Don Young Arctic Warrior Act
Bill: S.4375 | Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Don Young Arctic Warrior Act
This bill requires the military departments and the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide certain benefits to specified members of the Armed Forces who are assigned to a duty station in Alaska or those assigned to perform cold weather operations. Additionally, DOD must establish various programs and incentives for certain behavioral health students or professionals.

To amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to establish special pay 
and allowances for members of the Armed Forces assigned to cold weather 
                  operations, 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 ``Don Young Arctic Warrior Act''.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL PAY AND ALLOWANCES FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES ASSIGNED TO COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS.

    (a) Special Pay.--
            (1) Establishment.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 37, 
        United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 336 
        the following new section:
``Sec. 337. Special pay: members of the Armed Forces assigned to cold 
              weather operations
    ``(a) Special Pay Authorized.--The Secretary concerned shall pay 
monthly special pay (to be known as `arctic pay') to a member of the 
Armed Forces--
            ``(1) assigned to perform cold weather operations; or
            ``(2) required to maintain proficiency through frequent 
        operations in cold weather.
    ``(b) Amount of Pay.--Special pay under this section shall equal 
$300 per month.
    ``(c) Relationship to Other Pay or Allowances.--Special pay under 
this section is in addition to any other pay or allowance to which a 
member is entitled.
    ``(d) Sunset.--No special pay may be paid under this section after 
December 31, 2023.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 336 the following:

``337. Special pay: members of the armed forces assigned to cold 
                            weather operations.''.
            (3) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe 
        regulations for the payment of arctic pay under section 337 of 
        such title, as added by paragraph (1).
    (b) Allowance for Broadband.--
            (1) Establishment.--Chapter 7 of title 37, United States 
        Code, is amended by inserting after section 425 the following 
        new section:
``Sec. 426. Allowance for broadband for certain members of the Armed 
              Forces assigned to permanent duty stations in Alaska
    ``(a) Allowance Authorized.--The Secretary concerned shall pay, to 
a member of the Armed Forces in the grade of E-5 or below who is 
assigned to a permanent duty station in Alaska, a monthly allowance for 
broadband.
    ``(b) Amount.--The monthly allowance to a member under this section 
shall be--
            ``(1) $125 during calendar year 2023; and
            ``(2) in subsequent calendar years, an amount determined by 
        the Secretary of Defense based on the difference between the 
        average costs of unlimited broadband plans in Alaska and in the 
        continental United States.
    ``(c) Sunset.--No allowance may be paid under this section after 
December 31, 2028.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 425 the following:

``426. Allowance for broadband for certain members of the Armed Forces 
                            assigned to permanent duty stations in 
                            Alaska.''.
            (3) Effective date.--Section 426 of such title, as added by 
        paragraph (1), shall take effect on the day the Secretary of 
        Defense prescribes regulations under paragraph (4).
            (4) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
        prescribe regulations to carry out section 426 of such title, 
        as added by paragraph (1).
            (5) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2027, the 
        Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
        Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
        report containing--
                    (A) the evaluation of the Secretary of the 
                allowance under section 426 of such title, as added by 
                paragraph (1); and
                    (B) any recommendation of the Secretary regarding 
                whether such allowance should be amended, extended, or 
                made permanent.
    (c) Travel and Transportation Allowance.--
            (1) Entitlement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
        prescribe regulations and guidance that entitle a member of the 
        Armed Forces in the grade of E-5 or below who is assigned to a 
        permanent duty station in Alaska to a one-time allowance for 
        air travel for the member and dependents of such member.
            (2) Amounts.--
                    (A) Travel to permanent residence.--If the air 
                travel for which an allowance under paragraph (1) is 
                paid to a member is to the permanent residence of the 
                member, the amount of the allowance shall equal the 
                total costs of such air travel.
                    (B) Travel to other destinations.--If the air 
                travel for which an allowance under paragraph (1) is 
                paid to a member is to a destination in the United 
                States other than the permanent residence of the 
                member, the amount of the allowance shall be equal to 
                the lesser of the following:
                            (i) The rate for such air travel under the 
                        City Pair Program of the General Services 
                        Administration (or successor program) in effect 
                        at the time of such air travel.
                            (ii) The actual costs of such air travel.
            (3) Timing.--Air travel for which an allowance under 
        paragraph (1) is paid to a member may not commence later than 
        30 months after the member is assigned to a permanent duty 
        station in Alaska.
            (4) Additional authorization.--The Secretary concerned (as 
        defined in section 101 of title 37, United States Code) may 
        authorize an additional allowance for a member who has used the 
        allowance to which such member is entitled under paragraph (1).

