[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.
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