To enhance various authorities to assist the recruitment efforts of the Armed Forces.

SA 2458. Mr. WARNER (for Mr. McCain proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1042, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; as follows:

On page 144, strike lines 1 through 3 and insert the following:

SEC. 619. RETENTION INCENTIVE AND ASSIGNMENT BONUS FOR MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE QUALIFIED IN A CRITICAL MILITARY SKILL OR WHO VOLUNTEER FOR ASSIGNMENT TO A HIGH PRIORITY UNIT.

On page 144, in the amendment made by section 619, strike line 8 and all that follows through page 145, line 12, and insert the following:

“Sec. 308k. Special pay: retention incentive bonus for

members of the Selected Reserve qualified in a critical

military skill; assignment bonus for members of the

Selected Reserve who volunteer for assignment to a high

priority unit

“(a) Bonuses Authorized.--(1) An eligible officer or enlisted member of the armed forces may be paid a retention bonus as provided in this section if--

“(A) in the case of an officer or warrant officer, the member executes a written agreement to remain in the Selected Reserve for at least 2 years;

“(B) in the case of an enlisted member, the member reenlists or voluntarily extends the member's enlistment in the Selected Reserve for a period of at least 2 years; or

“(C) in the case of an enlisted member serving on an indefinite reenlistment, the member executes a written agreement to remain in the Selected Reserve for at least 2 years.

“(2) An officer or enlisted member of the armed forces may be paid an assignment bonus as provided in this section if the member voluntarily agrees to an assignment to a high priority unit of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of an armed force for at least 2 years.

“(b) Members Eligible for Retention Bonus.--Subject to subsection (d), an officer or enlisted member is eligible under subsection (a)(1) for a retention bonus under this section if the member--

“(1) is qualified in a military skill or specialty designated as critical for purposes of this section under subsection (c); or

“(2) agrees to train or retrain in a military skill or specialty so designated as critical.

“(c) Designation of Critical Skills or Specialties and High Priority Units.--The Secretary concerned shall--

“(1) designate the military skills and specialties that shall be treated as critical military skills and specialties for purposes of this section; and

“(2) designate the units that shall be treated as high priority units for purposes of this section.

On page 148, strike the matter between lines 6 and 7 and insert the following:

“308k. Special pay: retention incentive bonus for members of the Selected Reserve qualified in a critical military skill; assignment bonus for members of the Selected Reserve who volunteer for assignment to a high priority unit.”.

At the end of division A, add the following:

TITLE XV--RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

SEC. 1501. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the “Military Recruiting Initiatives Act of 2005”.

SEC. 1502. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM ENLISTMENT BONUS.

(a) Enlistment Bonus for Selected Reserve Members.--Section 308c(b) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking “$10,000” and inserting “$20,000”.

(b) Enlistment Bonus for Active Members.--Section 309(a) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking “$20,000” and inserting “$40,000”.

SEC. 1503. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO PAY BONUS TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE ARMY TO REFER OTHER PERSONS FOR ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY.

(a) Authority To Pay Bonus.--The Secretary of the Army may pay a bonus under this section to a member of the Army, whether in the regular component of the Army or in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, who refers to an Army recruiter a person who has not previously served in an Armed Force and who, after such referral, enlists in the regular component of the Army or in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve.

(b) Referral.--For purposes of this section, a referral for which a bonus may be paid under subsection (a) occurs--

(1) when a member of the Army contacts an Army recruiter on behalf of a person interested in enlisting in the Army; or

(2) when a person interested in enlisting in the Army contacts the Army recruiter and informs the recruiter of the role of the member in initially recruiting the person.

(c) Certain Referrals Ineligible.--

(1) Referral of immediate family.--A member of the Army may not be paid a bonus under subsection (a) for the referral of an immediate family member.

(2) Members in recruiting roles.--A member of the Army serving in a recruiting or retention assignment, or assigned to other duties regarding which eligibility for a bonus under subsection (a) could (as determined by the Secretary) be perceived as creating a conflict of interest, may not be paid a bonus under subsection (a).

(d) Amount of Bonus.--The amount of the bonus paid for a referral under subsection (a) may not exceed $1,000. The bonus shall be paid in a lump sum.

(e) Time of Payment.--A bonus may not be paid under subsection (a) with respect to a person who enlists in the Army until the person completes basic training and individual advanced training.

(f) Relation To Prohibition on Bounties.--The referral bonus authorized by this section is not a bounty for purposes of section 514(a) of title 10, United States Code.

(g) Limitation on Initial Use of Authority.--During the first year in which bonuses are offered under this section, the Secretary of the Army may not pay more than 1,000 referral bonuses per component of the Army.

(h) Duration of Authority.--A bonus may not be paid under subsection (a) with respect to any referral that occurs after December 31, 2007.

SEC. 1504. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AGE FOR ENLISTMENT.

Section 505(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “thirty-five years of age” and inserting “forty-two years of age”.

SEC. 1505. REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON PRIOR SERVICE ENLISTMENT BONUS FOR RECEIPT OF OTHER ENLISTMENT OR REENLISTMENT BONUS FOR SERVICE IN THE SELECTED RESERVE.

Section 308i(a)(2) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (D).

SEC. 1506. INCREASE AND ENHANCEMENT OF AFFILIATION BONUS FOR OFFICERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE.

(a) Repeal of Prohibition on Eligibility for Prior Reserve Service.--Subsection (a)(2) of section 308j of title 37, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (A), by adding “and” at the end;

(2) by striking subparagraph (B); and

(3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B).

(b) Increase in Maximum Amount.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended by striking “$6,000” and inserting “$10,000”.

SEC. 1507. ENHANCEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT AUTHORITIES.

(a) Additional Loans Eligible for Repayment.--Paragraph (1) of section 2171(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking “or” at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:

“(D) any loan incurred for educational purposes made by a lender that is--

“(i) an agency or instrumentality of a State;

“(ii) a financial or credit institution (including an insurance company) that is subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or any State;

“(iii) a pension fund approved by the Secretary for purposes of this section; or

“(iv) a non-profit private entity designated by a State, regulated by such State, and approved by the Secretary for purposes of this section.”.

(b) Eligibility of Officers.--Paragraph (2) of such section is amended by striking “an enlisted member in a military specialty” and inserting “a member in an officer program or military specialty”.

SEC. 1508. REPORT ON RESERVE DENTAL INSURANCE PROGRAM.

(a) Study.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of the Reserve Dental Insurance program.

(b) Elements.--The study required by subsection (a) shall--

(1) identify the most effective mechanism or mechanisms for the payment of premiums under the Reserve Dental Insurance program for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and their dependents, including by deduction from reserve pay, by direct collection, or by other means (including appropriate mechanisms from other military benefits programs), to ensure uninterrupted availability of premium payments regardless of whether members are performing active duty with pay or inactive-duty training with pay;

(2) include such matters relating to the Reserve Dental Insurance program as the Secretary considers appropriate; and

(3) assess the effectiveness of mechanisms for informing the members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the availability of, and benefits under, the Reserve Dental Insurance program.

(c) Report.--Not later than February 1, 2007, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the study required by subsection (a). The report shall include the findings of the study and such recommendations for legislative or administrative action regarding the Reserve Dental Insurance program as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of the study.

(d) Reserve Dental Insurance Program Defined.--In this section, the term “Reserve Dental Insurance program” includes--

(1) the dental insurance plan required under paragraph (1) of section 1076a(a) of title 10, United States Code; and

(2) any dental insurance plan established under paragraph (2) or (4) of section 1076a(a) of title 10, United States Code.