) A description of how investment in the Dem-
onstration shall serve as a bridge to future competitive 
demonstrations of the Department of Defense with ac-
countable care organizations. 
(5) A detailed description of the geographic loca-
tions at which the Secretary plans to conduct such fu-
ture competitive demonstrations. 
(6) A description of how a third-party administrator 
shall manage the administrative components of the Dem-
onstration, including with respect to eligibility, enroll-
ment, premium payment processes, submission of quali-
fying life events changes, and mailing address changes. 
(c) TRICARE PROGRAM DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.
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SEC. 724. FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PLAN ON ESTABLISHING A 
MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM MEDICAL LOGISTICS 
DIRECTORATE AND MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM 
EDUCATION AND TRAINING DIRECTORATE. 
(a) STUDY AND PLAN.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments 
and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall— 
(1) conduct a study on the feasibility of the estab-
lishment within the Defense Health Agency of two sub-
ordinate organizations, to be known as the Military 
Health System Medical Logistics Directorate and the 
Military Health System Education and Training Direc-
torate, respectively; and 
(2) develop a plan for such establishment. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The plan under subsection (a)(2) shall 
include the following: 
(1) MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM MEDICAL LOGISTICS 
DIRECTORATE.—With respect to the Military Health 
System Medical Logistics Directorate, the following: 
(A) A description of the organizational struc-
ture of the Directorate (including any subordinate 
organizations), including the incorporation into the 
Directorate of existing organizations of the military 
departments that provide operational theater med-
ical materiel support.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(B) A description of the resourcing by the Sec-
retary of the executive leadership of the Directorate. 
(C) A description of the geographic location, or 
multiple such locations, of the elements of the Di-
rectorate. 
(D) A description of how the head of the med-
ical research and development organization within 
the Defense Health Agency shall coordinate with 
the Directorate. 
(E) A description of the ability of the Direc-
torate to address the medical logistics requirements 
of the military departments, the combatant com-
mands, and the Joint Staff. 
(F) A description of any additional funding re-
quired to establish the Directorate. 
(G) A description of any additional legislative 
authorities required to establish the Directorate, in-
cluding any such authorities required for the leader-
ship and direction of the Directorate. 
(H) A description of any military department- 
specific capabilities, requirements, or best practices 
relating to medical logistics necessary to be consid-
ered prior to the establishment of the Directorate.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(I) Such other matters relating to the estab-
lishment, operations, or activities of the Directorate 
as the Secretary may determine appropriate. 
(2) MILITARY
HEALTH
SYSTEM
EDUCATION
AND 
TRAINING DIRECTORATE.—With respect to the Military 
Health System Education and Training Directorate, the 
following: 
(A) A description of the organizational struc-
ture of the Directorate (including any subordinate 
organizations), including the incorporation into the 
Directorate of existing organizations that provide 
relevant medical education and training, such as the 
following: 
(i) The Uniformed Services University of 
the Health Sciences. 
(ii) The College of Allied Health Sciences 
of the Uniformed Services University of the 
Health Sciences. 
(iii) The Medical Education and Training 
Campus of the Department of Defense. 
(iv) The medical education and training 
commands and organizations of the military 
departments.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(v) The medical training programs of the 
military departments affiliated with civilian 
academic institutions. 
(B) A description of the resourcing by the Sec-
retary of the executive leadership of the Directorate. 
(C) A description of the geographic location, or 
multiple such locations, of the elements of the Di-
rectorate. 
(D) A description of the ability of the Direc-
torate to address the medical education and train-
ing requirements of the military departments. 
(E) A description of any additional funding re-
quired for the establishment the Directorate. 
(F) A description of any additional legislative 
authorities required for the establishment of the Di-
rectorate, including any such authorities required 
for the leadership and direction of the Directorate. 
(G) Such other matters relating to the estab-
lishment, operations, or activities of the Directorate 
as the Secretary may determine appropriate. 
(c) SUBMISSION.—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—
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(1) the results of the study under subsection (a)(1); 
and 
(2) the plan under subsection (a)(2). 
Subtitle C—Reports and Other 
Matters 
SEC. 731. BRIEFING AND REPORT ON REDUCTION OR REALIGN-
MENT OF MILITARY MEDICAL MANNING AND MED-
ICAL BILLETS. 
Section 731(a)(2)(A) of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 
1796) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) BRIEFING; REPORT.—The Comptroller 
General of the United States shall— 
‘‘(i) not later than February 1, 2023, pro-
vide to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
briefing on preliminary observations regarding 
the analyses used to support any reduction or 
realignment of military medical manning, in-
cluding any reduction or realignment of med-
ical billets of the military departments; and 
‘‘(ii) not later than May 31, 2023, submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a re-
port on such analyses.’’.
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SEC. 732. INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE 
COMPREHENSIVE 
AUTISM 
CARE 
DEM-
ONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
Section 737 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1800) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘broadly’’ after ‘‘dis-
order’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘demonstration project’’ 
and inserting ‘‘demonstration program’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘dem-
onstration project’’ and inserting ‘‘demonstration 
program’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘paren-
tal involvement in applied behavioral analysis treat-
ment, and’’ after ‘‘including’’; 
(D) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘for an 
individual who has’’ and inserting ‘‘, including men-
tal health outcomes, for individuals who have’’; 
(E) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ‘‘since 
its inception’’ after ‘‘demonstration program’’; 
(F) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ‘‘cost ef-
fectiveness, program effectiveness, and clinical’’ 
after ‘‘measure the’’;
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(G) in subparagraph (G), by inserting ‘‘than in 
the general population’’ after ‘‘families’’; 
(H) by redesignating subparagraph (H) as sub-
paragraph (I); and 
(I) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph (H): 
‘‘(H) An analysis of whether the diagnosis and 
treatment of autism is higher among the children of 
military families than in the general population.’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding para-
graph (1), by striking ‘‘nine’’ and inserting ‘‘31’’. 
SEC. 733. CLARIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS 
AND 
COMPENSATION 
AUTHORITY 
FOR 
INDE-
PENDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE 
REVIEW COMMITTEE. 
Section 738 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1801) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘none of whom 
may be’’ and all that follows through the closing period 
and inserting ‘‘none of whom may be—’’ 
‘‘(A) a member of an Armed Force; or
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) a civilian employee of the Department of 
Defense, unless the individual is a former member 
of an Armed Force.’’. 
(2) by redesignating subsections (f) through (h) as 
subsections (g) through (i), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following 
new subsection (f): 
‘‘(f) COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary may compensate members of 
the committee established under subsection (a) for the 
work of such members for the committee. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—A member of the committee es-
tablished under subsection (a) who is a civilian employee 
of the Department of Defense and a former member of 
an Armed Force may not receive compensation under 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) TREATMENT OF COMPENSATION.—A member 
of the committee established under subsection (a) who 
receives compensation under paragraph (1) shall not be 
considered a civilian employee of the Department of De-
fense for purposes of subsection (b)(3)(B).’’.
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SEC. 734. TERMINATION OF VETERANS’ ADVISORY BOARD ON 
RADIATION DOSE RECONSTRUCTION. 
Section 601 of the Veterans Benefit Act of 2003 (Public 
Law 108–183; 38 U.S.C. 1154 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘, including the 
establishment of the advisory board required by sub-
section (c)’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c). 
SEC. 735. BRAIN HEALTH INITIATIVE OF DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in con-
sultation with the Secretaries concerned, shall establish a 
comprehensive initiative for brain health to be known as the 
‘‘Warfighter Brain Health Initiative’’ (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘Initiative’’) for the purpose of unifying efforts and 
programs across the Department of Defense to improve the 
cognitive performance and brain health of members of the 
Armed Forces. 
(b) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the Initiative shall 
be the following: 
(1) To enhance, maintain, and restore the cognitive 
performance of members of the Armed Forces through 
education, training, prevention, protection, monitoring, 
detection, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, in-
cluding through the following activities:
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(A) The establishment of a program to monitor 
cognitive brain health across the Department of De-
fense, with the goal of detecting any need for cog-
nitive enhancement or restoration resulting from 
potential brain exposures of members of Armed 
Forces, to mitigate possible evolution of injury or 
disease progression. 
(B) The identification and dissemination of 
thresholds for blast pressure safety and associated 
emerging scientific evidence. 
(C) The modification of high-risk training and 
operational activities to mitigate the negative effects 
of repetitive blast exposure. 
(D) The identification of individuals who per-
form high-risk training or occupational activities, 
for purposes of increased monitoring of the brain 
health of such individuals. 
(E) The development and operational fielding 
of non-invasive, portable, point-of-care medical de-
vices, to inform the diagnosis and treatment of 
traumatic brain injury. 
(F) The establishment of a standardized moni-
toring program that documents and analyzes blast 
exposures that may affect the brain health of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces.
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(G) The consideration of the findings and rec-
ommendations of the report of the National Acad-
emies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine titled 
‘‘Traumatic Brain Injury: A Roadmap for Accel-
erating Progress’’ and published in 2022 (relating 
to the acceleration of progress in traumatic brain 
injury research and care), or any successor report, 
in relation to the activities of the Department relat-
ing to brain health, as applicable. 
