I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8070 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 18, 2024 Mr. Rogers of Alabama (for himself, Mr. Smith of Washington , Mr. Bacon , Ms. Houlahan , Ms. Mace , Ms. Escobar , Mr. Luttrell , Ms. Jacobs , Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia , Ms. Strickland , Mr. Moylan , Mr. Davis of North Carolina , Mr. Alford , Mr. Kim of New Jersey , and Mr. Banks ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement Act . 2. Table of contents Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Title I—Pay and Compensation Sec. 101. Reform of rates of monthly basic pay. Sec. 102. Evaluation of the rates of the basic allowance for subsistence. Sec. 103. Basic needs allowance for members on active service in the Armed Forces: expansion of eligibility; increase of amount. Sec. 104. Basic allowance for housing: authorization of appropriations. Sec. 105. Expansion of authority of a commanding officer to authorize a basic allowance for housing for a member performing initial field or sea duty. Sec. 106. Report regarding the calculation of cost-of-living allowances. Title II—Child Care Sec. 201. Competitive pay for Department of Defense child care personnel. Sec. 202. Parent fees at military child development centers for child care employees. Sec. 203. Child care services and youth program services for dependents. Sec. 204. Briefings on military child development centers. Title III—Military Housing Sec. 301. Budget justification for certain Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects. Sec. 302. Digital facilities management systems for military departments. Sec. 303. Strategy for use of existing leasing authorities to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing required. Sec. 304. Independent assessment of estimated costs of certain strategies to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing. Title IV—Access to Health Care Sec. 401. TRICARE program: waiver of referral requirement under TRICARE Prime for certain care in a military medical treatment facility. Sec. 402. Referral of a member of the Armed Forces to a TRICARE provider for urgent behavioral health services. Sec. 403. Retention of health care providers: surveys; briefing; reports. Title V—Support for Military Spouses Sec. 501. Interstate compacts for portability of occupational licenses of military spouses: permanent authority. Sec. 502. Permanent Military Spouse Career Accelerator program. Sec. 503. Child care services and youth program services for dependents: period of services for a member with a spouse seeking employment. I Pay and Compensation 101. Reform of rates of monthly basic pay Effective on January 1, 2025, the rates of monthly basic pay for members of the uniformed services within each pay grade and with years of service computed under section 205 of title 37, United States Code (and subject to adjustment under section 1009 of such title), are as follows: Years of Service Commissioned Officers Pay Grade 2 or Fewer Over 2 Over 3 Over 4 Over 6 O–8 $12,803.70 $13,223.70 $13,501.80 $13,579.20 $13,926.90 O–7 10,638.90 11,133.00 11,361.90 11,544.00 11,872.80 O–6 8,067.90 8,863.20 9,444.90 9,444.90 9,481.20 O–5 6,725.70 7,576.50 8,100.90 8,199.60 8,527.20 O–4 5,803.20 6,717.30 7,166.40 7,265.40 7,681.50 O–3 5,102.10 5,783.70 6,241.80 6,806.10 7,132.80 O–2 4,408.50 5,020.80 5,782.80 5,978.10 6,100.80 O–1 3,826.20 3,982.80 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 Over 8 Over 10 Over 12 Over 14 Over 16 O–8 $14,506.50 $14,641.80 $15,192.60 $15,351.30 $15,825.90 O–7 12,198.30 12,574.20 12,948.90 13,325.40 14,506.50 O–6 9,887.40 9,941.40 9,941.40 10,506.30 11,505.00 O–5 8,722.50 9,153.00 9,469.80 9,878.10 10,501.80 O–4 8,127.90 8,684.10 9,116.10 9,416.70 9,589.50 O–3 7,490.70 7,721.70 8,102.10 8,301.00 8,301.00 O–2 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 O–1 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 Over 18 Over 20 Over 22 Over 24 Over 26 O–10 $0.00 $18,491.70 $18,491.70 $18,491.70 $18,491.70 O–9 0.00 18,096.00 18,357.30 18,491.70 18,491.70 O–8 16,512.90 17,145.60 17,568.60 17,568.60 17,568.60 O–7 15,504.30 15,504.30 15,504.30 15,504.30 15,584.10 O–6 12,091.20 12,677.10 13,010.70 13,348.50 14,002.80 O–5 10,799.10 11,093.10 11,426.70 11,426.70 11,426.70 O–4 9,689.10 9,689.10 9,689.10 9,689.10 9,689.10 O–3 8,301.00 8,301.00 8,301.00 8,301.00 8,301.00 O–2 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 O–1 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 Over 28 Over 30 Over 32 Over 34 Over 36 O–10 $18,491.70 $18,491.70 $18,491.70 $18,491.70 $18,491.70 O–9 18,491.70 18,491.70 18,491.70 18,491.70 18,491.70 O–8 17,568.60 18,008.40 18,008.40 18,458.10 18,458.10 O–7 15,584.10 15,895.80 15,895.80 15,895.80 15,895.80 O–6 14,002.80 14,282.40 14,282.40 14,282.40 14,282.40 O–5 11,426.70 11,426.70 11,426.70 11,426.70 11,426.70 O–4 9,689.10 9,689.10 9,689.10 9,689.10 9,689.10 O–3 8,301.00 8,301.00 8,301.00 8,301.00 8,301.00 O–2 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 6,100.80 O–1 