H.R. 8070 — Introduced in House → Reported in House

Section 1 Short title

(a)

added In general— This Act may be cited as the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025”.

(b)

added Reference— Any reference in this or any other Act to the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025” shall be deemed to be a reference to the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025”.

removed ~~This Act may be cited as the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement Act”.~~

Sec. 2 Organization of Act into divisions; table of contents

(a)

added Divisions— This Act is organized into four divisions as follows:

(1)

added Division A—Department of Defense Authorizations.

(2)

added Division B—Military Construction Authorizations.

(3)

added Division C—Department of Energy National Security Authorizations and Other Authorizations.

(4)

added Division D—Funding Tables.

(b)

added Table of contents— The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 3 Congressional defense committees

added

added In this Act, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 101 Authorization of appropriations

changed ~~Effective on January 1, 2025, the rates of monthly basic pay~~ Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for ~~members of~~ fiscal year 2025 for procurement for the ~~uniformed services within each pay grade~~ Army, the Navy and ~~with years of service computed under section 205 of title 37, United States Code (and subject to adjustment under section 1009 of such title), are~~ the Marine Corps, the Air Force and the Space Force, and Defense-wide activities, as ~~follows:~~specified in the funding table in section 4101.

Sec. 102 Evaluation of the rates of the basic allowance for subsistence

removed

removed Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the evaluation of the Secretary of the rates of the basic allowance for subsistence under section 402 of title 37, United States Code. Elements of such report shall include the following:

(1)

removed ~~The determination of the Secretary whether such rates are sufficient.~~

(2)

removed ~~Other factors that could be used to determine such rates, including—~~

(A)

removed ~~the number of dependents a member of the uniformed services has;~~

(B)

removed ~~whether the member has access to fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meat;~~

(C)

removed ~~whether the member has access to healthy food; and~~

(D)

removed ~~the local costs of food, including at commissaries operated by the Secretary under chapter 147 of title 10, United States Code.~~

(3)

removed ~~The recommendations of the Secretary whether, and how, such rates may be improved.~~

Sec. 103 Basic needs allowance for members on active service in the Armed Forces: expansion of eligibility; increase of amount

removed

(a)

removed ~~Eligibility—~~ ~~Section 402b of title 37, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (b)(2)—~~

(1)

removed ~~in subparagraph (A)—~~

(A)

removed ~~by striking “(A)”;~~

(B)

removed ~~by striking “150 percent” and inserting “200 percent”; and~~

(C)

removed ~~by striking “; or” and inserting “; and”; and~~

(2)

removed ~~by striking subparagraph (B).~~

(b)

removed ~~Amount—~~ ~~Such section is further amended, in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking “150 percent (or, in the case of a member described in subsection (b)(2)(B), 200 percent)” and inserting “200 percent”.~~

Sec. 104 Basic allowance for housing: authorization of appropriations

removed

removed For fiscal year 2025, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,200,000,000 for the purpose of fully funding the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services under section 403 of title 37, United States Code.

Sec. 105 Expansion of authority of a commanding officer to authorize a basic allowance for housing for a member performing initial field or sea duty

removed

removed ~~Subsection (f) of section 403 of title 37, United States Code, is amended—~~

(1)

removed ~~in paragraph (1)—~~

(A)

removed ~~by striking “certifies that the member was necessarily required to procure quarters at the member's expense.” and inserting an em dash; and~~

(B)

removed ~~by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:~~

removed ~~“(A) certifies that the member was required to procure housing at the member's expense; or~~

removed ~~“(B) determines that quarters at the duty station or in the field environment are inadequate or an impediment to morale, good order, or discipline.”~~

(2)

removed ~~in paragraph (2)(B)—~~

(A)

removed ~~by striking “the Secretary may authorize” and inserting “a commanding officer may authorize”;~~

(B)

removed ~~by striking “who is serving in pay grade E–4 or E–5” and inserting “who is serving in a pay grade below E–6”; and~~

(C)

removed by striking “members serving in pay grades E–4 and E–5” and inserting “such members. In authorizing an allowance under this subparagraph, the commanding officer shall consider the availability of quarters for the member and whether such quarters are inadequate or an impediment to morale, good order, or discipline”.

Sec. 106 Report regarding the calculation of cost-of-living allowances

removed

(a)

removed ~~Report required—~~ Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA. Such report shall include the following elements:

(1)

removed ~~The factors used to calculate the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA.~~

(2)

removed ~~An explanation of how the factors described in paragraph (1) are determined.~~

(3)

removed ~~An explanation of how the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA may be adjusted, including—~~

(A)

removed ~~timelines for such an adjustment;~~

(B)

removed ~~bases for such an adjustment; and~~

(C)

removed ~~the relationship between CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA.~~

(4)

removed ~~The evaluation of the Secretary whether the surveys used to collect data from members to calculate the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA are effective.~~

(5)

removed ~~The evaluation of the Secretary whether the calculation of the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA is effective.~~

(6)

removed ~~The assessment of the Secretary whether the calculation of the CONUS COLA or OCONUS COLA should include additional factors, including—~~

(A)

removed ~~the number of dependents a member has;~~

(B)

removed ~~vicinity and commissary costs;~~

(C)

removed ~~the reimbursement of expenses (including tolls and taxes) incurred by a member based on the duty station of such member;~~

(D)

removed ~~remoteness;~~

(E)

removed ~~hardship;~~

(F)

removed ~~loss of spousal income;~~

(G)

removed ~~the unavailability of goods or services in the vicinity of a duty station; and~~

(H)

removed ~~any other factor that the Secretary determines appropriate.~~

(b)

removed ~~Definitions—~~ ~~In this section:~~

(1)

removed ~~The term “CONUS COLA” means the cost-of-living allowance paid to a member of the uniformed services under section 403b of title 37, United States Code.~~

(2)

removed ~~The term “OCONUS COLA” means a cost-of-living allowance paid to a member of the uniformed services on the basis that—~~

(A)

removed ~~the member is assigned to a permanent duty station located outside the continental United States; or~~

(B)

removed ~~the dependents of such member reside outside the continental United States but not in the vicinity of the permanent duty station of such member.~~

Sec. 111 Pilot program on the use of robotic targets to enhance the lethality of the reserve components of the Army

added

(a)

added Establishment— The Secretary of the Army shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary incorporates the use of moving robotic target systems into live fire training provided to select infantry units of the reserve and National Guard components of the Army.

(b)

added Designation— The pilot program under subsection (a) shall be known as the “Lethality and Warfighting Enhancement Program”.

(c)

added Locations— The Secretary of the Army shall select not fewer than three military installations at which to conduct the pilot program under subsection (a).

(d)

added Objectives— The objectives of the pilot program under subsection (a) shall be—

(1)

added to increase the lethality of the combined fighting force of the Army by providing reserve component and National Guard infantry units with the opportunity to conduct realistic live fire training on state-of-the-art moving robotic target systems; and

(2)

added to demonstrate the effect of such training on small arms proficiency and lethality in ground combat operations.

(e)

added Selection of participating units— The Secretary of the Army shall select infantry units of the reserve components of the Army to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a) taking into consideration—

(1)

added the past performance of the unit;

(2)

added the readiness status of the unit, with an emphasis on providing training to those units designated as preparing to deploy or at a similarly designated readiness status; and

(3)

added the likelihood that a unit would be actively deployed or commanded to conduct decisive action.

(f)

added Commencement— The Secretary of the Army shall commence the pilot program under subsection (a) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(g)

added Termination— The pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(h)

added Briefings— Not later than 90 days after concluding activities under the pilot program at a military installation selected under subsection (c), the Secretary of the Army shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing that includes a description of—

(1)

added the manner in which the program was conducted at such installation; and

(2)

added any results achieved under the program at such installation.

(i)

added Contract authority—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of the Army is authorized to enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of moving robotic target systems for use in the pilot program under subsection (a).

(2)

added Required capabilities— Robotic target systems procured under paragraph (1) shall be capable of—

(A)

added conducting multiple realistic offensive and defensive scenarios in a single training session that are consistent with combat operations;

(B)

added operating in an unpredictable, realistic, and reactionary fashion;

(C)

added objectively scoring trainee performance;

(D)

added maneuvering across diverse geographic landscapes, including snow, ice, soft soils, extreme heat, extreme cold, wooded terrain and offroad areas;

(E)

added operating at distances greater than 100 yards from the range operator;

(F)

added surviving live fire from 6.8 mm rounds and the Next Generation Squad Weapon of the Army; and

(G)

added fully functioning in all reasonably expected weather conditions.

Sec. 112 Limitation on procurement of end items containing energetic materials pending certification on domestic production capacity

added

(a)

added Limitation— The Secretary of the Army may not procure, from a covered source, an end item containing energetic materials that are in production at a Federal Government-owned production facility until the date on which the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees—

(1)

added a certification from the Secretary indicating that Federal Government-owned production facilities for such materials in the United States have reached production capacity;

(2)

added a summary of the information on which such certification is based.

(b)

added Waiver— The Secretary of the Army may waive the limitation under subsection (a) with respect to an end item for a period of up to one fiscal year if the Secretary determines that the waiver is necessary for reasons of national security. Whenever the Secretary makes such a waiver, the Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees of the waiver and the reasons for the waiver.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered source” means any provider of energetic materials outside of the United States.

(2)

added The term “end item” has the meaning given that term in section 4863(m) of title 10, United States Code.

(3)

added The term “energetic materials” means critical chemicals and formulations that—

(A)

added release large amounts of stored chemical energy; and

(B)

added are capable of being used as explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, and reactive materials that create lethal effects in warheads in kinetic weapons components and systems.

Sec. 131 Modification of annual report on cost targets for certain aircraft carriers

added

added Section 126(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2035) is amended—

(1)

added in the subsection heading, by striking “and CVN–81”; and inserting “CVN–81, and subsequent carriers”;

(2)

added in paragraph (1) by striking “and the CVN–81” and inserting “the CVN–81, and each subsequent Ford-class aircraft carrier”;

(3)

added in paragraph (2)—

(A)

added in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “and the CVN–81” and inserting “the CVN–81, and each subsequent Ford-class aircraft carrier”; and

(B)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

added “(H) A comparison of the ship cost baseline to the most recent budget estimate available as of the date of the report, set forth separately for costs related to—

added “(i) development;

added “(ii) procurement; and

added “(iii) operations and sustainment.

added “(I) For each contract that requires the production of a contract performance report, estimates from the contractor and program manager of—

added “(i) the total cost of the ship at completion, taking into account any changes in costs known or anticipated as of the date of the report; and

added “(ii) the schedule for completion of the ship, taking into account any variances to such schedule known or anticipated as of the date of the report.”

(4)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(3) Commencement and termination of reporting—The requirement to submit a report with respect to a Ford-class aircraft carrier under paragraph (1) shall—

added “(A) begin in the year following the first fiscal year for which funds are appropriated for the procurement of the carrier; and

added “(B) end on the date the carrier reaches its obligation work limiting date.”

Sec. 132 Procurement authorities for certain amphibious shipbuilding programs

added

added Section 129(c) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263) is amended by inserting “across programs” after “advance procurement”.

Sec. 133 Multiyear procurement authority for CH–53K aircraft and T408 engines

added

(a)

added Authority for multiyear procurement— Subject to section 3501 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the fiscal year 2025 program year, for the procurement of the following:

(1)

added CH–53K aircraft.

(2)

added T408 engines for such aircraft.

(b)

added Condition for out-year contract payments— A contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2025 is subject to the availability of appropriations or funds for that purpose for such later fiscal year.

(c)

added Authority for advance procurement— The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year 2025, for advance procurement associated with the aircraft and engines for which authorization to enter into a multiyear procurement contract is provided under subsection (a), which may include procurement of economic order quantities of material and equipment for such aircraft or engines when cost savings are achievable.

Sec. 134 Recapitalization of tactical fighter aircraft of the Navy Reserve

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of the Navy shall ensure that all covered F–18 aircraft are—

(1)

added provided only to the Navy Reserve; and

(2)

added used only to recapitalize and maintain, within the Navy Reserve—

(A)

added a deployable tactical strike-fighter capability; and

(B)

added a threat representative adversary support capability that may be used in support of training activities of the Department of Defense.

(b)

added Covered F–18 aircraft defined— In this section, the term “covered F–18 aircraft” means any F/A–18E/F Super Hornet aircraft procured using funds appropriated for the Navy for fiscal year 2022 or fiscal year 2023.

Sec. 135 Designation of official responsible for autonomous surface and underwater dual-modality vehicles

added

(a)

added Designation required— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall designate an appropriate official within the Department of the Navy to have primary responsibility for the development and acquisition of dual-modality, advanced autonomous vehicles, consistent with warfighter requirements.

(b)

added Program element— The Secretary of the Navy shall ensure, within budget program elements for the Navy, that there is a dedicated program element for the development and acquisition of dual-modality, advanced autonomous vehicles.

Sec. 136 Limitation on availability of funds for Medium Landing Ship pending certification and report

added

added None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Navy may be obligated or expended to procure a Medium Landing Ship until the date on which the Secretary of the Navy submits to the congressional defense committees—

(1)

added a certification from the Secretary confirming that not more than 35 percent of the design requirements for the Medium Landing Ship are based on military specifications (as determined based on the capabilities development document for the ship); and

(2)

added a report that includes a comparison of the difference in construction costs and delivery timelines, on a per vessel basis, between—

(A)

added constructing the Medium Landing Ship using military specifications; and

(B)

added constructing such ship using commercial standards and commercial design elements.

Sec. 137 Limitation on structural improvements and electrical power upgrades for AH–1Z and UH–1Y helicopters

added

(a)

added Limitation— The Secretary of the Navy may not carry out covered upgrades to AH–1Z Viper and UH–1Y Venom helicopters at a location other than a facility owned by the original equipment manufacturer for such helicopters until the date on which the Secretary certifies to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives that the plan for carrying out covered upgrades at location other than a facility owned by the original equipment manufacturer is expected—

(1)

added to result in greater performance, survivability, lethality, interoperability, mission execution, and overall safety of the helicopter platform than would otherwise be achievable by completing such upgrades at a facility owned by the original equipment manufacturer for the model of helicopter involved;

(2)

added to provide improved onboard electrical power capacity and ensure adequate power margin for integrating future capabilities;

(3)

added to improve and expand future weapons interfaces; and

(4)

added to allow for improved ease of maintenance.

(b)

added Covered upgrades— In this section, the term “covered upgrades” means any structural improvements or electrical power upgrades for AH–1Z viper or UH–1Y venom helicopters.

Sec. 138 Sense of Congress on aircraft carrier procurement

added

(a)

added Findings— Congress finds the following:

(1)

added The aircraft carriers of the Navy are a cornerstone of the Nation’s ability to project its power and strength.

(2)

added Construction of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers represents a national effort which requires predictable and stable build schedules and alignment of purpose between the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, and the aircraft carrier industrial base.

(3)

added The aircraft carrier industrial base includes more than 2,000 companies in 44 states that contribute to the construction and maintenance of these complex and technologically advanced ships.

(4)

added The benefits of stable, executable aircraft carrier procurement plans extend throughout the aircraft carrier industrial base, promoting the development and retention of highly-skilled workforces and capital investments in world-class manufacturing and shipbuilding facilities throughout the Nation.

(5)

added Aircraft carrier procurement plans accompanying the President’s budget request for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 forecast procurement of CVN–82 in fiscal year 2028, however, the fiscal year 2025 plan defers procurement until fiscal year 2030, creating a significant and destabilizing production gap for the aircraft carrier industrial base.

(b)

added Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

added the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy should implement aircraft carrier acquisition strategies that maximize benefits to operational commanders while simultaneously protecting the interests of the taxpayer and supporting the national nuclear shipbuilding industrial base;

(2)

added the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy should review and revise the acquisition strategy, including a two-ship buy of CVN–82 and CVN–83, for Ford-class aircraft carriers in the President’s budget request for fiscal year 2026 to ensure it is consistent with accepted shipbuilding industrial base analyses, prior Department recommendations, reports to Congress, congressional resolutions, section 8062 of title 10, United States Code, and national security interests; and

(3)

added the Secretary of Defense should request procurement of the CVN–82 carrier not later than fiscal year 2028.

Sec. 151 Modification of minimum inventory requirement for air refueling tanker aircraft

added

(a)

added Minimum inventory requirement—

(1)

added In general— Section 9062(j) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “466” each place it appears and inserting “474”.

(2)

added Effective date— The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1, 2024.

(b)

added Prohibition on reduction of KC–135 aircraft in PMAI of the reserve components—

(1)

added In general— None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Air Force may be obligated or expended to reduce the number of KC–135 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory within the reserve components of the Air Force.

(2)

added Primary mission aircraft inventory defined— In this subsection, the term “primary mission aircraft inventory” has the meaning given that term in section 9062(i)(2)(B) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 152 Modification of certain primary mission aircraft inventory requirements for the combat air forces of the Air Force

added

(a)

added Fighter aircraft minimum inventory requirement— Subsection (i)(1) of section 9062 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “1,145 fighter aircraft” and inserting “1,106 fighter aircraft”.

(b)

added A-10 aircraft minimum inventory requirement— Section 134(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2038) is amended by striking “135 A–10 aircraft” and inserting “96 A–10 aircraft”.

Sec. 153 Extension of requirements relating to C–130 aircraft

added

(a)

added Extension of minimum inventory requirement— Section 146(a)(3)(B) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2455), as amended by section 134(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31), is amended by striking “2024” and inserting “2025”.

(b)

added Extension of prohibition on reduction of C-130 aircraft assigned to National Guard— Section 146(b)(1) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2455), as amended by section 134(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31), is amended by striking “During fiscal years 2023 and 2024” and inserting “During the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2025”.

Sec. 154 Limitation on retirement of F–15E aircraft pending fighter aircraft capabilities and requirements study

added

(a)

added Limitation on retirement of F–15E aircraft—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of the Air Force may not retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage or on backup aircraft inventory status any F–15E aircraft until a period of 180 days has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary of Defense provides to the congressional defense committees the reports and briefing required under subsection (b)(3).

(2)

added Exception— The prohibition under paragraph (1) of shall not apply to individual F–15E aircraft that the Secretary of the Air Force determines, on a case by case basis, to be no longer mission capable and uneconomical to repair because of aircraft accidents, mishaps, or excessive material degradation and non-airworthiness status of certain aircraft.

(3)

added Conforming repeal— Section 9062 of title 10, United States Code, as most recently amended by sections 131 and 132 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31), is amended—

(A)

added by striking subsection (l); and

(B)

added by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection (l).

(b)

added Fighter aircraft capabilities and requirements study—

(1)

added Study— The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into a contract or other agreement with a federally funded research and development center pursuant to which the center shall carry out—

(A)

added an analysis of the fighter aircraft procurement, fielding, and divestment plan of the Department of the Air Force, as submitted to Congress in accordance with section 148 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 178); and

(B)

added a fighter aircraft capability and requirements study that estimates the number of fighter aircraft needed by the Air Force to meet the requirements of combatant commanders.

(2)

added Report to Secretary— The federally funded research and development center that carries out the study and analysis under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report on the results of such study and analysis.

(3)

added Reports and briefing to Congress— Not later than December 31, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall—

(A)

added submit to the congressional defense committees an unaltered copy of the report received by the Secretary under paragraph (2);

(B)

added submit to such committees a separate report on the views of the Secretary with respect to the results of the study and analysis carried out under paragraph (1), which shall include—

(i)

added a detailed explanation of the strategy and methodology used to conduct the study and analysis, including any force sizing and shaping constructs, scenarios, and assumptions used as part of such study and analysis; and

(ii)

added assessed operational risk based on the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff risk management classifications set forth the most recent version of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Manual 3105.01A, titled “Joint Risk Analysis Methodology”; and

(C)

added provide a briefing to the committees on such results.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section, the term “fighter aircraft” means—

(1)

added F–15, F–16, F–22, and F–35 aircraft; and

(2)

added the Next Generation Air Dominance piloted combat aircraft.

Sec. 155 Limitation on use of funds pending submission of report on plan for long-term Air Force fighter force structure

added

added Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2025 for the Secretary of the Air Force for official travel, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which the Secretary of the Air Force submits to the congressional defense committees the report required under section 148(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31).

Sec. 156 Recapitalization of air refueling tanker aircraft of the reserve components of the Air Force

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of the Air Force shall replace each covered reserve tanker aircraft with an aircraft that has capabilities equivalent to or exceeding the capabilities of the aircraft being replaced.

(b)

added Waiver— The Secretary of the Air Force may waive the requirement to replace an air refueling tanker aircraft under subsection (a), on a case by case basis, if the Secretary determines that such replacement would degrade the readiness of the air refueling capability of the Air Force.

(c)

added Sunset— This section shall terminate on October 1, 2025.

(d)

added Covered reserve tanker aircraft defined— The term “covered reserve tanker aircraft” means an air refueling tanker aircraft of the reserve components of the Air Force.

Sec. 157 Consolidation of authorities relating to Air Force landing gear

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of the Air Force shall transfer to the Air Force Sustainment Center supply chain management, item management, and delegated engineering authorities for landing gear systems of F–15EX, F–22, F–35, and T–7A aircraft.

(b)

added Implementation plan— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall develop and initiate an implementation plan for the transfers required under subsection (a).

(c)

added Report— Not later than 30 days after completing the development of the implementation plan required under subsection (b), the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that includes a description of—

(1)

added the planned milestones for execution of the implementation plan;

(2)

added any data, staff, and funding needed to effectively carry out such plan; and

(3)

added the progress of the Secretary in meeting such milestones as of the date of the report.

Sec. 158 Notification of delays in delivery of MH–139 aircraft

added

(a)

added Notice required— Not later than 30 days after becoming aware of an expected delay in the delivery date of an MH–139 aircraft, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives written notice of such delay together with an explanation of the reasons for such delay.

(b)

added Delivery date defined— In this section, the term “delivery date”, when used with respect to an MH–139 aircraft, means the date on which such aircraft is expected to be delivered to the Air Force under the most recent schedule for such delivery in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 159 Plan for establishment and maintenance of F–16 simulators at Air National Guard training centers

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Director of the Air National Guard, shall develop and implement a plan to fully fund the establishment and maintenance of F–16 simulators at training centers of the Air National Guard as described in subsection (b).

(b)

added Elements— The plan under subsection (a) shall include—

(1)

added an estimate of the costs of maintaining F–16 simulators at Air National Guard training centers that have such simulators as of the date of the plan;

(2)

added an estimate of the costs of establishing F–16 simulators at all Air National Guard training centers that are required to, but do not, have such simulators as of the date of the plan, including training centers for Air National Guard units converting from the A–10 aircraft to the F–16 aircraft; and

(3)

added a plan for allocating funding to pay the costs described in paragraphs (1) and (2), including the proportion of such funding expected to be provided by the Air Force and the Air National Guard, respectively.

(c)

added Report— Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

(1)

added the plan developed under subsection (a); and

(2)

added an assessment from the Secretary and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau evaluating how the readiness of Air National Guard Units requiring F–16 simulators may be affected if such simulators are not established and maintained at mission training centers as required under the plan.

(d)

added Deadline for implementation— Not later than June 1, 2025, the Secretary of the Air Force and the Director of the Air National Guard shall commence implementation of the plan developed under subsection (a).

Sec. 171 Modification to Air Force and Navy use of commercial dual-use parts in certain aircraft and engines

added

added Section 161 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 3453 note) is amended—

(1)

added in the section heading, by striking “used”;

(2)

added in subsection (a)(1), by inserting “new,” before “used”; and

(3)

added in subsection (b)(2), by inserting “, or from a certified production approval holder pursuant to part 21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations” before the period at the end.

Sec. 172 Policy on qualifications of contractors for into-plane fuel deliveries for heavy-lift aircraft

added

(a)

added Establishment of policy— Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency shall develop and implement a policy that establishes factors for determining the qualifications of fixed-based operators bidding on contracts to provide into-plane fuel deliveries for heavy-lift aircraft at airports with weight-bearing capacity to serve such aircraft.

(b)

added Factors— With respect to the policy required under subsection (a), the factors for determining whether a fixed-based operator is qualified to provide into-plane fuel deliveries for heavy-lift aircraft may include the following:

(1)

added The fixed-base operator is able to maintain a minimum onsite fuel storage capacity equal to twice the preceding year’s peak day of fuel demand at the airport, at least half of which is comprised of fixed tanks.

(2)

added Evidence that the fixed-base operator’s total number of employees is sufficient to service military customers 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year.

(3)

added The fixed-based operator is capable of performing a full range of cargo on-load, off-load, and handling operations, including for dangerous goods and cargo, for military aircraft of all sizes.

(4)

added The fixed-base operator possesses an onsite, certified maintenance and repair station.

(5)

added The fixed-based operator has an operational history of providing services to heavy-lift aircraft at the airport involved for at least three years preceding the operator’s bid to perform into-plane fuel deliveries.

(6)

added Any other factors the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency determines appropriate.

(c)

added Heavy-lift aircraft defined— In this section, the term “heavy-lift aircraft” means aircraft larger than 107,000-pound maximum gross takeoff weight.

(d)

added Consultation— The Director of the Defense Logistics Agency shall consult with relevant heavy-lift aircraft mission planners in developing and implementing the policy required under this section.

Sec. 173 Prohibition on operation, procurement, and contracting related to foreign-made light detection and ranging technology

added

(a)

added Prohibition on agency operation or procurement— The Secretary of Defense shall not operate or enter into or renew a contract for the procurement of—

(1)

added a covered light detection and ranging technology (referred to in this section as “LiDAR technology”) that—

(A)

added is manufactured in a covered foreign country or by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country;

(B)

added uses operating software developed in a covered foreign country or by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; or

(C)

added uses network connectivity or data storage located in or administered by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; or

(2)

added a system or systems that incorporates, interfaces with, or otherwise uses LiDAR technology as described in paragraph (1).

(b)

added Exemption— The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply if the operation, procurement, or contracting action is for the purposes of intelligence, electronic warfare, and information warfare operations, testing, analysis, and training.

(c)

added Waiver— The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis if the Secretary certifies, in writing, to the congressional defense committees that the operation, procurement, or contracting action is required in the national interest of the United States.

(d)

added Effective date— The prohibition under section (a) shall take effect on June 30, 2026.

(e)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered foreign country” means any of the following:

(A)

added The People’s Republic of China.

(B)

added The Islamic Republic of Iran.

(C)

added The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea.

(D)

added The Russian Federation.

(2)

added The term “covered LiDAR company” means any of the following:

(A)

added Hesai Technology (or any subsidiary or affiliate of Hesai Technology).

(B)

added Any entity that produces or provides LiDAR and that is included on—

(i)

added the Consolidated Screening List maintained by the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce; or

(ii)

added the civil-military fusion list maintained under section 1260h of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

(C)

added Any entity that produces or provides LiDAR and that—

(i)

added is domiciled in a covered foreign country; or

(ii)

added is subject to unmitigated foreign ownership, control or influence by a covered foreign country, as determined by the Secretary of Defense in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program or any successor to such program.

(3)

added The term “covered LiDAR technology” means LiDAR technology and any related services and equipment manufactured by a covered LiDAR company.

(4)

added The terms “light detection and ranging” and “LiDAR” mean a sensor that emits light, often in the form of a pulsed or modulated laser, and scans or flashes the environment to detect and measure the range of its surroundings.

Sec. 174 Limitation on procurement of F–35 aircraft pending certification on improvements and correction of deficiencies

added

(a)

added Limitation— The Secretary of Defense may not accept or take delivery of covered F–35 aircraft in excess of the maximum quantities specified in subsection (c) until the date on which the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that the Secretary is in compliance with each of the following requirements:

(1)

added The Secretary has developed and will implement an acquisition strategy, with appropriate actions and milestones, to develop and field F–35 aircraft and mission systems digital-twin models across the F–35 enterprise.

(2)

added The Secretary has developed and will implement an acquisition strategy, with appropriate actions and milestones, to procure at least one new cooperative avionics flying test bed aircraft for the F–35 enterprise.

(3)

added The Secretary has developed and will implement an acquisition strategy, with appropriate actions and milestones, to procure and construct a new F–35 mission software integration laboratory to enable concurrent testing of TR–2 and TR–3 mission system hardware, software, and any existing or new F–35 capabilities.

(4)

added The Secretary has developed and will implement a plan of corrective actions and milestones to resolve all deficiencies and recommendations identified in the 2024 F–35 Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation report submitted to Congress by the Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation.

(5)

added The Secretary has developed and will implement a plan of corrective actions and milestones to minimize F–35 new aircraft production interruptions and resolve all programmatic deficiencies with F–35 APG–85 radar hardware and software related to the development, testing, acceptance, certification, production, and fielding of the radar as identified by the Director of the F–35 Joint Program Office.

(6)

added The Secretary has developed and will implement a plan of corrective actions and milestones to resolve all deficiencies and recommendations identified in the report of the F–35 software Independent Review Team commissioned by the Secretary of the Air Force and the Director of the F–35 Joint Program Office.

(7)

added The Secretary has developed and will implement a corrective action plan with appropriate actions, milestones, necessary technical data and other resources, and metrics for measuring improvements, to address long-standing sustainment challenges and improve fleetwide mission capable and full mission capable rates for F–35 aircraft. At a minimum, such plan shall provide for—

(A)

added completing the set-up of military service depots and attaining the required production capacity;

(B)

added addressing and mitigating corrosion, particularly in the F–35B and F–35C variants, including the necessary parts, equipment, technical data, and any necessary adjustments to squadron staffing to effectively conduct corrosion inspections and work;

(C)

added improving the visibility and availability of assets and parts that detract from mission capable rates; and

(D)

added developing mechanisms to surge supply support for the air vehicle and engine and ensure continuity of F–35 logistics and operations in contested environments.

(8)

added The Secretary has submitted all acquisition strategies and corrective action plans described in paragraphs (1) through (7) to the congressional defense committees as required under subsection (b).

(9)

added The Secretary has met the requirements of subsections (b)(5) and (c) of section 226 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 196).

(b)

added Submittal of plans and strategies to Congress—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees all acquisition strategies and corrective action plans described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (a).

(2)

added Elements— Each strategy and plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)

added an estimate of the total amount of funds required to complete implementation of the strategy or plan;

(B)

added realistic, event-driven schedules to achieve the objectives of the strategy or plan; and

(C)

added a schedule risk assessment to a minimum of 80 percent confidence level.

(3)

added Form— Each strategy and plan described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

(c)

added Maximum quantities— The maximum quantities of covered F–35 aircraft specified in this subsection are the following:

(1)

added Thirty F–35A aircraft.

(2)

added Nine F–35B aircraft.

(3)

added Nine F–35C aircraft.

(d)

added Annual reports—

(1)

added In general— Not later than April 1, 2025, and on an annual basis thereafter for the following five years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes a comprehensive update on all corrective action plans and acquisition strategies that—

(A)

added were developed pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (a); and

(B)

added are being implemented by the Secretary as of the date of the report.

(2)

added Form— Each report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

(e)

added Covered F–35 aircraft defined— In this section, the term “covered F–35” aircraft means new production F–35 aircraft—

(1)

added that are authorized to be procured using funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense; and

(2)

added the procurement of which is fully funded by the United States.

Sec. 175 Assessment of air-to-air missile inventory requirements and related capabilities

added

(a)

added Assessment of air-to-air missile inventory—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with the commanders of the combatant commands, shall jointly conduct an assessment of the sufficiency of established inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles within the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of such Secretaries.

(2)

added Elements— In conducting the assessment required under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall evaluate—

(A)

added for each year through the end of 2029—

(i)

added the numbers and types of air-to-air missiles expected to be delivered to the Department of the Air Force and the Department of the Navy in such year; and

(ii)

added the total inventory of air-to-air missiles expected to be available for use in such year, considered separately for each type of missile;

(B)

added the inventory levels of air-to-air missiles needed to support the operational plans of the United States Central Command, the United States Indo-Pacific Command, the United States Northern Command, and the United States European Command, assessed separately for each command at low, medium, and high risk levels;

(C)

added emerging requirements for surface-to-air defense and collaborative combat aircraft capabilities, and how such emerging requirements are expected to impact inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles;

(D)

added whether the numbers and types of missiles expected to be delivered through 2029, as determined under subparagraph (A), are sufficient to meet all testing, training, and operational requirements of the military departments and combatant commands;

(E)

added whether extending the AIM–120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile program of record through 2029 would enhance available inventories of air-to-air missiles during such period; and

(F)

added recommendations to adjust the planned missile mix, to include development and fielding of an AIM–120D Extended Range missile and procurement quantities to support combined combatant command requirements at a medium-level of operational risk.

(b)

added Assessment of AIM–120D extended range missile—

(1)

added In general— In conjunction with the assessment required under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force shall conduct a cost-benefit and technical risk assessment of developing and procuring an extended range AIM–120D missile.

(2)

added Elements— In conducting the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Air Force shall—

(A)

added assess the costs, benefits, and technical risks presented by the potential development and procurement of an extended range AIM–120D missile as described in paragraph (1);

(B)

added evaluate how new propellants, binding agents, and other enhancements may increase the capabilities of such a missile;

(C)

added consider how the procurement of such a missile could hedge against current or future air-to-air missile inventory, capacity, capability or shortfall risks; and

(D)

added develop a budget profile and schedule that would support expedited fielding of such a missile.

(c)

added Report— Following the completion of the assessments required under subsections (a) and (b), but not later than April 1, 2025—

(1)

added the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy shall jointly submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a), which shall include a summary of the results of the assessment with respect to each element specified in subsection (a)(2); and

(2)

added the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (b), which shall include a copy of the budget profile and schedule required under subsection (b)(2)(D).

Sec. 201 Authorization of appropriations

added Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for the use of the Department of Defense for research, development, test, and evaluation, as specified in the funding table in section 4201.

(a)

removed ~~In general—~~ ~~Section 1792(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:~~

removed ~~“(c) Competitive rates of pay~~

removed “(1) For the purpose of providing military child development centers with a qualified and stable civilian workforce, employees at a military installation who are directly involved in providing child care and who are paid from nonappropriated funds—

removed “(A) in the case of entry-level employees, shall be paid a rate of pay competitive with the rates of pay paid to other equivalent non-Federal positions within the metropolitan statistical area or non-metropolitan statistical area (as the case may be) in which such Department employee’s position is located; and

removed “(B) in the case of any employee not covered by subparagraph (A), shall be paid a rate of pay competitive with the rates of pay paid to other employees with similar training, seniority, and experience within the metropolitan statistical area or non-metropolitan statistical area (as the case may be) in which such Department employee’s position is located.

removed “(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no employee shall receive a rate of pay under this subsection that is lower than the minimum hourly rate of pay applicable to civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

removed “(3) For purposes of determining the rates of pay under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area occupational employment and wage estimates published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

(b)

removed ~~Application—~~

(1)

removed ~~In general—~~ ~~The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.~~

(2)

added

added Section 148 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(2)

added by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following new subsections:

added “(d) Budgeting and funding requirements

added “(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Office is budgeted for and funded in a manner sufficient to ensure the Office has the staff and other resources necessary to effectively carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (c).

added “(2) In the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department of Defense budget for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31), the Secretary of Defense shall include a dedicated budget line item for the implementation of subsection (a) and for the testing and evaluation of energetic materials and technologies by the Office.

added “(e) Standards and best practices curriculum

added “(1) The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall include, within the program management and engineering curriculum of the Defense Acquisition University, instruction in standards and best practices for the development of energetic materials and ensuring the safety of explosives.

added “(2) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretaries shall consult with—

added “(A) the President of the Defense Acquisition University; and

added “(B) individuals and organizations in academia and industry with relevant expertise in the field of energetics.”

Sec. 212 Modification to annual report on unfunded priorities of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

added

added The second section 222e of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by striking “the Secretary of Defense shall” and inserting “the Secretary of Defense, after coordinating with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall”; and

(2)

added in subsection (e)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “and” at the end;

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(3) in the case of military construction project, has reached a stage of planning and design that is sufficient to support a reliable cost estimate.”

Sec. 213 Modification to defense laboratory education partnerships

added

added Section 2194(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (6), by striking “and” at the end;

(2)

added in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(8) entering into contracts or cooperative agreements with, or making grants to, the institution to provide financial assistance for activities conducted under such partnership agreement.”

Sec. 214 Use of partnership intermediaries to promote defense research and education

added

(a)

added In general— Chapter 303 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “4128. Use of partnership intermediaries to promote defense research and education.

added “(a) In general—Subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense or the head of another department or agency of the Federal Government concerned, the head of a Federal laboratory or research center may—

added “(1) enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or other transaction with a partnership intermediary that provides for the partnership intermediary to perform services for the Department of Defense that increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities of the laboratory or center with industry or academic institutions; and

added “(2) pay the Federal costs of such contract, memorandum or understanding, or other transaction out of funds made available for the support of the technology transfer function of the laboratory or center.

added “(b) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) Term “Federal laboratory or research center” means—

added “(A) a Federal laboratory; or

added “(B) a federally funded research and development center that is not a laboratory.

added “(2) The term “laboratory” has the meaning given that term in section 12(d)(2) the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(d)(2)).

added “(3) The term “partnership intermediary” means an agency of a State or local government, or a nonprofit entity owned in whole or in part by, chartered by, funded in whole or in part by, or operated in whole or in part by or on behalf of a State or local government, that—

added “(A) assists, counsels, advises, evaluates, or otherwise cooperates with industry or academic institutions that need or can make demonstrably productive use of technology-related assistance from a Federal laboratory or research center;

added “(B) facilitates technology transfer or transition from industry or academic institutions to a Federal laboratory or research center;

added “(C) assists and facilitates workforce development in critical technology areas for prototyping or technology transition activities to fulfill unmet needs of a Federal laboratory or research center; or

added “(D) facilitates improvements to intellectual property owned by the Federal laboratory or research center, such as improvements to the quality, value, flexibility, utility, or complexity of such intellectual property.”

(b)

added Conforming amendments— Section 4124 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by striking subsection (f); and

(2)

added by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively.

Sec. 215 Modification to personnel management authority to attract experts in science and engineering

added

added Section 4092 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(11) Office of Strategic Capital—The Director of the Office of Strategic Capital may carry out a program of personnel management authority provided in subsection (b) in order to facilitate recruitment of eminent experts in science or engineering for the Unit.”

(2)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added in subparagraph (D), by striking “5 scientific and engineering positions in the Office” and inserting “20 scientific and engineering positions in the Office, of which not more than 5 such positions may be positions of administration or management of the Office”;

(ii)

added in subparagraph (E) by striking “5 scientific and engineering positions in the Unit” and inserting “35 scientific and engineering positions in the Unit, of which not more than 5 such positions may be positions of administration or management of the Unit”’’; and

(iii)

added in subparagraph (H), by striking “15” and inserting “25”;

(iv)

added in subparagraph (I), by striking “and” at the end;

(v)

added in subparagraph (J), by adding “and” at the end; and

(vi)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(K) in the case of the Office of Strategic Capital, appoint and rescind appointments of individuals to a total of not more than 30 positions in the Office;”

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

added “(A) in the case of employees appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (B), (D), (E), (H), and (K) of paragraph (1), at a rate to be determined by the head of the organization concerned up to the amount of annual compensation specified in section 102 of title 3;”

Sec. 216 Modification to consortium on use of additive manufacturing for defense capability development

added

added Section 223(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. 4841 note) is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (5), by striking “and” at the end;

(2)

added in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(7) develop a rapidly deployable additive manufacturing system that is capable of fabricating replacement safety-critical parts for military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles in environments where access to traditionally manufactured replacement parts is severely restricted.”

Sec. 217 Modification to continuous capability development and delivery program for F–35 aircraft

added

added Section 225(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 195) is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “designate two F–35A aircraft, two F–35B aircraft, and two F–35C aircraft” and inserting “designate a total of not fewer than nine F–35A, F–35B, or F–35C aircraft”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (2)(A), by striking “Lot 19” and inserting “Lot 18”.

Sec. 218 Modification of CVN–73 to support fielding of MQ–25 unmanned aerial vehicle

added

added Section 219 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 1680) is amended by striking “shall” and all that follows and inserting “shall modify the compartments and infrastructure of the aircraft carrier designated CVN–73 to support the fielding of the MQ–25 unmanned aerial vehicle before the planned deployment date of such vehicle.”.

Sec. 219 Agility Prime Transition Working Group

added

(a)

added Establishment— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall establish a working group to be known as the “Agility Prime Transition Working Group” (referred to in this section as the “Working Group”).

(b)

added Duties— The duties of the Working Group shall include the following:

(1)

added To develop and implement a strategy to transition capabilities developed under the Agility Prime program of the Air Force to program executive offices of the covered Armed Forces, as appropriate.

(2)

added To provide a forum for members of the Working Group to coordinate activities relating to hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing capabilities developed under the Agility Prime program, including—

(A)

added research, development, testing, and evaluation activities;

(B)

added demonstration activities; and

(C)

added activities to transition such capabilities from the research and development phase into operational use within the covered Armed Forces, as appropriate.

(3)

added To identify programs, projects, activities, and requirements of the covered Armed Forces that may be supported by technologies and capabilities developed under the Agility Prime program, including hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, advanced air mobility platforms, autonomous flight capabilities, test and evaluation software, and related technologies.

(4)

added To identify requirements of the combatant commands and the covered Armed Forces relating to distributed and contested logistics, mobility and sustainment, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, strike, and other operational use cases that align with previous, ongoing, or planned efforts under the Agility Prime program.

(5)

added To assess whether previous, ongoing, or planned efforts under the Agility Prime program and other vertical take off and landing aircraft capability development efforts align with other current, planned, or future acquisition programs of the covered Armed Forces.

(6)

added Identify any changes to doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel, facilities, and policy (commonly known as “DOTMLPF–P”) required to successfully integrate hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft platforms into future force design.

(7)

added To assess how the authorities and resources of the Department of Defense may be used to support the advanced air mobility and hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft industries, including support in the form of loans, loan guarantees, private investment matching programs, and other financial mechanisms.

(8)

added To assist the Secretary of the Air Force in preparing the briefing and reports required under subsection (g).

(c)

added Membership— The Working Group shall be composed of the following members or their designees:

(1)

added The Secretary of the Air Force.

(2)

added Each Secretary of a military department.

(3)

added The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(4)

added The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

(5)

added The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

(6)

added The Director of the Defense Innovation Unit.

(7)

added The Director of the Office of Strategic Capital.

(8)

added A representative from the United States Special Operations Command.

(9)

added A representative from the United States Transportation Command.

(10)

added Representatives of such other organizations and elements of the Department of Defense as the Chairperson of the Working Group determines appropriate.

(d)

added Chairperson— The Secretary of the Air Force, or the designee of the Secretary, shall serve as the Chairperson of the Working Group.

(e)

added Meetings— The Working Group shall meet not less frequently than twice each year at the call of the Chairperson.

(f)

added Termination— The working group shall terminate on September 30, 2027.

(g)

added Briefings and reports—

(1)

added Initial briefing— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the status of the Working Group, which shall include information on the organization, activities, plans, actions, and milestones of the Working Group as of the date of the briefing.

(2)

added Annual report— Not later than September 30, 2025, and not later than September 30 of each year thereafter through 2027, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the efforts of the Working Group. Each report shall include, with respect to the year covered by the report, information on—

(A)

added any funding under the categories of research, development, test, and evaluation, procurement, or operation and maintenance that is expected to be used for further development or procurement of hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing capabilities in the fiscal year of the report and the in the following fiscal year;

(B)

added any planned transitions of hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing technologies to—

(i)

added acqusition programs of the covered Armed Forces; or

(ii)

added research, development, test, and evaluation programs of the covered Armed Forces.

(C)

added any actions taken by the Working Group;

(D)

added any milestones achieved by the Working Group; and

(E)

added such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(h)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “Agility Prime program” means the program of the Air Force under which the Air Force is developing hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing capabilities in collaboration with partners in commercial industry and other sectors.

(2)

added The term “covered Armed Forces” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.

Sec. 220 Measures to advance quantum information science within the Department of Defense

added

(a)

added Strategic plan—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall develop a strategic plan to guide the research, development, test, and evaluation, procurement, and implementation of quantum information science (referred to in this section as “QIS”) technologies within the Department of Defense, including the covered Armed Forces, over the period of five years following the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2)

added Elements— The plan required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

added Identification of—

(i)

added QIS technologies that have the potential to solve operational challenges faced by the Department of Defense; and

(ii)

added the technology readiness levels of those QIS technologies.

(B)

added Plans to transition technologies identified under subparagraph (A) from the research, development, and prototyping phases into operational use within the Department.

(C)

added Plans for allocating the resources of the Department to ensure such resources are focused on QIS technologies with the potential to solve operational challenges as identified under subparagraph (A).

(D)

added Plans for the continuous evaluation, development, and implementation of QIS technology solutions within the Department.

(E)

added Plans for the development, review, performance evaluation, and adoption of a fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computer and the transition of that capability to appropriate organizations and elements of the Department of Defense and such other departments and agencies of the Federal Government as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(3)

added Report— 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 report that includes—

(A)

added the strategic plan developed under paragraph (1); and

(B)

added an assessment of whether the budgets proposed for QIS-related activities of the Department of Defense and each of the covered Armed Forces appropriately balance the use of research, development, test, and evaluation funds designated as budget activity 1 (basic research), budget activity 2 (applied research), and budget activity 3 (advanced technology development) (as those budget activity classifications are set forth in volume 2B, chapter 5 of the Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation (DOD 7000.14–R)) to achieve the objectives of the strategic plan over near-, mid-, and long-term timeframes.

(b)

added Quantum Computing Center of Excellence—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall establish a Quantum Computing Center of Excellence (referred to in this subsection as the “Center”) at a research laboratory of a covered Armed Force with requisite experience in quantum computing, integrated photonics and photon qubits, superconducting and hybrid systems, and trapped ions.

(2)

added Activities— The Center shall carry out the following activities:

(A)

added Accelerate the transition of advanced quantum and quantum hybrid computing technology from the research and development phase into operational use.

(B)

added Facilitate quantum computing workforce development.

(C)

added Conduct outreach to enhance government, industry, and academia’s understanding of—

(i)

added national security-related use cases for quantum computing and quantum hybrid technology; and

(ii)

added operational challenges faced by the Department of Defense that may be addressed using such technology.

(D)

added Conduct prototyping of quantum computing and quantum hybrid applications.

(E)

added Undertake efforts to advance the technology readiness levels of quantum computing technologies.

(F)

added Carry out such other activities relating to quantum computing as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(3)

added Partner organizations— For purposes of carrying out the activities of the Center under this subsection, the research laboratory selected under paragraph (1) may partner with one or more of the following:

(A)

added Other research laboratories of the covered Armed Forces.

(B)

added The Defense Innovation Unit.

(C)

added Federally funded research and development centers.

(D)

added University affiliated research centers.

(E)

added Private sector entities with expertise in quantum computing.

(F)

added Such other organizations as the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate.

(4)

added Contract Authority— Subject to availability of appropriations, Secretary of Defense may make grants and enter into contracts or other agreements, on a competitive basis, to support the activities of the Center.

(5)

added Termination— The Center shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force.

(2)

added The term “quantum computing” means computing algorithms and applications that use quantum mechanics through quantum processing units, including—

(A)

added quantum-classical hybrid applications which are applications that use both quantum computing and classical computing hardware systems;

(B)

added annealing and gate systems; and

(C)

added all qubit modalities (including superconducting, trapped-ion, neutral atom, and photonics).

(3)

added The term “quantum information science” means the use of the laws of quantum physics for the storage, transmission, manipulation, computing, or measurement of information.

Sec. 221 Authority to temporarily detail employees of the Office of Strategic Capital to certain private-sector organizations

added

(a)

added Authorization— Using the authority provided under section 1599g of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Office of Strategic capital, may carry out a program under which the Director arranges for the temporary assignment of an employee of the Office to a qualifying private-sector organization.

(b)

added Objectives— The objectives of the program under subsection (a) shall be—

(1)

added to enable the Office of Strategic Capital and other organizations and elements of the Department of Defense to rapidly acquire industry-specific context and technical competence across high priority technology and industrial focus areas through immersion in highly relevant emerging technology and business ecosystems across the United States; and

(2)

added to enhance, among personnel of the Department—

(A)

added understanding of, connectivity with, and access to knowledge about critical and emerging defense industrial base capabilities; and

(B)

added understanding of the strategic role that venture capital and private equity operations have in shaping future sustainment and modernization requirements for the defense industrial base.

(c)

added Matching and tracking capabilities— In carrying out program under subsection (a), the Director of the Office of Strategic Capital shall—

(1)

added use an information technology system to optimize the identification, assessment, and placement of participants within the program, which shall include the use of such system to match private-sector organizations with employees of the Office participating in the program in a manner that aligns the priorities, needs, and expertise of such employees, organizations, and the Office; and

(2)

added establish a database or other capability that—

(A)

added enables the Office to identify and track current and former participants in the program;

(B)

added documents the nature of the experience such participants had while in the program; and

(C)

added is suitable for further development and expansion to other organizations of Department of Defense in the event the Secretary of Defense determines such expansion is appropriate.

(d)

added Qualifying private-sector organization defined— In this section, the term “qualifying private-sector organization” means a private-sector organization within the defense industrial base that has functions and expertise relevant to the responsibilities of the Office of Strategic Capital, which may include organization such as a venture capital firm, private equity firm, emerging technology company, or other such organizations as determined appropriated by the Director.

Sec. 222 Pilot program on establishment of a test and evaluation cell within the Defense Innovation Unit

added

(a)

added Pilot program— The Director of the Defense Innovation Unit shall carry out a pilot program under which the Director—

(1)

added develops an alternative testing and evaluation pathway to accelerate the testing and evaluation of technologies that have the potential to provide warfighting capabilities to the Department of Defense in the near-term and mid-term timeframes; and

(2)

added establishes a cell of dedicated personnel within the Unit to manage and implement the alternative testing and evaluation pathway developed under paragraph (1).

(b)

added Activities— In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit shall—

(1)

added conduct continuous and iterative test and evaluation of technologies that have the potential to provide warfighting capabilities to the Department of Defense in the near-term and mid-term timeframes, including—

(A)

added commercial dual use technologies;

(B)

added technologies that are not integrated into an established program of record;

(C)

added technologies that have not been fully fielded;

(D)

added software-based technologies; and

(E)

added such other technologies as the Director determines appropriate;

(2)

added use tools and technologies to emulate operationally relevant threat scenarios and conditions; and

(3)

added integrate the development of concepts of operations and concepts of employment with testing and evaluation activities conducted under the program to ensure early alignment between capability development and future concepts of operations and concepts of employment.

(c)

added Consultation— The Director of the Defense Innovation Unit shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a), in consultation with—

(1)

added service-level innovation organizations;

(2)

added research laboratories of the Armed Forces;

(3)

added the combatant commands;

(4)

added the Joint Staff;

(5)

added the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment;

(6)

added the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering;

(7)

added the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation;

(8)

added the Director of the Test Resource Management Center;

(9)

added industry partners; and

(10)

added Federal, State, local, and international partners with test and evaluation infrastructure.

(d)

added Annual briefings— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter through the termination date specified in subsection (e), the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the status of the pilot program under subsection (a).

(e)

added Termination— The pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on December 31, 2028.

Sec. 223 Dismantlement of Chinese drone aircraft of to identify the origin of components and security vulnerabilities

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the head of the Defense Technology Security Administration and in coordination with the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit, shall—

(1)

added fully disassemble a drone aircraft made by the Chinese technology company Da Jiang Innovations (DJI); and

(2)

added determine the origin of each component of such drone aircraft.

(b)

added Report— After completing the actions required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes—

(1)

added a list of each component found in the drone, including the origin of the component and manufacturer information;

(2)

added a description of any security vulnerabilities that were identified in the course of disassembling the drone.

(c)

added Form— The report required under subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 224 Program on limited objective experimentation in support of Air Force operations

added

(a)

added In general— The Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, acting through a partnership intermediary, shall establish a program—

(1)

added to carry out limited objective experiments in operationally relevant environments;

(2)

added to develop persistent instrumentation and infrastructure for field experimentation and other innovation activities supporting the Air Force and joint service multi-domain mission set; and

(3)

added to identify capabilities for the Air Force multi-domain operations enterprise that have the potential to generate life-cycle cost savings and provide data-driven approaches to resource allocation.

(b)

added Partnership intermediary defined— In this section, term “partnership intermediary” has the meaning given that term in section 23(c) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3715(c)).

Sec. 225 Prohibition on contracts between certain foreign entities and institutions of higher education conducting Department of Defense-funded research

added

(a)

added In general— None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for any fiscal year for the Department of Defense may be provided to a covered institution of higher education that fails to comply with the prohibition under subsection (b).

(b)

added Prohibition— Beginning on January 1, 2026, a covered institution of higher education may not enter into a contract with a covered nation or a foreign entity of concern.

(c)

added Waivers—

(1)

added Submission—

(A)

added First waiver requests—

(i)

added In general— A covered institution of higher education that desires to enter into a contract with a foreign entity of concern or a covered nation may submit to the Secretary of Defense, not later than 120 days before the institution enters into such a contract, a request to waive the prohibition under subsection (b) with respect to such contract.

(ii)

added Contents of waiver request— A waiver request submitted by a covered institution of higher education under clause (i) shall include—

(I)

added the complete and unredacted text of the proposed contract for which the waiver is being requested, and if such original contract is not in English, a translated copy of the text into English (in a manner that complies with subsection (f)); and

(II)

added a statement that—

(aa)

added is signed by the President or compliance officer of the institution designated in accordance with subsection (g); and

(bb)

added includes information that demonstrates that such contract is for the benefit of the institution’s mission and students and will promote the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States.

(B)

added Renewal waiver requests—

(i)

added In general— A covered institution of higher education that has entered into a contract pursuant to a waiver issued under this section, the term of which is longer than the 1-year waiver period and the terms and conditions of which remain the same as the proposed contract submitted as part of the request for such waiver, may submit, not later than 120 days before the expiration of such waiver period, a request for a renewal of such waiver for an additional 1-year period (which shall include any information requested by the Secretary).

(ii)

added Termination— If a covered institution of higher education fails to submit a request under clause (i) or is not granted a renewal under such clause, such institution shall terminate such contract on the last day of the original 1-year waiver period.

(2)

added Waiver issuance— The Secretary of Defense—

(A)

added not later than 60 days before a covered institution of higher education enters into a contract pursuant to a waiver request under paragraph (1)(A), or before a contract described in paragraph (1)(B)(i) is renewed pursuant to a renewal request under such paragraph, shall notify the institution—

(i)

added if the waiver or renewal will be issued by the Secretary; and

(ii)

added in a case in which the waiver or renewal will be issued, the date on which the 1-year waiver period starts; and

(B)

added may only issue a waiver under this section to an institution if the Secretary of Defense determines, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, that the contract for which the waiver is being requested is for the benefit of the institution’s mission and students and will promote the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States.

(3)

added Notification to Congress— Not later than 2 weeks prior to issuing a waiver under paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives written notice of the intent of the Secretary to issue such waiver together with a justification for such waiver.

(4)

added Application of waivers— A waiver issued under this section to a covered institution of higher education with respect to a contract shall only—

(A)

added waive the prohibition under subsection (b) for a 1-year period; and

(B)

added apply to the terms and conditions of the proposed contract submitted as part of the request for such waiver.

(d)

added Contracts prior to date of enactment—

(1)

added In general— In the case of a covered institution of higher education that entered into contract with a covered nation or foreign entity of concern prior to January 1, 2026, and which contract remains in effect on such date—

(A)

added the institution shall, not later than 120 days before such date, submit to the Secretary a waiver request in accordance with subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii); and

(B)

added the Secretary shall, upon receipt of the request submitted under subparagraph (A), immediately issue a waiver to the institution for a period beginning on the date on which the waiver is issued and ending on the sooner of—

(i)

added January 1, 2027; or

(ii)

added the date on which the contract terminates.

(2)

added Renewal— A covered institution of higher education that has entered into a contract described in paragraph (1), the term of which is longer than the waiver period described in subparagraph (B) of such paragraph and the terms and conditions of which remain the same as the contract submitted as part of the request required under subparagraph (A) of such paragraph, may submit a request for renewal of the waiver issued under such paragraph in accordance with subsection (c)(1)(B).

(e)

added Designation during contract term— In the case of a covered institution of higher education that enters into a contract with a foreign source that is not a covered nation or a foreign entity of concern but which, during the term of such contract, is designated as a covered nation or foreign entity of concern, such institution shall terminate such contract not later than 60 days after the Secretary notifies the institution of such designation.

(f)

added Translation requirement— Any information required to be disclosed under this section with respect to a contract that is not in English shall be translated, for purposes of such disclosure, by a person that is not an affiliated entity or agent of the covered nation or foreign entity of concern involved with such contract.

(g)

added Compliance officer— Each covered institution of higher education applying for a waiver under subsection (c) or (d), shall identify a compliance officer, who shall—

(1)

added be a current employee or legally authorized agent of such institution; and

(2)

added be responsible, on behalf of such institution, for personally certifying—

(A)

added compliance with the prohibition under this section; and

(B)

added the truth and accuracy of any information contained in such a waiver request.

(h)

added Public database— Not later than 90 days after issuing a waiver under subsection (c) or (d), the Secretary of Defense shall publish a copy of the order granting the waiver and the contents of the waiver request on a publicly available website of the Department of Defense. Such information shall be made available on such website in the form of a searchable database that includes links to the text of all contracts to which the waiver pertains.

(i)

added Annual reports— Not later than June 1, 2026, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes a description of—

(1)

added the terms and contents of any waivers issued under this section in the period covered by the report;

(2)

added any trends in—

(A)

added the number of waivers issued under this section over time; and

(B)

added the types of contracts to which such waivers pertain; and

(3)

added the processes used by the Secretary to verify that covered institutions of higher education are in compliance with the requirements of this section.

(j)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “contract” means—

(A)

added any agreement or memorandum of understanding for the acquisition, by purchase, lease, or barter, of property or services by or from a covered nation or foreign entity of concern; or

(B)

added any affiliation, agreement, or similar transaction with a covered nation or foreign entity of concern that involves the use or exchange of the name, likeness, time, services, or resources of a covered institution of higher education.

(2)

added The term “covered institution of higher education” means an institution of higher education that conducts research funded by the Department of Defense.

(3)

added The term “foreign entity of concern” has the meaning given that term in section 10612(a) of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19221(a)) and includes a foreign entity that is identified on the list published under section 1286(c)(9)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note).

(4)

added The term “covered nation” has the meaning given that term in section 4872(d) of title 10, United States Code.

(5)

added The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).

Sec. 226 Limitation on availability of funds for fundamental research collaboration with certain institutions

added

(a)

added Limitation— Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for any fiscal year for the Department of Defense may be provided to an institution of higher education for any principal investigator who conducts fundamental research in collaboration directly or indirectly with a covered nation or foreign entity of concern.

(b)

added Waiver— The Secretary of Defense may waive the limitation under subsection (a), on a case-by-case basis, with respect to a principal investigator at an institution of higher education, if the Secretary of Defense determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States.

(c)

added Certifications of compliance—

(1)

added Funding certification— As a condition of receiving funds from the Department of Defense, an institution of higher education shall certify to the Secretary of Defense that the principal investigator of the project of the institution that is applying for funding from the Department of Defense—

(A)

added is not conducting fundamental research in collaboration with an entity described in subsection (a) as of the date of the certification; and

(B)

added will not conduct fundamental research in collaboration with such an entity during the period for which such funding is received.

(2)

added Contract certification— As a condition of maintaining a contract with the Department of Defense, an institution of higher education shall—

(A)

added using publicly available information, perform due diligence on any academic institution or laboratory the institution is collaborating with, or intends to collaborate with, under the contract; and

(B)

added certify to the Secretary of Defense that the principal investigator of the project of the institution to which the contract pertains—

(i)

added has not conducted fundamental research in collaboration with an entity described in subsection (a) at any time during the period in which such contract was in effect, up to and including the date of the certification; and

(ii)

added will not conduct fundamental research in collaboration with such an entity during any period in which such contract is in effect.

(3)

added Frequency— An institution of higher education shall—

(A)

added submit the certification under paragraph (1) on an annual basis during each year in which the institution receives funds from the Department of Defense; and

(B)

added submit the certification under paragraph (2) on an annual basis during each year in which a contract is in effect between the institution and the Department.

(d)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— On an annual basis, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the compliance of the Department of Defense and institutions of higher education with the requirements of this section. Each report shall include, for each waiver issued under subsection (b) in the period covered by the report—

(A)

added a justification for the waiver; and

(B)

added a detailed description of the type and extent of any collaboration between an institution of higher education and an entity described in subsection (a) allowed pursuant to the waiver, including identification of the institution and entities involved, the type of technology involved, the duration of the collaboration and terms and conditions on intellectual property assignment, as applicable, under the collaboration agreement.

(2)

added Form; public availability— Each report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form and shall be made available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense.

(e)

added Effective date— The limitation under subsection (a) shall apply with respect to the first fiscal year that begins after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and to any subsequent fiscal year.

(f)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term foreign entity of concern has the meaning given that term in section 10612(a) of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19221(a)) and includes a foreign entity that is identified on the list published under section 1286(c)(9)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note).

(2)

added The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002) and includes—

(A)

added any department, program, project, faculty, researcher, or other individual, entity, or activity of such institution; and

(B)

added any branch of such institution within or outside the United States.

(3)

added The term fundamental research means basic and applied research in science and engineering, the results of which are expected to be published and shared broadly within the scientific community. Such term does not include research that is proprietary or classified and subject to access restrictions under other provisions of Federal law.

(4)

added The term collaboration means any level of coordinated activity between an institution of higher education and an entity described in subsection (a), whether direct or indirect, formal or informal, and includes—

(A)

added sharing of research facilities, resources, or data;

(B)

added transfer, sharing, or dissemination of technology, information, or any technical know-how;

(C)

added any financial or in-kind contribution intended to produce a research product;

(D)

added sponsorship or facilitation of research fellowships, visas, or residence permits;

(E)

added joint ventures, partnerships, or other formalized agreements for the purpose of conducting research or sharing resources, data, or technology;

(F)

added inclusion of researchers as consultants, advisors, or members of advisory or review boards; and

(G)

added such other activities as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Secretary of State and Director of National Intelligence.

(5)

added The term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives; and

(B)

added the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

(6)

added The term covered nation has the meaning given that term in section 4872(d) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 241 Plan for establishment of secure computing and data storage environment for testing of artificial intelligence trained on biological data

added

(a)

added Plan required— The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in coordination with the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, shall develop a plan for the establishment of a secure computing and data storage environment to facilitate—

(1)

added the testing of artificial intelligence models trained on biological data; and

(2)

added the development and testing of products generated by such models.

(b)

added Elements— The plan under subsection (a) shall provide as follows:

(1)

added Designation— The secure computing and data storage environment described in subsection (a) shall be known as the “AIxBio sandbox”.

(2)

added Computing and data storage infrastructure— The AIxBio sandbox shall consist of a secure computing and data storage infrastructure to be used for the testing and development activities described in subsection (a). To the extent feasible, such infrastructure shall be assembled from the existing computing and data storage infrastructure organizations and elements of the Department of Defense with relevant capabilities, such as the Test Resource Management Center and the AI Accelerator of the Department of the Air Force.

(3)

added Responsible official— The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall be responsible for—

(A)

added managing and overseeing the activities of the sandbox;

(B)

added coordinating the efforts of the organizations of the Department involved in the activities of the sandbox;

(C)

added selecting projects for development and testing using the sandbox in accordance with paragraph (4); and

(D)

added arranging partnerships in accordance paragraph (5).

(4)

added Selection of projects— The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall—

(A)

added identify projects funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Defense that—

(i)

added have demonstrated a proof-of-concept or another similar indicator of early success or feasibility; and

(ii)

added involve the development of a model, technology, or product at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biotechnology that has potential defense applications, such as a project using artificial intelligence and biological data—

(I)

added to direct and produce medical countermeasures;

(II)

added to predict and produce new or enhanced biological materials for military purposes; or

(III)

added to analyze how biology could fulfill different components of the supply chain, including by improving the domestic supply chain through the use of biomanufacturing; and

(B)

added from projects identified under subparagraph (A), select projects for further development and testing using the AIxBio sandbox.

(5)

added Partnerships—

(A)

added In general— The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall establish mechanisms through which organizations and entities involved in projects of the AIxBio sandbox may work with Department of Defense laboratories and Department-funded laboratories of academic institutions to carry out activities in support of such projects, including biological testing and experimentation and testing and experimentation to validate artificial intelligence models in development.

(B)

added Streamlined processes— In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Under Secretary shall establish streamlined processes to facilitate efficient collaboration between laboratories, organizations of the Department of Defense, and private entities for purposes of developing products for national security purposes and carrying out activities in support of projects under AIxBio sandbox, including testing and experimentation.

(6)

added Other elements— The plan shall address—

(A)

added the manner in which existing computing and data storage infrastructure of the Department of Defense shall be made available for the AIxBio sandbox in accordance with paragraph (2);

(B)

added the development of any mechanisms needed to facilitate collaboration among individuals and organizations involved in projects under the AIxBio sandbox, including any necessary agreements concerning intellectual property, funding, and the transfer of materials or other resources;

(C)

added the process for selecting projects for development and testing using the sandbox in accordance with paragraph (4); and

(D)

added the process for determining the amount of funding needed for projects under the sandbox, including the length of time each project is expected to receive such funding.

(c)

added Report and briefing— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall—

(1)

added submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes the plan developed under subsection (a); and

(2)

added provide to the Committees a briefing on the plan.

Sec. 242 Study and report on foreign capital disclosure requirements of certain Department of Defense organizations

added

(a)

added Study required— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into a contract or other agreement with a federally funded research and development center to conduct an independent study on the foreign capital disclosure requirements of organizations of the Department of Defense that routinely engage with commercial entities backed by private equity or venture capital funds.

(b)

added Elements— The study under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added A comparative analysis of current foreign capital disclosure requirements used by organizations within the Department of Defense that engage with commercial entities backed by private equity or venture capital funds, including the Defense Innovation Unit, National Security Innovation Capital, and other such organizations within the Department.

(2)

added An assessment of any business intelligence, due diligence information, classified information, and other information sources available to such organizations to assist the organizations in formulating and executing foreign capital disclosure requirements.

(3)

added An assessment of the extent to which such foreign capital disclosure requirements are shared with commercial entities.

(4)

added An assessment of best practices for foreign capital disclosure requirements across the Department of Defense, including best practices for flexibly implementing such requirements based upon real or perceived risks.

(5)

added An assessment of the feasibility of harmonizing the best practices as described in paragraph (4) across the Department of Defense in a responsive manner.

(6)

added An analysis of foreign capital disclosure requirements that are used elsewhere within the Federal Government and in the Governments of international allies and partners of the United States.

(7)

added An assessment of such other factors as may be relevant to inform the implementation of coordinated, effective foreign capital disclosure requirements across the Department of Defense and the Governments of international allies and partners of the United States.

(c)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

(2)

added Form of report— The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 243 Biotechnology roadmap

added

(a)

added Roadmap required— The Secretary of Defense shall develop a biotechnology roadmap to guide the efforts of the Department of Defense relating to biotechnology.

(b)

added Elements— In the roadmap required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

added clearly articulate the strategic objectives of the Department of Defense relating to biotechnology;

(2)

added for each strategic objective, establish specific goals and milestones for the achievement of such objective, including timelines for meeting such goals and milestones;

(3)

added in the case of each updated version of the roadmap following submittal of the initial roadmap under subsection (d)(1), include—

(A)

added a review of the goals and milestones established under paragraph (2) to ensure such goals and milestones continue to align with strategic objectives under paragraph (1); and

(B)

added a description of any goals and milestones that changed as a result of such review;

(4)

added separately identify each biotechnology effort covered by the strategy, including any programs, projects, or other activities associated with such effort within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Armed Forces, and other organizations of the Department, and for each such effort provide—

(A)

added a description of the effort;

(B)

added an estimate of the funding dedicated to the effort;

(C)

added a timeline for carrying out the effort; and

(D)

added an explanation of how the effort aligns with the strategic objectives under paragraph (1);

(5)

added identify and describe the role of each organization of the Department with responsibilities relating to biotechnology under the strategy;

(6)

added establish metrics to measure the progress of the Department in meeting the objectives, goals, and milestones under the strategy;

(7)

added based on such metrics, assess the progress of the Department in meeting such objectives, goals, and milestones;

(8)

added based on the results of such assessment, make any necessary adjustments to the planning and execution of the roadmap to ensure the Department makes continuous progress toward achieving the objectives under paragraph (1);

(9)

added assess the overall risk to the security of the United States of the biotechnology efforts covered by the strategy;

(10)

added analyze any requirements of the Federal Government that hinder the ability of the Department to advance and use biotechnology;

(11)

added provide for the development and support of the biotechnology workforce of the Department, including personnel with responsibilities relating directly to biotechnology and personnel who indirectly support the biotechnology efforts of the Department such as personnel involved program management, acquisition, investment, and legal matters;

(12)

added with respect to the biotechnology workforce described in paragraph (11)—

(A)

added identify the total number of biotechnology positions required to support the objectives of the roadmap—

(i)

added as of the date of the road map; and

(ii)

added over the periods of five and 10 years following such date;

(B)

added indicate the number of such positions that have been filled as of the date of the roadmap;

(C)

added describe the positions included in the biotechnology workforce, including a description of—

(i)

added the role of each position in supporting the objectives under paragraph (1); and

(ii)

added the qualifications required for each position, including any qualifications relating to seniority level, education, training, and security clearances;

(D)

added identify any challenges affecting the ability of the Department to develop the biotechnology workforce and propose solutions to those challenges;

(E)

added assess whether the codes used to define positions and roles within the workforce of the Department adequately cover the range of positions and personnel that comprise the biotechnology workforce, such as personnel in research, engineering, and testing;

(F)

added identify mechanisms to enable the Department to access outside expertise relating to biotechnology, including mechanisms to assemble a pool of outside experts who have been prequalified (including by obtaining any necessary security clearances) to provide advice and assistance to the Department on matters relating to biotechnology on an as-needed basis;

(G)

added assess whether personnel occupying existing positions in the Department could be used to meet biotechnology workforce needs with additional training and, if so, the nature and scope of the training required;

(13)

added address collaboration between the Department and international partners to advance research on biotechnology, which shall include—

(A)

added a description of any international partnerships under which the United States is collaborating with partners to conduct biotechnology research and development for defense purposes;

(B)

added a description of any new international partnerships that may be entered into, or existing partnerships that may be modified, to provide for such collaboration; and

(C)

added identification of any challenges affecting the ability of the Department engage in such collaboration with international partners, including—

(i)

added any limitations on co-investments within international partnerships;

(ii)

added any United States export controls or other technology protections that hinder information sharing within such partnerships; and

(iii)

added any other challenges that may prevent the full utilization of such partnerships for such collaboration.

(c)

added Consultation— In preparing the roadmap required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall consult with—

(1)

added the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering;

(2)

added the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment;

(3)

added the Secretaries of the military departments; and

(4)

added such other officials of the Department of Defense as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(d)

added Submittal to Congress; updates—

(1)

added Initial submission— 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 the roadmap developed under subsection (a).

(2)

added Annual updates— Not less frequently than once every two years following the submittal of the initial roadmap under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A)

added review and update the roadmap; and

(B)

added submit an updated version of the roadmap to the congressional defense committees.

(3)

added Form— Each version of the roadmap required to be submitted under this subsection may be submitted in classified form, but if so submitted, shall include an unclassified executive summary.

(e)

added Public availability— On annual basis, the Secretary shall make an unclassified version of the most recent roadmap submitted under subsection (d) available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense.

(f)

added Biotechnology defined— In this section, the term “biotechnology” means the application of science and technology to living organisms and to parts, products and models of such organisms to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods, or services.

Sec. 244 Authority for Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement for an assessment of biotechnology capabilities of adversaries of the United States

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to conduct an assessment related to biotechnology and provide recommendations to the Secretary.

(b)

added Agreement elements— Under an agreement between the Secretary and a federally funded research and development center under this section, the center shall agree to—

(1)

added conduct an assessment of—

(A)

added scientific topics related to biotechnology;

(B)

added scientific capabilities of potential adversaries of the United States, such as China, Iran, and the Russian Federation, related to biotechnology; and

(C)

added the current gaps and future scientific and technological needs for adversaries of the United States to be successful with respect to biotechnology capabilities; and

(2)

added develop recommendations with respect to useful indications of any advancement of such adversaries regarding such capabilities.

(c)

added Responsibilities of Secretary— Under an agreement between the Secretary and a federally funded research and development center under this section, the Secretary shall agree to—

(1)

added appoint appropriate Department of Defense employees as liaisons to the center to support the timely conduct of the assessment described in subsection (b)(1);

(2)

added provide the center with access to materials relevant to the conduct of such assessment, consistent with the protection of sources and methods and other critically sensitive information; and

(3)

added ensure that appropriate members and staff of the center have the necessary clearances, obtained in an expedited manner, to conduct such assessment.

(d)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— If the Secretary enters into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center under this section, not later than October 1, 2025, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees and the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology a report that includes the findings and recommendations of the center developed pursuant to the assessment described in subsection (b)(1).

(2)

added Form of report— The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

(3)

added Transmittal to other Department entities— The Secretary shall transmit to relevant offices of the Department of Defense, including the offices of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, and the Office of Net Assessment, a copy of the report under paragraph (1).

