To require the comptroller General to conduct a study of transition assistance provided for members of Armed Forces being discharged of released from active duty; to require a related study; and to add to content of preseparation counseling for the members.
What it does: Adds SEC. 1022. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY OF PROGRAMS OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONNEL SEPARATING FROM THE ARMED FORCES on page 247, between lines 13 and 14
Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D-WI)Adds SEC. 1022. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY OF PROGRAMS OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONNEL SEPARATING FROM THE ARMED FORCES on page 247, between lines 13 and 14
Adds a sectionPrinted pageInserted: SEC. 1022. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY OF PROGRAMS OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONNEL SEPARATING FROM THE ARMED FORCES.
Inserted: (a) Requirement for Study.--The Comptroller General shall carry out a study of the programs of the Department of Defense and other departments and agencies of the Federal Government under which transition assistance is provided to personnel who are separating from active duty service in the Armed Forces.
Inserted: (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report on the results of the study to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The report shall include the following matters:
Inserted: (1) Regarding the transition assistance programs under section 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code--
Inserted: (A) an analysis of the extent to which such programs are meeting the current needs of members of the Armed Forces as such personnel are discharged or released from active duty, including--
Inserted: (i) a discussion of the original purposes of the programs;
Inserted: (ii) a discussion of how the programs are currently being administered in relationship to those purposes; and
Inserted: (iii) an assessment of whether the programs are adequate to meet the current needs of members of the reserve components, including the National Guard; and
Inserted: (B) any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate for improving such programs, including any recommendation regarding whether participation by members of the Armed Forces in such programs should be required.
Inserted: (2) An analysis of the differences, if any, among the Armed Forces and among the commands of military installations of the Armed Forces regarding how transition assistance is being provided under the transition assistance programs, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate--
Inserted: (A) to achieve uniformity in the provision of assistance under such programs; and
Inserted: (B) to ensure that the transition assistance is provided under such programs to members of the Armed Forces who are being separated at medical facilities of the uniformed services or Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to Armed Forces personnel on a temporary disability retired list under section 1202 or 1205 of title 10, United States Code.
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Inserted: (3) An analysis of the relationship of Department of Defense transition assistance programs to the transition assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor, including the relationship of the benefits delivery at discharge program carried out jointly by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to the other transition assistance programs.
Inserted: (4) The rates of participation of Armed Forces personnel in the transition assistance programs, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate to increase such participation rates, including any revisions of such programs that could result in increased participation.
Inserted: (5) An assessment of whether the transition assistance information provided to Armed Forces personnel omits transition information that would be beneficial to such personnel, including an assessment of the extent to which information is provided under the transition assistance programs regarding participation in Federal Government procurement opportunities available at prime contract and subcontract levels to veterans with service-connected disabilities and other veterans, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate regarding additional information that should be provided and any other recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate for enhancing the provision of counseling on such procurement opportunities.
Inserted: (6) An assessment of the extent to which representatives of military service organizations and veterans' service organizations are afforded opportunities to participate, and do participate, in preseparation briefings under transition assistance programs, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate regarding how representatives of such organizations could better be used to disseminate transition assistance information and provide preseparation counseling to Armed Forces personnel, including personnel of the reserve components who are being released from active duty for continuation of service in the reserve components.
Inserted: (7) An analysis of the use of post-deployment and predischarge health screenings, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate regarding whether and how to integrate the health screening process and the transition assistance programs into a single, coordinated preseparation program for Armed Forces personnel being discharged or released from active duty.
Inserted: (8) An analysis of the processes of the Armed Forces for conducting physical examinations of members of the Armed Forces in connection with discharge and release from active duty, including--
Inserted: (A) how post-deployment questionnaires are used;
Inserted: (B) the extent to which Armed Forces personnel waive the physical examinations; and
Inserted: (C) how, and the extent to which, Armed Forces personnel are referred for followup health care.
Inserted: (9) A discussion of the current process by which mental health screenings are conducted, followup mental health care is provided for, and services are provided in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions for members of the Armed Forces in connection with discharge and release from active duty, together with--
Inserted: (A) for each of the Armed Forces, the programs that are in place to identify and treat cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions; and
Inserted: (B) for persons returning from deployments in connection with Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom--
Inserted: (i) the number of persons treated as a result of such screenings; and
Inserted: (ii) the types of interventions.