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 4,814.70 Over 38 Over 40 O–10 $18,491.70 $18,491.70 O–9 18,491.70 18,491.70 O–8 18,458.10 18,458.10 O–7 15,895.80 15,895.80 O–6 14,282.40 14,282.40 O–5 11,426.70 11,426.70 O–4 9,689.10 9,689.10 O–3 8,301.00 8,301.00 O–2 6,100.80 6,100.80 O–1 4,814.70 4,814.70 Commissioned Officers With Over 4 Years of Active Duty Service As An Enlisted Member or Warrant Officer Pay Grade 2 or Fewer Over 2 Over 3 Over 4 Over 6 O–3E $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $6,806.10 $7,132.80 O–2E 0.00 0.00 0.00 5,978.10 6,100.80 O–1E 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,814.70 5,141.10 Over 8 Over 10 Over 12 Over 14 Over 16 O–3E $7,490.70 $7,721.70 $8,102.10 $8,423.40 $8,607.90 O–2E 6,294.90 6,622.80 6,876.60 7,065.00 7,065.00 O–1E 5,331.30 5,525.70 5,716.50 5,978.10 5,978.10 Over 18 Over 20 Over 22 Over 24 Over 26 O–3E $8,859.00 $8,859.00 $8,859.00 $8,859.00 $8,859.00 O–2E 7,065.00 7,065.00 7,065.00 7,065.00 7,065.00 O–1E 5,978.10 5,978.10 5,978.10 5,978.10 5,978.10 Over 28 Over 30 Over 32 Over 34 Over 36 O–3E $8,859.00 $8,859.00 $8,859.00 $8,859.00 $8,859.00 O–2E 7,065.00 7,065.00 7,065.00 7,065.00 7,065.00 O–1E 5,978.10 5,978.10 5,978.10 5,978.10 5,978.10 Over 38 Over 40 O–3E $8,859.00 $8,859.00 O–2E 7,065.00 7,065.00 O–1E 5,978.10 5,978.10 Warrant Officers Pay Grade 2 or Fewer Over 2 Over 3 Over 4 Over 6 W–4 $5,273.10 $5,671.50 $5,834.40 $5,994.60 $6,270.60 W–3 4,815.60 5,015.70 5,222.10 5,289.00 5,504.40 W–2 4,260.90 4,663.80 4,787.70 4,873.20 5,149.20 W–1 3,739.80 4,143.00 4,250.70 4,479.60 4,749.90 Over 8 Over 10 Over 12 Over 14 Over 16 W–4 $6,543.60 $6,820.20 $7,235.40 $7,599.90 $7,946.70 W–3 5,928.90 6,370.80 6,579.00 6,819.90 7,067.40 W–2 5,578.50 5,791.80 6,001.20 6,257.40 6,457.80 W–1 5,148.30 5,334.30 5,595.30 5,850.90 6,052.20 Over 18 Over 20 Over 22 Over 24 Over 26 W–5 $9,375.60 $9,375.60 $9,851.10 $10,205.70 $10,597.20 W–4 8,231.10 8,508.30 8,914.50 9,248.70 9,629.70 W–3 7,513.80 7,814.70 7,994.70 8,186.10 8,447.10 W–2 6,639.00 6,856.20 6,998.70 7,111.80 7,111.80 W–1 6,237.60 6,462.90 6,462.90 6,462.90 6,462.90 Over 28 Over 30 Over 32 Over 34 Over 36 W–5 $10,597.20 $11,128.20 $11,128.20 $11,683.50 $11,683.50 W–4 9,629.70 9,821.70 9,821.70 9,821.70 9,821.70 W–3 8,447.10 8,447.10 8,447.10 8,447.10 8,447.10 W–2 7,111.80 7,111.80 7,111.80 7,111.80 7,111.80 W–1 6,462.90 6,462.90 6,462.90 6,462.90 6,462.90 Over 38 Over 40 W–5 $12,269.10 $12,269.10 W–4 9,821.70 9,821.70 W–3 8,447.10 8,447.10 W–2 7,111.80 7,111.80 W–1 6,462.90 6,462.90 Enlisted Members Pay Grade 2 or Fewer Over 2 Over 3 Over 4 Over 6 E–7 $3,624.90 $3,956.40 $4,108.20 $4,308.30 $4,465.50 E–6 3,135.60 3,450.60 3,603.00 3,750.90 3,904.80 E–5 3,082.20 3,317.10 3,479.40 3,638.70 3,790.80 E–4 3,028.80 3,183.60 3,356.10 3,526.20 3,677.10 E–3 2,733.90 2,906.10 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 E–2 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 E–1 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 Over 8 Over 10 Over 12 Over 14 Over 16 E–9 $0.00 $6,370.50 $6,514.80 $6,696.60 $6,910.50 E–8 5,214.90 5,445.60 5,588.40 5,759.40 5,944.50 E–7 4,734.60 4,886.40 5,155.20 5,379.30 5,532.30 E–6 4,252.50 4,387.80 4,649.70 4,729.80 4,788.00 E–5 3,964.80 4,052.10 4,076.40 4,076.40 4,076.40 E–4 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 E–3 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 E–2 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 E–1 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 Over 18 Over 20 Over 22 Over 24 Over 26 E–9 $7,127.10 $7,472.10 $7,765.20 $8,072.70 $8,544.00 E–8 6,279.30 6,449.10 6,737.40 6,897.30 7,291.20 E–7 5,694.90 5,757.90 5,969.70 6,083.10 6,515.70 E–6 4,856.40 4,856.40 4,856.40 4,856.40 4,856.40 E–5 4,076.40 4,076.40 4,076.40 4,076.40 4,076.40 E–4 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 E–3 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 E–2 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 E–1 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 Over 28 Over 30 Over 32 Over 34 Over 36 E–9 $8,544.00 $8,970.30 $8,970.30 $9,419.40 $9,419.40 E–8 7,291.20 7,437.30 7,437.30 7,437.30 7,437.30 E–7 6,515.70 6,515.70 6,515.70 6,515.70 6,515.70 E–6 4,856.40 4,856.40 4,856.40 4,856.40 4,856.40 E–5 4,076.40 4,076.40 4,076.40 4,076.40 4,076.40 E–4 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 3,677.10 E–3 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 3,082.20 E–2 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 2,600.10 E–1 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 2,319.90 Over 38 Over 40 E–9 $9,891.30 $9,891.30 E–8 7,437.30 7,437.30 E–7 6,515.70 6,515.70 E–6 4,856.40 4,856.40 E–5 4,076.40 4,076.40 E–4 3,677.10 3,677.10 E–3 3,082.20 3,082.20 E–2 2,600.10 2,600.10 E–1 2,319.90 2,319.90 102. Evaluation of the rates of the basic allowance for subsistence Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the evaluation of the Secretary of the rates of the basic allowance for subsistence under section 402 of title 37, United States Code. Elements of such report shall include the following: (1) The determination of the Secretary whether such rates are sufficient. (2) Other factors that could be used to determine such rates, including— (A) the number of dependents a member of the uniformed services has; (B) whether the member has access to fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meat; (C) whether the member has access to healthy food; and (D) the local costs of food, including at commissaries operated by the Secretary under chapter 147 of title 10, United States Code. (3) The recommendations of the Secretary whether, and how, such rates may be improved. 