[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2297 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2297

  To improve the provision of benefits and services to members of the 
    Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 13, 2023

  Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To improve the provision of benefits and services to members of the 
    Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, 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 ``Parity for Public Health Service 
Ready Reserve Act''.

SEC. 2. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE READY RESERVE CORPS (PHS RRC).

    (a) Establishment.--Section 10141 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``in each armed force'' 
        and inserting ``in each uniformed service''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), striking ``the same for all armed 
        forces'' and inserting ``the same for all reserve components of 
        the uniformed services''.
    (b) Organization and Unit Structure.--Section 10143(b) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and the Public Health Service 
                Ready Reserve Corps'' after ``other than the Coast 
                Guard''; and
                    (B) by striking ``war plans; and'' and inserting 
                ``war plans;'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) in the case of the Public Health Service Ready 
        Reserve Corps, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        upon the recommendation of the Assistant Secretary for 
        Health.''.
    (c) Placement in Ready Reserves.--Section 10145(a) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``Ready Reserve of his armed 
force for his prescribed term of service, unless he is transferred'' 
and inserting ``Ready Reserve of the reserve component of the member's 
uniformed service for his or her prescribed term of service, unless 
such member is transferred''.
    (d) Standby Reserves.--
            (1) Transfers to.--Section 10146 of title 10, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and the 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to 
                Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps'' after 
                ``operating as a service in the Navy''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b), by inserting ``or the 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services, as the case may 
                be,'' after ``prescribed by the Secretary concerned''.
            (2) Transfers from.--Section 10150 of title 10, United 
        States Code, is amended by inserting ``and the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services with respect to Public Health Service 
        Ready Reserve Corps'' after ``operating as a service in the 
        Navy''.
            (3) Training requirements.--Section 10147(a) of title 10, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``in an armed force'' and inserting 
                ``in a uniformed service''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services with respect to Public Health Service 
                Ready Reserve Corps'' after ``operating as a service in 
                the Navy''.
            (4) Failure to satisfactorily perform prescribed 
        training.--Section 10148(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
        amended by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services with respect to Public Health Service Ready Reserve 
        Corps'' after ``Secretary of Defense''.
    (e) Inactive Status List.--Section 10152 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``armed force'' and inserting ``uniformed 
service''.
    (f) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Authorized end strength of the ready reserves of the 
        armed forces.--Section 10142 of title 10, United States Code, 
        is amended by inserting ``of the armed forces'' after ``Ready 
        Reserve'' both places it appears.
            (2) Continuous screening provisions applicable to armed 
        forces.--Section 10149 of title 10, United States Code, is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or, in the 
                case of the Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps, 
                the Secretary of Health and Human Services,'' after 
                ``Secretary concerned''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``or, in 
                the case of a Member of Congress who also is a member 
                of the Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps, the 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services'' after 
                ``operating as a service in the Navy''.
            (3) Composition of standby reserves of armed forces.--
        Section 10151 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
        inserting ``of the armed forces'' after ``The Standby 
        Reserve''.

SEC. 3. DUAL COMPENSATION PARITY FOR READY RESERVE CORPS OF THE PUBLIC 
              HEALTH SERVICE.

    (a) Dual Employment.--Section 5534 of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``, a member of the Ready Reserve Corps of 
        the Public Health Service,'' after ``armed forces''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, member of the Ready Reserve Corps,'' 
        after ``allowances as a Reserve''.
    (b) Uniformed Service Leave.--
            (1) In general.--Section 6323 of title 5, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in the section heading, by striking ``Military 
                leave; Reserves and National Guardsmen'' and inserting 
                ``Uniformed services leave'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1)--
                                    (I) by striking ``or the National 
                                Guard'' and inserting the following: 
                                ``the National Guard''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``, or the Ready 
                                Reserve Corps of the Public Health 
                                Service'' after ``of title 32''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2)--
                                    (I) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by 
                                striking ``or'' at the end;
                                    (II) in subparagraph (B), by 
                                inserting ``or'' after the semicolon at 
                                the end; and
                                    (III) by inserting after 
                                subparagraph (B) the following:
            ``(C) in the case of a member of the Ready Reserve Corps of 
        the Public Health Service, performs services as a result of a 
        deployment to respond to an urgent or emergency public health 
        need, as defined in section 203A(a) of the Public Health 
        Service Act (42 U.S.C. 204a(a));''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e)(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an employee 
as defined by section 2105 of this title or an individual employed by 
the government of the District of Columbia is entitled to leave without 
loss in pay, time, or performance or efficiency rating for active duty 
or inactive-duty training (as defined in section 101 of title 37) as a 
member of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. Leave 
under this subsection accrues for an employee or individual at the rate 
of 15 days per fiscal year and, to the extent that it is not used in a 
fiscal year, accumulates for use in the succeeding fiscal year until it 
totals 15 days at the beginning of a fiscal year.
    ``(2) In the case of an employee or individual employed on a part-
time career employment basis (as defined in section 3401(2) of this 
title), the rate at which leave accrues under this subsection shall be 
a percentage of the rate prescribed under paragraph (1) which is 
determined by dividing 40 into the number of hours in the regularly 
scheduled workweek of that employee or individual during that fiscal 
year.
    ``(3) The minimum charge for leave under this subsection is one 
hour, and additional charges are in multiples thereof.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for 
        chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
        striking the item relating to section 6323 and inserting the 
        following:

``6323. Uniformed services leave.''.

SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE UNIFORMED 
              SERVICES.