Sec. 301 Authorization of appropriations

changed ~~Chapter 9~~ Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for the use of ~~title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 226~~ the ~~following new section:~~Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of the Department of Defense for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for operation and maintenance, as specified in the funding table in section 4301.

removed ~~“227. Budget justification for covered military unaccompanied housing Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects~~

removed “(a) In general—Along with the budget for each fiscal year submitted by the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, each Secretary of a military department shall include a consolidated budget justification display that individually identifies—

removed “(1) for the fiscal year covered by the budget, the total requested expenditure for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects for covered military unaccompanied housing, disaggregated by military department; and

removed “(2) the total expenditure for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects made during the fiscal year beginning two years before the fiscal year covered by the budget, disagggregated by—

removed ~~“(A) military installation;~~

removed ~~“(B) the type of facility repaired or restored under such projects;~~

removed ~~“(C) the number of such projects that were for sustainment or repair of a facility; and~~

removed ~~“(D) the number of such projects that were for restoration or modernization of a facility.~~

removed ~~“(b) Definitions—In this section:~~

removed ~~“(1) The term “covered military unaccompanied housing” has the meaning given in section 2856 of this title.~~

removed ~~“(2) The terms “facility” and “military installation” have the meanings given, respectively, in section 2801 of this title.”~~

Sec. 302 Digital facilities management systems for military departments

removed

(a)

removed ~~Digital facilities management systems for military departments—~~

(1)

removed ~~Criteria—~~ Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination with each covered Assistant Secretary, shall develop criteria for a new or established digital facilities management system for each military department. Each such system shall have the capability to, with respect to each military installation—

(A)

removed track conditions of individual facilities, applying the uniform index developed under section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31), for each military installation under the jurisdiction of each such covered Assistant Secretary;

(B)

removed ~~plan for maintenance actions for each facility; and~~

(C)

removed ~~generate reports that include data on—~~

(i)

removed ~~the type and function of each facility;~~

(ii)

removed ~~the overall condition of each facility;~~

(iii)

removed ~~planned maintenance for each facility during a 5-year period following the date of submission of the criteria;~~

(iv)

removed conditions that may lead to a failure to maintain minimum physical security or configuration standards for members of the Armed Forces during the 12-month period following the date of submission of the criteria; and

(v)

removed ~~the date on which the facility will have been in use for 40 years.~~

(2)

removed ~~Briefing—~~ Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment develops the criteria required under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall provide to Congress a briefing on such criteria.

(3)

removed ~~Implementation—~~ Not later than one year after the date on which the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment develops the criteria required under paragraph (1), each covered Assistant Secretary shall implement a digital facilities management system for the military department under the jurisdiction of that meets the criteria described in paragraph (1).

(b)

removed ~~Definitions—~~ ~~In this section:~~

(1)

removed ~~The term “covered Assistant Secretary” means—~~

(A)

removed ~~the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment;~~

(B)

removed ~~the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; and~~

(C)

removed ~~the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy.~~

(2)

removed ~~The term “facility” has the meaning given in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.~~

(3)

removed ~~The term “military department” has the meaning given in section 101 of such title.~~

(4)

removed ~~The term “military installation” has the meaning given in section 2801 of such title.~~

Sec. 303 Strategy for use of existing leasing authorities to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing required

removed

(a)

removed ~~Strategy required—~~

(1)

removed ~~In general—~~ Each Secretary of a military department shall develop a strategy to use the authorities of such Secretary, in effect as of such date, to lease real property to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing.

(2)

removed ~~Elements—~~ ~~Each strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to military installations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the military department concerned—~~

(A)

removed ~~an identification of military installations with the largest shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing;~~

(B)

removed an identification of military installations where existing facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing are in poor or failing condition under the uniform index for evaluating the condition of covered military unaccompanied housing required by section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 2851);

(C)

removed plans of such Secretary in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing or the condition of facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing using—

(i)

removed ~~military construction projects; or~~

(ii)

removed ~~facility sustainment, restoration, or modernization funds; and~~

(D)

removed an assessment of whether the leasing authority under section 2661 of title 10, United States Code, or intergovernmental support agreements under section 2679 of such title would be suitable for use by such Secretary to address—

(i)

removed ~~shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing; or~~

(ii)

removed ~~the poor or failing condition of a facility of covered military unaccompanied housing.~~

(3)

removed ~~Deadline—~~ Each Secretary of a military department shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the strategy required by subsection (a) by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b)

removed ~~Authorization of appropriations—~~ ~~The following amounts are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense to carry out actions that may be taken pursuant to a strategy required by subsection (a):~~

(1)

removed ~~$15,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Army.~~

(2)

removed ~~$9,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Navy.~~

(3)

removed ~~$6,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Marine Corps.~~

(4)

removed ~~$15,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Air Force.~~

(c)

removed ~~Definitions—~~ ~~In this section:~~

(1)

removed ~~The term “congressional defense committees” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.~~

(2)

removed ~~The term “covered military unaccompanied housing” has the meaning given such term in section 2856 of such title.~~

(3)

removed ~~The terms “facility” and “military construction project” have the meanings given such terms in section 2801 of such title.~~

Sec. 304 Independent assessment of estimated costs of certain strategies to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing

removed

(a)

removed ~~Agreement—~~ Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with an FFRDC for an assessment that compares the estimated total cost to the United States during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act of—

(1)

removed ~~the construction and maintenance of facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing to address shortages in covered military unaccompanied housing; and~~

(2)

removed the modification of policies of the Department of Defense and each military department to permit a greater number of members of the Armed Forces to reside in housing facilities other than covered military unaccompanied housing (including such policies relating to the payment of basic allowance for housing under section 403 of title 37, United States Code).

(b)

removed ~~Report on assessment—~~ ~~An FFRDC that enters into an agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report on such assessment. Such report shall include—~~

(1)

removed ~~a comprehensive review of—~~

(A)

removed ~~the total lifecycle costs, disaggregated by each military department, of the construction, sustainment, and modernization of facilities of covered unaccompanied housing to meet—~~

(i)

removed ~~the needs for housing for members of the Armed Forces as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and~~

(ii)

removed ~~the projected needs for such housing during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, as determined by each Secretary concerned;~~

(B)

removed ~~the applicable policies of each military department with respect to which members of the Armed Forces are required to reside in covered military unaccompanied housing; and~~

(C)

removed for each military department, the expected expenditure for basic allowance for housing under section 403 of title 37, United States Code, during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act compared to such total lifecycle costs;

(2)

removed ~~a summary of the research and other activities carried out as part of such comprehensive review; and~~

(3)

removed ~~recommendations of the FFRDC with respect to requirements and policies of the Department of Defense and each military department for covered military unaccompanied housing.~~

(c)

removed ~~Submission to Congress—~~

(1)

removed ~~In general—~~ Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense receives the report under subsection (b), such Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that includes—

(A)

removed ~~an unaltered copy of the report of the FFRDC submitted to the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection (b); and~~

(B)

removed ~~the written responses of the Secretary of the Defense and the Secretaries concerned with respect to the results of such report.~~

(2)

removed ~~Form—~~ ~~The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.~~

(d)

removed ~~Definitions—~~ ~~In this section:~~

(1)

removed ~~The term “covered military unaccompanied housing” has the meaning given such term in section 2856 of title 10, United States Code.~~

(2)

removed ~~The term “facility” has the meaning given such term in section 2801 of such title.~~

(3)

removed ~~The term “FFRDC” means a federally funded research and development center.~~

Sec. 311 Extension of requirement to establish a schedule of black start exercises to assess the energy resilience and energy security of military installations

added

added Section 2920(d)(2)(C)(ii) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “2027” and inserting “2032”.

Sec. 312 Extension of prohibition on required disclosure

added

added Section 318(a)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amended by striking “one-year period” and inserting “five-year period”.

Sec. 313 Modifications to pilot program on use of sustainable aviation fuel

added

added Section 324(g) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraphs:

added “(2) The term “applicable material” means the following:

added “(A) Monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides.

added “(B) Free fatty acids.

added “(C) Fatty acid esters.

added “(D) Municipal solid waste.

added “(E) Renewable natural gas.

added “(3) The term “biomass” has the meaning given such term in section 45K(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

added “(4) The term “lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage” means, with respect to non-petroleum-based jet fuel, the percentage reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions achieved by such fuel as compared with petroleum-based jet fuel, as determined using the following:

added “(A) The most up-to-date Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation which has been adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States.

added “(B) The most up-to-date determinations under the model known as the “Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies” model developed by Argonne National Laboratory.

added “(5) The term “sustainable aviation fuel” means the portion of liquid fuel that is not kerosene and that—

added “(A) meets the requirements of—

added “(i) ASTM International Standard D7566; or

added “(ii) the Fischer Tropsch provisions of ASTM International Standard D1655, Annex A1;

added “(B) is not derived from coprocessing an applicable material (or materials derived from an applicable material) with a feedstock which is not biomass;

added “(C) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum; and

added “(D) has a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage of at least 50 percent.”

Sec. 314 Modification of temporary moratorium on incineration by Department of Defense of perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, and aqueous film forming foam

added

added Section 343(a)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 2701 note) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: “or issues an interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS substances and materials containing PFAS substances”.

Sec. 315 Initiative to control and combat the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetle in Hawaii

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall enhance efforts to manage, control, and interdict the coconut rhinoceros beetle on military installations in Hawaii.

(b)

added Authorized activities— The efforts required under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added Carrying out science-based management and control programs to reduce the effect of the coconut rhinoceros beetle on military installations and to prevent the introduction or spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle to areas where such beetle has not yet been established.

(2)

added Providing support for interagency and intergovernmental response efforts to control, interdict, monitor, and eradicate the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

(3)

added Pursuing chemical, biological, and other control techniques, technology transfer, and best practices to support management, control, interdiction and, where possible, eradication of the coconut rhinoceros beetle from Hawaii.

(4)

added Establishing an early detection and rapid response mechanism to monitor and deploy coordinated efforts if the coconut rhinoceros beetle, or another newly detected invasive alien species, is detected at new sites on military installations in Hawaii.

(5)

added Carrying out such other activities as the Secretary determines appropriate to manage, control, and interdict the coconut rhinoceros beetle on military installations in Hawaii.

(c)

added Annual briefings— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the next three years, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the implementation of this section, which shall include detailed information about the efforts of the Secretary to manage, control, and interdict the coconut rhinoceros beetle on military installations in Hawaii.

Sec. 316 Review and plan regarding biosecurity protocols for Hawaii

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with each Secretary of a military department, the commanders of United States Indo-Pacific Command and its component commands, and State, local, and non-governmental organizations, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on biosecurity protocols and procedures to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species to the State of Hawaii.

(b)

added Elements— The report required under subsection (a) shall include each of the following:

(1)

added A review of current Department of Defense protocols and procedures, including gaps and differences between military installations, for biosecurity and to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species in the State of Hawaii.

(2)

added A review of the efforts and progress of the Department of Defense in implementing the relevant recommendations of the 2015 Regional Biosecurity Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii.

(3)

added A plan to—

(A)

added improve coordination and alignment between Department of Defense components in Hawaii to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species, including through early detection on Department of Defense assets;

(B)

added develop and implement best practices to improve biosecurity protocols while minimizing the effects on military operations, including during military exercises; and

(C)

added improve coordination with State and local government entities and non-governmental organizations to enhance biosecurity and to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species.

(c)

added Update— Not later than five years after the date of the submission of the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees an update on the progress of the Department of Defense in implementing the plan referred to in subsection (b)(3).

(d)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “invasive species” has the meaning given such term in section 10(a)(4) of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 666c-1(a)(4)).

(2)

added The term “biosecurity” means measures taken to protect against biological agents that pose a threat to public health, plant or animal health, or the environment.

Sec. 317 Pilot program to install propane-powered generators at a domestic defense industrial base facility

added

(a)

added Program required— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and the Environment shall carry out a pilot program under which the Assistant Secretary shall install propane-powered generators at an organic industrial base facility. Under the pilot program, such generators shall—

(1)

added be used in tandem with an on-site microgrid in order to improve the resiliency and redundancy of power generation at the facility; and

(2)

added be powered by conventional or renewable propane.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “microgrid” has the meaning given such term in section 641(b)(6) of the United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17231(b)(6)).

(2)

added The term “propane” has the meaning given such term in section 3(6) of the Propane Education and Research Act of 1006 (15 U.S.C. 6402(6)).

(c)

added Termination— The authority to carry out the pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 318 Prohibition on implementation of regulation relating to minimizing risk of climate change

added

added None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2025 may be used to finalize or implement any rule based on the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking titled “Federal Acquisition Regulation: Minimizing the Risk of Climate Change in Federal Acquisitions” (October 15, 2021; 86 Fed. Reg. 57404).

Sec. 319 Stormwater discharge permits for Department of Defense facilities

added

added Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, with respect to each permit under section 402(p) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342(p)) that applies to a Department of Defense facility, the Secretary of Defense shall request from the State that issued the permit, or the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as applicable, approval of a modification to such permit, or a revision to an applicable stormwater management plan, to require—

(1)

added monitoring of discharges of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances not less frequently than quarterly; and

(2)

added implementation of appropriate best management practices or control technologies to reduce such discharges consistent with the requirements of such Act.

Sec. 331 Plans regarding condition and maintenance of prepositioned stockpiles of Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps

added

(a)

added Plan required— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps shall each develop a plan to—

(1)

added improve the required inspection procedures for the prepositioned stockpiles of the Armed Force concerned, for the purpose of identifying deficiencies and conducting maintenance repairs at levels necessary to ensure such prepositioned stockpiles are mission capable; and

(2)

added with respect to the Navy and Marine Corps, provide an analysis of the readiness of ships that hold or facilitate the off-loading of prepositioned stocks and suggestions for improving inspection procedures of such ships.

(b)

added Implementation— Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary or the Commandant completes the development of a plan under subsection (a), and not less frequently than twice each year thereafter for the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary or the Commandant shall inspect the prepositioned stockpiles of the Armed Force concerned in accordance with the procedures under such plan.

(c)

added Briefings—

(1)

added Briefing on plan— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries and the Commandant shall each provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the plan developed under subsection (a).

(2)

added Briefings on status of prepositioned stockpiles— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries and the Commandant shall each provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the status and condition of the prepositioned stockpiles of the Armed Force concerned.

(d)

added Armed Force concerned— In this section, the term “Armed Force concerned” means—

(1)

added the Navy, with respect to the Secretary of the Navy;

(2)

added the Marine Corps with respect to the Commandant of the Marine Corps; and

(3)

added the Air Force, with respect to the Secretary of the Air Force.

Sec. 332 Pilot program on improving marine corps supply chain and logistics through the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning software solutions

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps may select a unit within the Marine Corps to carry out a pilot program to improve military supply chain readiness, budget efficiency, and logistics productivity through the integration and use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning software solutions.

(b)

added Activities— The Commandant of the Marine Corps shall seek to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) in partnership with a federally funded research and development center, a University Affiliated Research Center, a center of excellence, a military service laboratory, or 1 or more private-sector entities with experience in machine learning-driven logistics planning and decision support tools in an effort to streamline and modernize the Marine Corps logistics operations and any other partners the commandant deems necessary.

(c)

added Goals— The goals of the pilot program are to leverage AI solutions to—

(1)

added optimize logistics operations and inventory management, specifically within the United States Indo-Pacific Command Area of Responsibility;

(2)

added improve military force readiness;

(3)

added streamline materiel distribution and logistics optimization;

(4)

added improve situational awareness by providing predictions driven by a modular, probabilistic simulation of logistics processes in the face of uncertainty;

(5)

added enhance productivity by minimizing and, where possible, automating reporting and inter- actions with data systems; and

(6)

added scale Marine Corps integration of AI-enhanced logistics and supply chain solutions to solve operational challenges.

(d)

added Briefing— By December 1 of each year in which the pilot program is carried out, the Commandant of the Marine Corps shall provide to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

(1)

added a description of the logistics and supply chain problem sets that were evaluated by the pilot program;

(2)

added an assessment of the impact of using AI to solve supply chain and logistics challenges, including any changes to readiness, budget efficiency, and productivity of military equipment and materiel;

(3)

added any barriers identified to using AI to solve supply chain and logistics challenges;

(4)

added recommendations regarding how the Department of Defense can better leverage artificial intelligence to address supply chain and logistics challenges in a contested environment;

(5)

added an assessment of the impact of AI software solutions on visibility of materiel at different levels of command within the Marine Corps; and

(6)

added the viability of expanding these software solutions to other units and areas of responsibility.

(e)

added Termination— The pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Marine Corps enters into the first agreement with a qualified entity under subsection (b).

Sec. 341 Joint Safety Council report and briefing requirements

added

added Section 185 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (k)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added by striking “Chair” and inserting “Chairperson”; and

(ii)

added by striking “semi-annual” and inserting “biannual”; and

(B)

added in paragraph (2)—

(i)

added in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(I)

added by striking “, 2023, and not later than” and inserting “and”;

(II)

added by striking “thereafter”; and

(III)

added by inserting “biannual” before “report”;

(ii)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “and” after the semicolon;

(iii)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and

(iv)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(C) for the year covered by the report—

added “(i) releasable information regarding any mishap that occurred during such year; and

added “(ii) an identification of any corrective or preventative action implemented pursuant to a recommendation made in a safety or legal investigation report of such a mishap.”

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(j) Biannual briefings—Not later than March 31 and December 31 of each year, the Chairperson of the Joint Council shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the contents of the report required under subsection (k) for the corresponding date.”

Sec. 342 Change in timeframe for report on ability of Department of Defense to meet requirements for energy resilience and energy security measures on military installations

added

(a)

added In general— Section 2920(g) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “2029” and inserting “2027”.

(b)

added Briefing requirement— Not later than June 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the progress of the Secretary in meeting the requirements under section 2920(a) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 343 Modifications to Comptroller General annual reviews of F–35 sustainment efforts

added

added Section 357 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025” and inserting “2025, 2026, and 2027”;

(B)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added by striking “(including” and inserting “, which may include”; and

(ii)

added by striking the closing parenthesis; and

(C)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “ as a result of such review”; and

(2)

added in subsection (b) by striking “of the following:” and all that follows through the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting “of matters regarding the sustainment or affordability of the F–35 Lighting II aircraft program that the Comptroller General, after consulting with staff from the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, determines to be of critical importance to the long-term viability of such program.”.

Sec. 344 Study on firefighter rapid intervention team training and equipment at Department of Defense facilities

added

(a)

added Study— The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of the training standards for firefighter rapid intervention teams and the use of equipment by such teams at Department of Defense facilities. Such study shall include—

(1)

added an identification of such training standards and equipment that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are in use by such teams and the extent to which such training and equipment is standard across firefighter rapid intervention teams located at different Department facilities;

(2)

added an identification of such training standards and equipment that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are in use by such teams at Department naval and port facilities and a determination by the Secretary of whether such training and equipment is sufficient to prepare such teams for fires on the various ships that dock at such facilities; and

(3)

added a description of any incident that—

(A)

added occurred during the ten-year period preceding the date of the enactment of this Act in which a firefighter was injured or killed at a Department facility; and

(B)

added the Secretary finds could have been prevented if the firefighters involved had received different training or equipment; and

(b)

added Report to Congress— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study required under subsection (a).

(c)

added Firefighter rapid intervention team defined— In this section, the term “firefighter rapid intervention team” means a designated firefighting crew that serves as a stand-by rescue team at the scenes of fires and other emergencies and is available for the immediate search and rescue of missing, trapped, or injured firefighters if required.

Sec. 345 Joint Safety Council review of Comptroller General report on fatigue of members of the Armed Forces

added

(a)

added Review— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Safety Council established under section 185 of title 10, United States Code, shall review the issues identified in the report of the Comptroller General of the United States titled “Military Readiness: Comprehensive Approach Needed to Address Service Member Fatigue and Manage Related Efforts” (GAO-24-105917), including—

(1)

added insufficient oversight authority at the Department of Defense level;

(2)

added a lack of assigned leadership on fatigue-related matters within the Armed Forces; and

(3)

added fragmented fatigue-related research efforts across the Department;

(b)

added Briefing— Not later than September 1, 2025, the Joint Safety Council shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the steps the Council is taking to address the findings of the Comptroller General and to reinvigorate efforts to limit the fatigue of members of the Armed Forces.

Sec. 351 Expanded license reciprocity for Department of Defense veterinarians

added

added Section 1060c of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in the section heading, by striking “in emergencies”;

(2)

added in subsection (a), by striking “for the purposes described in subsection (c)”; and

(3)

added by striking subsection (c).

Sec. 352 Provision of sports foods and third-party certified dietary supplements to members of the Armed Forces

added

(a)

added Use of amounts— The Secretary of Defense may use amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for Operation and Maintenance for the procurement of sports foods and third-party certified dietary supplements and the distribution of such foods and supplements to members of the Armed Forces.

(b)

added Acquisition and distribution—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary shall authorize registered dietitians and health care providers of the Department at the operational unit level to acquire sports foods and third-party certified dietary supplements and to distribute such foods and supplements to members of the Armed Forces.

(2)

added Rule of construction— Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to—

(A)

added augment morale, welfare, and recreation funds or activities; or

(B)

added augment or replace the budget or services of dining facilities of the Department.

(c)

added Criteria— The Secretary shall require that any dietary supplements and sports foods procured under this section are tested by an appropriate non-Department of Defense entity to ensure that product labels for content type and amount are accurate and that the product is free of substances banned by the Department.

(d)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “dietary supplement” has the meaning given that term in section 201(ff) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(ff)).

(2)

added The term “sports food” means a product with a nutrition facts label that is meant to support daily macronutrient and caloric needs in support of fueling and hydration of members of the Armed Forces to enhance combat readiness, which may be used to improve physical performance and long-term cognitive health and optimize recovery.

Sec. 401 End strengths for active forces

changed ~~Section 1095f(a)(2)~~ The Armed Forces are authorized strengths for active duty personnel as of ~~title 10, United States Code, is amended—~~September 30, 2025, as follows:

(1)

changed ~~by inserting “(A)” before “The Secretary”; and~~The Army, 442,300.

(2)

changed ~~by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:~~The Navy, 332,300.

(3)

added The Marine Corps, 172,300.

(4)

added The Air Force, 320,000.

(5)

added The Space Force, 9,800.

removed “(B) The Secretary shall waive the referral requirement in paragraph (1) in the case of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who seeks to obtain any of the following kinds of care in a military medical treatment facility:

removed ~~“(i) Physical therapy.~~

removed ~~“(ii) Nutritional.~~

removed ~~“(iii) Audiological.~~

removed ~~“(iv) Optometric.~~

removed ~~“(v) Podiatric.~~

removed ~~“(vi) Primary and preventive health care services for women (as such term is defined in section 1074d of this title).”~~

Sec. 402 Referral of a member of the Armed Forces to a TRICARE provider for urgent behavioral health services

removed

removed ~~Section 722 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended—~~

(1)

removed ~~by striking “If” and inserting “(a) In general.—Subject to subsection (b), if”; and~~

(2)

removed ~~by adding at the end the following new subsection:~~

removed ~~“(b) Urgent behavioral health services~~

removed “(1) In general—If the Secretary of Defense is unable to provide urgent behavioral health services in a military medical treatment facility to a covered individual during the three-day period following the date on which such services are first requested by the covered individual, the Secretary shall refer the covered individual to a provider under the TRICARE program to receive such services.

removed ~~“(2) Covered individual defined—In this subsection, the term “covered individual” means—~~

removed ~~“(A) a member of the Armed Forces on active duty;~~

removed ~~“(B) a retired member of the Armed Forces;~~

removed ~~“(C) a dependent of a member described in paragraph (1); or~~

removed ~~“(D) a dependent of a former member described in paragraph (2).”~~

Sec. 403 Retention of health care providers: surveys; briefing; reports

removed

(a)

removed ~~Surveys—~~ The Secretary of a military department shall conduct an annual survey of health care providers under the jurisdiction of such Secretary to determine why such providers remain on, or separate from, active duty in such military department.

(b)

removed ~~Briefing—~~ Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of a military department shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing regarding the plan of such Secretary to carry out the survey under this section.

(c)

removed ~~Reports—~~ Not later than September 30 of each year, beginning in 2025, the Secretary of a military department shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the most recent survey under this section.

(1)

removed ~~Elements—~~ ~~Each report shall include the following elements:~~

(A)

removed ~~Demographic data regarding the providers, disaggregated under paragraph (2).~~

(B)

removed ~~Reasons providers gave for remaining.~~

(C)

removed ~~Reasons providers gave for separating.~~

(D)

removed ~~The determination of the Secretary whether there is a trend regarding retention or such reasons.~~

(E)

removed ~~Efforts of the Secretary to reverse a negative trend or encourage a positive trend.~~

(F)

removed ~~Legislative recommendations of the Secretary regarding how to reverse a negative trend or encourage a positive trend.~~

(2)

removed ~~Demographic data—~~ ~~In each report, the Secretary of a military department shall disaggregate demographic data regarding providers who participated in the most recent survey on the bases of the following categories:~~

(A)

removed ~~Medical specialty.~~

(B)

removed ~~Rank.~~

(C)

removed ~~Gender.~~

(D)

removed ~~Years of service in such military department.~~

(E)

removed ~~Whether the provider became an officer on active duty in such military department—~~

(i)

removed ~~pursuant to the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program under subchapter I of chapter 105 of title 10, United States Code;~~

(ii)

removed ~~after graduating from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences established under section 2112 of such title; or~~

(iii)

removed ~~otherwise.~~

(d)

removed ~~Termination—~~ ~~This section shall cease to have effect on September 30, 2030.~~

Sec. 411 End strengths for Selected Reserve

added

(a)

added In general— The Armed Forces are authorized strengths for Selected Reserve personnel of the reserve components as of September 30, 2025, as follows:

(1)

added The Army National Guard of the United States, 325,000.

(2)

added The Army Reserve, 175,800.

(3)

added The Navy Reserve, 57,700.

(4)

added The Marine Corps Reserve, 32,500.

(5)

added The Air National Guard of the United States, 107,700.

(6)

added The Air Force Reserve, 67,000.

(7)

added The Coast Guard Reserve, 7,000.

(b)

added End strength reductions— The end strengths prescribed by subsection (a) for the Selected Reserve of any reserve component shall be proportionately reduced by—

(1)

added the total authorized strength of units organized to serve as units of the Selected Reserve of such component which are on active duty (other than for training) at the end of the fiscal year; and

(2)

added the total number of individual members not in units organized to serve as units of the Selected Reserve of such component who are on active duty (other than for training or for unsatisfactory participation in training) without their consent at the end of the fiscal year.

(c)

added End strength increases— Whenever units or individual members of the Selected Reserve of any reserve component are released from active duty during any fiscal year, the end strength prescribed for such fiscal year for the Selected Reserve of such reserve component shall be increased proportionately by the total authorized strengths of such units and by the total number of such individual members.

Sec. 412 End strengths for Reserves on active duty in support of the Reserves

added

added Within the end strengths prescribed in section 411(a), the reserve components of the Armed Forces are authorized, as of September 30, 2025, the following number of Reserves to be serving on full-time active duty or full-time duty, in the case of members of the National Guard, for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components:

(1)

added The Army National Guard of the United States, 30,845.

(2)

added The Army Reserve, 16,511.

(3)

added The Navy Reserve, 10,132.

(4)

added The Marine Corps Reserve, 2,400.

(5)

added The Air National Guard of the United States, 25,736.

(6)

added The Air Force Reserve, 6,311.

Sec. 413 End strengths for military technicians (dual status)

added

added The minimum number of military technicians (dual status) as of the last day of fiscal year 2025 for the reserve components of the Army and the Air Force (notwithstanding section 129 of title 10, United States Code) shall be the following:

(1)

added For the Army National Guard of the United States, 22,294.

(2)

added For the Army Reserve, 6,492.

(3)

added For the Air National Guard of the United States, 10,744.

(4)

added For the Air Force Reserve, 6,697.

Sec. 414 Maximum number of reserve personnel authorized to be on active duty for operational support

added

added During fiscal year 2025, the maximum number of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who may be serving at any time on full-time operational support duty under section 115(b) of title 10, United States Code, is the following:

(1)

added The Army National Guard of the United States, 17,000.

(2)

added The Army Reserve, 13,000.

(3)

added The Navy Reserve, 6,200.

(4)

added The Marine Corps Reserve, 3,000.

(5)

added The Air National Guard of the United States, 16,000.

(6)

added The Air Force Reserve, 14,000.

Sec. 421 Military personnel

added

(a)

added Authorization of appropriations— Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of the Department of Defense for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for military personnel, as specified in the funding table in section 4401.

(b)

added Construction of authorization— The authorization of appropriations in the subsection (a) supersedes any other authorization of appropriations (definite or indefinite) for such purpose for fiscal year 2025.

Sec. 501 Grade of Surgeon General of the Navy

(a)

changed ~~In general—~~Modification to distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades— Section ~~1784(h)~~ 525 of title 10, United States Code, is ~~amended by striking paragraph (5).~~amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)(3)(B) by striking “34” and inserting “35” ; and

(2)

added in subsection (a)(3)(C) by striking “49” and inserting “48” .

(b)

changed ~~Effective date—~~Grade of Surgeon General of the Navy— ~~The amendment made~~ Section 8077 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by ~~subsection (a) shall take effect as if enacted immediately following~~ adding at the ~~enactment of~~ end the ~~National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92), to which such amendment relates.~~following new subsection:

added “(c) Grade—The Surgeon General, while so serving, shall hold the grade of O–9.”

Sec. 502 Redistribution of general officers of the Marine Corps on active duty

added Section 525(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(a)

removed ~~Establishment—~~ ~~Section 1784 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:~~

removed “(i) Employment fellowship opportunities—The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program to provide spouses of members of the Armed Forces with paid fellowships with employers in various industries. To carry out such program, the Secretary shall take the following steps:

removed ~~“(1) Enter into an agreement with an entity to conduct such program.~~

removed ~~“(2) Determine the appropriate capacity for the program based on the availability of appropriations for such purpose.~~

removed ~~“(3) Establish criteria to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the program in supporting the employment of such spouses.”~~

(1)

changed ~~Effective date—~~ ~~Subsection (i) of such section shall take effect on January 1, 2026.~~in subparagraph (B), by striking “17” and inserting “18”; and

(2)

changed ~~Conforming amendment—~~ ~~The pilot program under section 564 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 1784 note) shall terminate on January 1, 2026.~~in subparagraph (C), by striking “22” and replacing with “21.”

Sec. 503 Removal of exemption relating to Attending Physician to the Congress for certain distribution and grade limitations

added Section 525 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(a)

removed ~~Period—~~ ~~The Secretary of a military department may provide a covered member with covered services for a period of at least 180 days.~~

(1)

changed ~~Rule of construction—~~ ~~Nothing in this section shall be construed to—~~by striking subsection (f); and

(1)

removed ~~entitle a covered member to covered services; or~~

(2)

removed ~~give priority to a covered member for purposes of a determination regarding who shall receive covered services.~~

(2)

changed ~~Definitions—~~ ~~In this section:~~by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f).

(1)

removed ~~The term “covered member” means a member of the Armed Forces—~~

(A)

removed ~~who has a dependent child; and~~

(B)

removed ~~whose spouse is seeking employment.~~

(2)

removed ~~The term “covered services” means child care services or youth program services provided or paid for by the Secretary of Defense under subchapter II of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code.~~

Sec. 504 Authority to exclude additional positions from limitations on the number of general officers and flag officers on active duty

added

(a)

added In general— Section 526 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsections (g) through (j) as subsections (h) through (k), respectively; and

(2)

added by inserting, after subsection (f), the following new subsection (g):

added “(g) Secretary of Defense adaptive force account—The Secretary of Defense may designate up to 45 general officer and flag officer positions for exclusion from the limitations in subsection (a) and in section 525(a) of this title.”

(b)

added Conforming amendment— Paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of section 501 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 525 note) is hereby repealed.

Sec. 505 Modification to grade of Attending Physician to the Congress

added

added Section 715 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

added “715. Attending Physician to the Congress: grade

added “An officer serving as Attending Physician to the Congress, while so serving, holds the grade of O–6.”

Sec. 506 Authority to separate a regular officer after a board of inquiry recommends retaining such officer

added

added Section 1182(d)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by striking “If” and inserting “(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), if”; and

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

added “(B) If the board determines that there is a substantiated basis for separating the officer and the Chief of the armed force concerned recommends separation, the Secretary of the military department concerned may determine, pursuant to the process under subparagraph (C), whether to involuntarily separate the officer under subparagraph (D).

added “(C) The process under this subparagraph shall include the following:

added “(i) The provision of notice to the officer regarding such process.

added “(ii) An opportunity for the officer to present evidence to the Secretary of the military department concerned.

added “(D) Subject to subparagraph (E), the Secretary of the military department concerned may involuntarily separate the officer if, after reviewing all the evidence in the record, such Secretary determines that—

added “(i) the recommendation of the board is clearly contrary to the substantial weight of such evidence;

added “(ii) the officer’s conduct—

added “(I) discredits the armed force concerned;

added “(II) adversely affects good order and discipline; or

added “(III) adversely affects the officer’s performance of duty; and

added “(iii) separation is essential to the interests of justice, discipline, and proper administration of the armed force concerned.

added “(E)

added “(i) The least favorable characterization of a separation under subparagraph (D) shall be general (under honorable conditions).

added “(ii) The Secretary of the military department concerned may delegate the authority to make a determination under subparagraph (D) only to a civilian official of such military department who was appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.”

Sec. 507 Inclusion of service in SROTC in the computation of length of service of an officer appointed for completing SROTC

added

added Subsection (c) of section 2106 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by striking “August 1, 1979, as a member of the Selected Reserve” and inserting an em dash; and

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

added “(1) August 1, 1979, as a member of the Selected Reserve; or

added “(2) the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, regardless of the component in which the officer performed such enlisted service.”

Sec. 508 Improvements relating to Medical Officer of the Marine Corps position

added

(a)

added In general— Chapter 806 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “8048. Medical Officer of the Marine Corps

added “(a) There is a Medical Officer of the Marine Corps who shall be appointed from among flag officers of the Navy.

added “(b) The Medical Officer of the Marine Corps, while so serving, shall hold the grade of rear admiral (lower half).”

(b)

added Exclusion from certain distribution limitations— Section 525 of such title is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and

(2)

added by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection (g):

added “(g) A naval officer while serving as the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps is in addition to the number that would otherwise be permitted for the Navy for officers serving on active duty in the grade of rear admiral (lower half) under subsection (a).”

(c)

added Exclusion from active duty strength limitations— Section 526 of such title is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsections (g) through (j) as subsections (h) through (k), respectively; and

(2)

added by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection (g):

added “(g) Exclusion of Medical Officer of Marine Corps—The limitations of this section do not apply to the flag officer who is serving as the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps.”

Sec. 509 Repeal of requirement of one year of active duty service for original appointment as a warrant officer in the Department of the Air Force

added

added Section 9160 of title 10, United States Code, is repealed.

Sec. 509A Pilot program on peer and subordinate evaluations of certain officers

added

(a)

added Establishment— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall implement, in an Armed Force, a five-year pilot program, pursuant to which—

(1)

added an officer described in subsection (b) shall be anonymously evaluated by peers and subordinates; and

(2)

added the results of such evaluations shall be furnished to a command selection or command qualification board concerned; and

(3)

added the command selection or command qualification board shall consider such results in determining whether to recommend such officer for such selection or qualification.

(b)

added Covered officers— An officer described in this subsection is a regular officer—

(1)

added eligible for consideration for command;

(2)

added in grade O-5 or O-6; and

(3)

added in a career field—

(A)

added specified in subsection (c); or

(B)

added determined by the Secretary concerned.

(c)

added Covered career fields— The career fields specified in this subsection are the following:

(1)

added In the Navy, surface warfare, submarine warfare, special warfare, or explosive ordnance disposal.

(2)

added In the Marine Corps, infantry, logistics, or field artillery.

(3)

added In the Air Force, operations or logistics.

(4)

added In the Space Force, space operations.

(5)

added In the Coast Guard, afloat or engineering and command, control, communications, computers, cyber, and intelligence.

(d)

added Selection of evaluators— The Secretary concerned may select an individual to evaluate an officer under the pilot program if the Secretary determines such individual has worked with the officer closely enough to have an informed opinion regarding the officer’s leadership abilities. An officer may not have any input regarding the selection of an individual who shall evaluate such officer.

(e)

added Report— Not later than three months after the termination of a pilot program, a Secretary concerned shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report regarding the pilot program. Elements of each such report shall include the following:

(1)

added The determination of the Secretary concerned whether the pilot program improved the command selection or command qualification process of the Armed Force.

(2)

added The determination of the Secretary concerned whether to continue to use peer or subordinate evaluations in the command selection or command qualification process of such Armed Force.

(f)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A)

added the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;

(B)

added the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;

(C)

added the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and

(D)

added the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

(2)

added The terms “regular” and “Secretary concerned” have the meanings given such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 511 Grades of certain chiefs of reserve components

added

(a)

added In general—

(1)

added Chief of Army Reserve— Section 7038(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

added “(4) The Chief of Army Reserve, while so serving, holds the grade of lieutenant general.”

(2)

added Chief of Navy Reserve— Section 8083(b) of such title is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

added “(4) The Chief of Navy Reserve, while so serving, holds the grade of vice admiral.”

(3)

added Commander, Marine Forces Reserve— Section 8084(b) of such title is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

added “(4) The Commander, Marine Forces Reserve, while so serving, holds the grade of lieutenant general.”

(4)

added Chief of Air Force Reserve— Section 9038(b) of such title is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

added “(4) The Chief of Air Force Reserve, while so serving, holds the grade of lieutenant general.”

(b)

added Effective date— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the day that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to appointments made after such date.

Sec. 512 Expansion of authority to continue reserve officers in certain military specialties on the reserve active-status list

added

added Section 14701(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (A), by inserting “(including an officer described in subparagraph (C))” after “or a reserve officer”;

(B)

added by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and

(C)

added by inserting, after subparagraph (B), the following new subparagraph (C):

added “(C) An officer described in this subparagraph is a reserve officer in a grade above O-2 who has a military occupational specialty, rating, or specialty code in a military specialty designated, in regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the military department concerned, as subject to a shortage of personnel.”

(2)

added by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; and

(3)

added by inserting, after paragraph (5), the following new paragraph (6):

added “(6) A reserve officer described in paragraph (1)(C) and continued on the reserve active-status list pursuant to this section shall, if not earlier retired, transferred to the Retired Reserve, or discharged, be separated in accordance with section 14513 or 14514, as applicable, on the first day of the month after the month in which the officer completes 40 years of commissioned service.”

Sec. 521 Transfer to the Space Force of covered space functions of the Air National Guard of the United States

added

(a)

added Transfer of covered space functions— During the transition period, the Secretary of the Air Force may transfer to the Space Force the covered space functions of the Air National Guard of the United States. Any such transfer shall occur subject to section 104 of title 32, United States Code, and section 18238 of title 10, United States Code.

(b)

added Transfer of units— Upon the transfer to the Space Force of the covered space functions of a unit of the Air National Guard of the United States, the Secretary of the Air Force may change the status of the unit from a unit of the Air National Guard of the United States to a unit of the United States Space Force;

(c)

added Transfer of covered members—

(1)

added Officers— During the transition period, the Secretary of Defense may, with the officer’s consent, transfer a covered officer of the Air National Guard of the United States to, and appoint the officer in, the Space Force.

(2)

added Enlisted members— During the transition period, the Secretary of the Air Force may transfer each covered enlisted member of the Air National Guard of the United States to the Space Force, other than those covered enlisted members who do not consent to transfer. Upon such a transfer, the covered enlisted member so transferred ceases to be a member of the Air National Guard of the United States and is discharged from the enlistment of such covered enlisted member as a Reserve of the Air Force.

(3)

added Effective date of transfers— Each transfer under this subsection shall be effective on the date specified by the Secretary of Defense, in the case of an officer, or the Secretary of the Air Force, in the case of an enlisted member, but not later than the last day of the transition period.

(4)

added Maximum number of transfers— Not more than 580 members of the Air National Guard may be transferred under this subsection.

(d)

added Regulations— Transfers under subsection (c) shall be carried out under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. In the case of an officer, applicable regulations shall include those prescribed pursuant to section 716 of title 10, United States Code.

(e)

added Term of initial enlistment in the Space Force— In the case of a covered enlisted member who is transferred to the Space Force in accordance with subsection (c), the Secretary of the Air Force may accept the initial enlistment of the enlisted member in the Space Force for a period of less than two years, but only if the period of enlistment in the Space Force is not less than the period remaining, as of the date of the transfer, in the enlisted member’s term of enlistment in a reserve component of the Air Force.

(f)

added End strength adjustments upon transfers from the Air National Guard of the United States— During the transition period, upon the transfer to the Space Force of a covered space function of the Air National Guard of the United States—

(1)

added the end strength authorized for the Space Force pursuant to section 115(a)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, for the fiscal year during which the transfer occurs shall be increased by the number of billets associated with that mission; and

(2)

added the end strength authorized for the Air National Guard of the United States pursuant to section 115(a)(2) of such title for such fiscal year shall be decreased by the same number.

(g)

added Administrative provisions— For purposes of the transfer of covered members of the Air National Guard of the United States in accordance with subsection (c)—

(1)

added the Air National Guard of the United States and the Space Force shall be considered to be components of the same Armed Force; and

(2)

added the Space Force officer list shall be considered to be an active-duty list of an Armed Force.

(h)

added Retraining and reassignment for members not transferring— If a covered member of the Air National Guard of the United States does not consent to transfer to the Space Force in accordance with subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide the covered member retraining and reassignment within a reserve component of the Air Force.

(i)

added Space Force units in affected States— In order to reduce the cost of transferring to the Space Force the covered space functions of the Air National Guard of the United States, and to reduce the impact of such transfer on the affected State, the following provisions apply:

(1)

added After a covered space function is transferred to the Space Force from the Air National Guard of the United States, the Space Force shall continue to perform the covered space function within the affected State;

(2)

added Except when the Secretary of the Air Force determines that it would not be in the best interests of the United States, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the Governor of an affected State, to provide for the Space Force to become a tenant organization on an installation of the National Guard of the affected State at which a covered space function was executed.

(j)

added Annual report— Not later than January 31 of each year during the transition period, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the progress of the transfer of covered space functions of the Air National Guard of the United States to the Space Force. Each such report shall include the following elements with respect to the year preceding the date of the report:

(1)

added A detailed description of actions taken to transfer the covered space functions to the Space Force.

(2)

added An assessment of the effect of the transfers on the readiness and capabilities of the Space Force and the Air National Guard.

(3)

added A summary of any challenge encountered during the transfer and steps taken to overcome such challenge.

(4)

added The number of officers and enlisted members transferred to the Space Force.

(5)

added Any recommendation of the Secretary, including additional legislation, to improve such transfer.

(k)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered space functions of the Air National Guard of the United States” means all Federal missions, units, personnel billets, equipment, and resources of the Air National Guard of the United States associated with the performance of a space-related function that is (as determined by the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Chief of Space Operations)—

(A)

added a core space-related function of the Space Force; or

(B)

added otherwise integral to the mission of the Space Force.

(2)

added The term “affected State” means a State or territory the National Guard of that would be affected by the transfer of covered space functions to the Space Force.

(3)

added The term “covered”, with respect to a member of the Air National Guard of the United States, has the meaning provided in section 1733(g) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 676).

(4)

added The term “transition period” means the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the last day of the fourth fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 522 Authority to designate certain separated members of the Air Force as honorary separated members of the Space Force

added

added Chapter 933 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “9254. Authority to designate certain separated members of the Air Force as honorary separated members of the Space Force

added “(a) Authority—The Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe regulations that authorize an eligible individual to be designated as an honorary separated member of the Space Force. An eligible individual so designated may be referred to as a “Legacy Guardian”.

added “(b) Elements—Regulations prescribed under this section may include the following elements:

added “(1) Eligibility criteria, including applicable dates of service and constructive service credit, for designation under this section.

added “(2) An application process through which an eligible individual, or a survivor of a deceased eligible individual, may apply for such designation of such eligible individual.

added “(3) A certificate, approved device, or other insignia of such designation.

added “(c) Rule of construction—Designation of an eligible individual under this section shall not be construed to entitle such eligible individual to any benefit in addition to those established by this section or pursuant to regulations prescribed under this section.

added “(d) Eligible individual defined—In this section, the term “eligible individual” means an individual—

added “(1) whom the Secretary of the Air Force determines served in support of space operations as a member of the Air Force; and

added “(2) who separates (or previously separated) from the armed forces as a member of the Air Force.”

Sec. 523 Merit-based principles for military personnel decisions in the Department of Defense

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each personnel decision regarding a covered member, including military accession, promotion, and command selection, is—

(1)

added based on the individual merit and demonstrated performance of the covered member;

(2)

added without regard to the political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or marital status, of the covered member; and

(3)

added with proper regard for the privacy and constitutional rights of the covered member.

(b)

added Additional protections— The Secretary shall protect a covered member against—

(1)

added arbitrary action, personal favoritism, and coercion for partisan political purposes; and

(2)

added reprisal for the lawful disclosure of information by a covered member that the covered member reasonably believes to evince—

(A)

added a violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or

(B)

added mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, or an abuse of authority.

(c)

added Regulations— The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe new regulations to carry out this section not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(d)

added Covered member defined— In this section, the term “covered member” means—

(1)

added a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force; or

(2)

added an individual who has an active application to be a member described in paragraph (1).

Sec. 524 Next of kin of deceased members of certain Armed Forces: database; privacy

added

(a)

added Database— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations that establish and maintain a database of the Department of Defense that contains up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of members of the covered Armed Forces. Such regulations shall ensure that—

(1)

added a commander in a grade higher than O-5 may access the contact information for the next of kin of a member who died while a member of the unit under the command of such commander, regardless of whether such member served under such commander; and

(2)

added an individual named in such database may—

(A)

added elect to not be contacted by an officer described in paragraph (1); and

(B)

added change such election at any time.

(b)

added Privacy— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the DD Form 93 (“Record of Emergency Data”) used in a covered Armed Force complies with the terms of section 552a of title 5, United States Code.

(c)

added Covered Armed Force defined— In this section, the term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

Sec. 525 Marine Corps permeability pilot program

added

(a)

added Authority— The Commandant of the Marine Corps (hereinafter “Commandant”) may carry out a pilot program under which a member may move between the active component and reserve components of the Marine Corps more easily, in accordance with the following:

(1)

added Up to 50 officers and 200 enlisted members of the regular component of the Marine Corps may be transferred to the Selected Reserve of the Marine Corps and returned to active duty at the end of the period of transfer under subsection (b).

(2)

added An officer in a grade below O-6 who returns to active duty at the end of such period of transfer shall be reappointed as a regular officer by the President.

(3)

added The Commandant may not approve a transfer under the pilot program after September 30, 2028.

(b)

added Period of transfer from active duty; effects of transfer—

(1)

added Period of transfer— The period of transfer from active duty under a pilot program under this section shall be such period as the Commandant shall specify in the agreement of the member under subsection (c), except that such period may not exceed three years.

(2)

added Years of service— Any service by a transferred reserve officer while participating in a pilot program under this section shall be included in computation of the total years of service of such officer pursuant to section 14706(a) of title 10, United States Code.

(3)

added Retirement— Any period of participation of a transferred member in a program under this section shall count toward—

(A)

added eligibility for retirement or transfer to the Ready Reserve under chapter 841 or 1223 of title 10, United States Code; or

(B)

added computation of retired or retainer pay under chapter 841 or 1223 of title 10, United States Code.

(c)

added Agreement— Each member of the Marine Corps who participates in a pilot program under this section shall enter into a written agreement with the Commandant, under which the member shall agree to terms including the following:

(1)

added To undergo, during a period of transfer under subsection (b), such training as the Commandant shall require, including requirements under section 10147 of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

added Following completion of a period of transfer under subsection (b), to serve up to two months as a member of the Marine Corps on active duty for each month of such period of transfer. Following completion of an initial period of transfer, a member may request a waiver of the period of obligated service under this paragraph. If the Commandant waives such period of obligated service, the member shall remain in the Selected Reserve, entitled to pay, allowances, and benefits of a member of the uniformed services in the grade and years of service of such member.

(d)

added Pay, allowances, and leave—

(1)

added Basic pay; allowances other than travel and transportation allowances— During a period of transfer under subsection (b), a member shall receive any applicable pay or allowance other than a travel and transportation allowance under title 37, United States Code, for a reserve member of the uniformed services in the grade and years of service of the member.

(2)

added Special or incentive pay—

(A)

added Agreement to remain on active duty— A member who participates in a pilot program under this section shall not be determined to violate an existing agreement to remain on active duty relating to special or incentive pay under chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, solely on the basis of such participation. The period of such agreement shall be suspended for the period of transfer under subsection (b), resume at the end of such period of transfer, and be in addition to any period of obligated service under subsection (c).

(B)

added Expiration— If, at the end of a period of transfer under subsection (b), the special or incentive pay relating to an existing agreement to remain on active duty described in subparagraph (A) is no longer authorized by law, the member shall not be entitled to such special or incentive pay.

(C)

added Repayment— A member who is ineligible for payment of a special or incentive pay described in subparagraph (B) shall be subject to the requirements for repayment of such pay or bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable agreement of the member under chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code.

(3)

added Travel and transportation allowances— A member who participates in a pilot program under this section is entitled to travel and transportation allowances under section 452 of title 37, United States Code, to relocate—

(A)

added from the residence of the member at the beginning of a period of transfer under subsection (b), to the location in the United States designated by the member as the residence of such member during such period of transfer; and

(B)

added from the residence designated under subparagraph (A) to the residence of the member after the end of such period of transfer.

(4)

added Leave— A member who participates in a pilot program is entitled to carry, in accordance with section 701 of title 10, United States Code, the leave accrued by such member until the day before the beginning of a period of transfer under subsection (b).

(e)

added Promotion—

(1)

added Officers— An officer participating in a pilot program under this section may be eligible for consideration for promotion as a member of the reserve component in accordance with section 14005 and 14305 of title 10, United States Code, during the period of transfer under subsection (b). Upon the return of an officer to active duty after completion of a period transfer under subsection (b)—

(A)

added the Commandant may adjust the date of rank of the officer to a date as appropriate in accordance with the standards prescribed by the Secretary of Defense; and

(B)

added the officer shall be eligible for consideration for promotion when officers of the same competitive category, grade, and seniority are eligible for consideration for promotion.

(2)

added Enlisted member— An enlisted member participating in a pilot program under this section may be eligible for consideration for promotion as a member of the reserve component during the period of transfer under subsection (b).

(f)

added Continued entitlements— A member participating in a pilot program under this section shall, while participating in the pilot program, be treated as a member of the Marine Corps on active duty for a period of more than 30 days for purposes of—

(1)

added the entitlement of the member and of the dependents of the member to medical and dental care under the provisions of chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code;

(2)

added retirement or separation for physical disability under the provisions of chapters 55 and 61 of title 10, United States Code;

(3)

added the entitlement of the member and of the survivors of the member to all death benefits under the provisions of chapter 75 of title 10, United States Code;

(4)

added the provision of all travel and transportation allowances for the survivors of deceased members to attend burial ceremonies under section 453(f) of title 37, United States Code; and

(5)

added the eligibility of the member for general benefits as provided in part II of title 38, United States Code.

(g)

added Regulations— Before carrying out a pilot program under this section, the Commandant shall prescribe regulations under this section. Such regulations shall include additional terms of an agreement under subsection (c), including instructions to a member regarding the obligations of a member during a period of transfer under subsection (b).

(h)

added Order to active duty— Under regulations prescribed by the Commandant, a member of the Marine Corps participating in a pilot program under this section may, at the discretion of the Commandant, be required to terminate participation in the pilot program and return to active duty.

Sec. 526 Restoration of retired rank of General John D. Lavelle

added

added Not later than December 31, 2024, the Secretary of Defense shall issue a recommendation to the President and the Senate regarding the restoration of the retired rank of General John D. Lavelle based on recently declassified records and the most recent recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records.

Sec. 531 Selective Service System: automatic registration

added

(a)

added Automatic registration— The Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) is amended by striking section 3 (50 U.S.C. 3802) and inserting the following new section 3:

added “3.

added “(a)

added “(1) Except as otherwise provided in this title, every male citizen of the United States, and every other male person residing in the United States, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, shall be automatically registered under this Act by the Director of the Selective Service System.

added “(2) This section shall not apply to any alien lawfully admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101) for so long as he continues to maintain a lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States.

added “(b) Regulations prescribed pursuant to this section (a) may require—

added “(1) a person subject to registration under this section to provide, to the Director, information (including date of birth, address, social security account number, phone number, and email address) regarding such person;

added “(2) a Federal entity to provide, to the Director, information described in paragraph (1) that the Director determines necessary to identify or register a person subject to registration under this section; and

added “(3) the Director to provide, to a person registered under this section, written notification that—

added “(A) such person has been so registered; and

added “(B) if such person is not required to be so registered, the procedure by which such person may correct such registration.”

(b)

added Technical and conforming amendments— The Military Selective Service Act is further amended—

(1)

added in section 4 (50 U.S.C. 3803)—

(A)

added in subsection (a)—

(i)

added by striking “required to register” each place it appears and inserting “registered”;

(ii)

added by striking “at the time fixed for his registration,”; and

(iii)

added by striking “who is required to register” and inserting “registered”;

(B)

added in subsection (k)(2), in the matter following subparagraph(B), by striking “liable for registration” and inserting “registered”;

(2)

added in section 6(a) (50 U.S.C. 3806(a))—

(A)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added by striking “required to be”;

(ii)

added by striking “subject to registration” and inserting “registered”; and

(iii)

added by striking “liable for registration and training” and inserting “registered and liable for training”;

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “required to be” each place it appears;

(3)

added in section 10(b)(3) (50 U.S.C. 3809(b)(3)) by striking “registration,”;

(4)

added in section 12 (50 U.S.C. 3811)—

(A)

added in subsection (d)—

(i)

added by striking “, neglecting, or refusing to perform the duty of registering imposed by” and inserting “registration under”; and

(ii)

added by striking “, or within five years next after the last day before such person does perform his duty to register, whichever shall first occur”;

(B)

added in subsection (e)—

(i)

added by striking “the Secretary of Health and Human Services” and inserting “Federal agencies”;

(ii)

added by striking “by a proclamation of the President” and inserting “to be registered”;

(iii)

added by striking “to present themselves for and submit to registration under such section”; and

(iv)

added by striking “by the Secretary”; and

(C)

added by striking subsection (g) (50 U.S.C. 3811(g)); and

(5)

added in section 15(a) (50 U.S.C. 3813(a)), by striking “upon publication by the President of a proclamation or other public notice fixing a time for any registration under section 3”.

(c)

added Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 532 Prohibition on cannabis testing for enlistment or commission in certain Armed Forces

added

added Subject to subsection (a) of section 504 of chapter 31 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the military department concerned may not require an individual to submit to a test for cannabis as a condition of enlistment of such individual as a member, or the commission of such individual as an officer, of an Armed Force.

Sec. 533 Reimbursement of applicants to certain Armed Forces for certain medical costs incurred during military entrance processing

added

(a)

added Authority— The Secretary of Defense may reimburse an individual who applies to join a covered Armed Force for costs incurred by such individual for a medical appointment required for military entrance processing.

(b)

added Maximum amount— The maximum amount an individual may be reimbursed under this section is $100.

(c)

added Covered Armed Force defined— In this section, the term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

Sec. 534 Modernization of recruitment for the Army

added

(a)

added Modernization— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of the Army shall modernize recruitment for the Army in order to attract and retain fit and ready individuals to serve as members of the Army. To carry out such modernization, the Secretary shall take steps including the following:

(1)

added Establish a military occupational specialty for enlisted members who specialize in talent acquisition.

(2)

added Establish a professional recruiting force of warrant officers who specialize in talent acquisition, data analytics, and other human resource functions necessary to develop expertise in recruiting and military accessions.

(3)

added Routinely determining which areas of the United States yield greater-than-average numbers of recruits and, with regard to each such area—

(A)

added build relationships with sources of such recruits, including schools; and

(B)

added assign additional recruiting personnel.

(4)

added Consider using a commercially available, off-the-shelf, recruiting platform.

(b)

added Briefings— Not later than the last day of each quarter of fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing on the implementation of this section. Each such briefing shall include the following:

(1)

added An up-to-date timeline, milestones, resources used, and resources needed for such implementation.

(2)

added The number of enlisted members, officers, and civilian employees of the Army required to carry out this section .

(3)

added Policies altered or prescribed by the Secretary to carry out this section and recruit a capable and ready all-volunteer force.

(4)

added Related legislative recommendations of the Secretary.

Sec. 535 Recruitment strategy for members of the Armed Forces who were discharged or dismissed on the sole basis of failure to obey a lawful order to receive a vaccine for COVID-19

added

(a)

added Recruitment strategy required— Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments or, with respect the Coast Guard, the Secretary of the department in which the Secretary is operating when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy, shall develop and implement a strategy to specifically recruit covered individuals to be reinstated in the Armed Force concerned.

(b)

added Covered individual defined— In this section, the term “covered individual” means an individual discharged or dismissed from an Armed Force on the sole basis of failure to obey a lawful order to receive a vaccine for COVID-19.

Sec. 536 Program of military recruitment and education at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum

added

(a)

added Authority— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with the entity that operates the National September 11 Memorial and Museum (in this section referred to as “the Museum”) under which the Secretary and such entity shall carry out a program at the Museum to promote military recruitment and education.

(b)

added Program— A program under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added Provision of informational materials to promote enlistment in the covered Armed Forces, by the Secretary to such entity, for distribution at the Museum.

(2)

added Education and exhibits, developed jointly by the Secretary and such entity, and provided to the public by employees of the Museum, to—

(A)

added enhance understanding of the military response to the attacks on September 11, 2001; and

(B)

added encourage enlistment and re-enlistment in the covered Armed Forces.

(1)

added Appointments— Section 7442 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

added in subsection (a)—

(i)

added by striking “subsection (j)” and inserting “subsection (k)”;

(ii)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “as established by competitive examinations” and inserting “as determined by candidate composite score rank”; and

(iii)

added in the matter following paragraph (10)—

(I)

added in the second sentence, by inserting “(in which event selection shall be in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank)” after “without ranking”; and

(II)

added in the third sentence, by inserting “, including qualified alternates and additional appointees” before the period at the end;

(B)

added by redesignating subsections (b) through (j) as subsections (c) through (k), respectively;

(C)

added by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

added “(b) There shall be appointed each year at the Academy 275 cadets selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank by the Secretary of the Army from qualified alternates nominated pursuant to paragraphs (3) through (10) of subsection (a) and all other qualified, non-selected candidates holding nominations from any other source pursuant to this chapter.”

(D)

added in subsection (c), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)—

(i)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “one hundred selected by the President” and inserting “up to one hundred selected by the President in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank”;

(ii)

added in paragraph (2)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “85 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end;

(iii)

added in paragraph (3)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “85 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end;

(iv)

added in paragraph (4)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “20 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end; and

(v)

added by striking paragraph (5);

(E)

added in subsection (f), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking “subsection (b)” and inserting “subsection (c)”;

(F)

added in subsection (h), as so redesignated—

(i)

added by striking “subsection (b)” each place it appears and inserting “subsection (c)”; and

(ii)

added in paragraph (4), by striking “subsection (e)” and inserting “subsection (f)”; and

(G)

added by adding at the end the following new subsections:

added “(l) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall be determined by use of, among others, a candidate composite score uniformly calculated for each applicant. Components of such composite score shall include the candidate’s standardized test scores, weighted at not less than 30 percent of the overall composite score. Any subjective component of such composite score shall be weighted at not more than 10 percent of the overall composite score. Candidates’ composite scores shall be used to determine order of merit. Race and ethnicity shall not be considered in any component of the candidate composite score, evaluation of candidates or selection for appointment.

added “(m) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report including—

added “(1) with respect to the preceding admissions cycle—

added “(A) the established minimum candidate composite score and college entrance examination rank (CEER) score used in such cycle; and

added “(B) the total number of waivers of such minimum candidate composite score, including the candidate composite score and CEER score of each cadet to whom the waiver relates, a brief explanation of the reasons for such waiver, and the category of appointment under which each such cadet was appointed (and if congressional, the type of slate that nominated the waived appointee); and

added “(2) for each cadet who, during the four-year period preceding the date of the report, received a waiver for the established minimum candidate composite score, the status of each such cadet, including whether the cadet still at the Academy, the circumstances of such cadet’s departure (if applicable), the cumulative academic GPA, cumulative military GPA, any major conduct or honor violations, any remedial measures undertaken, and any other noteworthy information concerning such cadet.”

(2)

added Additional appointees— Section 7443 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

added in the section heading, by striking “appointment” and inserting “additional appointments”;

(B)

added in the first sentence—

(i)

added by inserting “(a)” before “If it is determined”; and

(ii)

added by striking “from other qualified candidates who competed for nomination” and inserting “from other qualified candidates who hold a nomination”;

(C)

added in the second sentence, by striking “(8)” and inserting “(10)”;

(D)

added by inserting after the second sentence the following: “Subject to the preceding sentence, the first 100 such vacancies shall be filled with candidates who are selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank (as described in section 7442 of this title), after which all remaining vacancies may be filled with candidates who are selected out of merit rank order.”; and

(E)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes, with respect to the preceding admissions cycle—

added “(1) the composite scores and college entrance examination rank scores of the ten candidates nominated under this section with the lowest combined scores that were selected;

added “(2) the total number of qualified and not selected candidates nominated under this section; and

added “(3) the composite scores and college entrance examination rank scores of the ten candidates nominated under this section with the highest combined scores that were qualified and not selected.”

(b)

added United States Naval Academy—

(1)

added Appointments— Section 8454 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

added in subsection (a)—

(i)

added by striking “subsection (h)” and inserting “subsection (i)”;

(ii)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “as established by competitive examination” and inserting “as determined by candidate composite score rank”; and

(iii)

added in the matter following paragraph (10)—

(I)

added in the second sentence, by inserting “(in which event selection shall be in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank)” after “without ranking”; and

(II)

added in the third sentence, by inserting “, including qualified alternates and additional appointees” before the period at the end;

(B)

added by redesignating subsections (b) through (h) as subsections (c) through (i), respectively;

(C)

added by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

added “(b) There shall be appointed each year at the Academy 275 midshipmen selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank by the Secretary of the Navy from qualified alternates nominated pursuant to paragraphs (3) through (10) of subsection (a) and all other qualified, non-selected candidates holding nominations from any other source pursuant to this chapter.”

(D)

added in subsection (c), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)—

(i)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “one hundred selected by the President” and inserting “up to one hundred selected by the President in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank”;

(ii)

added in paragraph (2)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “85 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end;

(iii)

added in paragraph (3)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “85 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end;

(iv)

added in paragraph (4)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “20 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end; and

(v)

added by striking paragraph (5);

(E)

added in subsection (f), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking “subsection (b)” and inserting “subsection (c)” both places it appears; and

(F)

added by adding at the end the following new subsections:

added “(j) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall be determined by use of, among others, a candidate composite score uniformly calculated for each applicant. Components of such composite score shall include the candidate’s standardized test scores, weighted at not less than 30 percent of the overall composite score. Any subjective component of such composite score shall be weighted at not more than 10 percent of the overall composite score. Candidates’ composite scores shall be used to determine order of merit. Race and ethnicity shall not be considered in any component of the candidate composite score, evaluation of candidates, or selection for appointment.

added “(k) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report including—

added “(1) with respect to the preceding admissions cycle—

added “(A) the established minimum candidate composite score and college entrance examination rank (CEER) score used in such cycle; and

added “(B) the total number of waivers of such minimum candidate composite score, including the candidate composite score and CEER score of each midshipman to whom the waiver relates, a brief explanation of the reasons for such waiver, and the category of appointment under which each such midshipman was appointed (and if congressional, the type of slate that nominated the waived appointee); and

added “(2) for each midshipman who, during the four-year period preceding the date of the report, received a waiver for the established minimum candidate composite score, the status of each such midshipman, including whether the midshipman is still at the Academy, the circumstances of such midshipman’s departure (if applicable), the cumulative academic GPA, cumulative military GPA, any major conduct or honor violations, any remedial measures undertaken, and any other noteworthy information concerning such midshipman.”

(2)

added Additional appointees— Section 8456 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

added in the section heading, by inserting “additional appointments” after “Midshipmen”;

(B)

added in subsection (b)—

(i)

added in the first sentence, by striking “from other qualified candidates who competed for nomination” and inserting “from other qualified candidates who hold a nomination”;

(ii)

added in the second sentence, by striking “(8)” and inserting “(10)”; and

(iii)

added by inserting after the second sentence the following: “Subject to the preceding sentence, the first 100 such vacancies shall be filled with candidates who are selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank (as described in section 8454 of this title), after which all remaining vacancies may be filled with candidates who are selected out of merit rank order.”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(c) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes, with respect to the preceding admissions cycle—

added “(1) the composite scores and college entrance examination rank scores of the ten candidates nominated under this section with the lowest combined scores that were selected;

added “(2) the total number of qualified and not selected candidates nominated under this section; and

added “(3) the composite scores and college entrance examination rank scores of the ten candidates nominated under this section with the highest combined scores that were qualified and not selected.”

(c)

added United States Air Force Academy—

(1)

added Appointments— Section 9442 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

added in subsection (a)—

(i)

added by striking “subsection (j)” and inserting “subsection (k)”;

(ii)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “as established by competitive examination” and inserting “as determined by candidate composite score rank”; and

(iii)

added in the matter following paragraph (10)—

(I)

added in the second sentence, by inserting “(in which event selection shall be in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank)” after “without ranking”; and

(II)

added in the third sentence, by inserting “, including qualified alternates and additional appointees” before the period at the end;

(B)

added by redesignating subsections (b) through (j) as subsections (c) through (k), respectively;

(C)

added by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

added “(b) There shall be appointed each year at the Academy 275 cadets selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank by the Secretary of the Air Force from qualified alternates nominated pursuant to paragraphs (3) through (10) of subsection (a) and all other qualified, non-selected candidates holding nominations from any other source pursuant to this chapter.”

(D)

added in subsection (c), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)—

(i)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “one hundred selected by the President” and inserting “up to one hundred selected by the President in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank”;

(ii)

added in paragraph (2)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “85 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end;

(iii)

added in paragraph (3)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “85 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end;

(iv)

added in paragraph (4)—

(I)

added by inserting “up to” before “20 nominated”; and

(II)

added by inserting “, selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank” before the period at the end; and

(v)

added by striking paragraph (5);

(E)

added in subsection (f), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking “subsection (b)” and inserting “subsection (c)”;

(F)

added in subsection (h), as so redesignated—

(i)

added by striking “subsection (b)” each place it appears and inserting “subsection (c)”; and

(ii)

added in paragraph (4), by striking “subsection (e)” and inserting “subsection (f)”; and

(G)

added by adding at the end the following new subsections:

added “(l) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall be determined by use of, among others, a candidate composite score uniformly calculated for each applicant. Components of such composite score shall include the candidate’s standardized test scores, weighted at not less than 30 percent of the overall composite score. Any subjective component of such composite score shall be weighted at not more than 10 percent of the overall composite score. Candidates’ composite scores shall be used to determine order of merit rank order. Race and ethnicity shall not be considered in any component of the candidate composite score, evaluation of candidates, or selection for appointment.

added “(m) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report including—

added “(1) with respect to the preceding admissions cycle—

added “(A) the established minimum candidate composite score and college entrance examination rank (CEER) score used in such cycle; and

added “(B) the total number of waivers of such minimum candidate composite score, including the candidate composite score and CEER score of each cadet to whom the waiver relates, a brief explanation of the reasons for such waiver, and the category of appointment under which each such cadet was appointed (and if congressional, the type of slate that nominated the waived appointee); and

added “(2) for each cadet who, during the four-year period preceding the date of the report, received a waiver for the established minimum candidate composite score, the status of each such cadet, including whether the cadet still at the Academy, the circumstances of such cadet’s departure (if applicable), the cumulative academic GPA, cumulative military GPA, any major conduct or honor violations, any remedial measures undertaken, and any other noteworthy information concerning such cadet.”

(2)

added Additional appointees— Section 9443 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

added in the section heading, by striking “appointment” and inserting “additional appointments”;

(B)

added in the first sentence—

(i)

added by inserting “(a)” before “If it is determined”; and

(ii)

added by striking “from other qualified candidates who competed for nomination” and inserting “from other qualified candidates who hold a nomination”;

(C)

added in the second sentence, by striking “(8)” and inserting “(10)”;

(D)

added by inserting after the second sentence the following: “Subject to the preceding sentence, the first 100 such vacancies shall be filled with candidates who are selected in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank (as described in section 9442 of this title), after which all remaining vacancies may be filled with candidates who are selected out of merit rank order.”; and

(E)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes, with respect to the preceding admissions cycle—

added “(1) the composite scores and college entrance examination rank scores of the ten candidates nominated under this section with the lowest combined scores that were selected;

added “(2) the total number of qualified and not selected candidates nominated under this section; and

added “(3) the composite scores and college entrance examination rank scores of the ten candidates nominated under this section with the highest combined scores that were qualified and not selected.”

Sec. 548 Alternative service obligation for a cadet or midshipman who becomes a professional athlete

added

(a)

added United States Military Academy— Section 7448 of title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows:

(1)

added Paragraph (5) of subsection (a) is amended to read as follows: “That if the cadet obtains employment as a professional athlete before completing the commissioned service obligation of such cadet, the cadet shall be subject to the alternative obligation under subsection (b)(4).”

(2)

added Subsection (b) is amended—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “The Secretary of the Army” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary of the Army”; and

(B)

added by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

added “(4) The Secretary of the Army may transfer a cadet who violates paragraph (5) of subsection (a) to the Selected Reserve of the Army—

added “(A) as a commissioned officer in an appropriate grade or rating, as determined by the Secretary of the Army; and

added “(B) for a period not to exceed 10 years.”

(3)

added Paragraph (2) of subsection (c) is amended to read as follows:

added “(2) that a cadet transferred under subsection (b)(4) shall, as part of the alternative obligation under such subsection, participate in efforts to recruit and retain members of the Army.”

(4)

added Subsection (f) is amended by striking “the alternative obligation” and inserting “an alternative obligation”.

(b)

added United States Naval Academy— Section 8459 of title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows:

(1)

added Paragraph (5) of subsection (a) is amended to read as follows: “That if the midshipman obtains employment as a professional athlete before completing the commissioned service obligation of such cadet, the midshipman shall be subject to the alternative obligation under subsection (b)(4).”

(2)

added Subsection (b) is amended—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “The Secretary of the Navy” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary of the Navy”; and

(B)

added by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

added “(4) The Secretary of the Navy may transfer a midshipman who violates paragraph (5) of subsection (a) to the Selected Reserve of the Navy or the Marine Corps—

added “(A) as a commissioned officer in an appropriate grade or rating, as determined by the Secretary of the Navy; and

added “(B) for a period not to exceed 10 years.”

(3)

added Paragraph (2) of subsection (c) is amended to read as follows:

added “(2) that a midshipman transferred under subsection (b)(4) shall, as part of the alternative obligation under such subsection, participate in efforts to recruit and retain members of the Navy and Marine Corps.”

(4)

added Subsection (f) is amended by striking “the alternative obligation” and inserting “an alternative obligation”.

(c)

added United States Air Force Academy— Section 9448 of title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows:

(1)

added Paragraph (5) of subsection (a) is amended to read as follows: “That if the cadet obtains employment as a professional athlete before completing the commissioned service obligation of such cadet, the cadet shall be subject to the alternative obligation under subsection (b)(4).”

(2)

added Subsection (b) is amended—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “The Secretary of the Air Force” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary of the Air Force”; and

(B)

added by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

added “(4) The Secretary of the Army may transfer a cadet who violates paragraph (5) of subsection (a) to the Selected Reserve of the Air Force or Space Force—

added “(A) as a commissioned officer in an appropriate grade or rating, as determined by the Secretary of the Air Force; and

added “(B) for a period not to exceed 10 years.”

(3)

added Paragraph (2) of subsection (c) is amended to read as follows:

added “(2) that a cadet transferred under subsection (b)(4) shall, as part of the alternative obligation under such subsection, participate in efforts to recruit and retain members of the Air Force and Space Force.”

(4)

added Subsection (f) is amended by striking “the alternative obligation” and inserting “an alternative obligation”.

Sec. 549 Service Academies: Boards of Visitors

added

(a)

added United States Military Academy—

(1)

added Membership— Section 7455 of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “Vice President or the President pro tempore of the Senate, two of whom are members of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate” and inserting “Majority Leader of the Senate (one of whom shall be a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate) and three other members designated by the Minority Leader of the Senate (one of whom shall be a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate)”;

(B)

added in paragraph (4), striking “, two of whom are members of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives” and inserting “(one of whom shall be a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives) and three other members designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives (one of whom shall be a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives)”;

(C)

added by striking paragraph (5);

(D)

added by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;

(E)

added by inserting “(1)” before “A Board”; and

(F)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(2) At least one member designated by each Member of Congress specified in subparagraph (B) or (D) shall be a graduate of the Academy.”

(2)

added Terms; replacements— Such section is further amended, in subsection (b)—

(A)

added by striking “designated by the President” and inserting “designated under subsection (a)”;

(B)

added by striking “appointed by the President” and inserting “appointed under subsection (a)”; and

(C)

added by striking the second sentence.

(3)

added Termination— Such section is further amended, in subsection (c)—

(A)

added by inserting “(1)” before “If”;

(B)

added by inserting “or is terminated under paragraph (2)” after “resigns”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(2)

added “(A) If a member of the Board designated under subsection (a) fails to attend two consecutive meetings of the Board, unless such absence is approved in advance and for good cause by the Board chairman, shall be subject to termination from the Board.

added “(B) A member of the Board who is not a Member of Congress may be made terminated only by the chairman of the Board, as determined by the chairman.

added “(C) A member of the Board who is a Member of Congress may be made terminated only by the official who designated such member, as determined by such official.

added “(D) A member designated under subsection (a) shall be provided notice of the provisions of this paragraph at the time of such designation.”

(4)

added Visits— Such section is further amended, in subsection (d)—

(A)

added by inserting “twice” before “annually”;

(B)

added by striking “With the approval” and inserting “After consultation with”; and

(C)

added by inserting “or other personnel” after “Superintendent”.

(5)

added Duties— Such section is further amended, in subsection (e)—

(A)

added by inserting “, and make recommendations regarding,” after “inquire into”; and

(B)

added by adding “In accordance with any applicable law regarding the disclosure of information, the Superintendent shall provide information the Board requests.” at the end.

(6)

added Reports— Such section is further amended, in subsection (f)—

(A)

added by striking “its annual” and inserting “a”;

(B)

added by striking “report to the President” and inserting “report to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives”;

(C)

added by striking “submitted to the President” and inserting “submitted”;

(D)

added by inserting “(1)” before “Within”; and

(E)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(2) The Board shall publish a report under paragraph (1) on the same day it submits such a report.

added “(3) A member of the Board or a minority of the Board may elect to submit a report to the recipients under paragraph (1).”

(7)

added Advisers— Such section is further amended, in subsection (g), by striking “Upon approval by the Secretary, the ” and inserting “The”.

(8)

added Procedure— Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

added “(j) Subject to subsections (a) through (d) of section 1009 of title 5, the Board shall adopt rules and procedures.

added “(k) The Chairman shall be elected by the members of the Board to serve a one-year term.”

(b)

added United States Naval Academy— Section 8468 of such title is amended to read identically to 7455 of such title, as amended by subsection (a).

(c)

added United States Air Force Academy— Section 9455 of such title is amended to read identically to 7455 of such title, as amended by subsection (a).

Sec. 549A Inclusion of certain information in annual military service academy reports

added

(a)

added United States Military Academy— Section 7461(d)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and

(2)

added by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):

added “(B) The number of such substantiated cases for which there is a reason to believe that the victim was targeted, or discriminated against, or both, for status in a group.”

(b)

added United States Naval Academy— Section 8480(d)(2) of such title is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and

(2)

added by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):

added “(B) The number of such substantiated cases for which there is a reason to believe that the victim was targeted, or discriminated against, or both, for status in a group.”

(c)

added United States Air Force Academy— Section 9461(d)(2) of such title is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and

(2)

added by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):

added “(B) The number of such substantiated cases for which there is a reason to believe that the victim was targeted, or discriminated against, or both, for status in a group.”

Sec. 549B Naval Postgraduate School: function

added

(a)

added Function— Section 8541 of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “to provide advanced instruction and professional and technical education and research opportunities for commissioned officers of the naval service” and inserting “to conduct research, to conduct wargaming, to conduct innovation, and to provide advanced instruction, professional, technical, and research and education, and innovation opportunities for commissioned and noncommissioned officers of the naval service”.

(b)

added President; assistants— Section 8542(b)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by striking “professional and technical education” and inserting “professional, technical, and research and education”; and

(2)

added by striking “research opportunities” and inserting “research and innovation opportunities”.

Sec. 549C Required training on Constitution of the United States for commissioned officers of the Armed Forces

added

added The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that all commissioned officers of the Armed Forces receive training on the Constitution of the United States prior to commissioning. The training shall include—

(1)

added education on the centrality of the Constitution to the commitment officers make to serve in the Armed Forces;

(2)

added emphasis on the loyalty of officers to the Constitution; and

(3)

added instruction on certain aspects of the Constitution relevant to military service, including—

(A)

added civil-military relations;

(B)

added separation of powers; and

(C)

added domestic use of military force.

Sec. 549D Ensuring access to certain higher education benefits

added

(a)

added Data matching required— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Education shall jointly complete a data matching process—

(1)

added to identify each individual who, while serving as a covered employee of the Department of Defense, made one or more student loan payments eligible to be counted for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program under section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)); and

(2)

added without requiring further information or action from such individual—

(A)

added to certify the total period of such employment for purposes of such program; and

(B)

added to count the total number of qualifying payments made by the individual for purposes of such program during such period.

(b)

added Covered employee defined— In this section, the term “covered employee” means an individual who, at any time beginning on or after October 1, 2007, was—

(1)

added a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days; or

(2)

added a civilian employee of the Department of Defense.

Sec. 549E Service Academies: referral of denied applicants to the senior military colleges

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act the Secretary of Defense shall establish a system whereby a covered individual may elect to have the Secretary share information regarding such covered individual with a senior military college.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered individual” means an individual whose application for an appointment as a cadet or midshipman at a Service Academy is denied.

(2)

added The term “senior military college” means a school specified in section 2111a of title 10, United States Code.

(3)

added The term “Service Academy” has the meaning given such term in section 347 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 549F Pilot program to provide graduate education opportunities for enlisted members of the Army and Navy

added

(a)

added Authority— The Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Army shall jointly conduct a pilot program (referred to in this section as the “Program”) under which certain enlisted personnel of the covered Armed Forces may enroll in a master’s degree program at the Naval Postgraduate School.

(b)

added Program requirements— The Secretaries concerned shall carry out the Program—

(1)

added in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of the Program; and

(2)

added in a manner consistent with the Graduate Education Program–Enlisted pilot program of the Marine Corps.

(c)

added Eligibility of participants— The Secretaries concerned shall establish criteria for determining the eligibility of enlisted members of the covered Armed Forces for participation in the Program. In establishing such criteria, the Secretaries concerned may consider the following criteria used under the Graduate Education Program–Enlisted pilot program of the Marine Corps:

(1)

added Eligibility may be limited to active duty members of the covered Armed Forces with no more than 16 years of service by end of degree completion and prior to being assigned to duties that use such degree.

(2)

added A member should not have been passed over for selection to the next higher grade.

(3)

added A member should meet reenlistment requirements established by the component of the Armed Force responsible for such requirements to ensure four years of service are attainable after degree completion.

(4)

added Any Primary Military Occupational Specialty may be eligible to apply.

(5)

added A minimum of four years should remain on the member’s contract at the time of completion of the degree program. A member should be willing to re-enlist or extend a contract to meet the requirements under this paragraph.

(6)

added A minimum of 24 months on station is recommended for applicants in assignments within the continental United States or 24 months for applicants in assignments outside the continental United States prior to the commencement studies at the Naval Postgraduate School, with the potential for exceptions.

(7)

added All applicants should possess an institutionally accredited baccalaureate degree and should have the Academic Profile Code prescribed for the requested curricula. The Naval Postgraduate School should determine the official Academic Profile Code for each applicant and such official Academic Profile Code should be used as the basis in determining academic eligibility for participation in the Program. The application criteria for the Naval Postgraduate School may be further described, promulgated, and updated on the website of the School’s admissions office.

(8)

added The member should hold, or be eligible for, a security clearance if required for—

(A)

added placement in a course of study under the Program; or

(B)

added the member’s duty assignment after completion of such Program.

(9)

added Applicants should have completed all necessary professional military education for their current rank prior to executing orders.

(d)

added Selection and placement of participants—

(1)

added Number of participants— The number of enlisted members selected for participation in the Program from each covered Armed Force shall be equal to the number of officers from that Armed Force who are enrolled in the Naval Postgraduate school at the time the selection is made.

(2)

added Selection factors— Such selection hall be based on consideration of—

(A)

added the eligibility criteria established under subsection (c);

(B)

added professional performance;

(C)

added promotion potential;

(D)

added retention potential;

(E)

added academic background, capabilities, and accomplishments;

(F)

added the needs of the Navy and Army;

(G)

added input from the admissions office of the Naval Postgraduate School; and

(H)

added input from the component within each Armed Force with primary responsibility for determining the duty assignments of enlisted members.

(e)

added Post-participation service— Subject to such terms, conditions, and exceptions as the Secretaries concerned may establish, an enlisted member who receives a master’s degree under the Program, shall serve for a period of not less than two years in a duty assignment that is relevant to the degree obtained by the member under the Program.

(f)

added Framework for filling billets— In conjunction with selecting enlisted members for participation in the Program as described in subsection (d), the Secretaries concerned shall establish a framework for assigning enlisted personnel who are not participating in the Program—

(1)

added to fill the billets of the members participating in the Program while such members are completing a course of study at the Naval Postgraduate School; and

(2)

added to fill the billets of members who received a master’s degree under the Program while such members are engaged in post-participation service as described in subsection (e).

(g)

added Identification of degree programs— The Secretaries concerned shall coordinate with the President of the Naval Postgraduate School to identify specific master’s degree programs offered by the School in which Program participants may enroll. In identifying such programs, the Secretaries shall consider—

(1)

added the needs of the Navy and Army;

(2)

added the capacity of the Naval Postgraduate School; and

(3)

added the extent to which enrollment in a specific program is expected to have a positive effect on the career trajectories of participants.

(h)

added Information dissemination— The Secretaries concerned shall take such actions as are necessary to notify and inform enlisted members about the Program.

(i)

added Report— Before the expiration of the six-year period described in subsection (i)(1), the Secretaries concerned, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes—

(1)

added an assessment of whether and to what extent the Program has met the needs of the covered Armed Forces and had positive effects on participating enlisted members, including with respect to—

(A)

added career trajectory, including potential pay increases;

(B)

added retention;

(C)

added recruitment;

(D)

added job performance;

(E)

added merit-based promotions and merit-based promotion reorder; and

(F)

added compatibility with the objectives outlined in the 2022 National Defense Strategy to modernize the Armed Services, spur innovation, and outpace and outthink adversaries of the United States;

(2)

added the recommendations of the Secretaries regarding whether the Program should be extended or made permanent;

(3)

added an assessment of the funding and capabilities that may be needed to make the Program permanent; and

(4)

added any other matters the Secretaries determine to be relevant.

(j)

added Sunset; optional extension—

(1)

added Termination— Subject to paragraph (2), the Program shall terminate six years after the date on which the Program commences under this section.

(2)

added Extension— The Secretaries concerned may extend the Program beyond the six-year period specified in paragraph (1) if, not later than 30 days before the expiration of such period, the Secretaries, in consultation with the President of the Naval Postgraduate School, submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives—

(A)

added notice of the intent of the Secretaries to extend the Program; and

(B)

added an explanation of the reasons for extending the Program.

(k)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered Armed Forces” means the Army and the Navy.

(2)

added The term “Secretary concerned” means—

(A)

added the Secretary of the Army, with respect to matters concerning the Army; and

(B)

added the Secretary of the Navy, with respect to matters concerning the Navy.

Sec. 551 Authority of special trial counsel with respect to certain offenses occurring before effective date of military justice reforms

added

added Section 824a(d) of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 531 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 258), is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)(A), by striking “section 920 (article 120),” and inserting “section 919a (article 119a), section 920 (article 120), section 920a (article 120a),”;

(2)

added by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);

(3)

added by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:

added “(2) The standalone offense of sexual harassment—After January 1, 2025, a special trial counsel may, at the sole and exclusive discretion of the special trial counsel, exercise authority over the following offenses:

added “(A) The standalone offense of sexual harassment punishable under section 934 of this title (article 134) in each instance in which—

added “(i) the offense occurs after January 26, 2022, and on or before January 1, 2025; and

added “(ii) a formal complaint is substantiated in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.

added “(B) A conspiracy to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 881 of this title (article 81).

added “(C) A solicitation to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 882 of this title (article 82).

added “(D) An attempt to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) as punishable under section 880 of this title (article 80).”

(4)

added in paragraph (3), as so redesignated—

(A)

added in subparagraph (A), by inserting “or (2)” after “paragraph (1)”; and

(B)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking “paragraph (1)” and inserting “subsection (c)(2)(A) or paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection”.

Sec. 552 Detailing of appellate defense counsel

added

added Subsection (b) of section 865 of title 10, United States Code (article 65 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)—

(A)

added by striking “the Judge Advocate General shall forward the record” and inserting the following:

added “(A) the record”

(B)

added in subparagraph (A), as designated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(B) a copy of the record of trial to an appellate defense counsel who shall be detailed to review the case and, upon request of the accused, to represent the accused before the Court of Criminal Appeals.”

(2)

added in paragraph (2)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (A)—

(i)

added in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “shall” and inserting “shall, upon written request of the accused”;

(ii)

added in clause (i), by striking “, upon request of the accused,”; and

(iii)

added in clause (ii), by striking “upon written request of the accused,”; and

(B)

added in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

added by striking “accused” and all that follows through “waives” and inserting “accused waives”;

(ii)

added by striking “; or” and inserting a period; and

(iii)

added by striking clause (ii).

Sec. 553 Modification to offense of aiding the enemy under the Uniform Code of Military Justice

added

added Section 903b(2) of title 10, United States Code (article 103b(2) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended by inserting “provides military education, military training, or tactical advice to,” after “gives intelligence to,”.

Sec. 554 Modification of timeline for potential implementation of study on unanimous court-martial verdicts

added

added Section 536(c)(3) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 263) is amended by striking “2027” and inserting “2025”.

Sec. 555 Expanded command notifications to victims of domestic violence

added

added Section 549 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 806b note) is amended—

(1)

added in the first sentence—

(A)

added by inserting “, or a case of an alleged domestic violence-related offense (as defined by the Secretary),” after “of title 10, United States Code)”; and

(B)

added by striking “periodically notify the victim” and inserting “periodically notify the victim (or the victim’s legal counsel if so requested by the victim)”; and

(2)

added in the last sentence, by striking “notify the victim” and inserting “notify the victim (or the victim’s legal counsel if so requested by the victim)”.

Sec. 556 Prohibiting the broadcast and distribution of digitally manipulated intimate images

added

(a)

added Recommendations required— The Joint Service Committee on Military Justice shall develop recommendations for modifying the offense of indecent viewing, visual recording, or broadcasting under section 920c of title 10, United States Code (article 120c of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) to clarify its applicability to the broadcasting and distribution of digitally manipulated intimate images.

(b)

added Considerations— In developing recommendations under subsection (a), the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice shall consider—

(1)

added the advisability of modifying section 920c of title 10, United States Code (article 120c of the Uniform Code of Military Justice)—

(A)

added to prohibit the broadcasting or distribution of an intimate digital depiction of another person that the offender knew or reasonably should have known was made without the other person’s consent and under circumstances in which that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy; and

(B)

added to define the term “intimate digital depiction” (as used in subparagraph (A)) as a digital depiction of an individual that has been created or altered using digital manipulation and that depicts—

(i)

added the private area of an identifiable individual; or

(ii)

added an identifiable individual engaging in sexually explicit conduct (as defined in section 917a(b) of title 10, United States Code (article 117a(b)(4) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice)); and

(2)

added such other approaches to the modification of such section 920c (article 120c) as the Committee considers appropriate to address digitally manipulated intimate images.

(c)

added Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes—

(1)

added the recommendations developed under subsection (a); and

(2)

added draft legislative text that sets forth all amendments and modifications to law that may be needed to effectively implement such recommendations.

Sec. 557 Treatment of certain records of criminal investigations

added

(a)

added In general— Chapter 79 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1552 the following new section:

added “1552a. Treatment of certain records of criminal investigations

added “(a) Guidance required—The Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement uniform guidance providing for the modification of titling and indexing systems to ensure that a record identifying a member or former member of the Armed Forces as the subject of a criminal investigation is removed from such system if that member or former member is cleared of wrongdoing as described in subsection (b).

added “(b) Disposition of investigations—A member or former member of the Armed Forces who is the subject of a criminal investigation shall be considered to have been cleared of wrongdoing for purposes of subsection (a) if—

added “(1) an investigation conducted by a defense criminal investigative organization or another Federal or civilian law enforcement agency determines that—

added “(A) no probable cause exists to support that the member or former member is responsible for the alleged offense; or

added “(B) the member or former member was mistakenly identified as a subject; or

added “(2) the reasons specified for the charges for which the member or former member was under investigation are unsupported by probable cause as determined by—

added “(A) a court-martial or other proceeding brought under chapter 47 of this title; or

added “(B) a civilian court.

added “(c) Prohibition on involuntary separation—No member of an Armed Force may be involuntarily separated solely for an offense for which the member is cleared of wrongdoing as described in subsection (b).

added “(d) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “defense criminal investigative organization” means—

added “(A) the Army Criminal Investigation Command;

added “(B) the Naval Criminal Investigative Service;

added “(C) the Air Force Office of Special Investigations;

added “(D) the Coast Guard Investigative Service;

added “(E) the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and

added “(F) any other organization or element of the Department of Defense or an Armed Force that is responsible for conducting criminal investigations.

added “(2) The term “indexing” means the practice of submitting an individual’s name or other personally identifiable information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Interstate Identification Index, or any successor system.

added “(3) The term “titling” means the practice of identifying an individual as the subject of a criminal investigation in the records of a military criminal investigative organization and storing such information in a database or other records system.

added “(4) The term “titling and indexing system” means any database or other records system used by a defense criminal investigative organization for purposes of titling and indexing, including the Defense Central Index of Investigations (commonly known as “DCII”).”

(b)

added Review and documentation— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary concerned, pursuant to the guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense under section 1552a of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), and in consultation with the appropriate Judge Advocate General, shall—

(1)

added review the titling and indexing systems of the defense criminal investigative organizations under the jurisdiction of such Secretary to identify each record in such system that pertains to a member or former member of the Armed Forces who has been cleared of wrongdoing as described in subsection (b) of such section 1552a;

(2)

added notify the defense criminal investigative organization involved of each record identified under paragraph (1); and

(3)

added direct the head of the organization to remove the record in accordance with subsection (c).

(c)

added Deadline for removal— The head of a defense criminal investigative organization that receives a notice under subsection (b)(2) with respect to a record in a titling or indexing system shall ensure that the record is removed from such system by not later than 30 days after the date on which the notice is received.

(d)

added Effect on other law— The requirements of this section and the amendments made by this section are in addition to any requirements imposed under section 549 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 1552 note). This section and the amendments made by this section shall supersede any provision of section 549 of that Act that is inconsistent with this section or such amendments, but only to the extent of the inconsistency.

(e)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The terms “defense criminal investigative organization”, “indexing”, “titling”, and “titling and indexing system” have the meanings given those terms in section 1552a(d) of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)).

(2)

added The term “Secretary concerned” has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 558 Recommendations for revisions to Military Rules of Evidence to protect patient privacy

added

(a)

added Recommendations required— The Joint Service Committee on Military Justice shall develop recommendations for modifying rule 513 of the Military Rules of Evidence (as set forth in part III of the Manual for Courts-Martial) to include diagnoses of a patient and treatments prescribed to a patient as confidential communications subject to the psychotherapist-patient privilege.

(b)

added Considerations— In developing recommendations under subsection (a), the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice shall consider—

(1)

added the advisability of modifying Military Rule of Evidence 513 to cover psychotherapy diagnoses and treatments; and

(2)

added such other approaches to the modification of Military Rule of Evidence 513 as the Committee considers appropriate to address victim privacy rights.

(c)

added Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes—

(1)

added the recommendations developed under subsection (a); and

(2)

added draft legislative text that sets forth all amendments and modifications to law that may be needed to effectively implement such recommendations.

Sec. 561 Modifications to Transition Assistance Program

added

(a)

added Waiver for certain members of the reserve components— Paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(D) The Secretary concerned may waive the requirement for preseparation counseling under paragraph (1) in the case of a member of a reserve component if—

added “(i) the member requests such a waiver;

added “(ii) the member received preseparation counseling during the three-year period preceding the date of such request; and

added “(iii) the matters covered by such counseling, as specified in subsection (b), have not changed since the member last received such counseling.”

(b)

added Eligibility of a member who reenlists to receive preseparation counseling— Such subsection is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(5) The commanding officer of a member of the armed forces whose discharge (regardless of character of discharge) or release from active duty is anticipated as of a specific date may, on a space available basis, authorize such member to receive preseparation counseling, regardless of whether such member reenlists or agrees to a new period of obligated service.”

Sec. 562 Minimum duration of preseparation counseling regarding financial planning

added

added Section 1142(b)(9) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by inserting “and counseling” after “assistance”; and

(2)

added by inserting “, which counseling shall be for a period not shorter than one hour” after “taxes”.

Sec. 563 Transition Assistance Program: presentation in preseparation counseling to promote benefits available to veterans

added

(a)

added In general— Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(20) A presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Such presentation—

added “(A) shall be standardized;

added “(B) shall, before implementation, be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with veterans service organizations that provide claims assistance under the benefits delivery at discharge program of the Department of Veterans Affairs;

added “(C) shall be submitted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives for review at least 90 days before implementation;

added “(D) where available, shall be presented with the participation of—

added “(i) a representative of a veterans service organization recognized under section 5902 of title 38; or

added “(ii) an individual—

added “(I) recognized under section 5903 of such title; and

added “(II) authorized by the Secretary concerned to so participate;

added “(E) shall include information on how a veterans service organization may assist the member in filing a claim described in paragraph (19);

added “(F) may not encourage the member to join a particular veterans service organization; and

added “(G) may not be longer than one hour.”

(b)

added Annual report— Not less than frequently than once each year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, and to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives, a report that—

(1)

added identifies each veterans service organization that participated in a presentation under paragraph (20) of section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a);

(2)

added contains the number of members of the Armed Forces who attended such presentations; and

(3)

added includes any recommendations of the Secretary regarding changes to such presentation or to such paragraph.

Sec. 564 Establishment of counseling pathway in the Transition Assistance Program for members of certain reserve components of the Armed Forces

added

added Section 1142(c)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “(including one pathway for members of the reserve components of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force)” after “military department concerned”.

Sec. 565 Transition Assistance Program: Department of Labor Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot Program

added

(a)

added Establishment— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a pilot program to be known as the “Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot Program”. The pilot program shall supplement the pro- gram under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code.

(b)

added Activities— In carrying out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall—

(1)

added seek to enter into contracts with public, private, and nonprofit entities under which such entities provide individualized employment counseling for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses;

(2)

added prioritize entering into contracts with qualified private entities that have experience providing instruction to members of the Armed Forces eligible for assistance under the pilot program carried out under this section on—

(A)

added private sector culture, resume writing, career networking, and training on job search technologies;

(B)

added academic readiness and educational opportunities; or

(C)

added other relevant topics, as determined by the Secretary;

(3)

added give a preference to any private entity that—

(A)

added has a national or international geographical area of service;

(B)

added provides multiple forms of career assistance and placement services to—

(i)

added active duty members of the Armed Forces;

(ii)

added spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces;

(iii)

added veterans; and

(iv)

added spouses of veterans;

(C)

added provides services to at least 1,000 individuals who are—

(i)

added active duty members of the Armed Forces;

(ii)

added spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces;

(iii)

added veterans; or

(iv)

added spouses of veterans;

(D)

added has continuously, for at least the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the contract, provided services to individuals who are—

(i)

added active duty members of the Armed Forces;

(ii)

added spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces;

(iii)

added veterans; and

(iv)

added spouses of veterans; and

(E)

added has a demonstrated record of success in providing assistance with employment services, as indicated by—

(i)

added the average wages or earnings of people who receive employment services provided by the entity;

(ii)

added prior completion of Federal grants or contracts;

(iii)

added having at least 75 percent of its participants find full-time employment within six months of initially receiving employment services provided by the entity; and

(iv)

added other employment performance indicators, as determined by the Secretary; and

(4)

added seek to enter into contracts with not fewer than 10, but not more than 60, private entities under which each such entity is compensated at a rate agreed upon between the Secretary and the entity for each individual who receives employment services provided by the entity and is in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; and

(5)

added conduct such other activities as may be necessary for the delivery of individualized employment counseling and other employment services under this section.

(c)

added Report— Not later than October 1 of each year during the term of the pilot program, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the pilot program under this section, including the employment outcomes for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses who receive employment services under the program on the following indicators of performance—

(1)

added the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program;

(2)

added the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; and

(3)

added the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program.

(d)

added Termination— The pilot program shall terminate five years after the date on which the Secretary of Labor begins to carry out the pilot program.

Sec. 566 Pilot program on secure, mobile personal health record for members of the Armed Forces participating in the Transition Assistance Program

added

(a)

added Pilot program— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall commence a pilot program under which active duty members of the Armed Forces who are enrolled in the Transition Assistance Program use a covered health record platform to collect their records before separating from active duty.

(b)

added Selection of Armed Forces— The Secretary shall select not less than one Armed Force in which to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a).

(c)

added Contracts—

(1)

added Authority— The Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract using competitive procedures with an appropriate entity for the provision of the covered health record platform under the pilot program under subsection (a).

(2)

added Notice of competition—

(A)

added In general— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a request for proposals for the contract described in paragraph (1).

(B)

added Open competition— A request under subparagraph (A) shall be full and open to any contractor that has an existing covered health record platform.

(3)

added Selection— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall award a contract to an appropriate entity pursuant to the request for proposals under paragraph (2) if at least one acceptable offer is submitted.

(d)

added Duration of pilot program—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) for a period of not less than one year.

(2)

added Termination or extension of program— At the end of the one-year period specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary may—

(A)

added terminate the pilot program under subsection (a);

(B)

added continue the pilot program;

(C)

added expand the pilot program; or

(D)

added implement the use of a covered health record platform in the Transition Assistance Program throughout the Armed Forces.

(e)

added Prohibition on new appropriations— No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the requirements of this section. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense.

(f)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added Covered health record platform— The term covered health record platform means a secure personal health record platform that meets the following requirements:

(A)

added Has web-based capabilities.

(B)

added Has the capability to store and share records with the Department of Veterans Affairs or any other designated care provider.

(C)

added Has the capability to store records in the cloud.

(D)

added Does not have a requirement for integration to receive or share records.

(E)

added Has the capability to instantly share data based on a combination of access key and personal identifier.

(F)

added Has the capability to provide secure data storage and records transfer upon separation of a member of the Armed Forces from active duty.

(G)

added Does not require a business associate agreement with any parties.

(H)

added Has secure data isolation with access controls.

(I)

added Has, at a minimum, data security that would require separate encryption for each document, relying on AES256 algorithm with keys encryption using RSA2048 algorithm, or any successor similar algorithm.

(2)

added Transition Assistance Program— The term Transition Assistance Program means the program of the Department of Defense for preseparation counseling, employment assistance, and other transitional services provided under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 567 Skillbridge: apprenticeship programs

added

(a)

added Study— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, shall conduct a study to identify the private entities participating in Skillbridge that offer positions in registered apprenticeship programs to covered members.

(b)

added Recruitment— The Secretary of Defense shall consult with officials and employees of the Department of Labor who have experience with registered apprenticeship programs to facilitate the Secretary entering into agreements with entities that offer positions described in subsection (a) in areas where the Secretary determines few such positions are available to covered members.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered member” means a member of the Armed Forces eligible for Skillbridge.

(2)

added The term “registered apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the “National Apprenticeship Act”; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).

(3)

added The term “Skillbridge” means an employment skills training program under section 1143(e) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 568 Pathway for individualized counseling for members of the reserve components under TAP

added

added Section 1142(c)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “(including one pathway for members of the reserve components)” after “military department concerned”.

Sec. 571 Staffing of Department of Defense Education Activity schools to maintain maximum student-to-teacher ratios

added

added Section 589B(c) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3659) is amended by striking “2023-2024 academic year” and inserting “2029-2030 academic year”.

Sec. 572 Improvements to certain schools of the Department of Defense Education Activity

added

(a)

added Training requirements teachers in 21st century schools of the Department of Defense Education Activity—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity, shall require each teacher in a 21st century school to undergo training in accordance with this subsection.

(2)

added Content— The training required under paragraph (1) shall consist of specialized instruction to provide teachers with the skills necessary to effectively teach in a 21st century school environment, including instruction in—

(A)

added understanding and using the physical space of a 21st century school classroom;

(B)

added building the relationships necessary to succeed, including relationships with students and other teachers;

(C)

added the curriculum and level of academic rigor necessary to increase student learning;

(D)

added other skills necessary to support the academic achievement and social and emotional well being of students; and

(E)

added such other topics as the Secretary and the Director determine appropriate.

(3)

added Frequency— The training required under paragraph (1) shall be provided as follows:

(A)

added In the case of a teacher who has been assigned to a 21st century school, but has not commenced teaching in such school, the training shall be provided before the teacher commences teaching in such school.

(B)

added In the case of a teacher who previously taught in a 21st century school, but subsequently taught in a school that is not a 21st century school for one or more school years, such training shall be provided before the teacher resumes teaching in a 21st Century School.

(C)

added In the case of a teacher who is teaching in a 21st century school as of the date of the enactment of this Act, such training shall be provided not later than 180 days after such date of enactment.

(D)

added In the case of a teacher who teaches in a 21st century school on an ongoing basis, and who previously received training under this subsection, such training shall be provided not less frequently than once every three years.

(b)

added Authorization of bonus payments for certain teachers in high-need schools—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity, is authorized to pay a bonus to an individual who—

(A)

added meets the eligibility requirements under paragraph (2); and

(B)

added enters into a service agreement under paragraph (3) pursuant to which the individual agrees to serve as a teacher in a high-need school.

(2)

added Eligibility— The Secretary may pay a bonus under this subsection to an individual only if the individual—

(A)

added is newly appointed as an employee of the Department of Defense Education Activity; or

(B)

added

(i)

added is currently employed by the Activity; and

(ii)

added accepts an Activity teaching position in a high-need school.

(3)

added Service agreement— To be eligible to receive a bonus under this subsection, an individual shall enter into a contract or other agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to which the individual agrees to serve as a teacher in a high-need school. Such contract or other agreement shall specify—

(A)

added the commencement and termination dates of the required service period;

(B)

added the location of the service;

(C)

added the amount of the bonus; and

(D)

added the terms of repayment, in accordance with paragraph (6), if the employee fails to complete the required service period.

(4)

added Amount— The amount of each bonus under this subsection shall be determined by the Secretary of Defense.

(5)

added Disbursement— Each bonus under this subsection shall be disbursed as a lump sum payment made at or before the commencement of an individual’s required service period as set forth in the agreement under paragraph (3).

(6)

added Repayment—

(A)

added In general— Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an individual who receives a bonus under this subsection and who does not complete the term of the required service period specified in the agreement under paragraph (3) shall repay such bonus to the Secretary of Defense in a pro rata manner.

(B)

added Waiver— The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement to repay a bonus under subparagraph (A) on a case-by-case basis.

(7)

added Exclusion from basic pay— A bonus under this subsection is not part of the basic pay of an employee for any purpose.

(8)

added Sunset— The authority of the Secretary of Defense to pay bonuses under this subsection shall terminate five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)

added Pilot program on use of Department of State Standardized Regulations education allowance in Bahrain—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity, shall carry out a pilot program under which a qualified individual may receive and use the Department of State Standardized Regulations education allowance to pay for a dependent child of such individual to attend a non-DODEA school in Bahrain for the applicable school year.

(2)

added Maximum number of participants— Participation in the pilot program under this subsection shall be limited to—

(A)

added not more than 15 qualified individuals; and

(B)

added a total of not more than 30 dependent children of such individuals.

(3)

added Exception to prohibition— Any prohibition on the use of the Department of State Standardized Regulations education allowance in an area served by a school operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity shall not apply to a qualified individual participating in the pilot program under this subsection.

(4)

added Termination— The authority of the Secretary of Defense to carry out the pilot program under this subsection shall terminate at the conclusion of the applicable school year.

(d)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “21st century school” means a school facility operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity that has been constructed or modernized pursuant to the 21st Century Schools Program of the Activity.

(2)

added The term “applicable school year” means the first school year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(3)

added The term “high-need school” means a school operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity that—

(A)

added is located outside the United States; and

(B)

added has difficulty in recruiting or retaining teachers, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.

(4)

added The term “non-DODEA school” means a school that is not operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity.

(5)

added The term “qualified individual” means an individual who—

(A)

added

(i)

added is a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty and stationed in Bahrain pursuant to a permanent change of station order; or

(ii)

added is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense who—

(I)

added is employed on a permanent full-time basis;

(II)

added is stationed in Bahrain; and

(III)

added is a citizen or a national of the United States;

(B)

added is authorized to transport the dependent child of such individual to and from Bahrain at the expense of the Federal Government; and

(C)

added receives a housing allowance for living quarters in Bahrain.

(6)

added The term “United States” means each of the several States and the District of Columbia.

Sec. 573 Prohibition on diversity, equity, and inclusion policy bodies for DODEA schools

added

added The Secretary of Defense may not establish or maintain any committee, panel, office, or other organization with responsibility for matters relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity.

Sec. 574 DoDEA overseas transfer program

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of Department of Defense Education Activity (in this section referred to as “DoDEA”), shall develop and implement a transfer program under which DoDEA educators may transfer to DoDEA overseas locations.

(b)

added Requirements— The program established under this section—

(1)

added shall not require a DoDEA educator to teach in the United States prior to transfer;

(2)

added shall be subject to collective bargaining agreements between DoDEA and their employees; and

(3)

added shall be carried out subject to current law.

(c)

added Briefing— The Secretary of Defense shall brief the congressional defense committees on the transfer program established under this section not later than January 31, 2025, and, after implementing such program, not later than April 1, 2025.

Sec. 575 Certain assistance to local educational agencies that benefit dependents of military and civilian personnel

added

(a)

added Continuation of authority to assist local educational agencies that benefit dependents of members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian employees— Of the amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 by section 301 and available for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities as specified in the funding table in section 4301, $50,000,000 shall be available only for the purpose of providing assistance to local educational agencies under subsection (a) of section 572 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 20 U.S.C. 7703b).

(b)

added Impact aid for children with severe disabilities— Of the amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 pursuant to section 301 and available for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities as specified in the funding table in section 4301, $20,000,000 shall be available for payments under section 363 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (as enacted into law by Public Law 106–398; 114 Stat. 1654A–77; 20 U.S.C. 7703a).

(c)

added Local educational agency defined— In this section, the term “local educational agency” has the meaning given that term in section 7013(9) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7713(9)).

Sec. 576 Verification of reporting of eligible federally connected children for purposes of Federal impact aid programs

added

(a)

added Certification— On an annual basis, each commander of a military installation under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military department shall submit to such Secretary a written certification verifying whether the commander has confirmed the information contained in all impact aid source check forms received from local educational agencies as of the date of such certification.

(b)

added Report— Not later June 30 of each year, each Secretary of a military department shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report, based on the information received under subsection (a), that identifies—

(1)

added each military installation under the jurisdiction of such Secretary that has confirmed the information contained in all impact aid source check forms received from local educational agencies as of the date of the report; and

(2)

added each military installation that has not confirmed the information contained in such forms as of such date.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “impact aid source check form” means a form submitted to a military installation by a local educational agency to confirm the number and identity of children eligible to be counted for purposes of the Federal impact aid program under section 7003(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7703(a)).

(2)

added The term “local educational agency” has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

Sec. 577 Pilot program to establish inclusive playgrounds for military families enrolled in Exceptional Family Member Program of the Department of Defense

added

(a)

added Establishment—

(1)

added In general— Not later than January 1, 2026, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (in this section referred to as the “Under Secretary”) shall establish a military families playground pilot program (in this section referred to as the “Program”) to design, develop, and construct playgrounds that directly support families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of access to playgrounds on military installations.

(2)

added Governing body—

(A)

added In general— The Under Secretary of Defense, the Secretaries of the military departments, and any other individual that the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, shall form a governing body to oversee and be responsible for administration of the Program.

(B)

added Inclusion of EFMP community— The governing body required by subparagraph (A) shall, at a minimum, include one representative of families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program.

(3)

added Objective— The objective of the Program is to create a more accessible and inclusive environment for military families, especially families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, by designing, developing, and constructing inclusive playgrounds that—

(A)

added incorporate the principles of universal access and design;

(B)

added welcome children and families to develop physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally;

(C)

added are accessible and ensure all children, including children with visible and non-visible disabilities (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)), have play options to help such children grow and learn; and

(D)

added balance a play experience that is beneficial to all children, including children with visible and non-visible disabilities, at all stages of development and at all levels of sensory engagement.

(4)

added Administration— In carrying out the Program, the Under Secretary shall—

(A)

added select not fewer than 6 military installations located within the continental United States that have the largest communities of families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program;

(B)

added design, develop, and construct one inclusive playground at each military installation selected under subparagraph (A); and

(C)

added establish policies, procedures, and standards for developing and constructing inclusive playgrounds under the Program.

(5)

added Upgrading existing playgrounds— The Under Secretary may carry out the requirement under paragraph (4)(B) to construct an inclusive playground at each military installation selected under paragraph (4)(A) by upgrading an existing playground at the installation to meet the requirements of the Program.

(b)

added Strategy—

(1)

added In general— Not later than March 28, 2025, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a strategy for the implementation of the Program.

(2)

added Elements— The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

added A governance structure for the Program, including—

(i)

added the officials tasked with oversight of the Program;

(ii)

added the format of the governing body of the Program established under subsection (a)(2);

(iii)

added the functions and duties of the governing body with respect to establishing and maintaining the Program; and

(iv)

added mechanisms for coordinating with the military departments.

(B)

added With respect to the selection of military installations under subsection (a)(4)—

(i)

added an identification of each military installation;

(ii)

added the rationale for selecting each military installation; and

(iii)

added any other information the Under Secretary considers appropriate.

(C)

added A description of objectives for the first 3 fiscal years of the Program, including—

(i)

added a description of, and a rational for selecting, those objectives;

(ii)

added an identification of milestones toward achieving those objectives; and

(iii)

added metrics for evaluating success in achieving those objectives.

(D)

added A description of opportunities and potential timelines for future expansion of the Program, as appropriate.

(E)

added A list of additional authorities, appropriations, or other support from Congress necessary to ensure the success of the Program.

(F)

added Any other information the Under Secretary considers appropriate.

Sec. 581 Authorization for award of Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor during the Korean War

added

(a)

added Waiver of time limitations— Notwithstanding the time limitations specified in section 8298 of title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the President may award the Medal of Honor under section 8291 of such title to E. Royce Williams for the acts of valor described in subsection (b).

(b)

added Acts of valor described— The acts of valor described in this subsection are the actions of E. Royce Williams,—

(1)

added as a lieutenant in the Navy, on November 18, 1952, for which he was previously awarded the Navy Cross and the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit of South Korea; and

(2)

added as an Ace fighter pilot who shot down multiple MiG aircraft.

Sec. 591 Modification to annual reports on racial and ethnic demographics in the military justice system

added

(a)

added Inclusion of additional information in annual reports— Section 486 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and

(2)

added by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:

added “(c) Information on administrative separations and other sanctions—In addition to the information described in subsection (b), the report of a Secretary of a military department for an armed force under subsection (a) shall contain statistics and other information on administrative separations and other administrative sanctions issued during the year covered by the report, including—

added “(1) the number of administrative separations and other administrative sanctions issued, disaggregated by—

added “(A) statistical category as related to the individual subject to separation or sanction;

added “(B) the active and reserve components; and

added “(C) the category of conduct that gave rise to the separation or sanction;

added “(2) of the separations and sanctions included under paragraph (1), the number of cases in which the individual subject to separation or sanction made a claim against the Department of Defense (including any claims of sexual harassment or sexual assault) before the separation or other sanction was imposed;

added “(3) identification of each administrative case that extended beyond 90 days and an explanation for the delay; and

added “(4) based on all sources of information available to the Secretary, including any information available from inspectors general or equal opportunity offices, the number of complaints filed by individuals who were subjects of an administrative investigation, disaggregated by statistical category.”

(b)

added GAO review and briefing—

(1)

added Reviews— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of all reports submitted under section 486 of title 10, United States Code. In conducting such review, the Comptroller General shall—

(A)

added evaluate the sufficiency of the information contained in the reports;

(B)

added analyze trends based on such information;

(C)

added analyze the effects of disparities and other challenges revealed in such reports, including effects on—

(i)

added recruiting and retention;

(ii)

added readiness; and

(iii)

added the national security of the United States; and

(D)

added evaluate the progress of the Armed Forces in addressing such disparities and challenges.

(2)

added Briefing— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the results of the review conducted under paragraph (1).

(c)

added Training program for investigatory personnel—

(1)

added Program required— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement a training program to ensure that personnel of the Department of Defense responsible for conducting administrative investigations have the knowledge necessary to properly conduct such investigations and to ensure the fair treatment of complainants and individuals subject to investigation.

(2)

added Testing required— The training program under paragraph (1) shall incorporate objective testing to measure the knowledge and abilities of personnel who receive the training.

(3)

added Briefing— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the training program under paragraph (1), which shall include—

(A)

added a description of the training program; and

(B)

added an evaluation of the results achieved by the training program as of the date of the briefing.

(d)

added Due process standards for administrative cases— The Secretary of Defense shall issue regulations establishing due process protections for members of the Armed Forces subject to administrative investigations and related disciplinary proceedings. In issuing such regulations, the Secretary shall—

(1)

added establish a standard of proof that must be met before administrative discipline may be imposed on a member;

(2)

added ensure that a member has the opportunity to respond during each phase of an administrative investigation and disciplinary proceeding; and

(3)

added ensure that a member serving on a part-time basis will be placed in an appropriate duty status and fully compensated for any time spent participating or responding to the investigative or disciplinary process.

(e)

added Annual reports of military boards— On an annual basis, the head of each board for correction of military records (as described in section 1552 of title 10 United States Code) and discharge review board (as described in section 1553 of such title) shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes, with respect to to the year covered by the report—

(1)

added the number of cases considered by the board, disaggregated by race, sex, ethnicity, and rank as related to the member of the Armed Forces subject to the review of the board;

(2)

added of such cases, the number that resulted in an adverse determination against a member, disaggregated as described in paragraph (1);

(3)

added the reasons for such adverse determinations.

Sec. 592 Provision of information regarding Federal service to certain persons determined not qualified to enlist in certain Armed Forces

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations directing the Secretary of a military department to provide, to a person described in subsection (b), information regarding opportunities for Federal service for which the person may be qualified.

(b)

added Certain persons not qualified to enlist— A person described in this subsection is a person determined not qualified to enlist in a covered Armed Force on the basis that the person—

(1)

added has a disqualifying medical condition for which the Secretary of the military department concerned may not issue a waiver; or

(2)

added enrolled in, but failed to graduate from, a future member preparatory course of such covered Armed Force.

(c)

added Covered Armed Force defined— In this section, the term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

Sec. 593 Modernization of dress codes and policies on military installations during non-working and non-duty status hours

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than June 1, 2025, the Secretary of each of the military departments shall issue guidance to commanders of installations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to require the modernization of dress codes or policies for members of the Armed Forces during non-working and non-duty status hours, while on military installations, and for all military dependents on military installations at any time.

(b)

added Modernization defined— In this section, the term “modernization” means, with respect to a dress code or policy, the changing of such code or policy to the least restrictive version such code or policy, including by not requiring or restricting any generally accepted item of clothing.

Sec. 594 Pilot program to allow members in the Department of the Air Force to grow beards

added

(a)

added Establishment— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a pilot program to allow members of the Air Force and Space Force to grow beards.

(b)

added Selection of participants— The Secretary shall select units from such Armed Forces to participate in the pilot program to ensure that the such units—

(1)

added are located in geographically diverse areas;

(2)

added operate in diverse environments; and

(3)

added perform various missions.

(c)

added Report and briefings—

(1)

added Initial report— Not later than one year after the initiation of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the interim findings of the pilot program.

(2)

added Final briefing— Not later than 90 days after the termination completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing on the pilot program. Such briefing shall include the recommendation of the Secretary whether to expand the pilot program or make it permanent.

(3)

added Elements— A report or briefing under this subsection shall include the following elements:

(A)

added The evaluation of the Secretary of the compatibility of beards with military equipment that requires an airtight seal, such as a gas mask.

(B)

added An assessment of the effect of beard growth on discipline, morale, and unity within the ranks.

(C)

added A determination whether allowing members to grow beards improves inclusivity, including for members with conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae or who wish to grow beards for religious purposes.

(D)

added Identifications of any negative perception or bias towards members with beards.

(E)

added Strategies to mitigate such negative perceptions or bias.

(d)

added Termination— The pilot program under this section shall terminate three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 595 Female members of certain Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense in STEM

added

(a)

added Study; report— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the results of a study on how to—

(1)

added increase participation of covered individuals in positions in the covered Armed Forces or Department of Defense and related to STEM; and

(2)

added change Skillbridge to help covered individuals eligible for Skillbridge find civilian employment in positions related to STEM.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

(2)

added The term “covered individual” means a female—

(A)

added member of a covered Armed Force; or

(B)

added civilian employee of the Department of Defense.

(3)

added The term “Skillbridge” means an employment skills training program under section 1143(e) of title 10, United States Code.

(4)

added The term “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Sec. 596 Study on benefits of standardizing policies regarding basic allowance for housing and family housing eligibility for members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are unaccompanied and pregnant

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary concerned, shall carry out a study on the policies regarding basic allowance for housing and family housing eligibility for members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are unaccompanied and who become pregnant while residing in unaccompanied housing. The study shall include the identification of—

(1)

added for each of the Armed Forces, the current policy regarding when unaccompanied pregnant members of the Armed Forces who reside in unaccompanied housing are eligible to receive basic allowance for housing;

(2)

added for each of the Armed Forces, the current policy regarding when unaccompanied pregnant members of the Armed Forces who reside in unaccompanied housing are eligible for admittance to the wait list for family housing and assignment of family housing;

(3)

added any disparities between written policies and the implementation of such policies;

(4)

added recommendations to standardize such policies across the Armed Forces; and

(5)

added any costs associated with the standardization of such policies, including with respect to any infrastructure improvements that may be needed.

(b)

added Report— Not later than one year after completing the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study.

(c)

added Implementation— Not later than 90 days after the date of the completion of the study under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary concerned, shall take such actions as may be necessary to provide for a uniform policy across the Armed Forces with respect to basic allowance for housing and family housing eligibility for members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are unaccompanied and who become pregnant while residing in unaccompanied housing. Such policies shall include that upon providing medical certification of pregnancy and medical certification of predicted due date, an unaccompanied member of the Armed Force residing in unaccompanied housing shall be eligible to receive basic allowance for housing beginning not later than three months prior to such predicted due date.

Sec. 601 Policy on postpartum physical fitness tests and body composition assessments

added

added Section 701(k) of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—

(1)

added by striking “gives birth” and inserting “is pregnant”; and

(2)

added by striking “such birth” and inserting “birth, loss of pregnancy, or stillbirth”.

Sec. 602 Extension of parental leave to members of the Coast Guard Reserve

added

(a)

added Extension— Section 711 of chapter 40 of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “is a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force who”.

(b)

added Technical correction— Such section is redesignated as section 710a of such title.

(c)

added Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2025.

Sec. 603 Prohibition on exposing members of the Armed Forces to Chinese military company investments through the Thrift Savings Plan

added

(a)

added In general— Section 211 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

added “(e) Limitation on mutual fund window—A member of the armed forces may not participate or invest in the Thrift Savings Plan mutual fund window pursuant to section 8438(b)(5) of title 5 if that window includes a mutual fund that holds a Chinese military company (as that term is defined in section 1260H of Public Law 116–283) as determined by the mutual fund’s most recent quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.”

(b)

added Rule of construction— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not be construed to limit access of members of the Armed Forces to Thrift Savings Plan mutual funds that do not include any Chinese military company (as defined in section 1260H of Public Law 116–283).

Sec. 611 Incentive pay: explosive ordnance disposal duty

added

(a)

added Establishment— Subchapter I of Chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting, after section 301e, the following new section:

added “301f. Incentive pay: explosive ordnance disposal duty.

added “(a) Eligibility

added “(1) Subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, a regular member of a covered armed force is entitled to continuous monthly explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay in the amount specified in subsection (b)(1) if the member—

added “(A) is entitled to basic pay;

added “(B) holds (or is in training leading to) an explosive ordnance disposal duty designator; and

added “(C) is in and remains in explosive ordnance disposal duty on a career basis.

added “(2) Subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, a member of a covered armed force who is entitled to basic pay but is not entitled to continuous monthly explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay under paragraph (1) is entitled to explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay in the amount prescribed pursuant to subsection (b)(2) for any period during which such member performs explosive ordnance disposal duty under orders.

added “(b) Rates

added “(1) Continuous monthly explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay under subsection (a)(1) shall be in the following amounts:

added “(2) Explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay under subsection (a)(2)—

added “(A) shall be in amounts prescribed by the Secretary of Defense;

added “(B) may not, for any month, exceed the maximum amount specified in paragraph (1); and

added “(C) may not be less per day than the amount under subsection (d).

added “(c) Computation of years—Years of explosive ordnance disposal duty by a member shall be computed beginning with the effective date of the initial order to such member to perform explosive ordnance disposal duty.

added “(d) Applicability to certain duty in the reserve components—Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and to the extent provided for by appropriations, for each day that a member of the reserve component of a covered armed force who is entitled to compensation under section 206 of this title, performs, under orders, explosive ordnance disposal duty, such member is eligible for an increase in compensation equal to one-thirtieth of the continuous monthly incentive pay under subsection (b)(1) for a member of corresponding years of service entitled to basic pay.

added “(e) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “covered armed force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

added “(2) The term “explosive ordnance disposal” has the meaning given such term in section 2284 of title 10.

added “(3) The term “explosive ordnance disposal duty” means duty performed by a member of a covered armed force, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, in explosive ordnance disposal.”

(b)

added Effective date— Section 301f of title 37, United States Code, added by this section, shall take effect on the day that is six months after the date of the enactment of this Act and apply to explosive ordnance disposal duty performed on or after such day.

Sec. 612 One-year extension of certain expiring bonus and special pay authorities

added

(a)

added Authorities relating to reserve forces— Section 910(g) of title 37, United States Code, relating to income replacement payments for reserve component members experiencing extended and frequent mobilization for active duty service, is amended by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”.

(b)

added Title 10 authorities relating to health care professionals— The following sections of title 10, United States Code, are amended by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”:

(1)

added Section 2130a(a)(1), relating to nurse officer candidate accession program.

(2)

added Section 16302(d), relating to repayment of education loans for certain health professionals who serve in the Selected Reserve.

(c)

added Authorities relating to nuclear officers— Section 333(i) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”.

(d)

added Authorities relating to title 37 consolidated special pay, incentive pay, and bonus authorities— The following sections of title 37, United States Code, are amended by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”:

(1)

added Section 331(h), relating to general bonus authority for enlisted members.

(2)

added Section 332(g), relating to general bonus authority for officers.

(3)

added Section 334(i), relating to special aviation incentive pay and bonus authorities for officers.

(4)

added Section 335(k), relating to special bonus and incentive pay authorities for officers in health professions.

(5)

added Section 336(g), relating to contracting bonus for cadets and midshipmen enrolled in the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

(6)

added Section 351(h), relating to hazardous duty pay.

(7)

added Section 352(g), relating to assignment pay or special duty pay.

(8)

added Section 353(i), relating to skill incentive pay or proficiency bonus.

(9)

added Section 355(h), relating to retention incentives for members qualified in critical military skills or assigned to high priority units.

(e)

added Authority to provide temporary increase in rates of basic allowance for housing— Section 403(b) of title 37, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (7)(E), relating to an area covered by a major disaster declaration or containing an installation experiencing an influx of military personnel, by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (8)(C), relating to an area where actual housing costs differ from current rates by more than 20 percent, by striking “September 30, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”.

Sec. 621 Basic needs allowance: exclusion of basic allowance for housing from the calculation of gross household income of an eligible member of the Armed Forces

added

added Section 402b(k)(1)(B) of title 37, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by striking “in” and all that follows through “portion of”; and

(2)

added by striking “that the Secretary concerned elects to exclude” and inserting “paid to such member”.

Sec. 622 Basic allowance for housing: pilot program to outsource rate calculation

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with a covered entity pursuant to which the covered entity shall calculate, using industry-standard machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms, the monthly rates of BAH for not fewer than 15 MHAs.

(b)

added Report— Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the evaluation of the Secretary of the rates calculated by a covered entity pursuant to an agreement under subsection (a).

(c)

added Definitions— In this section

(1)

added The term “BAH” means the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services under section 403 of title 37, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “covered entity” means a nationally recognized entity in the field of single-family housing that has data on local rental rates in real estate markets across the United States.

(3)

added The term “MHA” means military housing area.

Sec. 631 Expansion of eligibility for certain benefits that arise from the death of a member of the Armed Forces

added

(a)

added Death gratuity— Section 1475(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “for a period of more than 13 days”.

(b)

added Recovery, care, and disposition of remains— Section 1481(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(11) Any person not otherwise covered by this section whose death entitles a survivor of such person to a death gratuity under section 1475 of this title.”

(c)

added Eligibility for assistance from a casualty assistance officer— Section 633 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113–66; 10 U.S.C. 1475 note) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;

(ii)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(iii)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(C) an individual not described in subparagraph (A) or (B) who is entitled to a death gratuity under section 1475 of title 10, United States Code.”

(B)

added in paragraph (2)—

(i)

added by striking “spouses and dependents” each place it appears and inserting “survivors”; and

(ii)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “spouses and other dependents of deceased members” and inserting “such survivors”; and

(2)

added in subsection (b)(2), by striking “the spouse and other dependents of a deceased member of the Armed Forces” and inserting “such a survivor”.

(d)

added Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall apply to a death that occurs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 632 Payment instead of reimbursement for the transportation of certain remains to two locations if the second location is a national cemetery

added

added Section 1482(a)(8)(B) of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in the second sentence, by striking “may pay for transportation to the second place only” and inserting “shall not require that payment for transportation to the second place be”.

Sec. 633 Information regarding paternal engagement on website of Military OneSource

added

added Section 561 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 10 U.S.C. 1781 note) is amended, in subsection (b)—

(1)

added by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (16) as paragraphs (12) through (17), respectively; and

(2)

added by inserting, after paragraph (10), the following new paragraph (11):

added “(11) Programs that encourage paternal engagement with the family.”

Sec. 634 Military OneSource for a remarried surviving spouse of a deceased member of the Armed Forces: eligibility; information

added

(a)

added Eligibility— A surviving spouse of a deceased member of the Armed Forces may use the Military OneSource program of the Department of Defense regardless of whether such surviving spouse remarries after the death of such member.

(b)

added Website information— The Secretary of Defense shall publish and maintain, on the website for the Military OneSource program, information regarding casualty assistance for a surviving spouse described in subsection (a).

Sec. 641 Commissary and exchange benefits: expansion for surviving children of members of the uniformed services

added

(a)

added Expansion— Section 1061 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(c) Dependent defined—In this section, the term “dependent” has the meaning given such term in section 1072 of this title, without regard to the age of a child of a member of a uniformed service.”

(b)

added Technical amendment— Such section is amended in the heading by striking “Reserve and Guard”.

Sec. 642 Single-use shopping bags in commissary stores

added

added Section 2485 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(j) Single-use shopping bags—The Defense Commissary Agency may not prohibit the use of, or charge a fee for, single-use shopping bags in a commissary store.”

Sec. 643 Sale of certain supplies of the Navy and Marine Corps to certain former members of the Coast Guard

added

added Section 8803 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “, or the Space Force” and inserting “, the Space Force, or the Coast Guard”.

Sec. 651 Promotion of tax preparation assistance programs

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each member of a covered Armed Force receives, not later than March 1 of each year, a written notice regarding the MilTax program and other tax preparation assistance programs furnished by the Secretary.

(b)

added Report— Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the rates of participation by members of the covered Armed Forces in the programs described in subsection (a).

(c)

added Covered Armed Force defined— In this section, the term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

Sec. 652 Pilot program to inform members about certain insurance products

added

(a)

added Establishment— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot program to provide to a member of the covered Armed Forces, through the website of Military OneSource (established under section 561 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 10 U.S.C. 1781 note)), information regarding insurance products intended to cover living expenses, at no cost to the Federal Government, that—

(1)

added may arise in the event of a cancer diagnosis of such member or a dependent of such member; and

(2)

added the member may not be able to cover with the pay and benefits provided to such member by the Federal Government.

(b)

added Informational requirements— The Secretary shall ensure that information provided to a member under subsection (a)—

(1)

added only refers to insurance products—

(A)

added that comply with all applicable laws and regulations; and

(B)

added that provide coverage in each State; and

(2)

added includes any other information the Secretary determines appropriate to help a member deal expenses described in subsection (a).

(c)

added Sunset— The pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the day that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(d)

added Report— Not later than six months after the pilot program under this section terminates, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding such pilot program. Elements of the report shall include the following:

(1)

added The insurance products about which the Secretary provided information under subsection (a).

(2)

added The number of members who purchased such insurance products.

(3)

added Any other information the Secretary determines appropriate.

(e)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

(2)

added The term “State” has the meaning given such term in section 901 of title 32, United States Code.

Sec. 701 Assisted reproductive technology for certain members of the Armed Forces and their dependents under TRICARE

added

(a)

added In general— Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1074o the following new section:

added “1074p. Assisted reproductive technology for certain members of the armed forces and their dependents under TRICARE

added “(a) Coverage—The use of assisted reproductive technology (including in vitro fertilization, gamete retrieval, and gamete transfer) by a member of a covered armed force (or a dependent of such a member) shall be covered under TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.

added “(b) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “covered armed force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

added “(2) The term “member” is used as such term is used in this title and does not include a former member.”

(b)

added Exclusion from contracts for former members and their dependents— Section 1086 of such title is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “subsection (d)” and inserting “subsections (d) and (j)”; and

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(j) A plan contracted for under subsection (a) may not include coverage for services under section 1074p of this title.”

Sec. 702 TRICARE dental plan for the Selected Reserve

added

added Section 1076a of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added in the header, by striking “selected reserve and”; and

(ii)

added by striking “for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and”;

(B)

added in paragraph (2), in the header, by inserting “Individual Ready” after “other”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(5) Plan for Selected Reserve—A dental benefits plan for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.”

(2)

added in subsection (d)—

(A)

added by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and

(B)

added by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:

added “(3) No premium plans

added “(A) The dental insurance plan established under subsection (a)(5) is a no premium plan.

added “(B) Members enrolled in a no premium plan may not be charged a premium for benefits provided under the plan.”

(3)

added in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking “a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or”;

(4)

added by redesignating subsections (f) through (k) as subsections (g) through (l), respectively;

(5)

added by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection (f):

added “(f) Copayments under no premium plans—A member who receives dental care under a no premium plan referred to in subsection (d)(3) shall pay no charge for any care described in subsection (c).”

(6)

added in subsection (i), as redesignated by paragraph (4), by striking “subsection (k)(2)” and inserting “subsection (l)(2)”.

Sec. 703 Extension of effective date regarding certain improvements to the TRICARE dental program

added

(a)

added Extension— Section 1076a of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “January 1, 2026” each place it appears and inserting “January 1, 2027”.

(b)

added Rulemaking; briefing— Section 701 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 1076a note) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “January 1, 2025” and inserting “January 1, 2026”; and

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “January 1, 2026” and inserting “January 1, 2027”; and

(2)

added in subsection (c), by striking “and 2026” and inserting “2026, and 2027”.

Sec. 704 Licensure requirement for certain health care professionals providing certain examinations to members of the reserve components

added

added Section 1094(d)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting “an examination or assessment under section 10206 of this title or” after “not covered under section 1091 of this title who is providing”.

Sec. 705 Expansion of Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program

added

added Section 745 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and

(2)

added by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

added “(b) Grant authority

added “(1) In general—In carrying out the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program, the Secretary of Defense shall award grants on a competitive basis directly to eligible entities in accordance with this subsection.

added “(2) Eligible entities—To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be a nonprofit organization, the primary function of which is raising, training, and furnishing assistance dogs.

added “(3) Applications—An eligible entity desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary of Defense an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as such Secretary determines appropriate.

added “(4) Consideration for grant amount—In determining the amount of a grant awarded under this subsection, such Secretary shall consider—

added “(A) the merits of the application submitted pursuant to paragraph (3);

added “(B) whether, and to what extent, there is demand by covered members or covered veterans for assistance dogs provided by the eligible entity desiring such grant; and

added “(C) the capacity and capability of such eligible entity to raise and train assistance dogs to meet such demand.

added “(5) Use of funds—An eligible entity awarded a grant under this subsection shall use such grant to plan, design, establish, or operate a program to furnish assistance dogs to covered members and covered veterans, or any combination thereof.

added “(6) Limitation on grant amount—The amount of a grant awarded under this subsection may not exceed $2,000,000.”

Sec. 706 Reimbursements under the TRICARE program to cancer and children’s hospitals for outpatient care of beneficiaries

added

(a)

added In general— When evaluating an application under the TRICARE program by a cancer hospital or a children’s hospital for a general temporary military contingency payment adjustment to a reimbursement amount under the TRICARE outpatient prospective payment system, the Secretary of Defense shall consider the adequacy of the TRICARE network and the availability of specialized health care services for affected beneficiaries.

(b)

added Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding applications, payments, and adjustments described in subsection (a). The report shall include the following elements:

(1)

added A list of payment mechanisms available to the Secretary to make a reimbursement described in subsection (a).

(2)

added A list of the authorities for such payment mechanisms.

(3)

added A list of the payment adjustments the Secretary may make to a reimbursement amount described in subsection (a).

(4)

added The factors the Secretary considers when determining whether to make such a payment adjustment.

(5)

added Whether the Secretary measures the effects of a change to a reimbursement or payment adjustment when determining whether to continue such a payment adjustment.

(6)

added Any identified differences in diagnoses or the complexity of care, for pediatric TRICARE outpatients at children's hospitals and at other hospitals.

(7)

added The extent to which differences in such payments reflect differences in the complexity of care for such patients.

(8)

added Recently identified trends in the use of children's hospital services by pediatric TRICARE patients.

Sec. 707 Notices to a dependent child regarding impending loss of coverage under TRICARE program

added

(a)

added Notice required— The Secretary of Defense shall notify an individual who is a beneficiary under the TRICARE program on the basis that such individual is the dependent child of a member of a covered Armed Force, and such member and the spouse of such member (if applicable), before the end, on the 21st birthday of such individual, of the eligibility of such individual for TRICARE on such basis.

(b)

added Schedule— The Secretary shall issue a notification under subsection (a)—

(1)

added nine, six, three, and one month before such birthday; and

(2)

added on such birthday.

(c)

added Methods— The Secretary shall issue such notice by mail, email, and text message.

(d)

added ID card— The Secretary shall ensure that the spouse of a member may complete and submit a form to renew the identification card provided by the Secretary to such dependent child.

(e)

added Covered Armed Force defined— In this section, the term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

Sec. 708 Pilot program to treat pregnancy as a qualifying event for enrollment in TRICARE Select

added

(a)

added Establishment— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall commence a five-year pilot program under which—

(1)

added the Secretary shall treat pregnancy as a qualifying event, under section 1099(b)(1)(B) of title 10, United States Code, for enrollment in TRICARE Select by an eligible beneficiary; and

(2)

added a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force on active duty may enroll in TRICARE Select under paragraph (1) for a period that ends not later than 180 days after the end of pregnancy.

(b)

added Initial briefing— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the status of the pilot program under subsection (a).

(c)

added Annual report— Not later than one year after the Secretary commences the pilot program under subsection (a), and annually thereafter for the next four years, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the pilot program. Each such report shall include the number of covered enrollment changes, disaggregated by—

(1)

added month, beginning with January, 2023; and

(2)

added whether the eligible beneficiary made such covered enrollment change—

(A)

added because the eligible beneficiary is a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force on active duty who may enroll in TRICARE Select under the pilot program;

(B)

added because the eligible beneficiary is a member of the uniformed services who separated from active duty;

(C)

added because the eligible beneficiary is a member of the uniformed services who returned to active duty;

(D)

added because the eligible beneficiary is a dependent of a member of the uniformed services who separated from active duty;

(E)

added because the eligible beneficiary is a dependent of a member of the uniformed services who returned to active duty; or

(F)

added based on the treatment, under the pilot program, of pregnancy as a qualifying event for enrollment in TRICARE Select.

(d)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered enrollment change” means a change to a previous election by an eligible beneficiary under subsection (b)(1) of section 1099 of title 10, United States Code, to enroll in a health care plan designated under subsection (c) of such section.

(2)

added The term “eligible beneficiary” means an individual—

(A)

added eligible to enroll in TRICARE Select under section 1075(b) of title 10, United States Code; or

(B)

added a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force on active duty.

(3)

added The terms “TRICARE program” and “TRICARE Select” have the meanings given such terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.

(4)

added The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A)

added the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;

(B)

added the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;

(C)

added the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives;

(D)

added the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.

Sec. 709 Pilot program to prevent perinatal mental health conditions in pregnant and postpartum members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries

added

(a)

added Establishment— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of providing, through military medical treatment facilities, covered prevention programs to pregnant and postpartum members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries.

(b)

added Requirements— To carry out the pilot program, the Secretary shall take the following steps:

(1)

added Integrate covered prevention programs into existing maternal or pediatric care or programming furnished through military medical treatment facilities, including—

(A)

added primary care;

(B)

added obstetric care;

(C)

added pediatric care; and

(D)

added family or parenting programs.

(2)

added Ease participation in covered prevention programs by pregnant and postpartum members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries by—

(A)

added offering covered prevention programs at various times and locations; and

(B)

added providing child care to participants.

(3)

added Provide technical assistance regarding the implementation of covered prevention programs to personnel of military medical treatment facilities selected for the pilot program.

(4)

added Study the effectiveness of the pilot program in preventing the onset, or reducing the symptoms, of perinatal mental health conditions of pregnant and postpartum members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries.

(c)

added Locations— In selecting locations for the pilot program, the Secretary shall—

(1)

added select at least two military medical treatment facilities per market of the Defense Health Agency;

(2)

added select geographically diverse locations inside and outside the continental United States; and

(3)

added give priority to a military medical treatment facility that already operates a maternal health program or a Women’s Clinic.

(d)

added Promotional campaign— The Secretary shall promote the pilot program to increase awareness and encourage participation.

(e)

added Reports—

(1)

added Annual report— Not later than 180 days after the end of each year of operation of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the pilot program during such year of operation. Each such report shall include the number of pregnant and postpartum members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries who participate in the pilot program, disaggregated by—

(A)

added by type of prevention program;

(B)

added Armed Force;

(C)

added military occupational specialty, in the case of a member;

(D)

added rank;

(E)

added marital status;

(F)

added birth setting of delivery;

(G)

added sex;

(H)

added age;

(I)

added race; and

(J)

added ethnicity.

(2)

added Final report— Not later than one year after the pilot program terminates, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, and publish, a final report. Such report shall include the following elements:

(A)

added The total number of participants, described in, and disaggregated as in, paragraph (1), during the term of the pilot program.

(B)

added The assessment of the Secretary whether the pilot program was effective in preventing the onset, or reducing the symptoms, of perinatal mental health conditions of pregnant and postpartum members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries.

(C)

added The recommendations of the Secretary whether, and how (including with regards to cost), to expand or make permanent the pilot program.

(f)

added Termination— The pilot program shall terminate on September 30, 2028.

(g)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A)

added the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;

(B)

added the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and

(C)

added the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.

(2)

added The term “covered beneficiary” has the meaning given such term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.

(3)

added The term “covered prevention program” means an evidence-based activity that the Secretary determines has been proven to avert the onset. or decrease the symptoms, of a perinatal mental health condition.

(4)

added The term “military medical treatment facility” means a facility described in section 1073d of title 10, United States Code.

(5)

added The term “perinatal mental health condition” means a mental health disorder that first manifests during pregnancy or the one-year postpartum period.

Sec. 710 Pilot program on cryopreservation and storage of gametes of certain members of the Armed Forces

added

(a)

added Establishment— The Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to reimburse covered members for expenses incurred in the testing, cryopreservation, shipping, and storage of gametes of such covered members in a private storage facility determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(b)

added Amount of reimbursement— A covered member shall receive not more than—

(1)

added $500 in the case of a member who preserves sperm; and

(2)

added $10,000 in the case of a member who preserves eggs.

(c)

added Information to participants— The Secretary shall provide to a covered member participating in the pilot program information regarding providers of services described in subsection (a) located near the covered member.

(d)

added Implementation schedule— Not later than—

(1)

added 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall notify covered members of the pilot program; and

(2)

added 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(A)

added submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives an implementation plan for the pilot program; and

(B)

added carry out the pilot program.

(e)

added No liability or contractual obligation— The United States shall not be—

(1)

added considered a party to any agreement between a covered member who participates in the pilot program and a private gamete storage facility; or

(2)

added responsible for the management of gametes cryopreserved, or stored for which a covered member receives reimbursement under such pilot program.

(f)

added Advanced medical directive— A covered member who participates in the pilot program shall complete an advanced medical directive that specifies how gametes preserved under the pilot program shall be handled upon the death of such covered member.

(g)

added Promotion of pilot program— The Secretary shall promote the pilot program to covered members in the course of annual health examinations and pre-deployment screenings.

(h)

added Report— Not later than one year after the Secretary establishes the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the pilot program. Such report shall include the following:

(1)

added Usage by covered members.

(2)

added Demographics of participating covered members.

(3)

added Costs of services to participating covered members.

(4)

added The feasibility of expanding the pilot program.

(5)

added The feasibility of making the pilot program permanent.

(6)

added Other information determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(i)

added Termination— The pilot program shall terminate one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(j)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered member” means a member of a covered Armed Force serving on active duty—

(A)

added who has received orders (including deployment orders) for duty for which the member may receive hazardous duty pay under section 351 of title 37, United States Code;

(B)

added whom the Secretary determines is likely to receive such orders in the next 120 days;

(C)

added who will, under orders, be geographically separated from a spouse, domestic partner, or dating partner for a period exceeding 180 days; or

(D)

added whose application to participate in the pilot program that the Secretary approves.

(2)

added The term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

(3)

added The term “deployment” has the meaning given such term in section 991(b) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 711 Temporary requirement for contraception coverage parity under the TRICARE program

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, during the one-year period beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the imposition or collection of cost-sharing for certain services is prohibited as follows:

(1)

added Pharmacy benefits program— Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), of section 1074g(a)(6) of title 10, United States Code, cost-sharing may not be imposed or collected with respect to any eligible covered beneficiary for any prescription contraceptive on the uniform formulary provided through a retail pharmacy described in section 1074g(a)(2)(E)(ii) of such title or through the national mail-order pharmacy program of the TRICARE Program.

(2)

added TRICARE Select— Notwithstanding any provision under section 1075 of title 10, United States Code, cost-sharing may not be imposed or collected for a covered service that is provided by a network provider under the TRICARE program to an eligible covered beneficiary under such section.

(3)

added TRICARE Prime— Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 1075a of title 10, United States Code, cost-sharing may not be imposed or collected for a covered service that is provided under TRICARE Prime to an eligible covered beneficiary under such section.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered service” means any method of contraception approved, granted, or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, any contraceptive care (including with respect to insertion, removal, and follow up), any sterilization procedure, or any patient education or counseling service provided in connection with any such method, care, or procedure.

(2)

added The term “eligible covered beneficiary” means an eligible covered beneficiary (as such term is used in section 1074g of title 10, United States Code) on the basis of being—

(A)

added a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force; or

(B)

added a dependent of such a member.

(3)

added The terms “TRICARE Program” and “TRICARE Prime” have the meaning given such terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 712 TRICARE coverage for increased supply for contraception

added

(a)

added In general— Beginning not less than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, contraceptive supplies of up to 365 days shall be covered for any eligible covered beneficiary to obtain, including in a single fill or refill, at the option of such beneficiary, the total days of supply (not to exceed a 365-day supply) for a contraceptive on the uniform formulary provided through a military treatment facility pharmacy, retail pharmacy described in section 1074g(a)(2)(E)(ii) of such title, or through the national mail-order pharmacy program of the TRICARE Program.

(b)

added Outreach— Beginning not later than 90 days after the implementation of coverage under subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct such outreach activities as are necessary to inform health care providers and individuals who are enrolled in the TRICARE program of such coverage and the requirements to receive such coverage.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

(2)

added The term “eligible covered beneficiary” means an eligible covered beneficiary as such term is used in section 1074g of title 10, United States Code who is—

(A)

added a member of a covered Armed Force serving on active duty; or

(B)

added a dependent of a member described in subparagraph (A).

(3)

added The terms “TRICARE Program” and “TRICARE Prime” have the meaning given such terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 721 Identification in patient medical records of affiliation of certain non-Department of Defense health care providers

added

added Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1091 the following new section:

added “1091a. Identification in patient medical records of affiliation of certain non-Department of Defense health care providers

added “(a) In general—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that medical records of the Department of Defense include the organizational affiliation of any covered health care provider identified in such medical records.

added “(b) Covered health care provider defined—In this section, the term covered health care provider means a health care provider who is not—

added “(1) a member of the uniformed services;

added “(2) an employee of the Department of Defense;

added “(3) an employee of another agency of the Federal Government detailed to the Department of Defense;

added “(4) a personal services contractor under section 1091 of this title; or

added “(5) a volunteer under section 1588 of this title.”

Sec. 722 Mandatory training on health effects of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances

added

added The Secretary of Defense shall provide to each health care provider of the Department of Defense mandatory training regarding the potential health effects of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Sec. 723 Treatments for acute radiation syndrome incurred by overseas personnel: procurement; pre-positioning

added

(a)

added Requirements— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish requirements for the procurement and pre-positioning of treatments for acute radiation syndrome and thermal burns incurred by members of the Armed Forces assigned to duty locations outside the United States. In establishing such requirements, the Secretary shall take into account—

(1)

added the number of such members deployed in or near conflict zones wherein the use of nuclear weapons is a threat; and

(2)

added peer-reviewed and published scientific studies regarding the efficacy and operational requirements of such treatments.

(b)

added Briefing— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing regarding the requirements established under subsection (a).

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “biological product” has the meaning given such term in section 319F–1 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6a).

(2)

added The term “device” and “drug” have the meaning given such terms in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).

(3)

added The term “treatment” means a biological product, device, or drug approved, licensed, cleared, or otherwise authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.

Sec. 724 Partnerships with civilian organizations for arthroscopic surgical training

added

(a)

added Establishment— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a program—

(1)

added to establish partnerships with public, private, and non-profit entities that provide short-term training, regarding arthroscopic surgery, to physicians of the Department of Defense; and

(2)

added to increase operational readiness of members of the covered Armed Forces.

(b)

added Metrics— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

(c)

added Briefing; report—

(1)

added Initial briefing— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the program under this section. Such report shall include the following elements:

(A)

added A description of the program.

(B)

added The metrics established under subsection (b).

(C)

added Other matters regarding the program that the Secretary determines appropriate.

(2)

added Final report— Not later than 180 days after the termination of the program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the program. Such report shall include the following elements:

(A)

added A list of the entities with which the Secretary established partnerships under the program.

(B)

added The assessment of the Secretary of the effectiveness of the program, based on criteria including—

(i)

added the metrics established under subsection (b);

(ii)

added physical health assessment data, including questions on the Electronic Physical Health Assessment survey;

(iii)

added physical readiness test data;

(iv)

added postoperative survey data collected after a musculoskeletal intervention; and

(v)

added other matters regarding the program determined by the Secretary.

(C)

added The assessment of the Secretary regarding how much money the program saved the Department.

(D)

added Recommendations of the Secretary for additional legislation or administrative action based on the program.

(d)

added Termination— The program under this section shall terminate five years after the Secretary establishes such program.

(e)

added Covered Armed Force defined— In this section, the term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

Sec. 725 Women’s heart health educational material: development; distribution

added

(a)

added Women’s Heart Health Educational Materials— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Defense Health Agency, shall develop and distribute evidence-based educational materials for health care providers and patients in the military health care system regarding women’s cardiovascular health.

(b)

added Patient-centered materials— Materials for patients shall include information on the following:

(1)

added Women’s risk factors for heart disease.

(2)

added Actions women can take to improve or maintain positive cardiovascular health.

(3)

added The presentation and symptoms of cardiovascular disease, including symptoms that may be more common or only occur in women.

(4)

added Symptoms of a cardiovascular event, including symptoms that may be more common or only occur in women;

(c)

added Health professional materials—

(1)

added Materials for a health care provider shall—

(A)

added include information relevant to the provision of cardiovascular health care; and

(B)

added be specific to the practice of such provider.

(2)

added Materials shall include the following information:

(A)

added Gender-based differences in the presentation of cardiovascular disease.

(B)

added Gender-based differences in the causes and presentation of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks,

(C)

added Gender-based differences in appropriate methods to identify and treat cardiovascular disease.

(D)

added Gender-based differences in risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

(E)

added Cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment guidelines, including those that are specifically for women.

(F)

added Guidance on counseling patients with respect to risks, presentation, and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

(d)

added Distribution— The Secretary shall distribute such materials to health care providers in the military health care system and TRICARE beneficiaries. Such materials may be physical or digital.

Sec. 726 Protocol on use of oral rehydration solution

added

added Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the, the Secretary of Defense shall develop a clear and comprehensive protocol for the use of oral rehydration solutions in preventing heat casualties, dehydration, and hyponatremia in initial training. In the development of such protocol, the Secretary shall incorporate—

(1)

added the latest data, analysis and information regarding the use of oral rehydration solutions by Special Operations Command;

(2)

added the latest data, analysis and information regarding the use of oral rehydration solutions by professional sports teams;

(3)

added the latest data, analysis and information regarding the use of oral rehydration solutions by the National Training Center, Fort Irwin; and

(4)

added the guidance included in the June 20, 2016, Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine report entitled “Guidance Concerning Commercial Electrolyte Replacement Beverages and Hyponatremia Risk During Hot Weather Training”.

Sec. 731 Blast pressure safety and brain health

added

(a)

added Expansion of Warfighter Brain Health Initiative—

(1)

added Thresholds for blast pressure safety— Section 735 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended, in subsection (b)(1)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

added by striking the period at the end and inserting “that—”; and

(ii)

added by adding at the end the following new clauses:

added “(i) cover brain injury, lung injury, and impulse noise;

added “(ii) measure impact over 24-hour, 72-hour to 96-hour, monthly, annual, and lifetime periods;

added “(iii) ensure that the thresholds are low enough that they are not associated with cognitive deficits after firing;

added “(iv) include thresholds that account for the firing of multiple types of heavy weaponry and use of grenades in one period of time;

added “(v) include minimum safe distances and levels of exposure for observers and instructors; and

added “(vi) include limits for shoulder-fired heavy weapons.”

(B)

added by inserting, after subparagraph (G), the following new subparagraphs:

added “(H) The establishment of policies to encourage members of the armed forces to seek support for brain health when needed, prevent retaliation against such members who seek care, and address other barriers to seeking help for brain health, including due to the impact of blast exposure, blast overpressure, traumatic brain injury, and other health matters.

added “(I) The evaluation of how modifications to existing weapons systems may reduce injuries to individuals within the minimum safe distance of such weapons systems that arise from blast overpressure in the use of such weapons systems.”

(2)

added Definitions— Such section is further amended by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:

added “(g) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term neurocognitive assessment means a standardized cognitive and behavioral evaluation using validated and normed testing performed in a formal environment that uses specifically designated tasks to measure cognitive function known to be linked to a particular brain structure or pathway, which may include a measurement of intellectual functioning, attention, new learning or memory, intelligence, processing speed, and executive functioning.

added “(2) The term traumatic brain injury means a traumatically induced structural injury or physiological disruption of brain function as a result of an external force that is indicated by new onset or worsening of at least one of the following clinical signs immediately following the event:

added “(A) Alteration in mental status, including confusion, disorientation, or slowed thinking.

added “(B) Loss of memory for events immediately before or after the injury.

added “(C) Any period of loss of or decreased level of consciousness, observed or self-reported.

added “(3) The term “Secretary concerned” has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.”

(3)

added Annual budget justification documents— Such section is further amended, in subsection (c), by striking “fiscal years 2025 through 2029” and inserting “fiscal years 2025 through 2030”.

(4)

added Implementation of thresholds— Such section is further amended—

(A)

added by striking subsections (e) and (f);

(B)

added by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (g) as subsections (g), (h), and (i), respectively; and

(C)

added by inserting, after subsection (b), the following new subsections:

added “(c) Implementation of thresholds

added “(1) Deadline

added “(A) In general—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall identify and disseminate the thresholds for blast exposure and blast overpressure safety and associated emerging scientific evidence required under subsection (b)(1)(B).

added “(B) Update—Not less frequently than every five years, the Secretary of Defense shall review and, if the Secretary determines it appropriate, update, the thresholds for blast exposure and blast overpressure safety and associated emerging scientific evidence required under subsection (b)(1)(B).

added “(2) Central repository—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a central repository of blast-related characteristics, such as pressure profiles and common blast loads associated with specific systems and the environments in which they are used, that is available to members of the armed forces and includes the information described in subsection (b)(1)(B).

added “(3) Waivers

added “(A) Protocols—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and implement protocols to require waivers in cases in which members of the armed forces must exceed the safety thresholds described in subsection (b)(1)(B), which shall include a justification for exceeding those safety thresholds.

added “(B) Tracking system

added “(i) In general—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a Department of Defense-wide tracking system for waivers described in subparagraph (A), which shall include data contributed by each of the Secretaries concerned.

added “(ii) Report—Not later than December 31 of each of the five years beginning in the year following the establishment of the tracking system required under clause (i), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on waivers described in subparagraph (A) that includes—

added “(I) the number of waivers issued, disaggregated by armed force;

added “(II) the justifications provided for each waiver;

added “(III) a description of actions taken by the Secretary concerned to track the health effects on members of the armed forces of exceeding safety thresholds described in subsection (b)(1)(B), document those effects in medical records, and provide care to those members; and

added “(IV) a description of the medical care received by those members in response to exceeding these safety thresholds.

added “(d) Formal training requirement

added “(1) In general—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that training described in paragraph (2) is required for members of the armed forces before training, deployment, or entering other environments determined to be high-risk by the Secretary concerned.

added “(2) Training described—Training described in this paragraph is training on the following:

added “(A) Thresholds for blast exposure and blast overpressure safety and associated emerging scientific evidence required under subsection (b)(1)(B).

added “(B) Symptoms of exposure to blasts or blast overpressure.

added “(C) Symptoms of traumatic brain injury.

added “(e) Strategies for mitigation and prevention of blast exposure and overpressure risk for high-risk individuals—In carrying out the Initiative, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall establish strategies for mitigating and preventing blast exposure and blast overpressure risk for individuals most at risk for exposure to high-risk training or high-risk occupational activities, which shall include—

added “(1) a timeline and process for implementing those strategies;

added “(2) a determination of the frequency with which those strategies will be updated, at a rate of not less frequently than every five years; and

added “(3) an assessment of how information regarding those strategies will be disseminated to such individuals, including after those strategies are updated.

added “(f) Annual report—Not later than March 31, 2025, and not less frequently than annually thereafter through 2030, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes the following:

added “(1) A description of the activities taken under the Initiative and resources expended under the Initiative during the prior fiscal year.

added “(2) The number of members of the armed forces impacted by blast overpressure and blast exposure in the prior fiscal year, including—

added “(A) the number of members who reported adverse health effects from blast overpressure or blast exposure;

added “(B) the number of members exposed to blast overpressure or blast exposure;

added “(C) the number of members who received treatment for injuries related to blast overpressure or blast exposure, including at facilities of the Department of Defense and at facilities in the private sector;

added “(D) regarding treatment for blast exposure, blast overpressure, or subconcussive or concussive brain injuries at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, an Intrepid Spirit Center, or an appropriate military medical treatment facility—

added “(i) the number of members on the waitlist for such treatment;

added “(ii) the average period of time those members are on that waitlist; and

added “(iii) the average number of days between when an appointment is requested and the actual appointment date; and

added “(E) the type of care that members receive from facilities of the Department of Defense and the type of care that members receive from facilities in the private sector.

added “(3) A summary of the progress made during the prior fiscal year with respect to the objectives of the Initiative under subsection (b).

added “(4) A description of the steps the Secretary is taking to ensure that activities under the Initiative are being implemented across the Department of Defense and the military departments.”

(b)

added Establishment of roles for components of the Office of the Secretary of Defense relating to brain injuries from concussive and subconcussive blasts—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall establish the roles and responsibilities of components of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the mitigation, identification, and treatment of concussive and subconcussive brain injuries and the monitoring and documentation of blast overpressure exposure as follows:

(A)

added The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall be responsible for, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act—

(i)

added establishing a baseline neurocognitive assessment to be conducted during the accession process of members of the Armed Forces before the beginning of training;

(ii)

added establishing neurocognitive assessments to monitor the cognitive function of such members to be conducted—

(I)

added at least every three years as part of the periodic health assessment of such members; and

(II)

added as part of the post-deployment health assessment of such members;

(iii)

added ensuring all neurocognitive assessments of such members, including those required under clauses (i) and (ii), are maintained in the electronic medical record of such member;

(iv)

added establishing a process for annual review of blast overpressure exposure and traumatic brain injury logs for each member of the Armed Forces during the periodic health assessment of such member for cumulative exposure in order to refer members with recurrent and prolonged exposure to specialty care; and

(v)

added establishing standards for recurrent and prolonged exposure.

(B)

added The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness shall be responsible for, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the following:

(i)

added Establishing and maintaining blast overpressure exposure logs and traumatic brain injury logs for every member of the Armed Forces.

(ii)

added Including in those logs at least the following:

(I)

added The number of previous exposures to blast overpressure, including the number of exposures per unit of time, date, blast overpressure in pounds per square inch, and number of times the member of the Armed Forces fires, uses, or is exposed to weapons that cause blast overpressure.

(II)

added Any residual physical, mental, or emotional effects resulting from such exposure.

(III)

added The source of the exposure, activity when the exposure occurred, whether it occurred during training or deployment, and any other relevant context of such exposure.

(IV)

added The treatment that the member sought and received in connection with such exposure.

(V)

added The number of concussive and subconcussive brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, sustained.

(VI)

added The severity of concussive and subconcussive brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, sustained.

(VII)

added Other head trauma, regardless of whether it requires the treatment of a medical provider.

(C)

added The Inspector General of the Department of Defense shall be responsible for—

(i)

added not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, submitting to Congress a report (in unclassified form, but with a classified annex as necessary) evaluating the establishment and maintenance of the logs required under subparagraph (B), including the cumulative exposure annotated in the blast overpressure exposure logs and traumatic brain injury logs, as well as the compliance of the Department of Defense with Department policies to address the brain health of members of the Armed Forces;

(ii)

added beginning on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this Act—

(I)

added evaluating the continued fulfillment by the Department of the requirements under subparagraph (B), including the cumulative exposure annotated in the blast overpressure exposure logs and traumatic brain injury logs, as well as the compliance of the Department with Department policies to address the brain health of members of the Armed Forces; and

(II)

added not later than December 31 of each year 2025 through 2030, submitting to Congress a report (in unclassified form, but with a classified annex as necessary) containing the results of such evaluation.

(D)

added The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall be responsible for, not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the following:

(i)

added Ensuring that the minimization of exposure to blast overpressure is considered as a performance parameter when drafting requirements for the Department of Defense for new hand-held, shoulder-launched, or crew-served, weapons systems that produce blast overpressure.

(ii)

added In a case in which minimization of exposure to blast overpressure is not included as a performance parameter under clause (i), the Under Secretary shall document the rationale for its exclusion and retain such documentation and supporting materials for purposes of clause (v).

(iii)

added Establishing a requirement that any entity under contractual agreement with the Department as part of the defense weapons acquisition process for a weapons system described in clause (i) shall provide to the Department blast overpressure measurements and safety data for any weapons system that produce blast overpressure and exceed the department set maximum exposure limit procured from such entity.

(iv)

added Establishing a requirement that any future test plan for a weapons system described in clause (v) incorporates validation and verification testing of blast overpressure measurement and safety data provided by defense contractors in accordance with clause (iii).

(v)

added Retaining and make available to personnel with appropriate access all—

(I)

added blast overpressure measurements and safety data for weapons systems of the Department, including how those systems have been tested and in what environments; and

(II)

added plans to improve protection for exposure by members of the Armed Forces to in-use weapons systems with unsafe levels of blast overpressure and exposure.

(2)

added Coordination— The officials specified in paragraph (1) shall coordinate and align their plans and activities to implement such subsection among themselves and with the Secretaries of the military departments.

(3)

added Briefings and reports—

(A)

added Implementation briefing— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2030, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing on the plans, associated timelines, and activities conducted to implement paragraph (1).

(B)

added Report on concussive and subconcussive brain injuries—

(i)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2030, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on—

(I)

added concussive and subconcussive brain injuries caused during military operations, including combat operations, among members of the Armed Forces, including information on—

(aa)

added the Armed Force of the member;

(bb)

added the name of the operation;

(cc)

added the location within the area of responsibility;

(dd)

added the number of concussive and subconcussive brain injuries caused;

(ee)

added the severity of concussive and subconcussive brain injuries caused;

(ff)

added the treatment received for a concussive or subconcussive brain injury;

(gg)

added whether a member of the Armed Forces was medically retired from service due to a concussive or subconcussive brain injury;

(hh)

added whether a member of the Armed Forces died by suicide after sustaining a concussive or subconcussive brain injury; and

(ii)

added the source of the injury, including the activity conducted when the injury occurred; and

(II)

added concussive and subconcussive brain injuries caused during training events among members of the Armed Forces, including information on—

(aa)

added the Armed Force of the member;

(bb)

added the type of training;

(cc)

added the location of the training;

(dd)

added the number of concussive and subconcussive brain injuries caused;

(ee)

added the severity of concussive and subconcussive brain injuries caused;

(ff)

added the treatment received for a concussive or subconcussive brain injury;

(gg)

added whether a member of the Armed Forces was medically retired from service due to a concussive or subconcussive brain injury;

(hh)

added whether a member of the Armed Forces died by suicide after sustaining a concussive or subconcussive brain injury; and

(ii)

added the source of the injury, including the activity conducted when the injury occurred.

(ii)

added Form— Each report submitted under clause (i) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(C)

added Report on discharges related to concussive and subconcussive brain injuries—

(i)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2030, the officials specified in paragraph and the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on members of the Armed Forces who were discharged administratively or punitively and had a concussive or subconcussive brain injury, including a traumatic brain injury, including information on—

(I)

added whether the injury or injuries occurred during combat operations or training and the associated combat operations or training incident;

(II)

added the severity of the injury or injuries;

(III)

added if any such injury was combat related, the name of the operation;

(IV)

added the treatment sought and received for the injury or injuries;

(V)

added the number of discharge upgrade requests in connection with such an injury or injuries that have been made; and

(VI)

added the number of such discharge upgrade requests that have been approved.

(ii)

added Form— Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(D)

added Report on medical providers trained in concussive and subconcussive brain injuries— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on medical providers within the Defense Health Agency who are trained in traumatic brain injury or concussive and subconcussive brain injuries as a sub-specialty of neurology, including information on—

(i)

added the number of such providers, disaggregated by location;

(ii)

added the billets of such personnel;

(iii)

added the number of medical personnel currently participating in training or a fellowship relating to traumatic brain injury or concussive and subconcussive brain injuries; and

(iv)

added the strategy of the Department of Defense to increase the number of medical providers trained in traumatic brain injury or concussive and subconcussive brain injuries as a sub-specialty of neurology.

(c)

added Mandatory training on health effects of certain brain trauma— Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to each medical provider and training manager of the Department of Defense mandatory training with respect to the potential health effects of blast overpressure, blast exposure, and traumatic brain injury.

(d)

added Implementation of Inspector General recommendations to manage traumatic brain injury care—

(1)

added Implementation— Not later than December 31, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense titled, “Evaluation of the DoD’s Management of Traumatic Brain Injury” (DODIG-2023-059).

(2)

added Briefing— Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a briefing on the progress of the Secretary in carrying out the implementation required under paragraph (1).

(e)

added GAO review of blast-related brain injury research and other efforts of the Department of Defense—

(1)

added In general— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of the research and other efforts of the Department of Defense on traumatic brain injury, including injuries related to blast overpressure or blast exposure.

(2)

added Matters To be included— The review required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

added A description of the research conducted by the Department of Defense on traumatic brain injury, the entities involved in that research, and efforts to coordinate that research internally and externally.

(B)

added A description of any improvements identified by that research related to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of blast-related brain injuries and an assessment of the implementation of those improvements.

(C)

added An evaluation of the efforts of the Department to protect members of the Armed Forces from retaliation for seeking care for the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of traumatic brain injury, blast overpressure, or blast exposure, including any gaps in or barriers to those efforts.

(D)

added An evaluation of the list maintained by the Department of the military occupational specialties most at-risk for blast overpressure and blast exposure and whether additional at-risk occupational specialties should be included.

(E)

added Any other finding the Comptroller General considers relevant.

(3)

added Briefing and report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, on the review required by paragraph (1), with a report to follow on a mutually agreed upon date.

(f)

added Definitions— In this section, the terms “neurocognitive assessment” and “traumatic brain injury” have the meanings given such terms in section 735 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note), as amended by this section.

Sec. 732 Study on testosterone levels of members of Army special operations forces

added

(a)

added Study— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in consultation with the Commander of the United States Special Operations Command, shall conduct a five-year study to determine whether the conditions that covered members experience while serving in a covered force affect the testosterone levels of the covered members. The study shall include the following elements:

(1)

added Data on the testosterone levels of each covered member included in the study throughout the period covered by the study, including while the covered member is—

(A)

added participating in any training of a covered force;

(B)

added deployed by a covered force; or

(C)

added otherwise working for a covered force.

(2)

added With respect to each covered member who joins a covered force during the period covered by the study and is included in the study, data on the testosterone levels of the covered member upon joining the covered force, accounting for, to the extent practicable, any effect on such testosterone levels attributable to an experience of the covered member while in the Armed Forces, prior to joining the covered force.

(3)

added With respect to each covered member who has low testosterone and is included in the study, data on the testosterone levels of the covered member before, during, and after the administration of any remedy (medical or non-medical) recommended to the covered member by a covered force for the treatment of low testosterone.

(4)

added Data regarding the relationship, if any, between the time of day that the testosterone level of a covered member is measured and the accuracy of the resulting measurement.

(5)

added Data regarding the relationship, if any, between the testosterone levels of a covered member and—

(A)

added the job performance of the covered member; or

(B)

added any marker of long-term health of the covered member.

(6)

added Any other information determined appropriate by the Under Secretary.

(b)

added Reports—

(1)

added Interim report— Not later than one year after the date on which the study under subsection (a) begins, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report describing—

(A)

added each process implemented by Under Secretary during the period covered by the report to carry out the study; and

(B)

added any results of the study collected during such period.

(2)

added Final report— Not later than one year after the date of the termination of the study under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study. Such report shall include the following elements:

(A)

added A comparison between—

(i)

added the data described in subsection (a)(2); and

(ii)

added data regarding the testosterone levels of male civilians of a comparable age.

(B)

added The analysis of the Under Secretary as to whether the testosterone levels of covered members are affected by the conditions such covered members experience—

(i)

added during a training of a covered force;

(ii)

added while deployed by a covered force; or

(iii)

added while otherwise working for a covered force.

(C)

added The assessment of the Under Secretary as to whether the testosterone levels of covered members affect—

(i)

added the readiness of any covered force; or

(ii)

added any marker of long-term health of the covered members.

(D)

added A list of each medical procedure a covered force uses, as of the date of the report, to monitor the testosterone levels of covered members.

(E)

added A list of each preventative measure (medical or non-medical) a covered force uses, as of the date of the report, to reduce the likelihood of low testosterone in a covered member.

(F)

added A list of each remedy (medical or non-medical) a covered force uses, as of the date of the report, to—

(i)

added treat low testosterone in a covered member; or

(ii)

added mitigate any symptom of low testosterone in a covered member.

(G)

added Recommendations of the Under Secretary regarding—

(i)

added which medical procedures are best suited for use by a covered force in monitoring the testosterone levels of each covered member;

(ii)

added whether, in monitoring the testosterone levels of each covered member, a covered force should—

(I)

added account for, to the extent practicable, any effect on the testosterone levels attributable to an experience of the covered member while in the Armed Forces, prior to joining the covered force; or

(II)

added measure the testosterone levels during a specific time of day to increase the accuracy of the measurements;

(iii)

added which preventative measures (medical or non-medical) are best suited for use by a covered force as a means to reduce the likelihood of low testosterone in a covered member; and

(iv)

added which remedies (medical or non-medical) are best suited for use by a covered force in—

(I)

added the treatment of low testosterone in a covered member; or

(II)

added the mitigation of any symptom of low testosterone in a covered member.

(H)

added A determination of the Under Secretary as to whether a pilot program or clinical trail with respect to the use of testosterone replacement therapy for covered members who have low testosterone would be advisable considering any prevalence of low testosterone observed in the study and any risks associated with testosterone replacement therapy.

(I)

added Any other information the Under Secretary determines appropriate.

(3)

added Form— The reports under this subsection shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term covered force means a special operations force that is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army.

(2)

added The term covered member means a member of a covered force.

(3)

added The term low testosterone means a condition in which the testosterone levels of an individual—

(A)

added are lower than is average for a healthy individual of comparable age and gender; and

(B)

added negatively affect the well-being, including the mental or physical health, of the individual.

(4)

added The term special operations force means a force identified under section 167(j) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 733 Report on use of Agent Orange on Guam

added

added Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall submit to the congressional defense committees, and make publicly available, a report that includes—

(1)

added the exact dates on which Agent Orange was used on Guam;

(2)

added an identification of any known or suspected site that was used to dump Agent Orange;

(3)

added an identification of any specific area where Agent Orange was used in Guam; and

(4)

added a list of diseases and disabilities that can result from exposure to Agent Orange.

Sec. 801 Streamlining of Milestone B requirements

added

added Section 4252 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in the section heading, by striking “certification required before” and inserting “factors to be considered before”;

(2)

added by striking subsections (d), (e), and (f);

(3)

added by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), and (g) as subsections (b), (d), (e), and (f), respectively;

(4)

added by inserting before subsection (b), as so redesignated, the following new subsection:

added “(a) Responsibilities—Before granting Milestone B approval for a major defense acquisition program or major subprogram, the milestone decision authority for the program or subprogram shall ensure that—

added “(1) information about the program or subprogram is sufficient to warrant entry of the program or subprogram into the engineering and manufacturing development phase;

added “(2) appropriate trade-offs among cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance objectives have been made to ensure that the program or subprogram is affordable when considering the per-unit cost and the total life-cycle cost, and the Secretary of the military department concerned and the Chief of the armed force concerned concur with these trade-offs; and

added “(3) there are sound plans for progression of the program or subprogram to the production phase.”

(5)

added by amending subsection (b), as so redesignated, to read as follows:

added “(b) Factors to be considered for Milestone B approval—A major defense acquisition program or major subprogram may not receive Milestone B approval until the milestone decision authority confirms the following factors were considered in the decision to grant Milestone B approval:

added “(1) The program or subprogram has received a preliminary design review and a formal post-preliminary design review or an equivalent assessment was conducted.

added “(2) The technology in the program or subprogram has been demonstrated in a relevant environment.

added “(3) The program or subprogram is affordable when considering the ability of the Department of Defense to accomplish the program’s or subprogram’s mission using alternative systems.

added “(4) The estimated procurement unit cost for the program or subprogram and the estimated date for initial operational capability for the baseline description for the program or subprogram (under section 4214 of this title) have been established.

added “(5) Appropriate market research has been conducted prior to technology development to reduce duplication of existing technology and products.

added “(6) The Department of Defense has completed an analysis of alternatives with respect to the program or subprogram.

added “(7) The Joint Requirements Oversight Council has accomplished its duties with respect to the program or subprogram pursuant to section 181(b) of this title, including an analysis of the operational requirements for the program or subprogram.

added “(8) Life-cycle sustainment planning has identified and evaluated relevant sustainment costs throughout development, production, operation, sustainment, and disposal of the program or subprogram, and any alternatives, and such costs are reasonable and have been accurately estimated.

added “(9) An estimate has been made of the requirements for core logistics capabilities and the associated sustaining workloads required to support such requirements.

added “(10) The program or subprogram complies with all relevant policies, regulations, and directives of the Department of Defense.

added “(11) Appropriate actions have been taken to negotiate and enter into a contract or contract options for the technical data required to support the program or subprogram.

added “(12) The program or subprogram has an approved life cycle sustainment plan required under section 4324(b) of this title.

added “(13) In the case of a naval vessel program or subprogram, such program or subprogram is in compliance with the requirements of section 8669b of this title.”

(6)

added by inserting after subsection (b), as so redesignated, the following new subsection:

added “(c) Written record of milestone decision—The milestone decision authority shall issue a written record of decision at the time that Milestone B approval is granted. The record shall confirm compliance with subsection (b) and specifically state that the milestone decision authority considered the factors described in subsection (b) prior to the decision to grant milestone approval. The milestone decision authority shall retain records of the basis for the milestone decision.”

(7)

added in subsection (d), as so redesignated—

(A)

added in the subsection heading, by striking “Certifications or Determination” and inserting “Basis for milestone approval”;

(B)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “certifications or a determination under subsection (a)” and inserting “a written record of the milestone decision under subsection (c)”;

(ii)

added in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

added by striking “certifications or determination of the milestone decision authority” and inserting “decision of the milestone decision authority”; and

(II)

added by striking “certifications or determination specified in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a)” and inserting “decision specified in subsection (b)”; and

(iii)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking “certifications or determination” and inserting “decision”; and

(C)

added in paragraph (2)—

(i)

added by striking “withdraw the certifications or determination concerned or”; and

(ii)

added by striking “certifications, determination, or approval are” and inserting “approval is”;

(8)

added by amending subsection (e), as so redesignated, to read as follows:

added “(e) Submissions to Congress on Milestone B

added “(1) Notification—Not later than 15 days after granting Milestone B approval for a major defense acquisition program or major subprogram, the milestone decision authority for the program or subprogram shall provide to the congressional defense committees and, in the case of intelligence or intelligence-related activities, the congressional intelligence committees a written record of the milestone decision.

added “(2) Additional information

added “(A) At the request of any of the congressional defense committees or, in the case of intelligence or intelligence-related activities, the congressional intelligence committees, the milestone decision authority shall submit to the committee an explanation of the basis for the decision to grant Milestone B approval with respect to a major defense acquisition program or major subprogram, or further information or underlying documentation.

added “(B) The explanation or additional information shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.”

(9)

added in subsection (f), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by striking paragraphs (4) and (5);

(B)

added by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (4); and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(5) The term “written record of milestone decision”, with respect to a major defense acquisition program or a major subprogram, means a document signed by the milestone decision authority that formalizes approved entry of the program or subprogram into the next phase of the acquisition process.”

Sec. 802 Prohibition on contracting with covered entities that contract with lobbyists for Chinese military companies

added

(a)

added In general— Chapter 363 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “4663. Prohibition on contracting with covered entities that contract with lobbyists for Chinese military companies

added “(a) Prohibition on entering into contracts with covered entities—Except as provided in subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may not enter into a contract with a company or a subsidiary of a company if such company or subsidiary is a party to a contract with a covered entity.

added “(b) Waiver—Upon notification to Congress, the Secretary of Defense may waive the requirements of this section.

added “(c) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term covered entity means an entity that engages in lobbying activities for any entity determined to be a Chinese military company listed in accordance with section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note).

added “(2) The term lobbying activities has the meaning given in section 1045(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (10 U.S.C. 971 note prec.).”

(b)

added Effective date— This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on June 30, 2026.

Sec. 803 Notice of contract cancellation or termination relating to remote or isolated installations

added

added Chapter 365 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “4705. Notice of contract cancellation or termination relating to remote or isolated installations

added “(a) In general—Except as provided by subsection (b), not later than 30 days prior to the Secretary or any other official of an element of the Department of Defense cancelling or terminating a contract, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a notice of such cancellation or termination if such cancellation or termination involves a reduction in employment of not fewer than—

added “(1) 50 remote or isolated installation contractor employees; or

added “(2) 100 employees of contractors, including remote or isolated installation contractor employees.

added “(b) Waiver

added “(1) The Secretary may waive subsection (a) with respect to the cancellation or termination of a contract if the Secretary determines that such waiver is in the interest of national security.

added “(2) If the Secretary waives subsection (a) with respect to the cancellation or termination of a contract, the Secretary shall submit the notice required by such subsection with respect to such cancellation or termination not later than one week after such cancellation or termination.

added “(c) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “military installation” has the meaning given such term in section 2801(c) of this title.

added “(2) The term “remote or isolated installation” means a military installation that is a remote military installation, as determined by the Secretary pursuant to the policy required by section 565 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1749; 10 U.S.C. 1781b note).

added “(3) The term “remote or isolated installation contractor employee” means an individual who—

added “(A) is an employee of a contractor;

added “(B) as such an employee, provides goods or services to a remote or isolated installation; and

added “(C) resides in the same geographic area as such remote or isolated installation.

added “(4) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Defense.”

Sec. 804 Procurement of cleaning products

added

added The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, only procure cleaning products that are identified by—

(1)

added the Safer Choice program; or

(2)

added an independent third-party organization that provides certifications in a manner consistent with the Safer Choice program.

Sec. 805 No conflicts of interest for fuel services financial management contracts

added

(a)

added Contracting prohibition— The Department of Defense shall not—

(1)

added contract with a fuel service provider (including any fuel supplier or broker), or a contractor who has subcontracted with a fuel service provider, to oversee the financial management of, or the processing of fuel transactions for, the Department’s fuel network; or

(2)

added make any fuel purchases through a fuel network managed by a fuel service provider and administered under a no-cost contract.

(b)

added Waiver— The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) if the Secretary makes a determination that such waiver is vital to the national security of the United States; and submits to Congress a report justifying the use of such waiver and the importance of such waiver to the national security of the United States.

Sec. 806 Prohibition on certain transportation contracts

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense may not award a contract or order to a transportation service provider for any shipment that requires any transportation protective service if such transportation service provider is not authorized by the Department of Defense to transport cargo requiring such a service.

(b)

added Transportation requirement waiver limits— The Secretary of Defense may not, except by issuing a rule, waive or reduce—

(1)

added any requirement regarding transportation protective services for any transportation service provider; or

(2)

added any security clearance requirements for drivers of transportation service providers.

(c)

added Transportation protective service; transportation service provider defined— In this section, the terms “transportation protective service” and “transportation service provider” have the meanings given such terms, respectively, in the publication of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command entitled “MILITARY FREIGHT TRAFFIC UNIFIED RULES PUBLICATION-1 (MFTURP-1)”, issued September 12, 2022, or any successor thereto.

Sec. 811 Modification to exception for submission of certified cost or pricing data for certain components and parts of commercial products

added

(a)

added In general— Section 3703(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)—

(A)

added by striking “component of the Department of Defense” and inserting “element of the Department of Defense”; and

(B)

added by striking “of such product or service.” and inserting the following: “of—

added “(A) such commercial product, or a component or part of such commercial product, or a service procured for support of such product; or

added “(B) such commercial service.”

(2)

added in paragraph (2)—

(A)

added by striking “shall request” and inserting the following: “shall—

added “(A) request”

(B)

added in subparagraph (A), as so designated, by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(B) provide to the head of the contracting activity a rationale and detailed explanation for not making such presumption.”

(3)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(4) In a review conducted under this subsection, the head of a contracting activity may consider evidence of whether or not the product or service to be procured is a commercial product or a commercial service.”

(b)

added Technical amendment— Section 3703(e) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting “Evidence on recent purchase prices.—” before “A contracting officer”.

Sec. 812 Application of recent price history and purchase orders to truthful cost or pricing data requirements

added

(a)

added Modifications to definitions—

(1)

added Purchase order defined— Section 3701 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(3) Purchase order—The term “purchase order” shall have the meaning given in section 13.302 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (or any successor regulation).”

(2)

added Inclusion of purchase orders in cost or pricing data— Section 3701(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

added by inserting “or purchase order” after “price of a contract”; and

(B)

added by inserting “or purchase order modification” after “contract modification”.

(b)

added Cost or pricing data and certification requirements for purchase orders— Section 3702 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(5) Purchase orders—An offeror for a purchase order shall be required to submit cost or pricing data before award of the purchase order.”

(2)

added in subsection (c)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “or” at the end;

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(3) in the case of a submission by an offeror for a purchase order, to the head of the contracting activity (or a designated representative of such head).”

(c)

added Recent price history exception to submission of certified cost or pricing data— Section 3703 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “a subcontract, or modification of a contract or subcontract” and inserting “a subcontract, a purchase order, or a modification of a contract, subcontract, or purchase order”; and

(B)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “or” at the end;

(ii)

added in subparagraph (B), by inserting “or” at the end; and

(iii)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(C) recent price history as described in subsection (g).”

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(g) Determination of recent price history—Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (e), for purposes of applying the exception under subsection (a)(1)(C) to the required submission of certified cost or pricing data for a subcontract, a purchase order, or a modification to a subcontract or purchase order with a proposed value less than or equal to $5,000,000, the contracting officer shall ensure that the price is reasonable by considering each of the following:

added “(1) Prices paid by the Government for a subcontract, purchase order, or modification of a subcontract or purchase order for the same good or service from the same subcontractor or supplier during the 12-month period immediately preceding the issuance of a request for proposal, request for a modification, issuance of a purchase order, or similar written intent to procure goods or services.

added “(2) Such prices paid during such 12-month period that were supported by cost or pricing data or other data adequate to determine a reasonable price.

added “(3) The effect of inflation or other macroeconomic factors on the reliability of such prices paid.”

(d)

added Conforming amendments— Chapter 271 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in section 3704, by striking “subcontract, or modification of a contract or subcontract” each place it appears and inserting “subcontract, a purchase order, or a modification of a contract, subcontract, or purchase order”; and

(2)

added in section 3705, by striking “subcontract, or modification of a contract or subcontract” each place it appears and inserting “subcontract, a purchase order, or a modification of a contract, subcontract, or purchase order”.

(e)

added Conforming regulations— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall revise the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to conform with the amendments made by this section.

Sec. 813 Elimination of late cost and pricing data submission defense

added

added Section 3706(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (3) by striking “or” at the end;

(2)

added in paragraph (4) by striking the period and inserting “; or”; and

(3)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(5) the cost or pricing data were submitted by the prime contractor or subcontractor after the date of agreement on the price of the contract (or price of the modification) or, if applicable consistent with subsection (a)(2), such other date agreed upon between the parties.”

Sec. 814 Clarification of other transaction authority for follow on production

added

added Section 4022 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(6) The term “follow-on production contract or transaction” means a contract or transaction to produce, sustain, or otherwise implement the results of a successfully completed prototype project for continued or expanded use by the Department of Defense.”

(2)

added in subsection (f)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: “A follow-on production award may be provided for in a transaction entered into under this section for a prototype project, awarded with respect to such a transaction as one or more separate awards, or a combination thereof.”; and

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by inserting “, one or more separate awards of follow-on production contracts or transactions with respect to a transaction described in such paragraph, or a combination thereof,” after “paragraph (1)”.

Sec. 815 Clarification of other transaction authority for facility repair

added

(a)

added In general— Section 4022(i)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “except for projects carried out for the purpose of repairing a facility,”;

(2)

added by inserting “(A)” before “In carrying out”;

(3)

added by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and

(4)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(B) The requirements of this paragraph shall not apply to projects carried out for the purpose of repairing a facility.”

(b)

added Applicability— This section and the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to a transaction for a prototype project under section 4022(i) of title 10, United States Code, entered into on or after the date of the enactment of this section.

Sec. 816 Special operations forces procurement authority

added

added Section 1903 of title 41, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “For a procurement” and inserting “Except as provided in subsection (d), for a procurement”; and

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(d) Special operations forces procurement

added “(1) In general—For the purposes of this section—

added “(A) a procurement for special operations forces to perform activities described in section 167(k) of title 10 in support of an undeclared contingency operation shall be deemed to be in support of a contingency operation (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10);

added “(B) contracts to be awarded with respect to such a procurement shall be deemed to be awarded and performed outside of the United States;

added “(C) purchases to be made under such a procurement shall be deemed to be made outside of the United States; and

added “(D) with respect to such a procurement to which this section applies under subsection (a)—

added “(i) the amount in subsection (b)(1) is deemed to be $35,000; and

added “(ii) the $5,000,000 limitation in sections 1901(a)(2) and 3305(a)(2) of this title and section 3205(a)(2) of title 10 is deemed to be $15,000,000.

added “(2) Definitions—In this subsection:

added “(A) Special operations forces—The term “special operations forces” has the meaning given such term in section 167(j) of title 10.

added “(B) Undeclared contingency operation—The term “undeclared contingency operation” means an operation in which members of the armed forces are or may become involved in military actions, operations, or hostilities against an enemy of the United States or against an opposing foreign force, other than an operation designated by the Secretary of Defense as a contingency operation (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10).”

Sec. 817 Avoidance of use of lowest price technically acceptable source selection criteria for procurement of munitions response services

added

added Section 880(c)(1) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (41 U.S.C. 3701 note) is amended by inserting “munitions response services,” after “telecommunications devices and services,”.

Sec. 818 Extension of temporary authority to modify certain contracts and options based on the effects of inflation

added

added Subsection (e) of the first section of Public Law 85–804 (50 U.S.C. 1431(e)) is amended by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”.

Sec. 819 Limitation on availability of funds for chiller class projects of the Department of the Air Force

added

(a)

added Limitation— None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Air Force may be obligated or expended to acquire goods or services under a non-competitive justification and approval for the purposes of standardizing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning chillers at installations of the Air Force until the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees the certification described in subsection (b).

(b)

added Certification described— The certification described in this subsection is a certification that—

(1)

added the Secretary of Defense has developed a methodology to compare the cost of initially acquiring the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning chillers and equipment supporting such chillers for the purposes described in subsection (a) under a non-competitive justification and approval to the cost of initially acquiring such chillers and equipment for such purposes using competitive procedures;

(2)

added the Secretary of Defense has established metrics to measure the effects of standardizing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning chillers at installations of the Air Force, including the costs of training technicians, any savings resulting from the ability of employees of the Government to repair such chillers, the cost of initially acquiring chillers and equipment supporting such chillers for such purpose, and the life cycle costs of such chillers; and

(3)

added the Secretary of Defense has collected data demonstrating that the use of procedures other than competitive procedures to acquire chillers for the purposes of standardizing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning chillers at installations of the Air Force has resulted in lower life cycle costs compared to using competitive procedures for such acquisitions.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “competitive procedures” has the meaning given such term in section 3012 of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “non-competitive justification and approval” means the justification and approval required by section 3204(e)(1) of title 10, United States Code, for the use of procedures other than competitive procedures to award a contract.

Sec. 831 Updated Adaptive Acquisition Framework training

added

(a)

added In general— Subchapter IV of chapter 87 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “1749. Updated Adaptive Acquisition Framework training

added “(a) In general—The President of the Defense Acquisition University, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and in consultation with industry representatives, shall ensure that the training program for the acquisition workforce on the adaptive acquisition framework (as described in Department of Defense Instruction 5000.02, “Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework”) that is part of the curriculum of the Defense Acquisition University includes training on—

added “(1) the relevant innovative procedures and best practices of the private sector for acquiring goods and services; and

added “(2) acquisition authorities applicable to the adaptive acquisition framework that were established or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in the preceding two years.

added “(b) Training requirements

added “(1) The training required by subsection (a) shall include—

added “(A) learning objectives related to market research, communicating with industry, and identifying and implementing the best practices used by industry for acquiring goods and services;

added “(B) learning objectives that encourage the use of technologies that are commercial products, commercial services, and commercially available off-the-shelf items (as such terms are defined in sections 103, 103a, and 104, respectively, of title 41), to the greatest extent practicable; and

added “(C) training on technology procured as a consumption-based solution (as defined in section 834 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 4571 note)) or emerging technology.

added “(2) Beginning 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less than every two years thereafter, the President of the Defense Acquisition University shall update the training described in subsection (a) to include all acquisition authorities applicable to the adaptive acquisition framework that were established or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in the two years preceding such update.

added “(c) Acquisition workforce defined—In this section, the term “acquisition workforce” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a), except that the term only includes—

added “(1) program executive officers (as such term is defined in section 1737 of this title);

added “(2) program managers (as such term is defined in such section);

added “(3) general officers (as such term is defined in section 101(b) of this title);

added “(4) flag officers (as such term is defined in such section); and

added “(5) individuals holding Senior Executive Service positions (as such term is defined in section 3132 of title 5).”

(b)

added Clerical amendment— The table of sections for chapter 87 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1748 the following new item:

Sec. 832 Performance incentives related to commercial product and commercial service determinations

added

added Section 3456 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “and” at the end;

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(3) establish and maintain performance incentives for contracting officers and program managers that request support described in subsection (b)(1)(A).”

(2)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by inserting “or program manager” after “contracting officer”; and

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by inserting “or program manager (as applicable)” after “contracting officer” each place it appears.

Sec. 833 Autonomous unmanned aerial system acquisition pathways

added

(a)

added Acquisition pathways— The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, procurement programs for autonomous unmanned aerial systems use separate, parallel acquisition pathways for hardware and software related to such systems.

(b)

added Additional requirements— The Secretary shall ensure that members of the acquisition workforce (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code), with respect to the procurement of autonomous unmanned aerial systems under this section and to the maximum extent practicable—

(1)

added use the appropriate software acquisition pathway established under section 800 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1478; 10 U.S.C. 4571 note); and

(2)

added include requirements for hardware components of such systems to be compliant with modular open system approach (as defined in section 4401 of title 10, United States Code).

(c)

added Report— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

(1)

added a description of plans to implement the separate, parallel acquisition pathways described in subsection (a); and

(2)

added recommendations by the Secretary for any legislative action the Secretary determines necessary to implement this section.

(d)

added Applicability— This section shall apply with respect to contracts for the procurement of autonomous unmanned aerial systems or hardware or software related to such systems entered into on or after the date of the enactment of this section.

Sec. 834 Pilot program for program management offices to compete in rehabilitating at-risk programs

added

(a)

added Pilot program authorized— Not later than April 1, 2025, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments and the commanders of the combatant commands, shall establish a pilot program to test the feasibility and reliability of requiring program managers within the Department of Defense to manage at-risk programs selected under subsection (b).

(b)

added Selection of at-risk programs— The Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments and the commanders of the combatant commands, shall select not less than 2 and not more than 3 at-risk programs for the pilot program established under this section.

(c)

added Selection of program manager— Not later than 12 months after selecting at-risk programs under subsection (b), the Under Secretary shall select one program manager to assume management of each selected at-risk programs.

(d)

added Existing personnel— Activities under the pilot program established under this section shall be carried out by existing personnel of the Department of Defense.

(e)

added Evaluation metrics— Before selecting at-risk programs under subsection (b), the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments and the commanders of the combatant commands, shall establish metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program and the activities under the pilot program.

(f)

added Implementation plan required— Not later than 180 days after selection of all program managers under subsection (c), the Under Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following:

(1)

added The definition of an at-risk program for purposes of the pilot program.

(2)

added The at-risk programs selected under subsection (b) and a description of the technology to be developed under such programs.

(3)

added The metrics to be used in evaluating the effectiveness of the at-risk program.

(g)

added Final report— Not later than January 1, 2027, the Under Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the following elements:

(1)

added Initial results of the pilot program, including challenges and successes.

(2)

added A recommendation on whether the pilot program should be extended, expanded, or made permanent.

(3)

added Recommendations for changes to applicable statutes, regulations, or policies to support the pilot program.

(h)

added Termination— The pilot program established under subsection (a), and all activities under such pilot program shall terminate not later than December 31, 2028.

(i)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “at-risk program” means a Department of Defense program for the rapid fielding of technology that is determined by the Under Secretary to be to be at-risk due to failures or delays in reaching technical milestones.

(2)

added The term “Under Secretary” means the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment of the Department of Defense.

Sec. 841 Enhancing requirements for information relating to supply chain risk

added

added Section 3252 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

added “(1) consulting with procurement or other relevant officials of the covered agency;”

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “with the concurrence of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment,”; and

(C)

added in paragraph (3)—

(i)

added by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

added “(A) a summary of the risk assessment that serves as the basis for the written determination required by paragraph (2); and”

(ii)

added by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C); and

(iii)

added by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (B);

(2)

added by striking subsection (c); and

(3)

added by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively.

Sec. 842 Amendment to requirement to buy strategic materials critical to national security from American sources

added

added Section 4863 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (d)(1)(B), by inserting “qualifying” before “foreign”; and

(2)

added in subsection (m), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(11) The term “qualifying foreign government” means the government of a country with which the United States has in effect a reciprocal defense procurement memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to section 4851 of this title.”

Sec. 843 Modification to miscellaneous limitations on the procurement of goods other than United States goods

added

added Section 4864(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(G) Diesel engines that operate at a maximum of not greater than 1200 revolutions per minute and are capable of generating a power output of greater than 3500 kilowatts.”

Sec. 844 Risk management for Department of Defense pharmaceutical supply chains

added

added Section 860(a) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2734; 10 U.S.C. 3241 note prec.) is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (2), by inserting “, temperature exposure throughout the supply chain process,” before “and final drug products”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting “, including temperature monitoring throughout the supply chain” after “of drugs”.

Sec. 845 Inclusion of recycled materials in domestic preference for strategic and critical materials

added

added Section 848(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3769; 10 U.S.C. 4811 note) is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (B), by inserting after “United States” the following: “, including processing of strategic and critical materials from recycled and reused minerals and metals,”; and

(B)

added in subparagraph (C), by inserting “, including from recycled and reused minerals and metals,” after “critical materials”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (2)—

(A)

added by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);

(B)

added in subparagraph (C), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon; and

(C)

added by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:

added “(D) the development of sources of supply for strategic and critical materials derived from recycled and reused minerals and metals; and”

Sec. 846 Report relating to certain domestic nonavailability determinations

added

(a)

added Report on procurement of fire-resistant fiber blend fabric— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and two years after such date, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following;

(1)

added Information on the availability of a domestic source for fire-resistant fiber blend fabric for the production of uniforms.

(2)

added A description of any contract the Secretary or a Secretary of a military department has entered into for the procurement of fire-resistant fiber blend fabric from a domestic source in the three-year period preceding the date of such report.

(b)

added Domestic nonavailability determination report— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that includes a description of the following:

(1)

added The process of making a domestic nonavailability determination pursuant to section 4862(c) of title 10, United States Code, including the average length of time to make such determination.

(2)

added The process of reviewing such determinations, including factors that trigger the initiation of a review, and the timelines associated with each such review.

(3)

added The process by which Secretary determines whether to terminate or modify such determination.

Sec. 847 Supply chain illumination

added

added Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement incentives to encourage each contractor of the Department of Defense to implement and use policies, procedures, and tools that allow such contractor to assess and monitor the entire supply chain of such contractor to identify potential vulnerabilities and security and noncompliance risks with respect to goods and services provided to the Department.

Sec. 851 Entrepreneurial Innovation Project designations

added

(a)

added In general—

(1)

added Designating certain SBIR and STTR programs as Entrepreneurial Innovation Projects— Chapter 303 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 4067 the following new section:

added “4068. Entrepreneurial Innovation Project designations

added “(a) In general—During the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this section, and during each subsequent fiscal year, each Secretary concerned, in consultation with each chief of an armed force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned, shall designate not less than five eligible programs as Entrepreneurial Innovation Projects.

added “(b) Application—An eligible program seeking designation as an Entrepreneurial Innovation Project under this section shall submit to the Secretary concerned an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary concerned determines appropriate.

added “(c) Designation criteria—In making designations under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall consider—

added “(1) the potential of the eligible program to—

added “(A) advance the national security capabilities of the United States and, in the case of the Coast Guard, the law enforcement capabilities of the United States on the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, including maritime domain awareness related to such law enforcement;

added “(B) provide new technologies or processes, or new applications of existing technologies, that will enable new alternatives to existing programs; and

added “(C) provide future cost savings;

added “(2) whether an advisory panel has recommended the eligible program for designation; and

added “(3) such other criteria that the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate.

added “(d) Designation benefits

added “(1) Future-years defense program inclusion—With respect to each designated program, the Secretary of Defense shall include in the next future-years defense program the estimated expenditures of such designated program. In the preceding sentence, the term next future-years defense program means the future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of this title after the date on which such designated program is designated under subsection (a).

added “(2) Programming proposal—Each designated program shall be included by the Secretary concerned under a separate heading in any programming proposals submitted to the Secretary of Defense.

added “(3) PPBE component—Each designated program shall be considered by the Secretary concerned as an integral part of the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution process of the Department of Defense.

added “(e) Entrepreneurial Innovation Advisory panels

added “(1) Establishment—For each military department and the Coast Guard, the Secretary concerned shall establish an advisory panel that, starting in the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this section, and in each subsequent fiscal year, shall identify and recommend to the Secretary concerned for designation under subsection (a) eligible programs based on the criteria described in subsection (c)(1).

added “(2) Membership

added “(A) Composition

added “(i) In general—Each advisory panel shall be composed of four members appointed by the Secretary concerned and one member appointed by the chief of the relevant armed force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned.

added “(ii) Secretary concerned appointments—The Secretary concerned shall appoint members to the advisory panel as follows:

added “(I) Three members who—

added “(aa) have experience with private sector entrepreneurial innovation, including development and implementation of such innovations into well-established markets; and

added “(bb) are not employed by the Federal Government.

added “(II) One member who is in the Senior Executive Service and—

added “(aa) in the case of the advisory panel for the Coast Guard, in the acquisition directorate established under section 1101 of title 14; and

added “(bb) in all other cases, in the acquisition workforce (as defined in section 1705 of this title) of the relevant military department.

added “(iii) Service chief appointment—The chief of an armed force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned shall appoint to the advisory panel one member who is a member of such armed forces.

added “(B) Terms

added “(i) Private sector members—Members described in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the members first appointed—

added “(I) one shall serve a term of one year;

added “(II) one shall serve a term of two years; and

added “(III) one shall serve a term of three years.

added “(ii) Federal Government employees—Members described in clause (ii)(II) or (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall serve for a term of two years, except that the first member appointed under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall serve for a term of one year.

added “(C) Chair—The chair for each advisory panel shall be as follows:

added “(i) For the first year of operation of each such advisory panel, and every other year thereafter, the member appointed under subparagraph (A)(iii).

added “(ii) For the second year of operation of each such advisory panel, and every other year thereafter, the member appointed under subparagraph (A)(ii)(II).

added “(D) Vacancies—A vacancy in an advisory panel shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

added “(E) Conflict of interest—Members and staff of each advisory panel shall disclose to the relevant Secretary concerned, and such Secretary concerned shall mitigate to the extent practicable, any professional or organizational conflict of interest of such members or staff arising from service on the advisory panel.

added “(F) Compensation

added “(i) Private sector member compensation—Except as provided in clause (ii), members of an advisory panel, and the support staff of such members, shall be compensated at a rate determined reasonable by the Secretary concerned and shall be reimbursed in accordance with section 5703 of title 5 for reasonable travel costs and expenses incurred in performing duties as members of an advisory panel.

added “(ii) Prohibition on compensation of Federal employees—Members of an advisory panel who are full-time officers or employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on an advisory panel.

added “(3) Selection process

added “(A) Initial selection—Each advisory panel shall select not less than ten eligible programs that have submitted an application under subsection (b).

added “(B) Program plans

added “(i) In general—Each eligible program selected under subparagraph (A) may submit to the advisory panel that selected such eligible program a program plan containing the five-year goals, execution plans, schedules, and funding needs of such eligible program.

added “(ii) Support—Each Secretary concerned shall, to the greatest extent practicable, provide eligible programs selected under subparagraph (A) with access to information to support the development of the program plans described in clause (i).

added “(C) Final selection—Each advisory panel shall recommend to the Secretary concerned for designation under subsection (a) not less than five eligible programs that submitted a program plan under subparagraph (B) to such advisory panel. If there are less than five such eligible programs, such advisory panel may recommend to the Secretary concerned for designation under subsection (a) less than five such eligible programs.

added “(4) Administrative and technical support—The Secretary concerned shall provide the relevant advisory panel with such administrative support, staff, and technical assistance as the Secretary concerned determines necessary for such advisory panel to carry out it duties.

added “(5) Funding—The Secretary of Defense may use amounts available from the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Account established under section 1705 of this title to support the activities of advisory panels.

added “(f) Revocation of designation—If the Secretary concerned determines that a designated program cannot reasonably meet the objectives of such designated program in the relevant programming proposal referred to in subsection (d)(2) or such objectives are irrelevant, such Secretary concerned may revoke the designation.

added “(g) Report to Congress—The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress an annual report describing each designated program and the progress each designated program has made toward achieving the objectives of the designated program.

added “(h) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) Advisory panel—The term advisory panel means an advisory panel established under subsection (e)(1).

added “(2) Designated program—The term designated program means an eligible program that has been designated as an Entrepreneurial Innovation Project under this section.

added “(3) Eligible program—The term eligible program means work performed pursuant to a Phase III agreement (as such term is defined in section 9(r)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(r)(2))).”

(2)

added Target chapter table of sections— The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 303 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item related to section 4067 the following new item:

(b)

added Establishment deadline— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries concerned shall establish the advisory panels described in section 4068(e) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

Sec. 852 Modification to procurement requirements relating to rare earth elements and strategic and critical materials

added

(a)

added Modification regarding advanced batteries in disclosures concerning rare earth elements and strategic and critical materials by contractors of department of defense— Section 857 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2727; 10 U.S.C. 4811 note) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1)(A)—

(i)

added by striking “permanent magnet” and inserting “permanent magnet, or an advanced battery or advanced battery component (as those terms are defined, respectively, in section 40207(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 18741(a))),”; and

(ii)

added by striking “of the magnet” and inserting “of the magnet, the advanced battery, or the advanced battery component (as applicable)”; and

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by amending to read as follows:

added “(2) Elements—A disclosure under paragraph (1) with respect to a system described in that paragraph shall include—

added “(A) if the system includes a permanent magnet, an identification of the country or countries in which—

added “(i) any rare earth elements and strategic and critical materials used in the magnet were mined;

added “(ii) such elements and materials were refined into oxides;

added “(iii) such elements and materials were made into metals and alloys; and

added “(iv) the magnet was sintered or bonded and magnetized; and

added “(B) if the system includes an advanced battery or an advanced battery component, an identification of the country or countries in which—

added “(i) any strategic and critical materials that are covered minerals used in the battery or component were refined, processed, or reprocessed;

added “(ii) any strategic and critical materials that are covered minerals and that were manufactured into the battery or component; and

added “(iii) the battery cell, module, and pack of the battery or component were manufactured and assembled.”

(2)

added by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

added “(d) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “strategic and critical materials” means materials designated as strategic and critical under section 3(a) of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98b(a)).

added “(2) The term “covered minerals” means lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite.”

(b)

added Technical amendments— Subsection (a) of such section 857 is further amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (3), by striking “provides the system” and inserting “provides the system as described in paragraph (1)”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (4)(C), by striking “a senior acquisition executive” and inserting “a service acquisition executive”.

Sec. 853 Update and extend the authorization of distribution support and services for contractors program

added

(a)

added Permanent authorization and removal of limitation— Section 883 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. 4291 note prec.) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added by striking paragraph (2); and

(B)

added by striking “Contracts.—” through “Any storage” and inserting “Contracts.—Any storage”; and

(2)

added in subsection (g), by striking “pilot program” and all that follows through “of this Act” and inserting the following: “program shall expire on December 31, 2039”.

(b)

added Removal of pilot program references— Such section is further amended—

(1)

added in the section heading, by striking “Pilot”;

(2)

added in subsection (a), by striking “eight-year pilot”; and

(3)

added in subsections (b), (d), (e), and (f) by striking “pilot” each place it appears.

(c)

added Expansion— Such section is further amended—

(1)

added in the section heading, by striking “Weapon systems”;

(2)

added in subsection (a), by striking “for the production, modification, maintenance, or repair of a weapon system that is”; and

(3)

added in subsection (c), by striking “described in subsection (a) are” and inserting “entered into by the Department include”.

(d)

added Amendments to regulations— Subsection (d) of such section is further amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)—

(A)

added in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(i)

added by striking “the solicitation of offers for a contract described in subsection (a),” and inserting “notifying a contractor or potential contractor”; and

(ii)

added by striking “are to” and inserting “may”;

(B)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “to any contractor awarded the contract, but only”; and

(C)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking “to be made”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (6), by striking “shall include” and all that follows and inserting the following: “shall include a requirement that any failure by the contractor to perform the supported contract is not excusable based on use of the support contract, and the contractor is to remain responsible for performance of the primary contract.”.

(e)

added Repeal of report requirements— Subsection (f) of such section is further amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “Not later than” and all that follows through “the Secretary” and inserting the following: “Not later than five years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “Not later than” and all that follows through “the Comptroller” and inserting the following: “Not later than five years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, and every 5 years thereafter, the Comptroller”.

Sec. 854 Procurement of covered hearing protection devices

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the head of the Hearing Center of Excellence, may enter into one or more contracts to procure covered hearing protection devices for all members of the Armed Forces.

(b)

added Prioritization— The Secretary shall prioritize the award of such a contract to an offeror that—

(1)

added is globally headquartered in the continental United States; and

(2)

added is majority owned and operated by United States citizens.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered hearing protection device” means a completely in-canal active hearing protection device—

(A)

added that is a commercially available off-the-shelf item (as defined in section 104 of title 41, United States Code);

(B)

added with a minimum noise reduction rating of 25 decibels and a maximum output not to exceed 80 decibels; and

(C)

added that has been previously identified, tested, and qualified by the Hearing Center of Excellence.

(2)

added The term “Hearing Center of Excellence” means the center of excellence for hearing loss and auditory system injury established pursuant to section 721 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417).

Sec. 855 Procurement of secure lithium-ion batteries

added

(a)

added In general— The Department of Defense is required to procure lithium-ion batteries produced in the United States or in allied nations, and cells that contain minimal Foreign Entity of Concern-sourced (Foreign Entity of Concern, derivative, successor, or affiliate) components or technology beginning in 2026 as specified in subsection (b). The percentages required in (b) apply to cells procured as end items or embedded within warfighting and support systems.

(b)

added Percentages required—

(1)

added Not less than 10 percent of the total battery procurement of the Department of Defense beginning in 2026.

(2)

added Not less than 25 percent of the total battery procurement of the Department of Defense beginning in 2027.

(3)

added Not less than 50 percent of the total battery procurement of the Department of Defense beginning in 2028.

(4)

added Not less than 90 percent of the total battery procurement of the Department of Defense beginning in 2029.

(c)

added Sourcing and production— For purposes of this section, a battery or cell shall be considered compliant with the rule in subsection (a) if—

(1)

added the final product is assembled or manufactured in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, or Japan;

(2)

added not less than 95 percent of the components of the cells by value originates from non-Foreign Entity of Concern sources (Foreign Entity of Concern, derivative, successor, or affiliate); and

(3)

added the production of these batteries and cells does not require licensing of technology from a Foreign Entity of Concern or its derivative, successor, or affiliate.

(d)

added Waiver— If the batteries and cells cannot be produced which meet the requirements within subsections (b) and (c) at required quality, quantity, and reasonable cost, the Secretary of Defense may waive directed percentages in subsection (b).

Sec. 861 Department of Defense contracting goals for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans

added

added Chapter 287 of part V of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “3906. Small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans: contracting goals

added “(a) Contracting goals—In order to increase contracting opportunities for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, the Secretary shall establish a goal for each fiscal year for participation in Department contracts (including subcontracts) by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans who are not service-disabled veterans that is not less than the Governmentwide goal for that fiscal year for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans under section 15(g)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)).

added “(b) Sole source contracts for contracts above simplified acquisition threshold—For purposes of meeting the goals under subsection (a) and in accordance with this section, a contracting officer may award a contract to a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans using procedures other than competitive procedures if—

added “(1) such concern is determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance of such contract opportunity;

added “(2) the anticipated award price of the contract (including options) will not exceed the amounts established in section 36(c)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657f(c)(2)); and

added “(3) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.

added “(c) Use of restricted competition—Except as provided in subsection (b), for purposes of meeting the goals under subsection (a) and in accordance with this section, a contracting officer may award contracts on the basis of competition restricted to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans if the contracting officer has a reasonable expectation that two or more small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans will submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.

added “(d) Eligibility of small business concerns—A small business concern may be awarded a contract under this section only if the small business concern and the veteran owner of the small business concern are listed in the database described in section 36(f)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657f(f)(1)).

added “(e) Small Business Act definitions—In this section, the terms service-disabled veteran, small business concern, small business concern owned and controlled by veterans, and small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans have the meanings given, respectively, under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).”

Sec. 862 Participation of military research and educational institutions in the STTR program

added

(a)

added Definition of “research institution”— Section 9(e)(8) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e)(8)) is amended by inserting after “thereto)” the following: “, as well as any undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate degree-granting military research or educational institution established under title 10, United States Code”.

(b)

added Technical amendments— Such section is further amended—

(1)

added by striking “section 4(5)” and inserting “section 4(3)”;

(2)

added by inserting “(15 U.S.C. 3703(3))” after “of 1980”; and

(3)

added by striking “section 35(c)(1) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act” and inserting “section 1303(a) of title 41, United States Code”.

Sec. 863 Training on increasing Federal contract awards to small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans

added

(a)

added In general— If the Secretary of Defense fails to meet the goal for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans established in section 15(g)(1)(A)(ii) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)(A)(ii)) for the Department of Defense for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the head of the Office of Veterans Business Development of the Small Business Administration, provide training to the relevant acquisition personnel on how to increase the number of contracts awarded to small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans (as defined in section 3(q) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q)).

(b)

added Timing— The training described in subsection (a) shall be delivered to the relevant acquisition personnel not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense has failed to meet the goal described in such subsection.

Sec. 864 Accessibility and clarity in covered notices for small business concerns

added

(a)

added In general— Each covered notice shall be written—

(1)

added in a manner that is clear, concise, and accessible to a small business concern (as defined under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 10 U.S.C. 632)); and

(2)

added in a manner consistent, to the extent practicable, with the Federal plain language guidelines established pursuant to the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (5 U.S.C. 301 note).

(b)

added Inclusion of key words in covered notices— Each covered notice shall, to the maximum extent practicable, include key words in the description of the covered notice such that a small business concern seeking contract opportunities using the single Government-wide point of entry described under section 1708 of title 41, United States Code, can easily identify and understand such covered notice.

(c)

added Rulemaking— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue rules to carry out this section.

(d)

added Covered notice defined— In this section, the term “covered notice” means a notice pertaining to small business concerns published by the Secretary of Defense or a Secretary of a military department on the single Government-wide point of entry described under section 1708 of title 41, United States Code.

Sec. 865 Expansion of pilot program for access to shared classified commercial infrastructure

added

(a)

added Pilot program expansion— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, under an existing pilot program of the Department of Defense described in subsection (b)(1), establish not fewer than six new locations at which small business concerns, contractors of the Department of Defense, and institutions of higher education may access shared commercial classified infrastructure to—

(1)

added expand the access of small business concerns, contractors of the Department of Defense, and institutions of higher education to secret/collateral accredited facilities and sensitive compartmented information facilities for the purpose of providing such concerns, contractors, and institutions, as contractors of the Department, with a facility to securely perform work under contracts involving access to classified information;

(2)

added increase opportunities for small businesses concerns, contractors of the Department of Defense, and institutions of higher education that have been issued a facility clearance to apply for funding from the Government;

(3)

added align the locations of access to shared commercial classified infrastructure under such pilot program under which the Secretary carries out this subsection with the existing facilities of the innovation organizations of the Department of Defense and central locations of the national security innovation base; and

(4)

added identify and address legislative and policy barriers preventing broader use of shared classified commercial infrastructure by small business concerns, contractors of the Department of Defense, and institutions of higher education, including access to required information technology systems, accreditation secret/collateral accredited facilities and sensitive compartmented information facilities, and timelines for such accreditation and use by such concerns, contractors, and institutions..

(b)

added Requirements—

(1)

added Existing pilot program— The pilot program described in this paragraph is a pilot program of the Department of Defense under which there have been establishment of locations at which small business concerns, contractors of the Department of Defense, and institutions of higher education may access shared commercial classified infrastructure.

(2)

added Access improvements— In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall—

(A)

added issue policies governing and guidance on the process and timelines for establishing locations shared commercial classified infrastructure under the pilot program described in paragraph (1), including how such locations may obtain facility clearances and access to relevant classified networks of the Department of Defense; and

(B)

added update and streamline the processes of the Department of Defense for approving agreements for the shared or joint use of commercial classified infrastructure to facilitate the access of small business concerns, contractors of the Department of Defense, and institutions of higher education to classified environments.

(c)

added Annual report— Not later than 270 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense establishes the locations required under subsection (a), and annually thereafter until 2028, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the establishment of such locations under this section, including—

(1)

added a list of all active and open requests for the accreditation of facilities to process classified information made pursuant to the pilot program under which the Secretary established such locations made by an entity described in subsection (a)(1), including the date on which such entity properly submitted such request to the Department and to the relevant facility accreditation agency;

(2)

added metrics on the use of the locations established under such pilot program at which small business concerns, contractors of the Department of Defense, and institutions of higher education may access shared commercial classified infrastructure established, including the number of small businesses concerns, institutions of higher education, contractors of the Department of Defense, and other entities that have accessed shared commercial classified infrastructure at such locations;

(3)

added any actions taken by the Secretary of Defense to update and streamline the processes of the Department of Defense described in subsection (b)(2)(B); and

(4)

added any plans for the establishment of additional such locations under such pilot program pilot program locations that will align with existing innovation organizations of the Department of Defense, geographic areas with limited facilities at which classified information may be accessed, and central locations of the national security innovation base.

(d)

added Definitions— In this section—

(1)

added the term “small business concern” has the meaning given such term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632);

(2)

added the term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)); and

(3)

added the term “shared commercial classified infrastructure” means fully managed, shared, infrastructure for accessing classified information and associated services that are operated by entity other than the Department of Defense for the benefit of employees of the Government and employees of contractors of the Department authorized to access such information and who are located in geographic areas with limited facilities at which such individuals may access such information.

Sec. 866 Memorandum of understanding relating to Department of Defense critical technology area opportunities for small business concerns

added

(a)

added In General— The Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (in this section referred to as the “covered officials”) shall—

(1)

added increase information sharing on opportunities available to small business concerns for potential contract awards by the Department of Defense for critical technology areas; and

(2)

added improve awareness of small business concerns with respect to critical technology area opportunities within the Department of Defense.

(b)

added Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement— The covered officials shall carry out and coordinate the activities described in subsection (a) by entering into one or more memoranda or agreements, as jointly determined by the covered officials.

(c)

added Report— Not later than one year after the date on which the covered officials enter into the first memorandum or agreement under subsection (b), and annually thereafter, the covered officials shall submit to Congress a report detailing the effects of—

(1)

added such memorandum or agreement; and

(2)

added any other memorandum or agreement entered into in the previous twelve months.

(d)

added Small business concern defined— In this section, the term “small business concern” has the meaning given such term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).

Sec. 871 Clarification of waiver authority for organizational and consultant conflicts of interest

added

added Section 9.503 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation shall be revised to require that—

(1)

added a request for a waiver under such section include a written justification for such waiver; and

(2)

added the head of a Federal agency may not delegate such waiver authority below the level of the deputy head of such agency.

Sec. 872 Pilot program on payment of costs for denied Government Accountability Office bid protests

added

(a)

added Pilot program required— The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of requiring a contractor to reimburse the Department of Defense for costs incurred in processing covered protests.

(b)

added Duration— The pilot program under subsection (a) shall—

(1)

added begin on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(2)

added end on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)

added Report— Not later than 90 days after the date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) ends, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report assessing the feasibility of making permanent such pilot program.

(d)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered protest” means a final bid protest—

(A)

added dated during the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on September 30, 2029; and

(B)

added filed by a party with revenues in excess of $250,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars) during the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which such party filed such bid protest.

(2)

added The term “final bid protest” means a bid protest that was denied in an opinion issued by the Government Accountability Office and such denial—

(A)

added has not been appealed and is no longer appealable because the time for taking an appeal has expired; or

(B)

added has been appealed and the appeals process for which is completed.

Sec. 873 Promulgate guidance relating to certain Department of Defense contracts

added

added Not later than January 31, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall issue guidance on the governance and oversight of the contracts of the Department of Defense that support or enable sensitive activities.

Sec. 874 Framework for the efficient and secure procurement of food service products

added

(a)

added Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

added disposable food service products procured for use by the Department of Defense, whether for use within or outside the continental United States, should be produced in the United States, compostable, and minimize the amount of products acquired from sources in strategic competitors identified in the most recent National Defense Strategy submitted under section 113(g) of title 10, United States Code; and

(2)

added any deviations from the aim identified in paragraph (1) should receive the highest levels of scrutiny by the Secretary of Defense.

(b)

added Report— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

(1)

added the timeline required to implement a requirement, including amending regulations, for the Department of Defense that all disposable food service products acquired for the Department of Defense are produced in the United States, compostable, and minimize the amount of products acquired from sources in strategic competitors identified in the most recent National Defense Strategy submitted under section 113(g) of title 10, United States Code;

(2)

added a list of existing laws and regulations establishing domestic acquisition preferences or requirements that may be affected by the requirement described in paragraph (1), and recommendations to resolve any conflicts between such laws and regulations and the requirement described in paragraph (1);

(3)

added a process for waiving the requirement described in paragraph (1) on a case-by-case basis, including a framework for delegating such waiver authority below the Office of the Secretary of Defense;

(4)

added recommendations for the dollar values of contracts or other agreements at which the requirement described in paragraph (1) and the waiver described in paragraph (3), respectively, should apply;

(5)

added an assessment of the infrastructure available in the Department of Defense to implement the requirement described in paragraph (1), including an assessment of the cost and a timeline for the development of the infrastructure that would be required to implement such requirement; and

(6)

added an assessment of the availability of food services products that are compostable.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section—

(1)

added the term disposable food service product means a food service product designed to be disposed after a single use;

(2)

added the term “food service product” means a product for serving or transporting prepared foods or beverages;

(3)

added the term “produced in the United States” has the meaning given such term in section 70912 of the Build America, Buy America Act (Public Law 117–58; 41 U.S.C. 8301 note); and

(4)

added the term compostable, with respect to a product, means that such product is composed of organic materials and which will decompose into or otherwise become part of usable compost in a safe and timely manner in an appropriate composting facility.

Sec. 875 Plan for identifying and replacing syringes of concern

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency and the Director of the Defense Health Agency, shall develop and implement a plan to review all medical syringes in the inventories and stockpiles of the Department of Defense and current and planned acquisitions of the Department to—

(1)

added identify medical syringes that have been subject to a Food and Drug Administration Import Alert or meet the conditions of a Food and Drug Administration Safety Communication; and

(2)

added replace such medical syringes with medical syringes produced domestically or produced in partners or allies of the United States.

(b)

added Coordinated plan contents— The Secretary of Defense shall include in the plan required under subsection (a) the following:

(1)

added An identification of any medical syringes in the inventories and stockpiles of the Department of Defense and which the Department is acquiring or plans to acquire that have been subject to a Food and Drug Administration Import Alert or meet the conditions of a Food and Drug Administration Safety Communication made in the past five years.

(2)

added A process for the Department of Defense to replace the medical syringes described in paragraph (1) that are in the inventories and stockpiles of the Department with those that—

(A)

added are produced domestically or in partners or allies of the United States;

(B)

added are not subject to an Import Alert described in such paragraph; and

(C)

added do not meet the conditions of a Safety Communication described in such paragraph.

(3)

added A process for the Department of Defense to cease the acquisition of medical syringes described in paragraph (1) and ensure that the Department acquires only medical syringes that—

(A)

added are produced domestically or in partners or allies of the United States;

(B)

added are not subject to an Import Alert described in such paragraph; and

(C)

added do not meet the conditions of a Safety Communication described in such paragraph.

(4)

added A process enabling the Department of Defense to—

(A)

added track Food and Drug Administration Import Alerts and Safety Communications regarding medical syringes;

(B)

added review the inventories, stockpiles, and current and planned acquisitions of the Department for medical syringes that are subject to such Import Alerts or that meet the conditions of such Safety Communications; and

(C)

added replace such medical syringes with medical syringes that are produced domestically or produced in partners or allies of the United States.

(c)

added Report— Upon developing the plan required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report describing such plan, including—

(1)

added the number of medical syringes, if any, in the inventories and stockpiles of the Department of Defense that have been subject to a Food and Drug Administration Import Alert or meet the conditions of a Food and Drug Administration Safety Communication made in the past five years;

(2)

added a description of any planned or ongoing acquisition by the Department of medical syringes that have been subject to a Food and Drug Administration Import Alert or meet the conditions of a Food and Drug Administration Safety Communication made in the past five years, including acquisitions with respect to which contracts have not yet been awarded and existing agreements under which such syringes may be acquired for the Department;

(3)

added for medical syringes described in paragraph (1) or with respect to which the Department is carrying out an acquisition described in paragraph (2), the product name, manufacturer, and country of origin; and

(4)

added an explanation of the process described in subsection (b)(4) that will be implemented under such plan.

Sec. 901 Chief Talent Management Officer

added

added Chapter 4 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “149a. Chief Talent Management Officer

added “(a) In general

added “(1) There is a Chief Talent Management Officer of the Department of Defense, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.

added “(2) The Chief Talent Management Officer shall report directly to the Secretary of Defense in the performance of the duties of the Chief Talent Management Officer under this section.

added “(b) Duties—The Chief Talent Management officer shall—

added “(1) serve as the principal staff assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense on matters relating to total force talent management within the Department of Defense, including talent management for military personnel (including members of the active and reserve components of the armed forces) and civilian personnel of the Department;

added “(2) develop and implement the overall talent strategy for military and civilian personnel in the Department of Defense, which shall include working across the military departments, Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and with interagency partners to lead the total force talent acquisition and management efforts of the Department;

added “(3) oversee updates and reforms for remote and hybrid work, the use of enabling technology, practices for developing and tracking talent, and encouraging movement of talent across components, agencies, and non-governmental entities to help promote flexible career pathways and increase retention;

added “(4) match talent to needs within the Department and integrate broad upskilling and reskilling programs to create the future national defense workforce;

added “(5) coordinate all talent programs within the Department, including by developing pathways for permeability between uniformed and non-uniformed service opportunities and opportunities in the private sector;

added “(6) maintain, strengthen, and improve the Department’s use of competitive service hiring authorities under title 5 and the authorities available under section 129 of this title to ensure the Department recruits and retains a strong and professional civilian workforce;

added “(7) study and promote best practices for workforce development from the government, nonprofit, academic, and private sectors;

added “(8) serve as the principal liaison between the Department and the national security talent industrial and innovation base;

added “(9) carry out programs, projects, and other activities to strengthen the national security talent industrial and innovation base;

added “(10) identify rules, regulations, policies, and guidance related to military and civilian talent management that require change for the purposes of achieving efficiencies and meeting the personnel needs of the Department;

added “(11) coordinate with the Joint Staff and the Commanders of the combatant commands to identify talent needs to meet operational challenges;

added “(12) develop an employer brand for the Department of Defense that positions the Department as a sought after employer;

added “(13) using available hiring authorities, develop a capability to rapidly prototype workforce development and talent acquisition approaches with non-profit, academic, Government, and private sector agencies and organizations; and

added “(14) carry out such other duties relating to talent management as may be assigned by the Secretary of Defense.

added “(c) Intermediary organizations—The Chief Talent Management Officer shall seek to partner with multiple intermediary organizations, including academic institutions and other key stakeholders in the talent industrial and innovation base, to support the development of pools of qualified individuals with the skills and expertise necessary to meet critical personnel needs of the Department of Defense. Activities undertaken pursuant to such partnerships may include the identification, training, and vetting of critical talent for the Department, including individuals with expertise relating to artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, materials and manufacturing, business processes, venture capital, financial markets, and other critical areas.

added “(d) Reporting requirements—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, and on a semiannual basis thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chief Talent Management Officer, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

added “(1) the strategy for implementation of the position of Chief Talent Management Officer of the Department of Defense;

added “(2) any additional authorities or funding required for the Chief Talent Management officer to carry the purposes of this section; and

added “(3) such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate.”

Sec. 902 Executive agent for countering threats posed by small unmanned aircraft

added

added Chapter 4 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 901, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “149b. Executive agent for countering threats posed by small unmanned aircraft

added “(a) Executive agent—The Secretary of Defense, shall designate a senior official from among the personnel of the Department of Defense to act as the executive agent responsible for providing oversight of—

added “(1) the efforts of the Department to counter small unmanned aircraft and systems; and

added “(2) associated training and technology programs.

added “(b) Duties—The Executive agent shall—

added “(1) coordinate and integrate joint requirements to counter threats posed by small unmanned aircraft;

added “(2) provide common individual training to members of the Armed Forces on countering such threats; and

added “(3) carry out joint research, development, test, and evaluation activities for common activities on behalf of the military departments with respect to counter-UAS systems.

added “(c) Support within Department of Defense—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the military departments, Defense Agencies, and other components of the Department of Defense provide the executive agent designated under subsection (a) with the appropriate support and resources needed to perform the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the executive agent.

added “(d) Compliance with existing directive—The Secretary shall carry out this section in compliance with Directive 5101.1.

added “(e) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “Directive 5101.1” means Department of Defense Directive 5101.1, or any successor directive relating to the responsibilities of an executive agent of the Department of Defense.

added “(2) The term “executive agent” has the meaning given the term “DoD Executive Agent” in Directive 5101.1.

added “(3) The terms “counter-UAS system”, “unmanned aircraft”, and “small unmanned aircraft” have the meanings given those terms in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.”

Sec. 921 Designation of senior officials responsible for contested logistics posture management

added

(a)

added Role of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment— Section 133b(b)(5) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking “and” at the end;

(2)

added in subparagraph (C), by adding “and” at the end; and

(3)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(D) the official with principal responsibility for contested logistics posture management for the Department in accordance with section 2229b(a) of this title;”

(b)

added Designation of senior military department officials— Chapter 131 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “2229b. Senior officials responsible for contested logistics posture management

added “(a) In general—The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall be the official in the Department of Defense with principal responsibility for contested logistics posture management for the Department. In carrying out such responsibilities, the Under Secretary shall coordinate with the senior military department officials designated under subsection (b).

added “(b) Designation of senior military department officials—Each secretary of a military department shall designate, from among officials serving in the department who have been confirmed by the Senate, an official to have principal responsibility for contested logistics posture management for that department.

added “(c) Deputies—Each senior official designated under subsection (b) may designate an official of the military department concerned to serve as a deputy to assist the senior official in carrying out the responsibilities under this section.

added “(d) Responsibilities—Each senior official designated under subsection (b) shall be responsible for—

added “(1) ensuring that the department concerned is adequately prepared to provide logistics support to the armed forces of that department in contested environments outside the continental United States, including by—

added “(A) establishing or arranging for access to locations through which supplies and equipment can be provided to such forces;

added “(B) developing any necessary infrastructure; and

added “(C) to the extent feasible, prepositioning supplies and equipment at such locations; and

added “(2) ensuring that the logistics capabilities described in paragraph (1) meet the requirements of the operational and contingency plans of such forces.

added “(e) Contested logistics posture strategy

added “(1) Each senior official designated under subsection (b) shall develop and implement strategy for carrying out the responsibilities described in subsection (d).

added “(2) Each strategy under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

added “(A) A description of—

added “(i) the locations of sites outside the continental United States at which stocks of supplies and equipment are prepositioned as of the date of the strategy;

added “(ii) the status and disposition of such prepositioned stocks; and

added “(iii) the operational or contingency plan such stocks are intended to support.

added “(B) Identification of—

added “(i) any shortcomings associated with the sites and prepositioned stocks described in subparagraph (A) that must be addressed to optimally execute operational and contingency plans; and

added “(ii) any additional sites, infrastructure, or equipment that may be needed to address such shortcomings and support such plans.

added “(C) A description of any additional funding or other resources required—

added “(i) to address the shortcomings identified under subparagraph (B)(i); and

added “(ii) to provide for the additional sites, infrastructure, and equipment identified under subparagraph (B)(ii).

added “(D) A prioritized list of investment recommendations for each item described in subparagraph (C).

added “(E) Identification of each case in which the military department concerned lacks the authority or ability to access a location outside the United States for purposes of providing logistics support as required under operational and contingency plans, set forth separately by location.

added “(F) An assessment of any existing and projected threats to sites outside the continental United States that are expected to support such operational and contingency plans.

added “(3) Covered period and updates—Each strategy under paragraph (1) shall cover the period of one year following the date of the strategy and shall be updated on an annual basis in accordance with paragraph (4).

added “(4) Annual reports

added “(A) Initial report—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, each senior official designated under subsection (b) shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the strategy developed under paragraph (1).

added “(B) Subsequent reports—On an annual basis following the submittal of the initial report under subparagraph (A), each senior official designated under subsection (b) shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

added “(i) an updated version of the strategy under paragraph (1);

added “(ii) an assessment of the progress made by the military department concerned in achieving the goals of such strategy; and

added “(iii) any plans of the official improve the logistics capabilities of the military department concerned to ensure those capabilities meet the requirements of applicable operational and contingency plans.

added “(f) Consultation—In carrying out the duties required under this section, each senior official designated under subsection (b) shall consult with subject matter experts from—

added “(1) the Office of the Secretary of Defense;

added “(2) the Joint Staff;

added “(3) the geographic combatant commands;

added “(4) other military departments;

added “(5) the Department of State; and

added “(6) such other departments and agencies of the Federal Government as the official determines appropriate.

added “(g) Representation—To the extent practicable, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each official designated under subsection (b) is included in any panels, working groups, or advisory bodies of the Department with roles relating the matters described in subsection (d).”

(c)

added Deadline for designation— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military department shall make the designation required under section 2229b(b) of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (b) of this section).

Sec. 922 Eligibility of Chief of the National Guard Bureau for appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

added

added Section 152(b)(1)(B) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “the Commandant of the Marine Corps, or the Chief of Space Operations” and inserting “the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Chief of Space Operations, or the Chief of the National Guard Bureau”.

Sec. 923 Designation of Deputy Under Secretary of the Army as principal official responsible for explosive ordnance disposal

added

(a)

added In general— Section 7014 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(g)

added “(1) The Secretary of the Army shall designate the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army as the official within the Office of the Secretary of the Army with principal responsibility for the explosive ordnance disposal enterprise of the Army.

added “(2) The responsibilities of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army under this subsection shall include—

added “(A) providing oversight and strategic direction for the management and operations of the explosive ordnance disposal enterprise of the Army, including planning, programming, budgeting, and execution;

added “(B) providing strategic direction for the funding of the enterprise, including funding for—

added “(i) manning, training, organizing, equipping (including any associated research and development), and sustaining the enterprise; and

added “(ii) supporting military installations that comprise the enterprise;

added “(C) providing strategic direction for the activities of the enterprise in providing explosive ordinance disposal support for—

added “(i) the President;

added “(ii) combatant commanders;

added “(iii) military installations; and

added “(iv) civilian law enforcement agencies (in accordance with sections 282 and 283 of this title); and

added “(D) providing strategic direction on the activities of the enterprise over the full range of military operations from irregular warfare to large-scale ground combat.

added “(3) On an annual basis, the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the status of the explosive ordnance disposal enterprise of the Army. The briefing shall include, with respect to the period covered by the most recent future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of this title (as of the date of the briefing), an estimate of the total obligatory authority for the enterprise and the numbers and types of personnel expected to be assigned to the enterprise.

added “(4) In this subsection, the terms explosive ordnance and explosive ordnance disposal have the meanings given those terms in section 2284(d).”

(b)

added Effective date— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 924 Establishment of the Drone Corps as a basic branch of the Army

added

(a)

added Designation as basic branch— Section 7063(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (12), by striking “and” at the end;

(2)

added by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and

(3)

added by inserting after paragraph (12) the following new paragraph:

added “(13) Drone Corps; and”

(b)

added Organization and functions— Chapter 707 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 7081 the following new section:

added “7082. Drone Corps: organization and functions

added “(a) In general—There is a Drone Corps in the Army. The Drone Corps consists of—

added “(1) the Chief of the Drone Corps, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Army from among the officers of the Drone Corps;

added “(2) commissioned officers of the Regular Army appointed therein; and

added “(3) other members of the Army assigned thereto by the Secretary of the Army.

added “(b) Functions—Subject to such limitations or conditions as the Secretary of the Army may prescribe, the Drone Corps shall—

added “(1) be the organization in the Army with primary responsibility for programs, projects, and activities involving—

added “(A) small and medium unmanned aircraft;

added “(B) unmanned aircraft systems that include such aircraft; and

added “(C) counter-UAS systems;

added “(2) serve as a command center for Army operations involving the aircraft and systems described in paragraph (1);

added “(3) carry out activities to integrate such aircraft and systems with Army forces that have not traditionally used such aircraft and systems;

added “(4) conduct research, development, testing, and evaluation of such aircraft and systems;

added “(5) provide personnel with specialized training in such aircraft and systems;

added “(6) carry out programs to attract and retain personnel with expertise relevant to such aircraft and systems;

added “(7) develop strategies and capabilities to counter the unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems of adversary forces; and

added “(8) perform such other functions relating to unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems as the Secretary determines appropriate.

added “(c) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The terms “counter-UAS system”, “unmanned aircraft”, and “unmanned aircraft system” have the meanings given those terms in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.

added “(2) The term “medium unmanned aircraft” means an unmanned aircraft with gross takeoff weight that is equal to greater than 55 pounds and less than 1320 pounds.

added “(3) The term “small unmanned aircraft” means an unmanned aircraft with a gross takeoff weight of less than 55 pounds.”

Sec. 925 Army Electronic Warfare Center of Excellence

added

(a)

added In general— Chapter 707 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “7085. Electronic Warfare Center of Excellence

added “(a) Establishment—The Secretary of the Army shall establish and operate an Electronic Warfare Center of Excellence within the Army Training and Doctrine Command.

added “(b) Missions—The Electronic Warfare Center of Excellence shall be used to—

added “(1) provide comprehensive training and other educational programs relating to electronic warfare, including—

added “(A) advanced individual training;

added “(B) professional military education;

added “(C) new equipment training; and

added “(D) instructor training and certification;

added “(2) develop and regularly update the curriculum for such training and programs;

added “(3) identify, develop, and integrate materiel and organizational requirements for electronic warfare;

added “(4) investigate emerging electronic warfare requirements;

added “(5) conduct assessments for electronic warfare materiel requirements determination and development;

added “(6) develop and manage the integration of electronic warfare solutions with doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities;

added “(7) conduct analysis for electronic warfare force requirements;

added “(8) develop and manage organizational documentation relating to electronic warfare, including field manuals, technical manuals, training materials, standard operating procedures, doctrine publications, and after-action reports;

added “(9) carry out such functions as the Secretary of the Army determines appropriate.”

(b)

added Transfer of functions— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, to the extent determined appropriate by the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary shall transfer the electronic warfare-related programs, projects, and activities of the Cyber Center of Excellence of the Army to the Electronic Warfare Center of Excellence established under section 7085 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

Sec. 926 Codification of additional staff corps of the Navy

added

(a)

added Codification— Section 8090 of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (a)—

(1)

added in paragraph (4), by striking “and”;

(2)

added by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (9); and

(3)

added by inserting, after paragraph (4), the following new paragraphs:

added “(5) the Supply Corps;

added “(6) the Civil Engineer Corps;

added “(7) the Nurse Corps;

added “(8) the Medical Service Corps; and”

(b)

added Conforming amendment— Such section is further amended, in subsection (b)(1), by striking “Medical Corps, the Dental Corps, the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and the Chaplain Corps” and inserting “staff corps specified in subsection (a)”.

Sec. 927 Feasibility report on establishment of a Defense Industrial Revitalization Board

added

(a)

added Report required— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a Defense Industrial Revitalization Board (in this section referred to as the “Board”) that—

(1)

added would consist of the members described in subsection (b);

(2)

added would be responsible for ensuring the defense industrial base is prepared to meet Department of Defense wartime production needs by—

(A)

added assessing the health of the defense industrial base;

(B)

added identifying critical shortages and impediments to production of critical munitions and other war materials;

(C)

added identifying required production rates for critical munitions; and

(D)

added overseeing and deconflicting Department and service efforts to improve defense industrial capacity;

(3)

added would, in furtherance of such responsibilities—

(A)

added develop a comprehensive plan that details immediate steps that can be taken to increase the capacity of the defense industrial base;

(B)

added utilize existing supply chain mapping efforts to identify single points of failure that impact munitions and critical weapons platforms and identify funding mechanisms to create second sources or other resilience measures, with a focus on those munitions necessary for a potential war in the Pacific;

(C)

added utilize existing supply chain mapping efforts to identify reliance on foreign adversaries within critical munitions supply chains and recommend amelioration efforts;

(D)

added for critical munitions, establish a minimum procurement rate for purposes of ensuring adequate Department of Defense budgeting in each fiscal year and for directing budget proposals for the Department; and

(E)

added review critical munitions production capacity on a twice yearly basis and take remedial action to address any shortfalls; and

(4)

added would terminate five years after being established.

(b)

added Members described— The Board considered for potential establishment in the report under subsection (a) would include the following members:

(1)

added Relevant Department of Defense acquisition, research and engineering, and comptroller personnel.

(2)

added Service acquisition executives and program managers.

(3)

added Defense industry representatives.

(4)

added Relevant think tank experts.

(5)

added Representatives from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

(6)

added Representatives from the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

(7)

added Representatives from the Defense Innovation Unit.

(c)

added Defense industrial base defined— In this section, the term defense industrial base means organizations, facilities, and resources that supply the Department of Defense with materials, products, and services for defense purposes.

Sec. 1001 General transfer authority

added

(a)

added Authority to transfer authorizations—

(1)

added Authority— Upon determination by the Secretary of Defense that such action is necessary in the national interest, the Secretary may transfer amounts of authorizations made available to the Department of Defense in this division for fiscal year 2025 between any such authorizations for that fiscal year (or any subdivisions thereof). Amounts of authorizations so transferred shall be merged with and be available for the same purposes as the authorization to which transferred.

(2)

added Limitation— Except as provided in paragraph (3), the total amount of authorizations that the Secretary may transfer under the authority of this section may not exceed $6,000,000,000.

(3)

added Exception for transfers between military personnel authorizations— A transfer of funds between military personnel authorizations under title IV shall not be counted toward the dollar limitation in paragraph (2).

(b)

added Limitations— The authority provided by subsection (a) to transfer authorizations—

(1)

added may only be used to provide authority for items that have a higher priority than the items from which authority is transferred; and

(2)

added may not be used to provide authority for an item that has been denied authorization by Congress.

(c)

added Effect on authorization amounts— A transfer made from one account to another under the authority of this section shall be deemed to increase the amount authorized for the account to which the amount is transferred by an amount equal to the amount transferred.

(d)

added Notice to Congress— The Secretary shall promptly notify Congress of each transfer made under subsection (a).

Sec. 1002 Revision of Department of Defense financial management regulation

added

(a)

added Not later than September 30, 2026, the Under Secretary of Defense for Comptroller shall revise the Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation 7000.14-R. The Under Secretary shall ensure that the revised regulation—

(1)

added is consistent and clear throughout;

(2)

added includes updated guidance with respect to legislative and regulatory requirements; and

(3)

added does not include any outdated guidance or guidance subject to change annually in an annual appropriations act.

(b)

added Considerations— In revising the regulation under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall—

(1)

added prioritize clarity and accessibility in the language and direction provided, including improvements to the coordination and approval process for recommended changes;

(2)

added review and adopt modern financial practices that better align to current development and production cycles;

(3)

added consider information technology solutions to improve the accessibility and usability of the Financial Management Regulation; and

(4)

added in consultation with the Cross-Functional Team established under section 1003 consider the recommendations of the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform.

(c)

added Briefing— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and once every 90 days thereafter during the three-year period following such date of enactment, the Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the efforts to update the Financial Management Regulation. Each such briefing shall include each of the following:

(1)

added The progress made in updating the Financial Management Regulation.

(2)

added The plan and timeline for completing revisions to the Financial Management Regulation.

(3)

added Any barriers to the ability of the Department of Defense to update the Financial Management Regulation as required under this section.

(4)

added Any legislation required to complete revisions of the Financial Management Regulation.

(5)

added Any other information determined relevant by the Secretary.

Sec. 1003 Cross-functional team for implementation of recommendations of the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform

added

(a)

added Establishment— Using the authority provided pursuant to section 911(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 111 note), the Secretary of Defense shall establish a cross-functional team to address the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform (in this section referred to as the “Commission”).

(b)

added Duties— The duties of the cross-functional team established under subsection (a) shall be to assist the Secretary of Defense with the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission and any efforts regarding such recommendations that the Secretary determines necessary.

(c)

added Team leadership— The Secretary shall select an Under Secretary of Defense to lead the cross-functional team and a senior military officer to serve as the deputy to the Under Secretary so selected.

(d)

added Determination of organizational roles and responsibilities— The Secretary, acting through the cross-functional team established under subsection (a), shall determine the roles and responsibilities of the organizations and elements of the Department of Defense with respect to addressing the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission, including the roles and responsibilities of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Defense agencies, Department of Defense field activities, the military departments, the combatant commands, and the Joint Staff.

(e)

added Briefings—

(1)

added Initial briefing— Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on—

(A)

added the progress of the Secretary in establishing the cross-functional team required under subsection (a); and

(B)

added the progress the team has made in—

(i)

added determining the roles and responsibilities of the organizations and elements of the Department of Defense with respect the cross-functional team; and

(ii)

added carrying out the duties under subsection (b).

(2)

added Updates— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and once every 90 days thereafter during the three-year period following such date of enactment, the Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing containing updates with respect to the efforts of the Department regarding implementation of the recommendations of the Commission.

Sec. 1007 Modification to types of support for counterdrug activities and activities to counter transnational organized crime

added

added Section 284(b)(6)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “within 25 miles of and”.

Sec. 1008 Support for counterdrug activities affecting flow of drugs into United States

added

added Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe Department-wide guidance that establishes support for counterdrug activities and programs affecting the flow of drugs into the United States as the principal foreign counterdrug program priority of the Department.

Sec. 1011 Assessment required in the event of a proposed reduction in battle force ships as part of the annual naval vessel construction plan and certification

added

added Section 231 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and

(2)

added by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection:

added “(g) Reduction in battle force ships

added “(1) If the plan and certification submitted under subsection (a) for a fiscal year include a reduction in the number of battle force ships during the ten-year period following the submission of the plan, as compared to the number of such ships included in the plan and certification for the preceding fiscal year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit with the plan and assessment an additional assessment that includes each of the following:

added “(A) A description of how the proposed reduction would support the national security strategy of the United States.

added “(B) An identification of the total amount of resources that have been previously allocated for the ship that is no longer being requested, including funds for research, development, test, and evaluation specific to the ship, advance procurement, advanced construction, and economic order quantity.

added “(C) An identification of the total amount of resources the industrial base has allocated to support the ship that is no longer being requested.

added “(D) An analysis of the effect such reduction is likely to have on the industrial base, including the sub-tier supplier base.

added “(E) An analysis of the effect of the reduction on the overall requirement for the class of ship that was reduced.

added “(2)

added “(A) If an additional assessment is required to be submitted under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year and the Secretary of Defense does not include such assessment with the defense budget materials for the fiscal year, not more than 75 percent of the funds referred to in subparagraph (B) may be obligated or expended until the Secretary submits the additional assessment.

added “(B) The funds referred to in this paragraph are any funds made available to the Secretary of Defense for executive travel that remain available for obligation or expenditure as of the date on which the plan and certification under subsection (a) and the plan and certification under subsection (d) are required to be submitted.”

Sec. 1012 Minimum number of public naval shipyards

added

added Section 8062 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsections (f) through (h) as subsections (f) though (i), respectively;

(2)

added by inserting after subsection (e), the following new subsection (f):

added “(f) The Secretary of the Navy shall operate not less than four public naval shipyards.”

(3)

added in subsection (i), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by striking “section, the” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “section:”; and

(B)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

added “(1) The term amphibious warfare ship means a ship that is classified as an amphibious assault ship (general purpose) (LHA), an amphibious assault ship (multi-purpose) (LHD), an amphibious transport dock (LPD), or a dock landing ship (LSD).

added “(2) The term “public naval shipyard” means a naval shipyard operated by the Navy as of January 1, 2024.”

Sec. 1013 Modifications to ship repair authorities

added

(a)

added Definition of short-term work for purposes of navy construction of combatant and escort vessels and assignment of vessel projects— Section 8669a(c)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “10 months” and inserting “18 months”.

(b)

added Study on price differentials used in navy ship repair solicitations—

(1)

added In general— Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of the Navy shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to conduct a study to assess whether relevant price differentials used by the Navy in ship repair solicitations accurately reflect the true market value of the activity undertaken to complete the repair work involved in the absence of any such differential.

(2)

added Elements— The study under paragraph (1) shall address all relevant price differentials used by the Navy in ship repair solicitations, including—

(A)

added the use of Government-owned and operated dry docks;

(B)

added the use of inter-port differentials; and

(C)

added the use of pier differentials.

(3)

added Reports—

(A)

added Ffrdc report— The federally funded research and development center that conducts the study under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary of the Navy a report on the results of the study.

(B)

added Submittal to congress— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees an unaltered copy of the report received by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) together with a separate statement of the views of the Secretary on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).

(c)

added Report on navy policy for soliciting coastwide bids for certain repair availabilities—

(1)

added In general— Not later than March 30, 2025, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the policy of the Navy for soliciting coastwide bids for repair availabilities longer than 10 months.

(2)

added Elements— The report under paragraph (1) shall include an explanation and assessment of each of the following:

(A)

added The intent of the policy described in paragraph (1).

(B)

added The data the Navy uses to assess the efficacy of such policy.

(C)

added How the Navy estimates the cost of moving vessels out of their home port to complete the availability and the actual cost of moving vessels out of their home port to complete the availability.

(D)

added How the Navy estimates the financial, labor force, member of the Armed Forces and family well-being, berthing, and related costs associated with moving a vessel out of its home port to complete a repair availability longer than 10 months.

Sec. 1014 Congressional certification required prior to start of construction on first ship of a shipbuilding program

added

added Section 8669c(a)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting “100 percent” before “complete”.

Sec. 1015 Assessments required prior to start of construction on first ship of a shipbuilding program

added

added Section 8669c of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “and” at the end;

(B)

added in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(4) certifies to the congressional defense committees that for each block of the ship’s construction, the detail design will be completed.”

(2)

added in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

added “(7) For first ships and subsequent ships, the plan of the Navy to oversee and document the completion of the detail design for each block of the ship’s construction before construction of such block begins.

added “(8) The extent to which information provided by a vendor to support the overall maturity and stability of a ship’s design is complete before construction on the ship begins, including with respect to information that confirms—

added “(A) vendor selection is complete for major distributive systems and key equipment supporting operational requirements of the ship;

added “(B) specifications are finalized for such major distributive systems and key equipment; and

added “(C) the status of factory acceptance testing, as applicable, to validate finalized specifications for such major distributive systems and key equipment through manufacturing.”

(3)

added in subsection (c)(1)—

(A)

added in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “computer aided models” and inserting “the completion of 3D computer aided modeling”; and

(B)

added in subparagraph (C)—

(i)

added by inserting “positions and” before “routes”; and

(ii)

added by inserting “all major” before “distributive systems”.

Sec. 1016 Exception to prohibition of overhaul, repair, or maintenance of certain vessels in shipyards outside the United States or Guam

added

added Section 8680(a)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C) respectively; and

(2)

added by inserting before subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph (A):

added “(A) preventive maintenance of a deployed naval vessel lasting not more than 21 days;”

Sec. 1017 Strategy on development of naval rearm at sea capability

added

(a)

added Strategy required— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a strategy for delivering a rearm at sea capability to the surface fleet of the United States Navy. Such strategy shall include each of the following:

(1)

added A plan to develop, by not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the capability to employ transportable rearming mechanism equipment to load missile canisters into MK 41 vertical launch system cells on Navy destroyers operating, including an identification of the current and planned investments of the Navy in technology development to achieve such capability, including the anticipated cost and schedule for such investments.

(2)

added A plan for the key milestone events and associated dates in the development of such capability.

(3)

added A plan to coordinate with allies of the United States that use variants of the United States manufactured MK 41 vertical launch system to jointly procure rearm at sea capabilities.

(4)

added An identification of any courses of action the Secretary is considering other than the plans referred to in paragraphs (1) through (2) to address the gap between the rearm at sea capabilities of the United States and the capabilities of other countries, including the use of uncrewed technologies.

(5)

added Such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(b)

added Briefing— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall provide to the congressional defense committees a written briefing on the development of the strategy required under (a).

Sec. 1018 Authority to use incremental funding to enter into a contract for the construction of a Virginia-class submarine

added

(a)

added In general— Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the Navy for Shipbuilding and Conversion for fiscal year 2025 may be used by the Secretary of the Navy to enter into an incrementally funded contract for the construction of a Virgina-class submarine.

(b)

added Availability of funds— A contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose, and that total liability to the Government for the termination of the contract shall be limited to the total amount of funding obligated at time of termination.

Sec. 1019 Pilot program on use of automated inspection technologies at shipyards

added

(a)

added In general— Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall carry out a pilot program on the use of automated inspection technologies at shipyards.

(b)

added Selection of location— The Secretary shall select one shipyard at which to carry out the pilot program required under subsection (a) and shall take such steps as may be necessary to minimize the disruption to the operations of the shipyard during the conduct of the pilot program.

(c)

added Elements— In carrying out the pilot program required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

added select at least one surface ship as a test platform to collect a comprehensive set of inspection criteria used for defining maintenance requirements;

(2)

added define requirements for the upgrade or overhaul of the information technology infrastructure at the shipyard to ensure compatibility with new technologies implemented under the pilot program;

(3)

added provide for the training of personnel on the operation and maintenance of the automated inspection technologies selected for use during the pilot program;

(4)

added designate an individual who shall be responsible for implementing and overseeing each phase of the pilot program; and

(5)

added recommend a strategic sequencing plan of the pilot program to ensure the execution of necessary information technology upgrades prior to the deployment of robotic systems.

(d)

added Report and Briefings—

(1)

added Report— Not later than 180 days after the termination of the pilot program under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results of the pilot program.

(2)

added Briefings— Upon completion of the sequencing plan required under subsection (c)(5), the Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the plan.

(e)

added Termination— The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 1020 Prohibition on availability of funds for retirement of guided missile cruisers

added

added None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended retire, prepare to retire, inactivate, or place in storage—

(1)

added the USS Shilo (CG 67);

(2)

added the USS Lake Erie (CG 70); or

(3)

added more than two other guided missile cruisers.

Sec. 1021 Sense of Congress regarding naming warships after Navy Medal of Honor recipients

added

added It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Navy should name warships after Navy recipients of the Medal of Honor from World War I to the present, who have not had a vessel named in their honor, as follows:

(1)

added Tedford H. Cann.

(2)

added Ora Graves.

(3)

added John MacKenzie.

(4)

added Patrick McGunigal.

(5)

added John H. Balch.

(6)

added Joel T. Boone.

(7)

added Jesse W. Covington.

(8)

added Edouard Izac.

(9)

added David E. Hayden.

(10)

added Alexander G. Lyle.

(11)

added Francis E. Ormsbee, Jr.

(12)

added Orlando H. Petty.

(13)

added Oscar Schmidt, Jr.

(14)

added Daniel A. J. Sullivan.

(15)

added Frank M. Upton.

(16)

added John O. Siegel.

(17)

added Henry Breault.

(18)

added Thomas J. Ryan.

(19)

added George R. Cholister.

(20)

added Thomas Eadie.

(21)

added William R. Huber.

(22)

added William Badders.

(23)

added James H. McDonald.

(24)

added John Mihalowski.

(25)

added Samuel G. Fuqua.

(26)

added William E. Hall.

(27)

added Herbert Schonland.

(28)

added Nathan G. Gordon.

(29)

added Arthur M. Preston.

(30)

added Eugene B. Fluckey.

(31)

added Robert Bush.

(32)

added Rufus G. Herring.

(33)

added Franklin J. Pierce.

(34)

added George L. Street.

(35)

added George E. Wahlen.

(36)

added William L. McGonagle.

(37)

added Thomas G. Kelley.

(38)

added Joseph R. Kerrey.

(39)

added Thomas R. Norris.

(40)

added Michael E. Thornton.

(41)

added Britt K. Slabinski.

added “(a) Authority to contribute to NATO innovation fund—Within amounts authorized by law for such purpose during the 10-year period following the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Secretary of Defense may contribute to the NATO Innovation Fund a total amount of no more than $200,000,000.

added “(b) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “NATO” means the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

added “(2) The term “NATO Innovation Fund” means the multi-sovereign, investment venture capital fund of NATO that provides secure investment in dual-use, high-impact technology.”

Sec. 1042 Extension of authorization of expenditure of funds for Department of Defense intelligence and counterintelligence activities

added

added Section 1057 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by striking “2025” and inserting “2030”;

(2)

added in subsection (d), by striking “2025” and inserting “2030”; and

(3)

added in subsection (e), by striking “$100,000” and inserting “$125,000”.

Sec. 1043 Extension of authority for reimbursement of expenses for certain Navy mess operations

added

added Section 1014 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4585), as most recently amended by section 1028 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3388), is further amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b), by striking “September 30, 2025” and inserting “September 30, 2030”; and

(2)

added by striking subsection (c).

Sec. 1044 Prohibition on realignment or reduction of Special Operations Forces end strength authorizations

added

(a)

added Prohibition— During the covered period, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of each of the military departments may not realign or reduce special operations forces end strength authorizations.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered period” means the two-year period beginning on January 1, 2025.

(2)

added The term “special operations forces” means the forces identified under section 167(j) of title 10, United States Code, or a member of the Armed Forces carrying out special operations activities.

(3)

added The term “special operations activities” means activities described in section 167(k) of title 10, United States Code, and includes any support services provided for the execution such activities, including logistics, communications, and intelligence activities.

Sec. 1045 Prohibition on use of funds for work performed by EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., in China on research supported by the government of China

added

(a)

added In general— Except as provided under subsection (b), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense may be used to fund any work to be performed by EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., in China on research supported by the government of China, including to provide any grants for such purpose.

(b)

added Waiver— The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States and, not later than 14 days after granting such a waiver, submits to the congressional defense committees a detailed justification for the waiver, including—

(1)

added an identification of the Department of Defense entity obligating or expending the funds;

(2)

added an identification of the amount of such funds;

(3)

added an identification of the intended purpose of such funds;

(4)

added an identification of the recipient or prospective recipient of such funds (including any third-party entity recipient, as applicable);

(5)

added an explanation for how the waiver is in the national security interests of the United States; and

(6)

added any other information the Secretary determines appropriate.

Sec. 1046 Prohibition on transporting currency to the Taliban and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

added

added None of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense may be made available for the operation of any aircraft of the Department of Defense to transport currency or other items of value to the Taliban, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, or any subsidiary, agent, or instrumentality of either the Taliban or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Sec. 1047 Prohibition on Department of Defense usage of Tutor.com

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

added cease offering services through Tutor.com not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(2)

added terminate any business relationships with Tutor.com as soon as legally possible.

(b)

added Future relationships— The Secretary may not enter into any contractual or other relationship with Tutor.com as long as Tutor.com is owned by Primavera Capital Group or any other entity owned or controlled by nationals of the People’s Republic of China.

Sec. 1048 Prohibition on operation of connected vehicles designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign entity of concern on Department of Defense property

added

(a)

added In general— No connected vehicle on the list required under subsection (b) may be operated on a military installation or on any other property of the Department of Defense.

(b)

added List required—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall establish a list of prohibited connected vehicles that—

(A)

added are designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign entity of concern; and

(B)

added pose an undue or unacceptable risk to national security, as determined by the Secretary.

(2)

added Annual review— The Secretary shall review the list required under paragraph (1) not less frequently than once each year and shall make such additions, subtractions, supplements, or amendments to the list as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “connected vehicle”—

(A)

added means an automotive vehicle that integrates onboard networked hardware with automotive software systems to communicate via dedicated short-range communication, cellular telecommunications connectivity, satellite communication, or other wireless spectrum connectivity with any other network or device; and

(B)

added includes automotive vehicles, whether personal or commercial, capable of—

(i)

added global navigation satellite system communication for geolocation;

(ii)

added communication with intelligent transportation systems;

(iii)

added remote access or control;

(iv)

added wireless software or firmware updates; or

(v)

added on-device roadside assistance.

(2)

added The term “covered undue or unacceptable risk” means—

(A)

added an undue risk of sabotage to or subversion of the design, integrity, manufacturing, production, distribution, installation, operation, or maintenance of information and communications technology and services in the United States;

(B)

added an undue risk of catastrophic effects on the security or resiliency of United States critical infrastructure or the digital economy of the United States; or

(C)

added an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons.

(3)

added The term “foreign entity of concern” has the meaning given such term in section 9901 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 15 U.S.C. 4651).

(4)

added The term “military installation” has the meaning given such term in section 2801(4) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1051 Quadrennial biodefense posture review

added

added Chapter 2 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 118c the following new section:

added “118d. Quadrennial biodefense posture review

added “(a) Strategy and implementation plan required—The Secretary of Defense shall every four years conduct a comprehensive examination of the biodefense policies, practices, programs and initiatives of the Department of Defense.

added “(b) Elements—Each review conducted under subsection (a) shall include each of the following:

added “(1) An inventory and assessment of all existing strategies, plans, policies, laws, and interagency agreements related to biodefense, including prevention, deterrence, preparedness, detection, response, attribution, recovery, and mitigation.

added “(2) An identification of the biological threats, including biological warfare, bioterrorism, naturally occurring infectious diseases, and accidental exposures.

added “(3) An identification of the current programs, efforts, or activities of the Department of Defense with respect to preventing the acquisition, proliferation, and use of a biological weapon, preventing an accidental or naturally occurring biological outbreak, and mitigating the effects of a biological epidemic.

added “(4) An identification of the roles and responsibilities of the elements of the Department of Defense, including internal and external coordination procedures, in identifying and sharing information related to, warning of, and protection against, acts of terrorism using biological agents and weapons and accidental or naturally occurring biological outbreaks.

added “(5) An identification of methods in use to address biological attacks with emerging artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities.

added “(6) An identification of related or required capabilities and activities required to support the national biodefense strategy.

added “(7) Recommendations for strengthening and improving the current biodefense capabilities, authorities, and command structures of the Department.

added “(8) Recommendations for improving and formalizing interagency coordination and support mechanisms with respect to providing a robust national biodefense.

added “(9) Any other matters the Secretary of Defense determines necessary.

added “(c) Submittal to Congress—Not later than 30 days after the completion of a review under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a copy of the review. Each such review shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.”

Sec. 1052 Chief of Navy Reserve annual report

added

added Section 8083 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(e) Annual report—The Chief of Navy Reserve shall submit to the Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Navy, an annual report on the state of the Navy Reserve and the ability of the Navy Reserve to meet its missions. The report shall be prepared in conjunction with the Chief of Naval Operations and may be submitted in classified and unclassified versions.”

Sec. 1053 Extension of annual report on civilian casualties in connection with United States military operations

added

added Section 1057(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91) is amended by striking “seven” and inserting “12”.

Sec. 1054 Mobility capability requirements study

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commander of the United States Transportation Command, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the commanders of the combatant commands, shall conduct a study of the end-to-end, full-spectrum mobility requirements to fulfill the national defense strategy required by section 113(g) of title 10, United States Code, for 2022.

(b)

added Elements of study— The study required under subsection (a) shall include each of the following:

(1)

added An assessment of the ability of the programmed airlift aircraft, tanker aircraft, sealift ships, fuel tanker vessels, patient movement forces, and key mobility enablers to meet the integrated strategic and theater mobility requirements in expected strategic environments, as defined by the guidance in such national defense strategy.

(2)

added An identification, quantification, and description of the associated risk-to-mission (as defined by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Manual 3105.01, Joint Risk Analysis) required to fulfill such strategy, including—

(A)

added an assessment of risk-to-mission associated with achieving strategic and operational objectives using the programmed airlift aircraft, tanker aircraft, sealift ships, fuel tanker vessels, patient movement forces, and key mobility enablers; and

(B)

added a description of the combinations of airlift aircraft, tanker aircraft, sealift ships, fuel tanker vessels, patient movement forces, and key mobility enabler requirements and capabilities that provide low, moderate, significant, and high levels of risk-to-mission to fulfill such strategy; and

(C)

added an evaluation of non-mobilized mobility forces to sustain daily competition activities and achieve necessary readiness to fulfill the national defense strategy.

(3)

added An identification of any mobility capability gaps, shortfalls, overlaps, or excesses, including—

(A)

added an assessment of associated risks with respect to the ability to conduct operations; and

(B)

added recommended mitigation strategies where possible.

(4)

added The articulation of all key assumptions and decisions made and excursions examined in conducting the study with respect to—

(A)

added risk;

(B)

added programmed forces and infrastructure;

(C)

added the availability of commercial airlift and commercial United States sealift and fuel tanker vessel capabilities and resources, when applicable;

(D)

added aircraft usage rates, aircraft mission availability rates, aircraft mission capability rates, aircrew ratios, aircrew production, and aircrew readiness rates;

(E)

added readiness, crewing, and activation rates for sealift ships and fuel tanker vessels;

(F)

added prepositioning, forward stationing, seabasing, engineering, and infrastructure;

(G)

added demand signals used to represent missions described in the national defense strategy for 2022, in competition and wartime;

(H)

added concurrency and global integration of demand signals;

(I)

added integrated global presence and basing strategy;

(J)

added host nation or third-country support;

(K)

added adversary actions to degrade and disrupt United States mobility operations;

(L)

added adversary actions that threaten freedom of navigation on international waterways, including attacks on foreign ships and crews;

(M)

added aircraft being used for training or undergoing depot maintenance or modernization or ships undergoing depot maintenance;

(N)

added patient movement and mobility enabling forces availability, readiness, and use;

(O)

added logistics concept of operations, including any maneuver and sustainment support concepts, methods, combat support forces, and combat service support forces, that are required to enable the projection and enduring support to forces both deployed and in combat for each analytic scenario;

(P)

added anticipated attrition rates for the assessed force structure; and

(Q)

added such other matters as the Commander determines appropriate.

(5)

added Such other elements as the Commander determines appropriate.

(c)

added Reports and briefings—

(1)

added Interim report and briefing— Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commander of the United States Transportation Command, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the commanders of the combatant commands, shall—

(A)

added submit to the congressional defense committees an interim report on the study required under subsection (a); and

(B)

added provide to such committees a briefing on the report.

(2)

added Final report and briefing— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commander of the United States Transportation Command, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the commanders of the combatant commands, shall—

(A)

added submit to the congressional defense committees a final report on the study required under subsection (a); and

(B)

added provide to such committees a briefing on the report.

(3)

added Form of reports— The reports required under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(d)

added Definition of sealift ship— In this section, the term “sealift ship” includes—

(1)

added theater and strategic platforms; and

(2)

added surge sealift vessels and non-governmental vessels incorporated as part of the maritime logistics enterprise.

Sec. 1055 Plan for fielding air base air defense sites at Air Force installations

added

(a)

added Plan required— The Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Commander of United States European Command and the Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, shall develop a plan to support the fielding of air base air defense sites at Air Force installations and other priority sites.

(b)

added Air base air defense site requirements— The plan required under subsection (a) shall include each of the following requirements for each air base air defense site fielded under the plan:

(1)

added Expeditionary mobile protection for dispersed air bases.

(2)

added Fixed protection for primary air bases.

(3)

added Layered kinetic and non-kinetic effects from the surface.

(4)

added Counter-uncrewed aircraft systems.

(5)

added Counter-fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

(6)

added Counter-cruise missiles.

(7)

added Interoperability with joint command and control networks.

(8)

added 360-degree active and passive sensors.

(9)

added Systems and software that enable reduced staffing.

(c)

added Fielding requirement— The plan required under subsection (a) shall be developed to ensure that—

(1)

added by not later than September 30, 2027, at least four air base air defense sites are fielded; and

(2)

added between 2028 and 2031, at least four air base air defense sites are fielded each year.

(d)

added Site prioritization— The Secretary of the Air Force shall select Air Force installations and other sites as prioritized sites where air base air defense sites will be fielded under the plan.

(e)

added Report— Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plan required under subsection (a).

Sec. 1056 Review of execute orders

added

(a)

added Review— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall review each execute order that permits or would permit operations involving the use of lethal force or a potential use of lethal force and shall identify, for each such execute order—

(1)

added the legal authority or authorities under which the use of lethal force is authorized, or would justify a use of lethal force if specific conditions were to be satisfied, and against whom the lethal force may be used; and

(2)

added the conditions that would need to be satisfied to provide legal justification for any use of lethal force under the execute order that would not be covered by a specific statutory authorization for the use of lethal force.

(b)

added Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report describing the results of the review conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include the following:

(1)

added A summary of each extant execute order, which includes a detailed description of the purpose of such execute order and the specifications described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).

(2)

added A comparison of matters covered by execute orders involving the use of lethal force or a potential use of lethal force and disclosures reported under section 1264 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (50 U.S.C. 1549) and section 1285 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (50 U.S.C. 1550).

Sec. 1057 Report on sensor and interceptor capabilities necessary to defend critical infrastructure assets

added

added Not later than April 1, 2025, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in coordination with the Commander of United States Northern Command, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report that contains an identification of any existing or new sensor and interceptor capabilities necessary to defend critical infrastructure assets.

Sec. 1058 Report on price elasticity of labor supply at shipyards and supplier firms

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the price elasticity of the labor supply for the industrial base for building and maintaining naval vessels, including—

(1)

added private-sector shipyards;

(2)

added public-sector naval shipyards; and

(3)

added supplier firms.

(b)

added Elements— The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added An assessment of the full cost of hiring and training workers at shipyards and supplier firms.

(2)

added An assessment of the extent to which retention and attrition of workers at shipyards and supplier firms is related to pay and benefits for those workers.

(3)

added An assessment of the extent to which challenges in recruiting and retaining desired numbers of workers at shipyards and supplier firms can be met by increasing pay and benefits for those workers.

(4)

added An assessment of the potential impact of such increases in pay and benefits on costs for procuring and maintaining naval vessels.

(5)

added An assessment of and recommendation for any extraordinary relief that may be appropriate for the fixed-price, multi-year procurement contracts for Virginia-class submarines in order to increase pay and benefits for workers at shipyards and supplier firms under those contracts.

(c)

added Contract authority— The Secretary of the Navy may contract with a private entity for the preparation of the report required by subsection (a).

Sec. 1059 Study and report on implementation of naval blockades of shipments of fossil fuels to China in event of armed conflict

added

(a)

added Study and report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report that contains the findings of a study on the feasibility of implementing one or more naval blockades of shipments of fossil fuels to China in the event of an armed conflict between the United States and China. Such report shall include—

(1)

added a description of—

(A)

added the requirements for such a blockade to effectively block such shipments;

(B)

added methods China could use to ship fossil fuels using air and land routes after such a blockade is implemented; and

(C)

added for each waterway specified in clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (2)(A), how such a blockade would be implemented in such waterway; and

(2)

added an assessment of—

(A)

added the suitability of strategic waterways in the proximity of China as a location for such a blockade, including—

(i)

added the Strait of Malacca;

(ii)

added the Taiwan Strait;

(iii)

added the Sunda Strait;

(iv)

added the South China Sea; and

(v)

added the East China Sea; and

(B)

added the capability of China to satisfy needs for fossil fuels in China after such a blockade is implemented through methods that include—

(i)

added the use of existing stockpiles of fossil fuels;

(ii)

added the rationing of fossil fuels; and

(iii)

added the reliance on existing or planned cross-border oil and gas pipelines to ship fossil fuels.

(b)

added Form— The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 1060 Comptroller General review of food waste at Department of Defense and Coast Guard facilities

added

(a)

added Review required— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of food waste at Department of Defense and Coast Guard facilities. The review shall address each of the following:

(1)

added Methods used by the Department and the Coast Guard to track food waste across facilities in the United States.

(2)

added Any analysis conducted by the Department or the Coast Guard to determine the causes of any food waste at such facilities.

(3)

added Any policies of the Department and the Coast Guard with respect to managing food waste.

(4)

added Any challenges faced by the Department and the Coast Guard with respect to food waste and the extent to which actions are in place to address those challenges.

(5)

added The extent to which the Department and the Coast Guard partner with other Federal agencies to reduce food waste.

(6)

added Such other matters as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

(b)

added Briefing— Not later than May 1, 2025, the Comptroller General shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the review conducted under subsection (a).

Sec. 1061 Study on feasibility of establishment of Centers of Excellence for Servicewomen’s Health

added

(a)

added Feasibility study required— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through Director of the Defense Health Agency, shall conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing one or more Centers of Excellence for Servicewomen’s Health, pursuant to the authority under section 1073d(b)(4) of title 10, United States Code.

(b)

added Report— Upon the conclusion of the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representative a report on the findings of the study. Such report shall include the following:

(1)

added An identification of potential locations where Centers of Excellence for Servicewomen’s Health could be established.

(2)

added Any improvements the establishment of such Centers could provide in the furnishing of care for female members of the Armed Forces in the military health system.

(3)

added Any anticipated effects the establishment of such Centers would have on readiness from improved health care services for female members of the Armed Forces.

(4)

added An identification of any challenges or areas that could be improved in the furnishing of health care for female members of the Armed Forces in the military health system.

Sec. 1062 Reports on approval and deployment of lethal autonomous weapon systems

added

(a)

added In general— On an annual basis in accordance with subsection (c), the President shall submit to the congressional defense committees a comprehensive report on the approval and deployment of lethal autonomous weapon systems by the United States.

(b)

added Elements— Each report under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the period covered by the report, the following:

(1)

added A comprehensive list of any lethal autonomous weapon systems that have been approved by senior defense officials for use by the United States military under Department of Defense policies in effect as of the date of the report, the dates of such approvals, and a description how such weapons systems have been, are being, or will be deployed and whether they operated as intended.

(2)

added A comprehensive list of any lethal autonomous weapon systems that have received a waiver of the requirement for review by senior defense officials under Department of Defense policies in effect as of the date of the report, the dates such waivers were issued, and a description of how such weapon systems have been, are being, or will be deployed and whether they operated as intended.

(3)

added A comprehensive list of any lethal autonomous weapon systems that are undergoing senior review or waiver request processes as of the date of the report.

(4)

added A comprehensive list of any lethal autonomous weapon systems not approved during a senior review or waiver request process and the reasons for such disapproval.

(c)

added Timing of reports—

(1)

added Initial report— The President shall submit the first report required under subsection (a) not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. Such report shall include the information described in subsection (b) for all relevant time periods preceding the date of the report.

(2)

added Subsequent reports— Following submittal of the initial report under paragraph (1), the President shall submit subsequent reports under subsection (a) on an annual basis. Each subsequent report shall include the information described in subsection (b) with respect to the period that elapsed since the date of the immediately preceding report.

(d)

added Form— Each report under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 1063 Report on fielding certain wearable devices for impact protection against traumatic brain injury

added

(a)

added Report required— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes the following:

(1)

added A plan to field wearable devices for impact protection against traumatic brain injury that are certified by the Food and Drug Administration as expeditiously and widely as possible.

(2)

added A plan to field such wearable devices to mitigate traumatic brain injuries associated with blast overpressure, if consistent with the findings of an assessment conducted by the Secretary on the feasibility of such wearable devices.

(3)

added A description of resources required to implement such plans.

(4)

added A description of any restrictions or limitations on usage of such wearable devices, and steps to mitigate such restrictions or limitations.

(5)

added Any other information the Secretary determines relevant.

(b)

added Exception— Subsection (a) shall not apply if the Secretary of the Army certifies to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act that the Department of the Army—

(1)

added has fielded wearable devices described in subsection (a)(1); and

(2)

added has a specific date for a final determination to field wearable devices to mitigate traumatic brain injuries associated with blast overpressure as described in subsection (a)(2).

Sec. 1071 Expedited access to certain military installations of the Department of Defense for Members of Congress and certain Congressional employees

added

added Chapter 159 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “2698. Expedited access to military installations for Members of Congress and certain Congressional employees

added “(a) In general—Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that—

added “(1) a Member of Congress seeking access to a covered installation is granted such access if such Member presents a covered identification card; and

added “(2) any Congressional employees accompanying a Member of Congress granted access under paragraph (1) is granted the same access.

added “(b) Prohibited procedures—Under such procedures, the Secretary may not require a Member of Congress to schedule a grant of access to a covered installation under subsection (a) prior to the arrival of such Member and accompanying Congressional employees, if applicable, at such covered installation.

added “(c) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “Congressional employee” has the meaning given such term in paragraph (5) of section 2107 of title 5.

added “(2) The term “covered identification card” means a valid identification badge issued by the appropriate office of the House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, which identifies the individual to which such identification badge was issued as a current Member of Congress.

added “(3) The term “covered installation” means a military installation located in the United States or Guam at which the presentation of an issued Department of Defense common access card is the sole requirement for a member of the Armed Forces to be granted access to such military installation.

added “(4) The term “Member of Congress” means—

added “(A) a Senator; or

added “(B) a Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, Congress.”

Sec. 1072 Air Force Technical Training Center of Excellence

added

added Chapter 903 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “9025. Air Force Technical Training Center of Excellence

added “(a) Establishment—The Secretary of the Air Force shall operate a Technical Training Center of Excellence. The head of the Center shall be the designee of the Commander of Airmen Development Command.

added “(b) Purpose—The purpose of the Center shall be to—

added “(1) facilitate collaboration among all Air Force technical training installations;

added “(2) serve as a premier training location for all maintainers throughout the military departments;

added “(3) publish a set of responsibilities aimed at driving excellence, innovation, and leadership across all technical training specialties;

added “(4) advocate for innovative improvements in curriculum, facilities, and medial;

added “(5) foster outreach with industry and academia;

added “(6) identify and promulgate best practices, standards, and benchmarks;

added “(7) create a hub of excellence for the latest advancements in aviation technology and training methodologies; and

added “(8) carry out such other responsibilities as the Secretary determines appropriate.

added “(c) Location—The Secretary shall select a location for the Center that is an Air Force installation that provides technical training and maintenance proficiency.”

Sec. 1073 Installation energy plans and assessment for reduction of reliance on Russian energy

added

added Section 1086 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–283; 10 U.S.C. 2911 note) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (c)(2)—

(A)

added by striking “Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act” and inserting “Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025”; and

(B)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “main operating base on the list submitted under paragraph (1)(A)” and inserting “operating base within the area of responsibility of the United States European Command”; and

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(h) Limitation—Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for travel, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the installation energy plans and assessment required under subsection (c)(2).”

Sec. 1074 Extension of Commission on the Future of the Navy

added

added Section 1092(a)(4) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263) is amended by striking “July 1, 2024” and inserting “July 1, 2025”.

Sec. 1075 Modification of National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology

added

added Section 1091 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b)(3) by striking “the authority to make such appointment or appointments shall expire, and the number of members of the Commission shall be reduced by the number equal to the number of appointments so not made” and inserting “such appointments shall nevertheless be considered valid”;

(2)

added in subsection (g)(1), by inserting “and 6 months” after “3 years”; and

(3)

added in subsection (r), by striking “18 months after the date on which it submits the final report required by subsection (g)” and inserting “on December 31, 2026”.

Sec. 1076 Modification of defense sensitive support notification requirement

added

added Section 1055 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “paragraph (3)” and inserting “paragraphs (3) and (4)”;

(B)

added by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively;

(C)

added by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:

added “(3) Routine defense sensitive support—In the event that the provision of defense sensitive support is routine defense sensitive support, the Secretary shall provide notification under paragraph (1) on a quarterly basis after providing the support.”

(D)

added in paragraph (4), as so redesignated—

(i)

added in the paragraph heading, by inserting “and extraordinary security protections” after “support”;

(ii)

added in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(I)

added by inserting “or requires extraordinary security protections” after “time-sensitive”; and

(II)

added by inserting “shall” after “Secretary”;

(iii)

added in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

added by striking “may”;

(II)

added by inserting “or after the activity supported concludes” after “providing the support”; and

(III)

added by striking “; and” and inserting “; or”; and

(iv)

added in subparagraph (B)—

(I)

added by striking “shall”; and

(II)

added by striking “notice as soon as practicable after providing such support, but not later than 48 hours after providing the support” and inserting “notification simultaneously with the execution of the supported activity”; and

(E)

added in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking “paragraphs (1) and (3)” and inserting “paragraphs (1), (3), and (4)”; and

(2)

added in subsection (c)—

(A)

added in the subsection heading, by striking “Defense sensitive support defined” and inserting “Definitions”;

(B)

added by striking “, the term “defense sensitive support” means support provided by the Department of Defense to a non-Department of Defense Federal department or agency that requires special protection from disclosure.” and inserting a colon; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

added “(1) The term “defense sensitive support” means support provided by the Department of Defense to a non-Department of Defense Federal department or agency that requires special protection from disclosure.

added “(2) The term “routine defense sensitive support” has the meaning given such term elsewhere in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.”

Sec. 1077 Post-employment restrictions for participants in certain research funded by the Department of Defense

added

(a)

added In general— Except as provided under subsection (c), as a condition of becoming or remaining a principal investigator of a covered defense research project, a person shall agree that during the ten-year period beginning on the last day the person is a principal investigator of such research, such person may not seek or accept employment, or conduct any activity, for which a foreign entity of concern provides financial compensation or in-kind benefits.

(b)

added Critical or emerging technology— For purposes of subsection (a), a critical or emerging technology is a technology that the Secretary of Defense determines to be critical or emerging. Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall determine which technologies are critical or emerging from among the technologies for which the Department of Defense funds research, and shall make the results of such determination publicly available.

(c)

added Waiver authority— The Secretary may waive the restriction under subsection (a) with respect to a United States person if, not later than 30 days before issuing the waiver, the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees a notice of the waiver that includes—

(1)

added an unclassified justification for the waiver; and

(2)

added a description of any Department of Defense funds provided to the person for which the waiver is issued or to the research in which the person participated.

(d)

added Applicability— This section shall apply with respect to research that begins on or after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(e)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term foreign entity of concern has the meaning given that term in section 10612(a) of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19221(a)) and includes a foreign entity that is identified on the list published under section 1286(c)(9)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note).

(2)

added The term covered defense research project means a research project that—

(A)

added is operated by an institution of higher education or a subsidiary of an institution of higher education;

(B)

added is funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Defense; and

(C)

added involves a critical or emerging technology, as defined in subsection (b) of this section.

(3)

added The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).

Sec. 1078 Establishment of national security capital forum

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall establish a forum to—

(1)

added convene domestic and international institutional financiers, capital providers, investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, business persons, representatives from across the private sector, relevant United States Government offices, and government and private entities of partner nations; and

(2)

added allow the exchange of information between the entities referred to in paragraph (1) and the Department of Defense relating to transactions or potential transactions and to integrate efforts to achieve coordinated effects to support the national security interest of the United States.

(b)

added Chair— The Chair of the forum established under subsection (a) shall be the Director of the Office of Strategic Capital.

(c)

added Designation of executive agent— The Secretary may designate the Director as the sole Executive Agent with respect to the authorities and responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense under section 1047 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

Sec. 1079 Plan for additional skill identifiers for Army Mountain Warfare School

added

(a)

added Plan required— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall develop and implement a plan to establish each of the following:

(1)

added Additional skill identifiers for the following courses at the Army Mountain Warfare School:

(A)

added Advanced Military Mountaineer Course (Summer).

(B)

added Advanced Military Mountaineer Course (Winter).

(C)

added Rough Terrain Evacuation Course.

(D)

added Mountain Planner Course.

(E)

added Mountain Rifleman Course.

(2)

added New skill identifiers for officers and warrant officers who complete the Basic Military Mountaineer Course and the Mountain Planner Course.

(b)

added Briefing on plan— Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary completes the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the plan and the implementation of the plan.

Sec. 1080 Tabletop exercise on extreme weather events in the Indo-Pacific region

added

(a)

added Tabletop exercise—

(1)

added Requirement— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, in consultation with the the head of the institution selected by the Commander under paragraph (3), shall conduct at least one national tabletop exercise to assess the ability of the Armed Forces and military forces of allies or partners of the United States to confront aggressive adversarial threats in the Indo-Pacific region while simultaneously confronting extreme weather hazards.

(2)

added Elements— The exercise conducted under paragraph (1) shall evaluate, at a minimum, the following:

(A)

added The resilience of United States weapons, systems, force posture, and command and control to withstand extreme environmental hazards during a single combat contingency in the Indo-Pacific region.

(B)

added The mobility of the Armed Forces in the event of attacks upon critical infrastructure and logistical chokepoints pertinent to a contingency involving an ally or partner.

(C)

added The ability of the Armed Forces to conduct logistics in a constrained environment, including the ability to resupply United States and allied forces, and civilian populations.

(D)

added The resiliency of the Indo-Pacific Command to withstand extreme environmental hazards.

(E)

added The response of the Department of Defense to partial or complete loss of overseas critical infrastructure.

(F)

added The ability of the Armed Forces, in coordination with allies and partners, to resist force or other coercion by an aggressor if command and control is compromised due to extreme environmental conditions.

(G)

added The options of the Federal Government to ensure the viability of overseas critical infrastructure in the event of a military contingency, including assets in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Guam, the Northern Marianas, Hawaii, and the Philippines.

(H)

added Air defense capabilities to deter missile threats from the People’s Republic of China or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea during a military conflict.

(I)

added The ability of naval projection forces to defend against adversarial threats while operating under compromised conditions.

(J)

added The survivability of critical military forces, particularly air and naval forces.

(K)

added The ability of air forces to conduct agile combat employment operations under compromised positions.

(L)

added The efficacy of ground-based targeting and firing in the Indo-Pacific to support key missions amidst extreme environmental conditions.

(3)

added Location— The exercise conducted under paragraph (1) shall be conducted at a postsecondary educational institution of the Armed Forces selected by the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command. In making such selection, the Commander shall consider the following elements:

(A)

added Geographic proximity to the United States Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.

(B)

added Leadership in science and technology, academic research, and applied design for innovation to meaningfully participate or provide analysis on the exercises described in paragraph (2).

(C)

added Experience and capacity to conduct a tabletop exercise impacted by extreme environmental conditions.

(D)

added Leadership in meeting objectives of the Department of Defense to create resilient and sustainable military capabilities that can withstand extreme weather conditions.

(4)

added Preparation— The tabletop exercise shall be prepared by personnel of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, selected by the Commander in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the head of the institution selected by the Commander under paragraph (3).

(5)

added Participants— Participants in the tabletop exercise may include the following, as determined appropriate by the Commander:

(A)

added Personnel of the Department of Defense.

(B)

added Representatives of thinktanks or other entities of the United States.

(C)

added Representatives of allies and partners, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State.

(6)

added Frequency— In addition to the exercise conducted under paragraph (1), other such tabletop exercises may be conducted not more than twice per year during the period of four years following the date of the enactment of this Act, at dates and times determined by the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command and the head of the institution selected by the Commander under paragraph (3).

(b)

added Briefing— Following the conclusion of a tabletop exercise conducted under subsection (a), the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command and a nongovernmental participant determined by the Commander, shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the tabletop exercise. Such a briefing shall include—

(1)

added an assessment of the decision-making, capability, and response gaps observed in the tabletop exercise; and

(2)

added recommendations to improve the resiliency of, and reduce vulnerabilities in, the domestic critical infrastructure of the United States in the event of a military contingency involving an ally or partner.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “ally or partner” means Taiwan, Japan, or the Republic of Korea.

(2)

added The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A)

added the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives; and

(B)

added the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the Senate.

(3)

added The term “environmental hazard” includes—

(A)

added an earthquake;

(B)

added a tsunami;

(C)

added a hurricane, typhoon, monsoon, or other storm;

(D)

added rising sea levels;

(E)

added mudslides; or

(F)

added any other environmental condition the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command determines is relevant to the Indo-Pacific region and disruptive to military operations of the United States or forces of an ally or partner.

(4)

added The term “tabletop exercise” means an activity—

(A)

added in which senior personnel gather to deliberate various simulated emergency or rapid response situations; and

(B)

added that is designed to assess the adequacy of plans, policies, procedures, training, resources, and relationships or agreements that guide the prevention of, response to, and recovery from a defined event.

Sec. 1081 Pilot program on Army readiness in contested logistics environments

added

(a)

added In general— Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Combine Arms Center of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, shall carry out a pilot program designed to enhance the overall readiness of the Army in a contested logistics environment.

(b)

added Requirements— Under the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

added encourage the acquisition of commercially available equipment and services in order to provide efficient and effective life support on expeditionary bases; and

(2)

added demonstrate the effectiveness of the pilot program in simulated environments at multiple combat training centers, including—

(A)

added the National Training Center;

(B)

added the Joint Readiness Training Center; or

(C)

added the Joint Multinational Readiness Center.

(c)

added Report— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the termination of the pilot program under subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the findings of the pilot program. Each such report shall include, for the year covered by the report, an identification of—

(1)

added skills that the combined force needs to develop and maintain to enable the efficient and effective deployment of life support systems;

(2)

added commercially-available equipment that has proven effective in simulated combat and contested environments; and

(3)

added progress made in equipping training and deploying units with technologies, items, and skills shown to be effective under the pilot program.

(d)

added Sunset— The authorities to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is ten years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 1082 Pilot program on forward advanced manufacturing

added

(a)

added In general— Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary establishes a public-private partnership to develop a forward advanced manufacturing capability in the area of responsibility of the United States Indo-Pacific Command to meet advanced manufacturing requirements for the submarine and shipbuilding industrial base and emerging needs of such Command and its component commands.

(b)

added Elements of program— The pilot program required under subsection (a) shall include—

(1)

added development of an advanced manufacturing facility outside of a military installation in the area of responsibility of the United States Indo-Pacific Command capable of manufacturing large metal structures, including those required for unmanned vehicles, surface and underwater vehicles, and ship maintenance and upgrades, through advanced manufacturing, maintaining local machining capabilities, and maintaining a production capability across critical minerals necessary to emerging repair and production requirements in conflict; and

(2)

added coordination of requirements from the United States Indo-Pacific Command, the Submarine Industrial Base Task Force, the Innovation Capability and Modernization office, and the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program.

(c)

added Termination— The authority to carry out the pilot program required under subsection (a) shall terminate five years after the date on which the Secretary commences the pilot program.

(d)

added Report required—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary commences the pilot program under subsection (a), and on an annual basis thereafter until the termination date under subsection (c), the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the pilot program.

(2)

added Elements— Each report required under this subsection shall include:

(A)

added a progress update on the implementation of the pilot program under subsection (a), including progress with respect to each of the elements described in subsection (b);

(B)

added an overview of any partnerships entered into with industry and other relevant entities in support of the pilot program;

(C)

added a review of the ability of the pilot program to meet requirements identified by the entities specified in subsection (b)(2); and

(D)

added input from the entities specified in subsection (b)(2), industry, and other relevant entities on the desirability and effects of the pilot program.

(e)

added Advanced manufacturing defined— In this section, the term “advanced manufacturing” includes manufacturing processes utilizing additive manufacturing, wire-arc additive manufacturing, and powder bed fusion manufacturing.

Sec. 1083 Frank A. LoBiondo National Aerospace Safety and Security Campus

added

(a)

added In general— The campus and grounds of the Federal facility located at the Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, at which the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard is stationed shall be known and designated as the “Frank A. LoBiondo National Aerospace Safety and Security Campus”.

(b)

added Reference— Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the campus and grounds referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the “Frank A. LoBiondo National Aerospace Safety and Security Campus”.

Sec. 1084 Assessment regarding antifouling coatings

added

(a)

added Assessment for deploying new antifouling coatings for the surface fleet— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an assessment to evaluate the feasibility of moving away from copper-based antifouling coatings. Such an assessment shall include each of the following:

(1)

added A timeline to remove existing copper-based antifouling coatings from naval vessels by January 1, 2028.

(2)

added Criteria for antifouling effectiveness, measured by—

(A)

added the duration of time such coating prevents biological adhesion, corrosion, and degradation of vessel surfaces;

(B)

added environmental damage caused by shedding and leaching of the coating; and

(C)

added the effect of the coating on fuel efficiency and vessel speed.

(3)

added An evaluation of whether a new standard in standard rotation for maintenance of surface vessels could effectively reduce the time and costs associated with maintenance key events, such as repair planning and time in drydock, while also being environmentally sound.

(b)

added Evaluation of commercially available products— Prior to conducting the assessment required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall evaluate commercially available products, technologies, applications, and services that could be used to improve combat readiness by decreasing the need for re-application of antifouling coatings.

Sec. 1101 Extension of authority for noncompetitive appointments of military spouses by Federal agencies

added

(a)

added In general— Section 573(e) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 5 U.S.C. 3330d note) is repealed.

(b)

added Extension and report— Section 1119 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (d), by striking “December 31, 2028” and inserting “December 31, 2033”; and

(2)

added by adding after subsection (d) the following:

added “(e) Reports

added “(1) In general—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this subsection and each year thereafter until the sunset date in subsection (d), the Secretary of Defense shall—

added “(A) submit a report to the congressional defense committees on the use of the hiring authority under section 3330d of title 5, United States Code; and

added “(B) publish such report on the public website of the Department of Defense.

added “(2) Contents—Each report under paragraph (1) shall include information on—

added “(A) how often such authority is used by agencies;

added “(B) what positions are filled using such authority, and the grade and locations of such positions;

added “(C) the number of military spouse applicants seeking positions under such authority who were not selected and the grade and locations of such positions; and

added “(D) how often Department of Defense components exercised exceptions to spouse preference procedures and the grade and locations of such positions.”

(c)

added Technical amendments—

(1)

added In general— Section 1119(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amended—

(A)

added in paragraph (2)—

(i)

added by striking “(2)” and all that follows through “the following:” and inserting the following:

added “(2) in subsection (a)—

added “(A) by redesignating paragraph (5), as added by section 1112(a)(1)(C) of this Act, as paragraph (6); and

added “(B) by inserting after paragraph (4), as redesignated by section 1112(a)(1)(A) of this Act, the following:”

(ii)

added in the quoted material, by striking “(4) The term” and inserting “(5) The term”; and

(B)

added in paragraph (3)—

(i)

added in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “, as amended by section 1112(a)(2) of this Act” after “in subsection (b)”;

(ii)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “paragraph (1)” and inserting “paragraph (2)”;

(iii)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking “paragraph (2)” and inserting “paragraph (3)”; and

(iv)

added in subparagraph C), in the quoted material, by striking “(3) a spouse” and inserting “(4) a spouse”.

(2)

added Effective date— The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 1119 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31).

Sec. 1102 Extension of living quarters allowance to civilian DOD employees stationed in Guam

added

added Section 1102 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amended—

(1)

added in the section heading, by striking “department of the navy civilian employees assigned to permanent duty in guam for performing work, or supporting work being performed, aboard or dockside, of u.s. naval vessels” and inserting “civilian employees of the Department of Defense stationed in Guam”;

(2)

added in subsection (a), by striking “Secretary of the Navy” and inserting “Secretary of Defense”; and

(3)

added by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

added “(b) Covered employee defined—In this section, the term “covered employee” means any civilian employee of the Department of Defense whose permanent duty station is located in Guam.”

Sec. 1103 One-year extension of authority to waive annual limitation on premium pay and aggregate limitation on pay for federal civilian employees working overseas

added

added Subsection (a) of section 1101 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4615), as most recently amended by section 1102 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263), is further amended by striking “through 2024” and inserting “through 2025”.

Sec. 1104 One-year extension of temporary authority to grant allowances, benefits, and gratuities to civilian personnel on official duty in a combat zone

added

added Paragraph (2) of section 1603(a) of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 109–234; 120 Stat. 443), as added by section 1102 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4616) and as most recently amended by section 1109 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31), is further amended by striking “2025” and inserting “2026”.

Sec. 1105 Prohibition on limiting duration of overseas work-period for DOD competitive service positions

added

(a)

added In general— During the 7 year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act—

(1)

added no limit may be placed on the duration of civilian employment of Department of Defense competitive service employees in a foreign area; and

(2)

added the 5-year limitation on such employment in a foreign area in Department of Defense Instruction 1400.25, titled “DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Employment in Foreign Areas and Employee Return Rights” and issued on July 26, 2012 (or a successor instruction), shall have no force or effect.

(b)

added Report— Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to the congressional defense committees on the following:

(1)

added The impact of this section on recruiting and retaining civilian competitive service employees at the Department of Defense.

(2)

added The total number of—

(A)

added Department employees that were able to remain in positions as a result of this section; and

(B)

added Department positions that were not open for initial appointments as a result of this section.

(3)

added The grade and classification of Department positions affected by this section.

(4)

added Any other information the Secretary deems appropriate.

(c)

added Foreign area defined— In this section, the term “foreign area” means any location that is not within a nonforeign area (as that term is defined in section 591.205 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation).

Sec. 1106 Waiver of limitation on appointment of recently retired members of armed forces to DOD competitive service positions

added

(a)

added In general— Section 3326 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in the section heading, by inserting “certain” before “positions”;

(2)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “the civil service” and inserting “the excepted service or the Senior Executive Service”; and

(B)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “for the purpose” and all that follows through “Management”; and

(3)

added in subsection (c), by striking “, or the authorization and approval, as the case may be,”.

(b)

added Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 33 of such title is amended in the item relating to section 3326 by inserting “certain” before “positions”.

Sec. 1107 Child development program staffing and compensation model

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall carry out a redesign of the Department of Defense child development program compensation model and modernization of the child development program staffing model.

(b)

added Redesigned compensation model— The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall—

(1)

added redesign child development program staff compensation for non-entry level, mid-to-senior level classroom staff by modernizing the duties and responsibilities captured in position descriptions to more accurately reflect performance and expectations of the positions;

(2)

added adjust compensation for higher-level program management positions by modernizing the duties and responsibilities captured in position descriptions to more accurately reflect performance and expectations of the positions;

(3)

added direct the Department’s personnel office to make necessary adjustments to modernize the pay plan to accommodate any compensation and wage increases driven by the updated position descriptions for child development program staff; and

(4)

added begin implementation of the revised position descriptions and accompanying compensation adjustments no later than April 1, 2025, subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)

added Modernize child development program staffing model— The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall—

(1)

added add key positions to facilitate classroom operations and provide direct support to child development program staff;

(2)

added add key positions to coordinate support for the needs of children with specials needs and provide direct support to the child development program staff working with these children; and

(3)

added develop and implement a 5-year phased plan to ensure responsible funding execution, successful implementation allowing for adjustments as necessary, and long-term sustainable impact.

(d)

added Reports—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall submit reports to detail progress, accomplishments, and demonstrate the impact of the redesigned compensation and modernized staffing models.

(2)

added Baseline report— Not later than 180 days after the end of fiscal year 2025, an initial baseline report shall be submitted to the congressional defense committees.

(3)

added Annual reports— Not later than 180 days after the end of each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029, a progress report shall be submitted to the congressional defense committees.

(4)

added Contents— Any report submitted under paragraph (2) or (3) shall include the following:

(A)

added Percentage of child development program staff that are also military spouses.

(B)

added Turnover or retention rate of child development program staff.

(C)

added Utilization rate of child development program child care spaces.

(D)

added Number of newly hired child development program employees.

(E)

added Percentage of newly hired child development program employees who resign within their first 6 months of employment.

(F)

added Information on the ability to staff newly constructed facilities.

(G)

added Impacts of adding key positions to the child development program staffing model.

(e)

added Definition of child development program— In this section, the term child development program means child care services under subchapter II of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1108 Mandatory public disclosures by newly nominated civilians for senior positions in the Department of Defense

added

added Section 113(f) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added by inserting “(1)” after “(f)”; and

(2)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(2) Not later than 5 days after the President submits to the Senate a nomination of an individual to occupy an office referred to in paragraph (1), such individual shall disclose, on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense, a full a complete statement with respect to—

added “(A) the source, type, and amount or value of any funds received by such individual from the government of a foreign country, a foreign political party (as such terms are defined in section 1 of the Foreign Agent Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611)), or a foreign governmental entity (as defined in section 1(m)(1)(B) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)(1)(B)) during the 5-year period immediately preceding such nomination; and

added “(B) the source, duration, and type of any goods or services provided by, or performed on behalf of or for the benefit of, a foreign government, foreign political party, or a foreign governmental entity controlled by a foreign government during such 5-year period.

added “(3) Paragraph (2) shall not require any individual to include in such disclosure any information which is considered private, confidential, or privileged, as a result of an established professional or fiduciary relationship between such individual or any person.”

Sec. 1109 Employment and compensation of civilian faculty members at Inter-American Defense College

added

(a)

added In general— Subsection (c) of section 1595 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(9) The United States Element of the Inter-American Defense College.”

(b)

added Conforming amendments— Such section is further amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by striking “institutions” and inserting “organizations”; and

(2)

added in subsection (c)—

(A)

added in the subsection heading, by striking “Institutions” and inserting “Organizations”; and

(B)

added in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “institutions” and inserting “organizations”.

Sec. 1110 Supplemental guidance for MCO competitive service positions

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Secretaries of the military departments, shall establish supplemental guidance for qualification standards for competitive service positions within the Department of Defense that are Mission Critical Occupations.

(b)

added Requirements— Under the supplemental guidance established under subsection (a), the Secretaries of the military departments may, with approval of the Secretary of Defense, adopt or waive the requirements of the guidance. Any such adoption or waiver shall include a written justification, submitted to the Secretary of Defense, that such adoption or waiver (as the case may be) will improve competitive service employee recruitment and retention.

(c)

added Plan; briefing—

(1)

added Plan— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall present a plan on implementation of this section to the congressional defense committees

(2)

added Briefing— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and each year thereafter until the sunset date in subsection (d), the Secretary of Defense shall submit a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the implementation of this section. Such a briefing shall include the following:

(A)

added The total amount of individuals affected by the supplemental guidance.

(B)

added If the supplemental guidance authority was adopted, the number of days required to change employee rates of pay compared to the number of days required to change such rates prior to adoption.

(C)

added The impacts on competitive service employee retention and recruitment.

(D)

added Any discrepancies in pay for competitive service positions across Armed Forces and military installations as a result of such supplemental guidance.

(d)

added Sunset— The supplemental guidance established under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2027.

Sec. 1111 Treatment of veterans who did not register for the selective service

added

added Section 3328 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)(1), by striking “(50 U.S.C. App. 453)” and inserting “(50 U.S.C. 3802)”;

(2)

added by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);

(3)

added by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

added “(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual—

added “(1) who is a veteran;

added “(2) who provides evidence of active-duty service to the Executive agency in which the individual seeks an appointment; and

added “(3) for whom the requirement to register under section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3802) has terminated or is now inapplicable.”

(4)

added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(d) In this section, the terms “active duty” and “veteran” have the meaning given those terms in section 101 of title 38.”

Sec. 1112 Increase in military leave accrual and accumulation for Federal employees

added

added Section 6323(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking “15 days” each place it appears and inserting “20 days”.

Sec. 1113 Flexibilities for Federal employees who are armed forces spouses

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 30 calendar days after receiving a request from a covered individual, the head of the agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government employing such covered individual shall—

(1)

added to the extent practicable, authorize such covered individual to work remotely if the head determines that the duties of such covered individual can be completed remotely;

(2)

added reassign the covered individual to a position, for which the individual is qualified and of equal status and base pay, in the agency or instrumentality in the commuting area of the new permanent duty location of the spouse of such covered individual;

(3)

added authorize the covered individual to perform the duties of a different position of equal status and base pay in the agency or instrumentality for which the individual is qualified from an approved alternative worksite; or

(4)

added in the case of a covered individual who is not authorized or able to be reassigned under paragraphs (1), (2), or (3), upon the request of the covered individual, grant that individual leave without pay for up to six months.

(b)

added Waiver— The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may grant an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government a waiver of subsection (a) if the Director certifies that the agency or instrumentality has developed and will faithfully implement, immediately upon receipt of the waiver, a substantially similar procedure that—

(1)

added aims to increase the retention of covered individuals;

(2)

added provides covered individuals an evaluation, upon the request of any such individual, on whether retention can be achieved, at a minimum, through remote work or reassignment, or both;

(3)

added provides the covered individual, within 30 days of the request of such individual, a date certain by which the agency will make a determination unless the date extended by mutual agreement of the agency and individual;

(4)

added provides the application of subsection (a)(4) as an option the covered individual may choose; and

(5)

added implements reporting requirements in subsection (d).

(c)

added Leave without pay— A position held by a covered individual who is granted leave without pay under this section shall not be considered encumbered and may be backfilled by a permanent employee.

(d)

added Reports—

(1)

added Agency reports to OPM— Not later than September 30 of the second full fiscal year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter for the following four years, the head of each agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government shall submit to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management—

(A)

added a list of each request received by such head under subsection (a) during the immediately preceding fiscal year; and

(B)

added which action was taken by the head under such subsection with respect to such a request.

(2)

added Report to Congress— Not later than the first April 15 following the date on which the head of an agency or instrumentality submits the first report under paragraph (1), and biennially thereafter for the following four years, the Director shall provide a report to Congress detailing the information received under paragraph (1), sorted by agency or instrumentality.

(e)

added Rehiring of separated individuals—

(1)

added In general— An individual covered by subsection (a)(4) shall be covered by this subsection until the individual re-enters the Federal service.

(2)

added Reinstatement authority— The duration of the relocation orders of the spouse of an individual covered by subsection (a)(4) shall not count against the three-year limit for reinstatement of non-career tenure individuals under section 315.401 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).

(f)

added Effective date— This Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, except that the Director may, beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, approve waivers pursuant to section 2(b) if an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government has in place on such date of enactment policies and procedures that would qualify for waiver under such section.

(g)

added Covered individual defined— In this section, the term covered individual means an individual—

(1)

added who is the spouse of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty (as defined in section 3330d of title 5, United States Code);

(2)

added who is an employee of an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government;

(3)

added whose duties as such an employee do not include—

(A)

added developing, refining, or implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion policies;

(B)

added leading working groups or advisory councils developing measurements of diversity, equity, and inclusion performance or outcomes; or

(C)

added creating or implementing education, training courses, or workshops on diversity, equity, and inclusion for military or civilian employees of the Federal Government; and

(4)

added who relocates with the spouse of such individual because such spouse, as such a member, receives a permanent change of station or similar requirement to relocate.

Sec. 1201 Modification of Department of Defense State Partnership program

added

added Section 341(e)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end before the semicolon the following: “, including costs incurred with respect to activities beginning in one fiscal year and ending not later than the end of the first fiscal year thereafter”.

Sec. 1202 Modification of Department of Defense support to stabilization activities

added

added Section 1210A of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b)(2)—

(A)

added by striking subparagraph (C); and

(B)

added by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (C);

(2)

added in subsection (c)(1), in the first sentence, by striking “or nonreimbursable”; and

(3)

added in subsection (g)—

(A)

added by striking “use of funds” and all that follows through “Amounts” and inserting “use of funds.—Amounts”; and

(B)

added by striking paragraph (2).

Sec. 1203 Extension and modification of Defense Operational Resilience International Cooperation Pilot Program

added

added Section 1212 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (10 U.S.C. 311 note) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b), by striking “December 31, 2025” and inserting “December 31, 2027”;

(2)

added in subsection (d), by striking “2025” and inserting “2027”; and

(3)

added in subsection (f), by striking “2025” and inserting “2027”.

Sec. 1211 Extension and modification of authority to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

added

(a)

added In general— Subsection (a) of section 1236 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3559) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”.

(b)

added Funding— Subsection (g) of such section is amended by striking “fiscal year 2024, there are authorized to be appropriated $241,950,000” and inserting “fiscal year 2025, there are authorized to be appropriated $380,000,000.”.

(c)

added Waiver authority— Subsection (o)(6) of such section is amended by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”.

Sec. 1212 Extension of authority to provide assistance to vetted Syrian groups and individuals

added

added Section 1209 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3559) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”; and

(2)

added in subsection (l)(3)(E), by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2025”.

Sec. 1213 Extension and modification of annual report on military power of Iran

added

(a)

added Matters to be included— Subsection (b) of section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end and inserting a semicolon;

(B)

added in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”;

(C)

added by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D), as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively; and

(D)

added by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following subparagraph:

added “(B) any adjustments to the use of proxy forces by Iran;”

(2)

added in paragraph (2)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking “an analysis of”;

(B)

added in subparagraph (C), by striking “; and” at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(C)

added in subparagraph (D), by striking “; and” at the end and inserting “, including Iranian anti-access or area denial and other maritime harassment capabilities; and”;

(3)

added in paragraph (3)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “Iranian Revolutionary Guard” and inserting “Islamic Revolutionary Guard”;

(B)

added in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”;

(C)

added by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (J) as subparagraphs (F) through (K), respectively; and

(D)

added by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following subparagraph:

added “(E) the role of Iran in supporting, facilitating, directing, or conducting attacks on United States forces in the region;”

(4)

added in paragraph (4)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (B), by striking “and storage sites;” and inserting “, storage, and production sites;”;

(B)

added in subparagraph (E), by inserting “an intermediate-range ballistic missile or” after “develop and field”; and

(C)

added in subparagraph (F), by striking “; and” at the end and inserting “and the exportation of Iranian drones to the Middle East and Europe; and”;

(5)

added in paragraph (12), by striking “(9)” and inserting “(12)”;

(6)

added by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (12) as paragraphs (10) through (13), respectively;

(7)

added by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:

added “(9) An assessment of the use of civilians by groups supported by Iran to shield military objectives from attack, including groups such as—

added “(A) Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis; and

added “(B) the Special Groups in Iraq.”

(8)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(14) An assessment of the manner and extent to which the advances or improvements in the capabilities of Iran’s conventional and unconventional forces described in this section have affected Israel’s qualitative military edge during the preceding year.”

(b)

added Definitions— Subsection (c) of such section is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking “Iranian” and inserting “Islamic”;

(2)

added in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(bb), by inserting “or its regional interests” before the period at the end; and

(3)

added in paragraph (4), by striking “capable of flights less than 500 kilometers.”.

(c)

added Termination— Subsection (d) of such section is amended by striking “December 31, 2025” and inserting “December 31, 2026”.

Sec. 1221 Sense of Congress

added

added It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense has executed robust and important defense of Al Tanf Garrison before and after the October 7, 2023, attacks and has an effective strategy for defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

Sec. 1222 Strategy to protect the Al-Tanf Garrison

added

(a)

added Strategy—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall develop strategy on protection United States and partner forces at Al-Tanf Garrison in Syria from the threat of Iran-backed militias, ISIS, the Russian Federation, and the Assad regime.

(2)

added Elements— The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

added A description of the number of attacks by Iran-backed militias at Al-Tanf Garrison beginning on October 7, 2023, and a description on how to prevent and deter future attacks.

(B)

added A description of how the Department of Defense has assisted with private humanitarian assistance efforts through the Denton Humanitarian Assistance Program with respect to internally displaced persons at the Al-Rukban camp near the Al-Tanf Garrison and a plan with regard to how to continue and expand such efforts, as well as a plan for continued collaboration between Operation Inherent Resolve and nongovernmental organizations to continue to ensure the provision of essential aid and medical assistance for Syrian civilians at the Al-Rukban camp.

(C)

added A description of the Assad regime’s potential role in attacks on United States servicemembers by Iran-backed militias in Syria beginning on October 7, 2023, and a plan by the Department of Defense to prevent, deter, and degrade the Assad regime’s ability to assist with future attacks by Iran-backed militias on Al-Tanf Garrison.

(D)

added A description of Russian violations of deconfliction agreements with the United States at the Al-Tanf Garrison and and a plan to address such violations.

(b)

added Implementation plan— Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense develops the strategy required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees, or provide such committees a briefing on, a plan for implementing the strategy.

(c)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that contains the strategy required by subsection (a).

(2)

added Form— The report required by this subsection shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

Sec. 1223 Report and strategy on the Assad regime’s relationship with ISIS

added

(a)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the Assad regime’s cooperation, assistance, and association with ISIS.

(2)

added Elements— The report required by paragraph (1) shall include a description of the following:

(A)

added How the Assad regime has focused its military efforts at rebel groups fighting ISIS and the extent to which such efforts helped the growth of ISIS and hindered operations against ISIS.

(B)

added The extent to which Syrian intelligence may have worked with, assisted, facilitated, or tolerated ISIS operatives.

(C)

added The release of jihadists from Syrian prisons by the Assad regime may have had on the rise of ISIS.

(D)

added The extent to which the purchase by the Assad regime of oil, gas, wheat, and grain from ISIS through various intermediaries has added to ISIS’ revenue, and the role that allowing Syrian banks to continue to function and provide financial services within ISIS-held territory had upon ISIS’ revenue.

(E)

added The extent to which the Assad regime’s cooperation, assistance, and association with ISIS has harmed Operation Inherent Resolve and other efforts by the Department of Defense to counter ISIS in Syria.

(F)

added The extent to which the Assad regime’s destructive policies may continue to provide for the resurgence of ISIS.

(b)

added Strategy— Not later than 180 days after the submission of the report required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy on how to counter the Assad regime’s cooperation, assistance, and association with ISIS.

(c)

added Form— The report required by subsection (a) and the strategy required by subsection (b) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

(d)

added Implementation plan required— Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary develops the strategy required by subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees, or provide such committees a briefing on, a plan for implementing the strategy.

Sec. 1224 Strategy to counter the Assad regime’s support and cooperation with Iran-backed militias in Syria

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy on the use of its existing authorities to disrupt and degrade threats to the national security of the United States caused by Iran-backed militias in Syria.

(b)

added Contents— The strategy required by subsection (a) shall outline how the Department of Defense will—

(1)

added leverages existing authorities to detect and monitor activities related to Iran-backed militias;

(2)

added evaluate existing policies, procedures, processes, and resources of the Department to counter the threat of Iran-backed militias in Syria;

(3)

added protect United States servicemembers from attacks from Iran-backed militias in Syria;

(4)

added make the countering of Iran-backed militias in Syria, including the Assad regime’s support of such militias, a key policy objective in United States policy towards Syria;

(5)

added provide a description of the Assad regime’s potential role in Iran-backed militia attacks against United States servicemembers, specifically attacks on or after October 7, 2023;

(6)

added provide an assessment of the freedom of movement of Iranian proxies particularly between Abu Kamal and the deconfliction zone in eastern Syria and the operational implications of this movement;

(7)

added provide a description of the potential capability of Iran-backed militias to transport weapons and weapons systems from Syria into Lebanon and a plan to counter any such transfers; and

(8)

added provide an assessment of the impact of Iran’s sectarian cleansing and demographic change project in Syria on Iran’s ability to sustain military threats to the United States and its allies and maintain support to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

(c)

added Form— The strategy required by subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 1225 Report and strategy on Russia’s support for foreign terrorist organizations in Syria

added

(a)

added Report and strategy—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report and strategy to utilize existing authorities to counter Russia’s support of foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists in Syria.

(2)

added Elements— The report and strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following elements:

(A)

added A description of past Russian support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria and any current potential support, including military coordination between Russia and the IRGC, as well as any potential transfers of materiel or military supplies between Russia and the IRGC and the extent of coordination on efforts to evade United States sanctions.

(B)

added A description of past Russian military cooperation with Hezbollah in Syria, including Russia’s provision of air support to Hezbollah in Syria during the period from 2013 through 2018, as well as any potential ongoing support as well as a description of the extent of Hezbollah’s role training Russian forces and their affiliates on the use of Iranian-origin unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Syria.

(C)

added A description of any potential Russian military support for Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN) and Akram ‘Abbas al-Kabi, the Fatemiyoun Division, Zaynabiyoun Brigade, and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS) and KSS leader Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji.

(D)

added A strategy of How the Department of Defense can utilize existing authorities to detect and monitor activities related to Russia’s military support of terrorists in Syria, including how the Department can evaluate existing policies, procedures, processes, and resources that affect the ability of the Department to counter the threat of Russia’s support of terrorists in Syria.

(E)

added An affirmation by the Department that countering Russia’s support of terrorists in Syria is a key policy objective in United States policy towards Syria.

(F)

added A description of how Russia’s violations of the deconfliction agreement with the United States in Syria may have undermined efforts to combat ISIS in the region and helped destabilize the region and plans to address such violations.

(b)

added Form— The report required by subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(c)

added Scope— The scope of the report required by subsection (b) shall include the period beginning on January 1, 2014, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 1226 Prohibition of recognition of the Assad regime

added

(a)

added Statement of policy— It is the policy of the United States—

(1)

added not to recognize or normalize relations with any government of Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad due to the Assad regime’s ongoing crimes against the Syrian people; and

(2)

added to actively oppose recognition or normalization of relations by other governments with any government of Syria that is led by Bashar Al-Assad.

(b)

added Prohibition— In accordance with subsection (a), no Federal official or employee may take any action, and no Federal funds may be made available, to recognize or otherwise imply, in any manner, United States recognition of Bashar al-Assad or any government in Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad.

Sec. 1227 Appropriate congressional committees defined

added

added In this subtitle, the term appropriate congressional committees means—

(1)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(2)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

Sec. 1231 Prohibition on New START Treaty information sharing

added

(a)

added Prohibition— None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense may be used to provide the Russian Federation with notifications, biannual data exchange, inspection activities, or telemetric activities as required by the New START Treaty.

(b)

added Waiver— The Secretary of Defense, with concurrence from the Secretary of State, may waive the prohibition in subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis if the Secretary of Defense certifies to the appropriate congressional committees in writing, that—

(1)

added it is in the national security interest of the United States to unilaterally provide notifications, biannual data exchange, inspection activities, or telemetric information to the Russian Federation; or

(2)

added the Russian Federation is providing similar information to the United States as required by the New START Treaty.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section—

(1)

added the term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(B)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

(2)

added the term New START Treaty means the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed at Prague April 8, 2010, and entered into force February 5, 2011.

Sec. 1232 Ensuring Israel’s defense

added

(a)

added Statement of policy— It is the policy of the United States to work with Israel to ensure adequate stocks of components and munitions to defend Israel against threats from Iran and Iranian military proxies, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

(b)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall, on a biannual basis, submit to the appropriate committees a report on the extent to which Israel is subject to aerial attacks described in paragraph (2) and that contains the matters described in paragraph (3).

(2)

added Aerial attack described— An aerial attack described in this paragraph is an aerial attack, including a rocket or missile attack, that Israel counters by deploying or utilizing—

(A)

added not less than 50 interceptors under its Iron Dome defense system;

(B)

added its David’s Sling defense system; or

(C)

added its Arrow defense system.

(3)

added Matters to be included— The report required by paragraph (1) shall include a description of the following:

(A)

added An identification of—

(i)

added any components or munitions required for the replenishment of the defense systems described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) deployed or utilized to counter the attack;

(ii)

added any requests made by the Government of Israel to the Government of the United States for any such replenishment;

(iii)

added the funding requirements for any such replenishment;

(iv)

added the Government of the United States’ adjudication of any such requests from the Government of Israel; and

(v)

added the time frame under which the United States can resupply the Israeli Defense Forces with such defense systems and the surge capacity after an incident.

(B)

added A description of any other funding requirements to support Israeli military operations in defense against Iran or any Iranian military proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

(C)

added A description of—

(i)

added the current levels of stocks of components and munitions that would be used for any such replenishment;

(ii)

added the projected needs, including to address emergent requirements, with estimated costs and sources of such replenishment; and

(iii)

added the number of deployments of the defense system described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) and expenditures of interceptors under the Iron Dome defense system within the reporting period.

(4)

added Consultation— The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall seek to consult with the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State’s counterpart in the Government of Israel in preparing the report required by paragraph (1).

(5)

added Form— The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

(c)

added Definition of appropriate committees— In this section, the term appropriate committees means—

(1)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(2)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

Sec. 1233 Requirement to conduct subterranean warfare military exercises

added

(a)

added Exercises required— Beginning on January 1 of the year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall require the United States Central Command or other relevant commands, units, or organizations of the United States military services, as the Secretary determines appropriate, to conduct military exercises that—

(1)

added occur not fewer than once in a calendar year;

(2)

added shall include invitations for the armed forces of Israel, provided that the Government of Israel consents to the participation of its forces in such exercises;

(3)

added may include invitations for the armed forces of other allies and partners of the United States to take part in the exercises;

(4)

added seek to enhance the interoperability and effectiveness of the United States military services, the armed forces of Israel, and the armed forces of other allies and partners of the United States in coalition operations; and

(5)

added shall include, if available resources permit, the following activities—

(A)

added practicing or simulating locating subterranean tunnel entrances and exits;

(B)

added practicing infiltrating and mapping subterranean tunnels;

(C)

added practicing maneuvering within subterranean tunnels of varying sizes; and

(D)

added practicing neutralizing or demolishing subterranean tunnels.

(b)

added Sunset— The requirements in subsection (a) shall terminate on December 31 of the year described in subsection (a).

Sec. 1234 United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research

added

(a)

added Grant program for increased cooperation on post-traumatic stress disorder research between United States and Israel—

(1)

added Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program, should seek to explore scientific collaboration between American academic institutions and nonprofit research entities, and Israeli institutions with expertise in researching, diagnosing, and treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

(2)

added Grant program— The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of State, shall award grants to eligible entities to carry out collaborative research between the United States and Israel with respect to post-traumatic stress disorders. The Secretary of Defense shall carry out the grant program under this subsection in accordance with the agreement titled “Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel on the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation”, dated September 27, 1972.

(3)

added Eligible entities— To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be an academic institution or a nonprofit entity located in the United States.

(4)

added Award— The Secretary shall award grants under this subsection to eligible entities that—

(A)

added carry out a research project that—

(i)

added addresses a requirement in the area of post-traumatic stress disorders that the Secretary determines appropriate to research using such grant; and

(ii)

added is conducted by the eligible entity and an entity in Israel under a joint research agreement; and

(B)

added meet such other criteria that the Secretary may establish.

(5)

added Application— To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such commitments and information as the Secretary may require.

(6)

added Gift authority— The Secretary may accept, hold, and administer, any gift of money made on the condition that the gift be used for the purpose of the grant program under this subsection. Such gifts of money accepted under this paragraph shall be deposited in the Treasury in the Department of Defense General Gift Fund and shall be available, subject to appropriation, without fiscal year limitation.

(7)

added Reports— Not later than 180 days after the date on which an eligible entity completes a research project using a grant under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that contains—

(A)

added a description of how the eligible entity used the grant; and

(B)

added an evaluation of the level of success of the research project.

(b)

added Termination— The authority to award grants under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date on which the first such grant is awarded.

Sec. 1235 United States and Israel Trauma and Amputee Rehabilitation Education and Training Program with the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall establish an education and training program to be known as the “United States and Israel Trauma and Amputee Rehabilitation Education and Training Program” with appropriate personnel of the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces.

(b)

added Education and training activities— The United States and Israel Trauma and Amputee Rehabilitation Education and Training Program shall include the following activities:

(1)

added Dialogue between personnel of the military health system and the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces on best practices for general trauma care, with a focus on amputation and amputee care, including the following elements of amputee care:

(A)

added Use of prosthetics.

(B)

added Wound care.

(C)

added Rehabilitative therapy.

(D)

added Family counseling.

(E)

added Mental health therapy.

(2)

added Training activities for personnel of the military health system and the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces on trauma care, to include amputation and amputee care, including with a focus on surgical techniques for amputation and on providing post-amputation care.

(3)

added Opportunities for personnel of the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces to—

(A)

added attend classes offered by personnel of the Center for the Intrepid of the Brooke Army Medical Center or any other military health system facility on best practices for trauma and amputee rehabilitation; and

(B)

added observe amputee rehabilitation treatment methods administered by personnel of the Center for the Intrepid of the Brooke Army Medical Center or any other military health system facility.

(4)

added Any other educational activities that the Director, in coordination with appropriate officials from the Israel Defense Forces, determines relevant.

Sec. 1301 Extension and modification of Pacific Deterrence Initiative

added

(a)

added In general— Subsection (c) of section 1251 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended—

(1)

added by striking “the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024” and inserting “the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025”; and

(2)

added by striking “fiscal year 2024” and inserting “fiscal year 2025”.

(b)

added Report— Subsection (d)(1)(A) of such section is amended by striking “fiscal years 2025 and 2026” and inserting “fiscal years 2026 and 2027”.

(c)

added Plan required— Subsection (e) of such section is amended by striking “fiscal years 2025 and 2026” and inserting “fiscal years 2026 and 2027”.

Sec. 1302 Modification of public reporting of Chinese Military Companies operating in the United States

added

added Section 1260H(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1), by inserting “and a justification for the identification of each such entity, in unclassified form,” after “, in classified and unclassified forms,”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (2), by inserting “and justification” after “list” each place it appears.

Sec. 1303 Modifications to public reporting of Chinese military companies operating in the United States

added

(a)

added Reporting and publication— Subsection (b)(3) of section 1260H of the William M (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended by striking “an ongoing basis” and inserting “at least an annual basis”.

(b)

added Additional matters— Such section is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and

(2)

added by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

added “(d) Report and other additional matters

added “(1) Report

added “(A) In general—Not later than December 31, 2026, and biennially thereafter until December 31, 2031, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of Department of Defense procurement restrictions on entities included in the list described in subsection (b)(1).

added “(B) Matters to be included—The report required by this paragraph shall include the following:

added “(i) A list of entities included the list described in subsection (b)(1) likely present in the defense industrial base.

added “(ii) Available unclassified data on the presence of entities included on the list described in subsection (b)(1) in the defense industrial base.

added “(iii) Updates on policies and procedures implemented to enforce procurement restrictions on entities included the list described in subsection (b)(1).

added “(2) Procedures for implementation—The Secretary of Defense shall establish such reasonable procedures as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including for obtaining information from outside entities relevant to the list described in subsection (b)(1) and procedures for removal of entities from the list described in subsection (b)(1).”

(c)

added Definitions— Paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of such section (as so redesignated) is amended—

(1)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “and” at the end;

(2)

added in subparagraph (B)—

(A)

added in clause (i)(I) to read as follows:

added “(I) directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or beneficially owned by, or in an official or unofficial capacity acting as an agent of or on behalf of, the People’s Liberation Army, Chinese military and paramilitary elements, security forces, police, law enforcement, border control, the People’s Armed Police, the Ministry of State Security, or any other organization subordinate to the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party; or”

(B)

added in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(C) includes wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries and affiliates of an entity described in subparagraph (B).”

Sec. 1304 Establishment of Indo-Pacific medical readiness program

added

(a)

added Establishment—

(1)

added In general— Not later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a medical readiness program (referred to in this section as the “Program”) to partner with countries in the Indo-Pacific region to gain access to foreign medical facilities during peacetime and wartime operations and maintain military-wide strategies for medical readiness in the region.

(2)

added Organization— The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretaries of the military departments, the commanders of the combatant commands, and any other individual the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, shall be responsible for and oversee the Program.

(3)

added Objective— The objective of the Program shall be to promote the medical readiness of the Armed Forces and the military forces of partner countries for missions during peacetime and wartime operations by—

(A)

added reducing potential requirements for long distance medical evacuation to receive definitive patient care;

(B)

added increasing the medical capacity of the Department of Defense by expanding patient access to medical facilities across the Indo-Pacific region where and when appropriate;

(C)

added improving the standard of care through collaboration with foreign medical facilities to promote standardized medical procedures, patient care, and policies; and

(D)

added enhancing interoperability and interchangeability where feasible through shared patient record management techniques, medical equipment commonality, and coordination of medical care.

(4)

added Activities— In carrying out the Program, the Secretary of Defense should seek to conduct the following activities—

(A)

added assess and integrate current Department of Defense medical capabilities and capacities in the Indo-Pacific region into the Program;

(B)

added select an appropriate standard of accreditation to utilize when evaluating foreign medical facilities;

(C)

added coordinate with partner countries to identify and evaluate medical facilities for the Program;

(D)

added establish agreements with foreign medical facilities for potential use of the Program;

(E)

added establish policies and procedures—

(i)

added to reduce patient movement times in various countries in the Indo-Pacific region during peacetime and wartime operations;

(ii)

added to standardize medical procedures, patient care, and policies;

(iii)

added to securely share patient data with foreign countries when appropriate to do so, such as during a contingency;

(iv)

added with respect to medical equipment commonality and interchangeability; and

(v)

added with respect to the coordination of medical care; and

(F)

added integrate the Program into operational plans of the combatant commands.

(b)

added Strategy—

(1)

added In general— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit a strategy for the implementation of the Program to—

(A)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

(B)

added the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2)

added Elements— The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

added A governance structure for the Program, including—

(i)

added the officials tasked to oversee the Program;

(ii)

added the format of the governing body of the Program;

(iii)

added the functions and duties of such governing body with respect to establishing and maintaining the Program; and

(iv)

added mechanisms for coordinating with partner countries selected to participate in the Program.

(B)

added With respect to the selection of partner countries initially selected to participate in the Program—

(i)

added an identification of each such country;

(ii)

added the rationale for selecting each such country; and

(iii)

added any other information the Secretary considers appropriate.

(C)

added A campaign of objectives for the first 3 fiscal years of the Program, including—

(i)

added a description of, and a rational for selecting, such objectives;

(ii)

added an identification of milestones toward achieving such objectives; and

(iii)

added metrics for evaluating success in achieving such objectives.

(D)

added A description of opportunities and potential timelines for future Program expansion, as appropriate.

(E)

added A list of additional authorities, appropriations, or other congressional support necessary to ensure the success of the Program.

(F)

added Any other information the Secretary considers appropriate.

(3)

added Form— The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

(c)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— Not later than September 20, 2025, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit a report on the Program to—

(A)

added the congressional defense committees;

(B)

added the Committee of Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

(C)

added the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2)

added Elements— Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

added A narrative summary of activities conducted as part of the Program during the preceding fiscal year.

(B)

added Except in the case of the initial report, an assessment of progress toward the objectives established for the preceding fiscal year described in the preceding report under this subsection using the metrics established in such report.

(C)

added A campaign of objectives for the 3 fiscal years following the date of submission of the report, including—

(i)

added a description of, and a rational for selecting, such objectives;

(ii)

added an identification of milestones toward achieving such objectives; and

(iii)

added metrics for evaluating success in achieving such objectives.

(D)

added A description of opportunities and potential timelines for future Program expansion, as appropriate.

(E)

added Any other information the Under Secretary considers appropriate.

(3)

added Form— Each report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 1311 Sense of Congress on South Korea

added

added It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should reinforce the United States alliance with the Republic of Korea in support of the shared objective of a peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula, including by—

(1)

added maintaining the presence of approximately 28,500 members of the United States Armed Forces deployed to the country, enhancing mutual defense industrial base cooperation; and

(2)

added affirming the United States commitment to extended deterrence using the full range of United States defense capabilities, consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea, signed at Washington, October 1, 1953.

Sec. 1312 Sense of Congress on Taiwan defense relations

added

added It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

added the United States’ one China policy, as guided by the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the Three Communiques between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, and the Six Assurances provided by the United States to Taiwan in July 1982, is the foundation for United States-Taiwan relations;

(2)

added as set forth in the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China rests upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means, and that any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including boycotts and embargoes, is of grave concern to the United States;

(3)

added the increasingly coercive and aggressive behavior of the People’s Republic of China toward Taiwan is contrary to the expectation of the peaceful resolution of the future of Taiwan;

(4)

added as set forth in the Taiwan Relations Act, the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan should be maintained;

(5)

added the United States should continue to support the development of capable, ready, and modern defense forces necessary for Taiwan to maintain sufficient defensive capabilities, including by—

(A)

added supporting acquisition by Taiwan of defense articles and services through foreign military sales, direct commercial sales, and industrial cooperation, with an emphasis on capabilities that support an asymmetric strategy;

(B)

added ensuring timely review of and response to requests of Taiwan for defense articles and services;

(C)

added conducting practical training and military exercises with Taiwan that enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient defensive capabilities, as described in the Taiwan Relations Act;

(D)

added exchanges between defense officials and officers of the United States and Taiwan at the strategic, policy, and functional levels, consistent with the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115–135; 132 Stat. 341), especially for the purposes of—

(i)

added enhancing cooperation on defense planning;

(ii)

added improving the interoperability of the military forces of the United States and Taiwan; and

(iii)

added improving the reserve force of Taiwan;

(E)

added cooperating with Taiwan to improve its ability to employ military capabilities in asymmetric ways, as described in the Taiwan Relations Act; and

(F)

added expanding cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; and

(6)

added the United States should increase its support to a free and open society in the face of aggressive efforts by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to curtail or influence the free exercise of rights and democratic franchise.

Sec. 1313 Consideration of Taiwan for enhanced defense industrial base cooperation

added

(a)

added Enhanced Defense Industrial Base Cooperation—

(1)

added In general— Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the head of any other relevant Federal department or agency, shall take measures to ensure that Taiwan is appropriately considered for enhanced defense industrial base cooperation activities aligned with the United States National Defense Industrial Strategy to expand global defense production, increase supply chain security and resilience, and meet the defense needs of Taiwan.

(2)

added Elements— Consideration for enhanced defense industrial base cooperation activities under paragraph (1) shall include the consideration of Taiwan for the following:

(A)

added Eligibility for funding to initiate or facilitate cooperative research, development, testing, or evaluation projects with the Department of Defense.

(B)

added Eligibility to enter into a memorandum of understanding or other formal agreement with the Department of Defense for the purpose of conducting cooperative research and development projects on defense equipment and munitions, with a focus on enhancing the defense industry and supply chain resilience of Taiwan.

(b)

added Feasibility study—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Government of Taiwan, and representatives of the United States defense industry, shall conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of entering into one or more defense industrial agreements with Taiwan.

(2)

added Elements— The study required by paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

added evaluate the strategic benefits and implications of entering into a defense industrial agreement with Taiwan, including with respect to—

(i)

added long-term supply chain security and resilience;

(ii)

added mutual supply of defense goods and services;

(iii)

added supply of regional maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities and any other support capability the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate; and

(iv)

added the promotion of interoperability;

(B)

added account for the legal, economic, and defense policy aspects of a closer defense procurement partnership between the United States and Taiwan; and

(C)

added include a list of not fewer than five defense capabilities—

(i)

added

(I)

added developed by, and produced in, Taiwan; and

(II)

added that require expedited licenses for components produced in the United States; or

(ii)

added developed by the United States but for which the United States defense industry cannot meet the demand of Taiwan on a timely basis so as to necessitate production in Taiwan.

(3)

added Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).

Sec. 1314 Modification to annual report on military and security developments involving the People's Republic of China

added

added Section 1202(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended—

(1)

added by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

(2)

added by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5):

added “(5) The military and security developments concerning the Tibetan Plateau.”

Sec. 1315 Designation of official responsible for coordination of department of defense efforts to monitor People’s Liberation Army overseas basing efforts

added

(a)

added Designation— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall designate an official to be responsible for, in coordination with appropriate officials within the Department of Defense—

(1)

added coordinating Department of Defense efforts to monitor the People’s Liberation Army’s network of overseas military bases and its global pursuit of military access agreements;

(2)

added representing the Department of Defense in the interagency process on issues related to responsibilities described in paragraph (1); and

(3)

added consulting regularly with the congressional defense committees to keep such committees fully informed on all matters relating to the responsibilities described in paragraph (1).

(b)

added Notification— Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense makes the designation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a notification that includes the name of the individual so designated.

(c)

added Annual report— Not later than December 1, 2025, and annually thereafter until December 1, 2030, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report detailing, for the period covered by the year prior to the report, matters relating to the efforts described in subsection (a).

(1)

added Form— Each report submitted under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(2)

added Sunset— This section shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 1316 Report on prohibition with respect to certain Federal grants to ensure research security

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall prepare and submit to the congressional defense committees and the congressional intelligence committees a report on the feasibility and effects of implementing the prohibition described in subsection (b) with respect to the provision of certain Federal research grants by elements of the Department of Defense.

(b)

added Prohibition described— The prohibition described in this subsection shall include the following elements:

(1)

added Prohibition— Except as provided under paragraph (2), the head of any element of the Department of Defense may not award a Federal grant for research to any institution or person if the head of such element cannot verify that none of the individuals, institutions, or entities that partner with the grantee, formally or informally, are, as applicable—

(A)

added individuals from institutions located in any country of concern; or

(B)

added institutions or entities from or located in any country of concern.

(2)

added Waivers— The head of an element of the Department of Defense may, on a nondelegable basis except with respect to the deputy head of such element, waive the prohibition under paragraph (1) on a case-by-case basis upon notification, not later than 30 days after the date such waiver is granted, to each appropriate congressional committee of jurisdiction.

(3)

added Form— The contents of a waiver reported under paragraph (2) may be reported in classified or unclassified form, as determined appropriate by the head of the element of the Department of Defense concerned.

(c)

added Country of concern defined— For purposes of this section, the term country of concern has the meaning given that term in section 1(m)(1) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)(1)).

Sec. 1317 Prohibition on use of funds to support entertainment entities which produce or co-produce for Chinese propaganda

added

(a)

added In general— None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 may be made available to knowingly provide active and direct support to any entertainment company or project if the Secretary of Defense has demonstrable evidence that—

(1)

added the entertainment company has entered into or maintains an agreement for the purposes of production or co-production of a project with a covered entity that has used, produced, or co-produced entertainment content for propaganda purposes; or

(2)

added the entertainment project is produced or co-produced with a covered entity that has used, produced, or co-produced entertainment content for propaganda purposes.

(b)

added Covered entity— In this section, the term “covered entity” means any media entity owned by or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, the People’s Republic of China, or the People’s Liberation Army.

(c)

added Waiver— The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) if the Secretary submits to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a written certification that such a waiver is in the national interest of the United States.

(d)

added Policy required— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue a policy that describes how the Department of Defense shall update its processes to review requests to provide active or direct support to any entertainment company or project to comply with the requirements of this section.

Sec. 1401 Working capital funds

added

added Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of the Department of Defense for providing capital for working capital and revolving funds, as specified in the funding table in section 4501.

Sec. 1402 Chemical agents and munitions destruction, defense

added

(a)

added Authorization of appropriations— Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2025 for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense, as specified in the funding table in section 4501.

(b)

added Use— Amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) are authorized for—

(1)

added the destruction of lethal chemical agents and munitions in accordance with section 1412 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986 (50 U.S.C. 1521); and

(1)

added A identification of the strategic and critical materials for which there is a shortfall in the National Defense Stockpile, as determined by the Secretary, and the estimated cost of resolving such shortfalls.

(2)

added A description of the effect of the shortfall identified under paragraph (1) on military systems and operations identified by the Secretary if the strategic and critical materials for which there is such a shortfall became unavailable;

(3)

added A plan for resolving the shortfall identified under paragraph (1) and to avoid any future shortfall in the National Defense Stockpile—

(A)

added with respect to the military and industrial needs of the United States during a national emergency, not later than December 31, 2027; and

(B)

added with respect to the essential civilian needs of the United States during a national emergency, not later than December 31, 2029.

(4)

added A plan to prioritize the procurement of strategic and critical materials to resolve the shortfall identified under paragraph (1) which includes the procurement of the following:

(A)

added Rare earth elements and critical minerals.

(B)

added Energetic materials (as defined in section 148 of title 10, United States Code).

(C)

added Spare or replacement parts for weapon systems of the Department of Defense.

(D)

added Materials for trusted and assured microelectronics for the Department of Defense.

(5)

added A description of the additional funds that would be necessary to resolve the shortfall identified under paragraph (1) if the National Defense Stockpile was required to meet the national defense needs of the United States for a period of—

(A)

added not less than two years during a national emergency; and

(B)

added not less than three years during a national emergency.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added National emergency— The term “national emergency” has the meaning given such term under section 12 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98h–3).

(2)

added Strategic and critical materials— The term “strategic and critical materials” means materials determined pursuant to section 3(a) of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98b(a)) to be strategic and critical materials.

Sec. 1421 Extension of authorities for funding and management of Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for Captain James A. Lovell Health Care Center, Illinois

added

(a)

added In general— Section 1704(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2573), as most recently amended by section 104 of division E of the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–180, 136 Stat. 2137), is amended by striking “September 30, 2024” and inserting “September 30, 2025”.

(b)

added Authority for transfer of funds— Of the funds authorized to be appropriated for section 1405 and available for the Defense Health Program for operation and maintenance, $162,500,000 may be transferred by the Secretary of Defense to the Joint Department of Defense–Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund established by subsection (a)(1) of section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2571). For purposes of subsection (a)(2) of such section 1704, any funds so transferred shall be treated as amounts authorized and appropriated specifically for the purpose of such a transfer.

(c)

added Use of transferred funds— For the purposes of subsection (b) of such section 1704, facility operations for which funds transferred under subsection (b) of this section may be used are operations of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, consisting of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Navy Ambulatory Care Center, and supporting facilities designated as a combined Federal medical facility under an operational agreement covered by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500).

Sec. 1422 Eligibility of Space Force officers for membership on Armed Forces Retirement Home Advisory Council

added

(a)

added Space Force chief personnel officer— Section 1502(5) of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act of 1991 (24 U.S.C. 401(5)) is amended—

(1)

added in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” at the end;

(2)

added in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(F) the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital of the Space Force.”

(b)

added Space Force senior noncommissioned officer— Section 1502(6) of such Act (24 U.S.C. 401(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(F) The Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force.”

Sec. 1423 Authorization of appropriations for Armed Forces Retirement Home

added

added There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 from the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund the sum of $69,520,000 of which—

(1)

added $68,520,000 is for operating expenses; and

(2)

added $1,000,000 is for capital maintenance and construction.

Sec. 1501 Authority to accept voluntary and uncompensated services from cybersecurity experts

added

added Section 167b(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(4) The Commander of the United States Cyber Command may accept voluntary and uncompensated services from cybersecurity experts, notwithstanding the provisions of section 1342 of title 31, and may delegate such authority to the chiefs of the armed forces.”

Sec. 1502 Establishment of the Department of Defense Hackathon program

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, shall establish a program (to be known as the “Department of Defense Hackathon Program”) under which the commanders of combatant commands and the Secretaries of the military departments shall carry out not fewer than four Hackathons each year.

(b)

added Program management— The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense shall develop and implement standards for carrying out Hackathons, provide supporting technical infrastructure to the host of each Hackathon, and determine the hosts each year under subsection (c)(1).

(c)

added Hosts—

(1)

added

(A)

added Each year, two commanders of combatant commands shall each carry out a Hackathon and two Secretaries of a military department shall each carry out a Hackathon, as determined by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense in accordance with this subsection.

(B)

added The commanders of combatant commands and the Secretaries of military departments carrying out Hackathons pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall change each year.

(C)

added Each host of a Hackathon shall—

(i)

added provide to the participants invited to participate in such Hackathon a per diem allowance in accordance with section 5702 of title 5, United States Code, or section 452 of title 37, United States Code, as applicable; and

(ii)

added not later than 60 days after the completion of such Hackathon, make available to the Department of Defense a report on such Hackathon.

(2)

added Any commander of a combatant command or Secretary of a military department may carry out a Hackathon in addition to the Hackathons required under paragraph (1).

(d)

added Hackathon objectives—

(1)

added The host of each Hackathon shall establish objectives for the Hackathon that address a critical, technical challenge of the combatant command or military department of the host, as applicable, through the use of individuals with specialized and relevant skills, including data scientists, developers, software engineers, and other specialists as determined appropriate by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense or the host.

(2)

added In addition to the objectives established by the host of a Hackathon under subparagraph (A), the objectives for each Hackathon shall include—

(A)

added fostering innovation across the Department of Defense, including in military departments and the combatant commands; and

(B)

added creating repeatable processes enabling the commanders of combatant commands and the Secretaries of the military departments to more rapidly identify and develop solutions to critical, technical challenges across the Department of Defense.

(e)

added Definitions— In this section—

(1)

added the term “Hackathon” means an event carried out under the Program at which employees across the Department of Defense meet to collaboratively attempt to develop functional software or hardware solutions during the event to solve a critical, technical challenge determined by the host;

(2)

added the term “host”, with respect to a Hackathon, means the commander of the combatant command or the Secretary of the military department carrying out the Hackathon;

(3)

added the term “military department” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code; and

(4)

added the term “Program” means the program established under subsection (a).

Sec. 1503 Department of Defense Information Network subordinate unified command

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall designate the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network as a subordinate unified command under the United States Cyber Command.

(b)

added Designation notice— On the date on which the Secretary of Defense makes the designation required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue to the Secretary of each military department (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Under Secretaries of the Department of Defense, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, the commander of each combatant command, and the head of each Defense Agency and Department of Defense Field Activity (as such terms are defined, respectively, in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code) a notice regarding—

(1)

added the designation of the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network as a subordinate unified command under the United States Cyber Command; and

(2)

added the mission of the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network as the lead organization for the network operations, security, and defense of the Department of Defense Information Network.

Sec. 1504 Accounting of cloud computing capabilities of the Department of Defense

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than October 15, 2025, and every six months thereafter, the Chief Information Office of the Department, in coordination with the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department, shall provide to the congressional defense committees a report listing the current and planned cloud elements of the Department and containing the roadmap required under subsection (b).

(b)

added Accounting contents— Each report under subsection (a) shall include for each current or planned cloud element of the Department a detailed roadmap that includes the following:

(1)

added The dates for any planned or ongoing replacement, update, modification, or retirement of the cloud element, including—

(A)

added specific dates for—

(i)

added any planned or ongoing major updates or upgrades of such cloud element; and

(ii)

added the use of interim capabilities by or in place of such cloud element; and

(B)

added dates for such other activities with respect to such cloud element as determined appropriate by the Chief Information Officer of the Department.

(2)

added Relevant cost metrics for the cloud element, including the current program cost, cost-to-complete, and incremental costs.

(3)

added The contracting method used, being used, or planned to be used, as applicable, to acquire the cloud element, and in the case of a contractor reselling the cloud element of another entity to the Department, from whom such contractor is obtaining such cloud element.

(4)

added The element of the Department responsible for managing the cloud element, the users of such cloud element, and such other information regarding the management of such could element as the Chief Information Officer of the Department determines appropriate..

(5)

added Relevant metrics regarding the interoperability, accessibility, and usability of such cloud element, as determined by Chief Information Officer of the Department.

(6)

added An assessment of the compliance of the cloud element with the applicable information technology principles and standards of the Department.

(7)

added An assessment of any unique attributes of the cloud element that may inhibit the introduction, replacement, update, modification, or retirement of such cloud element.

(8)

added An assessment of the dependencies, if any, between the cloud element and the introduction, replacement, update, modification, and retirement of any other cloud element of the Department.

(c)

added Report— At the same time the budget of the President is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal year 2027 and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on any changes to the roadmap required under subsection (b), including, for each such change, a description and the detailed budgetary effects.

(d)

added Sunset— This section shall terminate on December 31, 2030.

(e)

added Definitions— In this section—

(1)

added the term “cloud element” means a cloud computing capability, environment, architecture, or system; and

(2)

added the term “Department” means the Department of Defense.

Sec. 1511 Protective measures for mobile devices within the Department of Defense

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a detailed evaluation of the cybersecurity products and services for mobile devices to identify products and services that may improve the cybersecurity of mobile devices used by the Department of Defense, including mitigating the risk to the Department of Defense from cyber attacks against mobile devices.

(b)

added Cybersecurity technologies— In carrying out the evaluation required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall evaluate each of the following technologies:

(1)

added Anonymizing-enabling technologies, including dynamic selector rotation, un-linkable payment structures, and anonymous onboarding.

(2)

added Network-enabled full content inspection.

(3)

added Mobile-device case hardware solutions.

(4)

added On-device virtual private networks.

(5)

added Protected Domain Name Server infrastructure.

(6)

added Extended coverage for mobile device endpoint detection.

(7)

added Smishing, phishing, and business text or email compromise protection leveraging generative artificial intelligence.

(8)

added Any other emerging or established technologies determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(c)

added Elements— In carrying out the evaluation required under subsection (a), for each technology described in subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

added assess the efficacy and value of the cybersecurity provided by the technology for mobile devices;

(2)

added assess the feasibility of scaling the technology across the entirety or components of the Department of Defense, including the timeline for deploying the technology across the entirety or components of the Department of Defense; and

(3)

added evaluate the ability of the Department of Defense to integrate the technology with the existing cybersecurity architecture of the Department of Defense.

(d)

added Report— Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report of the findings of the evaluation carried out under subsection (a), including a determination whether the Department of Defense or any component thereof should procure or incorporate any of the technologies evaluated pursuant to subsection (b).

Sec. 1512 Strategy to improve the use of air and missile defense partner sharing network capabilities with allies and partners in the middle east

added

(a)

added 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 strategy to improve cooperation with respect to air and missile defense efforts between the Department of Defense and allies and partners of the United States located in the Middle East.

(b)

added Contents— The strategy submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added A summary of ongoing efforts to develop a joint air and missile defense partner-sharing network capability for allies and partners of the United States who are located in the Middle East.

(2)

added A summary of challenges to the development of such a joint partner-sharing network capability, including partner-nation actions or decisions.

(3)

added Recommendations for actions that can be taken to address the challenges summarized pursuant to paragraph (2).

(4)

added Recommendations for applying lessons learned from air and missile attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and proxies of the Islamic Republic of Iran on United States forces and forces of allies and partners of the United States following October 7, 2023, to the development of such a joint partner-sharing network capability.

(5)

added An assessment of how such a joint partner-sharing network capability could—

(A)

added demonstrate new tools, techniques, or methodologies for data-driven decision making, including capabilities powered by artificial intelligence;

(B)

added accelerate sharing of relevant data, data visualization, and data analysis implemented through cryptographic data access controls and enforcing existing data sharing restrictions across multiple security levels; and

(C)

added leverage current activities in multi-cloud computing environments to reduce the reliance on solely hardware-based networking solutions.

(6)

added Recommendations for actions that can be taken to develop and integrate such a joint partner-sharing network capability with allies and partners of the United States in the Middle East, including identification of policy, resources, workforce, or other shortfalls.

(7)

added Such other matters as the Secretary considers relevant.

(c)

added Form— The strategy required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 1521 Usability of antiquated data formats for modern operations

added

(a)

added Strategy and roadmap—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop—

(A)

added a strategy—

(i)

added for the Department of Defense, including each of the military departments, to implement and use modern data formats as the primary method of electronic communication for command and control activities and for weapon systems, including sensors associated with such weapon systems; and

(ii)

added which accounts for specific needs of each military department with respect to such implementation and use of modern data formats; and

(B)

added an associated five-year roadmap for such implementation.

(2)

added Elements— The strategy and roadmap required under paragraph (1) shall include the following elements:

(A)

added The activities of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense to increase and synchronize the use of modern data formats and modern data sharing standards across the Department of Defense, including the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense.

(B)

added The activities of the military departments to increase the use of modern data formats and modern data sharing standards for command and control systems, weapon systems, and sensors associated with such weapon systems.

(C)

added An identification of barriers to the use of modern data formats and modern data sharing standards within weapon systems and sensors associated with such weapon systems across the Department of Defense, including the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense.

(D)

added An identification of barriers to the use of modern data formats and modern data sharing standards within command and control systems across the Department of Defense, including the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense.

(E)

added An identification of limitations on combined joint all-domain command and control capabilities resulting from the use of antiquated data formats, including—

(i)

added the Extensible Markup Language file format;

(ii)

added the JavaScript Object Notation data format;

(iii)

added the Binary JavaScript Object Notation data format; and

(iv)

added the Protocol Buffers data format.

(3)

added Submission to Congress— Upon completion of the strategy and roadmap required under this subsection, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives such strategy.

(b)

added Pilot programs—

(1)

added Establishment— Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act—

(A)

added the Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program under which the Department of Defense, other than the military departments, shall use modern data formats to improve the usability and functionality of information stored or produced in antiquated data formats, including by converting such information to modern data formats; and

(B)

added each Secretary of a military department shall establish a pilot program under which such military department shall use modern data formats as described in subparagraph (A).

(2)

added Briefing— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments shall each submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the progress of the pilot program established by such Secretary under this subsection, including specific examples of the use of modern data formats under such pilot program to improve the usability and functionality of information stored or produced in antiquated data formats.

(3)

added Sunset— Each pilot program established under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)

added Military department defined— In this section, the term “military department” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1522 Modernization of the Department of Defense’s Authorization to Operate processes

added

(a)

added Active directory of authorizing officials—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense and in coordination with the Chief Information Officers of the military departments, shall establish and regularly update a digital directory of all authorizing officials in the military departments.

(2)

added Contents— The directory established under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)

added the most current contact information for such authorizing official; and

(B)

added a list of each training required to perform the duties and responsibilities of an authorizing official completed by such authorizing official.

(b)

added Presumption of reciprocal software accrediting standards—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Information Officers of the military departments shall jointly develop and implement a policy and guidance—

(A)

added requiring authorizing officials in the military departments to presume the cybersecurity of a cloud-based platform, service, or application that has already been accredited by another authorizing official in a military department for the same or similar purposes and the same classification level when determining whether to approve or deny a request for an Authorization to Operate for such cloud-based platform, service, or application; and

(B)

added requiring authorizing officials in the military departments to consult with the current or planned mission owners of a cloud-based platform, service, or application that will use such cloud-based platform, service, or application pursuant to an Authorization to Operate for such cloud-based platform, service, or application when such authorizing official is making a determination whether to approve or deny the request for such Authorization to Operate.

(2)

added Criteria— The policy and guidance required under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

added require each relevant authorizing official in a military department who is making a determination to approve or deny a request for an Authorization to Operate for a cloud-based platform, service, or application to ensure that documentation containing all of the relevant details of the cybersecurity, accreditation, performance, and operational capabilities of such cloud-based platform, service, or application is easily accessible and comprehensible to all relevant stakeholders with respect to such request; and

(B)

added require the development and implementation of a system for the digital sharing of the documentation described in subparagraph (A), including documenting the communication and acknowledgment of the uses of cloud-based platforms, services, and applications between mission owners and system owners of such cloud-based platforms, services, and applications.

(3)

added Applicability— The policy and guidance developed under this subsection shall apply with respect to all cloud-based platforms, services, and applications capabilities operating across accredited cloud environments of the military departments, to the extent practicable.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section—

(1)

added the term “Authorization to Operate” has the meaning given such term in the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130;

(2)

added the term “authorizing official” means an officer who is authorized to assume responsibility for operating an information system at an acceptable level of risk to organizational operations (including mission, functions, image, or reputation), organizational assets, individuals, other organizations and the United States;

(3)

added the term “military departments” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code;

(4)

added

(a)

added Limits—

(1)

added Office of the Secretary of Defense— Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide, Office of the Secretary of Defense for travel, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until—

(A)

added the Secretary of Defense complies with the applicable requirements in section 1521 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 2224 note); and

(B)

added the Secretary of Defense and each Department employee comply with the congressional reporting requirements that are applicable to the Secretary or such Department employee, respectively, in—

(i)

added sections 1636(c), 1644, and 1645 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1720);

(ii)

added sections 1720, 1736, and 1750 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 4078);

(iii)

added sections 1501, 1503, 1504, 1505, 1510, and 1526 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 2020); and

(iv)

added sections 1504, 1506, 1507, and 1509 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2876).

(2)

added Military departments—

(A)

added Army— Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for Operation and Maintenance, Army, for the official travel of the Secretary of the Army, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary complies with the congressional reporting requirements applicable to the Secretary in—

(i)

added section 1505 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 394 note); and

(ii)

added section 1723 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 394 note).

(B)

added Navy— Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for Operation and Maintenance, Navy, for the official travel of the Secretary of the Navy, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary complies with the congressional reporting requirements applicable to the Secretary in—

(i)

added section 1505 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 394 note); and

(ii)

added section 1723 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 394 note).

(C)

added Air Force— Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for Operation and Maintenance, Air Force, for the official travel of the Secretary of the Air Force, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary complies with the congressional reporting requirements applicable to the Secretary in—

(i)

added section 1505 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 394 note); and

(ii)

added section 1723 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 394 note).

(3)

added Compliance requirement— For the purposes of this subsection, with respect to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretaries of the military departments, and employees of the Department of Defense, compliance with a congressional reporting requirement includes such submitting or otherwise providing, as applicable, each report, briefing, and other written material the Secretary of Defense, such Secretary of a military department, or such employee of the Department of Defense, as applicable, is required to have submitted or otherwise provided under such unmet congressional reporting requirement prior to the date of the enactment of this Act that has not been submitted or otherwise provided.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section—

(1)

added the term “congressional reporting requirement” means a requirement to submit or otherwise provide a report, briefing, or any other written material or oral presentation to Congress or any congressional committee;

(2)

added the term “Department employee” means an employee of the Department of Defense, other than an employee in a military department; and

(3)

added the term “military department” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1535 Prohibition on disestablishment or merger of officer career paths within the Cyber Branch of the United States Army

added

added Beginning on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army is prohibited from any actions to disestablish or merge the Cyber Warfare Officer and Cyber Electromagnetic Warfare Officer career paths within the Cyber Branch of the United States Army.

Sec. 1536 Independent evaluation regarding potential establishment of United States Cyber Force

added

(a)

added Agreement—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (in this section referred to as the “National Academies”) for the National Academies to conduct the evaluation under subsection (b) and submit the report under subsection (e).

(2)

added Timing— The Secretary shall seek to enter into the agreement described in paragraph (1) by not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b)

added Evaluation—

(1)

added In general— Under an agreement between the Secretary and the National Academies entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the National Academies shall conduct an evaluation regarding the advisability of—

(A)

added establishing a separate Armed Force in the Department of Defense dedicated to operations in the cyber domain (in this section referred to as the “United States Cyber Force”); or

(B)

added refining and further evolving the current organizational approach for United States Cyber Command, which is based on the Special Operations Command model.

(2)

added Scope— The evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include consideration of—

(A)

added the potential establishment of a United States Cyber Force as a separate Armed Force in the Department of Defense commensurate with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, for the purpose of organizing, training, and equipping the personnel required to enable and conduct operations in the cyber domain through positions aligned to the United States Cyber Command and other unified combatant commands;

(B)

added a United States Cyber Force able to devise and implement recruiting and retention policies specific to the range of skills and career fields required to enable and conduct cyberspace operations, as determined by the United States Cyber Command and other unified combatant commands;

(C)

added the performance and efficacy of the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense in satisfying the requirements of the current Force Generation Model to enable and conduct operations in the cyber domain through positions aligned to the United States Cyber Command and other unified combatant commands;

(D)

added the historical performance and efficacy of the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense in devising and implementing recruitment and retention policies specific to the range of skills and career fields required to enable and conduct cyberspace operations, as determined by the United States Cyber Command and other unified combatant commands;

(E)

added potential and recommended delineations of responsibility between the other Armed Forces in the Department of Defense and a United States Cyber Force with respect to network management, resourcing, and operations;

(F)

added potential and recommended delineations of responsibility with respect to organizing, training, and equipping members of the Cyberspace Operations Forces, not serving in positions aligned under the Cyber Mission Force, to the extent necessary to support network management and operations;

(G)

added views and perspectives of members of the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense, in each grade, serving in the Cyber Mission Force with experience in operational work roles (as defined by the Commander of the United States Cyber Command), and military and civilian leaders across the Department regarding the establishment of a Cyber Force;

(H)

added the extent to which each of the other Armed Forces in the Department of Defense is formed towards, and organized around, operations within a given warfighting domain, and the potential applicability of such formation and organizing constructs to a United States Cyber Force with respect to the cyber domain;

(I)

added findings from previous relevant assessments, analyses, and studies conducted by the Secretary, the Comptroller General of the United States, or other entities determined relevant by the National Academies on the establishment of a United States Cyber Force;

(J)

added the organizing constructs for effective and operationally mature cyber forces of foreign countries, and the relevance of such constructs to the potential creation of a United States Cyber Force;

(K)

added lessons learned from the creation of the United States Space Force that should be applied to the creation of a United States Cyber Force;

(L)

added recommendations for approaches to the creation of a United States Cyber Force that would minimize disruptions to Department of Defense cyber operations;

(M)

added the histories of the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense, including an analysis of the conditions that preceded the establishment of each new Armed Force in the Department of Defense established since 1900;

(N)

added a comparison between the potential service secretariat leadership structures for a United States Cyber Force, including but not limited to, establishing the United States Cyber Force within an existing military department; and

(O)

added the cumulative potential costs and effects associated with the establishment for a United States Cyber Force

(3)

added Considerations— The evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include an evaluation how a potential United States Cyber Force dedicated to the cyber domain would compare in performance and efficacy to the current model with respect to the following functions:

(A)

added Organizing, training, and equipping the size of a force necessary to satisfy existing and projected requirements of the Department of Defense.

(B)

added Harmonizing training requirements and programs in support of cyberspace operations.

(C)

added Recruiting and retaining qualified officers and enlisted members of the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense at the levels necessary to execute cyberspace operations.

(D)

added Using reserve component forces in support of cyberspace operations.

(E)

added Sustaining persistent force readiness.

(F)

added Acquiring and providing cyber capabilities in support of cyberspace operations.

(G)

added Establishing pay parity among members of the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense serving in and qualified for work roles in support of cyberspace operations.

(H)

added Establishing pay parity among civilians serving in and qualified for work roles in support of cyberspace operations.

(I)

added Establishing advancement parity for members of the Armed Forces in the Department of Defense serving in and qualified for work roles in support of cyberspace operations.

(J)

added Establishing advancement parity for civilians serving in and qualified for work roles in support of cyberspace operations.

(K)

added Developing professional military education content and curricula focused on the cyber domain.

(L)

added Providing robust and unique legal support to current and future operations in the cyber domain.

(M)

added Offering medical support to address unique psychological strains as a result of high operational tempo for cyberspace operations.

(4)

added Comparison to present model— The evaluation required under subsection (b) shall include an analysis and consideration of how refining and further evolving the current organizational approach for United States Cyber Command, as presently modeled on United States Special Operations Command, may serve more optimally than a United States Cyber Force relative to each of the elements identified in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(5)

added Unified combatant command defined— In this subsection, the term “unified combatant command” has the meaning given such term in section 161(c) of title 10, United States Code.

(c)

added Support from federally funded research and development center—

(1)

added In general— Upon a request from the National Academies, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center described in paragraph (2) under which such federally funded research and development center shall support the National Academies in conducting the evaluation under subsection (b).

(2)

added Federally funded research and development center described— A federally funded research and development center described in this paragraph is a federally funded research and development center the staff of which includes subject matter experts with appropriate security clearances and expertise in—

(A)

added cyber warfare;

(B)

added personnel management;

(C)

added military training processes; and

(D)

added acquisition management.

(d)

added Access to Department of Defense personnel, information, and resources— Under an agreement entered into between the Secretary and the National Academies under subsection (a)—

(1)

added the Secretary shall agree to provide to the National Academies access to such personnel, information, and resources of the Department of Defense as may determined necessary by the National Academies in furtherance of the conduct of the evaluation under subsection (b); and

(2)

added if the Secretary refuses to provide such access, or any other major obstacle to such access occurs, the National Academies shall agree to notify, not later seven days after the date of such refusal or other occurrence, the congressional defense committees.

(e)

added Report—

(1)

added Submission to Congress— Under an agreement entered into between the Secretary and the National Academies under subsection (a), the National Academies, not later than 270 days after the date of the execution of the agreement, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the findings of the National Academies with respect to the evaluation under subsection (b).

(2)

added Prohibition against interference— No personnel of the Department of Defense, nor any other officer or employee of the United States Government (including the executive branch of the United States Government) may interfere, exert undue influence, or in any way seek to alter the findings of the National Academies specified in paragraph (1) prior to the submission thereof under such paragraph.

(3)

added Form— The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 1537 Oversight and reporting on the Mission Partner Environment and associated activities within the Department of Defense

added

(a)

added Biannual briefings—

(1)

added In general— Not later than October 1, 2025, and every six months thereafter until October 1, 2030, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, the head of the Information Security Risk Management Committee of the Department of Defense, the director of the Mission Partner Capability Office, the Executive Agent for the Mission Partner Environment, and a senior military service representative for each of the Armed Forces shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the Mission Partner Environment and related activities within the Department of Defense, including the modernization of the Mission Partner Environment.

(2)

added Combatant commands— A senior representative from each unified combatant command shall attend and participate in each briefing required by paragraph (1).

(b)

added Elements— Each briefing required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added A description of all efforts of the Department of Defense for the Mission Partner Environment.

(2)

added A description of the overall progress on implementation and modernization of Mission Partner Environment across the entirety of the Department of Defense as of the date of the briefing and, for each such briefing after the first such briefing, the progress made on such implementation and modernization since the preceding briefing under such subsection.

(3)

added An explanation of any changes in policy necessary to execute on Mission Partner Environment, including changes made during the period covered by the briefing and changes that are planned as of the time of the briefing.

(4)

added An explanation of any changes to the governance of the Mission Partner Environment within the Department of Defense, including changes made during the period covered by the briefing and changes that are planned as of the time of the briefing.

(5)

added A detailed programmatic table of the funding for the combined joint all-domain command and control efforts of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments, as set forth in the budget of the President most recently submitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section—

(1)

added the terms “Defense Agency” and “military departments” have the meanings given such terms, respectively, in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code;

(2)

added the term “Mission Partner Environment” means the operating framework enabling command and control, information sharing, and the exchange of data between the Department of Defense and partners and allies of the United States participating in a military or other operation for the purposes of planning and executing such operation through the use of common standards governance and procedures, including activities the Office of the Secretary of Defense, military departments, unified combatant commands (as defined in section 161 of title 10, United States Code), and Defense Agencies relating to the operation, modernization, implementation, or oversight of, or resourcing of networks or applications designed for such framework; and

(3)

added the term “unified combatant command” has the meaning given such term in section 161 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1601 Authority to build capacity for space domain awareness and space operations

added

added Section 333(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(10) Space domain awareness and defensive space operations.”

Sec. 1602 Establishment of the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve

added

(a)

added In general— Chapter 963 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting before section 9532 the following new section:

added “9531. Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve.

added “(a) In general—The Secretary of Defense may establish and carry out a program to be known as the “Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve” program. Under the program, the Secretary may include in a contract for the procurement of space products or services one or more provisions under which a qualified contractor agrees to provide additional space products or services to the Department of Defense on an as-needed basis under circumstances determined by the Secretary.

added “(b) Authority to contract—Subject to subsection (c), and the extent that funds are otherwise available for obligation, the Secretary may contract with any qualified contractor for space products or services in support of the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve Program as described in subsection (a).

added “(c) Security measures—In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

added “(1) ensure that each contract under, and qualified contractor participating in, the program complies with an applicable security measures, including any security measures required under the National Industrial Security program (or any successor to such program); and

added “(2) may establish and implement such additional security measures as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the national security interests of the United States.

added “(d) Commitment of space products or services as a business factor—The Secretary may, in determining the quantity of business to be received under a space product or services contract under subsection (a), use as a factor the relative amount of space product or service committed to the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve by the qualified contractor involved.

added “(e) Waiver of certain provisions of law—In a time of war or national emergency, the Secretary may waive the requirements of chapter 271 of this title or the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of section 1502 of title 41 with respect to a contract under subsection (a).

added “(f) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term space products or services means commercial products and commercial services (as those terms are defined in section 2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation) and noncommercial products and noncommercial services offered by commercial companies that operate to, through, or from space, including any required terrestrial ground, support, and network systems and associated services that can be used to support military functions and missions.

added “(2) The term citizen of the United States means—

added “(A) an individual who is a citizen of the United States;

added “(B) a partnership each of whose partners is an individual who is citizen of the United States; or

added “(C) a corporation or association organized under the laws of the United States or a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States.

added “(3) The term qualified contractor means a contractor that is a citizen of the United States.

added “(4) The term Secretary means the Secretary of Defense.”

(b)

added Study and report—

(1)

added Study— The Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to conduct a study on—

(A)

added the availability and adequacy of commercial insurance to protect the financial interests of contractors providing support services to space-related operations and activities of the Department of Defense, taking into account the risks that may be anticipated to arise from such support;

(B)

added the adequacy of any existing authorities under Federal law that would enable the Federal Government to protect such interests in the event commercial space insurance is not available or not available on reasonable terms; and

(C)

added potential options for Government-provided insurance similar to existing aviation and maritime insurance programs under titles 49 and 46 of the United States Code, respectively.

(2)

added Report— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).

Sec. 1603 Modifications to National Security Space Launch program

added

(a)

added Extension of policy on contracts for launch services— Section 1601 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 2276 note) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b), by striking “2024” and inserting “2029”; and

(2)

added in subsection (c), by striking “phase two contracts” and inserting “the National Security Space Launch program”.

(b)

added Notification of changes in phase three acquisition strategy— Not later than seven days before implementing any modification to the final phase three acquisition strategy under the National Security Space Launch program, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees notice of the proposed modification together with an explanation of the reasons for such modification.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A)

added the congressional defense committees; and

(B)

added the congressional intelligence committees (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)).

(2)

added The term “final phase three acquisition strategy” means the acquisition strategy for phase three of the National Security Space Launch program, as approved by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration on March 4, 2024.

(3)

added The term “phase three” has the meaning given that term in section 1601(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 118–71; 10 U.S.C. 2276 note).

Sec. 1604 Modifications to space contractor responsibility watch list

added

added Section 1612 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 10 U.S.C. 2271 note) is amended—

(1)

added in the section heading, by striking “Air Force”;

(2)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added by striking “Commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center” and inserting “Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration”; and

(B)

added by striking “contracts” each place it appears and inserting “transactions”;

(3)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added by striking “Commander” and inserting “Assistant Secretary”; and

(ii)

added by striking “a contract” and inserting “under a transaction”;

(B)

added in paragraph (2)—

(i)

added in the paragraph heading, by striking “Commander” and inserting “Assistant Secretary”; and

(ii)

added by striking “Commander” and inserting “Assistant Secretary”;

(4)

added in subsection (c)—

(A)

added by striking “Commander” each place it appears and inserting “Assistant Secretary”;

(B)

added in paragraph (1)—

(i)

added in the paragraph heading, by striking “contracts” and inserting “contractors”;

(ii)

added by striking “award a contract to” and inserting “enter into a transaction with”; and

(iii)

added by striking “Air Force” and inserting “Space Force”; and

(C)

added in paragraph (2)—

(i)

added by striking “a contract” and inserting “a transaction”;

(ii)

added by striking “prime contract value” and inserting “overall value of the transaction”; and

(iii)

added by striking “Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center” and inserting “Space Force”;

(5)

added in subsection (d), by striking “Commander” and inserting “Assistant Secretary”; and

(6)

added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(f) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “contractor” means any individual or entity that enters into a transaction.

added “(2) The term “transaction” means a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other transaction.”

Sec. 1605 Annual briefing on commercial space strategy of the Space Force

added

(a)

added Findings— Congress finds that the strategy of the Space Force titled “U.S. Space Force Commercial Space Strategy” published in April 2024, indicates that the Space Force intends to focus future efforts and resources on the following mission areas:

(1)

added Satellite communications.

(2)

added Space domain awareness.

(3)

added Space access mobility and logistics.

(4)

added Tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking.

(5)

added Space based environmental monitoring.

(6)

added Cyberspace operations.

(7)

added Command and control.

(8)

added Positioning, navigation, and timing.

(b)

added Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

added the Space Force should continue to pursue partnerships with the commercial space industry of the United States to create a true hybrid architecture that provides increased capabilities and resilience;

(2)

added in assessing the potential use of commercial solutions to support space domain awareness, the Chief of Space Operations should consider—

(A)

added conducting—

(i)

added dynamic rendezvous and proximity operations, cooperative and noncooperative non-earth imaging, and noncooperative rendezvous and proximity operations with resident space objects; and

(ii)

added routine characterization, anomaly-resolution, and broad metric observations of resident space objects;

(B)

added entering into long term purchase arrangements for data and services to support space domain awareness; and

(C)

added functionally supporting an enterprise architecture for space command and control and space domain awareness;

(3)

added in developing and fulfilling requirements relating to space access mobility and logistics, the Chief of Space Operations should consider the use of commercial solutions such as—

(A)

added geostationary commercial services for life extension, refueling, and end of life mission disposal;

(B)

added orbital sustainment and mission extension capabilities;

(C)

added maneuver services for unprepared clients in geostationary earth orbit; and

(D)

added nontraditional concepts for dynamic space operations like electromechanical acceleration platforms; and

(4)

added the Chief of Space Operations and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration should continue to engage with the congressional defense committees on any changes to acquisition authorities that are needed to better integrate commercial space capabilities within existing and future Government architectures.

(c)

added Briefing required—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 10 days after the date on which the budget of the President for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Chief of Space Operations, in coordination with Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing that includes the information described in paragraph (2) with respect to each mission area specified in subsection (a).

(2)

added Elements— Each briefing under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to each mission area specified in subsection (a) for the fiscal year concerned, the following:

(A)

added Of the funds requested for the mission area, the percentage that are expected to be used to fulfill requirements through the provision of commercial solutions compared to the percentage that are expected to be used to fulfill such requirements through programs of record.

(B)

added A description of the requirements for each mission area and an explanation of whether and how the use of commercial solutions has been considered for fulfilling such requirements.

(C)

added A description of any training or wargaming exercises that are expected to integrate commercial solutions and include the participation of providers of such solutions.

(D)

added Any force designs of the Space Warfighting Analysis Center for which commercial solutions were considered as part of a force design analysis from the previous fiscal year.

(E)

added An update on the status of any efforts to integrate commercial systems into respective Government architecture.

(F)

added With respect to the contracts entered into to support the mission area—

(i)

added the number of such contracts;

(ii)

added the types of contracts used;

(iii)

added the length of time covered by such contracts; and

(iv)

added the amount of funds committed under such contracts.

(d)

added Commercial solutions defined— In this section, the term “commercial solutions” includes commercial products, commercial services, and providers of such products and services.

Sec. 1606 Pilot program to demonstrate hybrid space architecture

added

(a)

added Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

added efforts that leverage commercial space systems, space systems of the United States Government, and Government space systems of allies and partners of the United States, enhance resiliency and capabilities for data and communications paths for global national security and allied operations;

(2)

added hybrid space architectures that leverage a mixture of the space assets described in paragraph (1) with dynamic operations across multiple constellations are critical to modern warfighting and implementing new warfighting concepts like joint all-domain command and control;

(3)

added the integration of space and ground infrastructure across secure cloud computing platforms to collect, move, and process data are critical first steps to establishing the foundation necessary to manage and control this future hybrid space architecture;

(4)

added efforts that are ongoing within the Defense Innovation Unit and the Space Force are important and foundational to both inform and align with other key Department of Defense-wide initiatives; and

(5)

added alignment and integration with broader efforts across the Department is essential.

(b)

added Program required— Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the Commander of the Space Systems Command of the Space Force shall carry out a pilot program to demonstrate a hybrid space architecture.

(c)

added Requirements and considerations— In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (b), the Commander the Space Systems Command shall include in the hybrid space architecture at least one military satellite communications system, such as the Wideband Global Satcom system or the Micro Geostationary Earth Orbit system.

(d)

added Briefing— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing that includes—

(1)

added a description of the hybrid space architecture developed under the pilot program under subsection (b) and a summary of the results of the program as of the date of the briefing; and

(2)

added a plan for supporting the transition of the hybrid space architecture efforts to a program of record within the Space Force and the Space Systems Command.

(e)

added Hybrid space architecture— The term “hybrid space architecture” means network of integrated United States Government, allied Government, and commercially owned and operated capabilities both for on-orbit constellations and ground systems.

Sec. 1607 Middle East integrated space and satellite security assessment

added

(a)

added Assessment—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall conduct an assessment of space and satellite security for the purpose of identifying mechanisms, such as improved multilateral data sharing agreements, that may be implemented to better protect ally and partner countries in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command from hostile activities conducted by adversaries against space systems of the United States or such countries.

(2)

added Matters to be included— The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

added An assessment of the threats posed to the United States and ally or partner countries in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command by adversaries, including Iran and its proxies, from conducting hostile activities—

(i)

added against space systems of the United States or such countries; and

(ii)

added using capabilities originating from the space domain.

(B)

added A description of progress made in—

(i)

added advancing the integration of countries in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command, including Israel, into existing multilateral space and satellite security partnerships; and

(ii)

added establishing such partnerships with such countries.

(C)

added A description of efforts among ally and partner countries in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command to coordinate intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities and indicators and warnings with respect to the threats described in subparagraph (A), and a description of factors limiting the effectiveness of such efforts.

(D)

added An assessment of current gaps in the ability of the Department of Defense to provide space situational awareness for allies and partners in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command.

(E)

added A description of multilateral space situational awareness data-sharing agreements and an integrated space and satellite security architecture that would improve collective security in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command.

(F)

added A description of current and planned efforts to engage ally and partner countries in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command in establishing such a multilateral space situational awareness data-sharing agreement and an integrated space and satellite security architecture.

(G)

added A description of key challenges in achieving integrated space and satellite security described in paragraph (1) using the metrics identified in accordance with paragraph (3).

(H)

added Recommendations for development and the implementation of an integrated space and satellite security strategy based on such metrics.

(I)

added A cost estimate of establishing an integrated space and satellite security strategy, and an assessment of the resources that could be contributed by ally and partner countries of the United States to establish and strengthen such capabilities.

(J)

added Other matters the Secretary of Defense considers relevant.

(3)

added Metrics— The Secretary of Defense shall identify and propose metrics to assess progress in the implementation of the assessment required by paragraph (1).

(b)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a).

(2)

added Form of report— The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

(c)

added Protection of sensitive information— Any activity carried out under this section shall be conducted in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive information and the national security interests of the United States.

(d)

added Appropriate committees of Congress defined— In this section, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(1)

added the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

(2)

added the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

Sec. 1608 Plan for improvement of Space Force satellite control network

added

(a)

added Plan required— The Chief of Space Operations, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, shall prepare a comprehensive plan for modernizing the satellite control network of the Space Force. The plan shall include—

(1)

added the actions and resources needed to modernize and sustain a resilient, multi-mission, multi-orbit satellite control network for the Space Force;

(2)

added life-cycle sustainment measures that include technical refresh efforts to enable dynamic space operations;

(3)

added assessments of current and planned architectural hardware capabilities, across the range of classification levels, and an explanation of how such capabilities are expected to be addressed in future budget requests;

(4)

added plans for incorporating commercial capabilities into the network, as appropriate; and

(5)

added mechanisms through which the Space Force may use existing funding to accelerate the rapid adoption of capabilities and life-cycle sustainment efforts to quickly modernize the satellite control network.

(b)

added Final report— Following completion of the plan under subsection (a), the Chief of Space Operations shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that contains the plan.

(c)

added Quarterly progress briefings— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on a quarterly basis thereafter until the date on which the report is submitted under subsection (b), the Chief of Space Operations shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the status of the development of the plan under subsection (a).

Sec. 1609 Briefing on space-related waveform and datalink capabilities

added

(a)

added Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

added procurement of resilient waveform and datalink capabilities is crucial to fielding operationally relevant and interoperable architectures; and

(2)

added the Secretary of Defense should take such actions as are necessary to ensure that all covered communications and datalink waveforms purchased or authorized for use in, from, or to Space, effectively operate on at least two different hardware network architectures, including field programable gate arrays and central processing units.

(b)

added Briefing— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief of Space Operations and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration shall jointly provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on a plan to resource and enable an architecture to connect, with operationally relevant interoperability, the following:

(1)

added Communication architectures of the Space Force, including the Space Development Agency Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture and the United States Space Force Satellite Control Network.

(2)

added Protected tactical enterprise services of the United States.

(3)

added Evolved strategic satellite communications.

(4)

added Narrowband satellite communications.

(5)

added Wideband satellite communications.

(6)

added Such other systems as the Chief and Assistant Secretary determine appropriate.

Sec. 1611 Extension and modification of authority to engage in certain commercial activities as security for intelligence collection activities

added

added Section 431 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by striking “December 31, 2024” and inserting “December 31, 2027”; and

(2)

added in subsection (b), by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

added “(1)

added “(A) be pre-coordinated with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency using procedures mutually agreed upon by the Secretary of Defense and the Director; and

added “(B) where appropriate, be supported by the Director; and”

Sec. 1612 Expansion of authority to execute warrants and make arrests to special agents of Army Counterintelligence Command

added

added Section 7377 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in the heading, by inserting “and Counterintelligence Command” after “Criminal Investigation Command”; and

(2)

added in subsection (b), by striking “who is a special agent” and all that follows through the end of the subsection and inserting the following:

added “(1) a special agent of the Army Criminal Investigation Command (or a successor to that command) whose duties include conducting, supervising, or coordinating investigations of criminal activity in programs and operations of the Department of the Army; or

added “(2) a special agent of the Army Counterintelligence Command (or a successor to that command) whose duties include conducting, supervising, or coordinating counterintelligence investigations in programs and operations of the Department of the Army.”

Sec. 1613 Sensitive compartmented information facility accreditation

added

(a)

added In general— The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security shall, not later than December 31, 2029—

(1)

added assign responsibility to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency for the accreditation of sensitive compartmented information facilities for all components of the Department of Defense, including the military departments, except with respect to the National Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and

(2)

added ensure that the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency has the appropriate staff to successfully carry out such responsibility.

(b)

added Notification with respect to resource requirements— The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security shall notify the congressional intelligence committees and the congressional defense committees with respect to the resource requirements for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency to carry out the accreditation responsibility under subsection (a).

(c)

added Submission of report to Congress— The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security shall, in consultation with the Director of the National Security Agency, the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, submit to the congressional intelligence committees and the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report not later than December 31, 2027, on the feasibility of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency assuming accreditation responsibility with respect to sensitive compartmented information facilities for the National Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency by December 31, 2029.

(d)

added Congressional intelligence committees defined— In this section, the term “congressional intelligence committees” has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003).

Sec. 1621 Modification of requirements and authorities relating to the nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile

added

(a)

added FY23 NDAA— Section 1642(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2945) is amended by striking “W80-4 warhead” each place it appears and inserting, “W80–4 ALT warhead (or an alternative warhead)”.

(b)

added FY24 NDAA— Section 1640 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 595) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in paragraph (3), by striking “nuclear weapon project for the W80–4 ALT warhead” and inserting “nuclear weapon system project with the W80–4 ALT warhead (or an alternative warhead in accordance subsection (e))”;

(B)

added in paragraph (4), by striking “W80–4 ALT warhead”; and inserting “nuclear weapon system”; and

(C)

added in paragraph (5), by striking “the W80–4 ALT nuclear weapon project” and inserting “such nuclear weapon system project”;

(2)

added in subsection (c), by striking “W80–4 ALT project” and inserting “nuclear weapon system project described in subsection (a)(3)”;

(3)

added by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) as subsections (f) through (h); and

(4)

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

added “(e) Selection of a nuclear weapon system with an alternative warhead

added “(1) Briefing and waiting period—For purposes of subsection (a)(3), the Secretary of Defense may carry out a nuclear weapons system project with an alternative warhead to the W80–4 ALT warhead, if—

added “(A) the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees a briefing that includes—

added “(i) a description of the alternative warhead to be developed under the project;

added “(ii) an estimate and description of the balance among the costs, schedule, and programmatic impacts for the research, development, and production of such alternative warhead;

added “(iii) an explanation of the reasons the Secretary intends to develop a nuclear weapon system with such alternative warhead instead of—

added “(I) the W80–4 ALT warhead; or

added “(II) any other warhead options that may have been considered;

added “(iv) a written certification from the Secretary that the nuclear weapon system with the alternative warhead is expected—

added “(I) to more favorably balance cost, schedule, and programmatic impacts than the nuclear weapons system with the W80–4 ALT warhead;

added “(II) to enable the nuclear armed, sea-launched cruise missile to achieve initial operational capability faster than directed by subsection (b); and

added “(III) to enable a more military effective nuclear armed, sea-launched cruise missile than would otherwise be achievable using the W80-4 ALT warhead; and

added “(B) a period of 45 days has elapsed following the date on which such briefing was submitted.

added “(2) Form of briefing—The briefing under paragraph (1)(A) may be submitted in classified form.”

Sec. 1622 Long-term plan for strategic nuclear forces during delivery vehicle transition

added

(a)

added Plan required— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter through 2031, the Commander of the United States Strategic Command shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for deployed strategic nuclear warheads over the covered period, during which changes are expected to be made to strategic delivery systems.

(b)

added Elements— Each plan under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added A baseline strategy for maintaining a minimum of 1,550 nuclear warheads deployed on land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, and counted for deployed heavy bombers (as defined under the New START Treaty) during the covered period.

(2)

added For each year of the covered period, an estimate of the number of available strategic delivery systems, by type, and the number of deployed warheads associated with such systems.

(3)

added A summary of operational considerations, including, as necessary, the identification of areas in which greater risk is being accepted.

(4)

added A description of contingency plans in the event of reduced strategic delivery system availability due to programmatic delays, aging, or other such factors.

(5)

added A review of the importance and impact of nuclear risk and reduction arms control.

(6)

added Any other matters the Commander of the United States Strategic Command determines appropriate for inclusion in the plan.

(c)

added Coordination— In preparing each plan required under this section, the Commander of the United States Strategic Command shall coordinate with—

(1)

added the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment;

(2)

added the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and

(3)

added the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,

(d)

added Definitions—

(1)

added The term “covered period” means the period beginning on January 1, 2028, and ending on January 1, 2036.

(2)

added The term “New START Treaty” means the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed on April 8, 2010, and entered into force on February 5, 2011.

(3)

added The term “strategic delivery system” means land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, long range air-launched cruise missiles, and nuclear-capable heavy bomber aircraft.

Sec. 1623 Limitations on use of funds to dismantle B83–1 nuclear gravity bomb

added

(a)

added Limitation on travel expenses— Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, and available for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering for travel expenses, not more than 80 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees the proposed strategy required by paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of section 1674 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263).

(b)

added Limitation on use to dismantle— Except as provided in subsection (c), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Energy may be used to dismantle B83–1 nuclear gravity bombs.

(c)

added Exceptions— The limitation on the use of funds under subsection (b) shall not apply—

(1)

added if the Commander of the United States Strategic Command submits to the congressional defense committees a certification that—

(A)

added the use of funds described in such subsection to dismantle B83–1 nuclear gravity bombs is in the best interest of the United States; and

(B)

added there are no gaps as of the date of the submission of such certification in the strategic deterrence posture of the United States; or

(2)

added with respect to the dismantlement of B83–1 nuclear gravity bombs for the purpose of supporting safety and surveillance, sustainment, life extension or modification programs for the B83–1 or other weapons currently in, or planned to become part of, the nuclear weapons stockpile of the United States.

Sec. 1624 Prohibition on reduction of intercontinental ballistic missiles of the United States

added

(a)

added Prohibition— Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended for the following, and the Department may not otherwise take any action to do the following:

(1)

added Reduce, or prepare to reduce, the responsiveness or alert level of the intercontinental ballistic missiles of the United States.

(2)

added Reduce, or prepare to reduce, the quantity of deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles of the United States to a number less than 400.

(b)

added Exception— The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to any of the following activities:

(1)

added The maintenance or sustainment of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

(2)

added Ensuring the safety, security, or reliability of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

(3)

added Facilitating the transition from the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile to the Sentinel interncontinenal ballistic missile (previously referred to as the “ground-based strategic deterrent weapon”).

Sec. 1625 Conditional requirements for Sentinel missile program

added

(a)

added In general— In the event that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment elects not to terminate and certifies the continuation of the Sentinel missile program pursuant to section 4376(b) of title 10, United States Code, then prior to finalizing a revised Milestone B approval for the program the Under Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable that—

(1)

added the contract structure for the program allows for maximum Federal Government oversight of—

(A)

added the Aerospace Vehicle Segment program area;

(B)

added the Launch Control Center program area; and

(C)

added the Launch Control Facility program area;

(2)

added such Federal Government oversight includes Federal Government control of—

(A)

added preliminary and critical design reviews entrance criteria, exit criteria; and

(B)

added certification of completion at the subsystem level through total system architecture; and

(3)

added there are opportunities for competition throughout the lifecycle of the revised program, including competition across each of the program areas specified in paragraph (1).

(b)

added Report— If the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment certifies the continuation of the Sentinel missile program as described in subsection (a), then not later than 90 days following the date of such certification, the Under Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that describes how the Under Secretary intends to meet the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (3) of such subsection.

(c)

added Milestone B approval— The term “Milestone B approval” has the meaning given that term in section 4172 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1626 Reports and briefings on recommendations of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States

added

(a)

added Reports required— On an annual basis during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the progress of the Department of Defense with respect to the implementation of recommendations made by the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States established under section 1687 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81) that pertain to the Department of Defense. Each such report shall include—

(1)

added for each such recommendation, a determination of whether the Secretary of Defense intends to implement the recommendation;

(2)

added in the case of a recommendation the Secretary intends to implement—

(A)

added the intended timeline such implementation;

(B)

added the total amount of funding required for such implementation;

(C)

added a description of any additional resources or authorities the Secretary determines is necessary for such implementation; and

(D)

added the plan for such implementation;

(3)

added in the case of a recommendation the Secretary determines is not advisable or feasible, the analysis and justification of the Secretary for making such determination; and

(4)

added in the case of a recommendation the Secretary determines the Department is already implementing through a separate effort, the analysis and justification of the Secretary for such determination.

(b)

added Briefings required— Not less frequently than annually during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on—

(1)

added the progress of the Secretary in analyzing and implementing the recommendations made by the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States with respect to the Department of Defense;

(2)

added any programs, projects, or other activities of the Department the Secretary is carrying out as of such date to implement the recommendations of such Congressional Commission; and

(3)

added the amount of funding provided for such programs, projects, and activities.

Sec. 1627 Statement of policy with respect to nuclear weapons

added

added It is the policy of the United States to maintain a human “in the loop” for all actions critical to informing and executing decisions by the President with respect to nuclear weapon employment.

Sec. 1631 Expansion of certain prohibitions relating to missile defense information and systems to apply to People’s Republic of China

added

added Section 130h of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by inserting “or the People’s Republic of China” after “the Russian Federation”;

(2)

added in subsection (b), by inserting “or the People’s Republic of China” after “the Russian Federation”; and

(3)

added in subsection (c), by inserting “or the People’s Republic of China” after “the Russian Federation”.

Sec. 1632 Limitation on availability of funds with respect to certain missile defense system governance documents, policies, and procedures

added

added Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering for travel, not more than 90 percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which such Under Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees a certification that a notification to repeal, replace, or supersede the Directive-type Memorandum 20–002 has been submitted—

(1)

added in accordance with section 205(b) of title 10, United States Code; and

(2)

added pursuant to section 1667 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. 205 note).

Sec. 1633 Additional missile defense site for protection of United States homeland

added

(a)

added Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that an additional continental United States interceptor site, located at the Department of Defense’s conditionally designated preferred site of Fort Drum, New York, is needed to enhance the protection of the United States homeland against potential long-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran or North Korea.

(b)

added Establishment of additional interceptor site— Not later than December 31, 2030, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall establish a fully operational third continental United States interceptor site on the East Coast of the United States. Such site shall be established at a location optimized to support the defense of the homeland of the United States from emerging long-range ballistic missile threats.

(c)

added Coordination— In establishing the interceptor site required under subsection (b), the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall coordinate with the commander of the relevant combatant command.

(d)

added Reporting requirements—

(1)

added Annual report— Not later than December 31, 2024, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report the includes the following:

(A)

added The status of the planning and design, construction, development, and equipment requirements for the interceptor site required under subsection (b).

(B)

added The plan of the Director for deploying additional missile defense sensor discrimination capabilities as required under section 1684 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note).

(2)

added Plan and updates— In the budget justification materials submitted in support of the budget of the Department of Defense (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall include—

(A)

added a plan for establishing the interceptor site required under (b); and

(B)

added an update on the progress of the Director in establishing such site.

Sec. 1641 Modification to annual assessment of budget with respect to electromagnetic spectrum operations capabilities

added

added Section 503 of chapter 25 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(3) The development of a capability for modeling and simulating multi-domain joint electromagnetic spectrum operations to—

added “(A) assess the ability of the joint force to conduct such operations in support of the operational plans of the combatant commands; and

added “(B) inform improvements to such operations.”

Sec. 1642 Cooperative threat reduction funds

added

(a)

added Funding allocation— Of the $350,116,000 authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2025 in section 301 and made available by the funding table in division D for the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program established under section 1321 of the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Act (50 U.S.C. 3711), the following amounts may be obligated for the purposes specified:

(1)

added For delivery system threat reduction, $7,036,000.

(2)

added For chemical security and elimination, $20,717,000.

(3)

added For global nuclear security, $33,665,000.

(4)

added For biological threat reduction, $209,858,000.

(5)

added For proliferation prevention, $45,610,000.

(6)

added For activities designated as Other Assessments/Administration Costs, $33,230,000.

(b)

added Specification of cooperative threat reduction funds— Funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in section 301 and made available by the funding table in division D for the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program shall be available for obligation for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027.

Sec. 1643 Report on roles and responsibilities relating to defense against hypersonic threats

added

(a)

added Findings— Congress finds the following:

(1)

added Hypersonic missile threats are expanding, particularly threats posed by China and Russia.

(2)

added To address those growing threats roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined and understood.

(b)

added Report required—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report describing the roles and responsibilities of organizations of Department of Defense with respect to defense against hypersonic threats.

(2)

added Elements— The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following elements:

(A)

added A description of the roles and responsibilities of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military departments, the Joint Staff, the combatant commands, Defense Agencies, and Department of Defense Field Activities with respect to defense against hypersonic threats.

(B)

added An assessment of any duplication of effort or gaps identified under paragraph (1).

(C)

added A recommendation with respect to designating a single entity with acquisition authority with respect to the capability to defend the homeland from hypersonic threats.

(D)

added Such other matters as the Secretary of Defense considers relevant.

(3)

added Form— The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

Sec. 1701 Modification of humanitarian assistance authority

added

added Section 2561 of title 10, United States Code is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by inserting “overseas” before “humanitarian purposes worldwide”;

(2)

added by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as subsections (d) through (g), respectively.

(3)

added by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):

added “(c) Notice before provision of assistance

added “(1) If the Secretary of Defense uses the authority under subsection (a) to provide assistance for any program or activity in an amount in excess of $5,000,000, the Secretary shall provide to the congressional committees specified in subsection (g) notice in writing of the use of such authority in accordance with paragraph (2). Notice under this subsection shall include an identification of each of the following:

added “(A) The amount, type, and purpose of assistance to be provided and the recipient of the assistance.

added “(B) The goals and objectives of the assistance.

added “(C) The number and role of any members of the Armed Forces involved in the provision of the assistance.

added “(D) Any other information the Secretary determines is relevant.

added “(2) Notice required under paragraph (1) shall be provided—

added “(A) not later than 15 days before the provision of assistance under subsection (a) using funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for a fiscal year for humanitarian assistance; or

added “(B) not later than 48 hours after the provision of such assistance, if the Secretary determines that extraordinary circumstances that affect the national security of the United States exist.”

(4)

added in subsections (d) and (e), as so redesignated, by striking “subsection (f)” each place it appears and inserting “subsection (g)”; and

(5)

added in subsection (g) as so redesignated, by striking “subsections (c)(1) and (d)” and inserting “subsections (c)(1), (d)(1), and (e)”.

Sec. 1702 Exclusion of oceanographic research vessels from certain sourcing requirements

added

added Section 70912(5)(C) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) is amended by inserting “(except naval vessels which are oceanographic research vessels operated by academic institutions)” after “facilities”.

Sec. 1703 Exemption under Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 for certain activities that may result in incidental take of Rice’s whale

added

(a)

added Exemption process required— The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, shall begin the process under section 101(f)(1) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371(f)(1)) to exempt from the requirements of that Act, as applicable, training and testing activities, including those that involve the use of live or inert impact weapons or aerial gunnery, conducted by the Secretary of the Air Force on the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range, located at Eglin Air Force Base, that may result in incidental take of the Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei).

(b)

added Notification requirement satisfied— If the Secretary of Defense issues an exemption pursuant to subsection (a) the notification requirement under section 101(f)(4) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371(f)(4)) shall be deemed to be satisfied upon issuance of the exemption.

Sec. 1704 Combatting illicit tobacco products

added

(a)

added In general— Beginning not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, no exchange or commissary operated by or for a military resale entity shall offer for sale any ENDS product or oral nicotine product unless the manufacturer of such product executes and delivers to the appropriate officer for each military resale entity a certification form for each ENDS product or oral nicotine product offered for retail sale at an exchange or commissary that attests under penalty of perjury the following:

(1)

added The manufacturer has received a marketing granted order for such product under section 910 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 387j).

(2)

added The manufacturer submitted a timely filed premarket tobacco product application for such product, and the application either remains under review by the Secretary or has received a denial order that has been and remains stayed by the Secretary or court order, rescinded by the Secretary, or vacated by a court.

(b)

added Failure to submit certification— A manufacturer shall submit the certification forms required in subsection (a) on an annual basis. Failure to submit such forms to a military resale entity as required under the preceding sentence shall result in the removal of the relevant ENDS product or oral nicotine product from sale at such military resale entity.

(c)

added Certification contents—

(1)

added In general— A certification form required under subsection (a) shall separately list each brand name, product name, category (such as e-liquid, power unit, device, e-liquid cartridge, e-liquid pod, or disposable), and flavor for each product that is sold offered for sale by the manufacturer submitting such form.

(2)

added Other items— A manufacturer shall, when submitting a certification under subsection (a), include in that submission—

(A)

added a copy of the publicly available marketing granted order under section 910 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 387j), as redacted by the Secretary and made available on the agency website;

(B)

added a copy of the acceptance letter issued under such section for a timely filed premarket tobacco product application; or

(C)

added a document issued by Secretary or by a court confirming that the premarket tobacco product application has received a denial order that has been and remains stayed by the Secretary or court order, rescinded by the Secretary, or vacated by a court.

(d)

added Development of forms and publication—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each military resale entity shall—

(A)

added develop and make public the certification form such resale entity will require a manfacturer to submit to meet the requirement under subsection (a); and

(B)

added provide instructions on how such certification form shall be submitted to the relevant military resale entity.

(2)

added Submission in case of failure to publish form— If a military resale entity fails to prepare and make public such certification form, a manufacturer may submit information necessary to prove compliance with the requirements of this section.

(e)

added Changes to certification form— A manufacturer that submits a certification form under subsection (a) shall notify each relevant military resale entity to which such certification was submitted not later than 30 days after making any material change to the certification form, including—

(1)

added the issuance or denial of a marketing authorization or other order by the Secretary pursuant to section 910 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 387j); or

(2)

added any other order or action by the Secretary or any court that affects the ability of the ENDS product or oral nicotine product to be introduced or delivered into interstate commerce for commercial distribution in the United States.

(f)

added Directory—

(1)

added In general— No later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, each military resale entity shall maintain and make publicly available on its official website a directory that lists all ENDS product and oral nicotine product manufacturers and all product brand names, categories (such as e-liquid, e-liquid cartridge, e-liquid pod, or disposable), product names, and flavors for which certification forms have been submitted and approved by the relevant military resale entity.

(2)

added Updates— Each military resale entity shall—

(A)

added update the directory under paragraph (1) at least monthly to ensure accuracy; and

(B)

added establish a process to provide each exchange or commissary notice of the initial publication of the directory and changes made to the directory in the prior month.

(3)

added Exclusions and removals— An ENDS product or oral nicotine product shall not be included or retained in a directory of a military resale entity if the relevant military resale entity determines that any of the following apply:

(A)

added The manufacturer failed to provide a complete and accurate certification as required by this section.

(B)

added The manufacturer submitted a certification that does not comply with the requirements of this section.

(C)

added The information provided by the manufacturer in its certification contains false information, material misrepresentations, or omissions.

(4)

added Notice required— In the case of a removal of a product from a directory under paragraph (3), the relevant military resale entity shall provide to the manufacturer involved notice and at least 30 days to cure deficiencies before removing the manufacturer or its products from the directory.

(5)

added Effect of removal— The ENDS product or oral nicotine product of a manufacturer identified in a notice of removal under paragraph (3) are, beginning on the date that is 30 days after such removal, subject to seizure, forfeiture, and destruction, and may not be purchased or sold for retail sale at any exchange or commissary operated by or for a military resale entity.

(g)

added Definitons— For purposes of this section:

(1)

added ENDS product— The term “ENDS product”—

(A)

added means any non-combustible product that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, to produce vapor from nicotine in a solution;

(B)

added includes a consumable nicotine liquid solution suitable for use in such product, whether sold with the product or separately; and

(C)

added does not include any product regulated as a drug or device under chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 351 et seq.).

(2)

added Military resale entities— The term “military resale entities” means—

(A)

added the Defense Commissary Agency;

(B)

added the Army and Air Force Exchange Service;

(C)

added the Navy Exchange Service Command; and

(D)

added the Marine Corps Exchange.

(3)

added Oral nicotine product— The term “oral nicotine product” means—

(A)

added means any non-combustible product that contains nicotine that is intended to be placed in the oral cavity;

(B)

added does not include—

(i)

added any ENDS product;

(ii)

added smokeless tobacco (as defined in section 900 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 387)); or

(iii)

added any product regulated as a drug or device under chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 351 et seq.).

(4)

added Secretary— The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

(5)

added Timely filed premarket tobacco product application— The term “timely filed premarket tobacco product application” means an application that was submitted under section 910 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 387j) on or before September 9, 2020, and accepted for filing with respect to an ENDS product or oral nicotine product containing nicotine marketed in the United States as of August 8, 2016.

Sec. 1721 Termination of reporting requirement for cross domain incidents and exemptions to policies for information technology

added

added Section 1727 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 2224 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(c) Termination date—The requirement of the Secretary of Defense to submit a monthly report pursuant to subsection (a) shall terminate on December 31, 2025.”

Sec. 1722 Analysis of certain unmanned aircraft systems entities

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an analysis to determine if any unmanned aircraft systems entity, or any subsidiary, parent, affiliate, or successor of such an entity, should be identified as a Chinese military company or a military-civil fusion contributor and included on the list maintained by the Department of Defense in accordance with section 1260H(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note).

(b)

added Addition of certain unmanned aircraft systems entities technologies to covered list—

(1)

added In general— Section 2(c) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(5) The communications equipment or service being—

added “(A) telecommunications or video surveillance equipment produced by Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (commonly known as ‘DJI Technologies’) (or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof); or

added “(B) telecommunications or video surveillance services, including software, provided by an entity described in subparagraph (A) or using equipment described in such subparagraph.”

(2)

added Conforming amendments— Section 2 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601) is amended by striking “paragraphs (1) through (4)” each place it appears and inserting “paragraphs (1) through (5)”.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “unmanned aircraft system” has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “unmanned aircraft systems entity” means an entity that manufactures or assembles an unmanned aircraft system.

Sec. 1723 Annual report on Postsecondary Education Complaint System

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress and make publicly available on the Department of Defense's website a report on the Postsecondary Education Complaint System (PECS).

(b)

added Elements— The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following elements:

(1)

added A qualitative description of the status of PECS that year.

(2)

added A qualitative description of the efforts made by the Department of Defense that year to increase awareness and usage of PECS among those who are eligible to file complaints through the system.

(3)

added The total number of complaints filed through PECS that year and the status of those complaints, such as closed or active.

(4)

added The number of complaints that year broken down by—

(A)

added military service;

(B)

added issue; and

(C)

added educational institution sector, including private for-profit, private non-profit, and public.

(5)

added A ranking of the top five issues raised by students that year.

(6)

added The number of institutions with two or more complaints that year, the names of those institutions, the number of participants at each of those institutions, and the number of complaints for each of those institutions.

(7)

added The number of views and visitors of the PECS website that year.

(8)

added A discussion of how the elements described in paragraphs (1) through (7) for that year compare to the elements described in paragraphs (1) through (7) in previous years.

Sec. 1724 Feasibility study of domestic refining of deep sea critical mineral intermediates

added

(a)

added Study required— Pursuant to an agreement described in subsection (b) and to the extent practicable, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy shall conduct a study to assess the feasibility of improving domestic capabilities for refining polymetallic nodule-derived intermediates into high purity nickel, cobalt sulfate, and copper for defense applications. Such study shall also examine existing supply chains for such intermediates.

(b)

added Agreement—

(1)

added In general— The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy shall seek to enter into an agreement with an entity described in paragraph (2) to carry out the study required under this section.

(2)

added Entity described— An entity described in this section is one that is experienced in refining critical minerals and producing battery-grade nickel, cobalt sulfate, and copper cathode.

(c)

added Deadline— Not later than December 31, 2025, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy Pursuant shall make publicly available the results of the study required under subsection (a).

Sec. 1725 Report on South Africa

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees the report described in subsection (b).

(b)

added Report described— The report described in this subsection shall include—

(1)

added an overview of United States defense cooperation with the Government of South Africa, including military exercises, arms sales, and international military education and training;

(2)

added an assessment of defense cooperation between the Government of South Africa and the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the People’s Republic of China, and the Russian Federation; and

(3)

added a determination whether the activities described in paragraph (2) undermine United States national security or military interests.

(c)

added Form— The report required by subsection (a) shall be transmitted in an unclassified form and may contain a classified annex.

Sec. 1741 Technical and conforming amendments

added

(a)

added Title 10, United States Code— Title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows:

(1)

added In the subtitle analysis for subtitle A—

(A)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 19 and inserting the following new item:

(B)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 25 and inserting the following new item:

(C)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 326 and inserting the following new item:

(D)

added in part V, by striking the second item relating to subpart F, including the items relating to chapters 321 through 327 appearing under the second item relating to subpart F;

(E)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 363 and inserting the following new item:

(F)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 367 and inserting the following new item:

(2)

added In section 130i(j)(3)(C)(ix), by striking “sections” and inserting “section”.

(3)

added In section 139a(h)—

(A)

added by striking “out by Director” and inserting “out by the Director”; and

(B)

added by striking “an any” and inserting “and any”.

(4)

added In section 167b—

(A)

added in subsection (a)—

(i)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “referred to as the “cyber command”” and inserting “referred to as the “United States Cyber Command””; and

(ii)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “Cyber Command” and inserting “United States Cyber Command”;

(B)

added in subsection (b), by striking “Cyber Command” each place it appears and inserting “United States Cyber Command”; and

(C)

added in subsections (c) and (d)—

(i)

added by striking “cyber command” each place it appears and inserting “United States Cyber Command”;

(ii)

added by striking “such command” each place it appears and inserting “such Command”; and

(iii)

added by striking “commander” each place it appears and inserting “Commander”.

(5)

added In section 222a(d), by striking “the” before “all of the reports”.

(6)

added In section 381(b), by striking “Defense—.” and inserting “Defense—”.

(7)

added In section 391b(e)(1)(B), by striking the colon and inserting a semicolon.

(8)

added In section 392a(b)(3)(B)(ix), by inserting “section” before “932(c)(3)”.

(9)

added In section 486, by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).

(10)

added In chapter 25, by redesignating sections 501 through 506 as sections 500a through 500f, respectively.

(11)

added In section 510(h)(2)(B), by striking “subchapters I and II” and inserting “subchapters II and III”.

(12)

added In section 520(a)(2), by striking “armed forced” and inserting “armed force”.

(13)

added In section 578(g), by striking “is approved” and inserting “as approved”.

(14)

added In section 624(e), by striking “is approved” and inserting “as approved”.

(15)

added In section 628a—

(A)

added in subsection (e)(2), by striking “apply to report” and inserting “apply to the report”; and

(B)

added in subsection (f), by striking “section 20251” and inserting “section 20252”.

(16)

added In the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 40, by striking the item relating to section 711 and inserting the following:

(17)

added In chapter 40, by redesignating section 711 (relating to parental leave for members of certain reserve components of the armed forces) as section 710a.

(18)

added In such section 710a, as so redesignated, in subsection (a)(2)—

(A)

added by striking “subparagraph (A)” each place it appears and inserting “paragraph (1)”;

(B)

added in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

added by striking “clause (i)” and inserting “subparagraph (A)”; and

(ii)

added by striking “.;” and inserting a period.

(19)

added In section 714(b)(1)(A), by striking “an serious” and inserting “a serious”.

(20)

added In section 937(a)(2)(B) (Art. 137), by inserting “the” before “Space Force”.

(21)

added In section 1073c—

(A)

added by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and

(B)

added by redesignating the second subsection (h) (relating to rule of construction regarding secretaries concerned and medical evaluation boards) as subsection (i).

(22)

added In section 1073d(b)(5)(C)(ii), by striking “fulfil” and inserting “fulfill”.

(23)

added In section 1370—

(A)

added in subsection (b)(1), by striking “or, Space Force” and inserting “or Space Force”; and

(B)

added in subsection (f)(6)—

(i)

added in subparagraph (A), by inserting a comma after “Air Force”; and

(ii)

added in subparagraph (B), by inserting a comma after “Navy”.

(24)

added In section 1465(e), by inserting “shall” before “provide”.

(25)

added In section 1448(d)(1), by striking “paragraph (2)(B)” and inserting “paragraph (2)”.

(26)

added In section 1558—

(A)

added by striking “,,” each place it appears and inserting a comma; and

(B)

added in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking “14507” and inserting “14705”.

(27)

added In section 1559(c)(3), by striking “the the” and inserting “the”.

(28)

added In section 2031—

(A)

added in subsection (b)—

(i)

added in paragraph (1)(E), by striking “..” and inserting a period; and

(ii)

added in paragraph (2)(E)(vi), by striking “report under subsection (i)” and inserting “report under subsection (j)”;

(B)

added by redesignating the second subsection (i) as subsection (j).

(29)

added In section 2107(a), by striking “,,” and inserting a comma.

(30)

added In section 2200g(a), by striking “Under Secretary for Defense” and inserting “Under Secretary of Defense”.

(31)

added In the section heading for section 2275b, by striking the period at the end.

(32)

added In section 2285—

(A)

added by redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (c) through (e), respectively; and

(B)

added by redesignating the second subsection (b) as subsection (f).

(33)

added In section 2688(g)(4), by striking “installation energy”.

(34)

added In the table of sections at the beginning of subchapter III of chapter 169, by striking the item relating to section 2856 and inserting the following:

(35)

added In section 2856(a), by striking “,.” and inserting a period.

(36)

added In section 2911(c)(3), by striking “installation energy”.

(37)

added In section 2922g(g)(1), by striking “2202” and inserting “2002”.

(38)

added In the chapter analysis for part V of subtitle A—

(A)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 207 and inserting the following new item:

(B)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 225 and inserting the following new item:

(C)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 243 and inserting the following new item:

(D)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 272 and inserting the following new item:

(E)

added in the item relating to chapter 287, by striking “3961” and inserting “3901”;

(F)

added by inserting after the item relating to chapter 307 the following new items:

(G)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 363 and inserting the following new item:

(H)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 367 and inserting the following new item:

(I)

added by striking the item relating to chapter 383 and inserting the following new item:

(39)

added In section 3601(a)(2), by inserting “note” before “prec.”.

(40)

added In section 4902—

(A)

added in subsection (e)—

(i)

added in paragraph (1)(A)(iii), by inserting “the” before “protege firm”; and

(ii)

added by redesignating paragraph (3) as subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1), and adjusting the margins accordingly; and

(B)

added in subsection (n)(5)(D), by inserting “of 1938” after “Act”.

(41)

added In section 4127, by striking the section heading and inserting the following:

added “4127. Defense Innovation Unit”

(42)

added In section 4273(d), by striking “4736” and inserting “4376”.

(43)

added In section 8581(a), by striking “Provost and Academic Dean of the Postgraduate School” and inserting “Provost and Chief Academic Officer”.

(44)

added In section 15109, by striking “(a) In general.—”.

(45)

added In section 15110, by striking “the title” and inserting “this subtitle”.

(46)

added In the chapter analysis for part I of subtitle F, by striking the item relating to chapter 2013 and inserting the following new item:

(47)

added In section 20106(d), by striking “pertaining”.

(48)

added In section 20212(a)(1), by inserting “the” before “Air Force”.

(49)

added In section 20231—

(A)

added in subsection (b)(5), by inserting “section” before “20232”; and

(B)

added in subsection (c)(2)(E), by inserting “of the” before “Air Force”.

(50)

added In section 20234(b), by inserting “to” after “pursuant”.

(51)

added In section 20243(a)(3), by striking “as a before” and inserting “before”.

(52)

added By redesignating the second section 20251 (relating to special selection boards; correction of errors) as section 20252.

(53)

added In such section 20252 (relating to special selection boards; correction of errors), as so redesignated—

(A)

added in subsection (b)—

(i)

added in paragraph (2)—

(I)

added by striking “((1)” and inserting “(1)”; and

(II)

added by striking “sch” and inserting “such”; and

(ii)

added in paragraph (4), by striking “a officer” and inserting “an officer”; and

(B)

added in subsection (f)(2), by striking “of officer” and inserting “an officer”.

(54)

added In the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 2009, by striking the item relating to he second section 20404 (relating to Force shaping authority) and inserting the following:

(55)

added In section 20401(b), by inserting “, and” after “1174(b)”.

(56)

added In section 20404, by striking “space force” both places it appears and inserting “Space Force”.

(57)

added In section 20502—

(A)

added in the heading for subsection (c)—

(i)

added by striking “than an Officer Has Failed to Establish That the Officer Should Be Retained” and inserting “that an officer has failed to establish that the officer should be retained”; and

(ii)

added by moving paragraph (1) to appear in line with the subsection heading and adjusting the margins accordingly; and

(B)

added in the heading for subsection (d), by striking “than” and inserting “that”.

(b)

added National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018— Effective as of December 12, 2017, and as if included therein as enacted, section 886(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91) is amended by striking “the term “Procurement Administrative Lead Time” or “PALT”,” and inserting “the term “procurement administrative lead time” or “PALT”,”.

(c)

added Coordination with other amendments made by this Act— For purposes of applying amendments made by provisions of this Act other than this section, the amendments made by this section shall be treated as having been enacted immediately before any such amendments by other provisions of this Act.

Sec. 1742 Expansion of eligibility for Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance

added

added Section 1965 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in paragraph (5)—

(1)

added in subparagraph (C), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;

(2)

added in subparagraph (D), by striking “field training or practice cruises” and inserting “advanced training (as such term is defined in section 2101 of title 10)”;

(3)

added by redesignating subparagraph (D), as amended, as subparagraph (E); and

(4)

added by inserting, after subparagraph (C), the following new subparagraph (D):

added “(D) a Reserve—

added “(i) not otherwise described in this paragraph;

added “(ii) enlisted under section 513 of title 10; and

added “(iii) without regard to duty status; and”

Sec. 1743 Display of United States flag for patriotic and military observances

added

(a)

added Amendment to flag code— Section 8(c) of title 4, United States Code, is amended by inserting “, except as may be necessary in limited circumstances and done in a respectful manner as part of a military or patriotic observance involving members of the Armed Forces” after “aloft and free”.

(b)

added Modification of Department of Defense policy— The Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

added rescind the February 10, 2023, Department of Defense memorandum entitled, “Clarification of Department of Defense Community Engagement Policy on Showing Proper Respect to the United States Flag”; and

(2)

added support military recruitment through public outreach events during patriotic and military observances, including the display of the United States flag regardless of size and position, including horizontally, provided that, in accordance with section 8(b) of title 4, United States Code, the flag never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

Sec. 1744 Reduction of light pollution at Department of Defense facilities

added

(a)

added Audit—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and concurrently with the study required under subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall complete an audit of light pollution at the facilities selected pursuant to paragraph (2). Under such audit, the Secretary shall—

(A)

added evaluate the lighting used at such facilities, with a focus on unshielded lighting;

(B)

added determine whether any lighting fixtures are unnecessary;

(C)

added determine whether any areas—

(i)

added are unnecessarily lit; or

(ii)

added are overlit and are suitable for lower ambient light under United Facilities Criteria 3–530–01;

(D)

added identify any lighting or design trends across such facilities that contribute to light pollution; and

(E)

added include a plan for reducing unnecessary lighting, overlit areas, and other sources of light pollution at such facilities.

(2)

added Audited facilities— The Secretary of Defense shall—

(A)

added select the Department of Defense facilities to be included in the audit under paragraph (1); and

(B)

added to the extent practicable, ensure that the group of such selected facilities is a representative sample of Department of Defense facilities with respect to size, form, function, and geographic location.

(3)

added Plan deadline— Not later than 6 months after the audit required under paragraph (1) is completed, the Secretary of Defense shall implement the plan included in such audit.

(b)

added Study— Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and concurrently with the audit required under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of light pollution at Department of Defense facilities. In conducting the study, the Secretary shall—

(1)

added examine how light pollution affects Department of Defense operations and readiness;

(2)

added examine how light pollution affects biodiversity near Department of Defense facilities;

(3)

added evaluate the effectiveness of compatible use buffer zones and other techniques already in use to mitigate light pollution and its harmful effects at Department of Defense facilities;

(4)

added evaluate the necessity and purpose of any unshielded lights at Department of Defense facilities;

(5)

added examine the use of additional light pollution mitigation technologies, processes, and policies to mitigate light pollution at Department of Defense facilities, including increasing the use of warm-light and low-output light-emitting diode lights and decreasing the use of cool-light and high-output light-emitting diode lights;

(6)

added examine the feasability of establishing dark sky standards for Department of Defense facilities;

(7)

added identify and analyze Federal, State, and local rules, regulations, and policies that support or inhibit the ability of the Secretary of Defense to mitigate light pollution at Department of Defense facilities; and

(8)

added evaluate ongoing and potential additional initiatives at Department of Defense facilities to regulate lighting standards, including how such initiatives could be expanded without compromising national security or the mission, safety, or security of any such facility.

(c)

added Report— Not later than 6 months after the completion of the audit required under subsection (a)(1) and the study required under subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report, which shall include—

(1)

added the results of the audit required under subsection (a)(1), including the methodology, findings, and recommendations of such audit;

(2)

added the results of the study required under subsection (b), including unclassified examples of how light pollution affects Department of Defense operations and readiness;

(3)

added identification of the funds, resources, and additional authorities required to execute any plans or recommendations developed pursuant to the study required under subsection (b);

(4)

added recommendations for expanding or starting collaborative efforts with local communities that are located near Department of Defense facilities to limit light pollution;

(5)

added recommendations for protecting biodiversity near Department of Defense facilities from light pollution without harming Department of Defense operations and readiness; and

(6)

added recommendations on whether and, if applicable, how the Department of Defense could create and implement dark sky standards for Department of Defense facilities.

(d)

added Pilot projects— The Secretary of Defense may establish pilot projects to reduce light pollution at Department of Defense facilities based on the results of the study required under subsection (b).

(e)

added Department security— The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the safety, security, and readiness of the Department of Defense is not negatively affected by—

(1)

added the audit required under subsection (a)(1);

(2)

added the implementation of the plan included in such audit; or

(3)

added any pilot project established under subsection (d).

(f)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term dark sky standards means a group of policies, guidelines, or requirements that—

(A)

added reduce light pollution;

(B)

added limit artificial light to areas where such light is intended to be used; and

(C)

added protect the natural darkness of an outdoor location.

(2)

added The term Department of Defense facility means any structure, building, training area, or other infrastructure of a military installation, including a roadway or defense access road, and any other area on the grounds of a military installation that is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department.

(3)

added The term light pollution means artificial light that emanates from buildings or other human-made structures that—

(A)

added expands onto adjacent properties and is unnecessary in regards to the purpose or use of such adjacent property; or

(B)

added degrades the visibility of the sky at night.

Sec. 1745 Strategy to improve activities related to counternarcotics and counter-transnational organized crime

added

(a)

added In general—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with each commander of a geographic combatant command and the Secretary of State, shall develop a strategy to improve activities and support to law enforcement related to counternarcotics. Such strategy shall—

(A)

added ensure the coordination and assessment of such activities carried out by the Department of Defense;

(B)

added ensure policy updates to address ongoing and emerging counternarcotics threats; and

(C)

added inform the coordination of program and budget requests by the Secretary.

(2)

added Elements— The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

added A plan to establish or update command arrangement agreements to address existing and emerging narcotic substances of concern, including detection and monitoring of fentanyl, illicit fentanyl precursors, and fentanyl analogues.

(B)

added Definitions for responsibilities of each command in the joint operation area as directed by the Department of Defense.

(C)

added A plan for improved coordination between geographic combatant commands to ensure clear understanding of roles and responsibilities in overlapping areas of responsibility.

(D)

added A plan to continue and improve coordination with foreign partners regarding intelligence sharing and interdiction activities.

(E)

added Standardized operating procedures for command and control of counternarcotics within the Department of Defense.

(F)

added Measurable outcomes to assess progress for each of the Departments counternarcotics strategic objectives.

(G)

added A description of capability upgrades that would better enable the support of the interdiction of narcotics, including fentanyl, illicit fentanyl precursors, and fentanyl analogues, throughout the Department of Defense.

(b)

added Report to Congress—

(1)

added In general— Not later than June 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the comprehensive strategy as required by subsection (a).

(2)

added Form— The report required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 1746 Risk framework for foreign mobile applications of concern

added

(a)

added In general— The Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

added create categorical definitions of foreign mobile applications of concern with respect to personnel or operations of the Department of Defense, distinguishing among categories such as applications for shopping, social media, entertainment, or health; and

(2)

added create a risk framework with respect to Department personnel or operations that assesses each foreign mobile application (or, if appropriate, grouping of similar such applications) that is from a country of concern for any potential impact on Departmental personnel and Departmental operations, incorporating considerations of—

(A)

added the manner and extent of data collection by the application;

(B)

added the ability of the application to influence the user with the applications content to the detriment of the United States;

(C)

added the manner and extent of foreign ownership or control of the application or data collected by the application;

(D)

added any foreign government interests associated with the applications;

(E)

added a software bill of materials with a focus on known or assessed malicious software embedded in the application, including in prior versions of the application or in other applications created by the owners of such application;

(F)

added any known impact from prior use of the application to Department personnel or operations; and

(G)

added the foreign mobile application of concern residing on a United States Government device or a personally owned device while in proximity to Department operations or activities or in the personal custody of personnel during Department sanctioned activities.

(b)

added Considerations— In developing the categorical definitions and risk framework described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense—

(1)

added shall include in the risk framework foreign mobile applications of concern—

(A)

added from countries that the Secretary determines to be engaged in consistent, unauthorized conduct that is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of the United States;

(B)

added that are accessible to be downloaded from major mobile device application marketplaces by Department personnel; and

(C)

added originating from, authored in, owned by, or otherwise associated with countries or entities that are designated on the list maintained and set forth in Supplement No. 4 to part 744 of the Export Administration Regulations;

(2)

added may include additional countries or individual foreign mobile applications with malicious and banned capabilities from other countries to the extent the Secretary determines appropriate; and

(3)

added shall consider distinguishing within the risk framework the particular interests of a country described in paragraph (1) or (2) in the use of a foreign mobile application of concern of such country (regardless of device or owner) by—

(A)

added users located at facilities of the Department of Defense of varying levels of sensitivity;

(B)

added users conducting authorized operations or movements of Department of Defense materiel; or

(C)

added specific civilian employees of the Department or contractors whom the Secretary determines likely to be a target of a foreign actor.

(c)

added Guidance and updates— The Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

added issue guidance to all Department personnel incorporating the categories of foreign mobile applications of concern and advising how to mitigate the risks identified by the risk framework with respect to such applications;

(2)

added routinely update the categorical definitions and risk framework promulgated pursuant to subsection (a), at least on an annual basis; and

(3)

added prescribe, if feasible, regulations that appropriately mitigate risks from applications on devices provided by the Department of Defense or on any device used during an activity described in subsection (b)(3)(B) or at locations described under (b)(3)(A).

Sec. 1747 Federal contractor vulnerability disclosure policy

added

(a)

added Recommendations—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Cyber Director, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and any other appropriate head of an Executive department, shall—

(A)

added review the Federal Acquisition Regulation contract requirements and language for contractor vulnerability disclosure programs; and

(B)

added recommend updates to such requirements and language to the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council.

(2)

added Contents— The recommendations required by paragraph (1) shall include updates to such requirements designed to ensure that covered contractors implement a vulnerability disclosure policy consistent with NIST guidelines for contractors as required under section 5 of the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 278g–3c; Public Law 116–207).

(b)

added Procurement requirements— Not later than 180 days after the date on which the recommended contract language developed pursuant to subsection (a) is received, the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council shall review the recommended contract language and update the FAR as necessary to incorporate requirements for covered contractors to receive information about a potential security vulnerability relating to an information system owned or controlled by a contractor, in performance of the contract.

(c)

added Elements— The update to the FAR pursuant to subsection (b) shall—

(1)

added to the maximum extent practicable, align with the security vulnerability disclosure process and coordinated disclosure requirements relating to Federal information systems under sections 5 and 6 of the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–207; 15 U.S.C. 278g–3c and 278g–3d); and

(2)

added to the maximum extent practicable, be aligned with industry best practices and Standards 29147 and 30111 of the International Standards Organization (or any successor standard) or any other appropriate, relevant, and widely used standard.

(d)

added Waiver— The head of an agency may waive the security vulnerability disclosure policy requirement under subsection (b) if—

(1)

added the agency Chief Information Officer determines that the waiver is necessary in the interest of national security or research purposes; and

(2)

added if, not later than 30 days after granting a waiver, such head submits a notification and justification (including information about the duration of the waiver) to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

(e)

added Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation—

(1)

added Review— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall review the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation contract requirements and language for contractor vulnerability disclosure programs and develop updates to such requirements designed to ensure that covered contractors implement a vulnerability disclosure policy consistent with NIST guidelines for contractors as required under section 5 of the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 278g–3c; Public Law 116–207).

(2)

added Revisions— Not later than 180 days after the date on which the review required under subsection (a) is completed, the Secretary shall revise the DFARS as necessary to incorporate requirements for covered contractors to receive information about a potential security vulnerability relating to an information system owned or controlled by a contractor, in performance of the contract.

(3)

added Elements— The Secretary shall ensure that the revision to the DFARS described in this subsection is carried out in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c).

(4)

added Waiver— The Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense may waive the security vulnerability disclosure policy requirements under paragraph (2) if the Chief Information Officer—

(A)

added determines that the waiver is necessary in the interest of national security or research purposes; and

(B)

added not later than 30 days after granting a waiver, submits a notification and justification (including information about the duration of the waiver) to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

(f)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “agency” has the meaning given the term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “covered contractor” means a contractor (as defined in section 7101 of title 41, United States Code)—

(A)

added whose contract is in an amount the same as or greater than the simplified acquisition threshold; or

(B)

added that uses, operates, manages, or maintains a Federal information system (as defined by section 11331 of title 40, United Stated Code) on behalf of an agency.

(3)

added The term “DFARS” means the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(4)

added The term “Executive department” has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 5, United States Code.

(5)

added The term “FAR” means the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(6)

added The term “NIST” means the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

(7)

added The term “OMB” means the Office of Management and Budget.

(8)

added The term “security vulnerability” has the meaning given that term in section 2200 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 650).

(9)

added The term “simplified acquisition threshold” has the meaning given that term in section 134 of title 41, United States Code.

Sec. 1801 Reform of rates of monthly basic pay

added

added Effective on January 1, 2025, the rates of monthly basic pay for members of the uniformed services within each pay grade and with years of service computed under section 205 of title 37, United States Code (and subject to adjustment under section 1009 of such title), are as follows:

Sec. 1802 Basic allowance for housing: authorization of appropriations

added

added For fiscal year 2025, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,200,000,000 for the purpose of fully funding the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services under section 403 of title 37, United States Code.

Sec. 1803 Evaluation of the rates of the basic allowance for subsistence

added

added Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the evaluation of the Secretary of the rates of the basic allowance for subsistence under section 402 of title 37, United States Code. Elements of such report shall include the following:

(1)

added The determination of the Secretary whether such rates are sufficient.

(2)

added Other factors that could be used to determine such rates, including—

(A)

added the number of dependents a member of the uniformed services has;

(B)

added whether the member has access to fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meat;

(C)

added whether the member has access to healthy food; and

(D)

added the local costs of food, including at commissaries operated by the Secretary under chapter 147 of title 10, United States Code.

(3)

added The recommendations of the Secretary whether, and how, such rates may be improved.

Sec. 1804 Basic needs allowance for members on active service in the Armed Forces: expansion of eligibility; increase of amount

added

(a)

added Eligibility— Section 402b of title 37, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (b)(2)—

(1)

added in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

added by striking “(A)”;

(B)

added by striking “150 percent” and inserting “200 percent”; and

(C)

added by striking “; or” and inserting “; and”; and

(2)

added by striking subparagraph (B).

(b)

added Amount— Such section is further amended, in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking “150 percent (or, in the case of a member described in subsection (b)(2)(B), 200 percent)” and inserting “200 percent”.

Sec. 1805 Expansion of authority of a commanding officer to authorize a basic allowance for housing for a member performing initial field or sea duty

added

added Subsection (f) of section 403 of title 37, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)—

(A)

added by striking “certifies that the member was necessarily required to procure quarters at the member's expense.” and inserting an em dash; and

(B)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

added “(A) certifies that the member was required to procure housing at the member's expense; or

added “(B) determines that quarters at the duty station or in the field environment are inadequate or an impediment to morale, good order, or discipline.”

(2)

added in paragraph (2)(B)—

(A)

added by striking “the Secretary may authorize” and inserting “a commanding officer may authorize”;

(B)

added by striking “who is serving in pay grade E–4 or E–5” and inserting “who is serving in a pay grade below E-6”; and

(C)

added by striking “members serving in pay grades E-4 and E-5” and inserting “such members. In authorizing an allowance under this subparagraph, the commanding officer shall consider the availability of quarters for the member and whether such quarters are inadequate or an impediment to morale, good order, or discipline”.

Sec. 1806 Expansion of travel and transportation allowance to move or store a privately owned vehicle

added

added Section 453 of title 37, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (c)—

(1)

added in paragraph (2), by striking “one privately owned vehicle” and inserting “two privately owned vehicles”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (4), by inserting “under paragraph (2)” before the period at the end.

Sec. 1807 Report regarding the calculation of cost-of-living allowances

added

(a)

added Report required— Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA. Such report shall include the following elements:

(1)

added The factors used to calculate the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA.

(2)

added An explanation of how the factors described in paragraph (1) are determined.

(3)

added An explanation of how the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA may be adjusted, including—

(A)

added timelines for such an adjustment;

(B)

added bases for such an adjustment; and

(C)

added the relationship between CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA.

(4)

added The evaluation of the Secretary whether the surveys used to collect data from members to calculate the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA are effective.

(5)

added The evaluation of the Secretary whether the calculation of the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA is effective.

(6)

added The assessment of the Secretary whether the calculation of the CONUS COLA or OCONUS COLA should include additional factors, including—

(A)

added the number of dependents a member has;

(B)

added vicinity and commissary costs;

(C)

added the reimbursement of expenses (including tolls and taxes) incurred by a member based on the duty station of such member;

(D)

added remoteness;

(E)

added hardship;

(F)

added loss of spousal income;

(G)

added the unavailability of goods or services in the vicinity of a duty station; and

(H)

added any other factor that the Secretary determines appropriate.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “CONUS COLA” means the cost-of-living allowance paid to a member of the uniformed services under section 403b of title 37, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “OCONUS COLA” means a cost-of-living allowance paid to a member of the uniformed services on the basis that—

(A)

added the member is assigned to a permanent duty station located outside the continental United States; or

(B)

added the dependents of such member reside outside the continental United States but not in the vicinity of the permanent duty station of such member.

Sec. 1811 Competitive pay for Department of Defense child care personnel

added

(a)

added In general— Section 1792(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

added “(c) Competitive rates of pay

added “(1) For the purpose of providing military child development centers with a qualified and stable civilian workforce, employees at a military installation who are directly involved in providing child care and who are paid from nonappropriated funds—

added “(A) in the case of entry-level employees, shall be paid a rate of pay competitive with the rates of pay paid to other equivalent non-Federal positions within the metropolitan statistical area or non-metropolitan statistical area (as the case may be) in which such Department employee’s position is located; and

added “(B) in the case of any employee not covered by subparagraph (A), shall be paid a rate of pay competitive with the rates of pay paid to other employees with similar training, seniority, and experience within the metropolitan statistical area or non-metropolitan statistical area (as the case may be) in which such Department employee’s position is located.

added “(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no employee shall receive a rate of pay under this subsection that is lower than the minimum hourly rate of pay applicable to civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

added “(3) For purposes of determining the rates of pay under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area occupational employment and wage estimates published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

(b)

added Application—

(1)

added In general— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2)

added Rates of pay—

(A)

added Current employee pay rate not reduced— The rate of pay for any individual who is an employee covered by subsection (c) of section 1792 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, on the date of the enactment of this Act shall not be reduced by operation of such amendment.

(B)

added Pay band minimum— Any employee whose rate of pay is fixed under such subsection (c), as so amended, and who is within any pay band shall receive a rate of pay not less than the minimum rate of pay applicable to such pay band.

Sec. 1812 Parent fees at military child development centers for child care employees

added

added Section 1793 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following new subsections:

added “(d) Child care employee discount—In order to support recruitment and retention initiatives, the Secretary of Defense shall charge reduced fees for the attendance, at a military child development center, of the children of a child care employee as follows:

added “(1) For the first child, no fee.

added “(2) For each other child, a fee equal to or less than a fee discounted under subsection (c).

added “(e) Prohibition of concurrent discounts—A family may not receive discounts under subsections (c) and (d) concurrently.”

Sec. 1813 Child abuse prevention and safety at military child development centers

added

(a)

added National hotline— Section 1794 of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in paragraph (2) of subsection (b)—

(1)

added by striking the period at at the end and inserting “by means including—”; and

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

added “(A) posting it in public areas of military child development centers; and

added “(B) providing it to the parents and legal guardians of children who attend military child development centers.”

(b)

added Safety regulations— Such section is further amended, in subsection (d)—

(1)

added by inserting “(1)” before “The Secretary”; and

(2)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

added “(2) The regulations required under paragraph (1) shall—

added “(A) require the Secretary to notify the parents and legal guardians of children who attend a military child development center not later than 24 hours after such a child suffers abuse or harm at such military child development center;

added “(B) establish processes by which the commander of the military installation and military police shall—

added “(i) investigate and address incidents of abuse and harm involving children at military child development centers; and

added “(ii) notify the parents or legal guardians of a child who experiences abuse or harm at a military child development center of the status of any investigations or actions taken (including under subsection (c)) to address such abuse or harm; and

added “(C) require the Secretary of Defense, to the maximum extent practicable, to furnish the regulations under this subsection to parents and legal guardians of children who attend military child development centers.”

(c)

added Remedies— Such section is further amended, in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(3) The Secretary of Defense shall notify the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives in writing not later than 30 days after a requirement is waived under paragraph (2).”

Sec. 1814 Additional information in outreach campaign relating to waiting lists for military child development centers

added

added Section 585(a)(2)(D) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. 1791 note prec.) is amended by inserting “a provider eligible for financial assistance under any clause of section 1798(b)(3)(B) of title 10, United States Code, or” before “pilot programs”.

Sec. 1815 Priority in expansion of pilot program to provide financial assistance to members of the Armed Forces for in-home child care

added

added Section 589(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 1791 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(3) In making a determination under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall give priority to remote locations, including the following:

added “(A) Fort Drum, New York.

added “(B) Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

added “(C) Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.

added “(D) Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.”

Sec. 1816 Child care services and youth program services for dependents

added

(a)

added In general— Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Defense shall fully fund requests for financial assistance to eligible civilian providers of child care services or youth program services under section 1798 of title 10, United States Code.

(b)

added Rule of construction— This section shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary under subsection (a) of section 1798 of such title to determine whether to provide such financial assistance to an eligible provider.

Sec. 1817 Briefings on military child development centers

added

(a)

added Briefings required— The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives briefings regarding child care services at military child development centers according to the following schedule:

(1)

added Once every three months beginning on March 1, 2025, and ending on March 1, 2026.

(2)

added On March 1 of each year thereafter through 2030.

(b)

added Elements— Each briefing shall include, with regard to the period covered by the briefing, the following elements:

(1)

added Waiting lists for such services, disaggregated by military installation.

(2)

added Shortages of child care employees at military child development centers, disaggregated by military installation.

(3)

added Insufficient capacity of military child development centers, disaggregated by military installation.

(4)

added Efforts of the Secretary of Defense to mitigate such shortages or insufficiencies in order to shorten such waiting lists.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section, the terms “military child development center” and “child care employee” have the meanings given such terms in section 1800 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1821 Budget justification for certain Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects

added

added Chapter 9 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 226 the following new section:

added “227. Budget justification for covered military unaccompanied housing Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects

added “(a) In general—Along with the budget for each fiscal year submitted by the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, each Secretary of a military department shall include a consolidated budget justification display that individually identifies—

added “(1) for the fiscal year covered by the budget, the total requested expenditure for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects for covered military unaccompanied housing compared to the total expenditure required by such projects, disaggregated by military department; and

added “(2) the total expenditure for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects made during the fiscal year beginning two years before the fiscal year covered by the budget, disagggregated by—

added “(A) military installation;

added “(B) the type of facility repaired or restored under such projects;

added “(C) the number of such projects that were for sustainment or repair of a facility; and

added “(D) the number of such projects that were for restoration or modernization of a facility.

added “(b) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “covered military unaccompanied housing” has the meaning given in section 2856 of this title.

added “(2) The terms “facility” and “military installation” have the meanings given, respectively, in section 2801 of this title.”

Sec. 1822 Strategy for use of existing leasing authorities to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing required

added

(a)

added Strategy required—

(1)

added In general— Each Secretary of a military department shall develop a strategy to use the authorities of such Secretary, in effect as of such date, to lease real property to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing.

(2)

added Elements— Each strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to military installations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the military department concerned—

(A)

added an identification of military installations with the largest shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing;

(B)

added an identification of military installations where existing facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing are in poor or failing condition under the uniform index for evaluating the condition of covered military unaccompanied housing required by section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 2851);

(C)

added plans of such Secretary in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing or the condition of facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing using—

(i)

added military construction projects; or

(ii)

added facility sustainment, restoration, or modernization funds; and

(D)

added an assessment of whether the leasing authority under section 2661 of title 10, United States Code, or intergovernmental support agreements under section 2679 of such title would be suitable for use by such Secretary to address—

(i)

added shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing; or

(ii)

added the poor or failing condition of a facility of covered military unaccompanied housing.

(3)

added Deadline— Each Secretary of a military department shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the strategy required by subsection (a) by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “congressional defense committees” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “covered military unaccompanied housing” has the meaning given such term in section 2856 of such title.

(3)

added The terms “facility” and “military construction project” have the meanings given such terms in section 2801 of such title.

Sec. 1823 Independent assessment of estimated costs of certain strategies to address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing

added

(a)

added Agreement— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with an FFRDC for an assessment that compares the estimated total cost to the United States during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act of—

(1)

added the construction and maintenance of facilities of covered military unaccompanied housing to address shortages in covered military unaccompanied housing; and

(2)

added the modification of policies of the Department of Defense and each military department to permit a greater number of members of the Armed Forces to reside in housing facilities other than covered military unaccompanied housing (including such policies relating to the payment of basic allowance for housing under section 403 of title 37, United States Code).

(b)

added Report on assessment— An FFRDC that enters into an agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report on such assessment. Such report shall include—

(1)

added a comprehensive review of—

(A)

added the total lifecycle costs, disaggregated by each military department, of the construction, sustainment, and modernization of facilities of covered unaccompanied housing to meet—

(i)

added the needs for housing for members of the Armed Forces as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(ii)

added the projected needs for such housing during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, as determined by each Secretary concerned;

(B)

added the applicable policies of each military department with respect to which members of the Armed Forces are required to reside in covered military unaccompanied housing; and

(C)

added for each military department, the expected expenditure for basic allowance for housing under section 403 of title 37, United States Code, during the 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act compared to such total lifecycle costs;

(2)

added a summary of the research and other activities carried out as part of such comprehensive review; and

(3)

added recommendations of the FFRDC with respect to requirements and policies of the Department of Defense and each military department for covered military unaccompanied housing.

(c)

added Submission to Congress—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense receives the report under subsection (b), such Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that includes—

(A)

added an unaltered copy of the report of the FFRDC submitted to the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection (b); and

(B)

added the written responses of the Secretary of the Defense and the Secretaries concerned with respect to the results of such report.

(2)

added Form— The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(d)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered military unaccompanied housing” has the meaning given such term in section 2856 of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “facility” has the meaning given such term in section 2801 of such title.

(3)

added The term “FFRDC” means a federally funded research and development center.

Sec. 1824 Digital maintenance request system for covered military unaccompanied housing

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

added require each Secretary of a military department to establish a digital system for residents of covered military unaccompanied housing located on a military installation under the jurisdiction of such Secretary to make maintenance requests for such housing; and

(2)

added submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the establishment of such digital systems.

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “military installation” has the meaning given in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “covered military unaccompanied housing” has the meaning given in section 2856 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1825 Digital facilities management systems for military departments

added

(a)

added Digital facilities management systems for military departments—

(1)

added Criteria— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination with each covered Assistant Secretary, shall develop criteria for a new or established digital facilities management system for each military department. Each such system shall have the capability to, with respect to each military installation—

(A)

added track conditions of individual facilities, applying the uniform index developed under section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31), for each military installation under the jurisdiction of each such covered Assistant Secretary;

(B)

added plan for maintenance actions for each facility; and

(C)

added generate reports that include data on—

(i)

added the type and function of each facility;

(ii)

added the overall condition of each facility;

(iii)

added planned maintenance for each facility during a five-year period following the date of submission of the criteria;

(iv)

added conditions that may lead to a failure to maintain minimum physical security or configuration standards for members of the Armed Forces during the 12-month period following the date of submission of the criteria; and

(v)

added the date on which the facility will have been in use for 40 years.

(2)

added Briefing— Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment develops the criteria required under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on such criteria.

(3)

added Implementation— Not later than one year after the date on which the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment develops the criteria required under paragraph (1), each covered Assistant Secretary shall implement a digital facilities management system for the military department under the jurisdiction of that meets the criteria described in paragraph (1).

(b)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered Assistant Secretary” means—

(A)

added the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment;

(B)

added the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; and

(C)

added the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy.

(2)

added The term “facility” has the meaning given in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.

(3)

added The term “military department” has the meaning given in section 101 of such title.

(4)

added The term “military installation” has the meaning given in section 2801 of such title.

Sec. 1826 Temporary biennial report on quality and condition of covered military unaccompanied housing located outside the United States

added

(a)

added Report required—

(1)

added In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter until January 1, 2032, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the quality and condition of each facility of covered military unaccompanied housing located outside the United States, disaggregated by military installation on which each such facility is located.

(2)

added Elements— Such report shall include, for each facility of covered military unaccompanied housing the following:

(A)

added A description of each facility of covered military unaccompanied housing including age, whether the facility is permanent or temporary, and whether the facility is Government-owned or leased.

(B)

added The results of an evaluation of the condition of such facility using the uniform index developed under section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31).

(C)

added With respect to the standards for habitability established under section 2856b of title 10, United States Code (as added by section 2832 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024)—

(i)

added an explanation of how such standards are applied to such facility; and

(ii)

added an estimation of the funding needed to apply such standards to such facility.

(D)

added An assessment of how such standards and the condition of such facility determined under the evaluation described in subparagraph (B) affect force readiness, disaggregated by combatant command.

(b)

added Defined— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered military unaccompanied housing” has the meaning given in section 2856 of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

added The terms “facility” and “military installation” have the meanings given, respectively, in section 2801 of such title.

Sec. 1831 Exclusion of mental health care providers from authorized strengths of certain officers on active duty

added

added Section 523(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(10) Officers who are licensed mental health providers, including clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, mental health nurse practitioners, or psychiatric physician assistants.”

Sec. 1832 TRICARE program: waiver of referral requirement under TRICARE Prime for certain care in a military medical treatment facility

added

added Section 1095f(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added

(a)

added Pilot Program—

(1)

added Establishment— Not later than three months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and implement a pilot program to appoint licensed civilian health care professionals to positions within the Department of Defense.

(2)

added Locations— The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under this section at not more than three military medical treatment facilities maintained under section 1073d of title 10, United States Code, to be selected by the Secretary. To be eligible for selection under this paragraph, a military medical treatment facility may not be more than 50 miles from a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(b)

added Appointments—

(1)

added In general— For the purposes of appointing licensed civilian health care professionals under the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall exercise the hiring authority under section 1599c(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, with respect to the appointment and pay of health care personnel under chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of such section 1599c, the authority under this paragraph shall expire on the date set forth in subsection (d) of this section.

(2)

added Conversion— Any Department of Defense employee who, on the date the pilot program under this section is established, is a licensed health care professional occupying a position at any military medical treatment facility selected under subsection (a) may elect to have their appointment converted such that their position is subject to the provisions of such chapter 74 described in paragraph (1).

(3)

added Opt out— Any individual who has applied for a position at any such a facility before the pilot program is established but who has not been appointed may, in the event of subsequent appointment, elect to not be subject to such provisions of such chapter 74 or the hiring requirements of the pilot program.

(c)

added Report— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter until the date under subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives on the pilot program. Each such report shall include the following information:

(1)

added The total number of full-time equivalent positions added under the pilot program.

(2)

added The average time from announcement of an available position to—

(A)

added the date an individual is offered employment, sorted by position; and

(B)

added the date an individual commences employment, sorted by position.

(3)

added The turnover rate for employees appointed under the pilot program.

(d)

added Sunset— The authority to carry out the pilot program established under this section shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date Secretary establishes the pilot program under such subsection.

Sec. 1837 Retention of health care providers: surveys; briefing; reports

added

(a)

added Surveys— The Secretary of a military department shall conduct an annual survey of health care providers under the jurisdiction of such Secretary to determine why such providers remain on, or separate from, active duty in such military department.

(b)

added Briefing— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of a military department shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing regarding the plan of such Secretary to carry out the survey under this section.

(c)

added Reports— Not later than September 30 of each year, beginning in 2025, the Secretary of a military department shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the most recent survey under this section.

(1)

added Elements— Each report shall include the following elements:

(A)

added Demographic data regarding the providers, disaggregated under paragraph (2).

(B)

added Reasons providers gave for remaining.

(C)

added Reasons providers gave for separating.

(D)

added The determination of the Secretary whether there is a trend regarding retention or such reasons.

(E)

added Efforts of the Secretary to reverse a negative trend or encourage a positive trend.

(F)

added Legislative recommendations of the Secretary regarding how to reverse a negative trend or encourage a positive trend.

(2)

added Demographic data— In each report, the Secretary of a military department shall disaggregate demographic data regarding providers who participated in the most recent survey on the bases of the following categories:

(A)

added Medical specialty.

(B)

added Rank.

(C)

added Gender.

(D)

added Years of service in such military department.

(E)

added Whether the provider became an officer on active duty in such military department—

(i)

added pursuant to the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program under subchapter I of chapter 105 of title 10, United States Code;

(ii)

added after graduating from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences established under section 2112 of such title; or

(iii)

added otherwise.

(d)

added Termination— This section shall cease to have effect on September 30, 2030.

Sec. 1841 Interstate compacts for portability of occupational licenses of military spouses: permanent authority

added

(a)

added In general— Section 1784(h) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5).

(b)

added Effective date— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if enacted immediately following the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92), to which such amendment relates.

Sec. 1842 Permanent Military Spouse Career Accelerator program

added

(a)

added Establishment— Section 1784 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(i) Employment fellowship opportunities—The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program to provide spouses of members of the armed forces with paid fellowships with employers in various industries. To carry out such program, the Secretary shall take the following steps:

added “(1) Enter into an agreement with an entity to conduct such program.

added “(2) Determine the appropriate capacity for the program based on the availability of appropriations for such purpose.

added “(3) Establish criteria to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the program in supporting the employment of such spouses.”

(b)

added Effective date— Subsection (i) of such section shall take effect on January 1, 2026.

(c)

added Conforming amendment— The pilot program under section 564 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 1784 note) shall terminate on January 1, 2026.

Sec. 1843 Child care services and youth program services for dependents: period of services for a member with a spouse seeking employment

added

(a)

added Period— The Secretary of a military department may provide a covered member with covered services for a period of at least 180 days.

(b)

added Rule of construction— Nothing in this section shall be construed to—

(1)

added entitle a covered member to covered services; or

(2)

added give priority to a covered member for purposes of a determination regarding who shall receive covered services.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered member” means a member of the Armed Forces—

(A)

added who has a dependent child; and

(B)

added whose spouse is seeking employment.

(2)

added The term “covered services” means child care services or youth program services provided or paid for by the Secretary of Defense under subchapter II of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 1851 Increased access to food on military installations

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Secretaries of the military departments shall implement a program, standardized across the military departments, to increase access to food on military installations for members of the Armed Forces who reside on such military installations.

(b)

added CAC access— Food made available under the program under this section shall be accessible with a common access card at dining facilities, commissaries, exchanges, restaurants, and other locations where such members can obtain food.

(c)

added Briefing— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments shall jointly submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing on the implementation of the program under this section. Such briefing shall include the following elements:

(1)

added The milestones and timeline to complete such implementation.

(2)

added Resources, including software, hardware, and personnel, necessary for such implementation.

(3)

added A description of potential barriers to implementation of the program, particularly for remote or rural military installations, or installations located in geographic areas with limited access to food.

(4)

added Policies or regulations of the Department of Defense that the Secretary of Defense determines necessary for such implementation.

(5)

added Recommendations of the Secretary of Defense or a Secretary of a military department regarding legislation necessary for such implementation.

Sec. 2001 Short title

added

added This division may be cited as the “Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025”.

Sec. 2002 Expiration of authorizations and amounts required to be specified by law

added

(a)

added Expiration of authorizations after three years— Except as provided in subsection (b), all authorizations contained in titles XXI through XXVII for military construction projects, land acquisition, family housing projects and facilities, and contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program (and authorizations of appropriations therefor) shall expire on the later of—

(1)

added October 1, 2027; or

(2)

added the date of the enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for fiscal year 2028.

(b)

added Exception— Subsection (a) shall not apply to authorizations for military construction projects, land acquisition, family housing projects and facilities, and contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program (and authorizations of appropriations therefor), for which appropriated funds have been obligated before the later of—

(1)

added October 1, 2027; or

(2)

added the date of the enactment of an Act authorizing funds for fiscal year 2028 for military construction projects, land acquisition, family housing projects and facilities, or contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program.

Sec. 2003 Effective date

added

added Titles XXI through XXVII shall take effect on the later of—

(1)

added October 1, 2024; or

(2)

added the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 2101 Authorized Army construction and land acquisition projects

added

(a)

added Inside the united states— Using amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in section 2103(a) and available for military construction projects inside the United States as specified in the funding table in section 4601, the Secretary of the Army may acquire real property and carry out military construction projects for the installations or locations inside the United States, and in the amounts, set forth in the following table:

(b)

added Outside the United States— Using amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in section 2103(a) and available for military construction projects outside the United States as specified in the funding table in section 4601, the Secretary of the Army may acquire real property and carry out military construction projects for the installations or locations outside the United States, and in the amounts, set forth in the following table:

Sec. 2102 Family housing

added

(a)

added

(a)

added

added Chapter 855 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “8551. Development and operation of the Naval Innovation Center at the Naval Postgraduate School

added “(a) Authority to support the Naval Innovation Center

added “(1) The Secretary of the Navy may enter into a contract or other agreement with one or more eligible nonprofit organizations for the design, construction, and maintenance of a multipurpose facility—

added “(A) to be known as the “Naval Innovation Center” (in this section referred to as the “NIC”); and

added “(B) to be located at the United States Naval Postgraduate School.

added “(2) The NIC shall be used—

added “(A) to convene interested persons to develop and accelerate the adoption of new and innovative technologies and practices for the benefit of the Department of Defense; and

added “(B) to support such education, training, research, and associated activities, as determined by the Secretary, in support of the Naval Postgraduate School and the Department of Defense.

added “(b) Funds—Under the contract or other agreement described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may—

added “(1) accept funds from a partner organization for any phase of development of the NIC; and

added “(2) accept funds, personal property, or services from a covered entity that is not a partner organization for maintenance of the NIC.

added “(c) Authority to Accept Gifts

added “(1) The Secretary of the Navy may accept, hold, administer, and spend any gift, device, or bequest of real property, personal property, services, or money on the condition that the gift, device, or bequest be used for the benefit, or in connection with, the establishment, operation, or maintenance of the NIC. Section 2601 (other than subsections (b), (c), and (e)) of this title shall apply to gifts accepted under this subsection.

added “(2) The Secretary may display at the NIC recognition for an individual or entity that contributes money to a partner organization or for a corporate partner that contributes money directly to the Navy for the benefit of the NIC, whether or not the contribution is subject to the condition that the recognition be provided. The Secretary shall prescribe regulations governing the circumstances under which contributor recognition may be provided, appropriate forms of recognition, and suitable display standards.

added “(3) The Secretary may authorize the sale of donated property received under paragraph (1). A sale under this paragraph need not be conducted in accordance with disposal requirements that would otherwise apply, so long as the sale is conducted at arms-length and includes an auditable transaction record.

added “(4) Any money received under paragraph (1) and any proceeds from the sale of property under paragraph (3) shall be deposited into a fund established in the Treasury to support the NIC.

added “(d) Additional Terms and Conditions—The Secretary of the Navy may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with a contract or other agreement described in subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

added “(e) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “eligible nonprofit organization” means an organization that —

added “(A) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and

added “(B) has as its primary purpose the support and operation of the Naval Postgraduate School.

added “(2) The term “partner organization” means an eligible nonprofit organization with which the Secretary of the Navy enters into a contract or other agreement under subsection (a).

added “(3) The term “covered entity” means—

added “(A) an entity incorporated or operating under the laws of any State; or

added “(B) a nonprofit organization.”

Sec. 2802 Assistance for public infrastructure projects and services

added

added Section 2391(b)(5)(B) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting “or local government” after “a State”;

(2)

added in clause (ii), by striking “and” at the end;

(3)

added in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(4)

added by adding at the end the following new clause:

added “(iv) to support public infrastructure projects and services that enhance the capabilities and resilience of the defense industrial base and the defense industrial base workers, if the Secretary determines such support will improve operations of the Department of Defense.”

Sec. 2803 Military base reuse studies and community planning assistance

added

added Section 2391 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b)(5)(D) by adding at the end the following: “The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the Commandant of the Coast Guard before providing assistance under this paragraph for Coast Guard installations and facilities that, for purposes of this paragraph, are military installations.”; and

(2)

added in subsection (e)(1) by adding at the end the following: “For purposes of paragraphs (1)(E) and (5)(D) of subsection (b), the term “military installation” includes Coast Guard installations and facilities”.

Sec. 2804 Expansion of eligible grant recipients under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program

added

(a)

added In general— Subsection (d) of section 2391 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (1)(A), by striking “State and local governments” and inserting “State governments, local governments, and not-for-profit, member-owned utility services”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (2)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (A), by striking “the State or local government agree” and inserting “the recipient of such assistance agrees”; and

(B)

added in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

added in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “in a rural area or the Secretary of Defense” and inserting “in a rural area or a covered insular area, or if the Secretary of Defense”;

(ii)

added in clause (i), by striking “a State or local government” and inserting “the recipient of assistance under this subsection”; and

(iii)

added in clause (ii), by striking “a State or local government contribution” and inserting “the contribution of such recipient”.

(b)

added Covered insular area defined— Subsection (e) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(7) The term “covered insular area” means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands.”

(c)

added Technical amendment— Section 2391(d)(1)(B)(iii) of such title is amended by striking “section 101(e)(8) of this title” and inserting “section 101 of this title”.

Sec. 2805 Amendments to defense laboratory modernization program

added

added Section 2805(g) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (5), by striking “$150,000,000” and inserting “$300,000,000”; and

(2)

added in paragraph (6)(B), by striking “$1,000,0000” and inserting “$4,000,0000”.

Sec. 2806 Annual five-year plans on improvement of Department of Defense innovation infrastructure

added

added Section 2810 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(e) Annual five-year plans on improvement of innovation infrastructure

added “(1) Submission—Along with the budget for each fiscal year submitted by the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, each Secretary of a military department and the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan that describes the objectives of that Secretary to improve innovation infrastructure during the five fiscal years following the fiscal year for which such budget is submitted.

added “(2) Elements—Each plan submitted by a Secretary of a military department under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

added “(A) With respect to the five-year period covered by the plan, an identification of the major lines of effort, milestones, and investment goals of the Secretary over such period relating to the improvement of innovation infrastructure and a description of how such goals support such goals, including the use of—

added “(i) military construction, facilities restoration and modernization funds;

added “(ii) the defense lab modernization program under section 2805(d) of this title; and

added “(iii) military construction projects for innovation, research, development, test, and evaluation under this section.

added “(B) The estimated costs of necessary innovation infrastructure improvements and a description of how such costs would be addressed by the Department of Defense budget request submitted during the same year as the plan and the applicable future-years defense program.

added “(C) Information regarding the plan of the Secretary to initiate such environmental and engineering studies as may be necessary to carry out planned innovation infrastructure improvements.

added “(D) Detailed information regarding how innovation infrastructure improvement projects will be paced and sequenced to ensure continuous operations.

added “(3) Incorporation of results-oriented management practices—Each plan under subsection (a) shall incorporate the leading results-oriented management practices identified in the report of the Comptroller General of the United States titled “Actions Needed to Improve Poor Conditions of Facilities and Equipment that Affect Maintenance Timeliness and Efficiency” (GAO–19–242), or any successor report, including—

added “(A) analytically based goals;

added “(B) results-oriented metrics;

added “(C) the identification of required resources, risks, and stakeholders; and

added “(D) regular reporting on progress to decision makers.

added “(4) Innovative infrastructure defined—In this subsection, the term “innovation infrastructure” includes laboratories, test and evaluation ranges, and any other infrastructure whose primary purpose is research, development, test, and evaluation.”

Sec. 2807 Expansion of stormwater management projects for installation and defense access road resilience; modification of project priorities

added

added Section 2815a of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a)—

(A)

added in paragraph (1), by striking “and” at the end;

(B)

added in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(3) providing water storage and filtration, flood mitigation, or otherwise supporting water resilience at military installations.”

(2)

added in subsection (b)—

(A)

added by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (6), (7), and (8), respectively; and

(B)

added by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

added “(5) A military installation resilience project under section 2684a of this title.”

(3)

added by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

added “(c) Project priorities—In selecting stormwater management projects to be carried out under this section, the Secretary concerned shall give a priority to project proposals for—

added “(1) minimizing the runoff of untreated stormwater into freshwater systems or tidal systems;

added “(2) protecting military installations and defense access roads from stormwater runoff and water levels resulting from extreme weather conditions; and

added “(3) supporting water resilience at military installations.”

(4)

added in subsection (d)—

(A)

added by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively;

(B)

added by inserting “, retention, and filtration” after “water-slowing”; and

(C)

added by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

added “(2) The capture or storage of stormwater for use in supporting water resilience at a military installation.”

(5)

added in subsection (e)—

(A)

added by striking “In the case of” and inserting “(1) In the case of”;

(B)

added by striking “section 2391(d),” and inserting “section 2391, 2684,”; and

(C)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

added “(2) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall designate an official to be responsible for coordinating regional stormwater management among the military departments.”

Sec. 2808 Expansion of authorized threshold for certain minor military construction projects within area of responsibility of United States Indo-Pacific Command

added

added Subsection (a) of section 2810 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amended by striking “$15,000,000” and inserting “$20,000,000”.

Sec. 2809 Notification to Members of Congress for awards of contracts for military construction projects

added

(a)

added Notification required— Not later than 30 days after the date of award of a contract for a military construction project, the Secretary of the military department that has jurisdiction over such project shall notify any applicable Member of Congress representing the State—

(1)

added in which such contract will be performed; or

(2)

added for which the contractor awarded such contract is a constituent of such Member.

(b)

added Elements— A notification under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added The proposed value of the contract.

(2)

added The contractor awarded the contract.

(3)

added A brief description of the project that is the subject of the contract, including the location in which the contract will be performed.

Sec. 2821 Extension of applicability for waivers of covered privacy and configuration standards for covered military unaccompanied housing

added

added Paragraph (4) of section 2856a(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “9 months” and inserting “18 months”.

Sec. 2822 Additional requirements for database of complaints made regarding housing units of Department of Defense

added

added Section 2894a of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a) by striking “regarding housing units” and inserting “by a tenant regarding covered dwelling units”;

(2)

added in subsections (c) and (d) by striking “housing unit” each place it appears and inserting “covered dwelling unit”; and

(3)

added by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections:

added “(f) Annual report

added “(1) In general—The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Housing shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and make available to each Secretary of a military department, an annual report that includes, during the year covered by such report—

added “(A) a summary of the data collected using the database established under subsection (a);

added “(B) an aggregation of the complaints categorized by type, in accordance with paragraph (2), and military installation, if applicable; and

added “(C) the actions taken to remedy complaints received during the period covered by such report.

added “(2) Type of complaints—In categorizing complaints by type pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall aggregate complaints based on the following categories:

added “(A) Physiological hazards, including dampness and mold growth, lead-based paint, asbestos and manmade fibers, radiation, biocides, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds.

added “(B) Psychological hazards, including ease of access by unlawful intruders, faulty locks or alarms, and lighting issues.

added “(C) Safety hazards.

added “(D) Maintenance timeliness.

added “(E) Maintenance quality.

added “(g) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term “covered armed force” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

added “(2) The term covered dwelling unit means a unit of accompanied family housing, unaccompanied housing, or barracks—

added “(A) in which a member of a covered armed force resides; and

added “(B) that such member does not own.

added “(3) The term tenant means any of the following:

added “(A) A member of a covered armed force who resides in a covered dwelling unit.

added “(B) A dependent of a member described in subparagraph (A) who resides in a covered dwelling unit.”

Sec. 2823 Modification to definition of privatized military housing

added

added Section 3001(a)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 2821 note) is amended by striking “military housing provided” and inserting “military housing that is not Government-owned that is provided”.

Sec. 2824 Analysis of housing availability for critical civilian and contractor personnel near rural military installations

added

added Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall revise the Department of Defense Manual 4165.63–M titled “DoD Housing Management” issued October 28, 2010, to require an analysis of the availability of suitable housing located in close proximity to a military installation (as defined in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code) in a rural location for civilian personnel and defense contractors that provide critical functions for the operations of such military installation, as determined by the Secretary.

Sec. 2825 Limitation on availability of funds for certain Department of Defense travel until establishment of certain complaint database

added

added Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025, and available for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the travel of persons, not more than 90 percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which the Secretary of Defense implements the public complaint database for military housing under the jurisdiction of such Secretary required by section 2894a of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 2831 Process for strategic basing actions for the Department of the Air Force

added

added Chapter 141 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2391 the following new section:

added “2392. Process for strategic basing actions for the Department of the Air Force

added “(a) Basing action requests

added “(1) An action proponent desiring the Secretary of the Air Force to undertake a basing action shall submit to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment a basing action request.

added “(2) The Assistant Secretary shall coordinate with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy and Requirements of the Air Force on the assessment and resolution of a basing action request.

added “(b) Assessment of basing action request

added “(1) The Assistant Secretary shall assess a request submitted under subsection (a) to determine whether the basing action described in such request is a strategic basing action.

added “(2) Not later than 14 days after the Assistant Secretary makes a determination with respect to such a basing action, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a notification of such determination.

added “(3)

added “(A) Upon determining that a basing action described in a request submitted under subsection (a) is a strategic basing action, the Secretary of the Air Force may not carry out such strategic basing action pursuant to the process established for a programmatic basing decision (as described in subsection (h)) until the Secretary notifies the congressional defense committees of the determination to use a programmatic basing decision process for such basing action request.

added “(B) Upon designation of a Strategic Basing Lead for a basing action request submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force may not implement such request pursuant to the processes established for a programmatic basing decision (as described in subsection (h)).

added “(c) Criteria for strategic basing action

added “(1)

added “(A) Upon determining that a basing action described in a request submitted under subsection (a) is a strategic basing action, the Assistant Secretary shall designate a Strategic Basing Lead to, for each such request—

added “(i) develop a list of military installations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Air Force at which the strategic basic action may be implemented;

added “(ii) develop criteria to determine the suitability of each military installation on such list for the strategic basing action, including criteria relating to mission requirements, capacity of each military installation to support the strategic basing action, environmental considerations, and cost;

added “(iii) assign a weight to each criteria developed under clause (ii); and

added “(iv) if required, request modifications of the criteria or weight of criteria from the Strategic Basing Panel.

added “(B) The Strategic Basing Lead shall submit to the Strategic Basing Panel a report containing the information described in subparagraph (A).

added “(2)

added “(A) Not later than 30 days after receipt of the report required under paragraph (1), the Strategic Basing Panel shall review such report and make a determination whether to approve or reject the list of military installations, the criteria developed, and the weights assigned such criteria under such paragraph.

added “(B) If the Strategic Basing Panel rejects such list, criteria, or weights, the Assistant Secretary shall require the Strategic Basing Lead to redevelop such list, redevelop such criteria, or reassign such weights (as appropriate) and submit the modified criteria or weights to the Strategic Basing Panel for a subsequent review to be conducted in accordance with subparagraph (A).

added “(C) There shall be no limitation on the number of times the Assistant Secretary may require the Strategic Basing Lead to redevelop such list, redevelop such criteria, or reassign such weights (as appropriate).

added “(D) The Strategic Basing Panel shall submit to the Strategic Basing Group a report that includes the approved list of military installations, criteria developed, and weights assigned such criteria.

added “(3)

added “(A) The Strategic Basing Group shall review the report submitted under paragraph (2)(D) and submit to the Assistant Secretary a determination of whether to approve or reject such report.

added “(B) If the Strategic Basing Group rejects the inclusion of a military installation, the criteria developed, or the weights assigned such criteria in the report, the Assistant Secretary shall require the Strategic Basing Panel to submit to the Strategic Basing Group a modified report for a subsequent review to be conducted in accordance with subparagraph (A).

added “(C) There shall be no limitation on the number of times the Assistant Secretary may require the Strategic Basing Panel to submit to the Strategic Basing Group a modified report.

added “(D) The Strategic Basing Group shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a report that includes the approved list of military installations, criteria developed, and weights assigned such criteria.

added “(4) Not later than 14 days after the date of receipt of the report under paragraph (3)(D), the Assistant Secretary shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on—

added “(A) the work of the Strategic Basing Lead;

added “(B) the list of military installations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Air Force at which the strategic basic action may be implemented; and

added “(C) the criteria developed under paragraph (1)(A) and the weight assigned to such criteria, as approved by the Strategic Basing Group.

added “(5)

added “(A) If the Strategic Basing Lead modifies the list of military installations, the criteria developed, or the weight assigned to such criteria under paragraph (1), or requests a modification pursuant to paragraph (1)(A)(iv), after the date of the briefing required under paragraph (4), the Strategic Basing Lead shall submit to the Strategic Basing Panel a report describing such modifications.

added “(B) The Assistant Secretary shall—

added “(i) notify the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate of any modifications made by the Strategic Basing Lead as described in subparagraph (A);

added “(ii) require the Strategic Basing Lead to submit such modifications to the Strategic Basing Panel for subsequent review to be conducted in accordance with paragraph (2);

added “(iii) require the Strategic Basing Panel to submit approved modifications to the Strategic Basing Group for subsequent review to be conducted in accordance with paragraph (3); and

added “(iv) provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on such modifications approved by the Strategic Basing Group.

added “(d) List of proposed military installations for site visits

added “(1)

added “(A) After reviewing the relevant information provided by the appropriate commanders of military installations and commanders of tenant or other relevant activities with respect to the report approved by the Strategic Basing Group under subsection (c), the Strategic Basing Lead shall—

added “(i) determine which military installations in such report are the most suitable for a site survey; and

added “(ii) complete a scorecard for each military installation, using the criteria developed under subsection (c)(1)(A), to evaluate the suitability of each military installation for implementing the strategic basing decision.

added “(B) The Strategic Basing Lead shall submit to the Strategic Basing Panel a report containing the information described in subparagraph (A).

added “(2)

added “(A) Not later than 30 days after receipt of the report required under paragraph (1), the Strategic Basing Panel shall review such report and submit to the Strategic Basing Group a determination of which military installations in such report are most suitable for a site survey.

added “(B) If the Strategic Basing Panel rejects the inclusion of a military installation under the review required under subparagraph (A), the Assistant Secretary shall require the Strategic Basing Lead to submit to the Strategic Basing Panel a modified list of military installations for a subsequent review to be conducted in accordance with subparagraph (A).

added “(C) There shall be no limitation on the number of times the Assistant Secretary may require the Strategic Basing Lead to submit to the Strategic Basing Panel a modified list of military installations.

added “(D) The Strategic Basing Panel shall submit to the Strategic Basing Group a report that includes the approved list of military installations and the relevant scorecards for such military installations.

added “(3)

added “(A) The Strategic Basing Group shall review the report submitted under paragraph (2)(D) and submit to the Assistant Secretary a determination of which military installations on the list are most suitable for a site survey.

added “(B) If the Strategic Basing Group rejects the inclusion of a military installation under the review required under subparagraph (A), the Assistant Secretary shall require the Strategic Basing Panel to submit to the Strategic Basing Group a modified list of military installations for a subsequent review to be conducted in accordance with subparagraph (A).

added “(C) There shall be no limitation on the number of times the Assistant Secretary may require the Strategic Basing Panel to submit to the Strategic Basing Group a modified list of military installations.

added “(D) The Strategic Basing Group shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a report that includes the approved list of military installations and the relevant scorecards for such military installations.

added “(4) Not later than 14 days after the date of receipt of the report under paragraph (3)(D), the Assistant Secretary shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on such report that includes the relevant scorecards for each military installation included in such report.

added “(5) After providing the briefing described in paragraph (4), the Assistant Secretary shall make the list described in such paragraph publicly available.

added “(e) Recommendation of a military installation

added “(1) The Strategic Basing Lead shall conduct a site survey at each military installation included on the list approved by the Strategic Basing Group in the report described in subsection (d)(3)(D).

added “(2) Not later than 60 days after the completion of all site surveys, the Strategic Basing Lead shall submit to the Strategic Basing Panel a report containing the results of each such survey, including—

added “(A) an updated scorecard described in subsection (d)(1)(a)(ii) for each military installation using information from the site survey for such installation; and

added “(B) a comprehensive cost evaluation of implementing the strategic basing action at each such military installation.

added “(3)

added “(A) Not later than 30 days after receipt of the report required under paragraph (2), the Strategic Basing Panel shall review such report and submit to the Strategic Basing Group a report that includes—

added “(i) a recommendation of a single military installation from the report as the most suitable for implementation of the strategic basing action, and a list of any reasonable alternatives; and

added “(ii) data on each military installation for which a site survey was conducted under paragraph (1), including the updated scorecard described in paragraph (2)(A).

added “(B) If the Strategic Basing Panel cannot recommend a single military installation under the review required under subparagraph (A), the Assistant Secretary shall require the Strategic Basing Lead to submit to the Strategic Basing Panel a modified scorecard and cost evaluation for each military installation for a subsequent review to be conducted in accordance with subparagraph (A).

added “(C) There shall be no limitation on the number of times the Assistant Secretary may require the Strategic Basing Lead to submit to the Strategic Basing Panel a modified scorecard and cost evaluation.

added “(D) The Strategic Basing Panel shall submit to the Strategic Basing Group a report that includes the recommendation of a single military installation and the relevant scorecard for such military installation.

added “(4)

added “(A) The Strategic Basing Group shall evaluate the single military installation from the report required under paragraph (3)(D) and determine whether or not to recommend to the Assistant Secretary implementation of the strategic basing action at such installation.

added “(B) If the Strategic Basing Group cannot recommend implementing the strategic basing action at such military installation, the Assistant Secretary shall require the Strategic Basing Panel to submit to the Strategic Basing Group a modified scorecard and cost evaluation for another military installation included in the report submitted under paragraph (2) for a subsequent review to be conducted in accordance with subparagraph (A).

added “(C) There shall be no limitation on the number of times the Assistant Secretary may require the Strategic Basing Panel to submit to the Strategic Basing Group a modified scorecard and cost evaluation.

added “(D) The Strategic Basing Group shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a report that includes a recommendation of a single military installation for implementation of the strategic basing action, and a list of any reasonable alternatives.

added “(5) The Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Secretary of the Air Force an analysis of the recommendation of a single military installation for implementation of the strategic basing action made by the Strategic Basing Group, including all relevant data and a list of any reasonable alternatives.

added “(6) The Secretary of the Air Force shall make a determination to implement the strategic basing action at the military installation recommended under paragraph (5).

added “(7) Not later than 14 days after submission of a recommendation under paragraph (5), the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the decision to implement the strategic basing action at a military installation, including—

added “(A) the site surveys conducted under paragraph (1);

added “(B) the reports submitted under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4); and

added “(C) the recommendation made under paragraph (5).

added “(8) After providing the briefing described in paragraph (7), the Assistant Secretary shall make the recommendation described in such paragraph publicly available.

added “(f) Selection of military installation

added “(1) Not later than 90 days after the completion of all reviews required under this section, the Secretary of the Air Force may begin implementation of the strategic basing action for which such reviews were conducted and shall publicly announce the military installation at which such strategic basing action will be implemented.

added “(2) No amounts may be obligated or expended, and no personnel, equipment, or other resources of the Department of Defense may be detailed, transferred, obligated, or assigned to implement a strategic basing action under this section until the date on which the Secretary of the Air Force makes the public announcement described in paragraph (1).

added “(g) Applicability—This section and the requirements of this section shall apply to a basing action request submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this section.

added “(h) Requirements for programmatic basing decisions

added “(1) The Assistant Secretary may not make a programmatic basing decision (as described in chapter 7 of the Department of the Air Force Instruction 10–503 issued June 12, 2023, as in effect on April 1, 2024) with respect to a basing action request submitted under subsection (a) until the Secretary of the Air Force—

added “(A) has published a revision of such instruction that includes a definition of “programmatic basing decision”; and

added “(B) provides to the congressional defense committees a briefing on such revision that includes a description of the process for making a programmatic basing decision (as revised under subparagraph (A)) and the criteria evaluated under such process.

added “(2) With respect to a basing action request submitted under subsection (a) for which the Assistant Secretary determines a programmatic basing decision (as defined under the revision required by paragraph (1)) may be made, the Assistant Secretary—

added “(A) shall submit to the congressional defense committees an explanation justifying why such request was not determined to be a strategic basing action;

added “(B) shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the implementation of the programmatic basing decision; and

added “(C) may not implement the programmatic basing decision until 30 days after the later of the date on which the submission described in subparagraph (A) or the briefing described in subparagraph (B) is made.

added “(3) Upon implementation of the programmatic basing decision (as defined under the revision required by paragraph (1)) for a basing action request submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force may not implement such request pursuant to the processes established for a strategic basing decision.

added “(i) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term action proponent has the meaning given in the Department of the Air Force Instruction 10–503 issued June 12, 2023, as in effect on April 1, 2024.

added “(2) The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment.

added “(3) The term basing action means an action by the Secretary of the Air Force to determine the location or relocation of a unit, an establishment, a mission, manpower, or a major weapon system (as defined in section 483 of title 10, United States Code) of the Air Force or Space Force for a period of one year or longer.

added “(4) The term military installation has the meaning given in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.

added “(5) The term strategic basing action means a basing action that involves one or more of the following:

added “(A) Location or relocation of aircraft and non-aircraft weapon systems.

added “(B) An increase or decrease of 35 or more personnel assigned to a military installation, including members of the Department of the Air Force, civilian employees of the Department of the Air Force, and contractors.

added “(C) A request to move a non-Air Force entity onto a military installation or other real property of the Air Force.

added “(D) A continuous rotational presence of a Department of the Air Force or non-Air Force entity on a military installation or other real property of the Air Force that would require—

added “(i) a new military construction project; or

added “(ii) presence for more than 300 days during a consecutive 18-month period with a increase of 35 or more personnel.

added “(E) Any special interest action, regardless of scope or size, as determined by the Secretary of the Air Force or Secretary of Defense.

added “(6) The term Strategic Basing Group means a forum of officers in a grade of O–7 or O–8 and the civilian equivalents of such officers convened by the Assistant Secretary to evaluate strategic basing actions and providing alternatives to such strategic basing actions that are consistent with the operations, basing objectives, policies, and programming requirements of the Department of the Air Force.

added “(7) The term Strategic Basing Lead means a commander of a major command, field command, or national guard base, and may be the action proponent that submitted a request under subsection (a).

added “(8) The term Strategic Basing Panel means a forum of officers in a grade of O–6 and the civilian equivalents of such officers convened by the Assistant Secretary to support the Strategic Basing Group by providing an initial comprehensive review and assessment of a request for a strategic basing action.”

Sec. 2832 Inclusion of tribal governments in intergovernmental support agreements for installation-support services

added

added Section 2679 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “State or local government” each place it appears and inserting “State, local, or tribal”.

Sec. 2833 Improvements relating to access to military installations in United States

added

(a)

added Additional categories for expedited access— Chapter 159 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

added “2698. Access to military installations: standards for entry to military installations in United States

added “(a) Access to military installations in United States

added “(1) The Secretary of Defense shall develop and maintain access standards applicable to all military installations in the United States. Such access standards shall require screening standards appropriate to the type of installation involved, the security level of the installation, the category of individuals authorized to visit the installation, and the level of access to be granted, including—

added “(A) protocols and criteria to determine the fitness of the individual to enter a military installation;

added “(B) standards and methods for verifying the identity of the individual; and

added “(C) other factors the Secretary determines appropriate.

added “(2) In developing the access standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

added “(A) include procedures to facilitate recurring unescorted access to military installations in the United States, in appropriate cases, for covered individuals the Secretary determines eligible for such recurring unescorted access; and

added “(B) issue guidance relating to the granting of unescorted access to military installations in the United States for covered individuals.

added “(3) The procedures developed pursuant to paragraph (2)(A) shall include, to the extent practical, a list of credentials that can be used for such recurring unescorted access to such a military installation that are, to the extent practical, credentials non-Department of Defense personnel already possess.

added “(4) The guidance issued pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) shall—

added “(A) identify the categories of covered individuals eligible for such unescorted access;

added “(B) include a list of credentials that can be used for such unescorted access to such a military installation that are, to the extent practical, the credentials described in paragraph (3);

added “(C) be consistent across such military installations;

added “(D) be in accordance with any privileges or benefits accorded under, procedures developed pursuant to, or requirements of, each covered provision and paragraph (1); and

added “(E) be provided to the commanders of each such military installation.

added “(5) Upon publication in the Federal Register of access standards described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish such access standards on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense.

added “(6) In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to use existing identification screening technology to validate federally-recognized access credentials and develop additional technology only to the extent necessary to assist commanders of military installations in the United States in implementing the access standards under paragraph (1) at points of entry for such military installations.

added “(b) Pre-arrival protocol for access to military installations in United States—The Secretary shall ensure that the access standards under subsection (a) include a specific protocol for the voluntary pre-arrival registration and screening of individuals anticipating a need for access to a military installation in the United States to establish the fitness of such individual and the purpose of such access. Under such protocol—

added “(1) such a registration and screening shall occur not less than 24 hours and not more than 14 days prior to the time of such access; and

added “(2) if an individual is determined fit to enter the installation pursuant to the pre-arrival registration and screening, access may only be granted upon arrival at the military installation for the stated purpose following a verification of the identity of the individual.

added “(c) Reviews and submission to Congress—Not less frequently than once every five years, the Secretary shall—

added “(1) review the access standards and guidance under this section, and make such updates as may be determined appropriate by the Secretary; and

added “(2) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate the most recently reviewed and, as applicable, updated version of such access standards and guidance.

added “(d) Definitions—In this section:

added “(1) The term covered individual means the following:

added “(A) A member of the armed forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense, or an employee or family member of such member or employee, who resides, attends school, receives health care services, or shops at a commissary or exchange store on a military installation in the United States.

added “(B) A retired member of the armed forces, including the reserve components, or a family member of such retired member, who resides, attend schools, receives health care services, or shops at a commissary or exchange store on such an installation.

added “(C) An individual performing work at such an installation under a contract or subcontract (at any tier), including a military construction project, military family housing project, or a facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization project.

added “(D) A motor carrier or household goods motor carrier (as such terms are defined in section 13102 of title 49) providing transportation services for the United States Transportation Command.

added “(2) The term covered provision means the following:

added “(A) Chapter 54 of this title.

added “(B) Section 202 of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–13; 49 U.S.C. 30301 note).

added “(C) Section 2812 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 2150; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

added “(D) Sections 346 and 1050 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

added “(E) Section 626 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 1802; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

added “(F) Section 1090 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3879; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

added “(G) Section 2833 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 3003).

added “(3) The term federally-recognized access credential means a credential authorized by Federal law or otherwise issued by the head of a department or agency of the Federal Government that requires the vetting of an individual for access to a facility, area, or program.

added “(4) The term military installation has the meaning given such term in section 2801 of this title.

added “(5) The term State means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

added “(6) The term United States includes each State, as such term is defined in this subsection.”

(b)

added Deadline for first review and submission to Congress— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

added conduct the first review of the access standards and guidance required under section 2698 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)); and

(2)

added submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate the reviewed and, as applicable, updated version of such access standards and guidance.

(c)

added Modification to certain notification requirement— Section 1090(b)(2)(B) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3879; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended by striking “is” and inserting “and, as appropriate, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are”.

(d)

added Technical and conforming amendments—

(1)

added Repeal of duplicate provision— Section 1069 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 326) is repealed.

(2)

added Conforming amendments to prior National Defense Authorization Act— Section 1050 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. 113 note; 130 Stat. 2396) is amended—

(A)

added in the heading, by striking “Department of Defense installations” and inserting “military installations”;

(B)

added in subsection (a), by striking “Department of Defense installations” and inserting “military installations in the United States”;

(C)

added in subsection (b), by striking “Department of Defense facilities” and inserting “military installations in the United States”; and

(D)

added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(c) Definitions—In this section, the terms military installation and United States have the meanings given such terms in section 2698(e) of title 10, United States Code.”

Sec. 2834 Deferral of execution of certain requirements for covered housing facilities and covered landscape features; report

added

(a)

added Authorities— Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 3041 or chapter 3061 of title 54, United States Code, that requires review from or consultation with the head of any other Federal agency, each Secretary of a military department may defer the execution of the requirements of each such chapter with respect to a covered housing facility or covered landscape feature until the date that is 60 years after the date on which the construction of such covered housing facility or covered landscape feature was completed.

(b)

added Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, each Secretary of a military department shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes—

(1)

added an identification of covered housing facilities under the respective jurisdiction of each such Secretary constructed between 1975 and 1985; and

(2)

added a strategy for the demolition or management, as the case may be, of each such covered housing facility.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A)

added the congressional defense committees;

(B)

added the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and

(C)

added the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

(2)

added The term “covered housing facility” means a housing facility that—

(A)

added is subject to the requirements of chapter 3061 of title 54, United States Code;

(B)

added is located on a military installation;

(C)

added is under the jurisdiction of a Secretary of a military department; and

(D)

added was constructed after December 31, 1975.

(3)

added The term “covered landscape feature” means a landscape feature (as such term is used in the document of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment titled “Program Comment for the Preservation of pre-1919 Historic Army Housing, Associated Buildings and Structures, and Landscape Features” and published on March 1, 2024) that—

(A)

added is subject to such chapter;

(B)

added is located on a military installation;

(C)

added is under the jurisdiction of a Secretary of a military department; and

(D)

added was constructed after December 31, 1975.

(4)

added The term “facility” has the meaning given such term in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 2835 Pilot programs of Department of Army and Department of Navy to conduct repair and maintenance projects on covered historic facilities

added

(a)

added Establishment— Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 3041 or chapter 3061 of title 54, United States Code, that requires review from or consultation with the head of any other Federal agency, each applicable Secretary shall carry out a pilot program under which the applicable Secretary may enter into agreements to conduct repair and maintenance projects on covered historic facilities.

(b)

added Selection criteria—

(1)

added In general— Each applicable Secretary shall select one military installation under the jurisdiction of the applicable Secretary concerned at which to carry out a pilot program under subsection (a).

(2)

added Priority— In selecting a military installation pursuant to paragraph (1), an applicable Secretary shall give priority to military installations at which such Secretary determines there exists a large quantity of covered historic facilities.

(c)

added Notification— Not later than 30 days after the date on which an applicable Secretary selects a military installation pursuant to subsection (b), the applicable Secretary concerned shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of such selection.

(d)

added Standards for projects—

(1)

added In general— Each repair and maintenance project conducted pursuant to a pilot program under subsection (a) shall be in accordance with relevant standards established by the Secretary of the Interior for historic building preservation and maintenance.

(2)

added Rule of construction— Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require an applicable Secretary to consult the Secretary of the Interior with respect to a repair or maintenance project conducted pursuant to a pilot program under subsection (a).

(e)

added Sunset— The authority of an applicable Secretary to obligate or expend amounts to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2029.

(f)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “applicable Secretary” means—

(A)

added the Secretary of the Army; and

(B)

added the Secretary of the Navy.

(2)

added The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A)

added the congressional defense committees;

(B)

added the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and

(C)

added the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

(3)

added The term “covered historic facility” means a housing or operational facility located on a military installation under the jurisdiction of the applicable Secretary concerned that—

(A)

added was constructed before 1919; and

(B)

added is subject to the requirements of chapter 3061 of title 54, United States Code.

(4)

added The term “military installation” has the meaning given in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 2836 Strategy and assessment with respect to non-operational, underutilized, and other Department of Defense facilities; briefing required

added

(a)

added Strategy for demolition— Each Secretary of a military department shall develop a strategy to demolish facilities under the respective jurisdiction of each such Secretary that—

(1)

added are in poor or failing condition under the uniform index developed under section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31);

(2)

added are not in operational use; or

(3)

added such Secretary determines are underutilized.

(b)

added Assessment of certain maintenance costs— Each Secretary of a military department shall conduct an assessment to determine the total cost to the United States to maintain facilities that—

(1)

added are not in operational use; and

(2)

added such Secretary determines are underutilized.

(c)

added Required consideration— In determining whether a facility is underutilized pursuant to subsection (a) or subsection (b), each Secretary of a military department shall compare the occupancy of such facility to the total square footage of such facility.

(d)

added Briefing—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military department shall provide to congressional defense committees a briefing on—

(A)

added the strategy required by subsection (a); and

(B)

added the results of the assessment required by subsection (b).

(2)

added Elements— Each such briefing shall include—

(A)

added a summary of the existing authorities of each Secretary of a military department to demolish the facilities covered by the strategy required by subsection (a);

(B)

added a plan to implement such strategy; and

(C)

added recommendations of each such Secretary with respect to reducing—

(i)

added the inventory of facilities in poor or failing condition under the uniform index developed under section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31); and

(ii)

added the total cost to the United States to maintain the facilities covered by the assessment required by subsection (b).

(e)

added Facility defined— In this section, the term “facility” has the meaning given such term in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 2837 Temporary authority for use of imitative substitute building materials for maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or renovation of covered historic facilities

added

(a)

added Authority for use of imitative materials—

(1)

added In general— Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 3041 or chapter 3061 of title 54, United States Code, that requires review from or consultation with the head of any other Federal agency, and subject to paragraph (2), each Secretary of a military department may use imitative substitute building materials in projects for the maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or renovation of a covered historic facility.

(2)

added Conditions— A Secretary of a military department may exercise the authority under paragraph (1) if the Secretary of the military department concerned determines—

(A)

added the applicable maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or renovation project affects the quality of life, health, and safety of occupants, if any, of a covered historic facility; or

(B)

added the use of building materials original to a covered historic facility or in-kind building materials in an applicable maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or renovation project is not financially feasible.

(b)

added Sunset— The authority of a Secretary of a military department to obligate or expend amounts pursuant to this section shall terminate on December 30, 2029.

(c)

added Definitions— In this section:

(1)

added The term “covered historic facility” means a housing or operational facility located on a military installation under the jurisdiction of a Secretary of a military department that—

(A)

added was constructed before 1919; and

(B)

added is subject to the requirements of chapter 3061 of title 54, United States Code.

(2)

added The term “imitative substitute building materials” means modern, industry-standard, natural, composite, and synthetic materials that—

(A)

added simulate the appearance of building materials original to a covered historic facility; and

(B)

added are more cost effective than such building materials.

(3)

added The term “military installation” has the meaning given in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 2838 Expenditures on leased facilities and real property usage in the National Capital Region

added

(a)

added In general— Not later than ten years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall reduce expenditures on facilities leased by the Department of Defense located in the National Capital Region by 50 percent.

(b)

added Limitation on availability of funds— Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025, and available for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the travel of persons, not more than 90 percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which the Secretary of Defense provides to the congressional defense committees the briefing required in the Joint Explanatory Statement of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) on real property usage within the National Capital Region.

(c)

added National Capital Region defined— The term “National Capital Region” has the meaning given in section 2674 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 2841 Land conveyance, Boyle Memorial Army Reserve Center, Paris, Texas

added

(a)

added Conveyance authorized— The Secretary of the Army may convey to Paris Junior College, located in Paris, Texas (in this section referred to as the “College”), all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real property, including any improvements thereon, consisting of approximately 4 acres, known as the former Boyle Memorial Army Reserve Center, located in Paris, Texas.

(b)

added Consideration—

(1)

added Consideration required— As consideration for the conveyance under subsection (a), the College shall pay to the Secretary of the Army an amount equal to not less than the fair market value of the property to be conveyed, as determined by the Secretary, which may consist of cash payment, in-kind consideration as described in paragraph (2), or a combination thereof.

(2)

added In-kind consideration— In-kind consideration provided by the College under paragraph (1) may include—

(A)

added the acquisition, construction, provision, improvement, maintenance, repair, or restoration (including environmental restoration), or a combination thereof, of any property, facilities, or infrastructure; or

(B)

added the delivery of services relating to the needs of the Department of the Army that the Secretary considers acceptable.

(3)

added Conveyance— Cash payments received under subsection (b) as consideration for the conveyance under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the special account in the Treasury established under section 572(b)(5) of title 40, United States Code.

(c)

added Payment of costs of conveyance—

(1)

added Payment required— The Secretary of the Army shall require the College to cover costs to be incurred by the Secretary, or to reimburse the Secretary for such costs incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the conveyance under subsection (a), including survey costs, costs for environmental documentation related to the conveyance, and any other administrative costs related to the conveyance. If amounts are collected from the Township in advance of the Secretary incurring the actual costs, and the amount collected exceeds the costs actually incurred by the Secretary to carry out the conveyance, the Secretary shall refund the excess amount to the College.

(2)

added Treatment of amounts received— Amounts received as reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall be credited to the fund or account that was used to cover the costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out the land conveyance under subsection (a) or, if the period of availability of obligations for that appropriation has expired, to the appropriations of a fund that is currently available to the Secretary for the same purpose. Amounts so credited shall be merged with amounts in such fund or account and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject to the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in such fund or account.

(d)

added Description of property— The exact acreage and legal description of the parcel of real property to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by surveys satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army.

(e)

added Additional terms and conditions— The Secretary of the Army may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

Sec. 2842 Land conveyance, Riverdale Park, Maryland

added

(a)

added Conveyance authorized— The Secretary of the Army may convey, without consideration, to the town of Riverdale Park, Maryland, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the real property described in subsection (b), for the purposes of—

(1)

added creating a new municipal and community center; and

(2)

added replacing impervious surfaces.

(b)

added Property— The property to be conveyed under this section consists of approximately 6.63 acres of real property, including improvements on such real property, located at 6601 Baltimore Avenue, Riverdale Park, Maryland.

(c)

added Reversionary interest—

(1)

added In general— If the Secretary determines at any time that the real property conveyed under subsection (a) is not being used in accordance with the purpose specified in such subsection, all right, title, and interest in and to the property shall revert, at the discretion of the Secretary, to the United States.

(2)

added Determination— A determination by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be made on the record after an opportunity for a hearing.

Sec. 2843 Transfer authority, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California

added

(a)

added In general— With respect to a transfer of real property located at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, to the City of Vallejo (referred to in this section as the “City”), made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy may enter into an agreement with the City and the California State Lands Commission (referred to in this section as “SLC”) if such agreement includes the following terms:

(1)

added That the City, SLC, and the Governor of California agree to a deferral of the completion of all environmental remedial actions necessary to protect human health and the environment with respect to the real property until after the date of the transfer.

(2)

added That additional remedial action found to be necessary after the date of such transfer shall be conducted by the Secretary.

(3)

added That the Secretary shall have access to the property after the date of such transfer for the purpose of conducting such remedial actions.

(b)

added Transfer— If the Secretary of the Navy issues a determination that the real property described in subsection (a) is suitable for transfer to the City, such transfer may be accomplished using a quitclaim deed or other legal instrument and upon terms and conditions mutually satisfactory to the Secretary and the City that include—

(1)

added the terms described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a); and

(2)

added such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

(c)

added Description of property— The exact acreage and legal description of the property to be transferred under subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary of the Navy.

Sec. 2844 Release of interests retained in Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, for use of such land as a training area for the Arkansas Department of Public Safety

added

(a)

added Release of retained interests—

(1)

added In general— With respect to a parcel of land at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, consisting of approximately 241.33 acres that lies in a part of section 2, township 2 north, range 12 west, Pulaski County, Arkansas, and comprising a portion of the property conveyed by the United States to the State of Arkansas for training of the National Guard and for other military purposes pursuant to “An Act authorizing the transfer of part of Camp Joseph T. Robinson to the State of Arkansas”, approved June 30, 1950 (64 Stat. 311, chapter 429), the Secretary of the Army may release the terms and conditions imposed, and reversionary interests retained, by the United States under section 2 of such Act, and the right to reenter and use the property retained by the United States under section 3 of such Act.

(2)

added Impact on other rights or interests— The release of terms and conditions and retained interests under paragraph (1) with respect to the parcel described in such paragraph shall not be construed to alter the rights or interests retained by the United States with respect to the remainder of the real property conveyed to the State of Arkansas under the Act described in such paragraph.

(b)

added Instrument of release and description of property—

(1)

added In general— The Secretary of the Army may execute and file in the appropriate office a deed of release, amended deed, or other appropriate instrument reflecting the release of terms and conditions and retained interests under subsection (a).

(2)

added Legal description— The exact acreage and legal description of the property described in subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army.

(c)

added Conditions on release and reversionary interest—

(1)

added Use as Arkansas department of public safety training area and reversionary interest—

(A)

added Arkansas department of public safety training area— The State of Arkansas may use the parcel of land described in subsection (a)(1) only for Arkansas Department of Public Safety, or a division of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, led training and related activities.

(B)

added Reversionary interest— If the Secretary of the Army determines at any time that the parcel of land described in subsection (a)(1) is not being used in accordance with the purpose specified in subparagraph (A), all right, title, and interest in and to the land, including any improvements thereto, shall, at the option of the Secretary, revert to and become the property of the United States, and the United States shall have the right of immediate entry onto such parcel.

(2)

added Additional terms and conditions— The Secretary of the Army may require in the instrument of release such additional terms and conditions in connection with the release of terms and conditions and retained interests under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

(d)

added Reimbursements. payment of administrative costs—

(1)

added Payment required—

(A)

added In general— The Secretary of the Army may require the State of Arkansas to cover costs to be incurred by the Secretary, or to reimburse the Secretary for costs incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the release of terms and conditions and retained interests under subsection (a), including survey costs, costs related to environmental documentation, and other administrative costs related to the release.

(B)

added Refund of amounts— If amounts paid to the Secretary by the State of Arkansas in advance under subparagraph (A) exceed the costs actually incurred by the Secretary to carry out the release, the Secretary shall refund the excess amount to the State.

(2)

added Treatment of amounts received— Amounts received under paragraph (1) as reimbursement for costs incurred by the Secretary to carry out the release of terms and conditions and retained interests under subsection (a) shall be credited to the fund or account that was used to cover the costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out the release. Amounts so credited shall be merged with amounts in such fund or account and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject to the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in such fund or account.

Sec. 2851 Extension of prohibition on joint use of Homestead Air Reserve Base with civil aviation

added

added Section 2874 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 3014) is amended by striking “On or before September 30, 2026”, and inserting “On or before September 30, 2036”.

Sec. 2852 Schedule of repairs at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida

added

(a)

added Schedule— The Secretary of the Navy shall develop and implement a plan for repair or replacement of facilities at Naval Air Station Pensacola that the Secretary determines are damaged by Hurricane Sally.

(b)

added Elements— The plan required under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

added An estimate of the cost and schedule for—

(A)

added the repair of Hangar 3260; and

(B)

added a military construction project (as defined in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code) to replace Hangar 3260 and other infrastructure at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, that the Secretary of the Navy determines are damaged by Hurricane Sally.

(2)

added An assessment that compares the estimated cost and schedule under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) to the estimated cost and schedule under subparagraph (B) of such subparagraph.

(3)

added Any planned demolition projects necessary to support future military construction.

(4)

added An assessment of how the repair and replacement schedules for facilities at Naval Air Station Pensacola that the Secretary determines are damaged by Hurricane Sally support current and future operational requirements at the naval air station.

(c)

added Limitation— Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Office of the Secretary of the Navy for travel expenses, not more than 80 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of the Navy submits to the congressional defense committees the schedule required by subsection (a).

(d)

added Definitions— In this section, the terms “facility” and “military construction project” have the meanings given such terms in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.

Sec. 2853 Modification of requirements

added

added Section 2889 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 is amended—

(1)

added by inserting “or 2025” after “fiscal year 2024”;

(2)

added by striking “June 30, 2024, when”; and

(3)

added by striking “shall complete” and inserting “have completed”.

Sec. 2854 Department of Defense policy relating to contractors for military construction projects

added

added The Secretary of Defense shall issue a policy to require that, when considering an offer for a contract for work on a military construction project, each Secretary of a military department shall consider—

(1)

added the proximity of the proposed contractors for such contract to the location of performance of such contract; and

(2)

added the use of contractors and subcontractor that are considered local for the performance of such contract.

Sec. 2855 Survey and procedures for munitions of explosive concern on military installations in Guam

added

(a)

added Survey required— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a survey of the military installations on Guam, using available technologies to characterize the real property of such military installations as being at high, medium, or low risk for containing munitions of explosive concern.

(b)

added Procedures required— Not later than 180 days after the date of completion of the survey, the Secretary shall issue procedures for such real property characterized as low- and medium-risk to expedite military construction projects relating to such real property to the maximum extent as is safely practicable.

(c)

added Briefing required— Not later than 30 days after the date of issuance of the procedures described in subsection (b), Secretary shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the results of the survey conducted under subsection (a), the procedures described in subsection (b), and how such procedures will expedite the completion of military construction projects on Guam.

Sec. 2856 Market survey of domestic suppliers of sand and gravel for marine concrete

added

(a)

added Market survey required— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a market survey of domestic entities that—

(1)

added are capable of supplying sand and gravel that conforms with the standards found in the Unified Facilities Guide Criteria 03–31–29 (relating to marine concrete with service life modeling); and

(2)

added have the associated marine logistical capacity to load and transport the such sand and gravel to the geographic area covered by the United States Indo-Pacific Command.

(b)

added Report to congress— Not later than 30 days after completing the market survey under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the results of the market survey and an assessment of whether there is access to sufficient domestic sources of sand and gravel to meet national security and military construction requirements.

Sec. 3101 National Nuclear Security Administration

added

(a)

added Authorization of appropriations— Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Energy for fiscal year 2025 for the activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration in carrying out programs as specified in the funding table in section 4701.

(b)

added Authorization of new plant projects— From funds referred to in subsection (a) that are available for carrying out plant projects, the Secretary of Energy may carry out new plant projects for the National Nuclear Security Administration as follows:

Sec. 3102 Defense environmental cleanup

added

added Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Energy for fiscal year 2025 for defense environmental cleanup activities in carrying out programs as specified in the funding table in section 4701.

Sec. 3103 Other defense activities

added

added Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Energy for fiscal year 2025 for other defense activities in carrying out programs as specified in the funding table in section 4701.

Sec. 3104 Nuclear energy

added

added Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Energy for fiscal year 2025 for nuclear energy as specified in the funding table in section 4701.

Sec. 3111 Prohibition on admittance to national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities

added

added Section 4502 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2652) is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (a), by inserting “, subject to subsection (b),” after “unless”;

(2)

added by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (e), respectively; and

(3)

added by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

added “(b) Prohibition on admittance

added “(1) In general—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Energy may not admit to any facility of a national security laboratory or any nuclear weapons production facility, other than an area accessible to the general public, any individual who is a citizen or agent of the People’s Republic of China or the Russian Federation.

added “(2) Waiver—The Secretary of Energy may waive the prohibition under paragraph (1) with respect to an individual if, not later than 30 days prior to admitting such individual to a facility described in such paragraph, the Secretary certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that—

added “(A) the admittance of such individual to the facility is in the national security interests of the United States;

added “(B) no classified or restricted data will be revealed to such individual in connection with the individual’s admittance to the facility; and

added “(C) a background review has been completed with respect to such individual.”

(4)

added by inserting after subsection (c), as so redesignated, the following:

added “(d) Rule of construction—Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States from accessing a national security laboratory or nuclear weapons production facility.”

(5)

added in subsection (e), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and

(B)

added by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following:

added “(1) The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

added “(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

added “(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.”

Sec. 3112 Prohibition on availability of funds to reconvert or retire W76–2 warheads

added

(a)

added Prohibition— Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the National Nuclear Security Administration may be obligated or expended to reconvert or retire a W76–2 warhead.

(b)

added Waiver— The Administrator for Nuclear Security may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) if the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, certifies in writing to the congressional defense committees that—

(1)

added Russia and China do not possess naval capabilities similar to the W76–2 warhead in the active stockpiles of the respective countries; and

(2)

added the Department of Defense does not have a valid military requirement for the W76–2 warhead.

Sec. 3121 Modification to and termination of certain reporting requirements under Atomic Energy Defense Act

added

(a)

added Plan for construction and operation of MOX facility— Section 4306 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2566(a)(3)) is amended in subsection (a)(3)(A) by striking “for as long as the MOX facility is in use” and inserting “through 2024”.

(b)

added Planned disposition program— Such section is further amended in subsection (e) by striking “If on July 1 each year beginning in 2025 and continuing for as long as the MOX facility is in use, less than 34 metric tons of defense plutonium or defense plutonium materials have been processed by the MOX facility” and inserting “If less than 34 metric tons of defense plutonium or defense plutonium materials have been processed by the MOX facility by October 1, 2026”.

Sec. 3201 Authorization

added

added There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025, $47,210,000 for the operation of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board under chapter 21 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2286 et seq.).

Sec. 3401 Authorization of appropriations

added

(a)

added Amount— There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy $13,010,000 for fiscal year 2025 for the purpose of carrying out activities under chapter 869 of title 10, United States Code, relating to the naval petroleum reserves.

(b)

added Period of availability— Funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

Sec. 3501 Authorization of appropriations for Maritime Administration

added

added There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2025, for programs associated with maintaining the United States Merchant Marine, the following amounts:

(1)

added For expenses necessary to support the United States Merchant Marine Academy, $191,000,000, of which—

(A)

added $105,000,000 shall be for Academy operations;

(B)

added $64,000,000 shall be for United States Merchant Marine Academy capital improvement projects; and

(C)

added $22,000,000 shall be for facilities maintenance and repair and equipment.

(2)

added For expenses necessary to support the State maritime academies, $58,900,000, of which—

(A)

added $4,800,000 shall be for the Student Incentive Payment Program;

(B)

added $6,000,000 shall be for direct payments for State maritime academies;

(C)

added $17,600,000 shall be for training ship fuel assistance;

(D)

added $6,000,000 shall be for offsetting the costs of training ship sharing; and

(E)

added $24,500,000 shall be for maintenance and repair of State maritime academy training vessels.

(3)

added For expenses necessary to support the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel program, including funds for construction and necessary expenses to construct shoreside infrastructure to support such vessels, $75,000,000.

(4)

added For expenses necessary to support Maritime Administration operations and programs, $108,000,000, of which—

(A)

added $15,000,000 shall be for the maritime environmental and technical assistance program under section 50307 of title 46, United States Code;

(B)

added $15,000,000 shall be for the United States marine highways program, including to make grants authorized under section 55601 of title 46, United States Code; and

(C)

added $78,000,000 shall be for headquarters operations expenses.

(5)

added For expenses necessary for the disposal of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet of the Maritime Administration, $6,000,000.

(6)

added For expenses necessary to maintain and preserve a United States flag merchant marine to serve the national security needs of the United States under chapter 531 of title 46, United States Code, $390,000,000.

(7)

added For expenses necessary for the loan guarantee program under chapter 537 of title 46, United States Code, $3,700,000, which may be used for administrative expenses relating to loan guarantee commitments under such program.

(8)

added For expenses necessary to provide assistance to small shipyards and for maritime training programs authorized under section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, $35,000,000.

(9)

added For expenses necessary to implement the port infrastructure development program, as authorized under section 54301 of title 46, United States Code, $500,000,000, to remain available until expended, except that no such funds authorized under this title for this program may be used to provide a grant to purchase fully automated cargo handling equipment that is remotely operated or remotely monitored with or without the exercise of human intervention or control, if the Secretary of Transportation determines such equipment would result in a net loss of jobs within a port or port terminal. If such a determination is made, the data and analysis for such determination shall be reported to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives not later than 3 days after the date of the determination.

Sec. 3502 Reauthorization of Maritime Security Program

added

(a)

added Award of operating agreements— Section 53103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking “2035” each place it appears and inserting “2040”.

(b)

added Effectiveness of operating agreements— Section 53104(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking “2035” and inserting “2040”.

(c)

added Annual payments— Section 53106(a)(1) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subparagraph (C), by striking “2024, and 2025” and inserting “, and 2024”;

(2)

added by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) as subparagraphs (E) through (G), respectively;

(3)

added by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph (D):

added “(D) $6,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026;”

(4)

added in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by striking “$5,800,000” and inserting “$6,675,500”; and

(B)

added by striking “2026, 2027,” and inserting “2027”;

(5)

added in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by striking “$6,300,000” and inserting “$6,855,000”; and

(B)

added by striking “, 2030, and 2031; and” and inserting “and 2030;”;

(6)

added in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by striking “$6,800,000” and inserting “$7,040,000”;

(B)

added by inserting “2031 and” before “2032”; and

(C)

added by striking “, 2033, 2034, and 2035.” and inserting a semicolon; and

(7)

added by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

added “(H) $7,230,000 for each of fiscal years 2033 and 2034;

added “(I) $7,426,000 for each of fiscal years 2035 and 2036;

added “(J) $7,626,000 for each of fiscal years 2037 and 2038; and

added “(K) $7,832,000 for each of fiscal years 2039 and 2040.”

(d)

added Authorization of appropriations— Section 53111 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (3), by striking “2024, and 2025” and inserting “and 2024”;

(2)

added by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively;

(3)

added by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph (4):

added “(4) $390,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026;”

(4)

added in paragraph (5), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by striking “$348,000,000” and inserting “$400,500,000”; and

(B)

added by striking “2026, 2027,” and inserting “2027”;

(5)

added in paragraph (6), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by striking “$378,000,000” and inserting “$411,300,000”; and

(B)

added by striking “, 2030, and 2031; and” and inserting “and 2030;”;

(6)

added in paragraph (7), as so redesignated—

(A)

added by striking “$408,000,000” and inserting “$422,400,000”; and

(B)

added by striking “2032, 2033, 2034, and 2035” and inserting “2031 and 2032”; and

(7)

added by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

added “(8) $433,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2033 and 2034;

added “(9) $445,560,000 for each of fiscal years 2035 and 2036;

added “(10) $457,560,000 for each of fiscal years 2037 and 2038; and

added “(11) $469,920,000 for each of fiscal years 2039 and 2040.”

Sec. 3511 Port infrastructure development program

added

(a)

added Port infrastructure development grants—

(1)

added In general— In making port infrastructure development grants under section 54301 of title 46, United States Code, for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 using funds appropriated after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall treat a project described in paragraph (2) as—

(A)

added having met the requirements of paragraph (1) and (6)(A)(i) of section 54301(a) of such title; and

(B)

added an eligible project under paragraph (3) of such section.

(2)

added Project described— A project described in this paragraph is a project to provide shore power at a port that services—

(A)

added passenger vessels described in section 3507(k) of title 46, United States Code; and

(B)

added vessels that move goods or freight.

(b)

added Categorical exclusions—

(1)

added Reciprocal use of categorical exclusions— Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish that the Maritime Administrator may approve any action qualifying as a categorical exclusion established by the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, or the Federal Railroad Administration, as outlined in part 771 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, when the applicable requirements of that categorical exclusion have been met.

(2)

added New categorical exclusions—

(A)

added In general— Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to propose new Maritime Administration categorical exclusions for port authority projects that are in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

(B)

added Expanding list— The Maritime Administration's list of categorical exclusions may be expanded with the goal of having a list that allows the Maritime Administration to issue categorical exclusions that maritime port authorities would typically use, independently of the lists of other Department of Transportation modal agencies, including categorical exclusions that the Secretary determines would be useful to maritime port authorities in the course of Federal grant-funded projects.

(3)

added Process for regular updates— The Secretary shall include in the rule required by paragraph (2) a process by which the Maritime Administration will update the list of categorical exclusions to reflect lessons learned in grant administration and project construction that lead to new efficiencies in the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

(c)

added Application timelines— Section 54301(a)(5) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

added “(C) Delayed notice of funding opportunity—If an amendment is made to a published solicitation for grant applications such that an applicant would need the information contained in the amendment to draft an application, other than an amendment of the amount of grant funding available, the Secretary shall extend the application deadline by the number of days between the initial solicitation and the amendment.”

(d)

added Project budget reviews— Section 54301(a)(9) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subparagraph (B) by striking “and” at the end;

(2)

added in subparagraph (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3)

added by adding at the end the following:

added “(D) grant contracts are approved efficiently by the Secretary, minimizing delays for minor adjustments to project scopes and budgets due to inflationary effects on projects.”

(e)

added Staffing and grant timelines— Section 54301(a)(11) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

added “(C) Administrative and oversight report—Not later than 365 days after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the average length of grant obligation timelines and the nature of any staffing shortages relevant to administering this program.”

Sec. 3512 Sealift capability

added

(a)

added Title 46— Subtitle V of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 575 the following:

added “577 Strategic Sealift

added “57701. Procurement, maintenance, and operation

added “(a) In general—The Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Defense shall build, acquire, maintain, coordinate, support, and operate a civil, commercial, and military sealift capability sufficient to provide capacity and resiliency for unilateral United States strategic sealift in peace, crisis, and war.

added “(b) Supplemental capability—Sealift capability built, acquired, maintained, supported, and operated by the Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Defense shall be in addition to capability available under the Maritime Security Program under chapter 531, the Cable Security Program under chapter 532, the Tanker Security Program under chapter 534, the Ready Reserve Force under chapter 571, and vessels operated by the Military Sealift Command.

added “57702. Sealift prioritization

added “(a) In general—In building, acquiring, maintaining, coordinating, supporting, and operating sealift capability in time of peace, crisis, and war, the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Defense shall give priority to the following categories of vessels in the following order:

added “(1) Commercial United States-flagged vessels.

added “(2) United States Government owned and operated sealift vessels.

added “(3) Vessels documented by treaty allies.

added “(b) Prioritization—In moving through the order of priority under this section, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall determine the timing of moving through the categories of vessels in the order specified in subsection (a).

added “57703. Interaction with programs

added “The Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Defense may acquire ships documented by treaty allies or maintain and repair ships documented by treaty allies which meet the criteria for participation in the Maritime Security Program under chapter 531, the Cable Security Program under chapter 532, the Tanker Security Program under chapter 534, Ready Reserve Fleet, and the fleet under this chapter.

added “57704. Assessment on maritime infrastructure readiness

added “(a) In general—Not later than March 1, 2026, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Transportation shall provide Congress an assessment on—

added “(1) the readiness and sufficiency of America’s maritime infrastructure, shipping industry, shipbuilding industry, and United States-flagged, owned, and operated fleets to meet strategic sealift requirements and operate in a contested environment;

added “(2) the vulnerability of the United States’ economy to coercion or control from our nation’s strategic competitors through ocean-going trades;

added “(3) the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the United States maritime transportation system, including ports, shipyards, repair yards, inland waterways, and the domestic fleet, and foreign investment in maritime infrastructure; and

added “(4) how to de-risk the maritime transportation system for such vulnerabilities.

added “(b) Review of arrangements and agreements—Not later than March 1, 2026, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation shall provide Congress an assessment on—

added “(1) existing arrangements and agreements with treaty allies for access to the global maritime transportation infrastructure such as ports, harbors, and waterways; and

added “(2) existing assurances, arrangements, and agreements with treaty allies to augment United States sealift capabilities in times of crisis and war.

added “57705. Definition of treaty allies

added “In this chapter, the term “treaty allies” means nations with whom the United States has entered into mutual defense treaties.”

(b)

added Reports and briefings—

(1)

added In general— Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, shall provide to Congress an evaluation of the status of treaty allies (as such term is defined in section 57705 of title 46, United States Code) sealift assurances, including an assessment of international agreements to meet wartime sealift requirements of such allies and augment United States sealift requirements during peace, crisis, and war, and recommendations for updating such agreements to reflect the global security environment.

(2)

added Briefing on shipbuilding capacity—

(A)

added In general— Not later than March 1, 2025,the Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Defense shall brief Congress on the capacity of the United States shipbuilding industry to meet the requirements to build, maintain, and repair the strategic sealift fleet described under chapter 577 of title 46, United States Code.

(B)

added Contents— In briefing Congress under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Defense shall include an assessment and recommendations for improving the critical shipbuilding infrastructure, workforce recruitment, development, and retention, and critical supply chains and critical repair parts of the United States, including ways in which treaty allies (as such term is defined in section 57705 of title 46, United States Code) can contribute.

(3)

added Briefing on privileging fleet—

(A)

added In general— Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, shall brief Congress on available options for establishing privileges for the United States-owned and United States-documented commercial fleet participating in the international ocean-based trading market that will sustain and significantly grow the United States-flagged fleet.

(B)

added Contents— In briefing Congress under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide recommendations for and potential incentives, for civil, commercial, and government entities, including treaty allies (as such term is defined in section 57705 of title 46, United States Code), to ship goods on the United States-flagged fleet.

(4)

added Report on privilege—

(A)

added In general— Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall submit to Congress a report that includes ways to ensure the sealift fleet under chapter 577 of title 46, United States Code, is privileged in regulation, fees, and policy compared to foreign vessels conducting trade with a United States domiciled entity, while remaining consistent with the international obligations of the United States.

(B)

added Contents— In submitting the report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Transportation shall include options for regulating foreign flagged shipping trade with the United States in order to sustain and grow the Maritime Security Program, Tanker Security Program, and other commercial United States-flagged ships that comprise the sealift fleet under chapter 577 of title 46, United States Code.

(5)

added Report on requirements for sealift force deployment—

(A)

added In general— Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on requirements to maintain, improve, or grow the Maritime Security Program, Tanker Security Program, Ready Reserve Force, and the sealift fleet under chapter 577 of title 46, United States Code, over the decade following the date of enactment of this Act.

(B)

added Contents— The report under subparagraph (A) shall include a plan for making the Ready Reserve Force active in international trade through a public-private partnership that enables financing, building, manning, operating, maintaining, and repairing the program vessels, while guaranteeing assured effective control in times of crisis or war.

(c)

added Clerical amendment— The analysis for subtitle V of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 575 the following:

Sec. 3521 Independent study and report on Shanghai Shipping Exchange

added

(a)

added Study— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall enter into an agreement with an appropriate independent entity to conduct a study and assessment of the business practices of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, including—

(1)

added any anticompetitive advantages benefitting the Shanghai Shipping Exchange; and

(2)

added the ability of the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China and the Shanghai Shipping Exchange to manipulate container freight markets.

(b)

added Elements— In conducting the study and assessment under subsection (a), the appropriate independent entity that enters into an agreement under subsection (a) shall address the following:

(1)

added The influence of the government of the People’s Republic of China on the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.

(2)

added The effect of the business practices or influence of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange on United States consumers and businesses.

(3)

added The ability of a shipping exchange registered under section 40504 of title 46, United States Code, and based in the United States to identify market manipulation as described in subsection (a)(2) or any otherwise concerning practices by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange and report such incidents to the Federal Maritime Commission and other Federal regulators.

(4)

added Any other matters the Secretary or the appropriate independent entity that enters into an agreement under subsection (a) determines to be appropriate for the purposes of the study.

(c)

added Report—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary enters into an agreement under this section, the appropriate independent entity shall submit to the Secretary, the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

(2)

added Public availability— The Secretary shall publish the report required under paragraph (1) on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Transportation.

(d)

added Obtaining official data—

(1)

added In general— The appropriate independent entity that enters into an agreement under subsection (a) may secure directly from any department or agency of the Federal Government information necessary to enable such entity to carry out this section.

(2)

added Request for information— Upon request of the appropriate independent entity that enters into an agreement under subsection (a), the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the appropriate independent entity, unless doing so would not be in the public interest.

(e)

added Appropriate independent entity defined— In this section, the term “appropriate independent entity” means—

(1)

added a federally funded research and development center sponsored by a Federal agency;

(2)

added

(a)

added Port infrastructure development program— Section 54301(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in paragraph (6)—

(A)

added in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking “subparagraph (C)” and inserting “subparagraph (D)”; and

(B)

added by redesignating the second subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);

(2)

added in paragraph (10)(B)(i) by striking “ans” and inserting “and”; and

(3)

added in paragraph (12)(E) by striking “and” before “commercial port”.

(b)

added Assistance for small shipyards— Section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (i).

(c)

added National defense reserve fleet— Section 57100 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

added in subsection (b)(1) by striking “section 902 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1242)” and inserting “chapter 563”; and

(2)

added in subsection (f)(2) by striking “the such use” and inserting “the use of such”.

(d)

added Maritime workforce working group— Section 3534(d)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amended by striking “section 3545(a)” and inserting “section 3542(a)”.

Sec. 3536 Maritime Workforce Promotion and Recruitment Act

added

(a)

added Purpose— The purpose of this Act is to address the shortage of workers in the maritime sector and stimulate growth in the United States merchant marine and shipbuilding industries by providing funding for a comprehensive marketing, recruiting, and public relations campaign. Expanding and nurturing a robust maritime workforce enhances United States national security and strategic sealift readiness.

(b)

added Establishment— The Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when not operating as a service in the Navy and the Secretary of Defense, shall establish—

(1)

added a targeted campaign promoting the virtues of work in the United States Merchant Marine for the purpose of sailing in international trade, including Military Sealift Command mariner positions, highlighting the critical need for skilled workers in this sector, and to attract workers to this sector; and

(2)

added a targeted campaign promoting the virtues of work in the United States shipbuilding industry, highlighting the critical need for skilled workers in this sector, and to attract workers to this sector.

(c)

added Contracting— The Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall, through a competitive bidding process, contract with a reputable marketing, recruiting, and public relations firm to develop and deploy branding, content, advertising buys, and local and national engagement strategies to implement the campaigns described in subsection (b).

(d)

added Campaign objectives— The campaigns described in subsection (b) shall focus on the following objectives:

(1)

added Emphasize the importance of maritime work for national security.

(2)

added Showcase the numerous opportunities available in the maritime domain.

(3)

added Highlight the shortage of workers in the maritime sector.

(4)

added Promote the excitement, benefits, and appeal of a career in the maritime industry.

(5)

added Inform potential workers of the points of entry available to join and receive training for such employment, including—

(A)

added the United States Merchant Marine Academy;

(B)

added State and regional maritime academies described in chapter 515 of title 46, United States Code;

(C)

added merchant mariner and shipbuilding labor union training facilities;

(D)

added merchant mariner and shipbuilding apprenticeship programs approved by the Secretary of Labor; and

(E)

added shipbuilding industry training programs.

(6)

added Inform potential workers of sources of financial assistance for training for individuals interested in joining such industry.

(7)

added Attract workers to the United States merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors.

(e)

added Target Audience— In carrying out the campaigns under this Act, to raise awareness about the importance of the merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors, the firm selected under subsection (c) shall target a diverse audience, including—

(1)

added potential workers interested in maritime careers;

(2)

added educational institutions and the students of such institutions considering vocational training in maritime fields;

(3)

added military veterans and individuals seeking career transitions; and

(4)

added the general public.

(f)

added Reporting and accountability—

(1)

added Quarterly report— Not later than 30 days after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year during the campaigns carried out under this Act, the firm selected under subsection (c) shall submit to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration and the relevant congressional committees quarterly reports detailing the progress, outreach, and impact of the campaigns, and their effectiveness in increasing applications for employment in the United States merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors.

(2)

added Final report— Not later than 60 days after the conclusion of the campaigns carried out under this Act, the firm selected under subsection (c) shall submit to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration and the relevant congressional committees a comprehensive final report.

(g)

added Sunset clause— Any unobligated amount authorized under this section shall expire 3 years after the date on which such amount is appropriated.

(h)

added Effective date— Not later than 1 year after the date on which amounts authorized under this section are appropriated, the Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall complete the action described in subsection (c).

(i)

added Authorization of appropriations for maritime administration— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration for fiscal year 2025 the following amounts:

(1)

added $10,000,000 to carry out the program established under subsection (b)(1).

(2)

added $5,000,000 to carry out the program established under subsection (b)(2).

(j)

added Definition— In this section, the term “relevant congressional committees” means—

(1)

added the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and

(2)

added the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

Sec. 4001 Authorization of amounts in funding tables

added

(a)

added In general— Whenever a funding table in this division specifies a dollar amount authorized for a project, program, or activity, the obligation and expenditure of the specified dollar amount for the project, program, or activity is hereby authorized, subject to the availability of appropriations.

(b)

added Merit-based decisions— A decision to commit, obligate, or expend funds with or to a specific entity on the basis of a dollar amount authorized pursuant to subsection (a) shall—

(1)

added be based on merit-based selection procedures in accordance with the requirements of sections 2304(k) and 2374 of title 10, United States Code, or on competitive procedures; and

(2)

added comply with other applicable provisions of law.

(c)

added Relationship to transfer and programming authority— An amount specified in the funding tables in this division may be transferred or reprogrammed under a transfer or reprogramming authority provided by another provision of this Act or by other law. The transfer or reprogramming of an amount specified in such funding tables shall not count against a ceiling on such transfers or reprogrammings under section 1001 of this Act or any other provision of law, unless such transfer or reprogramming would move funds between appropriation accounts.

(d)

added Applicability to classified annex— This section applies to any classified annex that accompanies this Act.

(e)

H.R. 8070 — what changed