212 
title 37 that is in force when the member commences par-
ticipation in the program. 
‘‘(B) The inactivation from active service of a mem-
ber participating in a program shall not be treated as a 
failure of the member to perform any period of service 
required of the member in connection with an agreement 
for a special or incentive pay or bonus under chapter 5 
of title 37 that is in force when the member commences 
participation in the program. 
‘‘(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), upon the re-
turn of a member to active service after completion by the 
member of participation in a program— 
‘‘(i) any agreement entered into by the member 
under chapter 5 of title 37 for the payment of a spe-
cial or incentive pay or bonus that was in force when 
the member commenced participation in the program 
shall be revived, with the term of such agreement 
after revival being the period of the agreement re-
maining to run when the member commenced par-
ticipation in the program; and 
‘‘(ii) any special or incentive pay or bonus shall 
be payable to the member in accordance with the 
terms of the agreement concerned for the term spec-
ified in clause (i).
213 
‘‘(B)(i) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any spe-
cial or incentive pay or bonus otherwise covered by that 
subparagraph with respect to a member if, at the time 
of the return of the member to active service as described 
in that subparagraph— 
‘‘(I) such pay or bonus is no longer authorized 
by law; or 
‘‘(II) the member does not satisfy eligibility cri-
teria for such pay or bonus as in effect at the time 
of the return of the member to active service. 
‘‘(ii) Subparagraph (A) shall cease to apply to any 
special or incentive pay or bonus otherwise covered by that 
subparagraph with respect to a member if, during the 
term of the revived agreement of the member under sub-
paragraph (A)(i), such pay or bonus ceases being author-
ized by law. 
‘‘(C) A member who is ineligible for payment of a 
special or incentive pay or bonus otherwise covered by this 
paragraph by reason of subparagraph (B)(i)(II) shall be 
subject to the requirements for repayment of such pay or 
bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable 
agreement of the member under chapter 5 of title 37. 
‘‘(D) Any service required of a member under an 
agreement covered by this paragraph after the member re-
turns to active service as described in subparagraph (A)
214 
shall be in addition to any service required of the member 
under an agreement under subsection (c). 
‘‘(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a member who 
participates in a program is entitled, while participating 
in the program, to the travel and transportation allow-
ances authorized by section 474 of title 37 for— 
‘‘(i) travel performed from the residence of the 
member, at the time of release from active service to 
participate in the program, to the location in the 
United States designated by the member as his resi-
dence during the period of participation in the pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(ii) travel performed to the residence of the 
member upon return to active service at the end of 
the participation of the member in the program. 
‘‘(B) An allowance is payable under this paragraph 
only with respect to travel of a member to and from a 
single residence. 
‘‘(5) A member who participates in a program is enti-
tled to carry forward the leave balance existing as of the 
day on which the member begins participation and accu-
mulated in accordance with section 701 of this title, but 
not to exceed 60 days. 
‘‘(g) PROMOTION.—(1)(A) An officer participating in 
a program under this section shall not, while participating
215 
in the program, be eligible for consideration for promotion 
under chapter 36 or 1405 of this title. 
‘‘(B) Upon the return of an officer to active service 
after completion by the officer of participation in a pro-
gram— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of the military department 
concerned shall adjust the date of rank of the officer 
in such manner as the Secretary of Defense shall 
prescribe in regulations for purposes of this section; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the officer shall be eligible for consider-
ation for promotion when officers of the same com-
petitive category, grade, and seniority are eligible for 
consideration for promotion. 
‘‘(2) An enlisted member participating in a program 
shall not be eligible for consideration for promotion during 
the period that— 
‘‘(A) begins on the date of the inactivation of 
the member from active service under the program; 
and 
‘‘(B) ends at such time after the return of the 
member to active service under the program that the 
member is treatable as eligible for promotion by rea-
son of time in grade and such other requirements as 
the Secretary of the military department concerned
216 
shall prescribe in regulations for purposes of the 
program. 
‘‘(h) CONTINUED ENTITLEMENTS.—A member par-
ticipating in a program under this section shall, while par-
ticipating in the program, be treated as a member of the 
armed forces on active duty for a period of more than 30 
days for purposes of— 
‘‘(1) the entitlement of the member and of the 
dependents of the member to medical and dental 
care under the provisions of chapter 55 of this title; 
and 
‘‘(2) retirement or separation for physical dis-
ability under the provisions of chapters 55 and 61 
of this title.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 709a the 
following new item: 
‘‘710. Career flexibility to enhance retention of members.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 533 of the 
Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2009 (10 U.S.C. prec. 701 note) is 
repealed.
217 
SEC. 552. IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSITION ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) PATHWAYS FOR TAP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 1142 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in the section heading by striking 
‘‘medical’’ and inserting ‘‘certain’’; 
(B) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting 
‘‘(regardless of character of discharge)’’ 
after ‘‘discharge’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (3)(A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘as soon as pos-
sible during the 12-month period pre-
ceding’’ and inserting ‘‘not later than 
365 days before’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘90 days’’ and 
inserting ‘‘365 days’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘discharge or 
release’’ and inserting ‘‘retirement or 
other separation’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘90’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘365’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘90-day’’ and in-
serting ‘‘365-day’’;
218 
(C) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); 
(D) by inserting after subsection (b) the 
following new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) COUNSELING PATHWAYS.—(1) Each Secretary 
concerned, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor 
and Veterans Affairs, shall establish at least three path-
ways for members of the military department concerned 
receiving individualized counseling under this section. The 
Secretaries shall design the pathways to address the needs 
of members, based on the following factors: 
‘‘(A) Rank. 
‘‘(B) Term of service. 
‘‘(C) Gender. 
‘‘(D) Whether the member was a member 
of a regular or reserve component of an armed 
force. 
‘‘(E) Disability. 
‘‘(F) Character of discharge (including ex-
pedited discharge and discharge under condi-
tions other than honorable). 
‘‘(G) Health (including mental health). 
‘‘(H) Military occupational specialty. 
‘‘(I) Whether the member intends, after 
separation, retirement, or discharge, to—
219 
‘‘(i) seek employment; 
‘‘(ii) enroll in a program of higher 
education; 
‘‘(iii) enroll in a program of vocational 
training; or 
‘‘(iv) become an entrepreneur. 
‘‘(J) The educational history of the mem-
ber. 
‘‘(K) The employment history of the mem-
ber. 
‘‘(L) Whether the member has secured— 
‘‘(i) employment; 
‘‘(ii) enrollment in a program of edu-
cation; or 
‘‘(iii) enrollment in a program of voca-
tional training. 
‘‘(M) Other factors the Secretary of De-
fense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor 
and Veterans Affairs, determine appropriate. 
‘‘(2) Each member described in subsection (a) shall 
meet in person or by video conference with a counselor 
before beginning counseling under this section to— 
‘‘(A) take a self-assessment designed by the 
Secretary concerned (in consultation with the Secre-
220 
taries of Labor and Veterans Affairs) to ensure that 
the Secretary concerned places the member in the 
appropriate pathway under this subsection; 
‘‘(B) receive information from the counselor re-
garding reenlistment in the armed forces; and 
‘‘(C) receive information from the counselor re-
garding resources (including resources regarding 
military sexual trauma)— 
‘‘(i) for members of the armed forces sepa-
rated, retired, or discharged; 
‘‘(ii) located in the community in which the 
member will reside after separation, retirement, 
or discharge. 
‘‘(3) At the meeting under paragraph (2), the mem-
ber may elect to have the Secretary concerned (in con-
sultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Af-
fairs) provide the contact information of the member to 
the resources described in paragraph (2)(B).’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(e) JOINT SERVICE TRANSCRIPT.—(1) The Sec-
retary concerned shall provide a copy of the joint service 
transcript of a member described in subsection (a) to— 
‘‘(A) that member—
221 
‘‘(i) at the meeting with a counselor under 
subsection (c)(2); and 
‘‘(ii) on the day the member separates, re-
tires, or is discharged. 
‘‘(B) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the 
day the member separates, retires, or is discharged. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure 
that a member who has separated, retired, or is discharged 
may access the joint service transcript of that member 
from a website of the Department of Veterans Affairs not 
later than one year after the day the member separates, 
retires, or is discharged.’’. 
(2) DEADLINE.—Each Secretary concerned 
shall carry out subsection (c) of such section, as 
amended by paragraph (1), not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(3) GAO STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after 
the Secretaries concerned carry out subsection (c) of 
such section, as amended by paragraph (1), the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall sub-
mit to Congress a review of the pathways for the 
Transition Assistance Program established under 
such subsection (c). 
(b) CONTENTS OF TAP.—
222 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 1144 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Such 
services’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to subsection 
(f)(2), such services’’; and 
(B) by amending subsection (f) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(f) PROGRAM CONTENTS.—(1) The program carried 
out under this section shall consist of instruction as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(A) One day of preseparation training 
specific to the armed force concerned, as deter-
mined by the Secretary concerned. 
‘‘(B) One day of instruction regarding— 
‘‘(i) benefits under laws administered 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and 
‘‘(ii) other subjects determined by the 
Secretary concerned. 
‘‘(C) One day of instruction regarding 
preparation for employment. 
‘‘(D) Two days of instruction regarding a 
topic selected by the member from the following 
subjects: 
‘‘(i) Preparation for employment. 
‘‘(ii) Preparation for education.
223 
‘‘(iii) Preparation for vocational train-
ing. 
‘‘(iv) Preparation for entrepreneur-
ship. 
‘‘(v) Other options determined by the 
Secretary concerned. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned may permit a member 
to attend training and instruction under the program es-
tablished under this section— 
‘‘(A) before the time periods established under 
section 1142(a)(3) of this title; 
‘‘(B) in addition to such training and instruc-
tion required during such time periods.’’. 
(2) DEADLINE.—The Transition Assistance 
Program shall comply with the requirements of sec-
tion 1144(f) of title 10, United States Code, as 
amended by paragraph (1), not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(3) ACTION PLAN.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit an action plan to the 
congressional defense committees that— 
(A) details how the Secretary shall imple-
ment the requirements of section 1144(f) of
224 
title 10, United States Code, as amended by 
paragraph (1); and 
(B) details how the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs 
and Labor, shall establish standardized per-
formance metrics to measure Transition Assist-
ance Program participation and outcome-based 
objective benchmarks in order to— 
(i) provide feedback to the Depart-
ments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and 
Labor; 
(ii) improve the curriculum of the 
Transition Assistance Program; 
(iii) share best practices; 
(iv) facilitate effective oversight of the 
Transition Assistance Program; and 
(v) ensure members obtain sufficient 
financial literacy to effectively leverage 
conferred benefits and opportunities for 
employment, education, vocational training, 
and entrepreneurship. 
(4) REPORT.—On the date that is 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and annually 
thereafter for the subsequent 4 years, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed
225 
Services and Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives, the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives, a report 
regarding members of the Armed Forces who have 
attended Transition Assistance Program counseling 
during the preceding year. The report shall detail 
the following: 
(A) The total number of members who at-
tended Transition Assistance Program coun-
seling. 
(B) The number of members who attended 
Transition 
Assistance 
Program 
counseling 
under paragraph (1) of section 1144(f) of title 
10, as amended by paragraph (1). 
(C) The number of members who attended 
Transition 
Assistance 
Program 
counseling 
under paragraph (2) of such section. 
(D) The number of members who elected 
to attend each two-day instruction under para-
graph (1)(D) of such section.
226 
SEC. 553. EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSATION OF CIVILIAN 
FACULTY MEMBERS AT THE JOINT SPECIAL 
OPERATIONS UNIVERSITY. 
Section 1595(c) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(5) The Joint Special Operations University.’’. 
SEC. 554. PROGRAM TO ASSIST MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES IN OBTAINING PROFESSIONAL CRE-
DENTIALS. 
Section 2015(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘related to military training’’ and all 
that follows through the period at the end of paragraph 
(2) and inserting ‘‘that translate into civilian occupa-
tions.’’. 
SEC. 555. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSIST MEM-
BERS IN OBTAINING POST-SERVICE EMPLOY-
MENT. 
Section 555(i) of the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291; 10 U.S.C. 1143 
note) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’.
227 
SEC. 556. DIRECT EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROGRAM FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS 
AND VETERANS. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Defense may 
enter into agreements with the chief executives of the 
States to carry out pilot programs to enhance the efforts 
of the Department of Defense to provide job placement 
assistance and related employment services directly to un-
employed or underemployed members of the reserve com-
ponents of the Armed Forces and veterans. 
(b) COST-SHARING.—Any agreement under sub-
section (a) shall require that the State must contribute 
an amount, derived from non-Federal sources, that equals 
or exceeds 50 percent of the funds provided by the Sec-
retary to the State under this section to support the oper-
ation of the pilot program in that State. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION.—The pilot program in a State 
shall be administered by the adjutant general in that State 
appointed under section 314 of title 32, United States 
Code. If the adjutant general is unavailable or unable to 
administer a pilot program, the Secretary, after consulting 
with the chief executive of the State, shall designate an 
official of that State to administer that pilot program. 
(d) PROGRAM MODEL.—A pilot program under this 
section—
228 
(1) shall use a job placement program model 
that focuses on working one-on-one with individuals 
described in subsection (a) to provide cost-effective 
job placement services, including— 
(A) job matching services; 
(B) resume editing; 
(C) interview preparation; and 
(D) post-employment follow up; and 
(2) shall incorporate best practices of State-op-
erated direct employment programs for members of 
the reserve components of the Armed Forces and 
veterans, such as the programs conducted in Cali-
fornia and South Carolina. 
(e) SKILLBRIDGE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.—A 
pilot program under this section shall utilize civilian train-
ing opportunities through the SkillBridge transition train-
ing program administered by the Department of Defense. 
(f) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall develop out-
come measurements to evaluate the success of any pilot 
program established under this provision. 
(g) REPORTING.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than March 
1, 2021, the Secretary, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs and Chief of the National 
Guard Bureau, shall submit to the congressional de-
229 
fense committees a report describing the results of 
any pilot program established under this section. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—A report under paragraph (1) 
shall include the following elements: 
(A) A description and assessment of the ef-
fectiveness and achievements of the pilot pro-
gram, including— 
(i) the number of members of the re-
serve components of the Armed Forces and 
veterans hired; and 
(ii) the cost-per-placement of partici-
pating members and veterans. 
(B) An assessment of the impact of the 
pilot program and increased reserve component 
employment levels on— 
(i) the readiness of members of the re-
serve components of the Armed Forces; 
and 
(ii) retention of service members. 
(C) A comparison of the pilot program to 
other programs conducted by the Department 
of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs 
to provide unemployment and underemployment 
support to members of the reserve components 
of the Armed Forces or veterans, including best
230 
practices the improved the effectiveness of such 
programs. 
(D) The number and percentage of individ-
uals served by the pilot program who are em-
ployed in a field that matches their skills and 
training. 
(E) Any other matter the Secretary deter-
mines to be appropriate. 
(h) DURATION OF AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the authority to carry out a pilot program under this 
section expires on September 30, 2023. 
(2) EXTENSION.—The Secretary may extend a 
pilot program under this section beyond the date in 
paragraph (1) by not more than 2 years. 
SEC. 557. EXTENDED DURATION OF AVAILABILITY OF MILI-
TARY ONESOURCE PROGRAM SERVICES FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES UPON 
THEIR SEPARATION OR RETIREMENT. 
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that retired 
and honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces, 
including members medically discharged, separated, or on 
the temporary disability retirement list, and their imme-
diate family remain eligible for services under the Military 
OneSource Program for at least one year after the end
231 
of the member’s tour of service, the member’s retirement 
date, or the member’s separation date, as the case may 
be. 
