S.Amdt. 4668

SA 4668. Mr. CRUZ (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Murkowski, Mr.
Coons, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Lujan, Ms. Baldwin,
Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Hickenlooper) submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. Reed and intended to be
proposed to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal
year 2022 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 of subtitle E of title V, add the following:

SEC. 576. PROHIBITION ON LIMITING OF CERTAIN PARENTAL
GUARDIANSHIP RIGHTS OF CADETS AND MIDSHIPMEN.

(a) Prohibition.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Transportation, in
consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments
and the Superintendent of each Federal service academy, as
appropriate, shall prescribe in regulations policies that
include the option to preserve parental guardianship

[[Page S8249]]

rights of cadets and midshipmen are protected consistent with
individual and academic responsibilities.
(2) Development of policy to protect parental rights.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of
Transportation shall implement a policy that includes the
option to preserve the parental rights of Federal service
academy students who become pregnant or father a child while
attending a Federal service academy.
(B) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of
Transportation shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a report on the legislative changes needed to
support the policy developed pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3) Options for pregnant cadets and midshipmen.--The
regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall provide that
females who become pregnant while enrolled at a Federal
service academy shall have, at a minimum, the following
options to be elected by the cadet or midshipman:
(A) At the conclusion of the current semester or when
otherwise deemed medically appropriate, the individual may
take an unpaid leave of absence from the Federal service
academy for up to one year followed by a return to full cadet
or midshipman status (if remaining otherwise qualified).
(B) Seek a transfer to a university with a Reserve Officer
Training Program for military service under the military
department concerned.
(C) Full release from the Federal service academy and any
service or financially related obligations, regardless of
commitment status.
(D) Enlistment in military active-duty service, with all of
the attendant benefits.
(4) Treatment of males who father a child while enrolled at
a federal service academy.--The regulations prescribed under
paragraph (1) shall provide for the following policies
regarding males who may father a child while enrolled at a
Federal service academy:
(A) Academy leadership shall establish policies to allow
cadets and midshipmen at least two weeks of leave to attend
the birth, which must be used in conjunction with the birth;
and
(B) The academy shall provide the father the same options
available to a cadet or midshipman who becomes a mother while
enrolled by selecting one of the options outlined in
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (3).
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed as requiring or providing for the changing of
admission requirements at any of the Federal service
academies.
(c) Federal Service Academy Defined.--In this section, the
term ``Federal service academy'' means the following:
(1) The United States Military Academy, West Point, New
York.
(2) The United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
(3) The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
(4) The United States Coast Guard Academy, New London,
Connecticut.
(5) The United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point,
New York.
______