103. Basic needs allowance for members on active service in the Armed Forces: expansion of eligibility; increase of amount (a) Eligibility Section 402b of title 37, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (b)(2)— (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) by striking (A) ; (B) by striking 150 percent and inserting 200 percent ; and (C) by striking ; or and inserting ; and ; and (2) by striking subparagraph (B). (b) Amount Such section is further amended, in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking 150 percent (or, in the case of a member described in subsection (b)(2)(B), 200 percent) and inserting 200 percent . 104. Basic allowance for housing: authorization of appropriations For fiscal year 2025, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,200,000,000 for the purpose of fully funding the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services under section 403 of title 37, United States Code. 105. Expansion of authority of a commanding officer to authorize a basic allowance for housing for a member performing initial field or sea duty Subsection (f) of section 403 of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking certifies that the member was necessarily required to procure quarters at the member's expense. and inserting an em dash; and (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (A) certifies that the member was required to procure housing at the member's expense; or (B) determines that quarters at the duty station or in the field environment are inadequate or an impediment to morale, good order, or discipline. ; and (2) in paragraph (2)(B)— (A) by striking the Secretary may authorize and inserting a commanding officer may authorize ; (B) by striking who is serving in pay grade E–4 or E–5 and inserting who is serving in a pay grade below E–6 ; and (C) by striking members serving in pay grades E–4 and E–5 and inserting such members. In authorizing an allowance under this subparagraph, the commanding officer shall consider the availability of quarters for the member and whether such quarters are inadequate or an impediment to morale, good order, or discipline . 106. Report regarding the calculation of cost-of-living allowances (a) Report required Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA. Such report shall include the following elements: (1) The factors used to calculate the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA. (2) An explanation of how the factors described in paragraph (1) are determined. (3) An explanation of how the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA may be adjusted, including— (A) timelines for such an adjustment; (B) bases for such an adjustment; and (C) the relationship between CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA. (4) The evaluation of the Secretary whether the surveys used to collect data from members to calculate the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA are effective. (5) The evaluation of the Secretary whether the calculation of the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA is effective. (6) The assessment of the Secretary whether the calculation of the CONUS COLA or OCONUS COLA should include additional factors, including— (A) the number of dependents a member has; (B) vicinity and commissary costs; (C) the reimbursement of expenses (including tolls and taxes) incurred by a member based on the duty station of such member; (D) remoteness; (E) hardship; (F) loss of spousal income; (G) the unavailability of goods or services in the vicinity of a duty station; and (H) any other factor that the Secretary determines appropriate. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The term CONUS COLA means the cost-of-living allowance paid to a member of the uniformed services under section 403b of title 37, United States Code. (2) The term OCONUS COLA means a cost-of-living allowance paid to a member of the uniformed services on the basis that— (A) the member is assigned to a permanent duty station located outside the continental United States; or (B) the dependents of such member reside outside the continental United States but not in the vicinity of the permanent duty station of such member. II Child Care 201. Competitive pay for Department of Defense child care personnel (a) In general Section 1792(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) Competitive rates of pay (1) For the purpose of providing military child development centers with