SEC. 558. COMPTROLLER GENERAL BRIEFING AND REPORT 
ON PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE 
CENTERS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.— Not later than 240 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall provide a briefing to 
the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House 
of Representatives, with a report to follow on a date 
agreed to at the time of the briefing. The briefing and 
report shall provide information on employment assistance 
required under section 1143 of title 10, United States 
Code, and related information regarding civilian employ-
ment requiring certification or licensure. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The information required under 
subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the content of the database 
required by section 1143(a)(2)(A) of such title. 
(2) A list and description of permanent employ-
ment assistance centers required by section 1143(b) 
of such title.
232 
(3) A list and description of employment skills 
training programs and eligible members of the 
Armed Forces. 
(4) A list and description of State and non- 
State entities that have interacted with civilian em-
ployers. 
(5) A description of the use by members of the 
Armed Forces of the permanent employment assist-
ance centers. 
(6) An assessment of the permanent employ-
ment assistance centers and challenges, if any, the 
centers have experienced as of the date of the brief-
ing or report. 
SEC. 559. ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AP-
PRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. 
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, as part 
of the transition counseling provided by the Department 
of Defense to members of the Armed Forces who are in 
the process of separating from the Armed Forces (includ-
ing the reserve components), information is provided to 
such members on— 
(1) the potential benefits of apprenticeship pro-
grams; 
(2) the appropriate use of veterans’ education 
benefits to pay for apprenticeship programs, and
233 
(3) the availability of veteran-focused, nonprofit 
apprenticeship programs. 
SEC. 560. ATOMIC VETERANS SERVICE MEDAL. 
(a) SERVICE MEDAL REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall design and produce a military service medal, 
to be known as the ‘‘Atomic Veterans Service Medal’’, to 
honor retired and former members of the Armed Forces 
who are radiation-exposed veterans (as such term is de-
fined in section 1112(c)(3) of title 38, United States 
Code). 
(b) DISTRIBUTION OF MEDAL.— 
(1) ISSUANCE TO RETIRED AND FORMER MEM-
BERS.—At the request of a radiation-exposed vet-
eran, the Secretary of Defense shall issue the Atom-
ic Veterans Service Medal to the veteran. 
(2) ISSUANCE TO NEXT-OF-KIN.—In the case of 
a radiation-exposed veteran who is deceased, the 
Secretary may provide for issuance of the Atomic 
Veterans Service Medal to the next-of-kin of the per-
son. 
(3) APPLICATION.—The Secretary shall prepare 
and disseminate as appropriate an application by 
which radiation-exposed veterans and their next-of- 
kin may apply to receive the Atomic Veterans Serv-
ice Medal.
234 
SEC. 560A. REPORT ON AVAILABILITY OF COLLEGE CREDIT 
FOR SKILLS ACQUIRED DURING MILITARY 
SERVICE. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Education, and 
Labor, shall submit to Congress a report on the transfer 
of skills into equivalent college credits or technical certifi-
cations for members of the Armed Forces leaving the mili-
tary. Such report shall describe each the following: 
(1) Each skill that may be acquired during mili-
tary service that is eligible for transfer into an 
equivalent college credit or technical certification. 
(2) The academic level of the equivalent college 
credit or technical certification for which each such 
skill is eligible. 
(3) Each academic institution that awards an 
equivalent college credit or technical certification for 
such skills, including— 
(A) whether each such academic institution 
is public or private and whether such institution 
is for profit; and 
(B) the number of veterans that applied to 
such academic institutions who were able to re-
ceive equivalent college credits or technical cer-
235 
tifications in the last fiscal year, and the aca-
demic level of the credits or certifications. 
(4) The number of members of the Armed 
Forces who left the military in the last fiscal year 
and the number of those individuals who met with 
an academic or technical training advisor as part of 
their participation in the Transition Assistance Pro-
gram. 
SEC. 560B. INFORMATION REGARDING COUNTY VETERANS 
SERVICE OFFICERS. 
(a) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary of 
Defense, and with respect to members of the Coast Guard, 
the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating when it is not operating as a service in the 
Navy, shall ensure that a member of the Armed Forces 
who is separating or retiring from the Armed Forces may 
elect to have the Department of Defense form DD–214 
of the member transmitted to the appropriate county vet-
erans service officer based on the mailing address provided 
by the member. 
(b) DATABASE.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall main-
tain a database of all county veterans service officers. 
(c) COUNTY
VETERANS
SERVICE
OFFICER
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘county veterans service
236 
officer’’ means an employee of a county government, local 
government, or Tribal government who is covered by sec-
tion 14.629(a)(2) of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 560C. ENHANCEMENT OF AUTHORITIES IN CONNEC-
TION 
WITH 
JUNIOR 
RESERVE 
OFFICERS’ 
TRAINING CORPS PROGRAMS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO CONVERT OTHERWISE CLOSING 
UNITS TO NATIONAL DEFENSE CADET CORPS PROGRAM 
UNITS.—If the Secretary of a military department is noti-
fied by a local educational agency of the intent of the 
agency to close its Junior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps (JROTC) unit, the Secretary shall offer the agency 
the option of converting the program to a National De-
fense Cadet Corps (NDCC) program unit in lieu of closing 
the unit. 
(b) FLEXIBILITY IN ADMINISTRATION OF INSTRUC-
TORS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries of the mili-
tary departments shall undertake initiatives designed 
to promote flexibility in the hiring and compensation 
of instructors for the Junior Reserve Officers’ Train-
ing Corps program under the jurisdiction of such 
Secretaries.
237 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The initiatives undertaken 
pursuant to this subsection may provide for one or 
more of the following: 
(A) Termination of the requirement for a 
waiver as a condition of the hiring of well-quali-
fied non-commissioned officers with a bachelor’s 
degree for senior instructor positions within the 
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. 
(B) Specification of a single instructor as 
the minimum number of instructors required to 
found and operate a Junior Reserve Officers’ 
Training Corps unit. 
(C) Authority for Junior Reserve Officers’ 
Training Corps instructors to undertake school 
duties, in addition to Junior Reserve Officers’ 
Training Corps duties, at small schools. 
(D) Authority for the payment of instruc-
tor compensation for a limited number of Jun-
ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instructors 
on a 10-month per year basis rather than a 12- 
month per year basis. 
(E) Such other actions as the Secretaries 
of the military departments consider appro-
priate.
238 
(c) FLEXIBILITY IN ALLOCATION AND USE OF TRAV-
EL FUNDING.—The Secretaries of the military depart-
ments shall take appropriate actions to provide so-called 
regional directors of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps programs located at remote rural schools enhanced 
discretion in the allocation and use of funds for travel in 
connection with Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
activities. 
(d) STANDARDIZATION
OF PROGRAM DATA.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall take appropriate actions to 
standardize the data collected and maintained on the Jun-
ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs in order 
to facilitate and enhance the collection and analysis of 
such data. Such actions shall include a requirement for 
the use of the National Center for Education Statistics 
(NCES) identification code for each school with a unit 
under a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program 
in order to facilitate identification of such schools and 
their units under the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps programs. 
(e) AUTHORITY FOR ADDITIONAL UNITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries of the mili-
tary departments may, using amounts authorized to 
be appropriated by paragraph (2), establish an ag-
gregate of not more than 100 units under the Junior
239 
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs in low- 
income and rural areas of the United States and 
areas of the United States currently underserved by 
the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps pro-
grams. 
(2) FUNDING.—There is hereby authorized to 
be appropriated for fiscal year 2019 for the Depart-
ment of Defense amounts as follows: 
(A) For Operation and Maintenance, 
Army, $3,140,000, with the amount available 
for the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
program of the Army. 
(B) For Operation and Maintenance, 
Navy, $950,000, with the amount available for 
the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
program of the Navy. 
(C) For Operation and Maintenance, Air 
Force, $1,000,000, with the amount available 
for the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
program of the Air Force. 
(D) For Operation and Maintenance, Ma-
rine Corps, $390,000, with the amount avail-
able for the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps program of the Marine Corps.
240 
(E) For Military Personnel, $1,220,000, of 
which— 
(i) $500,000 is for the Army for the 
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
program of the Army; 
(ii) $270,000 is for the Navy for the 
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
program of the Navy; 
(iii) $380,000 is for the Air Force for 
the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps program of the Air Force; and 
(iv) $70,000 is for the Marine Corps 
for the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps program of the Marine Corps. 
(3) 
SUPPLEMENT
NOT
SUPPLANT.—The 
amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2019 for the Department of Defense by this 
subsection are in addition to any other amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2019 for 
the Department under any other provision of law. 
(4) OFFSET.—Notwithstanding the amounts set 
forth in the funding tables in division G— 
(A) the amount authorized to be appro-
priated in section 101 for procurement, as set 
forth in the corresponding funding table in sec-
241 
tion 7101, for other procurement, Navy, air-
craft support equipment (line 090), is hereby 
decreased by $3,200,000; and 
(B) the amount authorized to be appro-
priated in section 101 for procurement, as set 
forth in the corresponding funding table in sec-
tion 7101, for other procurement, Navy, civil 
engineering support equipment, items under $5 
million (line 115), is hereby decreased by 
$3,500,000. 
SEC. 560D. TRANSITION OUTREACH PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, 
Labor, Education, and Homeland Security, and the Ad-
ministrator of the Small Business Administration, shall 
establish a pilot program through the Transition to Vet-
erans Program Office that fosters contact between vet-
erans and the Department of Defense. 
(b) CONTACT.—The Secretary of Defense, and with 
respect to members of the Coast Guard, the Secretary of 
the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, shall 
direct the Military Transition Assistance Teams of the De-
partment of Defense to contact each veteran from the
242 
Armed Forces at least twice during each of the first three 
months after the veteran separates from the Armed 
Forces to— 
(1) inquire about the transition of the separated 
member to civilian life, including— 
(A) employment; 
(B) veterans benefits; 
(C) education; 
(D) family life; and 
(2) hear concerns of the veteran regarding tran-
sition. 
(c) TERMINATION.—The Secretary shall complete op-
eration of the pilot program under this section not later 
than September 30, 2019. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after termi-
nation of the pilot program under this section, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit a report to Congress re-
garding such pilot program, including the following, 
disaggregated by armed force: 
(1) The number of veterans contacted, includ-
ing how many times such veterans were contacted. 
(2) Information regarding the age, sex, and ge-
ographic region of contacted veterans. 
(3) Concerns most frequently raised by the vet-
erans.
243 
(4) What benefits the contacted veterans have 
received, and an estimate of the cost to the Federal 
Government for such benefits. 
(5) How many contacted veterans are employed 
or have sought employment, including what fields of 
employment. 
(6) How many contacted veterans are enrolled 
or have sought to enroll in a course of education, in-
cluding what fields of study. 
(7) Recommendations for legislation to improve 
the long-term effectiveness of TAP and the well- 
being of veterans. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘armed force’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 101 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘TAP’’ means the Transition As-
sistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of 
title 10, United States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 101 of title 38, United States 
Code.
244 
Subtitle G—Defense Dependents’ 
Education and Military Family 
Readiness Matters 
SEC. 561. ENHANCEMENT AND CLARIFICATION OF FAMILY 
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS 
OF 
MEMBERS 
OF 
SPECIAL 
OPERATIONS 
FORCES. 
Section 1788a of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘activities’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘services’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘activity’’ 
and inserting ‘‘service’’; 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘$5,000,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$10,000,000’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘there-
after’’ and inserting ‘‘of the next two years’’; and 
(5) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) The term ‘family support services’ includes 
costs of transportation, food, lodging, child care, 
supplies, fees, and training materials for immediate 
family members of members of the armed forces as-
signed to special operations forces while partici-
pating in programs under subsection (a).’’.
245 
SEC. 562. ADDITIONAL MATTERS FOR ASSESSMENT AND RE-
PORT ON CHILDCARE SERVICES OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
Section 575 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) Expanding the childcare hours at military 
installations that host initial training units in order 
to accommodate drill instructors, trainers, and sup-
port staff. 
‘‘(6) Modifying the rate of use of subsidized, 
off-installation childcare services by military fami-
lies, including whether such rate could be increased 
by altering policies that cap the amount of subsidies 
for military families for such services based on the 
cost of living for families and the average cost of ci-
vilian childcare services. 
‘‘(7) Permitting the issuance of employee clear-
ances on a provisional or interim basis for those 
working at military childcare centers.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘September 1, 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘March 1, 2019’’;
246 
(B) by striking ‘‘the results of the assess-
ment conducted under subsection (a).’’ and in-
serting an em dash; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) the results of the assessment conducted 
under subsection (a); and 
‘‘(2) assessments of— 
‘‘(A) the underlying factors contributing to 
the childcare backlogs at many installations; 
‘‘(B) the effect of such backlogs on mem-
ber recruitment and retention; and 
‘‘(C) the effect of such backlogs on mili-
tary spouse unemployment and underemploy-
ment.’’. 
SEC. 563. CONTINUED ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS WITH SIG-
NIFICANT NUMBERS OF MILITARY DEPEND-
ENT STUDENTS. 
(a) ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS WITH SIGNIFICANT 
NUMBERS OF MILITARY DEPENDENT STUDENTS.—Of the 
amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2019 
in division G of this Act and available for operation and 
maintenance for Defense-wide activities as specified in the 
funding table in section 7301 of this Act, $40,000,000 
shall be available only for the purpose of providing assist-
247 
ance to local educational agencies under subsection (a) of 
section 572 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 20 U.S.C. 
7703b). 
(b) IMPACT AID FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DIS-
ABILITIES.—Of the amount authorized to be appropriated 
for fiscal year 2019 in division G of this Act and available 
for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities 
as specified in the funding table in section 7301 of this 
Act, $10,000,000 shall be available for payments under 
section 363 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106– 
398; 20 U.S.C. 7703a). 
(c) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 7013(9) of the Ele-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7713(9)). 
SEC. 564. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY 
MISCONDUCT DATABASE. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE DATABASE.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall consolidate the various databases and mech-
anisms for the reporting and tracking of juvenile mis-
conduct in Department of Defense Education Activity 
(hereinafter in this section referred to as ‘‘DODEA’’)
248 
schools into one comprehensive database for DODEA ju-
venile misconduct. The comprehensive database shall in-
clude, at a minimum, all reportable allegations of juvenile- 
on-juvenile sexual misconduct, regardless of the final dis-
position of the case. 
(b) POLICY.—The Secretary shall establish a com-
prehensive policy regarding the reporting and tracking of 
juvenile misconduct cases occurring in DODEA schools, 
including policies establishing appropriate safeguards to 
prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information 
contained in the comprehensive database required by sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 565. REPORT ON ASSESSMENT OF FREQUENCY OF 
PERMANENT CHANGES OF STATION OF MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON EMPLOY-
MENT AMONG MILITARY SPOUSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to Congress a report setting forth an assessment 
of the effects of the frequency of permanent changes of 
station of members of the Armed Forces on stability of 
employment among military spouses. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall 
include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the effects of the fre-
quency of permanent changes of station of members
249 
of the Armed Forces on stability of employment 
among military spouses, including the contribution 
of frequent permanent changes of station to unem-
ployment or underemployment among military 
spouses. 
(2) An assessment of the effects of unemploy-
ment and underemployment among military spouses 
on force readiness. 
(3) Such recommendations as the Secretary 
considers appropriate regarding legislative or admin-
istration action to achieve force readiness and sta-
bilization through the minimization of the impacts of 
frequent permanent changes on stability of employ-
ment among military spouses. 
SEC. 566. FLEXIBLE MATERNITY AND PARENTAL LEAVE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and 
implement policies and procedures that permit a military 
parent to take, if requested by the military parent, flexible 
and non-continuous— 
(1) maternity leave; and 
(2) parental leave.
250 
SEC. 567. REPORT ON WAGE DETERMINATION FOR CER-
TAIN PROGRAMS. 
