[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S3529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2068. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for Technology
and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to establish a
regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and report on
economic security, science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and
job creation, to establish a critical supply chain resiliency program,
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. FEDERAL PERSONNEL ISSUES.
(a) New Occupational Series for Digital Career Fields.--Not
later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Office of Personnel Management shall, under section 5105
of title 5, United States Code, establish--
(1) not less than 1 new occupational series, and associated
policies, covering positions in the fields of software
development, software engineering, and knowledge management;
and
(2) a new occupational series, and associated policies,
covering positions in the field of artificial intelligence.
(b) Military Career Fields for Software Development, Data
Science, and Artificial Intelligence.--Section 230 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
(Public Law 116-92) is amended by adding the following new
subsection:
``(d) Military Career Fields.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date
of the enactment of this subsection, the Chief of Staff of
the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff
of the Air Force, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (in
this subsection collectively referred to as the `Service
Chiefs') shall each establish new military career fields for
software development, data science, and artificial
intelligence that are open to commissioned officers, enlisted
personnel, and, as appropriate, warrant officers.
``(2) Technical career paths.--The Service Chiefs shall use
the authorities provided in section 605 of title 10, United
States Code, and subchapter VI of chapter 36 of such title to
ensure that military personnel in the career fields
established under paragraph (1) who choose to specialize and
focus on technical skill sets rather than pursue leadership
positions are not required to move outside their specialties
or into management positions to continue to promote.''.
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