Protecting our Servicemembers through Proven Methods Act of 2022
Bill: S.5231 | Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John (R-TX)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Protecting our Servicemembers through Proven Methods Act of 2022
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to include new elements in its annual primary prevention research agenda, for example, a focus on whether and to what extent sub-populations of the military community may be targeted for interpersonal violence more than others.
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report to Congress (1) comparing the DOD's sexual harassment and prevention training with similar programs at other federal departments and agencies; and (2) that includes relevant data collected by colleges, universities, and other relevant outside entities on hazing, bullying, and interpersonal and self-directed violence.

To provide for a primary prevention research agenda and workforce.

    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 ``Protecting our Servicemembers 
through Proven Methods Act of 2022''.

SEC. 547. PRIMARY PREVENTION RESEARCH AGENDA AND WORKFORCE.

    (a) Annual Primary Prevention Research Agenda.--Section 549A(c) of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 
117-81; 135 Stat. 1722) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as 
        paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
        paragraphs:
            ``(2) include a focus on whether and to what extent sub-
        populations of the military community may be targeted for 
        interpersonal violence more than others;
            ``(3) seek to identify factors that influence the 
        prevention, perpetration, and victimization of interpersonal 
        and self-directed violence;
            ``(4) seek to improve the collection and dissemination of 
        data on hazing and bullying related to interpersonal and self-
        directed violence;''; and
            (3) by amending paragraph (6), as redesignated by paragraph 
        (1) of this section, to read as follows:
            ``(6) incorporate collaboration with other Federal 
        departments and agencies, including the Department of Health 
        and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention, State governments, academia, industry, federally 
        funded research and development centers, nonprofit 
        organizations, and other organizations outside of the 
        Department of Defense, including civilian institutions that 
        conduct similar data-driven studies, collection, and analysis; 
        and''.
    (b) Primary Prevention Workforce.--Section 549B of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117-81; 135 
Stat. 1722) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection 
                (a)'' and inserting ``paragraph (1)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(3) Comptroller general report.--Not later than one year 
        after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the 
        Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
        congressional defense committees a report that--
                    ``(A) compares the sexual harassment and prevention 
                training of the Department of Defense with similar 
                programs at other departments and agencies of the 
                Federal Government; and
                    ``(B) includes relevant data collected by colleges 
                and universities and other relevant outside entities on 
                hazing and bullying and interpersonal and self-directed 
                violence.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Incorporation of Research and Findings.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall ensure that the findings and conclusions from the primary 
prevention research agenda established under section 549A are regularly 
incorporated, as appropriate, within the primary prevention workforce 
established under subsection (a).''.
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