(a) WAGE DETERMINATION.—The Secretary of De-
fense, acting through the National Guard Bureau, shall 
coordinate with the Secretary of Labor to obtain a wage 
determination under section 6703(1) of title 41, United 
States Code, for all contract workers under the following 
programs: 
(1) Family Assistance Centers. 
(2) Family Readiness and Support. 
(3) Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. 
(4) Recruit Sustainment Program. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit a report to the congressional defense commit-
tees regarding the wage determinations described in sub-
section (a). The report shall include a cost estimate of 
transferring all of the programs named in subsection (a) 
to direct Federal management. 
SEC. 568. EDUCATION FOR DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN RE-
TIRED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
Section 2164(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end ‘‘If 
the Secretary determines that appropriate edu-
cational programs are not available through a local
251 
educational agency for dependents of retirees resid-
ing on a military installation in the United States, 
the Secretary may enter into arrangements to pro-
vide for the elementary or secondary education of 
the dependents of such retirees.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘re-
tiree’ means a member or former member of the armed 
forces who is entitled to retired or retainer pay under this 
title, or who, but for age, would be eligible for retired or 
retainer pay under chapter 1223 of this title.’’. 
SEC. 569. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY FOR 
NONCOMPETITIVE APPOINTMENTS OF MILI-
TARY SPOUSES BY FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—During the 2-year period begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this Act, section 
3330d of title 5, United States Code, shall be applied— 
(1) without regard to— 
(A) paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of sub-
section (a); and 
(B) subsection (c); 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by substituting ‘‘a 
spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active
252 
duty’’ for ‘‘a relocating spouse of a member of the 
Armed Forces’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d)(1), by substituting ‘‘sub-
section (a)(3)’’ for ‘‘subsection (a)(6)’’. 
(b) OPM LIMITATION AND REPORTS.— 
(1) RELOCATING
SPOUSES.—With respect to 
the noncompetitive appointment of a relocating 
spouse of a member of the Armed Forces under sub-
section (b)(1) of section 3330d of title 5, United 
States Code, as modified by subsection (a), the Di-
rector of the Office of Personnel Management— 
(A) shall monitor the number of such ap-
pointments; 
(B) shall require the head of each agency 
with authority to make such appointments 
under such section to submit an annual report 
to the Director on such appointments, including 
information on the number of individuals so ap-
pointed, the types of positions filled, and the ef-
fectiveness of the authority for such appoint-
ments; and 
(C) not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, shall submit 
a report to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform of the House of Represent-
253 
atives and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Government Affairs of the Senate on 
the use and effectiveness of such authority. 
(2) NON-RELOCATING SPOUSES.—With respect 
to the noncompetitive appointment of a spouse of a 
member of the Armed Forces other than a relocating 
spouse described in paragraph (1), the Director of 
the Office of Personnel Management— 
(A) shall treat the spouse as a relocating 
spouse under paragraph (1); and 
(B) may limit the number of such appoint-
ments. 
(c) SUNSET.—Effective on the date that is 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the authority 
under this section, including the authority provided by the 
modifications to section 3330d of title 5, United States 
Code, shall expire. 
SEC. 570. ASSESSMENT AND REPORT ON ACTIVE SHOOTER 
THREAT MITIGATION AT SCHOOLS LOCATED 
ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
conduct an assessment of strategies that may be used to 
reduce the security threat posed by active shooter inci-
dents at public elementary schools and secondary schools 
located on the grounds of Federal military installations.
254 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port that includes the results of the assessment conducted 
under subsection (a). 
Subtitle H—Decorations and 
Awards 
SEC. 571. LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY TO REVOKE CER-
TAIN MILITARY DECORATIONS AWARDED TO 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ARMY.— 
(1) LIMITATIONS.—Chapter 357 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3757. Military decorations: limitations on revoca-
tion 
‘‘(a) LIMITATIONS.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), the President or the Secretary of the Army 
may not authorize the revocation of a military decoration 
after the actual award of the military decoration to a 
member of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—(1) Subsection (a) does not 
apply to the revocation of a military decoration if the rev-
ocation is ordered on account of—
255 
‘‘(A) the acquisition of new or additional infor-
mation that calls into question the service for which 
the member was awarded the military decoration; or 
‘‘(B) the conviction of the member for a felony. 
‘‘(2) In applying the exception described in paragraph 
(1)(B), the President and the Secretary of the Army shall 
take into account, as an extenuating factor, whether the 
member has been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury 
or post-traumatic stress disorder. 
‘‘(c) MILITARY DECORATION DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘military decoration’ means the distin-
guished-service cross, distinguished-service medal, silver 
star, distinguished flying cross, or Soldier’s Medal. The 
term does not include the medal of honor.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘3757. Military decorations: limitations on revocation.’’. 
(b) NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.— 
(1) LIMITATIONS.—Chapter 567 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 6259. Military decorations: limitations on revoca-
tion 
‘‘(a) LIMITATIONS.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), the President or the Secretary of the Navy
256 
may not authorize the revocation of a military decoration 
after the actual award of the military decoration to a 
member of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—(1) Subsection (a) does not 
apply to the revocation of a military decoration if the rev-
ocation is ordered on account of— 
‘‘(A) the acquisition of new or additional infor-
mation that calls into question the service for which 
the member was awarded the military decoration; or 
‘‘(B) the conviction of the member for a felony. 
‘‘(2) In applying the exception described in paragraph 
(1)(B), the President and the Secretary of the Navy shall 
take into account, as an extenuating factor, whether the 
member has been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury 
or post-traumatic stress disorder. 
‘‘(c) MILITARY DECORATION DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘military decoration’ means the Navy cross, 
distinguished-service medal, silver star medal, distin-
guished flying cross, or Navy and Marine Corps Medal. 
The term does not include the medal of honor.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘6259. Military decorations: limitations on revocation.’’. 
(c) AIR FORCE.—
257 
(1) LIMITATIONS.—Chapter 857 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 8757. Military decorations: limitations on revoca-
tion 
‘‘(a) LIMITATIONS.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), the President or the Secretary of the Air Force 
may not authorize the revocation of a military decoration 
after the actual award of the military decoration to a 
member of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—(1) Subsection (a) does not 
apply to the revocation of a military decoration if the rev-
ocation is ordered on account of— 
‘‘(A) the acquisition of new or additional infor-
mation that calls into question the service for which 
the member was awarded the military decoration; or 
‘‘(B) the conviction of the member for a felony. 
‘‘(2) In applying the exception described in paragraph 
(1)(B), the President and the Secretary of the Air Force 
shall take into account, as an extenuating factor, whether 
the member has been diagnosed with traumatic brain in-
jury or post-traumatic stress disorder. 
‘‘(c) MILITARY DECORATION DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘military decoration’ means the Air Force
258 
cross, distinguished-service medal, silver star, distin-
guished flying cross, or Airman’s Medal. The term does 
not include the medal of honor.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘8757. Military decorations: limitations on revocation.’’. 
SEC. 572. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF EXPEDITIONARY 
MEDAL TO CERTAIN MARINES FOR ACTIONS 
ON JUNE 8, 1995. 
Notwithstanding any time limitation with respect to 
the awarding of certain medals to persons who served in 
the Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense may award 
the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to a member or 
former member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 
Special Operations Capable, for the mission to rescue Cap-
tain Scott O’Grady, United States Air Force, from Bosnia 
on June 8, 1995. 
SEC. 573. AWARD OF MEDALS OR OTHER COMMENDATIONS 
TO HANDLERS OF MILITARY WORKING DOGS 
AND MILITARY WORKING DOGS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Guardians of America’s Freedom Medal Act’’. 
(b) AWARD OF MEDALS OR OTHER COMMENDATIONS 
TO HANDLERS OF MILITARY WORKING DOGS AND MILI-
TARY WORKING DOGS.—
259 
(1) PROGRAM
OF
AWARD
REQUIRED.—Each 
Secretary of a military department shall carry out a 
program to provide for the award of one or more 
medals or other commendations to handlers of mili-
tary working dogs, and to military working dogs, 
under the jurisdiction of such Secretary to recognize 
valor or meritorious achievement by such handlers 
and dogs. 
(2) MEDAL AND COMMENDATIONS.—Any medal 
or commendation awarded pursuant to a program 
under paragraph (1) shall be of such design, and in-
clude such elements, as the Secretary of the military 
department concerned shall specify. 
(3) REGULATIONS.—Medals and commenda-
tions shall be awarded under programs under para-
graph (1) in accordance with regulations prescribed 
by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of this sec-
tion. 
SEC. 574. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF DISTINGUISHED- 
SERVICE CROSS TO JUSTIN T. GALLEGOS FOR 
ACTS OF VALOR DURING OPERATION ENDUR-
ING FREEDOM. 
(a) WAIVER
OF
TIME
LIMITATIONS.—Notwith-
standing the time limitations specified in section 3744 of 
title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitations
260 
with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons 
who served in the Armed Forces, the Secretary of the 
Army may award the Distinguished-Service Cross under 
section 3742 of such title to Justin T. Gallegos for the 
acts of valor described in subsection (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
referred to in subsection (a) are the actions of Justin T. 
Gallegos on October 3, 2009, as a member of the Army 
in the grade of Staff Sergeant, serving in Afghanistan 
with the 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat 
Team, 4th Infantry Division. 
SEC. 575. REPORT ON AWARDS FOR COST-SAVING IDEAS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress 
a report detailing— 
(1) the total number of awards and commenda-
tions presented to any military personnel for a cost- 
saving idea during the prior fiscal year; 
(2) a total estimate of the total savings as a re-
sult of the implementation of cost-saving ideas for 
which an award or commendation was presented; 
and 
(3) a description of how the Secretary plans to 
expand incentive programs for the purpose described 
in this section and streamline such programs.
261 
SEC. 576. ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS OF OPERATION END 
SWEEP FOR VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL. 
The Secretary of the military department concerned 
may, upon the application of an individual who is a vet-
eran who participated in Operation End Sweep, award 
that individual the Vietnam Service Medal. 
Subtitle I—Miscellaneous Reports 
and Other Matters 
SEC. 581. PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF TOP-LINE NUMBERS OF 
DEPLOYED 
MEMBERS 
OF 
THE 
ARMED 
FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), the Secretary of Defense shall make publicly available, 
on a quarterly basis, on a website of the Department the 
top-line numbers of members of the Armed Forces de-
ployed for each country as of the date of the submittal 
of the report and the total number of members of the 
Armed Forces so deployed during the quarter covered by 
the report. 
(b) WAIVER.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may waive 
the requirement under subsection (a) in the case of 
a sensitive military operation if— 
(A) the Secretary determines the public 
disclosure of the number of deployed members 
of the Armed Forces could reasonably be ex-
262 
pected to provide an operational military advan-
tage to an adversary; or 
(B) members of the Armed Forces are de-
ployed for a period that does not exceed 30 
days. 
(2) NOTICE.— If the Secretary issues a waiver 
under this subsection, the Secretary submit to the 
congressional defense committees a notice of the 
waiver and the reasons for the determination that 
led to the waiver. 
(3) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—If a waiver is 
issued under this subsection, notice of such waiver 
shall be included in the report made publicly avail-
able under subsection (a) for the applicable quarter, 
together with information about the timing of the 
waiver. 
(c) SENSITIVE MILITARY OPERATION DEFINED.— 
The term ‘‘sensitive military operation’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 130f(d) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 582. CRITERIA FOR INTERMENT AT ARLINGTON NA-
TIONAL CEMETERY. 
(a) CRITERIA.—The Secretary of the Army, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall prescribe re-
vised criteria for interment at Arlington National Ceme-
263 
tery that preserve Arlington National Cemetery as an ac-
tive burial ground ‘‘well into the future,’’ as that term is 
used in the report submitted by the Secretary of the Army 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and the Commit-
tees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate, dated February 14, 2017, and titled ‘‘The 
Future of Arlington National Cemetery: Report on the 
Cemetery’s Interment and Inurnment Capacity 2017’’. 
(b) DEADLINE.—The Secretary of the Army shall es-
tablish the criteria under subsection (a) not later than 
September 30, 2019. 
SEC. 583. REPORT ON GENERAL AND FLAG OFFICER COSTS. 
Not later than nine months after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on gen-
eral and flag officer costs. Such report shall include cost 
estimates for direct and indirect costs associated with gen-
eral and flag officers generally and for specific positions 
in accordance with the recommendations of the Office of 
the Secretary of Defense-Cost Assessment and Program 
Evaluation report entitled ‘‘Defining General and Flag Of-
ficer Costs’’ dated December 2017, including— 
(1) direct compensation for all general and flag 
officers and for specific general and flag officer posi-
264 
tions, using the full cost of manpower model to esti-
mate where possible; 
(2) personal money allowances for positions 
that receive an allowance; 
(3) deferred compensation and health care costs 
for all general and flag officers and for specific gen-
eral and flag officer positions; 
(4) costs associated with providing security de-
tails for specific general and flag officer positions 
that merit continuous security; 
(5) costs associated with Government and com-
mercial travel for general and flag officers who qual-
ify for tier one or two travel, including commercial 
travel costs using defense travel sytstem data; 
(6) general flag officer per diems for specific 
positions, based on average travel per diem costs; 
(7) costs for enlisted and officer aide housing 
for general and flag officers generally and for spe-
cific general and flag officer positions, including 
basic housing assistance costs for staff; 
(8) on a case-by-case basis, costs associated 
with enlisted and officer aide travel, taking into con-
sideration the cost of data collection; 
(9) costs associated with additional support 
staff for general and flag officers and their travel,
265 
equipment, and per diem costs for all general and 
flag officers and specific general and flag officer po-
sitions based on the average numbers per general or 
flag officer and estimations using the full cost of 
manpower model; 
(10) costs associated with the upkeep and 
maintenance of official residences not captured by 
basic housing assistance; and 
(11) costs associated with training for general 
and flag officers generally and specific general and 
flag officer positions using estimations from the full 
cost of manpower model. 
SEC. 584. REPORT ON OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT OF SENIOR 
PERSONNEL. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report 
to Congress on requests by senior personnel for approval 
of outside employment during the preceding fiscal year. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under this section shall 
contain the following regarding: 
(1) The number of such requests. 
(2) The number of such requests approved. 
(3) The types of positions for which senior per-
sonnel made such requests.
266 
(4) The range and average of the time commit-
ment for such positions. 
(5) The range and average of the compensation 
for such positions. 
(6) Any ethical lapses or abuses by senior per-
sonnel in the course of employment pursuant to ap-
proved requests. 
(c) SENIOR PERSONNEL DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘senior personnel’’ means any of the following: 
(1) An officer in the regular or reserve compo-
nent of an armed force above the grade of O–6. 
(2) An employee of the Department of Defense 
in the Senior Executive Service. 
SEC. 585. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS PENDING SUB-
MITTAL OF REPORT ON ARMY MARKETING 
AND ADVERTISING PROGRAM. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Army 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
on the recommendations contained in the audit con-
ducted by the Army Audit Agency of the Army’s 
Marketing and Advertising Program concerning con-
tract oversight and return on investment.
267 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall address each of the following: 
(A) The mitigation and oversight measures 
implemented to assure improved program re-
turn and contract management including the 
establishment of specific goals to measure long- 
term effects of investments in marketing ef-
forts. 
(B) The establishment of a review process 
to regularly evaluate the effectiveness and effi-
ciency of marketing efforts including efforts to 
better support the accessions missions of the 
Army. 
(C) The increase of acquisition and mar-
keting experience within the Army Marketing 
and Research Group (hereinafter in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘AMRG’’). 
(D) A workforce analysis of AMRG in co-
operation with the Office of Personnel Manage-
ment and industry experts assessing the AMRG 
organizational structure, staffing, and training, 
including an assessment of the workplace cli-
mate and culture internal to the AMRG. 
