[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2379 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2379

To improve and expand authorities, programs, services, and benefits for 
    military spouses and military families, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 6, 2018

 Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mrs. Murray) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
                           on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To improve and expand authorities, programs, services, and benefits for 
    military spouses and military families, and for other purposes.

    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 Spouse Employment Act of 
2018''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY FOR NONCOMPETITIVE APPOINTMENTS OF 
              MILITARY SPOUSES BY FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    (a) Expansion To Include All Spouses of Members of the Armed Forces 
on Active Duty.--Section 3330d of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), and (5); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph 
                (3);
            (2) by striking subsections (b) and (c) and inserting the 
        following new subsection (b):
    ``(b) Appointment Authority.--The head of an agency may appoint 
noncompetitively--
            ``(1) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active 
        duty; or
            ``(2) a spouse of a disabled or deceased member of the 
        Armed Forces.'';
            (3) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c); and
            (4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``subsection (a)(6)'' in paragraph (1) and inserting 
        ``subsection (a)(3)''.
    (b) Heading Amendment.--The heading of such section is amended to 
read as follows:
``Sec. 3330d. Appointment of military spouses''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 33 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 3330d and inserting the following new item:

``3330d. Appointment of military spouses.''.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON MECHANISMS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN DEPARTMENT OF 
              DEFENSE CONTRACTS OF FIRMS WITH PROGRAMS TO EMPLOY 
              MILITARY SPOUSES.

    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 
sets forth various mechanisms to be used by the Department of Defense 
to increase the participation in Department contracts of businesses 
that implement and maintain programs to employ military spouses. For 
each mechanism set forth, the report shall include a recommendation for 
the legislative or administrative action necessary to implement such 
mechanism.

SEC. 4. IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAMS FOR 
              MILITARY SPOUSES.

    (a) Outreach on Availability of MyCAA Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall take 
        appropriate actions to ensure that military spouses who are 
        eligible for participation in the My Career Advancement Account 
        (MyCAA) program of the Department of Defense are, to extent 
        practicable, made aware of the program and their eligibility 
        for the program.
            (2) Digital advertisement.--The actions taken by the 
        Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include a state-of-
        the-art digital advertising campaign on the My Career 
        Advancement Account program designed to target military 
        spouses.
            (3) DoD report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a report setting forth the following:
                    (A) An assessment of the extent to which military 
                spouses who are eligible for the My Career Advancement 
                Account program are aware of the program and their 
                eligibility for the program.
                    (B) A description of the levels of participation in 
                the My Career Advancement Account program among 
                military spouses who are eligible to participate in the 
                program.
            (4) Comptroller general report.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the submittal of the report required by paragraph (3), 
        the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 
        Congress a report setting forth the following:
                    (A) An assessment of the report under paragraph 
                (3).
                    (B) Such recommendations as the Comptroller General 
                considers appropriate regarding the following:
                            (i) Mechanisms to increase awareness of the 
                        My Career Advancement Account program among 
                        military spouses who are eligible to 
                        participate in the program.
                            (ii) Mechanisms to increase participation 
                        in the My Career Advancement Account program 
                        among military spouses who are eligible to 
                        participate in the program.
    (b) Training for Installation Career Counselors on MyCAA Program.--
The Secretaries of the military departments shall take appropriate 
actions to ensure that career counselors at military installations 
receive appropriate training and current information on eligibility for 
and use of benefits under the My Career Advancement Account program, 
including financial assistance to cover costs associated with 
professional recertification, portability of occupational licenses, 
professional credential exams, and other mechanisms in connection with 
the portability of professional licenses.
    (c) Report on Expansion of SECO Program.--The Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to Congress a report setting forth a proposal for the 
expansion of specialized coaching modules within the Spouse Education 
and Career Opportunities (SECO) Program of the Department of Defense.

SEC. 5. MILITARY FAMILY CHILD CARE MATTERS.

    (a) Assessment of Use of Subsidized, Off-Installation Childcare 
Services.--Subsection (a) of section 575 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) Modifying the rate of use of subsidized, off-
        installation childcare services by military families in light 
        of the full implementation of MilitaryChildCare.com, including 
        whether the availability of off-installation childcare services 
        for military families could be increased by altering policies 
        of the Armed Forces on capping the amount of subsidies for 
        military families for such services based on the cost of living 
        for families and the average cost of civilian childcare 
        services.''.
    (b) Provisional or Interim Clearances To Provide Childcare 
Services.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall implement a 
        policy to permit the issuance of clearances on a provisional or 
        interim basis for the provision of childcare services at 
        military childcare centers.
            (2) Elements.--The policy required by this subsection shall 
        provide for the following:
                    (A) Any clearance issued under the policy shall be 
                temporary and contingent upon the satisfaction of such 
                requirements for the issuance of a clearance on a 
                permanent basis as the Secretary considers appropriate.
                    (B) Any individual issued a clearance on a 
                provisional or interim basis under the policy shall be 
                subject to such supervision in the provision of 
                childcare services using such clearance as the 
                Secretary considers appropriate.
            (3) Clearance defined.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``clearance'', with respect to an individual and the provision 
        of childcare services, means the formal approval of the 
        individual, after appropriate vetting and other review, to 
        provide childcare services to children at a military childcare 
        center of the Department of Defense.

SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY OF MILITARY ONESOURCE 
              PROGRAM FOR RETIRED AND DISCHARGED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES.

