S.Amdt. 4834

SA 4834. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by her to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department
of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title VIII, add the following:
Sec. 8109. (a) Study on Department of Defense Transition
Assistance Services.--
(1) Study panel.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly establish a panel
to conduct a study on means of improving the Transition
Assistance Program (TAP) and other reintegration services for
members of the National Guard and the Reserves. The panel
shall be established not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(2) Composition.--The panel established under paragraph (1)
shall be composed of the following:
(A) Such officers or employees of the Department of Defense
as the Secretary of Defense shall appoint to the panel.
(B) Such officers or employees of the Department of
Veterans Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
appoint to the panel.
(C) Such individuals from the private sector as the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall jointly appoint to the panel from among individuals in
the private sector who have expertise in the matters to be
studied by the panel, including individuals with expertise in
occupational and employment adjustment matters, psychologists
or other mental health professionals, and family specialists.
(3) Study elements.--The panel established under paragraph
(1) shall conduct a study on means of improving the
Transition Assistance Program and other reintegration
services for members of the National Guard and the Reserves,
including means of improving the following under the Program:
(A) Training on interpersonal skills and life skills.
(B) Readjustment counseling.
(C) Briefings and workshops presented by the Department of
Veterans Affairs to members before their completion of
service on active duty.
(D) The duration of training sessions and workshops, so
that such sessions and workshops continue for members for at
least one year after their completion of service on active
duty.
(E) Education and outreach on the transition benefits
available to members of the National Guard and Reserves from
the Federal Government, State and local governments, private
organizations, and non-profit public service organizations.
(4) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the panel established under paragraph
(1) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs a report on the study conducted
by the panel under this subsection. The report shall include
the findings of the panel as a result of the study and such
recommendations, including recommendations on the matters
specified in paragraph (3), as the panel considers
appropriate as a result of the study.
(5) Transmittal of report.--Not later than 60 days after
receipt of the report under paragraph (4), the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly
transmit the report to Congress, together with such comments
on the report as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs jointly consider appropriate.
(b) Study on Other National Guard and Reserve Benefits.--
(1) Study panel.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish
a panel to conduct a study on the adequacy of current pay and
benefits, including health care and other benefits, for
members of the National Guard and the Reserves under the
current policies and practices of the Armed Forces relating
to the utilization of the National Guard and the Reserves.
The panel shall be established not later than 60 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Composition.--The panel established under paragraph (1)
shall be composed of the following:
(A) Such officers or employees of the Department of Defense
as the Secretary of Defense shall appoint to the panel.
(B) Such individuals from the private sector as the
Secretary of Defense shall appoint to the panel from among
individuals in the private sector who have expertise in the
matters to be studied by the panel.
(3) Study elements.--The panel established under paragraph
(1) shall conduct a study of the adequacy of current pay and
benefits, including health care and other benefits, for
members of the National Guard and the Reserves under the
current policies and practices of the Armed Forces relating
to the utilization of the National Guard and the Reserves,
including--
(A) the advisability of separate systems of pay for members
of the regular components of the Armed Forces and members of
the reserve components of the Armed Forces;
(B) the advisability of different eligibility for medical
and dental care for members of the regular components of the
Armed Forces and members of the reserve components of the
Armed Forces; and
(C) the advisability of the modification or improvement of
other policies and practices relating to the pay and benefits
of members of the National Guard and the Reserves in order to
improve the quality of life of such members while serving in
the National Guard or Reserves.
(4) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the

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panel established under paragraph (1) shall submit to the
Secretary of Defense a report on the study conducted by the
panel under this subsection. The report shall include the
findings of the panel as a result of the study and such
recommendations, including recommendations on the matters
specified in paragraph (3), as the panel considers
appropriate as a result of the study.
(5) Transmittal of report.--Not later than 60 days after
receipt of the report under paragraph (4), the Secretary of
Defense shall transmit the report to Congress, together with
such comments on the report as the Secretary of Defense
considers appropriate.
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