Inserted: (c) Acquisition of Supporting Information.--In carrying out the study under this section, the Comptroller General shall seek to obtain views from the following persons:
Inserted: (1) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments.
Inserted: (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Inserted: (3) The Secretary of Labor.
Inserted: (4) Armed Forces personnel who have received transition assistance under the programs covered by the study and Armed Forces personnel who have declined to accept transition assistance offered under such programs.
Inserted: (5) Representatives of military service organizations and representatives of veterans' service organizations.
Inserted: (6) Persons having expertise in health care (including mental health care) provided under the Defense Health Program, including Department of Defense personnel, Department of Veterans Affairs personnel, and persons in the private sector.
Inserted: SEC. 1023. STUDY ON COORDINATION OF JOB TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS.
Inserted: (a) Requirement for Study.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly carry out a study to determine ways to coordinate the standards applied by the Armed Forces for the training and certification of members of the Armed Forces in military occupational specialties with the standards that are applied to corresponding civilian occupations by occupational licensing or certification agencies of governments and occupational certification agencies in the private sector.
Inserted: (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall submit a joint report on the results of the study under subsection (a) to Congress.
Inserted: SEC. 1024. CONTENT OF PRESEPARATION COUNSELING FOR PERSONNEL SEPARATING FROM ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE.
Inserted: Section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
Inserted: (1) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following new paragraph:
Inserted: "(11) Information on participation in Federal Government procurement opportunities that are available at the prime contract level and at subcontract levels to veterans with service-connected disabilities and other veterans."; and
Inserted: (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Inserted: "(d) Requirements Relating to Counseling on Procurement Opportunities.--(1) For the counseling under subsection (b)(11), the Secretary concerned may provide for participation of representatives of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, representatives of the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, representatives of other appropriate executive agencies, and representatives of Veterans' Business Outreach Centers and Small Business Development Centers.
Inserted: "(2) The Secretary concerned may provide for the counseling under paragraph (11) of subsection (b) to be offered at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the medical care facilities of the uniformed services and other facilities at which the counseling on the other matters required under such subsection is offered. The access of representatives described in paragraph (1) to a member of the armed forces to provide such counseling shall be subject to the consent of that member.".
Original wording
On page 247, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:
Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.
As printed
On page 247, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:
SEC. 1022. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY OF PROGRAMS OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONNEL SEPARATING FROM THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Requirement for Study.--The Comptroller General shall carry out a study of the programs of the Department of Defense and other departments and agencies of the Federal Government under which transition assistance is provided to personnel who are separating from active duty service in the Armed Forces.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report on the results of the study to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The report shall include the following matters:
(1) Regarding the transition assistance programs under section 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code--
(A) an analysis of the extent to which such programs are meeting the current needs of members of the Armed Forces as such personnel are discharged or released from active duty, including--
(i) a discussion of the original purposes of the programs;
(ii) a discussion of how the programs are currently being administered in relationship to those purposes; and
(iii) an assessment of whether the programs are adequate to meet the current needs of members of the reserve components, including the National Guard; and
(B) any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate for improving such programs, including any recommendation regarding whether participation by members of the Armed Forces in such programs should be required.
(2) An analysis of the differences, if any, among the Armed Forces and among the commands of military installations of the Armed Forces regarding how transition assistance is being provided under the transition assistance programs, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate--
(A) to achieve uniformity in the provision of assistance under such programs; and
(B) to ensure that the transition assistance is provided under such programs to members of the Armed Forces who are being separated at medical facilities of the uniformed services or Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to Armed Forces personnel on a temporary disability retired list under section 1202 or 1205 of title 10, United States Code.
(3) An analysis of the relationship of Department of Defense transition assistance programs to the transition assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor, including the relationship of the benefits delivery at discharge program carried out jointly by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to the other transition assistance programs.
(4) The rates of participation of Armed Forces personnel in the transition assistance programs, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate to increase such participation rates, including any revisions of such programs that could result in increased participation.
(5) An assessment of whether the transition assistance information provided to Armed Forces personnel omits transition information that would be beneficial to such personnel, including an assessment of the extent to which information is provided under the transition assistance programs regarding participation in Federal Government procurement opportunities available at prime contract and subcontract levels to veterans with service-connected disabilities and other veterans, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate regarding additional information that should be provided and any other recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate for enhancing the provision of counseling on such procurement opportunities.