(2) To harmonize and prioritize the efforts of the 
Department of Defense into a single approach to brain 
health. 
(c) ANNUAL BUDGET JUSTIFICATION DOCUMENTS.—In 
the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in 
support of the Department of Defense budget for each of fis-
cal years 2025 through 2029 (as submitted with the budget 
of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United 
States Code), the Secretary of Defense shall include a budget 
justification display that includes all activities of the Depart-
ment relating to the Initiative. 
(d) PILOT PROGRAM RELATING
TO MONITORING
OF 
BLAST COVERAGE.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—The Director of the Defense 
Health Agency may conduct, as part of the Initiative, a 
pilot program under which the Director shall monitor
629 
•HRES 1512 EH 
blast overpressure exposure through the use of commer-
cially available, off-the-shelf, wearable sensors, and docu-
ment and evaluate data collected as a result of such 
monitoring. 
(2) LOCATIONS.—Monitoring activities under a pilot 
program conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be 
carried out in each training environment that the Direc-
tor determines poses a risk for blast overpressure expo-
sure. 
(3) DOCUMENTATION AND SHARING OF DATA.—If 
the Director conducts a pilot program pursuant to para-
graph (1), the Director shall— 
(A) ensure that any data collected pursuant to 
such pilot program that is related to the health ef-
fects of the blast overpressure exposure of a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces who participated in the 
pilot program is documented and maintained by the 
Secretary of Defense in an electronic health record 
for the member; and 
(B) to the extent practicable, and in accord-
ance with applicable provisions of law relating to 
data privacy, make data collected pursuant to such 
pilot program available to other academic and med-
ical researchers for the purpose of informing future 
research and treatment options.
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(e) STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—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 Sen-
ate a report setting forth a strategy and implementation plan 
of the Department of Defense to achieve the objectives of the 
Initiative under subsection (b). 
(f) ANNUAL BRIEFINGS.—Not later than January 31, 
2024, and annually thereafter until January 31, 2027, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
ate a report on the Initiative that includes the following: 
(1) A description of the activities taken under the 
Initiative and resources expended under the Initiative 
during the prior fiscal year. 
(2) A summary of the progress made during the 
prior fiscal year with respect to the objectives of the Ini-
tiative under subsection (b). 
(g) SECRETARY CONCERNED DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
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SEC. 736. ESTABLISHMENT OF PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM BE-
TWEEN UNITED STATES AND UKRAINE FOR MILI-
TARY TRAUMA CARE AND RESEARCH. 
Not later than February 24, 2023, the Secretary of De-
fense shall seek to enter into a partnership with the appro-
priate counterpart from the Government of Ukraine for the 
establishment of a joint program on military trauma care and 
research. Such program shall consist of the following: 
(1) The sharing of relevant lessons learned from the 
Russo-Ukraine War. 
(2) The conduct of relevant joint conferences and 
exchanges with military medical professionals from 
Ukraine and the United States. 
(3) Collaboration with the armed forces of Ukraine 
on matters relating to health policy, health administra-
tion, and medical supplies and equipment, including 
through knowledge exchanges. 
(4) The conduct of joint research and development 
on the health effects of new and emerging weapons. 
(5) The entrance into agreements with military 
medical schools of Ukraine for reciprocal education pro-
grams under which students at the Uniformed Services 
University of the Health Sciences receive specialized 
military medical instruction at the such military medical 
schools of Ukraine and military medical personnel of 
Ukraine receive specialized military medical instruction
632 
•HRES 1512 EH 
at the Uniformed Services University of the Health 
Sciences, pursuant to section 2114(f) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(6) The provision of support to Ukraine for the pur-
pose of facilitating the establishment in Ukraine of a 
program substantially similar to the Wounded Warrior 
Program in the United States. 
(7) The provision of training to the armed forces of 
Ukraine in the following areas: 
(A) Health matters relating to chemical, bio-
logical, radiological, nuclear and explosive weapons. 
(B) Preventive medicine and infectious disease. 
(C) Post traumatic stress disorder. 
(D) Suicide prevention. 
(8) The maintenance of a list of medical supplies 
and equipment needed. 
(9) Such other elements as the Secretary of Defense 
may determine appropriate. 
SEC. 737. IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 
CARE AVAILABLE UNDER MILITARY HEALTH SYS-
TEM. 
(a) STUDY RELATING TO UNIFORMED SERVICES UNI-
VERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCE.—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall con-
duct a study on the feasibility and advisability of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Establishing graduate degree-granting pro-
grams in counseling and social work at the Uni-
formed Services University of the Health Sciences. 
(B) Expanding the clinical psychology graduate 
program of the Uniformed Services University of 
the Health Sciences. 
(2) MATTERS.—The study under paragraph (1) 
shall include a description of— 
(A) the process by which, as a condition of en-
rolling in a degree-granting program specified in 
such paragraph, a civilian student would be re-
quired to commit to post-award employment obliga-
tions; and 
(B) the processes and consequences that would 
apply if such obligations are not met. 
(3) REPORT.—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 con-
taining the findings of the study under paragraph (1). 
(b) PILOT
PROGRAM
ON
SCHOLARSHIP-FOR-SERVICE 
FOR CIVILIAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) PILOT
PROGRAM.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall commence the conduct of a pilot 
program under which— 
(A) the Secretary may provide— 
(i) scholarships to cover tuition and re-
lated fees at an institution of higher education 
to an individual enrolled in a program of study 
leading to a graduate degree in clinical psy-
chology, social work, counseling, or a related 
field (as determined by the Secretary); and 
(ii) student loan repayment assistance to 
a credentialed behavioral health provider who 
has a graduate degree in clinical psychology, 
social work, counseling, or a related field (as 
determined by the Secretary); and 
(B) in exchange for such assistance, the recipi-
ent shall commit to work as a covered civilian be-
havioral health provider in accordance with para-
graph (2). 
(2) POST-AWARD EMPLOYMENT OBLIGATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph 
(B), as a condition of receiving assistance under 
paragraph (1), the recipient of such assistance shall 
enter into an agreement with the Secretary of De-
635 
•HRES 1512 EH 
fense pursuant to which the recipient agrees to 
work on a full-time basis as a covered civilian be-
havioral health provider for a period of a duration 
that is at least equivalent to the period during 
which the recipient received assistance under such 
paragraph. 
(B) OTHER
TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—An 
agreement entered into pursuant to subparagraph 
(A) may include such other terms and conditions as 
the Secretary of Defense may determine necessary 
to protect the interests of the United States or oth-
erwise appropriate for purposes of this section, in-
cluding terms and conditions providing for limited 
exceptions from the post-award employment obliga-
tion specified in such subparagraph. 
(3) REPAYMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An individual who receives 
assistance under paragraph (1) and does not com-
plete the employment obligation required under the 
agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (2) 
shall repay to the Secretary of Defense a prorated 
portion of the financial assistance received by the 
individual under paragraph (1).
636 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(B) 
DETERMINATION
OF
AMOUNT.—The 
amount of any repayment required under subpara-
graph (A) shall be determined by the Secretary. 
(4) DURATION.—The authority to carry out the 
pilot program under paragraph (1) shall terminate on 
the date that is 10 years after the date on which such 
pilot program commences. 
(5) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a plan for the implementation of this section. 
(6) REPORTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than each of one 
year and five years after the commencement of the 
pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the House of Representative and the 
Senate a report on the pilot program. 
(B) ELEMENTS.—Each report under subpara-
graph (A) shall include, with respect to the pilot 
program under subsection (1), the following: 
(i) The number of students receiving 
scholarships under the pilot program.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(ii) The institutions of higher education at 
which such students are enrolled. 
(iii) The total amount of financial assist-
ance expended under the pilot program per 
academic year. 
(iv) The average scholarship amount per 
student under the pilot program. 
(v) The number of students hired as cov-
ered behavioral health providers pursuant to 
the pilot program. 
(vi) Any recommendations for terminating 
the pilot program, extending the pilot program, 
or making the pilot program permanent. 
(c) REPORT ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense shall conduct an analysis of the behavioral health 
workforce under the direct care component of the mili-
tary health system and submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a report containing the results of such analysis. 
Such report shall include, with respect to such work-
force, the following: 
(A) The number of positions authorized for 
military behavioral health providers within such
638 
•HRES 1512 EH 
workforce, and the number of such positions filled, 
disaggregated by the professions described in para-
graph (2). 
(B) The number of positions authorized for ci-
vilian behavioral health providers within such work-
force, and the number of such positions filled, 
disaggregated by the professions described in para-
graph (2). 
(C) For each military department, the ratio of 
military behavioral health providers assigned to 
military medical treatment facilities compared to ci-
vilian behavioral health providers so assigned, 
disaggregated by the professions described in para-
graph (2). 
(D) For each military department, the number 
of military behavioral health providers authorized to 
be embedded within an operational unit, and the 
number of such positions filled, disaggregated by 
the professions described in paragraph (2). 
