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S. 1761Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to modernize certain forms and surveys of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Tammy DuckworthSen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Introduced June 10, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 6:02 AM UTC

The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to review all Department of Defense forms and surveys for language that could be seen as racially or ethnically insensitive. It mandates a study, periodic reporting to Congress, and a plan to update any problematic terminology, with the goal of modernizing those documents within a set timeline.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary must conduct a study to identify any DoD forms or surveys that contain potentially insensitive racial or ethnic terms.
  • Interim status reports are to be sent to the Armed Services committees 90 and 180 days after the bill becomes law.
  • A final report, due within one year, must list the identified forms and provide a modernization plan, including any needed legislative changes.
  • The Secretary must implement the modernization plan no later than 18 months after the bill’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

June 10, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 10, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

June 10, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 10, 2019

II

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1761

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 10, 2019

Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Markey, Mr. Leahy, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Defense to modernize certain forms and surveys of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

1.

Modernization of certain forms and surveys

(a)

Study

The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study to identify each form and survey of the Department of Defense, in use on the date of the enactment of this Act, that contains a term or classification that the Secretary determines may be considered racially or ethnically insensitive.

(b)

Reports

(1)

Interim Reports

On the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on the date that is 180 days after such date of enactment, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the status of the study conducted under subsection (a).

(2)

Final Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) that includes—

(A)

a list of each form and survey identified under such study; and

(B)

a plan for modernizing the terms and classifications contained in such forms and surveys, including legislative recommendations.

(c)

Modernization Required

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out the plan included in the report submitted under subsection (b).