Strengthening Relations in Military Communities Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.6211 | Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Anthony G. (D-MD)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Strengthening Relations in Military Communities Act of 2021
This bill requires the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity within the Department of Defense (DOD) to survey members of the Armed Forces and their family members who live in covered communities regarding relations between such individuals and their communities. Under the bill, covered community means a military installation and the area within 10 miles of the installation. DOD must report on the survey results every other year.
The bill requires DOD to designate 10 geographically diverse military installations for review in each survey and make the results of the survey reports publicly available on a DOD website.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
 Defense to conduct annual surveys on military community belonging and 
        support in military communities, 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 ``Strengthening Relations in Military 
Communities Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES AND MILITARY COMMUNITIES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 23 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 481a the following new section:
``Sec. 481b. Program to improve relations between members of the Armed 
              Forces and military communities
    ``(a) Survey.--(1) The Secretary of Defense, acting through the 
Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, shall conduct a 
biennial survey of covered individuals regarding relations between 
covered individuals and covered communities.
    ``(2) The survey shall be conducted to solicit information from 
covered individuals regarding the following:
            ``(A) Rank, age, racial, ethnic, and gender demographics of 
        the covered individuals.
            ``(B) Relationships of covered individuals with the covered 
        community, including support services and acceptance of the 
        military community.
            ``(C) Availability of housing, employment opportunities for 
        military spouses, health care, education, and other relevant 
        issues.
            ``(D) Initiatives of local government and community 
        organizations in addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
            ``(E) Physical safety while in a covered community but 
        outside the military installation located in such covered 
        community.
            ``(F) Any other matters designated by the Secretary of 
        Defense.
    ``(b) Additional Activities.--Additional activities under this 
section may include the following:
            ``(1) Facilitating local listening sessions and information 
        exchanges.
            ``(2) Developing educational campaigns.
            ``(3) Supplementing existing local and national defense 
        community programs.
            ``(4) Sharing best practices and activities.
    ``(c) Coordination.--To support activities under this section, the 
Secretary of Defense may coordinate with local governments or not-for-
profit organizations that represent covered individuals.
    ``(d) Report.--(1) Not later than September 30 of every other year, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the 
most recent survey under subsection (a).
    ``(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall include--
            ``(A) with respect to each covered community--
                    ``(i) the results of the survey required under 
                subsection (b); and
                    ``(ii) activities conducted to address racial 
                inequity in the community;
            ``(B) aggregate results of the survey required under 
        subsection (b); and
            ``(C) best practices for creating positive relationships 
        between covered individuals and covered communities.
    ``(3) The Secretary of Defense shall--
            ``(A) designate ten geographically diverse military 
        installations for review in each survey;
            ``(B) make the results of each report under paragraph (1) 
        available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of 
        Defense; and
            ``(C) ensure that any data included with the report is made 
        available in a machine-readable format that is downloadable, 
        searchable, and sortable.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `covered community' means a military 
        installation designated under subsection (e)(3)(A) and the area 
        within 10 miles of such military installation.
            ``(2) The term `covered individual' means any of the 
        following who lives in a covered community or works on a 
        military installation in a covered community:
                    ``(A) A member of the Armed Forces.
                    ``(B) A family member of an individual described in 
                subparagraph (A) or (B).
            ``(3) The term `military installation' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 2801 of this title.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
481a the following new item:

``481b. Program to improve relations between members of the Armed 
                            Forces and military communities.''.
    (c) Implementation.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out the 
first survey under section 481b(a) of such title, as added by 
subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
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