[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5305-S5307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 5823. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe)
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 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 title VI, add the following:
Subtitle E--Don Young Arctic Warrior Act
SEC. 641. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Don Young Arctic
Warrior Act''.
SEC. 642. SPECIAL PAY AND ALLOWANCES FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES ASSIGNED TO COLD WEATHER
OPERATIONS.
(a) Special Pay.--
(1) Establishment.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 37,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 336
the following new section:
``Sec. 337. Special pay: members of the armed forces assigned
to cold weather operations
``(a) Special Pay Authorized.--The Secretary concerned
shall pay monthly special pay (to be known as `arctic pay')
to a member of the armed forces--
``(1) assigned to perform cold weather operations; or
``(2) required to maintain proficiency through frequent
operations in cold weather.
``(b) Amount of Pay.--Special pay under this section shall
equal $300 per month.
``(c) Relationship to Other Pay or Allowances.--Special pay
under this section is in addition to any other pay or
allowance to which a member is entitled.
``(d) Sunset.--No special pay may be paid under this
section after December 31, 2023.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 336 the following:
``337. Special pay: members of the armed forces assigned to cold
weather operations.''.
(3) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe
regulations for the payment of arctic pay under section 337
of such title, as added by paragraph (1).
(b) Allowance for Broadband.--
(1) Establishment.--Chapter 7 of title 37, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 425 the following
new section:
``Sec. 426. Allowance for broadband for certain members of
the armed forces assigned to permanent duty stations in
Alaska
``(a) Allowance Authorized.--The Secretary concerned shall
pay, to a member of the armed forces in the grade of E-5 or
below who is assigned to a permanent duty station in Alaska,
a monthly allowance for broadband.
``(b) Amount.--The monthly allowance to a member under this
section shall be--
``(1) $125 during calendar year 2023; and
``(2) in subsequent calendar years, an amount determined by
the Secretary of Defense based on the difference between the
average costs of unlimited broadband plans in Alaska and in
the continental United States.
``(c) Sunset.--No allowance may be paid under this section
after December 31, 2028.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 425 the following:
``426. Allowance for broadband for certain members of the armed forces
assigned to permanent duty stations in Alaska.''.
(3) Effective date.--Section 426 of such title, as added by
paragraph (1), shall take effect on the day the Secretary of
Defense prescribes regulations under paragraph (4).
(4) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
prescribe regulations to carry out section 426 of such title,
as added by paragraph (1).
(5) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2027, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
report containing--
(A) the evaluation of the Secretary of the allowance under
section 426 of such title, as added by paragraph (1); and
(B) any recommendation of the Secretary regarding whether
such allowance should be amended, extended, or made
permanent.
(c) Travel and Transportation Allowance.--
(1) Entitlement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
prescribe regulations and guidance to provide a member of the
Armed Forces in the grade of E-5 or below who is assigned to
a permanent duty station in Alaska to a one-time allowance
for air travel for the member and dependents of such member.
(2) Amounts.--
(A) Travel to permanent residence.--If the air travel for
which an allowance under paragraph (1) is paid to a member is
to the permanent residence of the member, the amount of the
allowance shall equal the total costs of such air travel.
(B) Travel to other destinations.--If the air travel for
which an allowance under paragraph (1) is paid to a member is
to a destination in the United States other than the
permanent residence of the member, the amount of the
allowance shall be equal to the lesser of the following:
(i) The rate for such air travel under the City Pair
Program of the General Services Administration (or successor
program) in effect at the time of such air travel.
(ii) The actual costs of such air travel.
(3) Timing.--Air travel for which an allowance under
paragraph (1) is paid to a member may not commence later than
30 months after the member is assigned to a permanent duty
station in Alaska.
(4) Additional authorization.--The Secretary concerned (as
defined in section 101 of title 37, United States Code) may
authorize an additional allowance for a member who has used
the allowance to which such member is entitled under
paragraph (1).
SEC. 643. PILOT PROGRAM ON CAR SHARING ON REMOTE MILITARY
INSTALLATIONS.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
carry out a pilot program to allow car sharing at military
installations in Alaska.
(b) Program Elements.--To carry out the pilot program under
this section, the Secretary shall take steps including the
following:
(1) Seek to enter into an agreement with an entity that--
(A) provides car sharing services; and
(B) is capable of serving all military installations in
Alaska.
