[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8070 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8070

     To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military 
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and 
   for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe 
   military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 18, 2024

Mr. Rogers of Alabama (for himself, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Bacon, 
  Ms. Houlahan, Ms. Mace, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Luttrell, Ms. Jacobs, Mrs. 
  Kiggans of Virginia, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Moylan, Mr. Davis of North 
Carolina, Mr. Alford, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, and Mr. Banks) introduced 
   the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military 
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and 
   for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe 
   military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, 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 ``Servicemember Quality of Life 
Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
                     TITLE I--PAY AND COMPENSATION

Sec. 101. Reform of rates of monthly basic pay.
Sec. 102. Evaluation of the rates of the basic allowance for 
                            subsistence.
Sec. 103. Basic needs allowance for members on active service in the 
                            Armed Forces: expansion of eligibility; 
                            increase of amount.
Sec. 104. Basic allowance for housing: authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 105. Expansion of authority of a commanding officer to authorize a 
                            basic allowance for housing for a member 
                            performing initial field or sea duty.
Sec. 106. Report regarding the calculation of cost-of-living 
                            allowances.
                          TITLE II--CHILD CARE

Sec. 201. Competitive pay for Department of Defense child care 
                            personnel.
Sec. 202. Parent fees at military child development centers for child 
                            care employees.
Sec. 203. Child care services and youth program services for 
                            dependents.
Sec. 204. Briefings on military child development centers.
                      TITLE III--MILITARY HOUSING

Sec. 301. Budget justification for certain Facilities Sustainment, 
                            Restoration, and Modernization projects.
Sec. 302. Digital facilities management systems for military 
                            departments.
Sec. 303. Strategy for use of existing leasing authorities to address 
                            shortages of covered military unaccompanied 
                            housing required.
Sec. 304. Independent assessment of estimated costs of certain 
                            strategies to address shortages of covered 
                            military unaccompanied housing.
                    TITLE IV--ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Sec. 401. TRICARE program: waiver of referral requirement under TRICARE 
                            Prime for certain care in a military 
                            medical treatment facility.
Sec. 402. Referral of a member of the Armed Forces to a TRICARE 
                            provider for urgent behavioral health 
                            services.
Sec. 403. Retention of health care providers: surveys; briefing; 
                            reports.
                 TITLE V--SUPPORT FOR MILITARY SPOUSES

Sec. 501. Interstate compacts for portability of occupational licenses 
                            of military spouses: permanent authority.
Sec. 502. Permanent Military Spouse Career Accelerator program.
Sec. 503. Child care services and youth program services for 
                            dependents: period of services for a member 
                            with a spouse seeking employment.

                     TITLE I--PAY AND COMPENSATION

SEC. 101. REFORM OF RATES OF MONTHLY BASIC PAY.

    Effective on January 1, 2025, the rates of monthly basic pay for 
members of the uniformed services within each pay grade and with years 
of service computed under section 205 of title 37, United States Code 
(and subject to adjustment under section 1009 of such title), are as 
follows:


