H.R. 3566 – ANCHOR for Military Families Act

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Updated November 24, 2025 at 12:26 AM UTC

The ANCHOR for Military Families Act updates Title 10 to make sure the Department of Defense gives service members and their families clear, detailed information about relocation assistance before a permanent change of station. It expands the types of support covered—housing, spouse employment, education, mental‑health, and legal help—and sets a 45‑day deadline for delivering this information. The bill also requires annual reporting to Congress on how well the program is working and how satisfied families are.

Key Provisions

Amends the existing relocation assistance section to add specific language about community orientation, education systems, school enrollment, and support for children with disabilities.
Creates a new requirement that the Secretary of Defense must give service members and their families detailed information on all relocation assistance programs at least 45 days before a permanent change of station takes effect.
The information must cover family assistance (financial planning, spouse employment, community integration), housing options, mental‑health and well‑being services, educational resources (including special‑education and school transition help), and legal/financial counseling.
Mandates that this information be provided through accessible briefings, printed materials, and online resources, with a coordinated communication strategy to raise awareness.
Requires the Secretary to assess family satisfaction with the information provided.
Orders the Secretary to brief the Armed Services committees each year for three years on how the new requirements are being implemented, the level of awareness among families, and any recommendations for improvement.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 21, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 21, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 21, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 21, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3566

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 21, 2025

Ms. Randall (for herself and Mr. Wittman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to provide information on relocation assistance programs when a member of the Armed Forces receives orders for a change of permanent station, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Assuring Navigation of Compact Help for Ongoing Relocation for Military Families Act or the ANCHOR for Military Families Act.

2.

Provision of Information Regarding Relocation Assistance Programs for Members Receiving Orders for a Change of Permanent Station

(a)

In General

Section 1056 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking and community orientation and inserting community orientation, education systems, school enrollment procedures, and State-specific provisions under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children;

(B)

in subparagraph (C), by striking and community orientation and inserting community orientation, and educational resources for dependent children, including school transition assistance, academic continuity, and special education services; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(E)

Educational planning and support services for dependent children with disabilities, including procedures for transferring individualized education programs and coordinating with the Exceptional Family Member Program.

;

(2)

by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and

(3)

by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection:

(e)

Provision of Information on Program

(1)

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that members of the armed forces and the families of those members are provided information regarding available assistance under this section and any other assistance relating to a change of permanent station available under any other provision of law.

(2)

The Secretary shall ensure that information required to be provided under this subsection is provided to a member of the armed forces and the family of that member not later than 45 days before the date on which a change of permanent station takes effect for that member.

(3)

The information provided under this subsection shall include—

(A)

information on family assistance programs authorized under section 1788 of this title, including financial planning resources, spouse employment support, and community integration services;

(B)

guidance on available housing assistance, including on-base housing options, rental protections, and resources for off-base relocation;

(C)

mental health and well-being support services, including those accessible during the period of transition for a change of permanent station;

(D)

educational resources for dependent children, including school transition assistance and special education services;

(E)

information on available legal and financial counseling programs; and

(F)

any other assistance programs that support members of the armed forces and their families during relocation.

(4)

The Secretary of Defense shall—

(A)

incorporate the information required to be provided under this subsection into accessible materials and briefings provided to members of the armed forces relating to a change of permanent station;

(B)

ensure that the program under this section provides accessible materials and briefings at military installations and through online resources;

(C)

develop a communication strategy, including digital outreach and printed materials, to increase awareness of the program under this section and assistance available under other provisions of law relating to a change of permanent station; and

(D)

assess the satisfaction of members of the armed forces and their families with the information provided under this subsection.

.

(b)

Report

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for three years, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the implementation of the amendments made by this section. Such briefing shall include—

(1)

the status of efforts to integrate information required to be provided by subsection (e) of section 1056 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, into accessible materials and briefings provided to members of the Armed Forces and their families relating to a change of permanent station;

(2)

an assessment of the awareness by members of the Armed Forces and their families of available programs in support of a change of permanent station; and

(3)

any recommendations of the Secretary for improving the dissemination of information related to relocation and family assistance programs.