a qualified and stable civilian workforce, employees at a military installation who are directly involved in providing child care and who are paid from nonappropriated funds— (A) in the case of entry-level employees, shall be paid a rate of pay competitive with the rates of pay paid to other equivalent non-Federal positions within the metropolitan statistical area or non-metropolitan statistical area (as the case may be) in which such Department employee’s position is located; and (B) in the case of any employee not covered by subparagraph (A), shall be paid a rate of pay competitive with the rates of pay paid to other employees with similar training, seniority, and experience within the metropolitan statistical area or non-metropolitan statistical area (as the case may be) in which such Department employee’s position is located. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no employee shall receive a rate of pay under this subsection that is lower than the minimum hourly rate of pay applicable to civilian employees of the Department of Defense. (3) For purposes of determining the rates of pay under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area occupational employment and wage estimates published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. . (b) Application (1) In general The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Rates of pay (A) Current employee pay rate not reduced The rate of pay for any individual who is an employee covered by subsection (c) of section 1792 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, on the date of the enactment of this Act shall not be reduced by operation of such amendment. (B) Pay band minimum Any employee whose rate of pay is fixed under such subsection (c), as so amended, and who is within any pay band shall receive a rate of pay not less than the minimum rate of pay applicable to such pay band. 202. Parent fees at military child development centers for child care employees Section 1793 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following new subsections: (d) Child care employee discount In order to support recruitment and retention initiatives, the Secretary of Defense shall charge reduced fees for the attendance, at a military child development center, of the children of a child care employee as follows: (1) For the first child, no fee. (2) For each other child, a fee equal to or less than a fee discounted under subsection (c). (e) Prohibition of concurrent discounts A family may not receive discounts under subsections (c) and (d) concurrently. . 203. Child care services and youth program services for dependents (a) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Defense shall fully fund requests for financial assistance to eligible civilian providers of child care services or youth program services under section 1798 of title 10, United States Code. (b) Rule of construction This section shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary under subsection (a) of section 1798 of such title to determine whether to provide such financial assistance to an eligible provider. 204. Briefings on military child development centers (a) Briefings required The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives briefings regarding child care services at military child development centers according to the following schedule: (1) Once every three months beginning on March 1, 2025, and ending on March 1, 2026. (2) On March 1 of each year thereafter through 2030. (b) Elements Each briefing shall include, with regard to the period covered by the briefing, the following elements: (1) Waiting lists for such services, disaggregated by military installation. (2) Shortages of child care employees at military child development centers, disaggregated by military installation. (3) Insufficient capacity of military child development centers, disaggregated by military installation. (4) Efforts of the Secretary of Defense to mitigate such shortages or insufficiencies in order to shorten such waiting lists. (c) Definitions In this section, the terms military child development center and child care employee have the meanings given such terms in section 1800 of title 10, United States Code. III Military Housing 301. Budget justification for certain Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects Chapter 9 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 226 the following new section: 227. Budget justification for covered military unaccompanied housing Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects (a) In general Along with the budget for each fiscal year submitted by the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, each Secretary of a military department shall include a consolidated budget justification display that individually identifies— (1) for the fiscal year covered by the budget, the total requested expenditure for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects for covered military unaccompanied housing, disaggregated by military department; and (2) the total expenditure for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects made during the fiscal year beginning two years before the fiscal year covered by the budget, disagggregated by— (A) military installation; (B) the type of facility repaired or restored under such projects; (C) the number of such projects that were for sustainment or repair of a facility; and (D) the number of such projects that were for restoration or modernization of a facility. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered military unaccompanied housing has the meaning given in section 2856 of this title. (2) The terms facility and military installation have the meanings given, respectively, in section 2801 of this title. . 302. Digital facilities management systems for military departments (a) Digital facilities management systems for military departments (1) Criteria Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination with each covered Assistant Secretary, shall develop criteria for a new or established digital facilities management system for each military department. Each such system shall have the capability to, with respect to each military installation— (A) track conditions of individual facilities, applying the uniform index developed under section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 ( Public Law 118–31 ), for each military installation under the jurisdiction of each such covered Assistant Secretary; (B) plan for maintenance actions for each facility; and (C) generate reports that include data on— (i) the type and function of each facility; (ii) the overall condition of each facility; (iii) planned maintenance for each facility during a 5-year period following the date of submission of the criteria; (iv) conditions that may lead to a failure to maintain minimum physical security or configuration standards for members of the Armed Forces during the 12-month period following the date of submission of the criteria; and (v) the date on which the facility will have been in use for 40 years. (2) Briefing Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment develops the criteria required under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall provide to Congress a briefing on such criteria. (3) Implementation Not later than one year after the date on which the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment develops the criteria required under paragraph (1), each covered Assistant Secretary shall implement a digital facilities management system for the military department under the jurisdiction of that meets the criteria described in paragraph (1). (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered Assistant Secretary means— (A) the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment; (B) the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; and (C) the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy. (2) The term facility has the meaning given in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code. (3) The term military department has the meaning given in section 101 of such title. (4) The term military installation has the meaning given in section 2801 of such title. 303. Strategy for use of existing leasing authorities to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing required (a) Strategy required (1) In general Each Secretary of a military department shall develop a strategy to use the authorities of such Secretary, in effect as of such date, to lease real property to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing. (2) Elements Each strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to military installations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the military department concerned— (A) an identification of military installations with the largest shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing; (B) an identification of military installations where existing facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing are in poor or failing condition under the uniform index for evaluating the condition of covered military unaccompanied housing required by section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 ( Public Law 118–31 ; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 2851); (C) plans of such Secretary in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing or the condition of facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing using— (i) military construction projects; or (ii) facility sustainment, restoration, or modernization funds; and (D) an assessment of whether the leasing authority under section 2661 of title 10, United States Code, or intergovernmental support agreements under section 2679 of such title would be suitable for use by such Secretary to address— (i) shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing; or (ii) the poor or failing condition of a facility of covered military unaccompanied housing. (3) Deadline Each Secretary of a military department shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the strategy required by subsection (a) by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Authorization of appropriations The following amounts are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense to carry out actions that may be taken pursuant to a strategy required by subsection (a): (1) $15,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Army. (2) $9,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Navy. (3) $6,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Marine Corps. (4) $15,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Air Force. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term congressional defense committees has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code. (2) The term covered military unaccompanied housing has the meaning given such term in section 2856 of such title. (3) The terms facility and military construction project have the meanings given such terms in section 2801 of such title. 304. Independent assessment of estimated costs of certain strategies to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing (a) Agreement Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with an FFRDC for an assessment that compares the estimated total cost to the United States during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act of— (1) the construction and maintenance of facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing to address shortages in covered military unaccompanied housing; and (2) the modification of policies of the Department of Defense and each military department to permit a greater number of members of the Armed Forces to reside in housing facilities other than covered military unaccompanied housing (including such policies relating to the payment of basic allowance for housing under section 403 of title 37, United States Code). (b) Report on assessment An FFRDC that enters into an agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report on such assessment. Such report shall include— (1) a comprehensive review of— (A) the total lifecycle costs, disaggregated by each military department, of the construction, sustainment, and modernization of facilities of covered unaccompanied housing to meet— (i) the needs for housing for members of the Armed Forces as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and (ii) the projected needs for such housing during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, as determined by each Secretary concerned; (B) the applicable policies of each military department with respect to which members of the Armed Forces are required to reside in covered military unaccompanied housing; and (C) for each military department, the expected expenditure for basic allowance for housing under section 403 of title 37, United States Code, during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act compared to such total lifecycle costs; (2) a summary of the research and other activities carried out as part of such comprehensive review; and (3) recommendations of the FFRDC with respect to requirements and policies of the Department of Defense and each military department for covered military unaccompanied housing. (c) Submission to Congress (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense receives the report under subsection (b), such Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that includes— (A) an unaltered copy of the report of the FFRDC submitted to the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection (b); and (B) the written responses of the Secretary of the Defense and the Secretaries concerned with respect to the results of such report. (2) Form The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered military unaccompanied housing has the meaning given such term in section 2856 of title 10, United States Code. (2) The term facility has the meaning given such term in section 2801 of such title. (3) The term FFRDC means a federally funded research and development center. IV Access to Health Care 401. TRICARE program: waiver of referral requirement under TRICARE Prime for certain care in a military medical treatment facility Section 1095f(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting (A) before The Secretary ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) The Secretary shall waive the referral requirement in paragraph (1) in the case of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who seeks to obtain any of the following kinds of care in a military medical treatment facility: (i) Physical therapy. (ii) Nutritional. (iii) Audiological. (iv) Optometric. (v) Podiatric. (vi) Primary and preventive health care services for women (as such term is defined in section 1074d of this title). . 402. Referral of a member of the Armed Forces to a TRICARE provider for urgent behavioral health services Section 722 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 ( Public Law 116–92 ; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended— (1) by striking If and inserting (a) In general.