(6) An assessment of the extent to which representatives of military service organizations and veterans' service organizations are afforded opportunities to participate, and do participate, in preseparation briefings under transition assistance programs, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate regarding how representatives of such organizations could better be used to disseminate transition assistance information and provide preseparation counseling to Armed Forces personnel, including personnel of the reserve components who are being released from active duty for continuation of service in the reserve components.
(7) An analysis of the use of post-deployment and predischarge health screenings, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller General considers appropriate regarding whether and how to integrate the health screening process and the transition assistance programs into a single, coordinated preseparation program for Armed Forces personnel being discharged or released from active duty.
(8) An analysis of the processes of the Armed Forces for conducting physical examinations of members of the Armed Forces in connection with discharge and release from active duty, including--
(A) how post-deployment questionnaires are used;
(B) the extent to which Armed Forces personnel waive the physical examinations; and
(C) how, and the extent to which, Armed Forces personnel are referred for followup health care.
(9) A discussion of the current process by which mental health screenings are conducted, followup mental health care is provided for, and services are provided in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions for members of the Armed Forces in connection with discharge and release from active duty, together with--
(A) for each of the Armed Forces, the programs that are in place to identify and treat cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions; and
(B) for persons returning from deployments in connection with Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom--
(i) the number of persons treated as a result of such screenings; and
(ii) the types of interventions.
(c) Acquisition of Supporting Information.--In carrying out the study under this section, the Comptroller General shall seek to obtain views from the following persons:
(1) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments.
(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(3) The Secretary of Labor.
(4) Armed Forces personnel who have received transition assistance under the programs covered by the study and Armed Forces personnel who have declined to accept transition assistance offered under such programs.
(5) Representatives of military service organizations and representatives of veterans' service organizations.
(6) Persons having expertise in health care (including mental health care) provided under the Defense Health Program, including Department of Defense personnel, Department of Veterans Affairs personnel, and persons in the private sector.
SEC. 1023. STUDY ON COORDINATION OF JOB TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS.
(a) Requirement for Study.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly carry out a study to determine ways to coordinate the standards applied by the Armed Forces for the training and certification of members of the Armed Forces in military occupational specialties with the standards that are applied to corresponding civilian occupations by occupational licensing or certification agencies of governments and occupational certification agencies in the private sector.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall submit a joint report on the results of the study under subsection (a) to Congress.
SEC. 1024. CONTENT OF PRESEPARATION COUNSELING FOR PERSONNEL SEPARATING FROM ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE.
Section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following new paragraph:
“(11) Information on participation in Federal Government procurement opportunities that are available at the prime contract level and at subcontract levels to veterans with service-connected disabilities and other veterans.”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(d) Requirements Relating to Counseling on Procurement Opportunities.--(1) For the counseling under subsection (b)(11), the Secretary concerned may provide for participation of representatives of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, representatives of the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, representatives of other appropriate executive agencies, and representatives of Veterans' Business Outreach Centers and Small Business Development Centers.
“(2) The Secretary concerned may provide for the counseling under paragraph (11) of subsection (b) to be offered at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the medical care facilities of the uniformed services and other facilities at which the counseling on the other matters required under such subsection is offered. The access of representatives described in paragraph (1) to a member of the armed forces to provide such counseling shall be subject to the consent of that member.”.
Legislative Activity
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Senate amendment proposed (on the floor): Amendment SA 3399 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Feingold.(consideration: CR S7152-7160)
June 22, 2004
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Senate amendment proposed (on the floor): Amendment SA 3399 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Feingold.(consideration: CR S7152-7160)
June 22, 2004
Senate amendment agreed to: Amendment SA 3399 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.(text as modified: CR S7156-7157)
June 22, 2004
Amendment SA 3399 proposed by Senator Levin for Senator Feingold. (consideration: CR S7152-7160) To require the comptroller General to conduct a study of transition assistance provided for members of Armed Forces being discharged of released from active duty; to require a related study; and to add to content of preseparation counseling for the members.
June 22, 2004
Amendment SA 3399 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (text as modified: CR S7156-7157)
June 22, 2004
Senate amendment submitted
June 7, 2004