[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 117 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3563-S3565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2170. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by her to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2021 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 H of title V, add the following:
SEC. 593. IMPROVEMENTS TO FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING;
PROVISION OF INFORMATION RELATING TO THE
BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
(a) Improvements to Financial Literacy Training.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (a) of section 992 of title 10,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``grade E-4'' and
inserting ``grade E-6'';
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) In carrying out the program to provide training under
this subsection, the Secretary concerned shall--
``(A) require the development of a standard curriculum
across all military departments for such training that--
``(i) focuses on ensuring that members of the armed forces
who receive such training develop proficiency in financial
literacy rather than focusing on completion of training
modules;
``(ii) is based on best practices in the financial services
industry, such as the use of a social learning approach and
the incorporation of elements of behavioral economics or
gamification; and
``(iii) is designed to address the needs of members and
their families;
``(B) ensure that such training--
``(i) is conducted by a financial services counselor who is
qualified as described in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) or
by other means as described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of that
subsection;
``(ii) is provided, to the extent practicable--
``(I) in a class held in person with fewer than 50
attendees; or
``(II) one-on-one between the member and a financial
services counselor or a qualified representative described in
subclause (III) or (IV) of subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii); and
``(iii) is provided using computer-based methods only if
methods described in clause (ii) are impractical or
unavailable;
``(C) ensure that--
``(i) an in-person class described in subparagraph
(B)(i)(I) is available to the spouse of a member; and
``(ii) if a spouse of a member is unable to attend such a
class in person--
``(I) training is available to the spouse through Military
OneSource; and
``(II) the member is informed during the in-person training
of the member under subparagraph (B)(i) with respect to how
the member's spouse can access the training;
``(D) ensure that such training, and all documents and
materials provided in relation to such training, are
presented or written in manner that the Secretary determines
can be understood by the average enlisted member.''.
(2) Qualified representatives for counseling for members
and spouses.--Subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii) of such section is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(IV) Through qualified representatives of banks or credit
unions operating on military installations pursuant to an
operating agreement with the Department of Defense or a
military department.''.
(3) Provision of retirement information.--Such section is
further amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(e) and (g), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsection (d):
``(d) Provision of Retirement Information.--In each
training under subsection (a) and in each meeting to provide
counseling under subsection (b), a member of the armed forces
shall be provided with--
``(1) all forms relating to retirement that are relevant to
the member, including with respect to the Thrift Savings
Plan;
``(2) information with respect to how to find additional
information; and
``(3) contact information for--
``(A) counselors provided through--
``(i) the Personal Financial Counselor program, the
Personal Financial Management program, or Military OneSource;
or
``(ii) nonprofit organizations or agencies that have in
effect agreements with the Department of Defense to provide
financial services counseling; or
``(B) qualified representatives of banks or credit unions
operating on military installations pursuant to an operating
agreement with the Department of Defense or a military
department.''.
(4) Advisory council on financial readiness.--Such section
is further amended by inserting after subsection (e), as
redesignated by paragraph (3)(A), the following new
subsection:
``(f) Advisory Council on Financial Readiness.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established an Advisory
Council on Financial Readiness (in this section referred to
as the `Council').
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--The Council shall consist of 12 members
appointed by the Secretary of Defense, as follows:
``(i) Three shall be representatives of military support
organizations.
``(ii) Three shall be representatives of veterans service
organizations.
``(iii) Three shall be representatives of private,
nonprofit organizations with a vested interest in education
and communication of financial education and financial
services.
``(iv) Three shall be representatives of governmental
entities with a vested interest in education and
communication of financial education and financial services.
``(B) Qualifications.--The Secretary shall appoint members
to the Council from among individuals qualified to appraise
military compensation, military retirement, and financial
literacy training.
``(C) Terms.--Members of the Council shall serve for terms
of three years, except that, of the members first appointed--
``(i) five shall be appointed for terms of one year;
``(ii) five shall be appointed for terms of two years; and
``(iii) five shall be appointed for terms of three years.
``(D) Reappointment.--A member of the Council may be
reappointed for additional terms.
``(E) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring before the expiration of the term of office for
which such member's predecessor was appointed shall be
appointed only for the remainder of such term.
``(3) Duties and functions.--The Council shall--
``(A) advise the Secretary with respect to matters relating
to the financial literacy and financial readiness of members
of the armed forces; and
[[Page S3564]]
``(B) submit to the Secretary recommendations with respect
to those matters.