— Subject to subsection (b), if ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Urgent behavioral health services (1) In general If the Secretary of Defense is unable to provide urgent behavioral health services in a military medical treatment facility to a covered individual during the three-day period following the date on which such services are first requested by the covered individual, the Secretary shall refer the covered individual to a provider under the TRICARE program to receive such services. (2) Covered individual defined In this subsection, the term covered individual means— (A) a member of the Armed Forces on active duty; (B) a retired member of the Armed Forces; (C) a dependent of a member described in paragraph (1); or (D) a dependent of a former member described in paragraph (2). . 403. Retention of health care providers: surveys; briefing; reports (a) Surveys The Secretary of a military department shall conduct an annual survey of health care providers under the jurisdiction of such Secretary to determine why such providers remain on, or separate from, active duty in such military department. (b) Briefing Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of a military department shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing regarding the plan of such Secretary to carry out the survey under this section. (c) Reports Not later than September 30 of each year, beginning in 2025, the Secretary of a military department shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the most recent survey under this section. (1) Elements Each report shall include the following elements: (A) Demographic data regarding the providers, disaggregated under paragraph (2). (B) Reasons providers gave for remaining. (C) Reasons providers gave for separating. (D) The determination of the Secretary whether there is a trend regarding retention or such reasons. (E) Efforts of the Secretary to reverse a negative trend or encourage a positive trend. (F) Legislative recommendations of the Secretary regarding how to reverse a negative trend or encourage a positive trend. (2) Demographic data In each report, the Secretary of a military department shall disaggregate demographic data regarding providers who participated in the most recent survey on the bases of the following categories: (A) Medical specialty. (B) Rank. (C) Gender. (D) Years of service in such military department. (E) Whether the provider became an officer on active duty in such military department— (i) pursuant to the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program under subchapter I of chapter 105 of title 10, United States Code; (ii) after graduating from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences established under section 2112 of such title; or (iii) otherwise. (d) Termination This section shall cease to have effect on September 30, 2030. V Support for Military Spouses 501. Interstate compacts for portability of occupational licenses of military spouses: permanent authority (a) In general Section 1784(h) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5). (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if enacted immediately following the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 ( Public Law 116–92 ), to which such amendment relates. 502. Permanent Military Spouse Career Accelerator program (a) Establishment Section 1784 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Employment fellowship opportunities The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program to provide spouses of members of the Armed Forces with paid fellowships with employers in various industries. To carry out such program, the Secretary shall take the following steps: (1) Enter into an agreement with an entity to conduct such program. (2) Determine the appropriate capacity for the program based on the availability of appropriations for such purpose. (3) Establish criteria to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the program in supporting the employment of such spouses. . (b) Effective date Subsection (i) of such section shall take effect on January 1, 2026. (c) Conforming amendment The pilot program under section 564 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 ( Public Law 117–81 ; 10 U.S.C. 1784 note) shall terminate on January 1, 2026. 503. Child care services and youth program services for dependents: period of services for a member with a spouse seeking employment (a) Period The Secretary of a military department may provide a covered member with covered services for a period of at least 180 days. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to— (1) entitle a covered member to covered services; or (2) give priority to a covered member for purposes of a determination regarding who shall receive covered services. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered member means a member of the Armed Forces— (A) who has a dependent child; and (B) whose spouse is seeking employment. (2) The term covered services means child care services or youth program services provided or paid for by the Secretary of Defense under subchapter II of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code.