(2) Provide to members assigned to such installations the
resources the Secretary determines necessary to participate
in such pilot program.
(3) Promote such pilot program to such members.
(c) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the
date the Secretary enters into an agreement under subsection
(b)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional
defense committees an implementation plan established to
carry out the pilot program.
(d) Duration.--the pilot program under this section shall
terminate two years after the Secretary commences such pilot
program.
(e) Report.--Upon the termination of the pilot program
under this section, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
the congressional defense committees a report containing the
following information:
(1) The number of individuals who used car sharing services
offered pursuant to the pilot program.
(2) The cost to the Department of Defense of the pilot
program.
(3) An analysis of the effect of the pilot program on
mental health and community connectedness of members
described in subsection (b)(2).
(4) Other information the Secretary determines appropriate.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Congressional defense committees.--The term
``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given
that term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
(2) Military installation.--The term ``military
installation'' has the meaning given that term in section
2801 of title 10, United States Code.
SEC. 644. CLARIFICATION REGARDING LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR
PROVISION OF NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES BY
CERTAIN HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS.
Section 1094 of title 10, United States Code is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ``, including by
providing non-medical counseling services in connection with
such practice,'' after ``the health profession or professions
of the health-care professional''; and
(2) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(3) The term `non-medical counseling'--
``(A) means short-term, non-therapeutic counseling that is
not an appropriate substitute for individuals in need of
clinical therapy; and
``(B) includes counseling that is supportive in nature and
addresses issues such as general conditions of living, life
skills, improving relationships at home and at work, stress
management, adjustment issues (such as those related to
returning from a deployment), marital problems, parenting,
and grief and loss.''.
SEC. 645. IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE
AVAILABLE UNDER MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM.
(a) Expansion of Certain Behavioral Health Programs at the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.--
(1) Establishment of graduate programs.--The Secretary of
Defense shall establish graduate degree-granting programs in
counseling and social work at the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences.
(2) Expansion of clinical psychology graduate program.--The
Secretary of Defense shall take such steps as may be
necessary to expand the clinical psychology
[[Page S5306]]
graduate program of the Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences.
(3) Post-award employment obligation.--
(A) Agreement with secretary.--Subject to subparagraph (B),
as a condition of enrolling in a degree-granting program in
clinical psychology, social work, or counseling at the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a
civilian student shall enter into an agreement with the
Secretary of Defense pursuant to which the student agrees
that, if the student does not become a member of a uniformed
service upon graduating such program, the student shall work
on a full-time basis as a covered civilian behavioral health
provider for a period that is at least equivalent to the
period during which the student was enrolled in such program.
(B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement entered into
pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include such other terms and
conditions as the Secretary of Defense may determine
necessary to protect the interests of the United States or
otherwise appropriate for purposes of this section, including
terms and conditions providing for limited exceptions from
the employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
(C) Repayment.--
(i) In general.--A civilian graduate who does not complete
the employment obligation required under the agreement
entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall repay to the
Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the cost of
attendance in the program described in such subparagraph that
are paid by the Secretary on behalf of the civilian graduate.
(ii) Determination of amount.--The amount of any repayment
required under clause (i) shall be determined by the
Secretary.
(D) Applicability.--This paragraph shall apply to civilian
students who enroll in the first year of a degree-granting
program in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling at
the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(4) Implementation plan.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a plan for the
implementation of this subsection.
(B) Elements.--The plan required by subparagraph (A) shall
include--
(i) a determination as to the resources for personnel and
facilities required for the implementation of this
subsection;
(ii) estimated timelines for such implementation; and
(iii) a projection of the number of graduates from the
programs specified in paragraph (1) upon the completion of
such implementation.
(b) Scholarship-for-Service Program for Civilian Behavioral
Health Providers.--
(1) In general.--Beginning not later than two years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall carry out a program under which--
(A) the Secretary may provide--
(i) direct grants to cover tuition, fees, living expenses,
and any other cost of attendance at an institution of higher
education to an individual enrolled in a program of study
leading to a graduate degree in clinical psychology, social
work, counseling, or a related field (as determined by the
Secretary); and
(ii) student loan repayment assistance to a credentialed
behavioral health provider who has a graduate degree in
clinical psychology, social work, counseling, or a related
field (as determined by the Secretary); and
(B) in exchange for such assistance, the recipient shall
commit to work as a covered civilian behavioral health
provider in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Post-award employment obligations.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), as a
condition of receiving assistance under paragraph (1), the
recipient of such assistance shall enter into an agreement
with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to which the recipient
agrees to work on a full-time basis as a covered civilian
behavioral health provider for a period that is at least
equivalent to the period during which the recipient received
assistance under such paragraph.
