To require a joint family support assistance program for families of members of the Armed Forces.

1. Adds SEC. 662. JOINT FAMILY SUPPORT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM at the end of subtitle E of title VI

   Adds a section

   In S. 2766 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (4) Covered member of the armed forces defined.--In this subsection, the term "covered member of the Armed Forces" means a member of the Armed Forces wounded or injured in a combat zone who is evacuated from a theater of operations for inpatient care.

   Inserted: SEC. 662. JOINT FAMILY SUPPORT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

   Inserted: (a) Program Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a joint family support assistance program for the purpose of providing assistance to families of members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (b) Locations.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the program for at least six regions of the country through sites established by the Secretary for purposes of the program in such regions.

   Inserted: (2) Location of certain sites.--At least three of the sites established under paragraph (1) shall be located in an area that it geographically isolated from military installations.

   Inserted: (c) Functions.--The Secretary shall provide assistance to families of the members of the Armed Forces under the program by providing at each site established for purposes of the program under subsection (b) the following:

   Inserted: (1) Financial, material, and other assistance to families of members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (2) Mobile support services to families of members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (3) Sponsorship of volunteers and family support professionals for the delivery of support services to families of members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (4) Coordination of family assistance programs and activities provided by Military OneSource, Military Family Life Consultants, counselors, the Department of Defense, other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, State and local agencies, and non-profit entities.

   Inserted: (5) Facilitation of discussion on military family assistance programs, activities, and initiatives between and among the organizations, agencies, and entities referred to in paragraph (4).

   Inserted: (d) Resources.--

   Show 18 more inserted paragraphsShow less

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide personnel and other resources necessary for the implementation and operation of the program at each site established under subsection (b).

   Inserted: (2) Acceptance of certain services.--In providing resources under paragraph (1), the Secretary may accept and utilize the services of non-Federal Government volunteers and non-profit entities.

   Inserted: (e) Procedures.--The Secretary shall establish procedures for the operation of each site established under subsection (b) and for the provision of assistance to families of members of the Armed Forces at such site.

   Inserted: (f) Implementation Plan.--

   Inserted: (1) Plan required.--Not later than 30 days after the first obligation of amounts for the program, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth a plan for the implementation of the program.

   Inserted: (2) Elements.--The plan required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (A) A description of the actions taken to select and establish sites for the program under subsection (b).

   Inserted: (B) A description of the procedures established under subsection (d).

   Inserted: (C) A review of proposed actions to be taken under the program to improve coordination on family assistance program and activities between and among the Department of Defense, other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, State and local agencies, and non-profit entities.

   Inserted: (g) Report.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the first obligation of amounts for the program, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the program.

   Inserted: (2) Elements.--The report shall include the following:

   Inserted: (A) A description of the program, including each site established for purposes of the program, the procedures established under subsection (d) for operations at each such site, and the assistance provided through each such site for families of members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (B) An assessment of the effectiveness of the program in providing assistance to families of members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (C) An assessment of the advisability of extending the program or making it permanent.

   Inserted: (h) Assistance to Non-Profit Entities Providing Assistance to Military Families.--The Secretary may provide financial, material, and other assistance to non-profit entities in order to facilitate the provision by such entities of assistance to geographically isolated families of members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (i) Sunset.--The program required by this section, and the authority to provide assistance under subsection (h), shall cease upon the date that is three years after the first obligation of amounts for the program.

   Inserted: (j) Funding.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 301(5) for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities, $5,000,000 may be available for the program required by this section and the provision of assistance under subsection (h).

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle E of title VI, add the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed