Representation for Exceptional Military Families Act
Bill: H.R.4021 | Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Joe (R-SC)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Representation for Exceptional Military Families Act
This bill establishes the Exceptional Family Member Program Advisory Council in the Department of Defense to provide recommendations on how to improve the Exceptional Family Member Program. The program provides assistance, services, and support to military family members who have special needs.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Exceptional 
 Family Member Program Advisory Council of the Department of Defense, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Representation for Exceptional 
Military Families Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM ADVISORY 
              COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--Chapter 7 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting before section 187 the following new section 186:
``Sec. 186. Exceptional Family Member Program Advisory Council
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is an Exceptional Family Member Program 
Advisory Council in the Department of Defense (in this section referred 
to as the `Council').
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Council is to provide, to the 
Subcommittees on Military Personnel of the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Secretary of Defense, 
and the chiefs of the covered armed forces, recommendations regarding 
how to improve the Exceptional Family Member Program. The Council shall 
provide such recommendations not less than once every six months.
    ``(c) Composition.--The Council shall be composed of the following:
            ``(1) One member of each covered armed force--
                    ``(A) serving on active duty;
                    ``(B) who has a dependent--
                            ``(i) enrolled in the Exceptional Family 
                        Member Program; and
                            ``(ii) with an individualized education 
                        program; and
                    ``(C) appointed by the Vice Chief of Staff of the 
                covered armed force concerned.
            ``(2) Two military spouses--
                    ``(A) of members eligible to be appointed under 
                paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) who are not civilian employees of the 
                Department of Defense;
                    ``(C) one of whom is married to an enlisted member 
                and one of whom is married to an officer; and
                    ``(D) appointed by the Vice Chief of Staff of the 
                covered armed force concerned.
            ``(3) One adult dependent--
                    ``(A) enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member 
                Program; and
                    ``(B) appointed by the Vice Chief of Staff of the 
                covered armed force concerned.
            ``(4) One representative of the Exceptional Family Member 
        Program Coalition.
            ``(5) One member of the Defense Health Agency.
            ``(6) One member of the Department of Defense Education 
        Activity.
            ``(7) One member of the Office of Special Needs.
    ``(d) Appointments.--In making appointments under subsection (c), 
the Vice Chief of Staff of the covered armed force concerned shall seek 
to represent the diversity of the disability community.
    ``(e) Terms.--Each member of the Council shall serve a term of two 
years, except one of the original members appointed under subsection 
(c)(2), selected by the Secretary of Defense at the time of 
appointment, shall be appointed for a term of three years.
    ``(f) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at least once every 
calendar quarter, in person or by teleconference.
    ``(g) Covered Armed Force Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered armed force' means an armed force under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary of a military department.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting before the 
        item relating to section 187 the following new item:

``186. Exceptional Family Member Program Advisory Council.''.
            (2) Termination of advisory panel on community support for 
        military families with special needs.--Section 563 of the 
        National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public 
        Law 111-84; 10 U.S.C. 1781c note) is amended by striking 
        subsection (d).
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