(B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement entered into
pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include such other terms and
conditions as the Secretary of Defense may determine
necessary to protect the interests of the United States or
otherwise appropriate for purposes of this section, including
terms and conditions providing for limited exceptions from
the post-award employment obligation specified in such
subparagraph.
(3) Repayment.--
(A) In general.--An individual who receives assistance
under paragraph (1) and does not complete the employment
obligation required under the agreement entered into pursuant
to paragraph (2) shall repay to the Secretary of Defense a
prorated portion of the financial assistance received by the
individual under paragraph (1).
(B) Determination of amount.--The amount of any repayment
required under subparagraph (A) shall be determined by the
Secretary.
(4) Implementation plan.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan
for the implementation of this subsection.
(c) Internship Programs for Civilian Behavioral Health.--
(1) Establishment of programs.--The Secretary of Defense
shall establish paid pre-doctoral and post-doctoral
internship programs for the purpose of training clinical
psychologists to work as covered civilian behavioral health
providers.
(2) Employment obligation.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), as a
condition of participating in an internship program under
paragraph (1), an individual shall enter into an agreement
with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to which the
individual agrees to work on a full-time basis as a covered
civilian behavioral health provider for a period that is at
least equivalent to the period of participation by the
individual in such internship program.
(B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement entered into
pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include such other terms and
conditions as the Secretary of Defense may determine
necessary to protect the interests of the United States or
otherwise appropriate for purposes of this section, including
terms and conditions providing for limited exceptions from
the employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
(3) Repayment.--
(A) In general.--An individual who participates in an
internship program under paragraph (1) and does not complete
the employment obligation required under the agreement
entered into pursuant to paragraph (2) shall repay to the
Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the cost of
administering such program with respect to such individual
and of any payment received by the individual under such
program.
(B) Determination of amount.--The amount of any repayment
required under subparagraph (A) shall be determined by the
Secretary.
(4) Implementation plan.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan
for the implementation of this subsection.
(d) Retention Bonuses for Certain Behavioral Health
Providers.--
(1) Retention bonus.--From amounts available in the
Department of Defense Civilian Workforce Incentive Fund
established under section 9902(a)(3) of title 5, United
States Code, the Secretary of Defense may pay an incentive
payment of not more than $50,000 annually per employee to
employees described in paragraph (2) for the purposes of
retaining such employees.
(2) Eligible recipients of bonus.--Employees described in
this paragraph are covered civilian behavioral health
providers in the following professions:
(A) Clinical psychologists.
(B) Social workers.
(C) Counselors.
(e) Report on Behavioral Health Workforce.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
conduct an analysis of the behavioral health workforce under
the direct care component of the TRICARE program and submit
to the congressional defense committees a report containing
the results of such analysis.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include, with respect to the workforce specified in
such paragraph, the following:
(A) The number of positions authorized for military
behavioral health providers within such workforce, and the
number of such positions filled, disaggregated by the
professions described in paragraph (3).
(B) The number of positions authorized for civilian
behavioral health providers within such workforce, and the
number of such positions filled, disaggregated by the
professions described in paragraph (3).
(C) For each military department, the ratio of military
behavioral health providers assigned to military medical
treatment facilities compared to civilian behavioral health
providers so assigned, disaggregated by the professions
described in paragraph (3).
(D) For each military department, the number of military
behavioral health providers authorized to be embedded within
an operational unit, and the number of such positions filled,
disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3).
(E) Data on the historical demand for behavioral health
services by members of the Armed Forces.
(F) An estimate of the number of health care providers
necessary to meet the demand by such members for behavioral
health services under the direct care component of the
TRICARE program, disaggregated by provider type.
(G) An identification of any shortfall between the
estimated number under subparagraph (F) and the total number
of positions for behavioral health providers filled within
such workforce.
(H) Such other information as the Secretary may determine
appropriate.
(3) Provider types.--The professions described in this
paragraph are as follows:
(A) Clinical psychologists.