``(4) Meetings.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Council
shall meet not less frequently than twice each year and at
such other times as the Secretary requests.
``(B) During election period for blended retirement
system.--During the period beginning on the date of the
enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2021 and ending at the end of the period provided
for under section 1409(b)(4) and 12739(f) to elect to be
enrolled in the Blended Retirement System, the Council shall
meet not less frequently than every 90 days.
``(C) Quorum.--A majority of members shall constitute a
quorum and action shall be taken only by a majority vote of
the members present and voting.
``(5) Support services.--The Secretary--
``(A) shall provide to the Council an executive secretary
and such secretarial, clerical, and other support services as
the Council considers necessary to carry out the duties of
the Council; and
``(B) may request that other Federal agencies provide
statistical data, reports, and other information that is
reasonably accessible to assist the Council in the
performance of the duties of the Council.
``(6) Compensation.--While away from their homes or regular
places of business in the performance of services for
Council, members of the Council shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the
same manner as persons employed intermittently in the
Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of
title 5.
``(7) Annual report.--Not less frequently than annually,
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that--
``(A) describes each recommendation received from the
Council during the preceding year; and
``(B) includes a statement, with respect to each such
recommendation, of whether the Secretary has implemented the
recommendation and, if not, a description of why the
Secretary has not implemented the recommendation.
``(8) Termination.--Section 14(a) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) (relating to termination) shall
not apply to the Council.
``(9) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Military support organization.--The term `military
support organization' means an organization that provides
support to members of the armed forces and their families
with respect to education, finances, health care, employment,
and overall well-being.
``(B) Veterans service organization.--The term `veterans
service organization' means any organization recognized by
the Secretary for the representation of veterans under
section 5902 of title 38.''.
(5) Report on effectiveness of financial services
counseling.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees (as defined in
section 101 of title 10, United States Code) a report on
financial literacy training and financial services counseling
provided under section 992 of title 10, United States Code,
as amended by this subsection, that assesses--
(A) the effectiveness of such training and counseling,
which shall be determined using actual localized data similar
to the Unit Risk Inventory Survey of the Army; and
(B) whether additional training or counseling is necessary
for enlisted members of the Armed Forces or for officers.
(b) Modifications to Lump Sum Payments of Certain Retired
Pay.--
(1) Spousal consent to lump sum payment.--Subsection (b) of
section 1415 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(7) Spousal consent for election of lump sum payment.--An
eligible person who is married may not elect to receive a
lump sum payment under this subsection without the
concurrence of the person's spouse, unless the eligible
person establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary
concerned--
``(A) that the spouse's whereabouts cannot be determined;
or
``(B) that, due to exceptional circumstances, requiring the
person to seek the spouse's consent would otherwise be
inappropriate.''.
(2) Disclosures relating to offer of lump sum payment.--
Such section is further amended--
(A) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new
subsections:
``(e) Disclosures Relating to Offer of Lump Sum Payment.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days before offering
an eligible person a partial or full lump sum payment under
this section, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a notice
to the person, and the person's spouse, if married, that
includes the following:
``(A) A description of the available retirement benefit
options, including--
``(i) the monthly covered retired pay that the person would
receive after the person attains retirement age if the person
is not already receiving such pay;
``(ii) the monthly covered retired pay that the person
would receive if payments begin immediately; and
``(iii) the amount of the lump sum payment the person would
receive if the person elects to receive the lump sum payment.
``(B) An explanation of how the amount of the lump sum
payment was calculated, including the interest rate and
mortality assumptions used in the calculation, and whether
any additional benefits were included in the amount.
``(C) A description of how the option to take the lump sum
payment compares to the value of the covered retired pay the
person would receive if the person elected not to take the
lump sum payment.
``(D) A statement of whether, by purchasing a commercially
available annuity using the lump sum payment, it would be
possible to replicate the stream of payments the person would
receive if the person elected not to take the lump sum
payment.
``(E) A description of the potential implications of
accepting the lump sum payment, including possible benefits
and reductions in such benefits, investment risks, longevity
risks, and loss of protection from creditors.
``(F) A description of the tax implications of accepting
the lump sum payment, including rollover options, early
distribution penalties, and associated tax liabilities.
``(G) Instructions for how to accept or reject the offer of
the lump sum payment and the date by which the person is
required to accept or reject the offer.
``(H) Contact information for the person to obtain more
information or ask questions about the option to accept the
lump sum payment, including the opportunity for a one-on-one
meeting with a counselor provided through the Personal
Financial Counselor program or the Personal Financial
Management program.