                            Years of Service
                          Commissioned Officers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Pay Grade    2 or Fewer    Over 2      Over 3      Over 4      Over 6
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-8          $12,803.70   $13,223.70  $13,501.80  $13,579.20  $13,926.90
O-7          10,638.90    11,133.00   11,361.90   11,544.00   11,872.80
O-6           8,067.90    8,863.20    9,444.90    9,444.90    9,481.20
O-5           6,725.70    7,576.50    8,100.90    8,199.60    8,527.20
O-4           5,803.20    6,717.30    7,166.40    7,265.40    7,681.50
O-3           5,102.10    5,783.70    6,241.80    6,806.10    7,132.80
O-2           4,408.50    5,020.80    5,782.80    5,978.10    6,100.80
O-1           3,826.20    3,982.80    4,814.70    4,814.70    4,814.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Over 8       Over 10     Over 12     Over 14     Over 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-8           $14,506.50  $14,641.80  $15,192.60  $15,351.30  $15,825.90
O-7           12,198.30   12,574.20   12,948.90   13,325.40   14,506.50
O-6          9,887.40     9,941.40    9,941.40    10,506.30   11,505.00
O-5          8,722.50     9,153.00    9,469.80    9,878.10    10,501.80
O-4          8,127.90     8,684.10    9,116.10    9,416.70    9,589.50
O-3           7,490.70    7,721.70    8,102.10    8,301.00    8,301.00
O-2           6,100.80    6,100.80    6,100.80    6,100.80    6,100.80
O-1           4,814.70     4,814.70    4,814.70    4,814.70    4,814.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 18      Over 20     Over 22     Over 24     Over 26
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-10          $0.00       $18,491.70  $18,491.70  $18,491.70  $18,491.70
O-9           0.00        18,096.00   18,357.30   18,491.70   18,491.70
O-8           16,512.90   17,145.60   17,568.60   17,568.60   17,568.60
O-7           15,504.30   15,504.30   15,504.30   15,504.30   15,584.10
O-6           12,091.20   12,677.10   13,010.70   13,348.50   14,002.80
O-5           10,799.10   11,093.10   11,426.70   11,426.70   11,426.70
O-4           9,689.10    9,689.10    9,689.10    9,689.10    9,689.10
O-3           8,301.00    8,301.00    8,301.00    8,301.00    8,301.00
O-2          6,100.80     6,100.80    6,100.80    6,100.80    6,100.80
O-1          4,814.70     4,814.70    4,814.70    4,814.70    4,814.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 28      Over 30     Over 32     Over 34     Over 36
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-10         $18,491.70   $18,491.70  $18,491.70  $18,491.70  $18,491.70
O-9          18,491.70    18,491.70   18,491.70   18,491.70   18,491.70
O-8           17,568.60   18,008.40   18,008.40   18,458.10   18,458.10
O-7           15,584.10   15,895.80   15,895.80   15,895.80   15,895.80
O-6           14,002.80   14,282.40   14,282.40   14,282.40   14,282.40
O-5           11,426.70    11,426.70   11,426.70   11,426.70   11,426.70
O-4          9,689.10     9,689.10    9,689.10    9,689.10    9,689.10
O-3          8,301.00     8,301.00    8,301.00    8,301.00    8,301.00
O-2          6,100.80     6,100.80    6,100.80    6,100.80    6,100.80
O-1           4,814.70     4,814.70    4,814.70    4,814.70    4,814.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 38      Over 40     ..........  ..........  ..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-10         $18,491.70   $18,491.70  ..........  ..........  ..........
O-9          18,491.70    18,491.70   ..........  ..........  ..........
O-8          18,458.10    18,458.10   ..........  ..........  ..........
O-7          15,895.80    15,895.80   ..........  ..........  ..........
O-6          14,282.40    14,282.40   ..........  ..........  ..........
O-5          11,426.70    11,426.70   ..........  ..........  ..........
O-4          9,689.10     9,689.10    ..........  ..........  ..........
O-3          8,301.00     8,301.00    ..........  ..........  ..........
O-2          6,100.80     6,100.80    ..........  ..........  ..........
O-1          4,814.70     4,814.70    ..........  ..........  ..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------



  Commissioned Officers With Over 4 Years of Active Duty Service As An
                   Enlisted Member or Warrant Officer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Pay Grade    2 or Fewer    Over 2      Over 3      Over 4      Over 6
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-3E         $0.00        $0.00       $0.00       $6,806.10   $7,132.80
O-2E         0.00         0.00        0.00        5,978.10    6,100.80
O-1E         0.00         0.00        0.00        4,814.70    5,141.10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 8       Over 10     Over 12     Over 14      Over 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-3E         $7,490.70    $7,721.70   $8,102.10   $8,423.40   $8,607.90
O-2E         6,294.90     6,622.80    6,876.60    7,065.00    7,065.00
O-1E         5,331.30     5,525.70    5,716.50    5,978.10    5,978.10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 18      Over 20     Over 22     Over 24     Over 26
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-3E         $8,859.00    $8,859.00   $8,859.00   $8,859.00   $8,859.00
O-2E         7,065.00     7,065.00    7,065.00    7,065.00    7,065.00
O-1E          5,978.10     5,978.10    5,978.10    5,978.10    5,978.10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 28      Over 30     Over 32     Over 34     Over 36
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-3E         $8,859.00    $8,859.00   $8,859.00   $8,859.00   $8,859.00
O-2E         7,065.00     7,065.00    7,065.00    7,065.00    7,065.00
O-1E         5,978.10     5,978.10    5,978.10    5,978.10    5,978.10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 38      Over 40     ..........  ..........  ..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O-3E         $8,859.00    $8,859.00   ..........  ..........  ..........
O-2E         7,065.00     7,065.00    ..........  ..........  ..........
O-1E         5,978.10     5,978.10    ..........  ..........  ..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------



