[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1272 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1272

  To establish the National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 2, 2007

    Mr. Chambliss (for himself, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. 
   Isakson) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish the National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program 
Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL GUARD YELLOW RIBBON REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with 
the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, shall establish a national 
combat veteran reintegration program to provide National Guard members 
and their families with sufficient information, services, referral, and 
proactive outreach opportunities throughout the entire deployment 
cycle. This program shall be known as the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration 
Program.
    (b) Purpose.--The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program shall consist 
of informational events and activities for Reserve Component members, 
their families, and community members through the four phases of the 
deployment cycle:
            (1) Pre-deployment.
            (2) Deployment.
            (3) Demobilization.
            (4) Post-deployment-reconstitution.
    (c) Consultation.--The Secretary and National Guard Bureau Chief 
shall consult with the following parties during establishment of the 
program:
            (1) The Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard 
        and officials associated with the State's ``Beyond the Yellow 
        Ribbon'' Reintegration Program.
            (2) Adjutants General of the remaining 53 States and 
        territories.
    (d) Organization.--
            (1) Executive agent.--The Secretary shall designate the 
        National Guard Bureau as the Department of Defense executive 
        agent for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.
            (2) Establishment of the office for reintegration 
        programs.--
                    (A) In general.--The National Guard Bureau shall 
                establish the Office for Reintegration Programs within 
                the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff. This office 
                shall administer all reintegration programs in 
                coordination with State National Guard organizations.
                    (B) Office composition.--The Office for 
                Reintegration Programs shall consist of six full-time 
                National Guard Bureau personnel to administer the 
                Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. The office shall 
                be responsible for coordination with existing National 
                Guard family and support programs. The Directors of the 
                Army National Guard and Air National Guard may appoint 
                liaison officers to work with the permanent office 
                staff. The office shall closely coordinate with the 
                Army National Guard and Air National Guard Directorates 
                for Manpower and Personnel with respect to existing 
                family support structure, mobilization schedules, 
                training schedules, training plans and programs, and 
                any other personnel issues.
            (3) Advisory board.--
                    (A) Appointment.--The Chief of the National Guard 
                Bureau shall appoint an advisory board to analyze and 
                report areas of success and areas for necessary 
                improvements. The advisory board shall include, but is 
                not limited to, the Director of the Army National 
                Guard, the Director of the Air National Guard, the 
                Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, an 
                Adjutant General on a rotational basis as determined by 
                the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Director of 
                the National Guard Bureau Manpower and Personnel 
                Directorate (J-1), and any other Department of Defense, 
                Federal Government agency, or outside organization as 
                determined by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. 
                The members of the advisory board may designate 
                representatives in their stead.
                    (B) Schedule.--The advisory board shall meet on a 
                schedule as determined by the Chief of the National 
                Guard Bureau.
                    (C) Reporting requirement.--The advisory board 
                shall issue internal reports as necessary and shall 
                submit an initial report to the Committees on Armed 
                Services not later than 180 days after the end of a 
                one-year period from establishment of the Office for 
                Reintegration Programs. This report shall contain--
                            (i) an evaluation of the reintegration 
                        program's implementation by State National 
                        Guard organizations;
                            (ii) an assessment of any unmet resource 
                        requirements;
                            (iii) an assessment of the reintegration 
                        program's inclusion of other Reserve Component 
                        service members and the necessity for further 
                        expansion to incorporate all the Reserve 
                        Components; and
                            (iv) recommendations regarding closer 
                        coordination between the Office of 
                        Reintegration Programs and State National Guard 
                        organizations.
                The advisory board shall submit annual reports to the 
                Committees on Armed Services following this initial 
                report by the first week in March.
            (4) Establishment of a center for excellence in 
        reintegration.--The Chief shall establish a Center for 
        Excellence in Reintegration. The Center shall collect and 
        analyze ``lessons learned'' and suggestions from State National 
        Guard organizations with existing or developing reintegration 
        programs. The Center shall also assist in developing training 
        aids and briefing materials and training representatives from 
        State National Guard organizations.