(E) The establishment of an Army Mar-
keting and Advisory Board comprised of senior
268 
Army and marketing and advertising leaders 
and an assessment of industry and service mar-
keting and advertising best practices including 
a plan to incorporate relevant practices. 
(F) The status of the implementation of 
contracting practices recommended by the 
Army Audit Agency’s audit of contracting over-
sight of AMRG contained in Audit Report A– 
2018–0033–MTH. 
(b) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Not more than 
60 percent of the amounts authorized to be appropriated 
or otherwise made available in this Act for the AMRG for 
fiscal year 2019 for advertising and marketing activities 
may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of the 
Army submits the report required by subsection (a). 
(c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of the submittal of the report 
required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a review of the results and 
implementation of the recommendations of the Army 
Audit Agency Audits of the AMRG on contract oversight 
and return on investment. Such review shall include an 
assessment of the effects of the implementation of the rec-
ommendations on the AMRG leadership, workforce and 
business practices, and return on investment.
269 
SEC. 586. INCLUSION OF BLAST EXPOSURE HISTORY IN 
SERVICE RECORDS. 
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that blast ex-
posure history is included in the service records of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces in a manner that will assist in 
determining whether a future illness or injury is service 
connected. 
SEC. 587. CYBERSECURITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND 
AWARENESS IN JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER 
TRAINING CORPS. 
The Secretaries of the military departments shall en-
courage the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps to in-
clude cybersecurity educational programs and awareness 
in the curriculum of the Corps, including lessons on cyber 
defense, risks of cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the mili-
tary, and pursuing studies and careers in cybersecurity 
and related fields within the Department of Defense. 
SEC. 588. PUBLICATION OF GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION 
ON HOUSING MARKETS NEAR CERTAIN MILI-
TARY INSTALLATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
develop and make publicly available guidance and informa-
tion about the housing market around military installa-
tions in the continental United States. Such guidance and 
information shall be designed to assist members of the
270 
Armed Forces in better using their basic allowance for 
housing. 
(b) MATTERS FOR INCLUSION.—The information and 
guidance under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) information on the housing market around 
the installation, including— 
(A) information about deciding whether to 
rent or buy, including taking into consideration 
the average deployment cycle for that military 
installation and permanent change of station 
timelines; 
(B) information about houses and apart-
ments; 
(C) considerations of living with a room-
mate; and 
(D) information about working with and 
through a landlord; 
(2) suggested bedroom and bathroom and 
square footage for each basic allowance for housing 
category; 
(3) recommended zip codes in which to look for 
properties; 
(4) information about the availability of public 
transportation;
271 
(5) average commute times to military installa-
tion and wait times at nearest gate; and 
(6) a list of realtors and real estate brokers who 
work in the area, including any complaints reg-
istered against such realtors and brokers. 
(c) GAO REPORT.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to Congress a report on a re-
view of the Comptroller General of the rate setting proce-
dure for basic allowance for housing. Such review shall 
cover how the Department of Defense collects basic allow-
ance for housing data and shall include an analysis of each 
of the following: 
(1) Whether the process in use is the most effi-
cient process. 
(2) Whether the information collected is pub-
lically available elsewhere. 
(3) Whether the data collected reflects what is 
available through open source methods. 
(4) How basic allowance for housing rates and 
cost of living adjustments are interrelated. 
(5) Whether members of the Armed Forces 
about whom data is collected are receiving loan pro-
tections 
on 
interest 
rates 
pursuant 
to 
the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
272 
(6) Whether such members of the Armed 
Forces experience issues when they need to break 
leases for a deployment or permanent change of sta-
tion. 
SEC. 589. ASSISTANCE OF STATES FOR DEPLOYMENT-RE-
LATED 
SUPPORT 
OF 
MEMBERS 
OF 
THE 
ARMED FORCES UNDERGOING DEPLOYMENT 
AND THEIR FAMILIES BEYOND THE YELLOW 
RIBBON REINTEGRATION PROGRAM. 
Section 582 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (10 U.S.C. 10101 note) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (k) and (l) as 
subsections (l) and (m), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (j) the fol-
lowing new subsection (k): 
‘‘(k) SUPPORT BEYOND PROGRAM.—The Secretary 
of Defense shall provide funding to States to carry out 
programs that provide deployment cycle information, serv-
ices, and referrals to members of the Armed Forces, in-
cluding members of the regular components and members 
of the reserve components, and the families of such mem-
bers, throughout the deployment cycle. Such programs 
may include the provision of access to outreach services, 
including the following:
273 
‘‘(1) Employment counseling. 
‘‘(2) Behavioral health counseling. 
‘‘(3) Suicide prevention. 
‘‘(4) Housing advocacy. 
‘‘(5) Financial counseling. 
‘‘(6) Referrals for the receipt of other related 
services.’’. 
SEC. 590. EXEMPTION FROM REPAYMENT OF VOLUNTARY 
SEPARATION PAY. 
Section 1175a(j) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘paragraphs 
(2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (2), (3), and 
(4)’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (5); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) This subsection shall not apply to a member 
who— 
‘‘(A) is involuntarily recalled to active duty or 
full-time National Guard duty; and 
‘‘(B) in the course of such duty, incurs a serv-
ice-connected disability rating of total under section 
1155 of title 38.’’.
274 
SEC. 591. SERVICE OF WOUNDED WARRIORS AS REMOTELY 
PILOTED AIRCRAFT PILOTS OR REMOTELY 
PILOTED AIRCRAFT SENSOR OPERATORS IN 
THE AIR FORCE. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Air 
Force shall establish a program under which a qualified 
wounded warrior who faces retirement or separation from 
the Armed Forces for physical disability may continue, in 
lieu of such retirement or separation, to serve in the 
Armed Forces as a remotely piloted aircraft pilot or re-
motely piloted aircraft sensor operator in the Air Force. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) MODIFICATION
OF
PHYSICAL
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—In the case of wounded warriors only, the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall modify the physical 
fitness requirements applicable to a wounded warrior 
who is seeking to serve, or is serving, as a remotely 
piloted aircraft pilot or remotely piloted aircraft sen-
sor operator if the wounded warrior is incapable of 
meeting such requirements, such as completing an 
annual physical training test, due to the service-re-
lated disability, but otherwise satisfies the remotely 
piloted aircraft medical standard. 
(2) MEDICAL
WAIVERS.—The restriction on 
medical waivers contained in section 6.4.5.1 of Air
275 
Force Instruction 48–123 shall not apply to the pro-
gram required by this section. 
(3) CONTINUED APPLICABILITY OF OTHER RE-
QUIREMENTS.—To serve as a remotely piloted air-
craft pilot or remotely piloted aircraft sensor oper-
ator, a wounded warrior applicant would still have to 
pass— 
(A) the applicable Air Force Officer Quali-
fying Test or Armed Services Vocational Apti-
tude Battery; and 
(B) the applicable security and mental 
health requirements. 
(4) AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION.—A wound-
ed warrior may not be selected to serve, or continue 
to serve, as a remotely piloted aircraft pilot or re-
motely piloted aircraft sensor operator if the Sec-
retary of the Air Force determines that— 
(A) the wounded warrior presents a hazard 
to flying safety or mission completion; 
(B) performance of the duty would be haz-
ardous to the health of the wounded warrior; or 
(C) the wounded warrior is diagnosed with 
post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain 
injury, or any other mental disorder that could 
hinder mission performance.
276 
(c) PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN WOUNDED WARRIORS.— 
In selecting wounded warriors to serve as a remotely pi-
loted aircraft pilot or remotely piloted aircraft sensor oper-
ator, the Secretary of the Air Force shall give priority to 
wounded warriors whose disability was incurred— 
(1) in the line of duty in a combat zone des-
ignated by the Secretary of Defense; or 
(2) during the performance of duty in combat- 
related operations as designated by the Secretary of 
Defense. 
(d) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.—In the case of a wound-
ed warrior who is not a member of the Air Force, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force shall cooperate with the Secretary 
concerned having jurisdiction over the wounded warrior to 
transfer the wounded warrior from the other Armed Force 
to the Air Force to permit the wounded warrior to be se-
lected for the program under this section. 
(e) WOUNDED WARRIOR DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘wounded warrior’’ means a member of the 
Armed Forces who— 
(1) is unfit to perform the duties of the mem-
ber’s office, grade, rank, or rating because of phys-
ical disability incurred in the line of duty; and 
(2) is under consideration for retirement or sep-
aration under chapter 61 of title 10, United States
277 
Code, or has been placed on the temporary disability 
retired list. 
SEC. 592. TRANSPORTATION OF REMAINS OF CASUALTIES; 
TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR NEXT OF KIN. 
(a) TRANSPORTATION FOR REMAINS OF A MEMBER 
WHO DIES NOT
IN
A THEATER
OF COMBAT OPER-
ATIONS.—Section 562 of the John Warner National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 
109-364; 10 U.S.C. 1482 note) is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘DYING IN A 
THEATER OF COMBAT OPERATIONS’’; and 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘in a combat 
theater of operations’’ and inserting ‘‘outside of the 
United States’’. 
(b) TRANSPORTATION FOR FAMILY.—The Secretary 
of Defense shall revise Department of Defense Instruction 
1300.18 to extend travel privileges via Invitational Travel 
Authorization to family members of members of the 
Armed Forces who die outside of the United States and 
whose remains are returned to the United States through 
the mortuary facility at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
278 
SEC. 593. GARNISHMENT TO SATISFY JUDGMENT REN-
DERED 
FOR 
PHYSICALLY, 
SEXUALLY, 
OR 
EMOTIONALLY ABUSING A CHILD. 
Section 1408 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Subject to subsection (l)(2), 
the’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking 
‘‘other provision of law’’ and inserting ‘‘provi-
sion of law except subsection (l)(2)’’; and 
(2) in subsection (l)(2), by striking the second 
sentence and inserting ‘‘The limitations on the 
amount of disposable retired pay available for pay-
ments under paragraphs (1) and (4)(B) of sub-
section (e) do not apply to a child abuse garnish-
ment order.’’. 
SEC. 594. USE OF MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING 
MANUALS. 
The Secretary of Defense shall encourage the military 
departments to transition training manuals, emergency 
guidance, and other publications needed to train members 
of the Armed Forces to applications on mobile telephones 
that use innovative technologies and provide for inter-
279 
action between trainees and information needed to com-
plete training in a manner that is cost efficient. 
SEC. 595. ADDRESSING ATTRITION LEVELS OF WOMEN IN 
THE MILITARY. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall develop and 
carry out an exit survey to be completed by members of 
the Armed Forces to assist the Secretary to assess the 
reasons that attrition levels for women are higher than 
for men at various career points. 
SEC. 596. PROOF OF PERIOD OF MILITARY SERVICE FOR 
PURPOSES OF INTEREST RATE LIMITATION 
UNDER THE SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF 
ACT. 
Section 207(b)(1) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief 
Act (50 U.S.C. 3937(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) PROOF OF MILITARY SERVICE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of a servicemember’s termi-
nation or release from military service, in order 
for an obligation or liability of the servicemem-
ber to be subject to the interest rate limitation 
in subsection (a), the servicemember shall pro-
vide to the creditor written notice and a copy 
of—
280 
‘‘(i) the military orders calling the 
servicemember to military service and any 
orders further extending military service; 
or 
‘‘(ii) any other appropriate indicator 
of military service, including a certified let-
ter from a commanding officer. 
‘‘(B) INDEPENDENT
VERIFICATION
BY 
CREDITOR.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Regardless of 
whether a servicemember has provided to a 
creditor the written notice and documenta-
tion under subparagraph (A), the creditor 
may use, in lieu of such notice and docu-
mentation, information retrieved from the 
Defense 
Manpower 
Database 
Center 
through the creditor’s normal business re-
views of the Database Center for purposes 
of obtaining information indicating that 
the servicemember is on active duty. 
‘‘(ii) SAFE HARBOR.—A creditor that 
uses the information retrieved from the 
Defense Manpower Database Center under 
clause (i) with respect to a servicemember 
has not failed to treat the debt of the serv-
281 
icemember in accordance with subsection 
(a) if— 
‘‘(I) such information indicates 
that, on the date the creditor retrieves 
such information, the servicemember 
is not on active duty; and 
‘‘(II) the creditor has not, as of 
such date, received the written notice 
and documentation required under 
subparagraph (A) with respect to the 
servicemember.’’. 
SEC. 597. REPORT REGARDING POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS 
TO PROCESSING RETIREMENTS AND MED-
ICAL DISCHARGES. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, shall issue a report to the congressional defense 
committees and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate and House of Representatives regarding pos-
sible improvements to the transition of members of the 
Armed Forces to veteran status. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall address the following:
282 
(1) Feasibility of requiring members of the 
Armed Forces to apply for benefits administered by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs before such mem-
bers complete discharge from the Armed Forces. 
(2) Feasibility of requiring members of the 
Armed Forces to undergo compensation and pension 
examinations (to be administered by the Secretary of 
Defense) for purposes of obtaining benefits described 
in paragraph (1) before such members complete dis-
charge from active duty in the Armed Forces. 
(3) Possible improvements to the timeliness of 
the process for transitioning members who undergo 
medical discharge to care provided by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 598. CHAPLAINCIES OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purposes of the chaplaincies of 
the Armed Forces are— 
(1) to accommodate the religious needs of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces; 
(2) to provide religious and pastoral care to 
members of the Armed Forces; and 
(3) to provide advice to commanders of the 
Armed Forces on the complexities of religion with 
regard to the respective commander’s personnel and 
mission, as appropriate.
283 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Each chaplain of the Armed 
Forces shall be— 
(1) a member of a religious organization; 
(2) of sufficient education and ecclesiastical 
qualification; and 
(3) qualified to conduct religious observances or 
ceremonies. 
TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND 
OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS 
Subtitle A—Pay and Allowances 
SEC. 601. PROMPT REVIEW OF REQUEST FOR IMMINENT 
DANGER PAY. 
Section 310(d)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
‘‘The Secretary of Defense shall issue a determination re-
garding special pay under this section not later than 90 
days after receiving a request for such determination from 
the commander of a geographic combatant command.’’. 
SEC. 602. APPLICATION OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUS-
ING TO MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERV-
ICES IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 403(b) of title 37, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘AND THE VIR-
GIN ISLANDS’’ after ‘‘THE UNITED STATES’’;
284 
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and the Vir-
gin Islands’’ after ‘‘the United States’’; and 
(3) in paragraphs (2), (3)(A), and (6), by in-
serting ‘‘or the Virgin Islands’’ after ‘‘the United 
States’’ each place it appears. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 403(c) of 
title 37, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘OR THE VIR-
GIN ISLANDS’’ after ‘‘THE UNITED STATES’’; and 
(2) in paragraphs (1), (2), (3)(A)(i), and 
(3)(B), by inserting ‘‘or the Virgin Islands’’ after 
‘‘the United States’’ each place it appears. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act and shall apply to payments under section 403 
of title 37, United States Code, beginning on January 1, 
2019. 
SEC. 603. MANDATORY INCREASE IN INSURANCE COV-
ERAGE UNDER SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP 
LIFE INSURANCE FOR MEMBERS DEPLOYED 
TO COMBAT THEATERS OF OPERATION. 
Section 1967(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended—
285 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘subpara-
graphs (B) and (C)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs 
(B), (C), and (D)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(D) In the case of a member who elects under 
paragraph (2)(A) not to be insured under this sec-
tion, or who elects under subparagraph (B) to be in-
sured for an amount less than the maximum amount 
provided under subparagraph (A), and who is de-
ployed to a combat theater of operations the mem-
ber— 
‘‘(i) shall be insured under this subchapter 
for the maximum amount provided under sub-
paragraph (A) for the period of such deploy-
ment; and 
‘‘(ii) upon the end of such deployment— 
‘‘(I) shall be insured in the amount 
elected by the member under subparagraph 
(B); or 
‘‘(II) shall not be insured, if so elected 
under paragraph (2)(A)’’. 