                            Warrant Officers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Pay Grade    2 or Fewer    Over 2      Over 3      Over 4      Over 6
------------------------------------------------------------------------
W-4          $5,273.10    $5,671.50   $5,834.40   $5,994.60   $6,270.60
W-3           4,815.60    5,015.70    5,222.10    5,289.00    5,504.40
W-2           4,260.90    4,663.80    4,787.70    4,873.20    5,149.20
W-1           3,739.80    4,143.00    4,250.70    4,479.60    4,749.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 8       Over 10     Over 12     Over 14      Over 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
W-4          $6,543.60    $6,820.20   $7,235.40   $7,599.90   $7,946.70
W-3           5,928.90    6,370.80    6,579.00    6,819.90    7,067.40
W-2           5,578.50    5,791.80    6,001.20    6,257.40    6,457.80
W-1           5,148.30    5,334.30    5,595.30    5,850.90    6,052.20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 18      Over 20     Over 22     Over 24     Over 26
------------------------------------------------------------------------
W-5          $9,375.60    $9,375.60   $9,851.10   $10,205.70  $10,597.20
W-4           8,231.10    8,508.30    8,914.50    9,248.70    9,629.70
W-3           7,513.80    7,814.70    7,994.70    8,186.10    8,447.10
W-2           6,639.00    6,856.20    6,998.70    7,111.80    7,111.80
W-1           6,237.60    6,462.90    6,462.90    6,462.90    6,462.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 28      Over 30     Over 32     Over 34     Over 36
------------------------------------------------------------------------
W-5          $10,597.20   $11,128.20  $11,128.20  $11,683.50  $11,683.50
W-4           9,629.70    9,821.70    9,821.70    9,821.70    9,821.70
W-3          8,447.10     8,447.10    8,447.10    8,447.10    8,447.10
W-2           7,111.80     7,111.80    7,111.80    7,111.80    7,111.80
W-1          6,462.90     6,462.90    6,462.90    6,462.90    6,462.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 38      Over 40     ..........  ..........  ..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
W-5          $12,269.10   $12,269.10  ..........  ..........  ..........
W-4          9,821.70     9,821.70    ..........  ..........  ..........
W-3          8,447.10     8,447.10    ..........  ..........  ..........
W-2          7,111.80     7,111.80    ..........  ..........  ..........
W-1           6,462.90     6,462.90   ..........  ..........  ..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------



                            Enlisted Members
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Pay Grade    2 or Fewer    Over 2      Over 3      Over 4      Over 6
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-7          $3,624.90    $3,956.40   $4,108.20   $4,308.30   $4,465.50
E-6           3,135.60    3,450.60    3,603.00    3,750.90    3,904.80
E-5           3,082.20    3,317.10    3,479.40    3,638.70    3,790.80
E-4           3,028.80    3,183.60    3,356.10    3,526.20    3,677.10
E-3           2,733.90    2,906.10    3,082.20    3,082.20    3,082.20
E-2          2,600.10     2,600.10    2,600.10    2,600.10    2,600.10
E-1          2,319.90     2,319.90    2,319.90    2,319.90    2,319.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 8       Over 10     Over 12     Over 14      Over 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-9          $0.00        $6,370.50   $6,514.80   $6,696.60   $6,910.50
E-8          5,214.90     5,445.60    5,588.40    5,759.40    5,944.50
E-7           4,734.60    4,886.40    5,155.20    5,379.30    5,532.30
E-6           4,252.50    4,387.80    4,649.70    4,729.80    4,788.00
E-5           3,964.80    4,052.10    4,076.40    4,076.40    4,076.40
E-4           3,677.10     3,677.10    3,677.10    3,677.10    3,677.10
E-3          3,082.20     3,082.20    3,082.20    3,082.20    3,082.20
E-2          2,600.10     2,600.10    2,600.10    2,600.10    2,600.10
E-1          2,319.90     2,319.90    2,319.90    2,319.90    2,319.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 18      Over 20     Over 22     Over 24     Over 26
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-9          $7,127.10    $7,472.10   $7,765.20   $8,072.70   $8,544.00
E-8           6,279.30    6,449.10    6,737.40    6,897.30    7,291.20
E-7           5,694.90    5,757.90    5,969.70    6,083.10    6,515.70
E-6          4,856.40     4,856.40    4,856.40    4,856.40    4,856.40
E-5          4,076.40     4,076.40    4,076.40    4,076.40    4,076.40
E-4          3,677.10     3,677.10    3,677.10    3,677.10    3,677.10
E-3          3,082.20     3,082.20    3,082.20    3,082.20    3,082.20
E-2          2,600.10     2,600.10    2,600.10    2,600.10    2,600.10
E-1          2,319.90     2,319.90    2,319.90    2,319.90    2,319.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 28      Over 30     Over 32     Over 34     Over 36
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-9          $8,544.00    $8,970.30   $8,970.30   $9,419.40   $9,419.40
E-8           7,291.20    7,437.30    7,437.30    7,437.30    7,437.30
E-7          6,515.70     6,515.70    6,515.70    6,515.70    6,515.70
E-6           4,856.40     4,856.40    4,856.40    4,856.40    4,856.40
E-5          4,076.40     4,076.40    4,076.40    4,076.40    4,076.40
E-4           3,677.10     3,677.10    3,677.10    3,677.10    3,677.10
E-3           3,082.20     3,082.20    3,082.20    3,082.20    3,082.20
E-2          2,600.10     2,600.10    2,600.10    2,600.10    2,600.10
E-1          2,319.90     2,319.90    2,319.90    2,319.90    2,319.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Over 38      Over 40     ..........  ..........  ..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-9          $9,891.30    $9,891.30   ..........  ..........  ..........
E-8          7,437.30     7,437.30    ..........  ..........  ..........
E-7          6,515.70     6,515.70    ..........  ..........  ..........
E-6          4,856.40     4,856.40    ..........  ..........  ..........
E-5          4,076.40     4,076.40    ..........  ..........  ..........
E-4           3,677.10     3,677.10   ..........  ..........  ..........
E-3           3,082.20     3,082.20   ..........  ..........  ..........
E-2          2,600.10     2,600.10    ..........  ..........  ..........
E-1          2,319.90     2,319.90    ..........  ..........  ..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEC. 102. EVALUATION OF THE RATES OF THE BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR 
              SUBSISTENCE.

    Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report containing the evaluation of the Secretary of 
the rates of the basic allowance for subsistence under section 402 of 
title 37, United States Code. Elements of such report shall include the 
following:
            (1) The determination of the Secretary whether such rates 
        are sufficient.
            (2) Other factors that could be used to determine such 
        rates, including--
                    (A) the number of dependents a member of the 
                uniformed services has;
                    (B) whether the member has access to fresh fruits, 
                vegetables, dairy products, and meat;
                    (C) whether the member has access to healthy food; 
                and
                    (D) the local costs of food, including at 
                commissaries operated by the Secretary under chapter 
                147 of title 10, United States Code.
            (3) The recommendations of the Secretary whether, and how, 
        such rates may be improved.

SEC. 103. BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE FOR MEMBERS ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE 
              ARMED FORCES: EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY; INCREASE OF 
              AMOUNT.

    (a) Eligibility.--Section 402b of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended, in subsection (b)(2)--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``(A)'';
                    (B) by striking ``150 percent'' and inserting ``200 
                percent''; and
                    (C) by striking ``; or'' and inserting ``; and''; 
                and
            (2) by striking subparagraph (B).
    (b) Amount.--Such section is further amended, in subsection 
(c)(1)(A), by striking ``150 percent (or, in the case of a member 
described in subsection (b)(2)(B), 200 percent)'' and inserting ``200 
percent''.

SEC. 104. BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING: AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    For fiscal year 2025, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$1,200,000,000 for the purpose of fully funding the basic allowance for 
housing for members of the uniformed services under section 403 of 
title 37, United States Code.

SEC. 105. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY OF A COMMANDING OFFICER TO AUTHORIZE A 
              BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING FOR A MEMBER PERFORMING 
              INITIAL FIELD OR SEA DUTY.

    Subsection (f) of section 403 of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``certifies that the member was 
                necessarily required to procure quarters at the 
                member's expense.'' and inserting an em dash; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraphs:
            ``(A) certifies that the member was required to procure 
        housing at the member's expense; or
            ``(B) determines that quarters at the duty station or in 
        the field environment are inadequate or an impediment to 
        morale, good order, or discipline.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``the Secretary may authorize'' and 
                inserting ``a commanding officer may authorize'';
                    (B) by striking ``who is serving in pay grade E-4 
                or E-5'' and inserting ``who is serving in a pay grade 
                below E-6''; and
                    (C) by striking ``members serving in pay grades E-4 
                and E-5'' and inserting ``such members. In authorizing 
                an allowance under this subparagraph, the commanding 
                officer shall consider the availability of quarters for 
                the member and whether such quarters are inadequate or 
                an impediment to morale, good order, or discipline''.

