Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Don Young Arctic Warrior Act”.
Don Young Arctic Warrior Act
A BILL
To amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to establish special pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces assigned to cold weather operations, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Special pay and allowances for certain members of the Armed Forces assigned to cold weather operations
Special pay—
Establishment— Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 336 the following new section:
“337. Special pay: members of the Armed Forces assigned to cold weather operations
“(a) Special pay authorized—The Secretary concerned shall pay monthly special pay (to be known as “arctic pay”) to a member of the Armed Forces—
“(1) assigned to perform cold weather operations; or
“(2) required to maintain proficiency through frequent operations in cold weather.
“(b) Amount of pay—Special pay under this section shall equal $300 per month.
“(c) Relationship to other pay or allowances—Special pay under this section is in addition to any other pay or allowance to which a member is entitled.
“(d) Sunset—No special pay may be paid under this section after December 31, 2023.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 336 the following:
Regulations— The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations for the payment of arctic pay under section 337 of such title, as added by paragraph (1).
Allowance for broadband—
Establishment— Chapter 7 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 425 the following new section:
“426. Allowance for broadband for certain members of the Armed Forces assigned to permanent duty stations in Alaska
“(a) Allowance authorized—The Secretary concerned shall pay, to a member of the Armed Forces in the grade of E–5 or below who is assigned to a permanent duty station in Alaska, a monthly allowance for broadband.
“(b) Amount—The monthly allowance to a member under this section shall be—
“(1) $125 during calendar year 2023; and
“(2) in subsequent calendar years, an amount determined by the Secretary of Defense based on the difference between the average costs of unlimited broadband plans in Alaska and in the continental United States.
“(c) Sunset—No allowance may be paid under this section after December 31, 2028.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 425 the following:
Effective date— Section 426 of such title, as added by paragraph (1), shall take effect on the day the Secretary of Defense prescribes regulations under paragraph (4).
Regulations— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to carry out section 426 of such title, as added by paragraph (1).
Report— Not later than December 31, 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing—
the evaluation of the Secretary of the allowance under section 426 of such title, as added by paragraph (1); and
any recommendation of the Secretary regarding whether such allowance should be amended, extended, or made permanent.
Travel and transportation allowance—
Entitlement— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations and guidance that entitle a member of the Armed Forces in the grade of E–5 or below who is assigned to a permanent duty station in Alaska to a one-time allowance for air travel for the member and dependents of such member.
Amounts—
Travel to permanent residence— If the air travel for which an allowance under paragraph (1) is paid to a member is to the permanent residence of the member, the amount of the allowance shall equal the total costs of such air travel.
Travel to other destinations— If the air travel for which an allowance under paragraph (1) is paid to a member is to a destination in the United States other than the permanent residence of the member, the amount of the allowance shall be equal to the lesser of the following:
The rate for such air travel under the City Pair Program of the General Services Administration (or successor program) in effect at the time of such air travel.
The actual costs of such air travel.
Timing— Air travel for which an allowance under paragraph (1) is paid to a member may not commence later than 30 months after the member is assigned to a permanent duty station in Alaska.
Additional authorization— The Secretary concerned (as defined in section 101 of title 37, United States Code) may authorize an additional allowance for a member who has used the allowance to which such member is entitled under paragraph (1).
Sec. 3 Pilot program on car sharing on remote military installations
Establishment— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to carry out a pilot program to allow car sharing at military installations in Alaska.
Program elements— To carry out a pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall take steps including the following:
Seek to enter into an agreement with an entity that—
provides car sharing services; and
is capable of serving all military installations in Alaska.
Provide to members assigned to such installations the resources the Secretary determines necessary to participate in such pilot program.
Promote such pilot program to such members.
Implementation plan— Not later than 90 days after the date the Secretary enters into an agreement under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to carry out the pilot program.
Duration— A pilot program under this section shall terminate two years after the Secretary commences such pilot program.
Report— Upon the termination of a pilot program under this section, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the following information:
The number of individuals who used car sharing services offered pursuant to the pilot program.
The cost to the United States of the pilot program.
An analysis of the effect of the pilot program on mental health and community connectedness of members described in subsection (b)(2).
Other information the Secretary determines appropriate.
Definitions— In this section:
Congressional defense committees— The term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
Military installation— The term military installation has the meaning given that term in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.