(E) Data on the historical demand for behav-
ioral health services by members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(F) An estimate of the number of health care 
providers necessary to meet the demand by such 
members for behavioral health care services under
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•HRES 1512 EH 
the direct care component of the military health 
system, disaggregated by provider type. 
(G) An identification of any shortfall between 
the estimated number under subparagraph (F) and 
the total number of positions for behavioral health 
providers filled within such workforce. 
(H) Such other information as the Secretary 
may determine appropriate. 
(2) PROVIDER TYPES.—The professions described 
in this paragraph are as follows: 
(A) Clinical psychologists. 
(B) Social workers. 
(C) Counselors. 
(D) Such other professions as the Secretary 
may determine appropriate. 
(3) BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE AT REMOTE 
LOCATIONS.—In conducting the analysis of the behav-
ioral health workforce under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall ensure such behavioral health 
workforce at remote locations (including Guam and Ha-
waii) and any shortfalls thereof, is taken into account. 
(d) PLAN TO ADDRESS SHORTFALLS IN BEHAVIORAL 
HEALTH WORKFORCE.—Not later than one year after the 
date on which the report under subsection (c) is submitted, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on
640 
•HRES 1512 EH 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
ate a plan to address any shortfall of the behavioral health 
workforce identified under paragraph (1)(G) of such sub-
section. Such plan shall address the following: 
(1) With respect to any such shortfall of military 
behavioral health providers (addressed separately with 
respect to such providers assigned to military medical 
treatment facilities and such providers assigned to be 
embedded within operational units), the recruitment, ac-
cession, retention, special pay and other aspects of com-
pensation, workload, role of the Uniformed Services Uni-
versity of the Health Sciences and the Armed Forces 
Health Professions Scholarship Program under chapter 
105 of title 10, United States Code, any additional au-
thorities or resources necessary for the Secretary to in-
crease the number of such providers, and such other 
considerations as the Secretary may consider appro-
priate. 
(2) With respect to addressing any such shortfall of 
civilian behavioral health providers, the recruitment, hir-
ing, retention, pay and benefits, workload, educational 
scholarship programs, any additional authorities or re-
sources necessary for the Secretary to increase the num-
ber of such providers, and such other considerations as 
the Secretary may consider appropriate.
641 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(3) A recommendation as to whether the number of 
military behavioral health providers in each military de-
partment should be increased, and if so, by how many. 
(4) A plan to ensure that remote installations are 
prioritized for the assignment of military behavioral 
health providers. 
(5) Updated access standards for behavioral health 
care under the military health system, taking into ac-
count— 
(A) the duration of time between a patient re-
ceiving a referral for such care and the patient re-
ceiving individualized treatment (following an initial 
intake assessment) from a behavioral health pro-
vider; and 
(B) the frequency of regular follow-up appoint-
ments subsequent to the first appointment at which 
a patient receives such individualized treatment. 
(6) A plan to expand access to behavioral health 
care under the military health system using telehealth. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘behavioral health’’ includes psychi-
atry, clinical psychology, social work, counseling, and re-
lated fields.
642 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) The term ‘‘civilian behavioral health provider’’ 
means a behavioral health provider who is a civilian em-
ployee of the Department of Defense. 
(3) The term ‘‘counselor’’ means an individual who 
holds— 
(A) a master’s or doctoral degree from an ac-
credited graduate program in— 
(i) marriage and family therapy; or 
(ii) clinical mental health counseling; and 
(B) a current license or certification from a 
State that grants the individual the authority to 
provide counseling services as an independent prac-
titioner in the respective field of the individual. 
(4) The term ‘‘covered civilian behavioral health 
provider’’ means a civilian behavioral health provider 
whose employment by the Secretary of Defense involves 
the provision of behavioral health services at a military 
medical treatment facility. 
(5) The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(6) The term ‘‘military behavioral health provider’’ 
means a behavioral health provider who is a member of 
the Armed Forces.
643 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(7) The term ‘‘military installation’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 2801 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(8) The term ‘‘military medical treatment facility’’ 
means a facility specified in section 1073d of such title. 
(9) The term ‘‘remote installation’’ means a mili-
tary installation that the Secretary determines to be in 
a remote location. 
(10) The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the several 
States, the District of Columbia, and each common-
wealth, territory or possession of the United States. 
SEC. 738. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN PROVISION OF MENTAL 
HEALTH SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES AND MILITARY FAMILIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in con-
sultation with the President of the Uniformed Services Uni-
versity of the Health Sciences, shall develop a curriculum and 
certification program to provide civilian mental health profes-
sionals and students in mental health-related disciplines with 
the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to address the 
unique mental health needs of members of the Armed Forces 
and military families. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 90 days after 
completing the development of the curriculum and certifi-
cation program under subsection (a), the Secretary of De-
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(1) review regulations, establish policies, and issue 
guidance relating to service in the Armed Forces by indi-
viduals diagnosed with HBV, consistent with the health 
care standards and clinical guidelines of the Department 
of Defense; and 
(2) identify areas where the regulations, policies, 
and guidance of the Department relating to individuals 
diagnosed with HBV (including with respect to enlist-
ments, assignments, deployments, and retention stand-
ards) may be standardized across the Armed Forces. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘HBV’’ means the Hepatitis B Virus. 
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 101 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 740. SUICIDE CLUSTER: STANDARDIZED DEFINITION FOR 
USE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE; CONGRES-
SIONAL NOTIFICATION. 
(a) STANDARDIZATION OF DEFINITION.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries con-
cerned, shall develop, for use across the Armed Forces, a 
standardized definition for the term ‘‘suicide cluster’’. 
(b) NOTIFICATION
REQUIRED.—Beginning not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
646 
•HRES 1512 EH 
whenever the Secretary determines the occurrence of a sui-
cide cluster (as that term is defined pursuant to subsection 
(a)) among members of the Armed Forces, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a notification of 
such determination. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than April 1, 2023, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
briefing on the following: 
(1) The methodology being used in the development 
of the definition under subsection (a). 
(2) The progress made towards the development of 
the process for submitting required notifications under 
subsection (b). 
(3) An estimated timeline for the implementation of 
this section. 
(d) COORDINATION REQUIRED.—In developing the defi-
nition under subsection (a) and the process for submitting re-
quired notifications under subsection (b), the Secretary of 
Defense shall coordinate with the Secretaries concerned. 
(e) SECRETARY CONCERNED DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Codes.
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SEC. 741. LIMITATION ON REDUCTION OF MILITARY MEDICAL 
MANNING END STRENGTH: CERTIFICATION RE-
QUIREMENT AND OTHER REFORMS. 
(a) LIMITATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph 
(2), and in addition to the limitation under section 719 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1454), as 
most recently amended by section 731 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public 
Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1795), during the five-year pe-
riod beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
neither the Secretary of Defense nor a Secretary con-
cerned may reduce military medical end strength author-
izations, and following such period, neither may reduce 
such authorizations unless the Secretary of Defense 
issues a waiver pursuant to paragraph (6). 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The limitation under paragraph 
(1) shall not apply with respect to the following: 
(A) Administrative billets of a military depart-
ment that have remained unfilled since at least Oc-
tober 1, 2018. 
(B) Billets identified as non-clinical in the 
budget of the President for fiscal year 2020 sub-
mitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of
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•HRES 1512 EH 
title 31, United States Code, except that the num-
ber of such billets may not exceed 1,700. 
(C) Medical headquarters billets of the military 
departments not assigned to, or providing direct 
support to, operational commands. 
(3) REPORT ON COMPOSITION OF MILITARY MED-
ICAL
WORKFORCE
REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary of 
Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the mili-
tary departments, shall conduct an assessment of cur-
rent military medical manning requirements (taking into 
consideration factors including future operational plan-
ning, training, and beneficiary healthcare) and submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate a report containing the find-
ings of such assessment. Such assessment shall be in-
formed by the following: 
(A) The National Defense Strategy submitted 
under section 113(g) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(B) The National Military Strategy prepared 
under section 153(b) of such title. 
(C) The campaign plans of the combatant com-
mands. 
(D) Theater strategies.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(E) The joint medical estimate under section 
732 of the John S. McCain National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 
115–232; 132 Stat. 1817). 
(F) The plan of the Department of Defense on 
integrated medical operations, as updated pursuant 
to paragraph (1) of section 724(a) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 
(Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1793; 10 U.S.C. 
1096 note). 
(G) The plan of the Department of Defense on 
global patient movement, as updated pursuant to 
paragraph (2) of such section 724(a). 
(H) The biosurveillance program of the De-
partment of Defense established pursuant to De-
partment of Defense Directive 6420.02 (relating to 
biosurveillance). 
(I) Requirements for graduate medical edu-
cation. 
(J) The report of the COVID–19 Military 
Health System Review Panel under section 731 of 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public 
Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3698).
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(K) The report of the Inspector General of the 
Department of Defense titled ‘‘Evaluation of De-
partment of Defense Military Medical Treatment 
Facility Challenges During the Coronavirus Dis-
ease-2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Fiscal Year 
2021 (DODIG-2022-081)’’ and published on April 
5, 2022. 