SEC. 106. REPORT REGARDING THE CALCULATION OF COST-OF-LIVING 
              ALLOWANCES.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than April 1, 2025, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the CONUS COLA 
and OCONUS COLA. Such report shall include the following elements:
            (1) The factors used to calculate the CONUS COLA and OCONUS 
        COLA.
            (2) An explanation of how the factors described in 
        paragraph (1) are determined.
            (3) An explanation of how the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA 
        may be adjusted, including--
                    (A) timelines for such an adjustment;
                    (B) bases for such an adjustment; and
                    (C) the relationship between CONUS COLA and OCONUS 
                COLA.
            (4) The evaluation of the Secretary whether the surveys 
        used to collect data from members to calculate the CONUS COLA 
        and OCONUS COLA are effective.
            (5) The evaluation of the Secretary whether the calculation 
        of the CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA is effective.
            (6) The assessment of the Secretary whether the calculation 
        of the CONUS COLA or OCONUS COLA should include additional 
        factors, including--
                    (A) the number of dependents a member has;
                    (B) vicinity and commissary costs;
                    (C) the reimbursement of expenses (including tolls 
                and taxes) incurred by a member based on the duty 
                station of such member;
                    (D) remoteness;
                    (E) hardship;
                    (F) loss of spousal income;
                    (G) the unavailability of goods or services in the 
                vicinity of a duty station; and
                    (H) any other factor that the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``CONUS COLA'' means the cost-of-living 
        allowance paid to a member of the uniformed services under 
        section 403b of title 37, United States Code.
            (2) The term ``OCONUS COLA'' means a cost-of-living 
        allowance paid to a member of the uniformed services on the 
        basis that--
                    (A) the member is assigned to a permanent duty 
                station located outside the continental United States; 
                or
                    (B) the dependents of such member reside outside 
                the continental United States but not in the vicinity 
                of the permanent duty station of such member.

                          TITLE II--CHILD CARE

SEC. 201. COMPETITIVE PAY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CHILD CARE 
              PERSONNEL.

    (a) In General.--Section 1792(c) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Competitive Rates of Pay.--(1) For the purpose of providing 
military child development centers with a qualified and stable civilian 
workforce, employees at a military installation who are directly 
involved in providing child care and who are paid from nonappropriated 
funds--
            ``(A) in the case of entry-level employees, shall be paid a 
        rate of pay competitive with the rates of pay paid to other 
        equivalent non-Federal positions within the metropolitan 
        statistical area or non-metropolitan statistical area (as the 
        case may be) in which such Department employee's position is 
        located; and
            ``(B) in the case of any employee not covered by 
        subparagraph (A), shall be paid a rate of pay competitive with 
        the rates of pay paid to other employees with similar training, 
        seniority, and experience within the metropolitan statistical 
        area or non-metropolitan statistical area (as the case may be) 
        in which such Department employee's position is located.
    ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no employee shall receive a 
rate of pay under this subsection that is lower than the minimum hourly 
rate of pay applicable to civilian employees of the Department of 
Defense.
    ``(3) For purposes of determining the rates of pay under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall use the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area 
occupational employment and wage estimates published monthly by the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics.''.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
        take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Rates of pay.--
                    (A) Current employee pay rate not reduced.--The 
                rate of pay for any individual who is an employee 
                covered by subsection (c) of section 1792 of title 10, 
                United States Code, as amended by subsection (a) of 
                this section, on the date of the enactment of this Act 
                shall not be reduced by operation of such amendment.
                    (B) Pay band minimum.--Any employee whose rate of 
                pay is fixed under such subsection (c), as so amended, 
                and who is within any pay band shall receive a rate of 
                pay not less than the minimum rate of pay applicable to 
                such pay band.

SEC. 202. PARENT FEES AT MILITARY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS FOR CHILD 
              CARE EMPLOYEES.

    Section 1793 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
striking subsection (d) and inserting the following new subsections:
    ``(d) Child Care Employee Discount.--In order to support 
recruitment and retention initiatives, the Secretary of Defense shall 
charge reduced fees for the attendance, at a military child development 
center, of the children of a child care employee as follows:
            ``(1) For the first child, no fee.
            ``(2) For each other child, a fee equal to or less than a 
        fee discounted under subsection (c).
    ``(e) Prohibition of Concurrent Discounts.--A family may not 
receive discounts under subsections (c) and (d) concurrently.''.

SEC. 203. CHILD CARE SERVICES AND YOUTH PROGRAM SERVICES FOR 
              DEPENDENTS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Secretary of Defense shall fully fund requests for financial assistance 
to eligible civilian providers of child care services or youth program 
services under section 1798 of title 10, United States Code.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--This section shall not be construed to 
limit the authority of the Secretary under subsection (a) of section 
1798 of such title to determine whether to provide such financial 
assistance to an eligible provider.

SEC. 204. BRIEFINGS ON MILITARY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

    (a) Briefings Required.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives 
briefings regarding child care services at military child development 
centers according to the following schedule:
            (1) Once every three months beginning on March 1, 2025, and 
        ending on March 1, 2026.
            (2) On March 1 of each year thereafter through 2030.
    (b) Elements.--Each briefing shall include, with regard to the 
period covered by the briefing, the following elements:
            (1) Waiting lists for such services, disaggregated by 
        military installation.
            (2) Shortages of child care employees at military child 
        development centers, disaggregated by military installation.
            (3) Insufficient capacity of military child development 
        centers, disaggregated by military installation.
            (4) Efforts of the Secretary of Defense to mitigate such 
        shortages or insufficiencies in order to shorten such waiting 
        lists.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``military child 
development center'' and ``child care employee'' have the meanings 
given such terms in section 1800 of title 10, United States Code.

