[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4474 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4474

   To designate a senior official responsible for the management and 
 oversight of all programs and activities of the Department of Defense 
related to the transition of members of the Armed Forces to civilian or 
                reserve status, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 30, 2026

  Mr. Ossoff (for himself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following 
   bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To designate a senior official responsible for the management and 
 oversight of all programs and activities of the Department of Defense 
related to the transition of members of the Armed Forces to civilian or 
                reserve status, 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 Civilian Transition 
Support Act''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF SENIOR OFFICIAL FOR MILITARY TO CIVILIAN OR 
              RESERVE TRANSITION.

    (a) Designation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for 
        Personnel and Readiness shall designate a senior official of 
        the Department of Defense to oversee policy and programs 
        related to the transition of members of the Armed Forces from 
        active duty to--
                    (A) civilian life; or
                    (B) reserve components.
            (2) Qualifications.--The official designated under 
        paragraph (1) shall be designated from among individuals with--
                    (A) extensive experience with veterans services; 
                and
                    (B) knowledge of the transition from active duty 
                to--
                            (i) civilian life; and
                            (ii) reserve components.
    (b) Role, Responsibility, and Authority.--
            (1) In general.--The Under Secretary of Defense for 
        Personnel and Readiness, in consultation with the Secretary of 
        Defense, shall prescribe the roles, responsibilities, and 
        authorities of the official designated under subsection (a)(1).
            (2) Roles, responsibilities, and authorities required.--The 
        roles, responsibilities, and authorities prescribed pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the transition of 
        members of the Armed Forces and their families from active duty 
        to civilian life and reserve components--
                    (A) serving as the principal advisor to the 
                Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, 
                and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
                Readiness on policies, operations, and programs and 
                activities relating to the transition of members;
                    (B) assisting the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy 
                Secretary of Defense, and the Under Secretary of 
                Defense for Personnel and Readiness with policies, 
                operations, and programs and activities relating to the 
                transition of members;
                    (C) working, in coordination with the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, and the 
                Secretary of Education, to improve the efficiency and 
                effectiveness of all activities relating to the 
                transition of members;
                    (D) serving as the chief transition officer of the 
                Department of Defense, with the mission of coordinating 
                and overseeing the effectiveness of transition programs 
                of the Department of Defense and ensuring all members 
                of the Armed Forces are well equipped for civilian life 
                or the reserve components, as the case may be;
                    (E) overseeing the Military-Civilian Transition 
                Office and the implementation of transition programs 
                across the Department of Defense;
                    (F) conducting a review and assessment of all 
                transition programs and services offered by the 
                Department of Defense, including the Transition 
                Assistance Program and Skillbridge Program, and 
                proposing legislative or administrative action--
                            (i) to improve the efficacy and efficiency 
                        of the programs; and
                            (ii) to ensure compliance with all legal 
                        requirements related to transition assistance; 
                        and
                    (G) working with Federal agencies, State and local 
                governments, and nongovernmental organizations to 
                improve the delivery of transition support services.
    (c) Briefing on Designation and Implementation.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense 
committees (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) 
on--
            (1) the status of the designation of the official under 
        subsection (a); and
            (2) the implementation of the roles, responsibilities, and 
        authorities of the official under subsection (b).
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