II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2702 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 3, 2006 Mr. Allard (for himself and Mr. Johnson) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program on the provision of assistance to certain military families.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Military Family Assistance Act of 2006.

2.

Program on assistance to certain military families

(a)

Program required

The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program utilizing non-Federal eligible entities to provide assistance to the families of members of the Armed Forces who live more than 180 miles from a military installation where members of the Armed Forces on active duty are stationed. (b)

Grants

(1)

In general

Under the program, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities described in subsection (c) for the provision of assistance to military families as described in subsection (a). (2)

Maximum grant amount

The amount of any grant awarded under this section may not exceed $25,000. (3)

Maximum number of grants

An eligible entity may not be awarded more than three grants this section. (4)

Applications

An entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor containing such information as the Secretary shall require for purposes of this section. (c)

Eligible entities

(1)

In general

For purposes of this section, an eligible entity is any nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that has the capacity to provide assistance to military families as described in subsection (a) in a manner that the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of the program. (2)

Matching requirement

An application may not be treated as valid for purposes of this section unless the eligible entity submitting the application commits to contribute to activities funded by the grant awarded to the organization under this section an amount equal to the grant amount which is derived from non-Federal sources. (d)

Review and approval of applications

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall provide for the review and approval of applications for grants under this section through a board of review consisting of five individuals selected by the Secretary from among individuals having the qualifications described in paragraph (2). (2)

Qualifications

An individual selected for the board of review under paragraph (1) shall have at least five years of experience in two of the following areas: (A)Grant writing. (B)The operation of nonprofit organizations identical or similar to eligible entities. (C)Military family support assistance programs. (3)

Considerations

In determining whether to approve an application for a grant under this section, the board of review shall address the following: (A)Whether the assistance to be provided to military families using the grant amount is appropriate for purposes of the program under this section. (B)The nature of the commitment under subsection (c)(2) of the organization submitting the application. (e)

Use of grant amounts

(1)

In general

An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant amount, and any amounts committed by the eligible entity under subsection (c)(2), to provide assistance to military families as described in subsection (a) in the manner specified in the application for the grant under this section. (2)

Limitation

Amounts under a grant under this section may not be used to purchase, rent, renovate, or construct any facilities. (f)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the obligation of any portion of the amount authorized to be appropriated by subsection (i), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the program under this section. (2)

Elements

The report shall include the following: (A)A description of the procedures implemented by the Secretary for purposes of the program. (B)A description of the applications submitted under the program, including a description of the various types of assistance for military families proposed to be provided under such applications. (C)A description, current as of the date of the report, of the activities to be funded by grants under the program. (D)A review of the effectiveness of the board of review under subsection (d). (E)An assessment, current as of the date of the report, of the advisability of extending the program or making it permanent. (g)

Sunset

The program required by this section shall cease upon the earlier of the following: (1)The date of the declaration by the President of the cessation of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (2)The date that is three years after the first obligation of funds for the program under this section. (h)

Congressional defense committees defined

In this section, the term congressional defense committees means— (1)the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate; and (2)the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (i)

Authorization of appropriations

There is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2007, $10,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out the program under this section.