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON CAR SHARING ON REMOTE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to carry out 
a pilot program to allow car sharing at military installations in 
Alaska.
    (b) Program Elements.--To carry out a pilot program under this 
section, the Secretary shall take steps including the following:
            (1) Seek to enter into an agreement with an entity that--
                    (A) provides car sharing services; and
                    (B) is capable of serving all military 
                installations in Alaska.
            (2) Provide to members assigned to such installations the 
        resources the Secretary determines necessary to participate in 
        such pilot program.
            (3) Promote such pilot program to such members.
    (c) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date the 
Secretary enters into an agreement under subsection (b)(1), the 
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan 
to carry out the pilot program.
    (d) Duration.--A pilot program under this section shall terminate 
two years after the Secretary commences such pilot program.
    (e) Report.--Upon the termination of a pilot program under this 
section, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report containing the following information:
            (1) The number of individuals who used car sharing services 
        offered pursuant to the pilot program.
            (2) The cost to the United States of the pilot program.
            (3) An analysis of the effect of the pilot program on 
        mental health and community connectedness of members described 
        in subsection (b)(2).
            (4) Other information the Secretary determines appropriate.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Congressional defense committees.--The term 
        ``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
            (2) Military installation.--The term ``military 
        installation'' has the meaning given that term in section 2801 
        of title 10, United States Code.

SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION REGARDING LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVISION OF 
              NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES BY CERTAIN HEALTH-CARE 
              PROFESSIONALS.

    Section 1094 of title 10, United States Code is amended--
            (1) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ``, including by 
        providing non-medical counseling services in connection with 
        such practice,'' after ``the health profession or professions 
        of the health-care professional''; and
            (2) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(3) The term `non-medical counseling'--
                    ``(A) means short-term, non-therapeutic counseling 
                that is not an appropriate substitute for individuals 
                in need of clinical therapy; and
                    ``(B) includes counseling that is supportive in 
                nature and addresses issues such as general conditions 
                of living, life skills, improving relationships at home 
                and at work, stress management, adjustment issues (such 
                as those related to returning from a deployment), 
                marital problems, parenting, and grief and loss.''.

SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE UNDER 
              MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM.