SEC. 604. MILITARY HOUSING PRIVATIZATION INITIATIVE. 
(a) PAYMENT AUTHORITY.—Each month beginning 
on the first month after the date of the enactment of this
286 
Act, the Secretary shall pay a lessor of covered housing 
5 percent of the amount calculated under section 
403(b)(3)(A)(i) of title 37, United States Code, for the 
area in which the covered housing exists. Any such pay-
ment shall be in addition to any other payment made by 
the Secretary to that lessor. 
(b) PLAN FOR MHPI HOUSING.—Not later than De-
cember 1, 2018, the Secretary shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a long-range plan to develop 
measures to consistently address the future sustainment, 
recapitalization, and financial condition of MHPI housing. 
The plan shall include— 
(1) efforts to mitigate the losses incurred by 
MHPI housing projects because of the reductions to 
BAH under section 603 of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 
114-92; 37 U.S.C. 403(b)(3)(B)); and 
(2) a full assessment of the effects of such re-
ductions (in relation to calculations of market rates 
for rent and utilities) on the financial condition of 
MHPI housing. 
(c) REPORTING.—The Secretary shall direct the As-
sistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and 
Environment to take the following steps regarding reports 
under section 2884(c) of title 10, United States Code:
287 
(1) Provide additional contextual information 
on MHPI housing to identify any differences in the 
calculation of debt coverage ratios and any effect of 
such differences on their comparability. 
(2) Immediately resume issuing such reports on 
the financial condition of MHPI housing. 
(3) Revise Department of Defense guidance on 
MHPI housing— 
(A) to ensure that relevant financial data 
(such as debt coverage ratios) in such reports 
are consistent and comparable in terms of the 
time periods of the data collected; 
(B) to include a requirement that the sec-
retary of each military department includes 
measures of future sustainment into each as-
sessments of MHPI housing projects; and 
(C) to require the secretary of each mili-
tary department to define risk tolerance regard-
ing the future sustainability of MHPI housing 
projects. 
(4) Report financial information on future 
sustainment of each MHPI housing project in such 
reports. 
(5) Provide Department of Defense guidance to 
the secretaries of the military departments to—
288 
(A) assess the significance of the specific 
risks to individual MHPI housing projects from 
the reduction in BAH; and 
(B) identify methods to mitigate such risks 
based on their significance. 
(6) Not later than December 1, 2018, finalize 
Department of Defense guidance that clearly de-
fines— 
(A) the circumstances in which the mili-
tary departments shall provide notification of 
housing project changes to the congressional de-
fense committees; and 
(B) which types of such changes require 
prior notification to or prior approval from the 
congressional defense committees. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘BAH’’ means the basic allow-
ance for housing under section 403 of title 37, 
United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered housing’’ means a unit 
of MHPI housing that is leased to a member of a 
uniformed service who resides in such unit. 
(3) The term ‘‘MHPI housing’’ means housing 
acquired or constructed under the alternative au-
thority of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10,
289 
United States Code (known as the Military Housing 
Privatization Initiative). 
SEC. 605. PER DIEM ALLOWANCE POLICIES. 
(a) POLICY AND REGULATIONS.— 
(1) EXISTING POLICY AND REGULATIONS.—The 
Secretary of each military department may not im-
plement the policy in the memorandum dated Octo-
ber 1, 2014, titled ‘‘UTD/CTS for MAP 118-13/ 
CAP 118-13 – Flat Rate Per Diem for Long Term 
TDY’’, regarding per diem allowances, or any regu-
lations prescribed pursuant to such memorandum, 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) FUTURE POLICY AND REGULATIONS.—(A) 
The Secretary of each military department con-
cerned may not implement a new policy regarding 
per diem allowances under section 474 of title 37, 
United States Code, until after the Secretary of De-
fense issues the report under subsection (b). 
(B) The Secretary of the military department 
concerned shall notify the appropriate congressional 
committees not less than 60 days before imple-
menting a new policy regarding per diem allowances 
under section 474 of title 37, United States Code. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
290 
shall issue a report to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees regarding options to reduce travel costs incurred 
by the Department of Defense, including the adoption of 
practices used by private entities. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the congressional defense committees, the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 606. REPORT ON IMMINENT DANGER PAY AND HOS-
TILE FIRE PAY. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than March 1, 
2019, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report examining the current proc-
esses for awarding imminent danger pay and hostile fire 
pay to members of the Armed Forces. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—This report under this section shall 
include the following: 
(1) An analysis of difficulties in implementing 
the current system. 
(2) An explanation of how geographic regions 
are selected to be eligible for such pay and the cri-
teria used to define these regions.
291 
(3) An examination of whether the current geo-
graphic model is the most appropriate way to award 
such pay, including the following: 
(A) A discussion of whether the current 
model most accurately reflects the realities of 
modern warfare and is responsive enough to the 
needs of members. 
(B) Whether the Secretary believes it 
would be appropriate to tie such pay to specific 
authorizations for deployments (including de-
ployments of special operations forces) in addi-
tion to geographic criteria. 
(C) A description of any change the Sec-
retary would consider to update such pay to re-
flect the current operational environment. 
(D) How the Secretary would implement 
each change under subparagraph (C). 
(E) Recommendations of the Secretary for 
related regulations or legislative action. 
SEC. 607. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE WIDOWS’ 
TAX. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) section 621 of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115– 
91) amended section 1450(m) of title 10, United
292 
States Code, to make permanent the special survivor 
indemnity allowance; 
(2) under the special survivor indemnity allow-
ance, surviving spouses and dependent children of 
members who die of a service-connected cause will 
not be subject to a full offset of survivor benefit plan 
payments by dependency and indemnity compensa-
tion, commonly referred to as the ‘‘widows’ tax’’; 
and 
(3) while the special survivor indemnity allow-
ance alleviates the gap in benefits, the whole Con-
gress must work together to find a way to eliminate 
the widows’ tax entirely. 
SEC. 608. REEVALUATION OF BAH FOR THE MILITARY 
HOUSING AREA INCLUDING STATEN ISLAND. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, using the most 
recent data available to the Secretary, shall reevaluate the 
basic housing allowance prescribed under section 403(b) 
of title 37, United States Code, for the military housing 
area that includes Staten Island, New York.
293 
SEC. 609. COMPENSATION AND CREDIT FOR RETIRED PAY 
PURPOSES FOR MATERNITY LEAVE TAKEN 
BY MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPO-
NENTS. 
(a) COMPENSATION.—Section 206(a) of title 37, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(4) for each of 6 days in connection with the 
taking by the member of a period of maternity 
leave.’’. 
(b) CREDIT FOR RETIRED PAY PURPOSES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The period of maternity 
leave taken by a member of the reserve components 
of the Armed Forces in connection with the birth of 
a child shall count toward the member’s entitlement 
to retired pay, and in connection with the years of 
service used in computing retired pay, under chapter 
1223 of title 10, United States Code, as 12 points. 
(2) SEPARATE CREDIT FOR EACH PERIOD OF 
LEAVE.—Separate crediting of points shall accrue to 
a member pursuant to this subsection for each pe-
294 
riod of maternity leave taken by the member in con-
nection with a childbirth event. 
(3) WHEN CREDITED.—Points credited a mem-
ber for a period of maternity leave pursuant to this 
subsection shall be credited in the year in which the 
period of maternity leave concerned commences. 
(4) CONTRIBUTION OF LEAVE TOWARD ENTI-
TLEMENT TO RETIRED PAY.—Section 12732(a)(2) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by insert-
ing after subparagraph (E) the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(F) Points at the rate of 12 a year for the 
taking of maternity leave.’’. 
(5) COMPUTATION OF YEARS OF SERVICE FOR 
RETIRED
PAY.—Section 12733 of such title is 
amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following new paragraph (5): 
‘‘(5) One day for each point credited to the per-
son under subparagraph (F) of section 12732(a)(2) 
of this title.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section shall take effect on the date
295 
of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect 
to periods of maternity leave that commence on or after 
that date. 
Subtitle B—Bonuses and Special 
Incentive Pays 
SEC. 611. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING 
BONUS AND SPECIAL PAY AUTHORITIES. 
(a) 
AUTHORITIES
RELATING
TO
RESERVE 
FORCES.—Section 910(g) of title 37, United States Code, 
relating to income replacement payments for reserve com-
ponent members experiencing extended and frequent mo-
bilization for active duty service, is amended by striking 
‘‘December 31, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2019’’. 
(b) TITLE 10 AUTHORITIES RELATING TO HEALTH 
CARE PROFESSIONALS.—The following sections of title 
10, United States Code, are amended by striking ‘‘Decem-
ber 31, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2019’’: 
(1) Section 2130a(a)(1), relating to nurse offi-
cer candidate accession program. 
(2) Section 16302(d), relating to repayment of 
education loans for certain health professionals who 
serve in the Selected Reserve. 
(c) AUTHORITIES RELATING
TO NUCLEAR OFFI-
CERS.—Section 333(i) of title 37, United States Code, is
296 
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2019’’. 
(d) AUTHORITIES RELATING TO TITLE 37 CONSOLI-
DATED SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AU-
THORITIES.—The following sections of title 37, United 
States Code, are amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2018’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2019’’: 
(1) Section 331(h), relating to general bonus 
authority for enlisted members. 
(2) Section 332(g), relating to general bonus 
authority for officers. 
(3) Section 334(i), relating to special aviation 
incentive pay and bonus authorities for officers. 
(4) Section 335(k), relating to special bonus 
and incentive pay authorities for officers in health 
professions. 
(5) Section 336(g), relating to contracting 
bonus for cadets and midshipmen enrolled in the 
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. 
(6) Section 351(h), relating to hazardous duty 
pay. 
(7) Section 352(g), relating to assignment pay 
or special duty pay. 
(8) Section 353(i), relating to skill incentive 
pay or proficiency bonus.
297 
(9) Section 355(h), relating to retention incen-
tives for members qualified in critical military skills 
or assigned to high priority units. 
(e) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY INCREASE 
IN RATES OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING.—Section 
403(b)(7)(E) of title 37, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘December 31, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘Decem-
ber 31, 2019’’. 
Subtitle C—Other Matters 
SEC. 621. EXPANSIONS OF INSTALLATION BENEFITS TO 
SURVIVING 
SPOUSES, 
DEPENDENT 
CHIL-
DREN, AND OTHER NEXT OF KIN. 
(a) ISSUANCE OF GOLD STAR INSTALLATION ACCESS 
CARDS.— 
(1) ISSUANCE AND CONDITIONS ON USE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 57 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 1126 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1126a. Gold Star Installation Access Card: issuance 
and protections 
‘‘(a) ISSUANCE TO GOLD STAR SURVIVING SPOUSE 
AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF DECEASED MEMBER RE-
QUIRED.—The Secretary concerned shall provide for the 
issuance of a standardized Gold Star Installation Access 
Card to the widow and dependent children of a deceased
298 
member of the armed forces described in section 1126(a) 
of this title to facilitate their ability to gain unescorted 
access to military installations for the purpose of attend-
ing memorial events, visiting gravesites, and obtaining the 
on-installation services and benefits to which they are enti-
tled or eligible. 
‘‘(b) ISSUANCE TO OTHER NEXT OF KIN AUTHOR-
IZED.—At the discretion of the Secretary concerned, the 
Secretary concerned may provide the Gold Star Installa-
tion Access Card to the parents and other next of kin of 
a deceased member of the armed forces described in sec-
tion 1126(a) of this title. 
‘‘(c) 
SERVICE-WIDE
ACCEPTANCE
OF
ACCESS 
CARD.—The Secretaries concerned shall work together to 
ensure that a Gold Star Installation Access Card issued 
by one armed force is accepted for access to military in-
stallations under the jurisdiction of another armed force. 
‘‘(d) PROTECTION OF INSTALLATION SECURITY.—In 
developing, issuing, and accepting the Gold Star Installa-
tion Access Card, the Secretary concerned may take such 
measures as the Secretary concerned considers nec-
essary— 
‘‘(1) to prevent fraud in the procurement or use 
of the Gold Star Installation Access Card;
299 
‘‘(2) to limit installation access to those areas 
of the installation that provide the services and ben-
efits for which the recipient of the Gold Star Instal-
lation Access Card is entitled or eligible; and 
‘‘(3) to ensure that the availability and use of 
the Gold Star Installation Access Card does not ad-
versely affect military installation security. 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The Gold Star Installation Ac-
cess Card for the widow and dependent children of a de-
ceased member of the armed forces shall remain valid for 
the life of the widow or child, regardless of subsequent 
marital status of the widow, subject to periodic renewal 
as determined by the Secretary concerned to ensure mili-
tary installation security.’’. 
(B) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections at the beginning of chapter 57 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by insert-
ing after the item relating to section 1126 the 
following new item: 
‘‘1126a. Gold Star Installation Access Card: issuance and protections.’’. 
(2) 
APPLICABILITY
OF
CURRENT
DEFINI-
TIONS.—Section 1126(d) of title 10, United States 
Code is amended by striking the matter preceding 
paragraph (1) and inserting the following: ‘‘In this 
section and section 1126a of this title:’’.
300 
(b) EXTENSION OF COMMISSARY AND EXCHANGE 
BENEFITS FOR REMARRIED SPOUSES WITH DEPENDENT 
CHILDREN.— 
(1) BENEFITS.—Section 1062 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary of De-
fense’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) CERTAIN UNREMARRIED FORMER SPOUSES.— 
The Secretary of Defense’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(b) CERTAIN REMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSES.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe such regulations 
as may be necessary to provide that a surviving spouse 
of a deceased member of the armed forces, regardless of 
the marital status of the surviving spouse, who has guard-
ianship of dependent children of the deceased member is 
entitled to use commissary stores and MWR retail facili-
ties to the same extent and on the same basis as the 
unremarried surviving spouse of a member of the uni-
formed services.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1062 
of title 10, United States Code, is further amend-
ed—
301 
(A) by striking ‘‘commissary and exchange 
privileges’’ and inserting ‘‘use commissary 
stores and MWR retail facilities’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(c) MWR RETAIL FACILITIES.—The term ‘MWR 
retail facilities’ has the meaning given that term in section 
1063(e) of this title.’’. 
(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of 
section 1062 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1062. 
Certain 
former 
spouses 
and 
surviving 
spouses’’. 
(B) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of 
sections at the beginning of chapter 54 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 1062 and inserting 
the following new item: 
‘‘1062. Certain former spouses and surviving spouses.’’. 
SEC. 622. TRANSPORTATION ON MILITARY AIRCRAFT ON A 
SPACE-AVAILABLE BASIS FOR DISABLED VET-
ERANS WITH A SERVICE-CONNECTED, PER-
MANENT DISABILITY RATED AS TOTAL. 
(a) AVAILABILITY
OF TRANSPORTATION.—Section 
2641b of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
302 
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (g); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing new subsection (f): 
‘‘(f) SPECIAL PRIORITY
FOR CERTAIN DISABLED 
VETERANS.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall provide 
transportation on scheduled and unscheduled military 
flights within the continental United States and on sched-
uled overseas flights operated by the Air Mobility Com-
mand on a space-available basis for any veteran with a 
service-connected, permanent disability rated as total on 
the same basis as such transportation is provided to mem-
bers of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. 
‘‘(2) The transportation priority required by para-
graph (1) for veterans described in such paragraph applies 
whether or not the Secretary establishes the travel pro-
gram authorized by this section. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the terms ‘veteran’ and ‘serv-
ice-connected’ have the meanings given those terms in sec-
tion 101 of title 38.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (f) of section 
2641b of title 10, United States Code, as added by sub-
section (a), shall take effect at the end of the 90-day pe-
riod beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
303 
SEC. 623. EXTENSION OF PARKING EXPENSES ALLOWANCE 
TO CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AT RECRUITING FA-
CILITIES. 