(L) Reports of the Comptroller General of the 
United States relating to military health system re-
forms undertaken on or after January, 1, 2017, in-
cluding any such reports relating to military med-
ical manning and force composition mix. 
(M) Such other reports as may be determined 
appropriate by the Secretary of Defense. 
(4) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a certification 
containing the following: 
(A) A certification of the completion of a com-
prehensive review of military medical manning, in-
cluding with respect to the medical corps (or other 
health- or medical-related component of a military 
department), designator, profession, occupation, 
and rating of medical personnel.
651 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(B) A justification for any proposed increase, 
realignment, reduction, or other change to the spe-
cialty or occupational composition of military med-
ical end strength authorizations, which may include 
compliance with a requirement or recommendation 
set forth in a strategy, plan, or other matter speci-
fied in paragraph (3). 
(C) A certification that, in the case that any 
change to such specialty or occupational composi-
tion is required, a vacancy resulting from such 
change may not be filled with a position other than 
a health- or medical-related position until such time 
as there are no military medical billets remaining to 
fill the vacancy. 
(D) A risk analysis associated with the poten-
tial realignment or reduction of any military med-
ical end strength authorizations. 
(E) An identification of any plans of the De-
partment to backfill military medical personnel posi-
tions with civilian personnel. 
(F) A plan to address persistent vacancies for 
civilian personnel in health- or medical-related posi-
tions, and a risk analysis associated with the hiring, 
onboarding, and retention of such civilian personnel,
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•HRES 1512 EH 
taking into account provider shortfalls across the 
United States. 
(G) A comprehensive plan to mitigate any risk 
identified pursuant to subparagraph (D) or (F), in-
cluding with respect to funding necessary for such 
mitigation across fiscal years. 
(5) PROCESS REQUIRED.—The Secretaries of the 
military departments, in coordination with the Secretary 
of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, shall develop and submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a process for the authorization of proposed modi-
fications to the composition of the medical manning 
force mix across the military departments while main-
taining compliance with the limitation under paragraph 
(1). Such process shall— 
(A) take into consideration the funding re-
quired for any such proposed modification; and 
(B) include distinct processes for proposed in-
creases and proposed decreases, respectively, to the 
medical manning force mix of each military depart-
ment. 
(6) WAIVER.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Following the conclusion of 
the five-year period specified in paragraph (1), the
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Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition 
under such subsection if— 
(i) the report requirement under para-
graph (3), the certification requirement under 
paragraph (4), and the process requirement 
under paragraph (5) have been completed; 
(ii) the Secretary determines that the 
waiver is necessary and in the interests of the 
national security of the United States; and 
(iii) the waiver is issued in writing. 
(B) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than five days after issuing a waiver under subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate a notification of the 
waiver (including the text of the waiver and a jus-
tification for the waiver) and provide to such com-
mittees a briefing on the components of the waiver. 
(b) TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF 
PLAN FOR RESTRUCTURE OR REALIGNMENT OF MILITARY 
MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES.—The Secretary of De-
fense may not implement the plan under section 703(d)(1) of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 
(Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2199) until the later of the 
following:
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(1) The date that is one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(2) The date on which the Secretary of Defense 
completes the following: 
(A) A risk analysis for each military medical 
treatment facility to be realigned, restructured, or 
otherwise affected under the implementation plan 
under such section 703(d)(1), including an assess-
ment of the capacity of the TRICARE network of 
providers in the area of such military medical treat-
ment facility to provide care to the TRICARE 
Prime beneficiaries that would otherwise be as-
signed to such military medical treatment facility. 
(B) An identification of the process by which 
the assessment conducted under subsection (a)(3) 
and the certification required under subsection 
(a)(4) shall be linked to any restructuring or re-
alignment of military medical treatment facilities. 
(c) BRIEFINGS; FINAL REPORT.— 
(1) INITIAL
BRIEFING.—Not later than April 1, 
2023, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate a briefing on— 
(A) the method by which the Secretary plans 
to meet the report requirement under subsection
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(a)(3), the certification requirement under sub-
section (a)(4), and the process requirement under 
subsection (a)(5); and 
(B) the matters specified in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) of subsection (b)(2). 
(2) BRIEFING ON PROGRESS.—Not later than two 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a briefing on the progress made towards comple-
tion of the requirements specified in paragraph (1)(A). 
(3) FINAL BRIEFING.—Not later than three years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a final briefing on the completion of such re-
quirements. 
(4) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than three years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a final report on the completion of such require-
ments. Such final report shall be in addition to the re-
port, certification, and process submitted under para-
graphs (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (a), respectively.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘medical personnel’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 115a(e) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 101(a) of such title. 
(3) The term ‘‘theater strategy’’ means an over-
arching construct outlining the vision of a combatant 
commander for the integration and synchronization of 
military activities and operations with other national 
power instruments to achieve the strategic objectives of 
the United States. 
SEC. 742. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS RE-
LATING TO CIVILIAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRO-
VIDERS. 
(a) FEASIBILITY STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing paid 
pre-doctoral and post-doctoral internship programs for the 
purpose of training clinical psychologists to work as covered 
civilian behavioral health providers. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The feasibility study under subsection 
(a) shall assess, with respect to the potential internship pro-
grams specified in such subsection, the following:
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(1) A model under which, as a condition of partici-
pating in such an internship program, the participant 
would enter into an agreement with the Secretary under 
which the participant agrees to work on a full-time basis 
as a covered civilian behavioral health provider for a pe-
riod of a duration that is at least equivalent to the pe-
riod of participation in such internship program. 
(2) Methods by which the Secretary may address 
scenarios in which an individual who participates in such 
an internship program does not complete the employ-
ment obligation required under the agreement referred 
to in paragraph (1), including by requiring the individual 
to repay to the Secretary a prorated portion of the cost 
of administering such program (to be determined by the 
Secretary) with respect to such individual and of any 
payment received by the individual under such program. 
(3) The methods by which the Secretary may adjust 
the workload and staffing of behavioral health providers 
in military medical treatment facilities to ensure suffi-
cient capacity to supervise participants in such intern-
ship programs. 
(c) REPORT.—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 Representa-
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tives and the Senate a report containing the findings of the 
feasibility study under subsection (a). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘behavioral health’’ includes psychi-
atry, clinical psychology, social work, counseling, and re-
lated fields. 
(2) The term ‘‘behavioral health provider’’ includes 
the following: 
(A) A licensed professional counselor. 
(B) A licensed mental health counselor. 
(C) A licensed clinical professional counselor. 
(D) A licensed professional clinical counselor of 
mental health. 
(E) A licensed clinical mental health counselor. 
(F) A licensed mental health practitioner. 
(3) The term ‘‘covered civilian behavioral health 
provider’’ means a civilian behavioral health provider 
whose employment by the Secretary of Defense involves 
the provision of behavioral health services at a military 
medical treatment facility. 
(4) The term ‘‘civilian behavioral health provider’’ 
means a behavioral health provider who is a civilian em-
ployee of the Department of Defense.
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(5) The term ‘‘military medical treatment facility’’ 
means a facility specified in section 1073d of title 10, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 743. UPDATES TO PRIOR FEASIBILITY STUDIES ON ESTAB-
LISHMENT 
OF 
NEW 
COMMAND 
ON 
DEFENSE 
HEALTH. 
(a) UPDATES.—The Secretary of Defense shall update 
prior studies regarding the feasibility of establishing a new 
defense health command under which the Defense Health 
Agency would be a joint component. In conducting such up-
dates, the Secretary shall consider for such new command 
each of the following potential structures: 
(1) A unified combatant command. 
(2) A specified combatant command. 
(3) Any other command structure the Secretary de-
termines is appropriate for consideration. 
(b) MATTERS.—The updates under subsection (a) shall 
include, with respect to the new command specified in such 
subsection, the following: 
(1) An assessment of the potential organizational 
structure of the new command sufficient for the new 
command to carry out the responsibilities described in 
subsection (c), including a description of the following: 
(A) The potential reporting relationship be-
tween the commander of the new command, the As-
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sistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
Readiness. 
(B) The potential relationship of the new com-
mand to the military departments, the combatant 
commands, and the Joint Staff. 
(C) The potential responsibilities of the com-
mander of the new command and how such respon-
sibilities would differ from the responsibilities of the 
Director of the Defense Health Agency. 
(D) The potential chain of command between 
such commander and the Secretary of Defense. 
(E) The potential roles of the Surgeons Gen-
eral of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with respect 
to such commander. 
(F) Any organizations that support the De-
fense Health Agency, such as the medical depart-
ments and medical logistics organizations of each 
military department. 
(G) The potential organizational structure of 
the new command, including any subordinate com-
mands. 
(H) The geographic location, or multiple such 
locations, of the headquarters of the new command 
and any subordinate commands.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(I) How the Defense Health Agency currently 
serves as a provider of optimally trained and clini-
cally proficient health care professionals to support 
combatant commands. 