    (a) Expansion of Certain Behavioral Health Programs at the 
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.--
            (1) Establishment of graduate programs.--The Secretary of 
        Defense shall establish graduate degree-granting programs in 
        counseling and social work at the Uniformed Services University 
        of the Health Sciences.
            (2) Expansion of clinical psychology graduate program.--The 
        Secretary of Defense shall take such steps as may be necessary 
        to expand the clinical psychology graduate program of the 
        Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
            (3) Post-award employment obligation.--
                    (A) Agreement with secretary.--Subject to 
                subparagraph (B), as a condition of enrolling in a 
                degree-granting program in clinical psychology, social 
                work, or counseling at the Uniformed Services 
                University of the Health Sciences, a civilian student 
                shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of 
                Defense pursuant to which the student agrees that, if 
                the student does not become a member of a uniformed 
                service upon graduating such program, the student shall 
                work on a full-time basis as a covered civilian 
                behavioral health provider for a period that is at 
                least equivalent to the period during which the student 
                was enrolled in such program.
                    (B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement 
                entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include 
                such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of 
                Defense may determine necessary to protect the 
                interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate 
                for purposes of this section, including terms and 
                conditions providing for limited exceptions from the 
                employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
                    (C) Repayment.--
                            (i) In general.--A civilian graduate who 
                        does not complete the employment obligation 
                        required under the agreement entered into 
                        pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall repay to the 
                        Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the 
                        cost of attendance in the program described in 
                        such subparagraph that are paid by the 
                        Secretary on behalf of the civilian graduate.
                            (ii) Determination of amount.--The amount 
                        of any repayment required under clause (i) 
                        shall be determined by the Secretary.
                    (D) Applicability.--This paragraph shall apply to 
                civilian students who enroll in the first year of a 
                degree-granting program in clinical psychology, social 
                work, or counseling at the Uniformed Services 
                University of the Health Sciences on or after the date 
                of the enactment of this Act.
            (4) Implementation plan.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                submit to the congressional defense committees a plan 
                for the implementation of this subsection.
                    (B) Elements.--The plan required by subparagraph 
                (A) shall include--
                            (i) a determination as to the resources for 
                        personnel and facilities required for the 
                        implementation of this subsection;
                            (ii) estimated timelines for such 
                        implementation; and
                            (iii) a projection of the number of 
                        graduates from the programs specified in 
                        paragraph (1) upon the completion of such 
                        implementation.
    (b) Scholarship-for-Service Program for Civilian Behavioral Health 
Providers.--
            (1) In general.--Beginning not later than two years after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
        shall carry out a program under which--
                    (A) the Secretary may provide--
                            (i) direct grants to cover tuition, fees, 
                        living expenses, and any other cost of 
                        attendance at an institution of higher 
                        education to an individual enrolled in a 
                        program of study leading to a graduate degree 
                        in clinical psychology, social work, 
                        counseling, or a related field (as determined 
                        by the Secretary); and
                            (ii) student loan repayment assistance to a 
                        credentialed behavioral health provider who has 
                        a graduate degree in clinical psychology, 
                        social work, counseling, or a related field (as 
                        determined by the Secretary); and
                    (B) in exchange for such assistance, the recipient 
                shall commit to work as a covered civilian behavioral 
                health provider in accordance with paragraph (2).
            (2) Post-award employment obligations.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), as a 
                condition of receiving assistance under paragraph (1), 
                the recipient of such assistance shall enter into an 
                agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to 
                which the recipient agrees to work on a full-time basis 
                as a covered civilian behavioral health provider for a 
                period that is at least equivalent to the period during 
                which the recipient received assistance under such 
                paragraph.
                    (B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement 
                entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include 
                such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of 
                Defense may determine necessary to protect the 
                interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate 
                for purposes of this section, including terms and 
                conditions providing for limited exceptions from the 
                post-award employment obligation specified in such 
                subparagraph.
            (3) Repayment.--
                    (A) In general.--An individual who receives 
                assistance under paragraph (1) and does not complete 
                the employment obligation required under the agreement 
                entered into pursuant to paragraph (2) shall repay to 
                the Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the 
                financial assistance received by the individual under 
                paragraph (1).
                    (B) Determination of amount.--The amount of any 
                repayment required under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                determined by the Secretary.
            (4) Implementation plan.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
        shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for 
        the implementation of this subsection.
    (c) Internship Programs for Civilian Behavioral Health.--
            (1) Establishment of programs.--The Secretary of Defense 
        shall establish paid pre-doctoral and post-doctoral internship 
        programs for the purpose of training clinical psychologists to 
        work as covered civilian behavioral health providers.
            (2) Employment obligation.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), as a 
                condition of participating in an internship program 
                under paragraph (1), an individual shall enter into an 
                agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to 
                which the individual agrees to work on a full-time 
                basis as a covered civilian behavioral health provider 
                for a period that is at least equivalent to the period 
                of participation by the individual in such internship 
                program.
                    (B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement 
                entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include 
                such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of 
                Defense may determine necessary to protect the 
                interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate 
                for purposes of this section, including terms and 
                conditions providing for limited exceptions from the 
                employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
            (3) Repayment.--
                    (A) In general.--An individual who participates in 
                an internship program under paragraph (1) and does not 
                complete the employment obligation required under the 
                agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (2) shall 
                repay to the Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of 
                the cost of administering such program with respect to 
                such individual and of any payment received by the 
                individual under such program.
                    (B) Determination of amount.--The amount of any 
                repayment required under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                determined by the Secretary.
            (4) Implementation plan.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
        shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for 
        the implementation of this subsection.
    (d) Retention Bonuses for Certain Behavioral Health Providers.--
            (1) Retention bonus.--From amounts available in the 
        Department of Defense Civilian Workforce Incentive Fund 
        established under section 9902(a)(3) of title 5, United States 
        Code, the Secretary of Defense may pay an incentive payment of 
        not more than $50,000 annually per employee to employees 
        described in paragraph (2) for the purposes of retaining such 
        employees.
            (2) Eligible recipients of bonus.--Employees described in 
        this paragraph are covered civilian behavioral health providers 
        in the following professions:
                    (A) Clinical psychologists.
                    (B) Social workers.
                    (C) Counselors.
    (e) Report on Behavioral Health Workforce.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
        conduct an analysis of the behavioral health workforce under 
        the direct care component of the TRICARE program and submit to 
        the congressional defense committees a report containing the 
        results of such analysis.
            (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include, with respect to the workforce specified in such 
        paragraph, the following:
                    (A) The number of positions authorized for military 
                behavioral health providers within such workforce, and 
                the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by 
                the professions described in paragraph (3).
                    (B) The number of positions authorized for civilian 
                behavioral health providers within such workforce, and 
                the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by 
                the professions described in paragraph (3).
                    (C) For each military department, the ratio of 
                military behavioral health providers assigned to 
                military medical treatment facilities compared to 
                civilian behavioral health providers so assigned, 
                disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph 
                (3).
                    (D) For each military department, the number of 
                military behavioral health providers authorized to be 
                embedded within an operational unit, and the number of 
                such positions filled, disaggregated by the professions 
                described in paragraph (3).
                    (E) Data on the historical demand for behavioral 
                health services by members of the Armed Forces.
                    (F) An estimate of the number of health care 
                providers necessary to meet the demand by such members 
                for behavioral health services under the direct care 
                component of the TRICARE program, disaggregated by 
                provider type.
                    (G) An identification of any shortfall between the 
                estimated number under subparagraph (F) and the total 
                number of positions for behavioral health providers 
                filled within such workforce.
                    (H) Such other information as the Secretary may 
                determine appropriate.
            (3) Provider types.--The professions described in this 
        paragraph are as follows:
                    (A) Clinical psychologists.
                    (B) Social workers.
                    (C) Counselors.
                    (D) Such other professions as the Secretary may 
                determine appropriate.
    (f) Plan To Address Shortfalls in Behavioral Health Workforce.--
            (1) In general.--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 plan to 
        address any shortfall of the behavioral health workforce 
        identified under subsection (e)(2)(G).
            (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) address, with respect to any shortfall of 
                military behavioral health providers (addressed 
                separately with respect to such providers assigned to 
                military medical treatment facilities and such 
                providers assigned to be embedded within operational 
                units)--
                            (i) recruitment;
                            (ii) accession;
                            (iii) retention;
                            (iv) special pay and other aspects of 
                        compensation;
                            (v) workload;
                            (vi) the role of the Uniformed Services 
                        University of the Health Sciences and the Armed 
                        Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program 
                        under chapter 105 of title 10, United States 
                        Code;
                            (vii) any additional authorities or 
                        resources necessary for the Secretary to 
                        increase the number of such providers; and
                            (viii) such other considerations as the 
                        Secretary may consider appropriate;
                    (B) address, with respect to any shortfall of 
                civilian behavioral health providers--
                            (i) recruitment;
                            (ii) hiring;
                            (iii) retention;
                            (iv) pay and benefits;
                            (v) workload;
                            (vi) educational scholarship programs;
                            (vii) any additional authorities or 
                        resources necessary for the Secretary to 
                        increase the number of such providers; and
                            (viii) such other considerations as the 
                        Secretary may consider appropriate;
                    (C) recommend whether the number of military 
                behavioral health providers in each military department 
                should be increased, and if so, by how many;
                    (D) include a plan to expand access to behavioral 
                health services under the military health system 
                through the use of telehealth;
                    (E) include a plan by each military department to 
                allocate additional uniformed mental health providers 
                in military medical treatment facilities at remote 
                installations; and
                    (F) assess the feasibility of hiring civilian 
                mental health providers at remote installations to 
                augment the provision of mental health care services by 
                uniformed mental health providers.
    (g) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Armed forces; congressional defense committees.--The 
        terms ``Armed Forces'' and ``congressional defense committees'' 
        have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 10, 
        United States Code.
            (2) Behavioral health.--The term ``behavioral health'' 
        includes psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work, 
        counseling, and related fields.
            (3) Civilian behavioral health provider.--The term 
        ``civilian behavioral health provider'' means a behavioral 
        health provider who is a civilian employee of the Department of 
        Defense.
            (4) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of attendance'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 472 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
            (5) Covered civilian behavioral health provider.--The term 
        ``covered civilian behavioral health provider'' means a 
        civilian behavioral health provider whose employment by the 
        Secretary of Defense involves the provision of behavioral 
        health services at a military medical treatment facility.
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (7) Military behavioral health provider.--The term 
        ``military behavioral health provider'' means a behavioral 
        health provider who is a member of the Armed Forces.
            (8) TRICARE program.--The term ``TRICARE program'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 10, United 
        States Code.
            (9) Uniformed services university of the health sciences.--
        The term ``Uniformed Services University of the Health 
        Sciences'' means the university established under section 2112 
        of title 10, United States Code.