    (a) Clarification.--Section 3301(1) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(D) In the case of members of the regular 
                components of the Commissioned Corps of the Public 
                Health Service, the meaning given such term in section 
                101(21)(B).
                    ``(E) In the case of members of the reserve 
                component of the Commissioned Corps of the Public 
                Health Service, service on active duty under a call or 
                order to active duty under subparagraph (B), (C), or 
                (D) of section 203(c)(2) of the Public Health Service 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 204(c)(2)) or section 216 of such Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 217).''.
    (b) Additional Clarification.--Section 3311 of such title is 
amended--
            (1) in the section heading by striking ``in the Armed 
        Forces'' and inserting ``in the uniformed services'';
            (2) in subsection (b), in paragraphs (1) through (11), by 
        striking ``Armed Forces'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``uniformed services'';
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``Armed Forces'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``uniformed services'';
            (4) in subsection (d)(3)(A), by striking ``Armed Forces'' 
        and inserting ``uniformed services''; and
            (5) in subsection (f)(4)(B)(ii), by striking ``Armed 
        Forces'' and inserting ``uniformed services''.
    (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall apply with respect to service occurring on or after March 27, 
2020.
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 33 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 3311 and inserting the following new item:

``3311. Educational assistance for service in the uniformed services 
                            commencing on or after September 11, 2001: 
                            entitlement.''.
    (e) Technical Correction.--Section 101 of such title is amended, in 
paragraphs (21) through (23), by striking ``Reserve Corps of the Public 
Health Service'' each place it appears and inserting ``Ready Reserve 
Corps of the Public Health Service''.

SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THE 
              PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE READY RESERVE CORPS.

    (a) In General.--Section 16131 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``each military department'' and 
                inserting ``the reserve component of that Secretary's 
                uniformed service'';
                    (B) by striking ``and'' after ``Secretary of 
                Defense,'';
                    (C) by inserting ``, and the Secretary of Health 
                and Human Services with respect to the Public Health 
                Service Ready Reserve Corps,'' after ``Navy''; and
                    (D) by striking ``of the armed forces under the 
                jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned'' and inserting 
                ``of the uniformed services under the jurisdiction of 
                such Secretary'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``or the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services, as the case may be'' after 
        ``Secretary concerned'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(3)(B)(i), by inserting ``or section 
        203 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 204(a)(4))'' 
        after ``of this title'';
            (4) in subsection (g)(2)(A), by inserting ``or the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services, as the case may be'' 
        after ``Secretary concerned''; and
            (5) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary 
                of Defense'' each place it appears; and
                    (B) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary 
                concerned'' each place it appears.
    (b) Eligibility.--Section 16132(c) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary of Defense''.
    (c) Authority To Transfer Unused Education Benefits to Family 
Members.--Section 16132a of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services, as the case may be,'' after 
        ``Secretary concerned'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``member of the armed 
        forces'' and inserting ``member of the reserve component of 
        such member's uniformed service'';
            (3) in subsection (d), by inserting ``and the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services'' after ``Secretary of Defense'';
            (4) in subsection (f)(2), by inserting ``or the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services, as the case may be,'' after 
        ``Secretary concerned'';
            (5) in subsection (g), by striking ``armed forces'' and 
        inserting ``uniformed services'' both places it appears;
            (6) in subsection (h)(5)(B)--
                    (A) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary 
                concerned''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``or a member of the Public Health 
                Service Commissioned Corps, as the case may be'' after 
                ``enlisted member''; and
            (7) in subsection (j), by inserting ``and the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services'' after ``Secretary of Defense''.
    (d) Failure To Participate Satisfactorily; Penalties.--Section 
16135(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, as the case may be'' after ``Secretary concerned''; 
        and
            (2) by striking ``of an armed force'' and inserting ``of a 
        uniformed service''.
    (e) Administration of the Program.--Section 16136(a) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and by the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security'' and inserting ``by the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, and by the Secretary of Health and Human Services''; 
        and
            (2) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary concerned''.
    (f) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsections (a) through 
(e) shall apply with respect to service occurring on or after March 27, 
2020.

SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.

    (a) In General.--Section 221(a) of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 213a(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(22) Chapter 40, Leave, except that section 701(b) shall 
        be applied and administered by substituting `120 days' leave' 
        for `60 days' leave'.
            ``(23) Section 982, Members: service on State and local 
        juries.
            ``(24) Section 1145, Health benefits.
            ``(25) Section 1076a, TRICARE dental program.
            ``(26) Section 1076d, TRICARE program: TRICARE Reserve 
        Select coverage for members of the Selected Reserve.
            ``(27) Section 1076e, TRICARE program: TRICARE Retired 
        Reserve coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve who 
        are qualified for a non-regular retirement but are not yet age 
        60.
            ``(28) Section 1057, Use of armed forces insignia on State 
        license plates.
            ``(29) Section 1094, Licensure requirement for health-care 
        professionals.
            ``(30) Section 987, Terms of consumer credit extended to 
        members and dependents: limitations.
            ``(31) Section 1074, Medical and dental care for members 
        and certain former members.
            ``(32) Section 1074a, Medical and dental care: members on 
        duty other than active duty for a period of more than 30 
        days.''.
    (b) Repeal.--Section 219 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 210-1) is repealed.

SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF RESERVE FORCES POLICY BOARD TO INCLUDE 
              REPRESENTATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.

    Section 10301(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``20 
        members'' and inserting ``21 members''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(9) One active or retired officer of the Ready Reserve 
        Corps of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps or one 
        civilian, appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services.''.

SEC. 8. FUNDING OF READY RESERVE CORPS.

    Section 203(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 204(d)) 
is amended by striking ``$12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 
through 2014'' and inserting ``$13,600,000 for each of fiscal years 
2024 and 2025''.
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