S.Amdt. 2031

1. Adds SEC. 646. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR GOLD STAR SPOUSES AND DEPENDENTS at the end of subtitle D of title VI

   Adds a section

   In S. 1197 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   "(3) In the case of an individual who is treated as a retiree dependent described in paragraph (1)(B) on the date on which the member providing the basis for such individual's dependent status under this section dies or becomes permanently incapacitated, no further certification of the individual as a retiree dependent on the basis of dependency for financial support shall be required or carried out for purposes of this section on or after that date.".

   Inserted: SEC. 646. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR GOLD STAR SPOUSES AND DEPENDENTS.

   Inserted: (a) Gold Star Family Advocates.--

   Inserted: (1) Advocates required.--Each Secretary of a military department shall designate for each Armed Force under the jurisdiction of such Secretary a member of such Armed Force or civilian employee of such military department to act as an advocate for spouses and dependents of members of such Armed Force (including members of the National Guard or Reserve of such Armed Force, as applicable) who die on active duty in the Armed Forces. The individual so designated shall be known as the "Gold Star Advocate" for the Armed Force concerned.

   Inserted: (2) Duty as ombudsman.--An individual designated as a Gold Star Advocate for an Armed Force pursuant to paragraph (1) shall serve as the ombudsman for spouses and dependents of members of such Armed Force who die on active duty in the Armed Forces with respect to complaints regarding casualty assistance or receipt of benefits authorized by law for spouses and dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty in the Armed Forces. In performing such duty, an individual may do the following:

   Inserted: (A) Address complaints by spouses and dependents, and provide support, regarding such casualty assistance or receipt of such benefits.

   Inserted: (B) Make reports to appropriate officers or officials in the Department of Defense or the military department concerned regarding resolution of such complaints, including recommendations regarding the settlement of claims with respect to such benefits, as appropriate.

   Inserted: (C) Perform such other actions as the Secretary of the military department concerned considers appropriate.

   Inserted: (b) Training for Casualty Assistance Personnel.--

   Inserted: (1) Training program required.--The Secretary of Defense shall implement a standardized comprehensive training program on casualty assistance for the following personnel of the Department of Defense:

   Inserted: (A) Casualty assistance officers.

   Inserted: (B) Casualty assistance calls officers.

   Inserted: (C) Casualty assistance representatives.

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   Inserted: (2) General elements.--The training program required by paragraph (1) shall include training designed to ensure that the personnel specified in that paragraph provide spouses of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty in the Armed Forces with accurate information on the benefits to which they are entitled and other appropriate casualty assistance following the death of such members on active duty.

   Inserted: (3) Service-specific elements.--The Secretary of the military department concerned may, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, provide for the inclusion in the training program required by paragraph (1) that is provided to casualty assistance personnel of such military department such elements of training that are specific or unique to the requirements or particulars of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of such military department as the Secretary of the military department concerned considers appropriate.

   Inserted: (4) Frequency of training.--Training shall be provided under the program required by paragraph (1) not less often than annually.

   Original wording

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

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As printed