To provide for the supplemental subsistence allowance, imminent danger pay, family separation allowance, and certain federal assistance to be cumulative benefits; and to require a report on availability of social services to members of the Armed Forces.

On page 127, between the matter following line 5 and line 6, insert the following:

SEC. 621. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE SUPPLEMENTAL SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE AND ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE IMMINENT DANGER PAY, FAMILY SEPARATION ALLOWANCE, AND CERTAIN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

(a) Entitlement Not Affected by Receipt of Imminent Danger Pay and Family Separation Allowance.--Subsection (b)(2) of section 402a of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

“(A) shall not take into consideration--

“(i) the amount of the supplemental subsistence allowance that is payable under this section;

“(ii) the amount of special pay (if any) that is payable under section 310 of this section, relating to duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger; or

“(iii) the amount of family separation allowance (if any) that is payable under section 427 of this title; but”.

(b) Eligibility for Other Federal Assistance.--Section 402a of such title is amended--

(1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (h) and (i), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection (g):

“(g) Eligibility for Other Federal Assistance.--(1)(A) A child or spouse of a member of the armed forces receiving the supplemental subsistence allowance under this section who, except for the receipt of such allowance, would otherwise be eligible to receive a benefit described in subparagraph (B) shall be considered to be eligible for that benefit.

“(B) The benefits referred to in subparagraph (A) are as follows:

“(i) Assistance provided under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).

“(ii) Assistance provided under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).

“(iii) A service under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.).

“(iv) Assistance under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.).

“(2) A household that includes a member of the armed forces receiving the supplemental subsistence allowance under this section and, except for the receipt of such allowance, would otherwise be eligible to receive a benefit under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.) shall be considered to be eligible for that benefit.”.

(c) Requirement for Report.--(1) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the committees of Congress named in paragraph (2) a report on the accessibility of social services to members of the Armed Forces and their families. The report shall include the following matters:

(A) The social services for which members of the Armed Forces and their families are eligible under social services programs generally available to citizens and other nationals of the United States.

(B) The extent to which members of the Armed Forces and their families utilize the social services for which they are eligible under the programs identified under subparagraph (A).

(C) The efforts made by each of the military departments--

(i) to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and their families are aware of the social services for which they are eligible under the programs identified under subparagraph (A); and

(ii) to assist members and their families in applying for and obtaining such social services.

(2) The committees of Congress referred to in paragraph (1) are as follows:

(A) The Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

(B) The Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

(d) Effective Date.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2004.

(2) Subsection (c) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.