To require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to develop guidelines regarding the use by the Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of unofficial sources of information to determine the eligibility of a member or former member of the Armed Forces for benefits and decorations when the member’s service records are incomplete because of damage to the records, including records damaged by a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Guidelines required— The Secretary of Defense shall develop guidelines regarding the use by the Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of unofficial sources of information, including eyewitness statements, to determine the eligibility of a member or former member of the Armed Forces for benefits and decorations when the service records of the member are incomplete because of damage to the records as a result of the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, or any subsequent incident while the records were in the possession of the Department of Defense.

Consultation— The Secretary of Defense shall prepare the guidelines in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with respect to veterans benefits under title 38, United States Code, whose eligibility determinations depend on the use of service records maintained by the Department of Defense.

Time for completion— The Secretary of Defense shall complete development of the guidelines not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.