[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 96 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2599. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2282 submitted by Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. 
McCain) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 5515, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2019 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; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle A of title XI, add the following:

     SEC. 1107. REPORT ON CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED VACANCIES IN 
                   CIVILIAN POSITIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
                   IN ALASKA.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
     shall, in consultation with the Secretary of the Army and the 
     Secretary of the Air Force, submit to the Committees on Armed 
     Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
     report on current and anticipated vacancies in civilian 
     positions of the Department of Defense in Alaska.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) A description of current vacancies in civilian 
     positions of the Department in Alaska, and an assessment of 
     currently anticipated vacancies in such positions.
       (2) An assessment of the current and anticipated timeliness 
     and efficiency of the Department in filling vacancies in 
     civilian positions of the Department in Alaska, including 
     with respect to the following:
       (A) Positions in connection with new missions in Alaska.
       (B) Positions within components of the Defense Health 
     Agency.
       (3) A description of the authorities, if any, available to 
     the Department to accelerate the recruitment, assessment, and 
     employment of candidates in civilian positions of the 
     Department in Alaska, including so-called ``direct hire 
     authority''.
       (4) A description and assessment of any impediments to the 
     timely and efficient filling of vacancies in civilian 
     positions of the Department in Alaska.
       (5) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense 
     considers appropriate for legislative or administrative 
     action to improve the timely and efficient filling of 
     vacancies in civilian positions of the Department in Alaska, 
     including an expansion of so-called ``direct hire authority'' 
     for that purpose.
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