(J) How the new command may further serve 
as a provider of optimally trained and clinically pro-
ficient health care professionals to support combat-
ant commands. 
(2) An assessment of any additional funding nec-
essary to establish the new command. 
(3) An assessment of any additional legislative au-
thorities necessary to establish the new command, in-
cluding with respect to the executive leadership and di-
rection of the new command. 
(4) An assessment of the required resourcing of the 
executive leadership of the new command. 
(5) If the Secretary makes the determination to es-
tablish the new command, a timeline for such establish-
ment. 
(6) If the Secretary defers such determination 
pending further implementation of other organizational 
reforms to the military health system, a timeline for 
such future determination.
662 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(7) Such other matters relating to the establish-
ment, operations, or activities of the new command as 
the Secretary may determine appropriate. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES DESCRIBED.—The responsibilities 
described in this subsection are as follows: 
(1) The conduct of health operations among oper-
ational units of the Armed Forces. 
(2) The administration of military medical treat-
ment facilities. 
(3) The administration of the TRICARE program. 
(4) Serving as the element of the Armed Forces 
with the primary responsibility for the following: 
(A) Medical treatment, advanced trauma man-
agement, emergency surgery, and resuscitative care. 
(B) Emergency and specialty surgery, intensive 
care, medical specialty care, and related services. 
(C) Preventive, acute, restorative, curative, re-
habilitative, and convalescent care. 
(5) Collaboration with medical facilities partici-
pating in the National Disaster Medical System estab-
lished pursuant to section 2812 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh–11), the Veterans Health 
Administration, and such other Federal departments and 
agencies and nongovermental organizations as may be 
determined appropriate by the Secretary, including with
663 
•HRES 1512 EH 
respect to the care services specified in paragraph 
(4)(C). 
(6) The conduct of existing research and education 
activities of the Department of Defense in the field of 
health sciences. 
(7) The conduct of public health and global health 
activities not otherwise assigned to the Armed Forces. 
(8) The administration of the Defense Health Pro-
gram Account under section 1100 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(d) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on 
the method by which the Secretary intends to update prior 
studies as required pursuant to subsection (a). 
(e) FINAL BRIEFING; REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall— 
(1) provide to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate a final 
briefing on the implementation of this section; and 
(2) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate a report 
containing the updates to prior studies required pursu-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
ant to subsection (a), including each of the elements 
specified in subsection (b). 
SEC. 744. CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ACTION PLAN WITH 
RESPECT TO EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO OPEN 
BURN PITS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL HAZ-
ARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall— 
(1) conduct a capability assessment of potential im-
provements to activities of the Department of Defense to 
reduce the effects of environmental exposures with re-
spect to members of the Armed Forces; and 
(2) develop an action plan to implement such im-
provements assessed under paragraph (1) as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The capability assessment required by 
subsection (a)(1) shall include the following elements: 
(1) With respect to the conduct of periodic health 
assessments, the following: 
(A) An assessment of the feasibility and advis-
ability of adding additional screening questions re-
lating to environmental and occupational exposures 
to current health assessments of members of the 
Armed Forces conducted by the Secretary of De-
665 
•HRES 1512 EH 
fense, including pre- and post-deployment assess-
ments and pre-separation assessments. 
(B) An assessment of the potential value and 
feasibility of regularly requiring spirometry or other 
pulmonary function testing pre- and post-deploy-
ment for all members, or selected members, of the 
Armed Forces. 
(2) With respect to the conduct of outreach and 
education, the following: 
(A) An evaluation of clinician training on the 
health effects of airborne hazards and how to docu-
ment exposure information in health records main-
tained by the Department of Defense and the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs. 
(B) An assessment of the adequacy of current 
actions by the Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to increase awareness 
among members of the Armed Forces and veterans 
of the purposes and uses of the Airborne Hazards 
and Open Burn Pit Registry and the effect of a po-
tential requirement that individuals meeting appli-
cable criteria be automatically enrolled in the reg-
istry unless such individuals opt out of enrollment. 
(C) An assessment of operational plans for de-
ployment with respect to the adequacy of edu-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
cational activities for, and evaluations of, perform-
ance of command authorities, medical personnel, 
and members of the Armed Forces on deployment 
on anticipated environmental exposures and poten-
tial means to minimize and mitigate any adverse 
health effects of such exposures, including through 
the use of monitoring, personal protective equip-
ment, and medical responses. 
(D) An evaluation of potential means to im-
prove the education of health care providers of the 
Department of Defense with respect to the diag-
nosis and treatment of health conditions associated 
with environmental exposures. 
(3) With respect to the monitoring of exposure dur-
ing deployment operations, the following: 
(A) An evaluation of potential means to 
strengthen tactics, techniques, and procedures used 
in deployment operations to document— 
(i) specific locations where members of the 
Armed Forces served; 
(ii) environmental exposures in such loca-
tions; and 
(iii) any munitions involved during such 
service in such locations.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(B) An assessment of potential improvements 
in the acquisition and use of wearable monitoring 
technology and remote sensing capabilities to record 
environmental exposures by geographic location. 
(C) An analysis of the potential value and fea-
sibility of maintaining a repository of frozen soil 
samples from each deployment location to be later 
tested as needed when concerns relating to environ-
mental exposures are identified. 
(4) With respect to the use of the Individual Longi-
tudinal Exposure Record, the following: 
(A) An assessment of feasibility and advis-
ability of recording individual clinical diagnosis and 
treatment information in the Individual Longitu-
dinal Exposure Record to be integrated with expo-
sure data. 
(B) An evaluation of— 
(i) the progress toward making the Indi-
vidual Longitudinal Exposure Record oper-
ationally capable and accessible to members of 
the Armed Forces and veterans by 2023; and 
(ii) the integration of data from the Indi-
vidual Longitudinal Exposure Record with the 
electronic health records of the Department of
668 
•HRES 1512 EH 
Defense and the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
(C) An assessment of the feasibility and advis-
ability of making such data accessible to the sur-
viving family members of members of the Armed 
Forces and veterans. 
(5) With respect to the conduct of research, the fol-
lowing: 
(A) An assessment of the potential use of the 
Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry for 
research on monitoring and identifying the health 
consequences of exposure to open burn pits. 
(B) An analysis of options for increasing the 
amount and the relevance of additional research 
into the health effects of open burn pits and effec-
tive treatments for such health effects. 
(C) An evaluation of potential research of bio-
marker monitoring to document environmental ex-
posures during deployment or throughout the mili-
tary career of a member of the Armed Forces. 
(D) An analysis of potential organizational 
strengthening with respect to the management of 
research on environmental exposure hazards, includ-
ing the establishment of a joint program executive 
office for such management.
669 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(E) An assessment of the findings and rec-
ommendations of the 2020 report by the National 
Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine ti-
tled ‘‘Respiratory Health Effects of Airborne Haz-
ards Exposures in the Southwest Asia Theater of 
Military Operations’’. 
(6) An evaluation of such other matters as the Sec-
retary of Defense determines appropriate to ensure a 
comprehensive review of activities relating to the effects 
of exposure to open burn pits and other environmental 
hazards. 
(c) SUBMISSION OF PLAN AND BRIEFING.—Not later 
than 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate the action 
plan required by subsection (a)(2); and 
(2) provide to such committees a briefing on the re-
sults of the capability assessment required by subsection 
(a)(1). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Airborne Hazards and Open Burn 
Pit Registry’’ means the registry established under sec-
tion 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’
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•HRES 1512 EH 
Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112– 
260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note). 
(2) The term ‘‘environmental exposure’’ means an 
exposure to an open burn pit or other environmental 
hazard, as determined by the Secretary of Defense. 
(3) The term ‘‘open burn pit’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 201(c) of the Dignified Burial 
and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 
(Public Law 112–260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note). 
SEC. 745. KYLE MULLEN NAVY SEAL MEDICAL TRAINING RE-
VIEW. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Inspector General of the Department 
of Defense shall conduct a comprehensive review of the med-
ical training for health care professionals furnishing medical 
care to individuals undergoing Navy Sea, Air, and Land 
(SEAL) training, the quality assurance mechanisms in place 
with respect to such care, and the efforts to mitigate health 
stress of individuals undergoing such training. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The review under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements: 
(1) A review of the policies for improved medical 
care of individuals undergoing Navy SEAL training and 
quality assurance with respect to such care. 
(2) A review of sleep deprivation practices imple-
mented with respect to Navy SEAL training, including
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•HRES 1512 EH 
an identification of when such practices were initially im-
plemented and how frequently such practices are up-
dated. 
(3) An assessment of the policies and rules relating 
to the use of performance enhancing drugs by individ-
uals undergoing Navy SEAL training. 
(4) An assessment of the oversight of health care 
professionals (including enlisted and officer medical per-
sonnel, civilian employees of the Department of Defense, 
and contractors of the Department) with respect to the 
provision by such professionals of health care services to 
individuals undergoing Navy SEAL training. 