``(I) A statement that--
``(i) financial advisers (other than financial services
counselors provided through the Personal Financial Counselor
program or the Personal Financial Management program) may not
be required to act in the best interests of the person or the
person's beneficiaries with respect to determining whether to
take the lump sum payment; and
``(ii) if the person or a beneficiary of the person is
seeking financial advice from a financial adviser not
affiliated with the armed forces, the person or beneficiary
should obtain written confirmation that the adviser is acting
as a fiduciary to the person or beneficiary.
``(J) Such other information as the Secretary considers to
be necessary or relevant.
``(2) Form.--The Secretary shall ensure that any notice
provided to an eligible person under paragraph (1)--
``(A) is written in manner that the Secretary determines
can be understood by the average enlisted member of the armed
forces; and
``(B) is presented in a manner that is not biased for or
against acceptance of the offer of the lump sum payment.
``(f) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense
committees report that--
``(1) sets forth the number of members of the armed forces
who take a partial or full lump sum payment under this
section; and
``(2) describes the details of the arrangements relating to
taking such a payment, including--
``(A) whether members have taken a partial lump sum payment
in exchange for reduced future benefits;
``(B) whether members have taken a full lump sum payment;
and
``(C) information relating to the members who have taken a
partial or full lump sum payment, such as the age and rank of
such members.''.
(c) Additional Election Period for Blended Retirement
System.--
(1) Additional election period for members of uniformed
services.--Section 1409(b)(4) of title 10, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following new subparagraph (A):
``(A) Reduced multiplier for full tsp members.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraphs (1), (2), and
(3), in the case of a member described in clause (ii)
(referred to as a `full TSP member')--
``(I) paragraph (1)(A) shall be applied by substituting `2'
for `2\1/2\';
``(II) clause (i) of paragraph (3)(B) shall be applied by
substituting `60 percent' for `75 percent'; and
``(III) clause (ii)(I) of such paragraph shall be applied
by substituting `2' for `2\1/2\'.
``(ii) Full tsp members.--A member described in this clause
is--
``(I) a member who first becomes a member of the uniformed
services on or after January 1, 2018;
``(II) a member described in subparagraph (B) who makes the
election described in that subparagraph; or
``(III) a member who made the election described in
subparagraph (B), as in effect on the day before the date of
the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2021.'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following new subparagraph (B):
``(B) Election to participate in modernized retirement
system.--Pursuant to subparagraph (C), a member of a
uniformed service serving on December 31, 2017, who has
served in the uniformed services for fewer than 12 years as
of the date selected by the Secretary of Defense under
subparagraph
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(C)(i)(I), may elect, in exchange for the reduced multipliers
described in subparagraph (A) for purposes of calculating the
retired pay of the member, to receive Thrift Savings Plan
contributions pursuant to section 8440e(e) of title 5.'';
(C) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``the period'' and
all that follows and inserting that following: ``the period
that--
``(I) begins on a date selected by the Secretary of
Defense, which--
``(aa) may be not earlier than the date that is one year
after date of the enactment of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and not later than
the date that is two years after such date of enactment; and
``(bb) shall be the same as the date selected under section
12739(f)(2)(B)(i)(I)(aa); and
``(II) ends on the date that is 180 days after the date
selected under subclause (I).'';
(D) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F);
and
(E) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraph (E):
``(E) Special rules relating second election period.--The
Secretary concerned shall--
``(i) to the extent practicable, provide to each member
described in subparagraph (B) (and the member's spouse, if
married)--
``(I) a class, to be held in person and with fewer than 50
attendees, on the Blended Retirement System and the
differences between that system and the predecessor
retirement system; and
``(II) financial counseling described in section 992(b)
focused on the suitability of the Blended Retirement System
in the context of the member's personal circumstances;
``(ii) require each such member to make the election
described in subparagraph (B) or decline to make that
election;
``(iii) document the decision of the member under clause
(ii) in a statement that describes the features of the
Blended Retirement System and of the predecessor retirement
system; and
``(iv) have the member (and the member's spouse, if
married) sign the statement described in clause (iii) to
acknowledge understanding of those features.''.
(2) Additional election period for members of reserve
components.--Section 12739(f) of title 10, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following
new paragraph (1):
``(1) Reduced multiplier for full tsp members.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (a) or (c),
in the case of a person described in subparagraph (B)
(referred to as a `full TSP member')--
``(i) subsection (a)(2) shall be applied by substituting `2
percent' for `2\1/2\ percent';
``(ii) subparagraph (A) of subsection (c)(2) shall be
applied by substituting `60 percent' for `75 percent'; and
``(iii) subparagraph (B)(ii) of such subsection shall be
applied by substituting `2 percent' for `2\1/2\ percent'.