Sec. 4 Clarification regarding licensure requirements for provision of non-medical counseling services by certain health-care professionals
Section 1094 of title 10, United States Code is amended—
in subsection (d)(1), by inserting “, including by providing non-medical counseling services in connection with such practice,” after “the health profession or professions of the health-care professional”; and
in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(3) The term non-medical counseling—
“(A) means short-term, non-therapeutic counseling that is not an appropriate substitute for individuals in need of clinical therapy; and
“(B) includes counseling that is supportive in nature and addresses issues such as general conditions of living, life skills, improving relationships at home and at work, stress management, adjustment issues (such as those related to returning from a deployment), marital problems, parenting, and grief and loss.”
Sec. 5 Improvements relating to behavioral health care available under military health system
Expansion of certain behavioral health programs at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences—
Establishment of graduate programs— The Secretary of Defense shall establish graduate degree-granting programs in counseling and social work at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Expansion of clinical psychology graduate program— The Secretary of Defense shall take such steps as may be necessary to expand the clinical psychology graduate program of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Post-award employment obligation—
Agreement with Secretary— Subject to subparagraph (B), as a condition of enrolling in a degree-granting program in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a civilian student shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to which the student agrees that, if the student does not become a member of a uniformed service upon graduating such program, the student shall work on a full-time basis as a covered civilian behavioral health provider for a period that is at least equivalent to the period during which the student was enrolled in such program.
Other terms and conditions— An agreement entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of Defense may determine necessary to protect the interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate for purposes of this section, including terms and conditions providing for limited exceptions from the employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
Repayment—
In general— A civilian graduate who does not complete the employment obligation required under the agreement entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall repay to the Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the cost of attendance in the program described in such subparagraph that are paid by the Secretary on behalf of the civilian graduate.
Determination of amount— The amount of any repayment required under clause (i) shall be determined by the Secretary.
Applicability— This paragraph shall apply to civilian students who enroll in the first year of a degree-granting program in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Implementation plan—
In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the implementation of this subsection.
Elements— The plan required by subparagraph (A) shall include—
a determination as to the resources for personnel and facilities required for the implementation of this subsection;
estimated timelines for such implementation; and
a projection of the number of graduates from the programs specified in paragraph (1) upon the completion of such implementation.
Scholarship-for-Service program for civilian behavioral health providers—
In general— Beginning not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program under which—
the Secretary may provide—
direct grants to cover tuition, fees, living expenses, and any other cost of attendance at an institution of higher education to an individual enrolled in a program of study leading to a graduate degree in clinical psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field (as determined by the Secretary); and
student loan repayment assistance to a credentialed behavioral health provider who has a graduate degree in clinical psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field (as determined by the Secretary); and
in exchange for such assistance, the recipient shall commit to work as a covered civilian behavioral health provider in accordance with paragraph (2).
Post-award employment obligations—
In general— Subject to subparagraph (B), as a condition of receiving assistance under paragraph (1), the recipient of such assistance shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to which the recipient agrees to work on a full-time basis as a covered civilian behavioral health provider for a period that is at least equivalent to the period during which the recipient received assistance under such paragraph.
Other terms and conditions— An agreement entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of Defense may determine necessary to protect the interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate for purposes of this section, including terms and conditions providing for limited exceptions from the post-award employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
Repayment—
In general— An individual who receives assistance under paragraph (1) and does not complete the employment obligation required under the agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (2) shall repay to the Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the financial assistance received by the individual under paragraph (1).
Determination of amount— The amount of any repayment required under subparagraph (A) shall be determined by the Secretary.
Implementation plan— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the implementation of this subsection.
Internship programs for civilian behavioral health—
Establishment of programs— The Secretary of Defense shall establish paid pre-doctoral and post-doctoral internship programs for the purpose of training clinical psychologists to work as covered civilian behavioral health providers.
Employment obligation—
In general— Subject to subparagraph (B), as a condition of participating in an internship program under paragraph (1), an individual shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to which the individual agrees to work on a full-time basis as a covered civilian behavioral health provider for a period that is at least equivalent to the period of participation by the individual in such internship program.
Other terms and conditions— An agreement entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of Defense may determine necessary to protect the interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate for purposes of this section, including terms and conditions providing for limited exceptions from the employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
Repayment—
In general— An individual who participates in an internship program under paragraph (1) and does not complete the employment obligation required under the agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (2) shall repay to the Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the cost of administering such program with respect to such individual and of any payment received by the individual under such program.
Determination of amount— The amount of any repayment required under subparagraph (A) shall be determined by the Secretary.
Implementation plan— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the implementation of this subsection.
Retention bonuses for certain behavioral health providers—
Retention bonus— From amounts available in the Department of Defense Civilian Workforce Incentive Fund established under section 9902(a)(3) of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense may pay an incentive payment of not more than $50,000 annually per employee to employees described in paragraph (2) for the purposes of retaining such employees.