Section 481i(b)(1) of title 37, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘as a recruiter for any’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘at a recruiting facility’’. 
SEC. 624. ADVISORY BOARDS REGARDING MILITARY COM-
MISSARIES AND EXCHANGES. 
The Secretary of Defense shall direct each com-
manding officer of a military base on which there is a mili-
tary commissary or exchange to establish an advisory 
board, comprised of representatives of military or veterans 
service organizations, to advise the commanding officer re-
garding the interests of patrons and beneficiaries of mili-
tary commissaries and exchanges. 
SEC. 625. STUDY AND REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT OF A SIN-
GLE DEFENSE RESALE SYSTEM. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study to determine the feasibility of consolidating the 
military resale entities into a single defense resale system. 
Such study shall include the following: 
(1) A financial assessment of consolidation of 
the military resale entities. 
(2) A business case analysis of consolidation of 
the military resale entities.
304 
(3) Organizational, operational, and business 
model integration plans for consolidation of the mili-
tary resale entities. 
(4) Determinations of which back-office proc-
esses and systems associated with finance and pay-
ment processing technologies the Secretary could 
convert to common technologies. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2019, the 
Secretary shall submit a report to the congressional de-
fense committees regarding the study under subsection 
(a). That report shall contain the following: 
(1) Details of the internal and external organi-
zational structures of a consolidated defense resale 
system. 
(2) Recommendations of the Secretaries of each 
of the military departments regarding the plan to 
consolidate the military resale entities. 
(3) The costs and associated plan for the merg-
er of technologies or implementation of new tech-
nology from a third-party provider to standardize fi-
nancial management and accounting processes of a 
consolidated defense resale system. 
(4) Best practices to maximize reductions in 
costs associated with back-office retail payment 
processing for a consolidated defense resale system.
305 
(5) A timeline for converting the Defense Com-
missary Agency into a non-appropriated fund instru-
mentality under section 2484(j) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(6) A determination whether the business case 
analysis supports consolidation of the military resale 
entities. 
(7) Recommendations of the Secretary for legis-
lation related to consolidation of the military resale 
entities. 
(8) Other elements the Secretary determines 
are necessary for a successful evaluation of a con-
solidation of the military resale entities. 
(c) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS.—None of the 
amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made 
available in this Act may be obligated or expended for the 
purpose of implementing consolidation of the military re-
sale entities until October 1, 2019. 
(d) MILITARY RESALE ENTITIES DEFINED.—In this 
section the term ‘‘military resale entities’’ means— 
(1) the Defense Commissary Agency; 
(2) the Army and Air Force Exchange Service; 
(3) the Navy Exchange; and 
(4) the Marine Corps Exchange.
306 
SEC. 626. DESIGNATION OF NEW BENEFICIARY UNDER THE 
SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN. 
Section 1448(b)(1) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph (H): 
‘‘(H) ELECTION OF NEW BENEFICIARY BY 
TERMINALLY ILL PARTICIPANT.— 
‘‘(i) AUTHORITY
FOR
ELECTION.—A 
participant in the Plan may elect a new 
beneficiary if the Secretary concerned de-
termines that the participant is terminally 
ill. Any such beneficiary must be a natural 
person with an insurable interest in the 
participant. 
‘‘(ii) PROCEDURES.—Such an election 
shall be in writing, signed by the partici-
pant, and made in such form and manner 
as the Secretary concerned may prescribe. 
Such an election shall be effective the first 
day of the first month following the month 
in which the election is received by the 
Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 627. REPORT REGARDING MANAGEMENT OF MILITARY 
COMMISSARIES AND EXCHANGES. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
307 
of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report regarding management practices of mili-
tary commissaries and exchanges. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under this sec-
tion shall include a cost-benefit analysis with the goals 
of— 
(1) reducing the costs of operating military 
commissaries and exchanges by $2,000,000,000 dur-
ing fiscal years 2019 through 2023; and 
(2) not raising costs for patrons of military 
commissaries and exchanges. 
SEC. 628. ACCESS FOR VETERANS TO CERTAIN FITNESS 
CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 152 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 2569. FITNESS CENTERS: ACCESS FOR VETERANS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), the 
Secretary of a military department may grant veterans ac-
cess to a fitness center that— 
‘‘(1) is under the jurisdiction of such Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(2) is operated by a geographically separated 
unit that is located not less than 100 miles from the 
supporting base of such unit.
308 
‘‘(b) FACTORS
FOR
CONSIDERATION.—In deter-
mining whether to grant veterans access to a fitness center 
under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall con-
sider— 
‘‘(1) whether the commander who oversees the 
fitness center has determined— 
‘‘(A) that such fitness center has the ca-
pacity and infrastructure required to support 
veterans; and 
‘‘(B) that granting veterans such access 
would not impede the readiness of members of 
the armed forces on active duty who use the fit-
ness center; 
‘‘(2) the effect that granting veterans such ac-
cess would have on the operating and maintenance 
expenses of the fitness center; and 
‘‘(3) any additional criteria determined by the 
Secretary concerned. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘veteran’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 
38.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘2569. Fitness centers: access for veterans.’’.
309 
SEC. 629. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN MORALE, WELFARE, AND 
RECREATION PRIVILEGES TO CERTAIN VET-
ERANS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act 
of 2018’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 2017, the Secretary of Defense deter-
mined that the addition of new patron categories to 
the commissary and exchange systems would support 
the growth of a robust customer base and help en-
sure the ability of both systems to provide benefits 
to members of the Armed Forces and their families. 
(2) The Secretary previously opposed extending 
commissary and exchange privileges to large patron 
groups such as disabled veterans. 
(3) In January 2017, the Secretary of Defense 
approved limited online exchange shopping privileges 
for all veterans, effective November 11, 2017. 
(4) The Secretary determined that current pa-
trons of exchanges did not perceive the extension of 
such privileges as diluting the benefit for members 
of the Armed Forces. 
(5) The Purple Heart is the oldest military 
decoration, awarded to members of the Armed 
Forces who have been wounded or died in combat,
310 
fighting for the United States. Since the modern in-
carnation of the award was established in 1932, ap-
proximately 1,800,000 members of the Armed 
Forces have been awarded the Purple Heart. 
(c) COMMISSARY STORES
AND MWR FACILITIES 
PRIVILEGES
FOR CERTAIN VETERANS
AND VETERAN 
CAREGIVERS.— 
(1) EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGES.—Chapter 54 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: 
certain veterans and caregivers for vet-
erans 
‘‘(a) ELIGIBILITY
OF VETERANS AWARDED
THE 
PURPLE HEART.—A veteran who was awarded the Purple 
Heart shall be permitted to use commissary stores and 
MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of the 
armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS WHO ARE MEDAL 
OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.—A veteran who is a Medal of 
Honor recipient shall be permitted to use commissary 
stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member 
of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS WHO ARE FORMER 
PRISONERS OF WAR.—A veteran who is a former prisoner
311 
of war shall be permitted to use commissary stores and 
MWR facilities on the same basis as a member of the 
armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBILITY
OF VETERANS WITH SERVICE- 
CONNECTED DISABILITIES.—A veteran with a service- 
connected disability shall be permitted to use commissary 
stores and MWR facilities on the same basis as a member 
of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. 
‘‘(e) ELIGIBILITY OF CAREGIVERS FOR VETERANS.— 
A caregiver or family caregiver shall be permitted to use 
commissary stores and MWR facilities on the same basis 
as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or 
retainer pay. 
‘‘(f) USER FEE AUTHORITY.—(1) The Secretary of 
Defense shall prescribe regulations that impose a user fee 
on individuals who are eligible solely under this section 
to purchase merchandise at a commissary store or MWR 
retail facility. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall set the user fee under this 
subsection at a rate that the Secretary determines will off-
set any increase in expenses arising from this section 
borne by the Department of the Treasury on behalf of 
commissary stores associated with the use of credit or 
debit cards for customer purchases, including expenses re-
312 
lated to card network use and related transaction proc-
essing fees. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall deposit funds collected pur-
suant to a user fee under this subsection in the General 
Fund of the Treasury. 
‘‘(4) Any fee under this subsection is in addition to 
the uniform surcharge under section 2484(d) of this title. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘MWR facilities’ includes— 
‘‘(A) MWR retail facilities, as that term is 
defined in section 1063(e) of this title; and 
‘‘(B) military lodging operated by the De-
partment of Defense for the morale, welfare, 
and recreation of members of the armed forces. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘Medal of Honor recipient’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 1074h(c) of 
this title. 
‘‘(3) The terms ‘veteran’, ‘former prisoner of 
war’, and ‘service-connected’ have the meanings 
given those terms in section 101 of title 38. 
‘‘(4) The terms ‘caregiver’ and ‘family care-
giver’ have the meanings given those terms in sec-
tion in section 1720G(d) of title 38.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 54 of title 10,
313 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new item: 
‘‘1065. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: certain veterans and care-
givers for veterans.’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 1065 of title 
10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), 
shall take effect at the end of the 90-day period be-
ginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION FOR UP-
DATING EPACS FOR MILITARY COMMISSARIES.—There is 
hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds 
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $500,000 to 
the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of updating the 
electronic physical access control system used by military 
commissaries and exchanges so that the system may rec-
ognize and accept veteran health identification cards. 
(e) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING INDIVIDUALS 
AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, should maintain a list 
of all individuals awarded the Purple Heart.
314 
TITLE VII—HEALTH CARE 
PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—TRICARE and Other 
Health Care Benefits 
SEC. 701. TRICARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE DEMONSTRA-
TION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, shall carry out a dem-
onstration program under which, notwithstanding 
section 1851(c)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w–21(c)(3)), each covered individual is 
deemed, unless the individual (in accordance with a 
process specified by the Secretaries) elects otherwise, 
to have elected to receive benefits under title XVIII 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) through a par-
ticipating MA plan, with respect to the military 
health system region involved, (and shall be enrolled 
in such plan) for each plan year during which such 
demonstration program is carried out. In carrying 
out the demonstration program, the Secretary shall 
ensure that a covered individual who is enrolled in 
an MA plan in a military health system region se-
315 
lected under paragraph (3) that is not a partici-
pating MA plan may remain in such non-partici-
pating MA plan without making an election through 
such process specified in the previous sentence. 
(2) DURATION.—Subject to subsection (d), the 
demonstration program established under paragraph 
(1) shall be carried out for a period of not less than 
2 plan years. 
(b) PARTICIPATING MA PLANS.— 
(1) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘‘participating MA plan’’ means, with re-
spect to a military health system region selected 
under paragraph (3) and a plan year beginning dur-
ing the period during which the demonstration 
project is carried out, an eligible Medicare Advan-
tage plan that enters into a contract under para-
graph (2) with the Secretary of Defense to partici-
pate in the demonstration program under this sec-
tion for such plan year. 
(2) SELECTION OF PLANS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, 
after consultation with the TRICARE managed 
care support contractor in each military health 
system region selected under paragraph (3) and 
with respect to each plan year beginning the pe-
316 
riod during which such demonstration program 
is carried out, enter into a contract with one or 
more eligible Medicare Advantage plans de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) to participate in 
the demonstration program for such plan year, 
with respect to such military health system re-
gion. Under such contract, the Medicare Advan-
tage organization offering such plan, with re-
spect to such military health system region, 
shall agree to provide coverage under such plan 
to all covered individuals residing in such region 
during such plan year. 
(B) 
ELIGIBLE
MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE 
PLAN.—For purposes of this section, an eligible 
Medicare Advantage plan, with respect to a 
military health system region selected under 
paragraph (3), is an MA plan that satisfies the 
following conditions, with respect to a plan year 
beginning during the period during which the 
demonstration program is carried out: 
(i) The Medicare Advantage organiza-
tion offering the plan has in effect a con-
tract with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services under section 1857 of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–27)
317 
for offering such plan to MA eligible indi-
viduals in such military health system re-
gion with respect to such plan year. 
(ii) The plan is, or is treated as, a 
qualifying plan under section 1853(o)(3) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o)(3)), 
with respect to such plan year. 
(3) SELECTION OF MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM 
REGIONS.—The Secretary shall select two military 
health system regions in which to carry out the dem-
onstration program, one from each TRICARE man-
aged care support contractor region. Each such re-
gion shall have a large concentration of beneficiaries 
eligible for TRICARE for Life. 
(c) COSTS OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) DEPARTMENT
OF
DEFENSE.—The Sec-
retary shall bear the costs to the Department of De-
fense and realize any potential savings to the De-
partment that result from the demonstration pro-
gram. 
(2) COST NEUTRALITY.—The costs paid under 
the demonstration program by the United States to 
the participating Medicare Advantage plans, and the 
costs paid by the United States pursuant to 
TRICARE for Life, for the period of the demonstra-
318 
tion program, with respect to covered individuals en-
rolled in such plans during such period, may not ex-
ceed the estimated costs that would have been paid 
by the United States during such period for pro-
viding health care benefits to such individuals 
through the original Medicare fee-for-service pro-
gram under parts A and B of title XVIII of the So-
cial Security Act and TRICARE for Life, as ad-
justed to account for the age, location, and health 
status of the population. 
(d) CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT PRO-
GRAM.— 
(1) CERTIFICATIONS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an-
nually thereafter for each plan year occurring during 
the period during which the demonstration program 
is carried out, the Secretary shall submit to the ap-
propriate congressional committees a report and cer-
tification on the demonstration program. If the Sec-
retary does not submit the certification by such date 
each year, the Secretary may not carry out the dem-
onstration program for the plan year or any subse-
quent plan year.
319 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report and certification 
under paragraph (1), with respect to a plan year, 
shall include the following: 
(A) Except for the first report and certifi-
cation submitted under paragraph (1)— 
(i) a certification that the demonstra-
tion program maintains cost neutrality 
pursuant to subsection (c)(2); 
(ii) the number of covered individuals 
eligible to be enrolled in the demonstration 
program and the number of covered indi-
viduals who opted out of such enrollment 
in each participating MA plan in each such 
region; and 
(iii) an assessment of the number of 
covered individuals enrolled in partici-
pating Medicare Advantage plans under 
the demonstration program that have 
reached the limit on out-of-pocket expendi-
tures applied under the respective plan. 
(B) A certification that the access stand-
ards for the TRICARE program are met in the 
Medicare Advantage plans selected under sub-
section (b)(2).
320 
(C) A description of the average premium 
rates, and copayments or cost sharing, if any, 
for each participating MA plan in each military 
health system region selected under subsection 
(b)(3). 
(D) A description of the quality rating de-
termined under the 5-star rating system under 
section 1853(o)(4) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o)(4)) for such plan year 
for each participating MA plan. 
(E) Any recommendations by the Secretary 
with respect to any legislative actions to im-
prove the demonstration program. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report pro-
viding a comprehensive assessment of the demonstration 
program. 
(f) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may prescribe 
regulations to expeditiously implement the dem-
onstration program under subsection (a). 
(2) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary shall carry 
out paragraph (1)—
321 
(A) by prescribing an interim final rule; 
and 
(B) not later than 180 days after pre-
scribing such interim final rule and considering 
public comments with respect to such interim 
final rule, by prescribing a final rule. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committees on Armed Services, 
Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committees on Armed Services, 
Finance, and Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means an in-
dividual who— 
(A) is a Medicare Advantage eligible indi-
vidual (as defined in section 1851(a)(3) of the 
Social 
Security 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1395w– 
21(a)(3))); 
(B) is enrolled in TRICARE for Life; and 
(C) resides in a ZIP Code that is located— 
(i) in a military health system region 
selected under subsection (b)(3); and
322 
(ii) at least 40 miles from a military 
medical center or a military hospital de-
scribed in subsections (b) and (c) of sec-
tion 1073d of title 10, United States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘Medicare Advantage organiza-
tion’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
1859 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w– 
28). 