(5) A review and assessment of deaths, occurring 
during the twenty-year period preceding the date of the 
review, of individuals who were undergoing Navy SEAL 
training at the time of death. 
(6) A review of ongoing efforts and initiatives to en-
sure the safety of individuals undergoing Navy SEAL 
training and to prevent the occurrence of long-term in-
jury, illness, and death among such individuals. 
(7) An assessment of the role of nutrition in Navy 
SEAL training. 
(c) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than March 1, 2023, 
the Inspector General of the Department of Defense shall 
provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House
672 
•HRES 1512 EH 
of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on how the In-
spector General plans to conduct the review under subsection 
(a), including with respect to each element specified in sub-
section (b). 
(d) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of 
the Department of Defense shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a final report on the completion of the review under 
subsection (a), including recommendations of the Inspector 
General developed as a result of such review. 
SEC. 746. REPORTS ON COMPOSITION OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL 
OF EACH MILITARY DEPARTMENT AND RELATED 
MATTERS. 
(a) REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 
three years, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with 
the Secretaries of the military departments, shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate a report on the composition of 
the medical personnel of each military department and re-
lated matters. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each report under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) With respect to each military department, the 
following: 
(A) An identification of the number of medical 
personnel of the military department who are offi-
cers in a grade above O–6. 
(B) An identification of the number of such 
medical personnel who are officers in a grade below 
O–7. 
(C) A description of any plans of the Secretary 
to— 
(i) reduce the total number of such med-
ical personnel; or 
(ii) eliminate any covered position for such 
medical personnel. 
(D) A recommendation by the Secretary for 
the number of covered positions for such medical 
personnel that should be required for purposes of 
maximizing medical readiness (without regard to 
current statutory limitations, or potential future 
statutory limitations, on such number), presented as 
a total number for each military department and 
disaggregated by grade. 
(2) An assessment of the grade for the position of 
the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps, including—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) a comparison of the effects of filling such 
position with an officer in the grade of O–6 versus 
an officer in the grade of O–7; 
(B) an assessment of potential issues associ-
ated with the elimination of such position; and 
(C) a description of any potential effects of 
such elimination with respect to medical readiness. 
(3) An assessment of all covered positions for med-
ical personnel of the military departments, including the 
following: 
(A) The total number of authorizations for 
such covered positions, disaggregated by— 
(i) whether the authorization is for a posi-
tion in a reserve component; and 
(ii) whether the position so authorized is 
filled or vacant. 
(B) A description of any medical- or health-re-
lated specialty requirements for such covered posi-
tions. 
(C) For each such covered position, an identi-
fication of the title and geographic location of, and 
a summary of the responsibility description for, the 
position. 
(D) For each such covered position, an identi-
fication of the span of control of the position, in-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
cluding with respect to the highest grade at which 
each such position has been filled. 
(E) An identification of any downgrading, up-
grading, or other changes to such covered positions 
occurring during the 10-year period preceding the 
date of the report, and an assessment of whether 
any such changes have resulted in the transfer of 
responsibilities previously assigned to such a cov-
ered position to— 
(i) a position in the Senior Executive 
Service or another executive personnel position; 
or 
(ii) a position other than a covered posi-
tion. 
(F) A description of any officers in a grade 
above O–6 assigned to the Defense Health Agency, 
the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Health Affairs, the Joint Staff, or any other posi-
tion within the military health system. 
(G) A description of the process by which the 
positions specified in subparagraph (F) are vali-
dated against military requirements or similar billet 
justification processes. 
(H) A side-by-side comparison demonstrating, 
across the military departments, the span of control
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and the responsibilities of covered positions for 
medical personnel of each military department. 
(c) DISAGGREGATION
OF CERTAIN DATA.—The data 
specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1) 
shall be presented as a total number and disaggregated by 
each medical component of the respective military depart-
ment. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered position’’ means a position 
for an officer in a grade above O–6. 
(2) The term ‘‘officer’’ has the meanings given that 
term in section 101(b) of title 10, United States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘medical component’’ means— 
(A) in the case of the Army, the Medical 
Corps, Dental Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Service 
Corps, Veterinary Corps, and Army Medical Spe-
cialist Corps; 
(B) in the case of the Air Force, members des-
ignated as medical officers, dental officers, Air 
Force nurses, medical service officers, and bio-
medical science officers; and 
(C) in the case of the Navy, the Medical Corps, 
Dental Corps, Nurse Corps, and Medical Service 
Corps.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(4) The term ‘‘medical personnel’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 115a(e) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(5) The term ‘‘military department’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 101(a) of such title. 
SEC. 747. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF LOW RECRUITMENT AND RE-
TENTION ON OPERATIONAL TEMPO AND PHYS-
ICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in co-
ordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the ef-
fects of low recruitment and retention on the Armed Forces. 
(b) MATTERS.—The report under subsection (a) shall in-
clude an assessment of the following: 
(1) The effect of low recruitment on the tempo for 
operational units during the previous five years, includ-
ing with respect to deployed units and units in pre-de-
ployment training. 
(2) Whether the rate of operational tempo during 
the pervious five years has affected the retention of 
members of the Armed Forces, including with respect to 
deployed units and units in pre-deployment training.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(3) How the rate of operational tempo during the 
previous five years has affected the number of mental 
health visits of members of the Armed Forces serving in 
such units. 
(4) How the rate of operational tempo during the 
pervious five years has affected the number of suicides 
occurring within such units. 
(5) Whether the rate of operational tempo during 
the pervious five years has affected the number of mus-
culoskeletal and related injuries incurred by members of 
the Armed Forces serving in such units. 
(6) The type or types of military occupational spe-
cialties most affected by low recruitment. 
(7) Lessons learned in the process of gathering data 
for the report under this section. 
(8) Any policy or legislative recommendations to 
mitigate the effect of low recruitment on the operational 
tempo of the Armed Forces. 
SEC. 748. GUIDANCE FOR ADDRESSING HEALTHY RELATION-
SHIPS 
AND 
INTIMATE 
PARTNER 
VIOLENCE 
THROUGH TRICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) GUIDANCE.—The Secretary of Defense shall dissemi-
nate guidance on the implementation through the TRICARE 
program of—
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(1) education on healthy relationships and intimate 
partner violence; and 
(2) protocols for— 
(A) the routine assessment of intimate partner 
violence and sexual assault; and 
(B) the promotion of, and strategies for, trau-
ma-informed care plans. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the imple-
mentation of this section. 
SEC. 749. BRIEFING ON SUICIDE PREVENTION REFORMS FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2023, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives a briefing on the following: 
(1) The feasibility and advisability of implementing 
reforms related to suicide prevention among members of 
the Armed Forces as follows: 
(A) Eliminating mental health history as a dis-
qualifier for service in the Armed Forces, including 
by eliminating restrictions related to mental health
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history that are specific to military occupational 
specialties. 
(B) Requiring comprehensive and in-person an-
nual mental health assessments of members of the 
Armed Forces. 
(C) Requiring behavioral health providers 
under the TRICARE program, including providers 
contracted through such program, to undergo evi-
dence-based and suicide-specific training. 
(D) Requiring leaders at all levels of the 
Armed Forces to be trained on the following: 
(i) Total wellness. 
(ii) Suicide warning signs and risk factors. 
(iii) Evidence-based, suicide-specific inter-
ventions. 
(iv) Effectively communicating with med-
ical and behavioral health providers. 
(v) Communicating with family members, 
including extended family members who are 
not co-located with a member of the Armed 
Forces, on support and access to resources for 
members of the Armed Forces and the depend-
ents thereof. 
(E) Requiring mandatory referral to Warriors 
in Transition programs, or other transitional pro-
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grams, for members of the Armed Forces who are 
eligible for such programs. 
(2) Recommendations for additional legislative ac-
tions necessary to further enhance or expand suicide pre-
vention efforts of the Department of Defense. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) The term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 1072 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘Warriors in Transition program’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 738(e) of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2013 (Public Law 112–239; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note). 
TITLE VIII—ACQUISITION POLICY, 
ACQUISITION 
MANAGEMENT, 
AND RELATED MATTERS 
TITLE VIII—ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, 
AND RELATED MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Acquisition Policy and Management 
Sec. 801. Writing award to encourage curiosity and persistence in overcoming 
obstacles in acquisition. 
Sec. 802. Task and delivery order contracting for architectural and engineering 
services. 
Sec. 803. Data requirements for commercial products for major weapon sys-
tems. 
Sec. 804. Revision of authority for procedures to allow rapid acquisition and 
deployment of capabilities needed under specified high-priority 
circumstances. 
Sec. 805. Treatment of certain clauses implementing Executive orders. 
Sec. 806. Life cycle management and product support. 
Sec. 807. Amendments to contractor employee protections from reprisal for dis-
closure of certain information. 
Sec. 808. Use of fixed-price type contracts for certain major defense acquisition 
programs.
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Sec. 809. Acquisition reporting system. 
Subtitle B—Amendments to General Contracting Authorities, Procedures, and 
Limitations 
Sec. 811. Inclusion in budget justification materials of enhanced reporting on 
proposed cancellations and modifications to multiyear con-
tracts. 