SEC. 6. PILOT PROGRAM ON SAFE STORAGE OF PERSONALLY OWNED FIREARMS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish a 
pilot program to promote the safe storage of personally owned firearms.
    (b) Voluntary Participation.--Participation by members of the Armed 
Forces in the pilot program under subsection (a) shall be on a 
voluntary basis.
    (c) Elements.--Under the pilot program under subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Defense shall furnish to members of the Armed Forces who 
are participating in the pilot program at military installations 
selected under subsection (e) locking devices and firearm safes for the 
purpose of securing personally owned firearms when not in use 
(including by directly providing, subsidizing, or otherwise making 
available such devices or safes).
    (d) Plan.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a plan for the implementation of the pilot program 
under subsection (a).
    (e) Selection of Installations.--Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
select not fewer than five military installations at which to carry out 
the pilot program under subsection (a).
    (f) Duration.--The duration of the pilot program under subsection 
(a) shall be for a period of six years.
    (g) Report.--Upon the termination of the pilot program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report containing the following 
information:
            (1) The number and type of locking devices and firearm 
        safes furnished to members of the Armed Forces under the pilot 
        program.
            (2) The cost of carrying out the pilot program.
            (3) An analysis of the effect of the pilot program on 
        suicide prevention.
            (4) Such other information as the Secretary may determine 
        appropriate, which shall exclude any personally identifiable 
        information about participants in the pilot program.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``Armed Forces'' and 
``congressional defense committees'' have the meanings given those 
terms in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
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