[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 199 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8248-S8249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4668. Mr. CRUZ (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. 
Coons, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Lujan, Ms. Baldwin, 
Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Hickenlooper) submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. Reed and intended to be 
proposed to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2022 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 E of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 576. PROHIBITION ON LIMITING OF CERTAIN PARENTAL 
                   GUARDIANSHIP RIGHTS OF CADETS AND MIDSHIPMEN.

       (a) Prohibition.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Transportation, in 
     consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments 
     and the Superintendent of each Federal service academy, as 
     appropriate, shall prescribe in regulations policies that 
     include the option to preserve parental guardianship

[[Page S8249]]

     rights of cadets and midshipmen are protected consistent with 
     individual and academic responsibilities.
       (2) Development of policy to protect parental rights.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall implement a policy that includes the 
     option to preserve the parental rights of Federal service 
     academy students who become pregnant or father a child while 
     attending a Federal service academy.
       (B) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall submit to the congressional defense 
     committees a report on the legislative changes needed to 
     support the policy developed pursuant to paragraph (1).
       (3) Options for pregnant cadets and midshipmen.--The 
     regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall provide that 
     females who become pregnant while enrolled at a Federal 
     service academy shall have, at a minimum, the following 
     options to be elected by the cadet or midshipman:
       (A) At the conclusion of the current semester or when 
     otherwise deemed medically appropriate, the individual may 
     take an unpaid leave of absence from the Federal service 
     academy for up to one year followed by a return to full cadet 
     or midshipman status (if remaining otherwise qualified).
       (B) Seek a transfer to a university with a Reserve Officer 
     Training Program for military service under the military 
     department concerned.
       (C) Full release from the Federal service academy and any 
     service or financially related obligations, regardless of 
     commitment status.
       (D) Enlistment in military active-duty service, with all of 
     the attendant benefits.
       (4) Treatment of males who father a child while enrolled at 
     a federal service academy.--The regulations prescribed under 
     paragraph (1) shall provide for the following policies 
     regarding males who may father a child while enrolled at a 
     Federal service academy:
       (A) Academy leadership shall establish policies to allow 
     cadets and midshipmen at least two weeks of leave to attend 
     the birth, which must be used in conjunction with the birth; 
     and
       (B) The academy shall provide the father the same options 
     available to a cadet or midshipman who becomes a mother while 
     enrolled by selecting one of the options outlined in 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (3).
       (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed as requiring or providing for the changing of 
     admission requirements at any of the Federal service 
     academies.
       (c) Federal Service Academy Defined.--In this section, the 
     term ``Federal service academy'' means the following:
       (1) The United States Military Academy, West Point, New 
     York.
       (2) The United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
       (3) The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, 
     Colorado.
       (4) The United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, 
     Connecticut.
       (5) The United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, 
     New York.
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