            (5) State deployment cycle support teams.--The Office for 
        Reintegration Programs shall employ 270 full-time employees to 
        administer the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program at the State 
        level. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall assign 
        State Deployment Cycle Support Team members based on State 
        need, geographical dispersion, and military population. The 
        Office for Reintegration Programs is encouraged to employ 
        wounded service members and returning combat veterans whenever 
        possible. The primary function of team members should be--
                    (A) developing and managing the reintegration 
                curriculum;
                    (B) contracting and recruiting for necessary 
                service providers; and
                    (C) ensuring that providers' skills adapt to the 
                unique military nature of the reintegration program.
    (e) Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Office for Reintegration Programs 
        shall analyze the demographics, placement of State Family 
        Assistance Centers (FAC), and FAC resources before a 
        mobilization alert is issued to affected State National Guard 
        organizations. The Office of Reintegration Programs shall 
        consult with affected State National Guard organizations 
        following the issuance of a mobilization alert and implement 
        the reintegration events in accordance with the Reintegration 
        Program phase model.
            (2) Pre-deployment phase.--The Pre-Deployment Phase shall 
        constitute the time from first notification of mobilization 
        until deployment of the mobilized National Guard unit. Events 
        and activities shall focus on providing education and ensuring 
        the readiness of service members, families, and communities for 
        the rigors of a combat deployment and shall include the 
        following:
                    (A) Service member readiness.
                    (B) Marriage counseling.
                    (C) Youth counseling.
                    (D) Family counseling.
                    (E) Single service member counseling.
                    (F) Information on resources available to service 
                members and families.
                    (G) Introduction to the Military OneSource program.
                    (H) Department of Veterans Affairs resources.
                    (I) Small business planning.
                    (J) Financial planning and education.
            (3) Deployment phase.--
                    (A) In general.--The Deployment Phase shall 
                constitute the period from deployment of the mobilized 
                National Guard unit until the unit arrives at a 
                demobilization station inside the continental United 
                States. Events and services provided shall focus on the 
                challenges and stress associated with separation and 
                having a service member in a combat zone. Events and 
                services include support activities listed in 
                subparagraph (B) and reintegration preparation 
                activities listed in subparagraph (C). Information 
                sessions should utilize State National Guard resources 
                in coordination with the Employer Support of Guard and 
                Reserve Office, Transition Assistance Advisors, and the 
                State Family Programs Director.
                    (B) Support activities.--
                            (i) Youth counseling.
                            (ii) Family counseling.
                            (iii) Community outreach.
                            (iv) Continued contact with spouses and 
                        parents.
                            (v) Information on resources available to 
                        family members, to include access to Military 
                        OneSource and child care.
                            (vi) TRICARE and healthcare.
                            (vii) Military pay and allowances.
                    (C) Reintegration preparation activities.--
                            (i) Family information sessions.--Family 
                        information sessions should prepare family 
                        members for the homecoming of their service 
                        member and to inform them on what they can do 
                        to make this transition as easy as possible. 
                        The sessions are designed to increase the 
                        family member's knowledge of the reintegration 
                        process and to provide resources to them as 
                        they go through the steps of reintegration. 
                        Information sessions should be offered at 
                        locations and times so as to accommodate as 
                        many family members as possible.
                            (ii) Community information sessions.--The 
                        Community information sessions should educate 
                        community leaders, clergy, schools, employers, 
                        mental health professionals, and family 
                        readiness groups (FRG) about the challenges of 
                        reintegration, and what they can do to assist 
                        combat veterans and their families to 
                        successfully reintegrate back into the 
                        community. Information sessions should be 
                        offered at locations and times so as to 
                        accommodate as many participants as possible.
            (4) Demobilization phase.--
                    (A) In general.--The Demobilization Phase shall 
                constitute the period from arrival of the National 
                Guard unit at the demobilization station until its 
                departure for home station. In the interest of 
                returning service members as soon as possible to their 
                home stations, reintegration briefings during the 
                Demobilization Phase shall be minimized. State 
                Deployment Cycle Support Teams are encouraged, however, 
                to assist demobilizing service members in enrolling in 
                the Department of Veterans Affairs system using form 
                1010EZ during the Demobilization Phase. State 
                Deployment Cycle Support Teams may provide other events 
                from the Initial Reintegration Activity as determined 
                by the State National Guard organizations. Remaining 
                events shall be conducted during the Post-Deployment-
                Reconstitution Phase.
