[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2186 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2186

 To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the security of the 
   United States and the readiness of the Armed Forces by increasing 
       diversity within the leadership ranks of the Armed Forces.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 15, 2011

 Mr. Cummings introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the security of the 
   United States and the readiness of the Armed Forces by increasing 
       diversity within the leadership ranks of the Armed Forces.

    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 ``Military Leaders Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DIVERSITY IN MILITARY LEADERSHIP.

    (a) Definition of Diversity.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security (in the 
case of the Coast Guard) should develop a uniform definition of 
diversity that--
            (1) encompasses all the different characteristics and 
        attributes of members of the Armed Forces; and
            (2) is consistent with the core values of the Armed Forces, 
        integral to overall readiness and mission accomplishment, and 
        reflective of the diverse population of the United States.
    (b) Diversity as a National Security Issue.--It is the sense of 
Congress that--
            (1) diversity is a national security issue and a force 
        multiplier for the Armed Forces and the United States;
            (2) diversity within the Armed Forces is vitally important, 
        not only with respect to promoting innovation and creativity, 
        but also with respect to developing a more inclusive workforce 
        for a fair and just America;
            (3) diversity is a necessity to mission readiness and 
        excellence;
            (4) attracting and employing a diverse and talented team of 
        officers and senior enlisted personnel ultimately enables the 
        Armed Forces to better perform their national security missions 
        and, in the case of the Coast Guard, its essential regulatory 
        missions; and
            (5) in preparing the Nation for future national security 
        needs, it is important to identify regional and cultural 
        expertise, relevant reserve component civilian expertise, and 
        language expertise upon military accession and throughout the 
        careers of members of the Armed Forces in order to better 
        manage personnel with mission critical skill sets and to 
        leverage that expertise in service to the United States.

SEC. 3. DIVERSITY IN MILITARY LEADERSHIP AND RELATED REPORTING 
              REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Plan To Achieve Military Leadership Reflecting Diversity of 
United States Population.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 37 of title 10, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        section:
``Sec. 656. Diversity in military leadership: plan
    ``(a) Plan.--The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of 
Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) shall prepare and 
implement a plan to achieve, between 2031 and 2041, a dynamic, 
sustainable level of members of the armed forces (including reserve 
components thereof) that, among both commissioned officers and senior 
enlisted personnel of each armed force, will reflect the diverse 
population of the United States eligible to serve in the armed forces, 
including gender specific, racial, or ethnic populations and 
diversified language and cultural skills so as to preserve and enhance 
the all-volunteer force.
    ``(b) Metrics To Measure Progress in Developing and Implementing 
Plan.--The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security 
in the case of the Coast Guard) shall develop a standard set of metrics 
and collection procedures that are uniform across the armed forces, 
including reserve components thereof, in furtherance of developing and 
implementing the plan established under subsection (a). The metrics 
required by this subsection shall be designed--
            ``(1) to accurately capture the inclusion and capability 
        aspects of the armed forces broader diversity plans; and
            ``(2) to be verifiable and systematically linked to 
        strategic plans that will drive improvements.
    ``(c) Consultation.--Not less than biannually, the Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall meet with the 
Secretaries of the military departments, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard, and senior enlisted members of the armed 
forces to discuss the progress being made toward developing and 
implementing the plan established under subsection (a).
    ``(d) Cooperation With States.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
coordinate with the National Guard Bureau and States in tracking the 
progress of the National Guard toward developing and implementing the 
plan established under subsection (a).''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new item:

``656. Diversity in military leadership: plan.''.
    (b) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Inclusion in dod manpower requirements report.--Section 
        115a(c) of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new paragraph:
            ``(4) The progress made in implementing the plan required 
        by section 656 of this title to achieve a dynamic, sustainable 
        armed forces that has a membership that will, among both 
        commissioned officers and senior enlisted personnel of each 
        armed force, including reserve components thereof, reflect the 
        diverse population of the United States eligible to serve in 
        the armed forces while still being able to--
                    ``(A) prevail in any war, prevent and deter any 
                conflict, defeat any adversary, and succeed in a wide 
                range of contingencies; and
                    ``(B) preserve and enhance the all-volunteer force.
            ``(5) The available pool of qualified candidates for the 
        general officer grades of general and lieutenant general and 
        the flag officer grades of admiral and vice admiral, including 
        an assessment of the qualified racial or ethnic minority and 
        female candidates.''.
            (2) Coast guard report.--
                    (A) Annual report required.--The Secretary of 
                Homeland Security shall prepare an annual report 
                addressing diversity among commissioned officers of the 
                Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve and among enlisted 
                personnel of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve in 
                the pay grades E-7 through E-9. The report shall 
                include an assessment of the available pool of 
                qualified candidates for the flag officer grades of 
                admiral and vice admiral, including an assessment of 
                the qualified racial or ethnic minority and female 
                candidates.
                    (B) Submission.--The report shall be submitted each 
                year not later than 45 days after the date on which the 
                President submits to Congress the budget for the next 
                fiscal year under section 1105 of title 31, United 
                States Code. Each report shall be submitted to the 
                President, the Committee on Armed Services, the 
                Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the 
                Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
                Representatives, and the Committee on Armed Services 
                and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate.
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