    (a) In General.--Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
Defense, the period of eligibility for the Military OneSource program 
of the Department of Defense of an eligible individual retired, 
discharged, or otherwise released from the Armed Forces, and for the 
eligible immediate family members of such an individual, shall be the 
one-year period beginning on the date the retirement, discharge, or 
release, as applicable, of such individual.
    (b) Outreach.--The Secretary shall undertake a marketing and 
advertising campaign designed to inform military families and families 
of veterans of the Armed Forces of the wide range of benefits available 
through the Military OneSource program. The campaign shall include 
well-researched and targeted marketing and advertising collateral 
issued at the following:
            (1) Offices at military installations that issue 
        identification cards.
            (2) Locations at which activities under the Transition 
        Assistance Program (TAP) are being carried out.

SEC. 7. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY SPOUSES.

    (a) Transition Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 88 of title 10, 
        United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1784a 
        the following new section:
``Sec. 1784b. Employment assistance, job training assistance, and other 
              transitional assistance for military spouses: Department 
              of Labor
    ``(a) In General.--In carrying out the program of assistance and 
services required by section 1144 of this title, the Secretary of 
Labor, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall also 
maintain a program of counseling, assistance, help, and related 
information and services for spouses of members of the armed forces 
covered by that section in order to assist such spouses during the 
transition of such members to civilian life.
    ``(b) Elements.--The counseling, assistance, help, and information 
and services available under the program under this section shall be 
the following:
            ``(1) Such counseling, assistance, help, and information 
        and services as are available to members under section 1144 of 
        title and are suitable to assist spouses during the transition 
        of members as described in subsection (a).
            ``(2) Such other counseling, assistance, help, and 
        information and services to assist spouses during such 
        transition as the Secretaries consider appropriate for purposes 
        of the program.
    ``(c) Participation.--A spouse is eligible to participate in the 
program under this section during any period in which the spouse's 
member is eligible to participate in the program of assistance and 
services required by section 1144 of this title.
    ``(d) Use of Personnel and Organizations.--In carrying out the 
program under this section, the Secretaries may use any of the 
authorities, personnel, organizations, and other resources available 
for the program of assistance and services required by section 1144 of 
this title that the Secretaries consider appropriate for the effective 
operation of the program under this section.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of subchapter I of chapter 88 of such title is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1784a 
        the following new item:

``1784b. Employment assistance, job training assistance, and other 
                            transitional assistance for military 
                            spouses: Department of Labor.''.
            (3) Effective date and commencement of program.--The 
        amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the 
        date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Labor shall 
        commence the program required by section 1784b of title 10, 
        United States Code (as added by such amendments), by such date, 
        not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, as the Secretary considers practicable.
    (b) Participation of Spouses in TAP for Members.--Section 1144 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``and the spouses of 
        such members'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``of Members'' after 
        ``Participation'';
            (3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
        (e) and (f), respectively; and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection (d):
    ``(d) Participation of Spouses.--The Secretaries shall permit the 
spouses of members participating in the program carried out under this 
section to participate in the receipt by such members of assistance and 
services provided under the program to the extent that the 
participation of such spouses in receipt of such assistance and 
services will assist such members and spouses in maximizing the 
benefits of the program carried out under this section.''.

SEC. 8. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ON HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, AND 
              MORALE OF MILITARY FAMILIES.

    (a) Plan for Initiative Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall, 
acting through the Office of Community Relations of the Department of 
Defense, submit to Congress a report setting forth a proposal for one 
or more initiatives between the military departments and appropriate 
non-Federal entities for public-private partnerships designed to 
support and enhance the health, safety, welfare, and morale of military 
families. The initiatives shall be designed to provide the military 
departments flexibility in the commitment of resources to the 
partnerships according to the unique requirements of the military 
departments and the Armed Forces.
    (b) Initiative Elements.--In identifying appropriate elements for 
the initiatives described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall take 
into account the results of the following:
            (1) Two current studies by the Office of the Secretary of 
        Defense on the health, safety, welfare, and morale of military 
        families.
            (2) The public-private partnership initiative of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs on the health, safety, welfare, 
        and morale of families of veterans.

SEC. 9. SMALL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OF MILITARY SPOUSES ON MILITARY 
              INSTALLATIONS.

    (a) Assessment of Small Business Activity.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to Congress a report setting forth an assessment 
of the feasibility and advisability of encouraging entrepreneurship 
among military spouses by permitting military spouses to engage in 
small business activities on military installations and in partnership 
with commissaries, exchange stores, and other morale, welfare, and 
recreation facilities of the Armed Forces.
    (b) Elements.--The assessment shall--
            (1) take into account the usage by military spouses of 
        installation facilities, utilities, and other resources in the 
        conduct of small business activities on military installations 
        and such other matters in connection with the conduct of such 
        business activities by military spouses as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate; and
            (2) seek to identify mechanisms to ensure that costs and 
        fees associated with the usage by military spouses of such 
        facilities, utilities, and other resources in connection with 
        such business activities does not meaningfully curtail or 
        eliminate the opportunity for military spouses to profit 
        reasonably from such business activities.

SEC. 10. REPORT ON ASSESSMENT OF FREQUENCY OF PERMANENT CHANGES OF 
              STATION OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON EMPLOYMENT 
              AMONG MILITARY SPOUSES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress 
a report setting forth an assessment of the effects of the frequency of 
permanent changes of station (PCS) of members of the Armed Forces on 
stability of employment among military spouses.
    (b) Elements.--The report under subsection (a) shall include the 
following:
            (1) An assessment of the effects of the frequency of 
        permanent changes of station of members of the Armed Forces on 
        stability of employment among military spouses, including the 
        contribution of frequent permanent changes of station to 
        unemployment or underemployment among military spouses.
            (2) An assessment of the effects of unemployment and 
        underemployment among military spouses on force readiness.
            (3) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate regarding legislative or administration action to 
        achieve force readiness and stabilization through the 
        minimization of the impacts of frequent permanent changes on 
        stability of employment among military spouses.
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