(4) The term ‘‘Medicare Advantage plan’’ 
means a health plan under part C of title XVIII of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et 
seq.). 
(5) The term ‘‘plan year’’ has the meaning 
given such term for purposes of such part. 
(6) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Defense. 
(7) The terms ‘‘TRICARE program’’ and 
‘‘TRICARE for Life’’ have the meanings given those 
terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States 
Code.
323 
SEC. 702. PILOT PROGRAM ON TREATMENT OF MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR POST-TRAU-
MATIC STRESS DISORDER RELATED TO MILI-
TARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may 
carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and ad-
visability of using intensive outpatient programs to treat 
members of the Armed Forces suffering from post-trau-
matic stress disorder resulting from military sexual trau-
ma, including treatment for substance abuse, depression, 
and other issues related to such conditions. 
(b) DISCHARGE
THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS.—The 
pilot program authorized by subsection (a) shall be carried 
out through partnerships with public, private, and non- 
profit health care organizations, universities, and institu-
tions that— 
(1) provide health care to members of the 
Armed Forces; 
(2) provide evidence-based treatment for psy-
chological and neurological conditions that are com-
mon among members of the Armed Forces, includ-
ing post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain 
injury, substance abuse, and depression; 
(3) provide health care, support, and other ben-
efits to family members of members of the Armed 
Forces; and
324 
(4) provide health care under the TRICARE 
program (as that term is defined in section 1072 of 
title 10, United States Code). 
(c) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.—Each organization or in-
stitution that participates in a partnership under the pilot 
program authorized by subsection (a) shall— 
(1) carry out intensive outpatient programs of 
short duration to treat members of the Armed 
Forces suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder 
resulting from military sexual trauma, including 
treatment for substance abuse, depression, and other 
issues related to such conditions; 
(2) use evidence-based and evidence-informed 
treatment strategies in carrying out such programs; 
(3) share clinical and outreach best practices 
with other organizations and institutions partici-
pating in the pilot program; and 
(4) annually assess outcomes for members of 
the Armed Forces individually and among the orga-
nizations and institutions participating in the pilot 
program with respect to the treatment of conditions 
described in paragraph (1). 
(d) EVALUATION METRICS.—Before commencement 
of the pilot program, the Secretary shall establish metrics
325 
to be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot pro-
gram and the activities under the pilot program. 
(e) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives a report on the pilot program authorized by 
subsection (a). The report shall include a description 
of the pilot program and such other matters on the 
pilot program as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the cessation of the pilot program under sub-
section (f), the Secretary shall submit to the com-
mittees of Congress referred to in paragraph (1) a 
report on the pilot program. The report shall include 
the following: 
(A) A description of the pilot program, in-
cluding the partnership under the pilot program 
as described in subsection (b). 
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
the pilot program and the activities under the 
pilot program.
326 
(C) Such recommendations for legislative 
or administrative action as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate in light of the pilot program, 
including recommendations for extension or 
making permanent the authority for the pilot 
program. 
(f) TERMINATION.—The Secretary may not carry out 
the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) after the 
date that is three years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 703. PILOT PROGRAM ON CRYOPRESERVATION AND 
STORAGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish a pilot program to provide not greater than 1,000 
members of the Armed Forces on active duty in the Armed 
Forces with the opportunity to cryopreserve and store 
their gametes prior to deployment to a combat zone. 
(b) PERIOD OF TIME.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
for the cryopreservation and storage of gametes of 
a participating member of the Armed Forces under 
subsection (a), at no cost to the member, in a facil-
ity of the Department of Defense or of a private en-
tity pursuant to a contract under subsection (d) 
until the date that is one year after the retirement,
327 
separation, or release of the member from the 
Armed Forces. 
(2) 
CONTINUED
CRYOPRESERVATION
AND 
STORAGE.—At the end of the one-year period speci-
fied in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall permit an 
individual whose gametes were cryopreserved and 
stored in a facility of the Department as described 
in that paragraph to select, including pursuant to an 
advance medical directive or military testamentary 
instrument completed under subsection (c), one of 
the following options: 
(A) To continue such cryopreservation and 
storage in such facility with the cost of such 
cryopreservation and storage borne by the indi-
vidual. 
(B) To transfer the gametes to a private 
cryopreservation and storage facility selected by 
the individual. 
(3) DISPOSAL OF GAMETES.—If an individual 
described in paragraph (2) does not make a selection 
under subparagraph (A) or (B) of such paragraph, 
the Secretary may dispose of the gametes of the in-
dividual not earlier than the date that is 90 days 
after the end of the 1-year period specified in para-
graph (1) with respect to the individual.
328 
(c) ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE AND MILITARY 
TESTAMENTARY INSTRUMENT.—A member of the Armed 
Forces who elects to cryopreserve and store their gametes 
under this section must complete an advance medical di-
rective, as defined in section 1044c(b) of title 10, United 
States Code, and a military testamentary instrument, as 
defined in section 1044d(b) of such title, that explicitly 
specifies the use of their cryopreserved and stored gametes 
if such member dies or otherwise loses the capacity to con-
sent to the use of their cryopreserved and stored gametes. 
(d) AGREEMENTS.—To carry out this section, the 
Secretary may enter into agreements with private entities 
that provide cryopreservation and storage services for 
gametes. 
SEC. 704. MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS FOR MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES DEPLOYED IN SUP-
PORT OF A CONTINGENCY OPERATION. 
Section 1074m(a)(1)(B) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Until January 1, 2019, 
once’’ and inserting ‘‘Once’’.
329 
SEC. 705. COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE 
USE DISORDERS AND CHRONIC PAIN MAN-
AGEMENT SERVICES FOR MEMBERS WHO 
SEPARATE FROM THE ARMED FORCES. 
Section 1145(a)(6)(B)(i) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subclause (I)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, substance use dis-
order,’’ after ‘‘post-traumatic stress disorder’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating subclause (II) as subclause 
(III); and 
(3) by inserting after subclause (I) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(II) chronic pain management 
services, including counseling and 
treatment 
of 
co-occurring 
mental 
health disorders and alternatives to 
opioid analgesics; and’’.
330 
Subtitle B—Health Care 
Administration 
SEC. 711. TRANSITION OF ADMINISTRATION BY DEFENSE 
HEALTH AGENCY OF MILITARY MEDICAL 
TREATMENT FACILITIES. 
Section 1073c(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Beginning 
October 1, 2018,’’ and inserting ‘‘In accordance with 
paragraph (3), by not later than September 30, 
2020,’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (3): 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall establish a 
timeline to ensure that each Secretary of a military de-
partment transitions the administration of military med-
ical treatment facilities from the respective Secretary to 
the Director of the Defense Health Agency pursuant to 
paragraph (1) by the date specified in such paragraph. 
‘‘(B) In carrying out this subsection, and in addition 
to the requirements under section 1073d(e) of this title, 
the Secretary of Defense may not close any military med-
ical treatment facility, limit the health services provided
331 
by a military medical treatment facility, or take any action 
to begin such a closure or limitation, until the date on 
which the Secretary submits to the congressional defense 
committees a report containing the following: 
‘‘(i) A certification that each Secretary of a 
military department has completed the transition of 
the administration of each military medical treat-
ment facility from the respective Secretary to the 
Director of the Defense Health Agency pursuant to 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(ii) A description of the metrics used by the 
Secretary of Defense to ensure that such transition 
is completed. 
‘‘(iii) A description of a cohesive headquarters 
structure that delineates the roles and responsibil-
ities for each military department, the Joint Staff 
Surgeon, and the Defense Health Agency. 
‘‘(iv) A description of the methodology and cri-
teria used by the Secretary to make decisions to 
close any military medical treatment facility or limit 
the health services provided by a military medical 
treatment facility, including input from the affected 
military department. 
‘‘(C) Not later than January 31, 2019, and every 6 
months thereafter through September 30, 2020, the Di-
332 
rector of the Defense Health Agency shall provide a brief-
ing to the congressional defense committees on the 
progress of the transition under this paragraph.’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 
(1)’’. 
SEC. 712. SHARING INFORMATION WITH STATE PRESCRIP-
TION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAMS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 1074g of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as 
subsections (h) and (i), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(g) SHARING INFORMATION WITH STATE PRE-
SCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAMS.—(1) The Sec-
retary shall establish and operate a prescription drug mon-
itoring program (to be known as the Military Health Sys-
tem Prescription Drug Monitoring Program) for prescrip-
tion drugs provided through facilities of the uniformed 
services. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the program es-
tablished under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) is comparable to prescription drug moni-
toring programs operated by States; and
333 
‘‘(B) covers prescription drugs provided under 
the pharmacy benefits program that are controlled 
substances. 
‘‘(3)(A) In carrying out the program established 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish appro-
priate procedures for sharing between the program and 
State prescription drug monitoring programs patient-spe-
cific information regarding prescription drugs that are 
controlled substances to prevent the misuse and diversion 
of opioid medications and other controlled substances. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of the regulations promulgated 
under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability 
and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 42 
U.S.C. 1320d–2 note), any disclosure of patient-specific 
information by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) 
shall be treated as a permitted disclosure. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary shall include in the procedures 
established under subparagraph (A) appropriate safe-
guards, as determined by the Secretary, concerning the 
cybersecurity of information systems of the Department 
of Defense systems and the operational security of per-
sonnel of the Department. 
‘‘(4) In this subsection, the term ‘controlled sub-
stance’ has the meaning given that term in section 102 
of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).’’.
334 
(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 
implementation of the program established under section 
1074g(g) of title 10, United States Code, as added by sub-
section (a). 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 
1079(q) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘section 1074g(g)’’ and inserting ‘‘sec-
tion 1074g(h)’’. 
(2) FY16 NDAA.—Section 715(e)(2) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 1074g note) 
is amended by striking ‘‘section 1074g(g)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 1074g(h)’’. 
(3) FY17 NDAA.—Section 745(b) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 1074 note) 
is amended by striking ‘‘section 1074g(g)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 1074g(h)’’.
335 
SEC. 713. IMPROVEMENT TO NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS 
OF HOSPITALIZATION OF COMBAT-WOUNDED 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
Section 1074l(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘admitted to a military treatment fa-
cility within the United States’’ and inserting ‘‘admitted 
to any military medical treatment facility’’. 
SEC. 714. IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAUMA CENTER PARTNER-
SHIPS. 
Section 708(c) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 
1071 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘large metro-
politan teaching hospitals that have level I civilian’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘with civilian academic 
medical centers and large metropolitan teaching 
hospitals’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the trauma centers of the 
medical centers and hospitals’’ and inserting 
‘‘trauma centers’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘large metro-
politan teaching hospitals’’ and inserting ‘‘trauma 
centers’’.
336 
SEC. 715. WOUNDED WARRIOR POLICY REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall review and update policies and procedures relating 
to the care and management of recovering service mem-
bers. In conducting such review, the Secretary shall con-
sider best practices— 
(1) in the care of recovering service members; 
(2) in the administrative management relating 
to such care; 
(3) to carry out applicable provisions of Federal 
law; and 
(4) recommended by the Comptroller General of 
the United States in the report titled ‘‘Army Needs 
to Improve Oversight of Warrior Transition Units’’. 
(b) SCOPE OF POLICY.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall update policies of the Department 
of Defense with respect to each of the following: 
(1) The case management coordination of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces between the military de-
partments and the military medical treatment facili-
ties administered by the Director of the Defense 
Health Agency pursuant to section 1073c of title 10, 
United States Code, including with respect to the co-
ordination of— 
(A) appointments;
337 
(B) rehabilitative services; 
(C) recuperation in an outpatient status; 
(D) contract care provided by a private 
health care provider outside of a military med-
ical treatment facility; 
(E) the disability evaluation system; and 
(F) other administrative functions relating 
to the military department. 
(2) The transition of a member of the Armed 
Forces who is retired under chapter 61 of title 10, 
United States Code, from receiving treatment fur-
nished by the Secretary of Defense to treatment fur-
nished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(3) Facility standards related to lodging and 
accommodations for recovering service members and 
the family members and non-medical attendants of 
such recovering service members. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and 
Secretaries of the military departments shall jointly sub-
mit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report on the review con-
ducted under subsection (a), including a description of the 
policies updated pursuant to subsection (b).
338 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘dis-
ability evaluation system’’, ‘‘outpatient status’’, and ‘‘re-
covering service members’’ have the meaning given those 
terms in section 1602 of the Wounded Warrior Act (title 
XVI of Public Law 110–181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note). 
SEC. 716. JOINT FORCE MEDICAL CAPABILITIES DEVELOP-
MENT AND STANDARDIZATION. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall 
develop a process to establish required joint medical capa-
bilities for members of the Armed Forces that meet the 
operational planning requirements of the combatant com-
mands. 
(b) PROCESS.—The process developed under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) the development of a joint medical estimate 
to determine the medical requirements for treating 
members of the Armed Forces who are wounded, ill, 
or injured during military operations, including with 
respect to environmental health and force health 
protection. 
(2) a process to review and revise military 
health related mission essential tasks that are
339 
aligned with health professional knowledge, skills, 
and abilities; and 
(3) a process to standardize the interoperability 
of medical equipment and capabilities to the greatest 
extent practicable to support the joint force. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 2019, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives a report describing the process developed under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 717. BURN PATIENT TRANSFER SYSTEM. 
The Secretary of Defense may develop a burn patient 
transfer system, including any required hardware and 
software, that would provide a platform for reporting im-
mediate and surge bed availability and that would elec-
tronically match patient acuity with open beds at other 
military and civilian burn centers. 
SEC. 718. REPORT ON MHS GENESIS ELECTRONIC HEALTH 
RECORD SYSTEM. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report outlining 
the corrective actions that were taken based on the results 
of the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation Report 
prior to fielding the electronic health record system known
340 
as MHS Genesis to additional military medical treatment 
facilities beyond such facilities participating in the initial 
operational testing and evaluation of MHS Genesis. 
Subtitle C—Reports and Other 
Matters 
SEC. 721. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRISERVICE DENTAL RE-
SEARCH PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 104 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 2117. Military dental research 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘military dental research’ means 
research on the furnishing of care and services by 
dentists in the armed forces. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘TriService Dental Research 
Program’ means the program of military dental re-
search authorized under this section. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of De-
fense may establish at the University a program of mili-
tary dental research. 
‘‘(c) 
TRISERVICE
RESEARCH
GROUP.—The 
TriService Dental Research Program shall be adminis-
tered by a TriService Dental Research Group composed 
of Army, Navy, and Air Force dentists who are involved
341 
in military dental research and are designated by the Sec-
retary concerned to serve as members of the group. 
‘‘(d) DUTIES OF GROUP.—The TriService Dental Re-
search Group shall— 
‘‘(1) develop for the Department of Defense 
recommended guidelines for requesting, reviewing, 
and funding proposed military dental research 
projects; and 
‘‘(2) make available to Army, Navy, and Air 
Force dentists and Department of Defense officials 
concerned with military dental research— 
‘‘(A) information about dental research 
projects that are being developed or carried out 
in the Army, Navy, and Air Force; and 
‘‘(B) expertise and information beneficial 
to the encouragement of meaningful dental re-
search. 
‘‘(e) RESEARCH TOPICS.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, military dental research includes research on the fol-
lowing issues: 
‘‘(1) Issues regarding how to improve the re-
sults of dental care and services provided in the 
armed forces in time of peace.
342 
‘‘(2) Issues regarding how to improve the re-
sults of dental care and services provided in the 
armed forces in time of war. 
‘‘(3) Issues regarding how to improve methods 
of training dental personnel.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 2116 the following new 
section: 
‘‘2117. Military dental research.’’. 
SEC. 722. INCREASING THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED DIREC-
TORS OF THE HENRY M. JACKSON FOUNDA-
TION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MILITARY 
MEDICINE. 
Section 178(c)(1)(C) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) six members appointed by the ex offi-
cio members of the Council designated in sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B).’’. 
SEC. 723. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR JOINT DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE- DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITY DEM-
ONSTRATION FUND. 
Section 1704(e) of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 
Stat. 2573), as most recently amended by section 719 of
343 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2018 (Public Law 115–91; 131 Stat. 1440), is further 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2019’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2020’’. 
SEC. 724. INCLUSION OF GAMBLING DISORDER IN HEALTH 
ASSESSMENTS AND RELATED RESEARCH EF-
FORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) ANNUAL PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall incorporate medical screening 
questions specific to gambling disorder into annual peri-
odic health assessments conducted by the Department of 
Defense for members of the Armed Forces. 
(b) RESEARCH EFFORTS.—The Secretary shall incor-
porate into ongoing research efforts of the Department 
questions on gambling disorder, as appropriate, including 
by restoring such questions into the Health Related Be-
haviors Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel. 
SEC. 725. MEDICAL SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY AND LIVE 
TISSUE TRAINING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) USE
OF
SIMULATION
TECHNOLOGY.—Ex-
cept as provided by paragraph (2), the Secretary of 
Defense shall use medical simulation technology be-
fore the use of live tissue training to train medical
344 
professionals and combat medics of the Department 
of Defense. 
(2) DETERMINATION.— The use of live tissue 
training within the Department of Defense may be 
used as determined necessary by the medical chain 
of command. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff and the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments, shall provide a briefing to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate on the use and benefit of medical simulation tech-
nology and live tissue training within the Department of 
Defense to train medical professionals, combat medics, 
and members of the Special Operations Forces. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The briefing under subsection (b) 
shall include the following: 
(1) A discussion of the benefits and needs of 
both medical simulation technology and live tissue 
training. 
(2) Ways and means to enhance and advance 
the use of simulation technologies in training. 
(3) An assessment of current medical simula-
tion technology requirements, gaps, and limitations.
345 
(4) An overview of Department of Defense med-
ical training programs, as of the date of the briefing, 
that use live tissue training and medical simulation 
technologies. 
(5) Any other matters the Secretary determines 
appropriate. 
SEC. 726. LIMITATION ON CHANGES TO FEDERAL EMER-
GENCY SERVICES CERTIFICATION LEVELS OF 
THE AIR FORCE. 
The Secretary of the Air Force may not transition 
Federal Emergency Services certification levels from 
Emergency Medical Technician level to Emergency Med-
ical Responder level until the Secretary submits to the 
congressional defense committees a report that contains 
the following: 
(1) Details on the process and factors the Air 
Force Emergency Medical Services Working Group 
used and considered to determine which military in-
stallations would be required to transition Federal 
Emergency Services certification levels from Emer-
gency Medical Technician level to Emergency Med-
ical Responder level. 
(2) The required base and community emer-
gency response standards the Air Force Emergency 
Medical Services Working Group based such transi-
346 
tion on, including information on where these stand-
ards are defined and how these standards were de-
veloped. 
(3) Information on how the Air Force will meet 
the needs of trench rescue, water rescue, high angle 
rescue, and confined space rescue pursuant to De-
partment of Defense Instructions with less Emer-
gency Medical Technician certified personnel. 
(4) Information on the required response time 
standard for advanced life support and how the Air 
Force Emergency Medical Services Working Group 
determined a military installation could meet this 
standard. 
(5) Details on any contingency plans the Air 
Force has developed when basic and advance life 
support care and ambulance transport are unavail-
able as a result of these resources being used to 
transport patients to medical facilities located off the 
military installation. 
SEC. 727. STRATEGIC MEDICAL RESEARCH PLAN. 
(a) PLAN.—Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the budget of the President for fiscal year 2020 is 
submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 
31, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense, in con-
sultation with the Secretaries of the military departments,
347 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 
comprehensive strategic medical research plan. 
(b) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The plan under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of all medical research focus 
areas of the Department of Defense and a descrip-
tion of the coordination process to ensure the focus 
areas are linked to military readiness, joint force re-
quirements, and relevance to individuals eligible for 
care at military medical treatment facilities or 
through the TRICARE program. 
(2) A description of the medical research 
projects funded under the Defense Health Program 
account and the projects under the Congressional 
Directed Medical Research Programs. 
(3) A description of the process to ensure syn-
ergy across the military medical research community 
to address gaps in military medical research, mini-
mize duplication of research, and to promote collabo-
ration within research focus areas. 
(4) A description of the efforts of the Secretary 
to coordinate with other departments and agencies 
of the Federal Government to increase awareness of 
complementary medical research efforts that are 
being carried out through the Federal Government.
348 
SEC. 728. INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF MENTAL HEALTH 
CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded 
research and development center to evaluate the manage-
ment of mental health care by the Defense Health Agency 
pursuant to section 1073c(a) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(b) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall select a feder-
ally funded research and development center under sub-
section (a) that has expertise and a record of independent, 
peer-reviewed publications with respect to— 
(1) behavioral health research; and 
(2) independent evaluations of mental health 
programs within the Department of Defense using 
multidisciplinary methods. 
(c) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The evaluation under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the management of men-
tal health care by the Defense Health Agency, in-
cluding— 
(A) how mental health care providers will 
be arranged within the command structure of 
the Agency; and 
(B) how mental health care policy and 
processes will be managed within the Agency.
349 
(2) An assessment of the ability of each Sur-
geon General of the military departments to main-
tain the readiness of the military health workforce to 
deliver mental health care services operationally in 
support of deployed forces. 
(3) An assessment of the coordination of behav-
ioral health research efforts across the research con-
tinuum. 
(4) An assessment of the inclusion of evidence- 
based suicide prevention programs. 
(5) A description of new processes to accelerate 
scientific research and delivery of breakthrough 
therapies for traumatic brain injury, chronic trau-
matic encephalopathy, and post-traumatic stress dis-
order. 
(6) Plans to field medical devices approved by 
the Food and Drug Administration that provide cli-
nicians with rapid, accurate assessments of trau-
matic brain injury. 
(d) SUBMISSION.—Not later than April 1, 2019, the 
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the evaluation under subsection (a).
350 
SEC. 729. STUDY ON REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR MENTAL 
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS UNDER TRICARE 
PRIME AND TRICARE SELECT IN THE EAST 
AND WEST REGIONS OF THE TRICARE PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study assessing the impact of using established rates to 
reimburse covered mental health care providers on the 
availability of such providers. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) An evaluation of— 
(A) whether there are enough covered men-
tal health care providers to adequately serve the 
beneciaries under TRICARE Prime and the 
beneficiaries under TRICARE Select of each lo-
cality in the East and West regions of the 
TRICARE program, including in rural commu-
nities in such regions; and 
(B) whether the requirements under sec-
tions 1079(h)(1) and 1097b of title 10, United 
States Code, to use established rates to reim-
burse covered mental health care providers lim-
its the number of covered health care providers 
serving each locality in the East and West re-
351 
gions of the TRICARE program, including in 
rural communities in such regions. 
(2) An assessment of the impact of using estab-
lished rates to reimburse covered mental health care 
providers on— 
(A) the ability of beneficaries under 
TRICARE Prime and beneficiaries under 
TRICARE Select beneficiaries to access appro-
priate and timely mental health care in accord-
ance with section 199.17 of title 32, Code of 
Federal Regulations; and 
(B) the availability of services provided by 
mental health care providers that are needed by 
members of the Armed Forces to be medically 
ready. 
(3) Information about instances in which the 
Secretary provided or applied exceptions to estab-
lished rates pursuant to sections 1079(h)(2) of title 
10, United States Code, to increase the number of 
covered mental health care providers. 
(4) A description of how the Secretary solicits 
and collects feedback from covered mental health 
care providers on established rates. 
(5) A list of actions the Secretary has taken to 
address such feedback.
352 
(6) Any legislative, regulatory, or policy rec-
ommendations that are necessary to improve the 
overall medical readiness of Armed Forces. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on the Armed Services of 
the Senate a report on the results of the study required 
under subsection (a). 
(d) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
on which the report required under subsection (c) is sub-
mitted to the Committee on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services 
of the Senate, the Secretary shall provide a briefing to 
such committees on the results of the study required under 
subsection (a). 
(e) COMPTROLLER
GENERAL
REVIEW
AND
RE-
PORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which 
the report under subsection (c) is submitted to the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall— 
(1) review the report required under subsection 
(c); and
353 
(2) submit to the Committee on Armed Services 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Armed Services of the Senate an assessment of— 
(A) whether the results of the study re-
quired under subsection (a) are supported by 
the data and information examined in the study 
required under subsection (a); and 
(B) the feasibility of any recommendations 
identified by the Secretary under subsection 
(b)(6). 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘established rate’’ means the pay-
ment amount determined by the Secretary pursuant 
to sections 1079(h)(1) and 1097b of title 10, United 
States Code, and section 199.14 of title 32, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered mental health care pro-
vider’’ means a mental health care provider under 
TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select in the East 
and West regions of the TRICARE program. 
(3) The term ‘‘mental health care provider’’ 
means a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, certified 
psychiatric nurse specialist, certified clinical social 
worker, certified marriage and family therapist, 
TRICARE certified mental health counselor, pas-
354 
toral counselor under the supervision of a physician, 
and supervised mental health counselor under the 
supervision of a physician. 
(4) The term locality means a geographic loca-
tion— 
(A) designated as a Prime Service Area 
under section 199.17(b)(1) of title 32, Code of 
Federal Regulations; and 
(B) in which the Secretary entered into a 
contract under chapter 55 of title 10, United 
States Code, with a contractor under the 
TRICARE program to provide health care serv-
ices to beneficiaries by TRICARE-authorized ci-
vilian health care providers. 
(5) 
The 
terms 
‘‘TRICARE 
Prime’’ 
and 
‘‘TRICARE Select’’ have the meanings given those 
terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 730. STUDY ON THE TREATMENT OF TRICARE BENE-
FICIARIES WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF PUERTO 
RICO. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense, and with re-
spect to members of the Coast Guard, in coordination with 
the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating when it is not operating as a service in the
355 
Navy, shall conduct a study on the feasibility and effect 
of extending the eligibility to enroll in, and the coverage 
of, TRICARE Prime to members of the Armed Forces and 
covered beneficiaries who reside in Puerto Rico to the 
same degree that a covered beneficiary who resides in any 
of the several States may enroll in TRICARE Prime. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall address the following: 
(1) The requirements, as of the date of the 
study, for a covered beneficiary to be eligible to en-
roll in the TRICARE program in Puerto Rico. 
(2) The number of— 
(A) covered beneficiaries who are enrolled 
in the TRICARE program who reside in Puerto 
Rico; and 
(B) such covered beneficiaries who would 
potentially enroll in TRICARE Prime if the 
Secretary extends TRICARE Prime as de-
scribed in subsection (a). 
(3) The demographic distribution of covered 
beneficiaries who reside in Puerto Rico. 
(4) The access of such covered beneficiaries to 
health care networks, including trauma care centers, 
as of the date of the study. 
(5) The quality of such health care networks.
356 
(6) The costs and timeline requirements for ex-
tending TRICARE Prime as described in subsection 
(a). 
(7) The feasibility of using medical resources of 
the Department of Defense to cover gaps in service 
availability in Puerto Rico if such extension does not 
occur. 
(c) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the congressional defense committees a report on 
the study under subsection (a). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘cov-
ered beneficiary’’, ‘‘TRICARE Prime’’, and ‘‘TRICARE 
program’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 
1072 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 731. STUDY ON HEALTH EFFECTS RELATING TO AC-
TIVITY OF THE ARMED FORCES ON VIEQUES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report containing a study of the health effects of 
the live-fire training at Vieques Naval Training Range 
conducted by the Navy before 2002 and other activities 
of the Armed Forces on the island of Vieques, Puerto
357 
Rico. The study shall include a comprehensive analysis of 
the following: 
(1) The immediate health effects of such train-
ing and activity on the residents of Vieques. 
(2) The long-term health effects of such train-
ing and activity on the residents of Vieques. 
(3) The potential ongoing health effects caused 
by any contamination relating to such training and 
activity. 
SEC. 732. STRATEGY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN MENTAL 
HEALTH PROVIDERS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report that— 
(1) describes the shortage of mental health pro-
viders of the Department of Defense; 
(2) explains the reasons for such shortage; 
(3) explains the effect of such shortage on 
members of the Armed Forces; and 
(4) contains a strategy to better recruit and re-
tain mental health providers, including with respect 
to psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurse 
practitioners, licensed social workers, and other li-
censed providers of the military health system.
358 
SEC. 733. STUDY ON EARNING BY SPECIAL OPERATIONS 
FORCES MEDICS OF CREDITS TOWARDS A 
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT DEGREE. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study to assess the feasibility and advisability of estab-
lishing partnerships between special operations forces and 
institutions of higher education, and health care systems 
if determined appropriate by the Secretary, through which 
special operations forces medics earn credit toward the 
master’s degree of physician assistant for military oper-
ational work and training performed by the medics. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) The feasibility with respect to establishing 
partnerships described in subsection (a) that permit 
medics to conduct clinical training at medical facili-
ties of the Department of Defense and the civilian 
sector in order to meet the increasing demand for 
highly trained health care providers at such facili-
ties. 
(2) How partnerships described in subsection 
(a) will ensure that the evaluation of work and train-
ing performed by medics for which credits are 
earned comply with civilian clinical evaluation stand-
ards applicable to the awarding of master’s degrees 
of physician assistant.
359 
(3) How the Secretary can leverage the physi-
cian assistant program at the Uniformed Services 
University to coordinate such partnerships and as-
sist with credits. 
(c) REPORT.—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 Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representative a report on the 
study under subsection (a). 
SEC. 734. STUDY OF DRUG SHORTAGES AND IMPACT ON 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.—The Congress finds 
the following: 
(1) Shortages of critical medical drugs used for 
surgery and emergency care have increased signifi-
cantly during 2017 and 2018. 
(2) Reports from physicians have identified crit-
ical drugs such as dilaudid, bupivacaine, morphine, 
and epinephrine as important commonly needed 
drugs in shortage. 
(3) Health care providers for the Armed Forces 
use the same drugs as civilian health care providers 
and are experiencing similar shortages in surgical 
facilities.
360 
(4) Such shortages could compromise the qual-
ity of care available to members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(b) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study of shortages of drugs used in the surgical and 
emergency settings of military facilities— 
(1) to determine if the quality or safety of mili-
tary health care has been compromised by such 
shortages; 
(2) to identify and examine supply chain issues 
related to the availability of drugs used for surgery 
and emergency care; and 
(3) to identify and examine the impact of short-
ages on care for military patients. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with the Com-
missioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of the 
Drug Enforcement Administration, and such other stake-
holders as the Secretary considers relevant to the study, 
including physician organizations and drug manufactur-
ers. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than the expiration of the 
12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Con-
gress describing the study under this section and setting
593 
governments that do not have access to classified in-
formation. 
(3) DEADLINE.—The reports required by para-
graph (1) and paragraph (2) of this subsection shall 
be submitted to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees (as defined in subsection (b)(4) of this sec-
tion) not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 881. PROMOTION OF THE USE OF GOVERNMENT-WIDE 
AND OTHER INTERAGENCY CONTRACTS. 
Section 865(b)(1) of the Duncan Hunter National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public 
Law 110-417; 31 U.S.C. 1535 note) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘that all interagency acquisi-
tions—’’ and inserting ‘‘that—’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘all interagency assisted 
acquisitions’’ before ‘‘include’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(3) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(4) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (B), and in that subparagraph by insert-
ing ‘‘all interagency assisted acquisitions’’ before 
‘‘include’’.