                    (B) Initial reintegration activity.--The purpose of 
                this reintegration program is to educate service 
                members about the resources that are available to them 
                and to connect service members to service providers who 
                can assist them in overcoming the challenges of 
                reintegration. The Initial Reintegration Activity 
                should include, but is not limited to--
                            (i) informing service members of their 
                        veterans' benefits;
                            (ii) assisting with unemployment and 
                        enrollment in employment transition services;
                            (iii) a driver safety briefing given by 
                        qualified law enforcement officials;
                            (iv) identification of high-risk service 
                        members and establishment of plans for follow-
                        on care;
                            (v) identification of service members 
                        requiring follow-on health care;
                            (vi) legal briefings and legal assistance; 
                        and
                            (vii) an opportunity for sexual assault 
                        victims to confidentially report such crimes.
            (5) Post-deployment-reconstitution phase.--
                    (A) In general.--The Post-Deployment-Reconstitution 
                Phase shall constitute the period from arrival at home 
                station until 180 days following demobilization. 
                Activities and services provided shall focus on 
                reconnecting service members with their families and 
                communities and providing resources and information 
                necessary for successful reintegration. Reintegration 
                events shall begin with elements of the Initial 
                Reintegration Activity program that were not completed 
                during the Demobilization Phase.
                    (B) 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day reintegration 
                activities.--The State National Guard organizations 
                shall hold reintegration activities at the 30-day, 60-
                day, and 90-day interval following demobilization. 
                These activities shall focus on reconnecting service 
                members and family members with the service providers 
                from Initial Reintegration Activity to ensure service 
                members and their families understand what benefits 
                they are entitled to and what resources are available 
                to help them overcome the challenges of reintegration. 
                The Reintegration Activities should also provide a 
                forum for service members and families to address 
                negative behaviors related to combat stress and 
                transition. One of the Reintegration Activities shall 
                be for service members only to conduct a thorough Post-
                Deployment Health Re-Assessment (PDHRA) of combat 
                veterans and provide any remaining medical or dental 
                services. Activities, events, and services provided at 
                the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day Reintegration Activities 
                shall include, but not be limited to--
                            (i) Program of activities.--
                                    (I) Battlemind Training II for 
                                service members and their families.
                                    (II) Prevention and Relationship 
                                Enhancement Program (PREP) Marriage 
                                Enrichment Workshop to focus on 
                                assisting service members to reconnect 
                                with their spouses.
                                    (III) Single service member 
                                challenges workshop.
                                    (IV) Parenting workshop to assist 
                                service members to reconnect with their 
                                children.
                                    (V) Local services station program 
                                with representatives from legal, 
                                TRICARE, Education Services, the 
                                Department of Veterans Affairs, State 
                                Veterans Centers, State Workforce 
                                offices, chaplain's office, County 
                                Veterans Service Officers, Military 
                                OneSource, State tax officials, State 
                                Youth Programs, and National Guard unit 
                                administration offices.
                                    (VI) Anger management workshop.
                                    (VII) Substance abuse workshop.
                                    (VIII) Gambling abuse workshop.
                                    (IX) Law enforcement briefing.
                                    (X) TRICARE and Military OneSource 
                                representatives.
                                    (XI) PDHRA with on-site support 
                                from Department of Veterans Affairs 
                                Medical Centers, State veterans' office 
                                representatives, and case managers 
                                provided by the Department of Defense.
                                    (XII) Periodic Health Assessment 
                                (PHA), if not provided during the 
                                Demobilization Phase.
                                    (XIII) Hearing audiogram, if not 
                                provided during the Demobilization 
                                Phase.
                                    (XIV) Dental examination, if not 
                                provided during the Demobilization 
                                Phase.
                                    (XV) Tuberculosis test.
                                    (XVI) Reintegration program 
                                assessment.
                                    (XVII) Completion of any pending 
                                personnel or administrative actions.
                            (ii) Service member pay.--Service members 
                        shall receive appropriate pay for days spent 
                        attending the Reintegration Activities.
                    (C) Monthly individual reintegration program.--The 
                Office for Reintegration Programs, in coordination with 
                State National Guard organizations, shall offer a 
                monthly reintegration program for individual service 
                members released from active duty or formerly in a 
                medical hold status. The program shall focus on the 
                special needs of this service member subset and the 
                Office for Reintegration Programs shall develop an 
                appropriate program of services and information.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $23,000,000 
for subsection (d) and such sums as may be necessary for subsection 
(e).
                                 <all>