117 S4742 IS: Military Housing Readiness Council Act U.S. Senate 2022-08-02 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 4742IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESAugust 2, 2022Ms. Warren (for herself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed ServicesA BILLTo amend title 10, United States Code, to create a Department of Defense Military Housing Readiness Council to enhance oversight and accountability for deficiencies in military housing, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Military Housing Readiness Council Act.

2.

Department of Defense Military Housing Readiness Council

(a)

In general

Chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1781c the following new section:

1781d.

Department of Defense Military Housing Readiness Council

(a)

In general

There is in the Department of Defense the Department of Defense Military Housing Readiness Council (in this section referred to as the Council).(b)

Members

(1)

In general

The Council shall be composed of the following members:(A)The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, who shall serve as chair of the Council and who may designate a representative to chair the Council in the absence of the Assistant Secretary.(B)One representative of each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, each of whom shall be a member of the armed force to be represented and not fewer than two of which shall be from an enlisted component.(C)One spouse of an active component member of each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, not fewer than two of which shall be the spouse of an enlisted component member.(D)One individual appointed by the Secretary of Defense among representatives of the International Code Council.(E)One individual appointed by the Secretary of Defense among representatives of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification.(F)One individual appointed by the Chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate who is not described in subparagraph (B) or (C) and is not a representative of an organization specified in subparagraph (D) or (E).(G)One individual appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate who is not described in subparagraph (B) or (C) and is not a representative of an organization specified in subparagraph (D) or (E).(H)One individual appointed by the Chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives who is not described in subparagraph (B) or (C) and is not a representative of an organization specified in subparagraph (D) or (E).(I)One individual appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives who is not described in subparagraph (B) or (C) and is not a representative of an organization specified in subparagraph (D) or (E).(2)

Terms

The term on the Council of the members specified under subparagraphs (B) through (H) of paragraph (1) shall be two years and may be renewed by the Secretary of Defense.(3)

Attendance by landlords

The chair of the Council shall extend an invitation to each landlord for one representative of each landlord to attend such meetings of the Council as the chair considers appropriate. (c)

Meetings

The Council shall meet not less often than four times each year. (d)

Duties

The duties of the Council shall include the following:(1)To review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense regarding policies for privatized military housing, including inspections practices, resident surveys, landlord payment of medical bills for residents of housing units that have not maintained minimum standards of habitability, and access to maintenance work order systems.(2)To monitor compliance by the Department with and effective implementation by the Department of statutory improvements to policies for privatized military housing, including the Military Housing Privatization Initiative Tenant Bill of Rights developed under section 2890 of this title and the complaint database established under section 2894a of this title.(3)To make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense to improve collaboration, awareness, and promotion of accurate and timely information about privatized military housing, accommodations available through the Exceptional Family Member Program of the Department of Defense, and other support services among policymakers, service providers, and targeted beneficiaries.(e)

Public reporting

(1)

Availability of documents

Subject to section 552 of title 5 (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act), the records, reports, transcripts, minutes, appendices, working papers, drafts, studies, agenda, and other documents made available to or prepared for or by the Council shall be available for public inspection and copying at a single location in a publicly accessible format on a website of the Department of Defense until the Council ceases to exist.(2)

Minutes

(A)

In general

Detailed minutes of each meeting of the Council shall be kept and shall contain—(i)a record of the individuals present;(ii)a complete and accurate description of matters discussed and conclusions reached; and(iii)copies of all reports received, issued, or approved by the Council.(B)

Certification

The chair of the Council shall certify the accuracy of the minutes of each meeting of the Council. (f)

Annual reports

(1)

In general

Not later than March 1 each year, the Council shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees a report on privatized military housing readiness.(2)

Elements

Each report under this subsection shall include the following:(A)An assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the provision of privatized military housing and the activities of the Department of Defense in meeting the needs of military families relating to housing during the preceding fiscal year.(B)A description of activities of the Council during the preceding fiscal year, including—(i)analyses of complaints of tenants of housing units;(ii)data received by the Council on maintenance response time and completion of maintenance requests relating to housing units;(iii)assessments of dispute resolution processes;(iv)assessments of overall customer service for tenants;(v)assessments of results of housing inspections conducted with and without notice; and(vi)any survey results conducted on behalf of or received by the Council.(C)Recommendations on actions to be taken to improve the capability of the provision of privatized military housing and the activities of the Department of Defense to meet the needs and requirements of military families relating to housing, including actions relating to the allocation of funding and other resources.(3)

Public availability

Each report under this subsection shall be made available in a publicly accessible format on a website of the Department of Defense. (g)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Landlord

The term landlord has the meaning given that term in section 2871 of this title.(2)

Privatized military housing

The term privatized military housing means housing provided under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of this title.

.(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1781c the following new item:1781d. Department of Defense Military Housing Readiness Council..