                      TITLE III--MILITARY HOUSING

SEC. 301. BUDGET JUSTIFICATION FOR CERTAIN FACILITIES SUSTAINMENT, 
              RESTORATION, AND MODERNIZATION PROJECTS.

    Chapter 9 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 226 the following new section:
``Sec. 227. Budget justification for covered military unaccompanied 
              housing Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and 
              Modernization projects
    ``(a) In General.--Along with the budget for each fiscal year 
submitted by the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, 
United States Code, each Secretary of a military department shall 
include a consolidated budget justification display that individually 
identifies--
            ``(1) for the fiscal year covered by the budget, the total 
        requested expenditure for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, 
        and Modernization projects for covered military unaccompanied 
        housing, disaggregated by military department; and
            ``(2) the total expenditure for Facilities Sustainment, 
        Restoration, and Modernization projects made during the fiscal 
        year beginning two years before the fiscal year covered by the 
        budget, disagggregated by--
                    ``(A) military installation;
                    ``(B) the type of facility repaired or restored 
                under such projects;
                    ``(C) the number of such projects that were for 
                sustainment or repair of a facility; and
                    ``(D) the number of such projects that were for 
                restoration or modernization of a facility.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `covered military unaccompanied housing' has 
        the meaning given in section 2856 of this title.
            ``(2) The terms `facility' and `military installation' have 
        the meanings given, respectively, in section 2801 of this 
        title.''.

SEC. 302. DIGITAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR MILITARY 
              DEPARTMENTS.

    (a) Digital Facilities Management Systems for Military 
Departments.--
            (1) Criteria.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense 
        for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination 
        with each covered Assistant Secretary, shall develop criteria 
        for a new or established digital facilities management system 
        for each military department. Each such system shall have the 
        capability to, with respect to each military installation--
                    (A) track conditions of individual facilities, 
                applying the uniform index developed under section 2838 
                of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
                Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31), for each military 
                installation under the jurisdiction of each such 
                covered Assistant Secretary;
                    (B) plan for maintenance actions for each facility; 
                and
                    (C) generate reports that include data on--
                            (i) the type and function of each facility;
                            (ii) the overall condition of each 
                        facility;
                            (iii) planned maintenance for each facility 
                        during a 5-year period following the date of 
                        submission of the criteria;
                            (iv) conditions that may lead to a failure 
                        to maintain minimum physical security or 
                        configuration standards for members of the 
                        Armed Forces during the 12-month period 
                        following the date of submission of the 
                        criteria; and
                            (v) the date on which the facility will 
                        have been in use for 40 years.
            (2) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
        which the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, 
        Installations, and Environment develops the criteria required 
        under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall provide to 
        Congress a briefing on such criteria.
            (3) Implementation.--Not later than one year after the date 
        on which the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, 
        Installations, and Environment develops the criteria required 
        under paragraph (1), each covered Assistant Secretary shall 
        implement a digital facilities management system for the 
        military department under the jurisdiction of that meets the 
        criteria described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``covered Assistant Secretary'' means--
                    (A) the Assistant Secretary of the Army for 
                Installations, Energy, and Environment;
                    (B) the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, 
                Installations, and Environment; and
                    (C) the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for 
                Installations, Environment, and Energy.
            (2) The term ``facility'' has the meaning given in section 
        2801 of title 10, United States Code.
            (3) The term ``military department'' has the meaning given 
        in section 101 of such title.
            (4) The term ``military installation'' has the meaning 
        given in section 2801 of such title.

SEC. 303. STRATEGY FOR USE OF EXISTING LEASING AUTHORITIES TO ADDRESS 
              SHORTAGES OF COVERED MILITARY UNACCOMPANIED HOUSING 
              REQUIRED.

