S.Amdt. 2186

1. Rewrites page 106, line 13 through page 114, line 4

   ReplacesPrinted page

   Removes page 106, line 13 through page 114, line 4 of the printed bill. See that page

   Inserted: Subtitle G--Military Family Readiness and Servicemember Reintegration SEC. 581. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY FAMILY READINESS AND SERVICEMEMBER REINTEGRATION COUNCIL.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1781 the following new section:

   Inserted: "SEC. 1781A. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY FAMILY READINESS AND SERVICEMEMBER REINTEGRATION COUNCIL.

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--There is in the Department of Defense the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness and Servicemember Reintegration Council (hereafter in this section referred to as the 'Council').

   Inserted: "(b) Members.--(1) The members of the Council shall be the following:

   Inserted: "(A) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, who shall serve as chair of the Council.

   Inserted: "(B) One representative of each of the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force, who shall be appointed by Secretary of Defense.

   Inserted: "(C) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: "(D) The Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

   Inserted: "(E) Three individuals appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among representatives of military family organizations (including military family organizations of families of members of the regular components and of families of members of the reserve components), of whom not less than two shall be members of the family of an enlisted member of the armed forces.

   Inserted: "(2) The term on the Council of the members appointed under paragraph (1)(E) shall be three years.

   Inserted: "(c) Meetings.--The Council shall meet not less often than twice each year. Not more than one meeting of the Council each year shall be in the National Capital Region.

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   Inserted: "(d) Duties.--The duties of the Council shall include the following:

   Inserted: "(1) To review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense on the policy and plans required under section 1781b of this title.

   Inserted: "(2) To monitor requirements for the support of military family readiness and the support of servicemember reintegration by the Department of Defense.

   Inserted: "(3) To evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense.

   Inserted: "(4) To evaluate and coordinate the policies of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to leverage and coordinate the resources of each department in providing military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities.

   Inserted: "(e) Annual Reports.--(1) Not later than February 1 each year, the Council shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees a report on military family readiness and servicemember reintegration.

   Inserted: "(2) Each report under this subsection shall include the following:

   Inserted: "(A) An assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense during the preceding fiscal year in meeting the needs and requirements of military families.

   Inserted: "(B) Recommendations on actions to be taken to improve the capability of the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense to meet the needs and requirements of reintegrating members of the Armed Forces and military families, including actions relating to the allocation of funding and other resources to and among such programs and activities.

   Inserted: "(C) The effectiveness of the coordination of the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense with the activities and programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.".

   Inserted: (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 88 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1781 the following new item:

   Inserted: "Sec. 1781a. Department of Defense Military Family Readiness and Servicemember Reintegration Council.".

   Inserted: SEC. 582. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY AND PLANS FOR MILITARY FAMILY READINESS AND SERVICEMEMBER REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.

   Inserted: (a) Policy and Plans Required.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 581 of this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 1781a the following new section:

   Inserted: "SEC. 1781B. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY AND PLANS FOR MILITARY FAMILY READINESS AND SERVICEMEMBER REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall develop a policy and plans for the Department of Defense for the support of military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities.

   Inserted: "(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the policy and plans required under subsection (a) are as follows:

   Inserted: "(1) To ensure that the military family readiness programs and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense are comprehensive, effective, and properly supported.

   Inserted: "(2) To ensure that such programs are coordinated and developed in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: "(3) To ensure that support is continuously available to military families in peacetime and in war, as well as during periods of force structure change and relocation of military units.

   Inserted: "(4) To ensure that the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense are available to all military families, including military families of members of the regular components and military families of members of the reserve components.

   Inserted: "(5) To ensure that the goal of military family readiness and servicemember reintegration is an explicit element of applicable Department of Defense plans, programs, and budgeting activities, and that achievement of military family readiness and servicemember reintegration is expressed through Department-wide goals that are identifiable and measurable.

   Inserted: "(6) To ensure that the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense undergo continuous evaluation in order to ensure that resources are allocated and expended for such programs and activities in the most effective possible manner throughout the Department.

   Inserted: "(c) Elements of Policy.--The policy required under subsection (a) shall include the following elements:

   Inserted: "(1) A definition for treating a program or activity of the Department of Defense as a military family readiness and servicemember reintegration program or activity.

   Inserted: "(2) Department of Defense-wide goals for military family support and servicemember reintegration, both for military families of members of the regular components and military families of members of the reserve components.

   Inserted: "(3) Requirements for joint programs and activities for military family support and servicemember reintegration.

   Inserted: "(4) Policies on access to military family support and servicemember reintegration programs and activities based on military family populations served and geographical location.

   Inserted: "(5) Policies that recognize the need for follow-up services for reintegrating members of the Armed Forces and their families for extended periods following deployments, including between deployments.

   Inserted: "(6) Requirements for the provision of services to address the unique needs of members of the armed forces and their family members with respect to family readiness and servicemember reintegration, including the following:

   Inserted: "(A) Marriage counseling.

   Inserted: "(B) Services for children.

   Inserted: "(C) Suicide prevention.

   Inserted: "(D) Substance abuse awareness and treatment.

   Inserted: "(E) Mental health awareness and treatment.

   Inserted: "(F) Financial counseling.

   Inserted: "(G) Domestic violence awareness and prevention.

   Inserted: "(H) Employment assistance.

   Inserted: "(I) Development of strategies for living with a member of the armed forces who has post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.

   Inserted: "(J) Such other services that may be appropriate to address the unique needs of members of the armed forces and their families who live in rural or remote areas with respect to family readiness and servicemember reintegration.

   Inserted: "(7) Metrics to measure the performance and effectiveness of the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense.