(B) Social workers.
(C) Counselors.
(D) Such other professions as the Secretary may determine
appropriate.
(f) Plan To Address Shortfalls in Behavioral Health
Workforce.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the
[[Page S5307]]
congressional defense committees a plan to address any
shortfall of the behavioral health workforce identified under
subsection (e)(2)(G).
(2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall--
(A) address, with respect to any shortfall of military
behavioral health providers (addressed separately with
respect to such providers assigned to military medical
treatment facilities and such providers assigned to be
embedded within operational units)--
(i) recruitment;
(ii) accession;
(iii) retention;
(iv) special pay and other aspects of compensation;
(v) workload;
(vi) the role of the Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences and the Armed Forces Health Professions
Scholarship Program under chapter 105 of title 10, United
States Code;
(vii) any additional authorities or resources necessary for
the Secretary to increase the number of such providers; and
(viii) such other considerations as the Secretary may
consider appropriate;
(B) address, with respect to any shortfall of civilian
behavioral health providers--
(i) recruitment;
(ii) hiring;
(iii) retention;
(iv) pay and benefits;
(v) workload;
(vi) educational scholarship programs;
(vii) any additional authorities or resources necessary for
the Secretary to increase the number of such providers; and
(viii) such other considerations as the Secretary may
consider appropriate;
(C) recommend whether the number of military behavioral
health providers in each military department should be
increased, and if so, by how many;
(D) include a plan to expand access to behavioral health
services under the military health system through the use of
telehealth;
(E) include a plan by each military department to allocate
additional uniformed mental health providers in military
medical treatment facilities at remote installations; and
(F) assess the feasibility of hiring civilian mental health
providers at remote installations to augment the provision of
mental health care services by uniformed mental health
providers.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Armed forces; congressional defense committees.--The
terms ``Armed Forces'' and ``congressional defense
committees'' have the meanings given those terms in section
101 of title 10, United States Code.
(2) Behavioral health.--The term ``behavioral health''
includes psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work,
counseling, and related fields.
(3) Civilian behavioral health provider.--The term
``civilian behavioral health provider'' means a behavioral
health provider who is a civilian employee of the Department
of Defense.
(4) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of attendance''
has the meaning given that term in section 472 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
(5) Covered civilian behavioral health provider.--The term
``covered civilian behavioral health provider'' means a
civilian behavioral health provider whose employment by the
Secretary of Defense involves the provision of behavioral
health services at a military medical treatment facility.
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given
that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1001).
(7) Military behavioral health provider.--The term
``military behavioral health provider'' means a behavioral
health provider who is a member of the Armed Forces.
(8) TRICARE program.--The term ``TRICARE program'' has the
meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 10,
United States Code.
(9) Uniformed services university of the health sciences.--
The term ``Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences'' means the university established under section
2112 of title 10, United States Code.
SEC. 646. PILOT PROGRAM ON SAFE STORAGE OF PERSONALLY OWNED
FIREARMS.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense shall
establish a pilot program to promote the safe storage of
personally owned firearms.
(b) Voluntary Participation.--Participation by members of
the Armed Forces in the pilot program under subsection (a)
shall be on a voluntary basis.
(c) Elements.--Under the pilot program under subsection
(a), the Secretary of Defense shall furnish to members of the
Armed Forces who are participating in the pilot program at
military installations selected under subsection (e) locking
devices and firearm safes for the purpose of securing
personally owned firearms when not in use (including by
directly providing, subsidizing, or otherwise making
available such devices or safes).
(d) Plan.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a plan for the
implementation of the pilot program under subsection (a).
(e) Selection of Installations.--Not later than two years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall select not fewer than five military
installations at which to carry out the pilot program under
subsection (a).
(f) Duration.--The duration of the pilot program under
subsection (a) shall be for a period of six years.
(g) Report.--Upon the termination of the pilot program
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report containing
the following information:
(1) The number and type of locking devices and firearm
safes furnished to members of the Armed Forces under the
pilot program.
(2) The cost of carrying out the pilot program.
(3) An analysis of the effect of the pilot program on
suicide prevention.
(4) Such other information as the Secretary may determine
appropriate, which shall exclude any personally identifiable
information about participants in the pilot program.
(h) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``Armed
Forces'' and ``congressional defense committees'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 10, United
States Code.
______