``(B) Full tsp members.--A person described in this
subparagraph is--
``(i) a person who first performs reserve component service
on or after January 1, 2018, after not having performed
regular or reserve component service on or before that date;
``(ii) a person described in paragraph (2)(A) who makes the
election described in that paragraph; or
``(iii) a person who made the election described in
paragraph (2)(A), as in effect on the day before the date of
the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2021.'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following new subparagraph (A):
``(A) In general.--Pursuant to subparagraph (B), a person
performing reserve component service on December 31, 2017,
who has performed fewer than 12 years of service as of the
date selected by the Secretary of Defense under subparagraph
(B)(i)(I) (as computed in accordance with section 12733 of
this title), may elect, in exchange for the reduced
multipliers described in paragraph (1) for purposes of
calculating the retired pay of the person, to receive Thrift
Savings Plan contributions pursuant to section 8440e(e) of
title 5.'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``the period'' and
all that follows and inserting that following: ``the period
that--
``(I) begins on a date selected by the Secretary of
Defense, which--
``(aa) may be not earlier than the date that is one year
after date of the enactment of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and not later than
the date that is two years after such date of enactment; and
``(bb) shall be the same as the date selected under section
1409(b)(4)(C)(i)(I)(aa); and
``(II) ends on the date that is 180 days after the date
selected under subclause (I).'';
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new
paragraph (3):
``(3) Special rules relating second election period.--The
Secretary concerned shall--
``(A) to the extent practicable, provide to each person
described in paragraph (2)(A) (and the person's spouse, if
married)--
``(i) a class, to be held in person and with fewer than 50
attendees, on the Blended Retirement System and the
differences between that system and the predecessor
retirement system; and
``(ii) financial counseling described in section 992(b)
focused on the suitability of the Blended Retirement System
in the context of the person's personal circumstances;
``(B) require each such person to make the election
described in paragraph (2)(A) or decline to make that
election;
``(C) document the decision of the member under
subparagraph (B) in a statement that describes the features
of the Blended Retirement System and of the predecessor
retirement system; and
``(D) have the member (and the member's spouse, if married)
sign the statement described in subparagraph (C) to
acknowledge understanding of those features.''.
(3) Conforming amendment.--Section 8440(e)(1) of title 5,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; or'' and inserting
a semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ``has'' and inserting
``had'';
(ii) by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following
new clause (iii):
``(iii) made the election described in section
1409(b)(4)(B) or 12729(f)(2) of title 10, as in effect before
the date of the enactment of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, to receive Thrift
Savings Plan contributions under this subsection in exchange
for the reduced multipliers described in section
1409(b)(4)(A) or 12739(f)(1) of title 10, as applicable and
so in effect, for purposes of calculating the retired pay of
the member; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) who--
``(i) first entered a uniformed service before January 1,
2018;
``(ii) has completed fewer than 12 years of service in the
uniformed services as of the date selected by the Secretary
of Defense under sections 1409(b)(4)(C)(i)(I)(aa) and
12739(f)(2)(B)(i)(I)(aa); and
``(iii) makes the election described in section
1409(b)(4)(B) or 12729(f)(2) of title 10 to receive Thrift
Savings Plan contributions under this subsection in exchange
for the reduced multipliers described in section
1409(b)(4)(A) or 12739(f)(1) of title 10, as applicable, for
purposes of calculating the retired pay of the member.''.
(4) Training of certain officers.--The Secretary of Defense
shall ensure that each member of the armed forces in pay
grade E-9 or below or in pay grade O-6 or below receives
training with respect to the features of the Blended
Retirement System, without regard to whether the members is
eligible to make an election between the Blended Retirement
System and the predecessor retirement system, so that member
is able to answer the questions of other members if
necessary.
(d) Report on Improved Access to Thrift Savings Plan.--Not
later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board shall
submit to Congress a plan for improving the access of members
of the Armed Forces to information about the Thrift Savings
Plan that--
(1) takes into account the time likely to pass between the
mailing of account information to a member of the Armed
Forces and the time the member is likely to receive the
information; and
(2) makes recommendations for statutory changes necessary
to improve such access.
(e) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense may prescribe
such regulations as are necessary to carry out the amendments
made by this section.
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