H.R. 3176House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

To direct the Secretary of Defense to modify the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to be machine readable and electronically transferable.

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 6:03 AM UTC

The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to update the DD Form 214, the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, so it can be read by computers and transferred electronically. The change is aimed at veterans and former service members who receive the form, as well as Department of Defense agencies that use it, to speed up processing and reduce manual data entry. The Secretary must issue the new version within two years and report to Congress on current manual processes, physical‑copy needs, priorities for modernization, and cost estimates.

Key Provisions

The Secretary of Defense must modify the DD Form 214 to be machine readable and electronically transferable.
The revised, electronic‑compatible DD Form 214 must be released no later than two years after the bill becomes law.
Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must report to Congress detailing which DoD systems still require manual entry of DD Form 214 data, which activities still need a physical copy, the priority order for modernizing these items, and the estimated cost to automate them.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Military Personnel Subcommittee

June 11, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 10, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

June 10, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Military Personnel Subcommittee

June 11, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 10, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3176

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 10, 2019

Mr. Brown of Maryland (for himself, Mr. Cisneros, and Mr. Waltz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Defense to modify the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to be machine readable and electronically transferable.

Machine readability and electronic transferability of Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214)

(a)

Modification required

The Secretary of Defense shall modify the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to be machine readable and electronically transferable.

(b)

Deadline for modification

The Secretary of Defense shall release a revised Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214), modified pursuant to subsection (a), not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to Congress regarding the following:

(1)

What systems of the Department of Defense require an individual to manually enter information from DD Form 214.

(2)

What activities of the Department of Defense require a veteran or former member of the Armed Forces to provide a physical copy of DD Form 214.

(3)

The order of priority for modernizing items identified under paragraphs (1) and (2) as determined by the Secretary.

(4)

The estimated cost, as determined by the Secretary, to automate items identified under paragraphs (1) and (2).