   Inserted: "(8) Policies on coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN), the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and the Adjutant Generals of the States and territories of the United States.

   Inserted: "(9) Policies on coordination of family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities with State and local public and private entities to leverage services provided by the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other entities that provide family readiness or servicemember reintegration programs.

   Inserted: "(d) Elements of Plans.--(1) Each plan required under subsection (a) shall include the elements specified in paragraph (2) for the five-fiscal year period beginning with the fiscal year in which such plan is submitted under paragraph (3).

   Inserted: "(2) The elements in each plan required under subsection (a) shall include, for the period covered by such plan, the following:

   Inserted: "(A) An ongoing identification and assessment of the effectiveness of the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense in meeting goals for such programs and activities, which assessment shall evaluate such programs and activities separately for each military department and for each regular component and each reserve component.

   Inserted: "(B) A description of the resources required to support the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense, including the military personnel, civilian personnel, and volunteer personnel so required.

   Inserted: "(C) An ongoing identification in gaps in the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense, and an ongoing identification of the resources required to address such gaps.

   Inserted: "(D) An evaluation of the policies developed in accordance with subsection (c)(5).

   Inserted: "(E) An assessment of the effectiveness of and recommendations to improve the coordination of the military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense with the services and programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as those of State and local governments.

   Inserted: "(F) Mechanisms to apply the metrics developed under subsection (c)(6).

   Inserted: "(G) A summary, by fiscal year, of the allocation of funds (including appropriated funds and nonappropriated funds) for major categories of military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities of the Department of Defense, set forth for each of the military departments and for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

   Inserted: "(3) Not later than March 1, 2008, and each year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plans required under subsection (a) for the 5-fiscal year period beginning with the fiscal year beginning in the year in which such report is submitted. Each report shall include the plans covered by such report and an assessment of the discharge by the Department of Defense of the previous plans submitted under this subsection.".

   Inserted: (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 88 of such title, as so amended, is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1781a the following new item:

   Inserted: "Sec. 1781b. Department of Defense policy and plans for military family readiness and servicemember reintegration programs and activities.".

   Inserted: (3) Report on policy.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the policy developed under section 1781b of title 10, United States Code (as added by this subsection), not later than February 1, 2009.

   Inserted: (b) Pilot Program.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing grants to eligible entities to create comprehensive soldier and family preparedness, reintegration, and outreach programs for members of the Armed Forces and their families to further the purposes described in section 1781b(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

   Inserted: (2) Grants.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out the pilot program through the award of grants to eligible entities for the provision of assistance to members of the Armed Forces and their families as described in paragraph (1).

   Inserted: (3) Eligible entities.--For purposes of this subsection, an eligible entity is any of the following:

   Inserted: (A) An Adjutant General of a State or territory of the United States.

   Inserted: (B) A Federal Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) office.

   Inserted: (C) A State veterans affairs agency.

   Inserted: (D) A family support group for a regular component of the Armed Forces or for a reserve component of the Armed Forces, if such organization partners with an entity described in subparagraph (A) through (C).

   Inserted: (E) An organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code, if such organization partners with an entity described in subparagraph (A) through (C).

   Inserted: (F) A State or local nonprofit organization, if such organization partners with an entity described in subparagraph (A) through (C).

   Inserted: (4) Use of grant funds.--Recipients of grants under the pilot program shall develop programs for the provision of assistance and services to members of the Armed Forces and their family members that meet the purposes of section 1781b(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), which may include the following:

   Inserted: (A) Marriage counseling.

   Inserted: (B) Services for children.

   Inserted: (C) Suicide prevention.

   Inserted: (D) Substance abuse awareness and treatment.

   Inserted: (E) Mental health awareness and treatment.

   Inserted: (F) Financial counseling.

   Inserted: (G) Domestic violence awareness and prevention.

   Inserted: (H) Employment assistance.

   Inserted: (I) Development of strategies for living with a servicemember with post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

   Inserted: (J) Such other services that may be appropriate to address the unique needs of members of the Armed Forces and their families who live in rural or remote areas with respect to family readiness and servicemember reintegration.

   Inserted: (K) Assisting members of the Armed Forces and their families find and receive benefits and services from local, State, and Federal programs and nonprofit programs for assistance with military family readiness and servicemember reintegration, including referral services.

   Inserted: (L) Development of strategies and programs that recognize the need for follow-up services for reintegrating members of the Armed Forces and their families for extended periods following deployments, including between deployments.

   Inserted: (M) Assisting members of the Armed Forces and their families receive services and assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including referral services.

   Inserted: (5) Outreach.--A recipient of a grant under this subsection shall carry out a program of outreach to members of the Armed Forces and their families with respect to the services offered in accordance with paragraph (3) before, during, and after deployment of such members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (6) Selection of grant recipients.--

   Inserted: (A) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary of Defense an application therefor in such form and in such manner as the Secretary considers appropriate.

   Inserted: (B) Elements.--An application submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include such elements as the Secretary considers appropriate.

   Inserted: (C) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to receive grants under the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall give priority to eligible entities that propose programs with a focus on personal outreach by trained staff (with preference given to veterans and, in particular, veterans of combat) conducted in person to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

   Inserted: (7) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for the Secretary of Defense to carry out this subsection.

   Inserted: (c) Surveys of Military Families.--Section 1782(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in the heading, by striking "Authority" and inserting "In General"; and

   Inserted: (2) by striking "may conduct surveys" in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting "shall, in fiscal year 2009 and not less often than once every three fiscal years thereafter, conduct surveys".

   Original wording

   On page 106, strike line 13 and all that follows through page 114, line 4 and insert the following:

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As printed