Sec. 812. Comptroller General assessment of acquisition programs and related 
efforts. 
Sec. 813. Extension of Defense Modernization Account authority. 
Sec. 814. Clarification to fixed-price incentive contract references. 
Sec. 815. Modification of reporting requirement in connection with requests for 
multiyear procurement authority for large defense acquisitions. 
Sec. 816. Modification of provision relating to determination of certain activi-
ties with unusually hazardous risks. 
Sec. 817. Modification to prohibition on operation or procurement of foreign- 
made unmanned aircraft systems. 
Sec. 818. Extension of pilot program to accelerate contracting and pricing proc-
esses. 
Sec. 819. Extension of pilot program for distribution support and services for 
weapons systems contractors. 
Sec. 820. Extension and modification of Never Contract with the Enemy. 
Sec. 821. Repeal of requirement for Inspector General of the Department of 
Defense to conduct certain reviews. 
Sec. 822. Modification of contracts to provide extraordinary relief due to infla-
tion impacts. 
Subtitle C—Provisions Relating to Acquisition Workforce 
Sec. 831. Key experiences and enhanced pay authority for acquisition workforce 
excellence. 
Sec. 832. Defense Acquisition University reforms. 
Sec. 833. Modifications to Defense Civilian Training Corps. 
Sec. 834. Acquisition workforce incentives relating to training on, and agree-
ments with, certain start-up businesses. 
Sec. 835. Curricula on software acquisitions and cybersecurity software or 
hardware acquisitions for covered individuals. 
Sec. 836. Department of Defense national imperative for industrial skills pro-
gram. 
Subtitle D—Provisions Relating to Software and Technology 
Sec. 841. Guidelines and resources on the acquisition or licensing of intellectual 
property. 
Sec. 842. Modification of authority of the Department of Defense to carry out 
certain prototype projects. 
Sec. 843. Other transaction authority clarification. 
Sec. 844. Prizes for advanced technology achievements. 
Sec. 845. Congressional notification for pilot program to accelerate the procure-
ment and fielding of innovative technologies. 
Sec. 846. Report on software delivery times. 
Subtitle E—Industrial Base Matters 
Sec. 851. Modification to the national technology and industrial base.
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Sec. 852. Modification to miscellaneous limitations on the procurement of goods 
other than United States goods. 
Sec. 853. Requirements for the procurement of certain components for certain 
naval vessels and auxiliary ships. 
Sec. 854. Modifications to the procurement technical assistance program. 
Sec. 855. Codification of prohibition on certain procurements from the Xinjiang 
Uyghur Autonomous Region. 
Sec. 856. Codification of the Department of Defense Mentor–Protege Program. 
Sec. 857. Procurement requirements relating to rare earth elements and stra-
tegic and critical materials. 
Sec. 858. Analyses of certain activities for action to address sourcing and in-
dustrial capacity. 
Sec. 859. Demonstration exercise of enhanced planning for industrial mobiliza-
tion and supply chain management. 
Sec. 860. Risk management for Department of Defense pharmaceutical supply 
chains. 
Sec. 861. Strategy for increasing competitive opportunities for certain critical 
technologies. 
Sec. 862. Key advanced system development industry days. 
Subtitle F—Small Business Matters 
Sec. 871. Codification of Small Business Administration scorecard. 
Sec. 872. Modifications to the SBIR and STTR programs. 
Sec. 873. Access to data on bundled or consolidated contracts. 
Sec. 874. Small business integration working group. 
Sec. 875. Demonstration of commercial due diligence for small business pro-
grams. 
Sec. 876. Development and assessment of mission effectiveness metrics. 
Subtitle G—Other Matters 
Sec. 881. Technical correction to effective date of the transfer of certain title 
10 acquisition provisions. 
Sec. 882. Security clearance bridge pilot program. 
Sec. 883. Existing agreement limits for Operation Warp Speed. 
Sec. 884. Incorporation of controlled unclassified information guidance into 
program classification guides and program protection plans. 
Subtitle A—Acquisition Policy and 
Management 
SEC. 801. WRITING AWARD TO ENCOURAGE CURIOSITY AND 
PERSISTENCE IN OVERCOMING OBSTACLES IN AC-
QUISITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 87 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 1742 the fol-
lowing new section:
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‘‘§ 1743. Awards to recognize members of the acquisition 
workforce 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President of the Defense 
Acquisition University shall establish two programs to provide 
awards to recognize members of the acquisition workforce as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) An award of not more than $5,000 to such 
members who use an iterative writing process to docu-
ment a first-hand account of using independent judg-
ment to overcome an obstacle the member faced while 
working within the defense acquisition system (as de-
fined in section 3001 of this title). 
‘‘(2) An award of not more than $5,000 to such 
members who make the best use of the flexibilities and 
authorities granted by the Federal Acquisition Regula-
tion and Department of Defense Instruction 5000.02 
(Operation of the Defense Acquisition System). 
‘‘(b) NUMBER OF AWARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President of the Defense 
Acquisition University may make not more than five 
awards under subsection (a)(1) and one award under 
subsection (a)(2) each year. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—A member of the acquisition 
workforce may receive one award each year. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS FOR WRITING AWARD.—
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‘‘(1) SUBMISSION REQUIRED.—A member of the ac-
quisition workforce desiring an award under subsection 
(a)(1) shall submit to the President of the Defense Ac-
quisition University the first-hand account described in 
such subsection. Such first-hand account shall dem-
onstrate— 
‘‘(A) an original and engaging idea docu-
menting the use of independent judgment to over-
come an obstacle the recipient faced while working 
within the defense acquisition system; and 
‘‘(B) the use of an iterative writing process, in-
cluding evidence of— 
‘‘(i) critical thinking; 
‘‘(ii) incorporation of feedback from di-
verse perspectives; and 
‘‘(iii) editing to achieve plain writing (as 
defined in section 3 of the Plain Writing Act 
of 2010 (5 U.S.C. 301 note)). 
‘‘(2) WEBSITE.—The President of the Defense Ac-
quisition University shall establish and maintain a 
website to serve as a repository for submissions made 
under paragraph (1). Such website shall allow for public 
comments and discussion. 
‘‘(d) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
FLEXIBILITY
AWARD.—A 
member of the acquisition workforce desiring an award under
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subsection (a)(2) shall submit to the President of the Defense 
Acquisition University documentation that such member uses 
approaches to program management that emphasize innova-
tion and local adaptation, including the use of— 
‘‘(1) simplified acquisition procedures; 
‘‘(2) inherent flexibilities within the Federal Acqui-
sition Regulation; 
‘‘(3) commercial contracting approaches; 
‘‘(4) public-private partnership agreements and 
practices; 
‘‘(5) cost-sharing arrangements; 
‘‘(6) innovative contractor incentive practices; or 
‘‘(7) other innovative implementations of acquisition 
flexibilities. 
‘‘(e) FUNDING.—The Secretary of Defense shall use 
funds from the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development 
Account to carry out this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 
section 1742 the following new item: 
‘‘1743. Awards to recognize members of the acquisition workforce.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 834 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Pub-
lic Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2285; 10 U.S.C. 1701a note) is 
repealed.
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SEC. 802. TASK AND DELIVERY ORDER CONTRACTING FOR AR-
CHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES. 
Section 3406 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(h) ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES.— 
‘‘(1) 
QUALIFICATION-BASED
SELECTIONS
RE-
QUIRED.—Task or delivery orders for architectural and 
engineering services issued under section 3403 or 3405 
of this title shall be qualification-based selections exe-
cuted in accordance with chapter 11 of title 40. 
‘‘(2) MULTIPLE AWARD CONTRACTS.—When issuing 
a task or delivery order for architectural and engineering 
services under a multiple award contract, the head of an 
agency may not routinely request additional information 
relating to qualifications from the contractor for such 
multiple award contract.’’. 
SEC. 803. DATA REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS 
FOR MAJOR WEAPON SYSTEMS. 
(a) AMENDMENTS
RELATING
TO
SUBSYSTEMS
OF 
MAJOR WEAPONS SYSTEMS.—Section 3455(b) of title 10, 
United States Code is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B); 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘A subsystem of a 
major weapon system’’; and
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(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(2)(A) For a subsystem proposed as commercial (as de-
fined in section 103(1) of title 41) and that has not been pre-
viously determined commercial in accordance with section 
3703(d) of this title, the offeror shall— 
‘‘(i) identify the comparable commercial product the 
offeror sells to the general public or nongovernmental 
entities that serves as the basis for the ‘of a type’ asser-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) submit to the contracting officer a comparison 
necessary to serve as the basis of the ‘of a type’ asser-
tion of the physical characteristics and functionality be-
tween the subsystem and the comparable commercial 
product identified under clause (i); and 
‘‘(iii) provide to the contracting officer the National 
Stock Number for both the comparable commercial prod-
uct identified under clause (i), if one is assigned, and the 
subsystem, if one is assigned. 
‘‘(B) If the offeror does not sell a comparable commer-
cial product to the general public or nongovernmental entities 
for purposes other than governmental purposes that can serve 
as the basis for an ‘of a type’ assertion with respect to the 
subsystem— 
‘‘(i) the offeror shall—
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‘‘(I) notify the contracting officer in writing 
that it does not so sell such a comparable commer-
cial product; and 
‘‘(II) provide to the contracting officer a com-
parison necessary to serve as the basis of the ‘of a 
type’ assertion of the physical characteristics and 
functionality between the subsystem and the most 
comparable commercial product in the commercial 
marketplace, to the extent reasonably known by the 
offeror; and 
‘‘(ii) subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect 
to the offeror for such subsystem.’’. 
(b) AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO
COMPONENTS
AND 
SPARE PARTS.—Section 3455(c)(2) of such title is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(2)(A) For a component or spare part proposed as 
commercial (as defined in section 103(1) of title 41) and that 
has not previously been determined commercial in accordance 
with section 3703(d) of this title, the offeror shall— 
‘‘(i) identify the comparable commercial product the 
offeror sells to the general public or nongovernmental 
entities that serves as the basis for the ‘of a type’ asser-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) submit to the contracting officer a comparison 
necessary to serve as the basis of the ‘of a type’ asser-
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tion of the physical characteristics and functionality be-
tween the component or spare part and the comparable 
commercial product identified under clause (i); and 
‘‘(iii) provide to the contracting officer the National 
Stock Number for both the comparable commercial prod-
uct identified under clause (i), if one is assigned, and the 
component or spare part, if one is assigned. 
‘‘(B) If the offeror does not sell a comparable commer-
cial product to the general public or nongovernmental entities 
for purposes other than governmental purposes that can serve 
as the basis for an ‘of a type’ assertion with respect to the 
component or spare part— 
‘‘(i) the offeror shall— 
‘‘(I) notify the contracting officer in writing 
that it does not so sell such a comparable commer-
cial product; and 
‘‘(II) provide to the contracting officer a com-
parison necessary to serve as the basis of the ‘of a 
type’ assertion of the physical characteristics and 
functionality between the component or spare part 
and the most comparable commercial product in the 
commercial marketplace, to the extent reasonably 
known by the offeror; and 
‘‘(ii) subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect 
to the offeror for such component or spare part.’’.
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(c) AMENDMENTS RELATING
TO INFORMATION SUB-
MITTED.—Section 3455(d) of such title is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by inserting after 
‘‘SUBMITTED’’ the following: ‘‘FOR
PROCUREMENTS 
THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE EXCEPTIONS IN SEC-
TION 3703(A)(1) OF THIS TITLE’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘the contracting officer shall require the 
offeror to submit—’’ and inserting ‘‘the offeror 
shall, in accordance with paragraph (4), submit to 
the contracting officer or provide the contracting of-
ficer access to—’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘a representative sample, 
as determined by the contracting officer, of 
the’’ before ‘‘prices paid’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, and the terms and con-
ditions of such sales’’ after ‘‘Government and 
commercial customers’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘informa-
tion on—’’ and all that follows and inserting the 
following: ‘‘a representative sample, as determined 
by the contracting officer, of the prices paid for the 
same or similar commercial products sold under dif-
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ferent terms and conditions, and the terms and con-
ditions of such sales; and’’; and 
(D) in subparagraph (C)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘only’’ before ‘‘if the con-
tracting officer’’; and 
(ii) by inserting after ‘‘reasonableness of 
price’’ the following: ‘‘because either the com-
parable commercial products provided by the 
offeror are not a valid basis for a price analysis 
or the contracting officer determines the pro-
posed price is not reasonable after evaluating 
sales data, and the contracting officer receives 
the approval described in paragraph (5)’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graphs: 
‘‘(4)(A) An offeror may redact data information sub-
mitted or made available under subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
paragraph (1) with respect to sales of an item acquired under 
this section only to the extent necessary to remove informa-
tion individually identifying government customers, commer-
cial customers purchasing such item for governmental pur-
poses, and commercial customers purchasing such item for 
commercial, mixed, or unknown purposes. 
‘‘(B) Before an offeror may exercise the authority under 
subparagraph (A) with respect to a customer, the offeror
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shall certify in writing to the contracting officer whether the 
customer is a government customer, a commercial customer 
purchasing the item for governmental purpose, or a commer-
cial customer purchasing the item for a commercial, mixed, 
or unknown purpose. 
‘‘(5) A contracting officer may not require an offeror to 
submit or make available information under paragraph (1)(C) 
without approval from a level above the contracting officer. 
‘‘(6) Nothing in this subsection shall relieve an offeror 
of other obligations under any other law or regulation to dis-
close and support the actual rationale of the offeror for the 
price proposed by the offeror to the Government for any good 
or service.’’. 
(d) APPLICABILITY.—Section 3455 of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(g) APPLICABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsections (b) and (c) shall 
apply only with respect to subsystems described in sub-
section (b) and components or spare parts described in 
subsection (c), respectively, that the Department of De-
fense acquires through— 
‘‘(A) a prime contract; 
‘‘(B) a modification to a prime contract; or 
‘‘(C) a subcontract described in paragraph (2).
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‘‘(2) SUBCONTRACT
DESCRIBED.—A subcontract 
described in this paragraph is a subcontract through 
which the Department of Defense acquires a subsystem 
or component or spare part proposed as commercial (as 
defined in section 103(1) of title 41) under this section 
and that has not previously been determined commercial 
in accordance with section 3703(d).’’. 
SEC. 804. REVISION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROCEDURES TO 
ALLOW RAPID ACQUISITION AND DEPLOYMENT OF 
CAPABILITIES NEEDED UNDER SPECIFIED HIGH- 
PRIORITY CIRCUMSTANCES. 
(a) REVISION AND CODIFICATION OF RAPID ACQUISI-
TION AUTHORITY.—Chapter 253 of part V of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘CHAPTER 253—RAPID ACQUISITION 
PROCEDURES 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘3601. Procedures for urgent acquisition and deployment of capabilities needed 
in response to urgent operational needs or vital national secu-
rity interest. 
‘‘§ 3601. Procedures for urgent acquisition and deploy-
ment of capabilities needed in response to 
urgent operational needs or vital national se-
curity interest 
‘‘(a) PROCEDURES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
prescribe procedures for the urgent acquisition and de-
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ployment of capabilities needed in response to urgent 
operational needs. The capabilities for which such proce-
dures may be used in response to an urgent operational 
need are those— 
‘‘(A) that, subject to such exceptions as the 
Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of this 
section— 
‘‘(i) can be fielded within a period of two 
to 24 months; 
‘‘(ii) do not require substantial develop-
ment effort; 
‘‘(iii) are based on technologies that are 
proven and available; and 
‘‘(iv) can appropriately be acquired under 
fixed-price contracts; or 
‘‘(B) that can be developed or procured under 
a section 804 rapid acquisition pathway. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘sec-
tion 804 rapid acquisition pathway’ means the rapid 
fielding acquisition pathway or the rapid prototyping ac-
quisition pathway authorized under section 804 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 3201 prec.). 
‘‘(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The procedures pre-
scribed under subsection (a) shall include the following:
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‘‘(1) A process for streamlined communications be-
tween the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the ac-
quisition community, and the research and development 
community, including— 
‘‘(A) a process for the commanders of the com-
batant commands and the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff to communicate their needs to the 
acquisition community and the research and devel-
opment community; and 
‘‘(B) a process for the acquisition community 
and the research and development community to 
propose capabilities that meet the needs commu-
nicated by the combatant commands and the Chair-
man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
‘‘(2) Procedures for demonstrating, rapidly acquir-
ing, and deploying a capability proposed pursuant to 
paragraph (1)(B), including— 
‘‘(A) a process for demonstrating and evalu-
ating for current operational purposes the perform-
ance of the capability; 
‘‘(B) a process for developing an acquisition 
and funding strategy for the deployment of the ca-
pability; and
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‘‘(C) a process for making deployment and uti-
lization determinations based on information ob-
tained pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
‘‘(3) A process to determine the disposition of a ca-
pability, including termination (demilitarization or dis-
posal), continued sustainment, or transition to a pro-
gram of record. 
‘‘(4) Specific procedures in accordance with the 
guidance developed under section 804(a) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public 
Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 3201 prec.). 
‘‘(c) RESPONSE TO COMBAT EMERGENCIES AND CER-
TAIN URGENT OPERATIONAL NEEDS.— 
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION OF NEED FOR URGENT AC-
QUISITION AND DEPLOYMENT.—(A) In the case of any 
capability that, as determined in writing by the Sec-
retary of Defense, is urgently needed to eliminate a doc-
umented deficiency that has resulted in combat casual-
ties, or is likely to result in combat casualties, the Sec-
retary may use the procedures developed under this sec-
tion in order to accomplish the urgent acquisition and 
deployment of the needed capability. 
‘‘(B) In the case of any capability that, as deter-
mined in writing by the Secretary of Defense, is urgently 
needed to eliminate a documented deficiency that im-