I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3293 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 1, 2011 Mr. Bass of New Hampshire (for himself and Mr. Guinta) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) to issue, at no cost to the United States, a military service identification card to persons who served in the Armed Forces.

1.

Military service identification card

(a)

Establishment and availability

Chapter 59 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1166 the following new section:

1167.

Military service identification card: availability and issuance

(a)

Design and availability

The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard) shall design an appropriate identification card (to be known as the military service identification card) to identify and recognize the service of a member of the armed forces after the retirement or other separation of the member from the armed forces. (b)

Contents

At a minimum, the military service identification card shall include the information contained on the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214). (c)

Issuance

The Secretary concerned shall issue the military service identification card to an eligible person upon the request of the person, subject to the payment of the amount required by subsection (e). In the case of a member of the armed forces who is being separated from the armed forces and requests the military service identification card, the Secretary concerned is encouraged to provide for issuance of the military service identification card as part of any ceremony conducted in connection with the separation of the member to recognize the service of the member. (d)

Application

The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard) shall establish an application process by which a person can request the military service identification card. (e)

Cost

Issuance of the military service identification card to a person is conditioned upon the payment of an amount sufficient to cover the costs incurred by the United States to manufacture and issue the military service identification card. (f)

Regulations

The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard) shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.

. (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1166 the following new item: 1167. Military service identification card: availability and issuance. . (c)

Retroactive Availability

(1)

Availability

The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard) shall make the military service identification card authorized by section 1167 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), available to retired and former members of the Armed Forces who retired or were separated before the date of the enactment of this Act. (2)

Notice

The Secretaries should widely announce the availability of the military service identification card through military and public information channels. (3)

Application process

The Secretaries shall provide a mechanism by which a person eligible under paragraph (1) may apply for the military service identification card. (4)

Cost and issuance

Subsection (e) of section 1167 of title 10, United States Code, shall apply with respect to the issuance of the military service identification card under this subsection.