    (a) Strategy Required.--
            (1) In general.--Each Secretary of a military department 
        shall develop a strategy to use the authorities of such 
        Secretary, in effect as of such date, to lease real property to 
        address shortages of covered military unaccompanied housing.
            (2) Elements.--Each strategy required by paragraph (1) 
        shall include, with respect to military installations under the 
        jurisdiction of the Secretary of the military department 
        concerned--
                    (A) an identification of military installations 
                with the largest shortages of covered military 
                unaccompanied housing;
                    (B) an identification of military installations 
                where existing facilities of covered military 
                unaccompanied housing are in poor or failing condition 
                under the uniform index for evaluating the condition of 
                covered military unaccompanied housing required by 
                section 2838 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
                for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31; 10 U.S.C. note 
                prec. 2851);
                    (C) plans of such Secretary in effect as of the 
                date of the enactment of this Act to address shortages 
                of covered military unaccompanied housing or the 
                condition of facilities of covered military 
                unaccompanied housing using--
                            (i) military construction projects; or
                            (ii) facility sustainment, restoration, or 
                        modernization funds; and
                    (D) an assessment of whether the leasing authority 
                under section 2661 of title 10, United States Code, or 
                intergovernmental support agreements under section 2679 
                of such title would be suitable for use by such 
                Secretary to address--
                            (i) shortages of covered military 
                        unaccompanied housing; or
                            (ii) the poor or failing condition of a 
                        facility of covered military unaccompanied 
                        housing.
            (3) Deadline.--Each Secretary of a military department 
        shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
        that includes the strategy required by subsection (a) by not 
        later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--The following amounts are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense to carry out 
actions that may be taken pursuant to a strategy required by subsection 
(a):
            (1) $15,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Army.
            (2) $9,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Navy.
            (3) $6,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Marine 
        Corps.
            (4) $15,000,000 for Operations and Maintenance, Air Force.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``congressional defense committees'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, 
        United States Code.
            (2) The term ``covered military unaccompanied housing'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 2856 of such title.
            (3) The terms ``facility'' and ``military construction 
        project'' have the meanings given such terms in section 2801 of 
        such title.

SEC. 304. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF ESTIMATED COSTS OF CERTAIN 
              STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS SHORTAGES OF COVERED MILITARY 
              UNACCOMPANIED HOUSING.

    (a) Agreement.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter 
into an agreement with an FFRDC for an assessment that compares the 
estimated total cost to the United States during the 20-year period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act of--
            (1) the construction and maintenance of facilities of 
        covered military unaccompanied housing to address shortages in 
        covered military unaccompanied housing; and
            (2) the modification of policies of the Department of 
        Defense and each military department to permit a greater number 
        of members of the Armed Forces to reside in housing facilities 
        other than covered military unaccompanied housing (including 
        such policies relating to the payment of basic allowance for 
        housing under section 403 of title 37, United States Code).
    (b) Report on Assessment.--An FFRDC that enters into an agreement 
under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report 
on such assessment. Such report shall include--
            (1) a comprehensive review of--
                    (A) the total lifecycle costs, disaggregated by 
                each military department, of the construction, 
                sustainment, and modernization of facilities of covered 
                unaccompanied housing to meet--
                            (i) the needs for housing for members of 
                        the Armed Forces as of the date of the 
                        enactment of this Act; and
                            (ii) the projected needs for such housing 
                        during the 20-year period beginning on the date 
                        of the enactment of this Act, as determined by 
                        each Secretary concerned;
                    (B) the applicable policies of each military 
                department with respect to which members of the Armed 
                Forces are required to reside in covered military 
                unaccompanied housing; and
                    (C) for each military department, the expected 
                expenditure for basic allowance for housing under 
                section 403 of title 37, United States Code, during the 
                20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment 
                of this Act compared to such total lifecycle costs;
            (2) a summary of the research and other activities carried 
        out as part of such comprehensive review; and
            (3) recommendations of the FFRDC with respect to 
        requirements and policies of the Department of Defense and each 
        military department for covered military unaccompanied housing.
    (c) Submission to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
        which the Secretary of Defense receives the report under 
        subsection (b), such Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
        on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
        Senate a report that includes--
                    (A) an unaltered copy of the report of the FFRDC 
                submitted to the Secretary of Defense pursuant to 
                subsection (b); and
                    (B) the written responses of the Secretary of the 
                Defense and the Secretaries concerned with respect to 
                the results of such report.
            (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
        annex.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``covered military unaccompanied housing'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 2856 of title 10, United 
        States Code.
            (2) The term ``facility'' has the meaning given such term 
        in section 2801 of such title.
            (3) The term ``FFRDC'' means a federally funded research 
        and development center.

                    TITLE IV--ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

SEC. 401. TRICARE PROGRAM: WAIVER OF REFERRAL REQUIREMENT UNDER TRICARE 
              PRIME FOR CERTAIN CARE IN A MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT 
              FACILITY.

    Section 1095f(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) The Secretary shall waive the referral requirement in 
paragraph (1) in the case of a member of the Armed Forces serving on 
active duty who seeks to obtain any of the following kinds of care in a 
military medical treatment facility:
            ``(i) Physical therapy.
            ``(ii) Nutritional.
            ``(iii) Audiological.
            ``(iv) Optometric.
            ``(v) Podiatric.
            ``(vi) Primary and preventive health care services for 
        women (as such term is defined in section 1074d of this 
        title).''.