Eligible recipients of bonus— Employees described in this paragraph are covered civilian behavioral health providers in the following professions:
Clinical psychologists.
Social workers.
Counselors.
Report on behavioral health workforce—
In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an analysis of the behavioral health workforce under the direct care component of the TRICARE program and submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the results of such analysis.
Elements— The report required under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the workforce specified in such paragraph, the following:
The number of positions authorized for military behavioral health providers within such workforce, and the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3).
The number of positions authorized for civilian behavioral health providers within such workforce, and the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3).
For each military department, the ratio of military behavioral health providers assigned to military medical treatment facilities compared to civilian behavioral health providers so assigned, disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3).
For each military department, the number of military behavioral health providers authorized to be embedded within an operational unit, and the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3).
Data on the historical demand for behavioral health services by members of the Armed Forces.
An estimate of the number of health care providers necessary to meet the demand by such members for behavioral health services under the direct care component of the TRICARE program, disaggregated by provider type.
An identification of any shortfall between the estimated number under subparagraph (F) and the total number of positions for behavioral health providers filled within such workforce.
Such other information as the Secretary may determine appropriate.
Provider types— The professions described in this paragraph are as follows:
Clinical psychologists.
Social workers.
Counselors.
Such other professions as the Secretary may determine appropriate.
Plan To address shortfalls in behavioral health workforce—
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to address any shortfall of the behavioral health workforce identified under subsection (e)(2)(G).
Elements— The plan required by paragraph (1) shall—
address, with respect to any shortfall of military behavioral health providers (addressed separately with respect to such providers assigned to military medical treatment facilities and such providers assigned to be embedded within operational units)—
recruitment;
accession;
retention;
special pay and other aspects of compensation;
workload;
the role of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program under chapter 105 of title 10, United States Code;
any additional authorities or resources necessary for the Secretary to increase the number of such providers; and
such other considerations as the Secretary may consider appropriate;
address, with respect to any shortfall of civilian behavioral health providers—
recruitment;
hiring;
retention;
pay and benefits;
workload;
educational scholarship programs;
any additional authorities or resources necessary for the Secretary to increase the number of such providers; and
such other considerations as the Secretary may consider appropriate;
recommend whether the number of military behavioral health providers in each military department should be increased, and if so, by how many;
include a plan to expand access to behavioral health services under the military health system through the use of telehealth;
include a plan by each military department to allocate additional uniformed mental health providers in military medical treatment facilities at remote installations; and
assess the feasibility of hiring civilian mental health providers at remote installations to augment the provision of mental health care services by uniformed mental health providers.
Definitions— In this section:
Armed Forces; congressional defense committees— The terms Armed Forces and congressional defense committees have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
Behavioral health— The term behavioral health includes psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work, counseling, and related fields.
Civilian behavioral health provider— The term civilian behavioral health provider means a behavioral health provider who is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense.
Cost of attendance— The term cost of attendance has the meaning given that term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
Covered civilian behavioral health provider— The term covered civilian behavioral health provider means a civilian behavioral health provider whose employment by the Secretary of Defense involves the provision of behavioral health services at a military medical treatment facility.
Institution of higher education— The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
Military behavioral health provider— The term military behavioral health provider means a behavioral health provider who is a member of the Armed Forces.
TRICARE program— The term TRICARE program has the meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 10, United States Code.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences— The term Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences means the university established under section 2112 of title 10, United States Code.
Sec. 6 Pilot program on safe storage of personally owned firearms
Establishment— The Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to promote the safe storage of personally owned firearms.
Voluntary participation— Participation by members of the Armed Forces in the pilot program under subsection (a) shall be on a voluntary basis.
Elements— Under the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall furnish to members of the Armed Forces who are participating in the pilot program at military installations selected under subsection (e) locking devices and firearm safes for the purpose of securing personally owned firearms when not in use (including by directly providing, subsidizing, or otherwise making available such devices or safes).
Plan— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the implementation of the pilot program under subsection (a).
Selection of installations— Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall select not fewer than five military installations at which to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a).
Duration— The duration of the pilot program under subsection (a) shall be for a period of six years.
Report— Upon the termination of the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the following information:
The number and type of locking devices and firearm safes furnished to members of the Armed Forces under the pilot program.
The cost of carrying out the pilot program.
An analysis of the effect of the pilot program on suicide prevention.
Such other information as the Secretary may determine appropriate, which shall exclude any personally identifiable information about participants in the pilot program.
Definitions— In this section, the terms Armed Forces and congressional defense committees have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.