Fortifying Operational Reserve Component Efforts Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-262
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2009-01-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Iraq
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military medicine
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: 
Fortifying Operational Reserve Component Efforts Act of 2009 or FORCE Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to conduct a review of Department of Defense (DOD) communications to reserve members of the Armed Forces and their families on health benefits, family support, and other resources available through DOD. Requires: (1) the review to include member and family surveys on their participation in programs and activities associated with member mobilization and demobilization; and (2) the Secretary, using review results, to enhance DOD educational materials provided to such members and families on such benefits, support, and resources.

Directs: (1) the Secretary of the military department concerned (Secretary concerned) to assign to each unit of a reserve component under their jurisdiction full-time personnel to provide assistance to the family of a member during, and in connection with, the mobilization and deployment of such unit; and (2) the Secretary to ensure a minimum number of Transition Assistance Advisors in each state.

Requires: (1) the Secretary to provide a post-deployment health reassessment to each reserve member returning from deployment in Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom; and (2) the Secretary concerned to provide each reserve member an annual briefing on health benefits available to members and dependents under the TRICARE program (a DOD managed care program).

Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay to a reserve member activated for more than 30 days a monthly stipend to cover, during the activation period, the cost of private health insurance for the spouse and dependents of such member who reside more than 50 miles from the nearest military medical treatment facility or TRICARE services provider.

Directs the Secretary to provide to reserve units comprehensive training on mental health matters.

Provides funding for mental health care for National Guard members who incurred a psychological or mental illness or injury while on active duty.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) measure the achievement of DOD objectives for reserve member participation in the Transition Assistance Program; and (2) ensure that each member of the Individual Ready Reserve who deploys as an individual is provided the same pre- and post-deployment information as provided to members who deploy as a unit.

Expresses the sense of Congress that National Guard members returning from deployment in a contingency operation or homeland defense mission of one year or longer should: (1) not be required to commence full-time National Guard duty immediately upon their return; and (2) be permitted to elect to postpone commencement of deactivation from active-duty status until at least 90 days after such return.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Introduced in Senate