SEC. 402. REFERRAL OF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES TO A TRICARE 
              PROVIDER FOR URGENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.

    Section 722 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``If'' and inserting ``(a) In General.--
        Subject to subsection (b), if''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Urgent Behavioral Health Services.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary of Defense is unable to 
        provide urgent behavioral health services in a military medical 
        treatment facility to a covered individual during the three-day 
        period following the date on which such services are first 
        requested by the covered individual, the Secretary shall refer 
        the covered individual to a provider under the TRICARE program 
        to receive such services.
            ``(2) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term `covered individual' means--
                    ``(A) a member of the Armed Forces on active duty;
                    ``(B) a retired member of the Armed Forces;
                    ``(C) a dependent of a member described in 
                paragraph (1); or
                    ``(D) a dependent of a former member described in 
                paragraph (2).''.

SEC. 403. RETENTION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS: SURVEYS; BRIEFING; 
              REPORTS.

    (a) Surveys.--The Secretary of a military department shall conduct 
an annual survey of health care providers under the jurisdiction of 
such Secretary to determine why such providers remain on, or separate 
from, active duty in such military department.
    (b) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of a military department shall 
provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a briefing regarding the plan of such Secretary to 
carry out the survey under this section.
    (c) Reports.--Not later than September 30 of each year, beginning 
in 2025, the Secretary of a military department shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a report regarding the most recent survey under this section.
            (1) Elements.--Each report shall include the following 
        elements:
                    (A) Demographic data regarding the providers, 
                disaggregated under paragraph (2).
                    (B) Reasons providers gave for remaining.
                    (C) Reasons providers gave for separating.
                    (D) The determination of the Secretary whether 
                there is a trend regarding retention or such reasons.
                    (E) Efforts of the Secretary to reverse a negative 
                trend or encourage a positive trend.
                    (F) Legislative recommendations of the Secretary 
                regarding how to reverse a negative trend or encourage 
                a positive trend.
            (2) Demographic data.--In each report, the Secretary of a 
        military department shall disaggregate demographic data 
        regarding providers who participated in the most recent survey 
        on the bases of the following categories:
                    (A) Medical specialty.
                    (B) Rank.
                    (C) Gender.
                    (D) Years of service in such military department.
                    (E) Whether the provider became an officer on 
                active duty in such military department--
                            (i) pursuant to the Armed Forces Health 
                        Professions Scholarship and Financial 
                        Assistance program under subchapter I of 
                        chapter 105 of title 10, United States Code;
                            (ii) after graduating from the Uniformed 
                        Services University of the Health Sciences 
                        established under section 2112 of such title; 
                        or
                            (iii) otherwise.
    (d) Termination.--This section shall cease to have effect on 
September 30, 2030.

                 TITLE V--SUPPORT FOR MILITARY SPOUSES

SEC. 501. INTERSTATE COMPACTS FOR PORTABILITY OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES 
              OF MILITARY SPOUSES: PERMANENT AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 1784(h) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by striking paragraph (5).
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect as if enacted immediately following the enactment of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 
116-92), to which such amendment relates.

SEC. 502. PERMANENT MILITARY SPOUSE CAREER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Section 1784 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(i) Employment Fellowship Opportunities.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall carry out a program to provide spouses of members of the 
Armed Forces with paid fellowships with employers in various 
industries. To carry out such program, the Secretary shall take the 
following steps:
            ``(1) Enter into an agreement with an entity to conduct 
        such program.
            ``(2) Determine the appropriate capacity for the program 
        based on the availability of appropriations for such purpose.
            ``(3) Establish criteria to evaluate the effectiveness and 
        cost-effectiveness of the program in supporting the employment 
        of such spouses.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (i) of such section shall take 
effect on January 1, 2026.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The pilot program under section 564 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 
117-81; 10 U.S.C. 1784 note) shall terminate on January 1, 2026.

SEC. 503. CHILD CARE SERVICES AND YOUTH PROGRAM SERVICES FOR 
              DEPENDENTS: PERIOD OF SERVICES FOR A MEMBER WITH A SPOUSE 
              SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

    (a) Period.--The Secretary of a military department may provide a 
covered member with covered services for a period of at least 180 days.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to--
            (1) entitle a covered member to covered services; or
            (2) give priority to a covered member for purposes of a 
        determination regarding who shall receive covered services.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``covered member'' means a member of the Armed 
        Forces--
                    (A) who has a dependent child; and
                    (B) whose spouse is seeking employment.
            (2) The term ``covered services'' means child care services 
        or youth program services provided or paid for by the Secretary 
        of Defense under subchapter II of chapter 88 of title 10, 
        United States Code.
                                 <all>