To improve the amendment.

SA 2885. Mr. REED submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 2276 submitted by Mr. Boozman (for himself, Mr. Inhofe,
Mrs. Capito, and Mr. Enzi) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R.
5515, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end, add the following:

SEC. 1254A. INEFFECTIVENESS OF SECTION 937.

Section 937, relating to a Strategic Defense Fellows
Program for the Department of Defense, shall have no force or
effect.

SEC. 1254B. JOHN S. MCCAIN STRATEGIC DEFENSE FELLOWS PROGRAM.

(a) Fellowship Program.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
establish within the Department of Defense a civilian
fellowship program designed to provide leadership development
and the commencement of a career track toward senior
leadership in the Department.
(2) Designation.--The fellowship program shall be known as
the ``John S. McCain Strategic Defense Fellows Program'' (in
this section referred to as the ``fellows program'').
(b) Eligibility.--An individual is eligible for
participation in the fellows program if the individual--
(1) is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent
resident of the United States in the year in which the
individual applies for participation in the fellows program;
and
(2) either--
(A) possesses a graduate degree from an accredited
institution of higher education in the United States that was
awarded not later than two years before the date of the
acceptance of the individual into the fellows program; or
(B) will be awarded a graduate degree from an accredited
institution of higher education in the United States not
later than six months after the date of the acceptance of the
individual into the fellows program.
(c) Application.--
(1) Application required.--Each individual seeking to
participate in the fellows program shall submit to the
Secretary an application therefor at such time and in such
manner as the Secretary shall specify.
(2) Elements.--Each application of an individual under this
subsection shall include the following:
(A) Transcripts of educational achievement at the
undergraduate and graduate level.
(B) A resume.
(C) Proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residence.
(D) An endorsement from the applicant's graduate
institution of higher education.
(E) An academic writing sample.
(F) Letters of recommendation addressing the applicant's
character, academic ability, and any extracurricular
activities.
(G) A personal statement by the applicant explaining career
areas of interest and motivations for service in the
Department.

[[Page S3917]]

(H) Such other information as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(d) Selection.--
(1) In general.--Each year, the Secretary shall select
participants in the fellows program from among applicants for
the fellows program for such year who qualify for
participation in the fellows program based on character,
commitment to public service, academic achievement,
extracurricular activities, and such other qualifications for
participation in the fellows program as the Secretary
considers appropriate.
(2) Number.--The number of individuals selected to
participate in the fellows program in any year may not exceed
the numbers as follows:
(A) Ten individuals from each geographic region of the
United States as follows:
(i) The Northeast.
(ii) The Southeast.
(iii) The Midwest.
(iv) The Southwest.
(v) The West.
(B) Ten additional individuals.
(3) Background investigation.--An individual selected to
participate in the fellows program may not participate in the
program unless the individual successfully undergoes a
background investigation applicable to the position to which
the individual will be assigned under the fellows program and
otherwise meets such requirements applicable to assignment to
a sensitive position within the Department that the Secretary
considers appropriate.
(e) Assignment.--
(1) In general.--Each individual who participates in the
fellows program shall be assigned to a position in the Office
of the Secretary of Defense.
(2) Position requirements.--Each Under Secretary of Defense
and each Director of a Defense Agency who reports directly to
the Secretary shall submit to the Secretary each year the
qualifications and skills to be demonstrated by participants
in the fellows program to qualify for assignment under this
subsection for service in a position of the office of such
Under Secretary or Director.
(3) Assignment to positions.--The Secretary shall each year
assign participants in the fellows program to positions in
the offices of the Under Secretaries and Directors described
in paragraph (2). In making such assignments, the Secretary
shall seek to best match the qualifications and skills of
participants in the fellows program with the requirements of
positions available for assignment. Each participant so
assigned shall serve as a special assistant to the Under
Secretary or Director to whom assigned.
(4) Term.--The term of each assignment under the fellows
program shall be one year.
(5) Pay and benefits.--An individual assigned to a position
under the fellows program shall be compensated at the rate of
compensation for employees at level GS-10 of the General
Schedule, and shall be treated as an employee of the United
States during the term of assignment, including for purposes
of eligibility for health care benefits and retirement
benefits available to employees of the United States.
(6) Education loan repayment.--To the extent that funds are
provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the Secretary may
repay any loan of a participant in the fellows program if the
loan is described by subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section
16301(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code. Any repayment of
loans under this paragraph shall be on a first-come, first-
served basis.
(f) Career Development.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that
participants in the fellows program--
(A) receive opportunities and support appropriate for the
commencement of a career track within the Department leading
toward a future position of senior leadership within the
Department, including ongoing mentorship support through
appropriate personnel from entities within the Department
such as the Defense Business Board and the Defense Innovation
Board; and
(B) are provided appropriate opportunities for employment
and advancement within the Department upon successful
completion of the fellows program.
(2) Reservation of positions.--In carrying out paragraph
(1)(B), the Secretary shall reserve for participants who
successfully complete the fellows program not fewer than 30
positions in the excepted service within the Department that
are suitable for the commencement of a career track toward
senior leadership within the Department. Any position so
reserved shall not be subject to or covered by any reduction
in headquarters personnel required under any other provision
of law.
(3) Noncompetitive appointment.--Upon the successful
completion of the assignment of a participant in the fellows
program in a position pursuant to subsection (e), the
Secretary may, without regard to the provisions of subchapter
I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, appoint the
participant to a position reserved pursuant to paragraph (2)
if the Secretary determines that such appointment will
contribute to the development of highly qualified future
senior leaders for the Department.
(4) Publication of selection.--The Secretary shall publish
on an Internet website of the Department available to the
public the names of the individuals selected to participate
in the fellows program.
(g) Outreach.--The Secretary shall undertake appropriate
outreach to inform potential participants in the fellows
program of the nature and benefits of participation in the
fellows program.
(h) Regulations.--The Secretary shall carry out this
section in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary
may prescribe for purposes of this section.
(i) Funding.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated
for each fiscal year for the Department of Defense for
operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, $10,000,000 may be
available to carry out the fellows program in such fiscal
year.
______