S.Amdt. 5306

1. Adds SEC. 1068. SERVICE AS FELLOWS OR INTERNS OF PUBLIC OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO ARE UNDERGOING CONVALESCENCE AT MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION at the end of subtitle F of title X

   Adds a section

   In S. 3001 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (c) Senior Oversight Committee Defined.--In this section, the term "Senior Oversight Committee" means the Senior Oversight Committee jointly established by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in May 2007. The Senior Oversight Committee was established to address concerns related to the treatment of wounded, ill, and injured members of the Armed Forces and veterans and serve as the single point of contact for oversight, strategy, and integration of proposed strategies for the efforts of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve support throughout the recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration of wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: SEC. 1068. SERVICE AS FELLOWS OR INTERNS OF PUBLIC OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO ARE UNDERGOING CONVALESCENCE AT MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION.

   Inserted: (a) Program Required.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Commencing not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program under which members of the Armed Forces who are undergoing convalescence at military medical treatment facilities in the National Capital Region, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center, District of Columbia, are eligible to serve as follows:

   Inserted: (A) As a fellow of Congress, whether in the staff of a Member of Congress or the staff of a committee of Congress.

   Inserted: (B) As a fellow of the legislature of a State, whether in the staff of a member of such legislature or the staff of a committee of such legislature.

   Inserted: (C) As an intern in any other public office.

   Inserted: (2) Designation.--The program required by this section shall be known as the "Wounded Warrior Public Service Initiative".

   Inserted: (b) Participation of Members of the Armed Forces.--

   Inserted: (1) Range of members.--In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall encourage participation in the program by members of the Armed Forces in a range of grades, including enlisted grades, non-commissioned officer grades, and officer grades.

   Inserted: (2) Voluntary participation.--The participation of members of the Armed Forces in the program shall be on a voluntary basis.

   Inserted: (3) Encouragement of participation in program.--The Secretary shall take appropriate actions--

   Inserted: (A) to notify members of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a)(1) of their eligibility for participation in the program; and

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   Inserted: (B) to facilitate participation in the program by members who elect to participate in the program, including through the provision of appropriate support for such members in participating in the program.

   Inserted: (4) Prohibition on political activities.--While serving in an office under the program, a member of the Armed Forces participating in the program may not engage in any political activity otherwise prohibited by law for similar employees of such office.

   Inserted: (c) Pay and Allowances.--

   Inserted: (1) No additional pay and allowances.--A member of the Armed Forces participating in the program under this section shall not be entitled to any pay and allowances by reason of participation in the program other than the pay and allowances otherwise payable to the member by law.

   Inserted: (2) Expenses.--A member of the Armed Forces participating in the program shall be paid or reimbursed for the expenses incurred by the member in connection with participation in the program.

   Inserted: (d) Administrative Matters.--

   Inserted: (1) Administration.--The program required by this section shall be administered within the Department of Defense by an appropriate official of the Department assigned by the Secretary for that purpose.

   Inserted: (2) Responsibilities.--In administering the program, the official assigned under paragraph (1) shall--

   Inserted: (A) work collaboratively with Members and committees of Congress to identify appropriate fellowship opportunities for members of the Armed Forces seeking to participate in the program; and

   Inserted: (B) work collaboratively with the Director of the Capitol Guide Service and Congressional Special Services Office of the Architect of the Capitol to accommodate the special physical needs of members of the Armed Forces who are participating in the program.

   Inserted: (e) Payment of Costs.--Any costs associated with the participation of members of the Armed Forces in the program required by this section, including any costs of expenses of members under subsection (c)(2), shall be borne by the Department of Defense from amounts available to the Department for the Operation Warfighter Program.

   Inserted: (f) Duration.--The program required by this section shall cease on the date that is five years after the commencement of the program. No member of the Armed Forces may serve under the program after the date of the cessation of the program.

   Inserted: (g) Definitions.--In this section:

   Inserted: (1) The term "public office" means an office within a department, agency, commission, board, corporation, or service of the Federal Government or a State government that exercises any function of government.

   Inserted: (2) The term "State" includes the District of Columbia.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following:

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As printed