[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2368. Mr. OSSOFF (for himself, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. Cramer) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 
4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 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 appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. ELIGIBILITY OF DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN DECEASED 
                   MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR ENROLLMENT IN 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY 
                   SCHOOLS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 108 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
     section 2164a the following new section:

     ``Sec. 2164b. Eligibility of dependents of certain deceased 
       members for enrollment in schools operated by Department of 
       Defense Education Activity

       ``(a) In General.--A dependent of a covered member is 
     eligible to enroll in a school operated by the Department of 
     Defense Education Activity without regard to--
       ``(1) whether the dependent was enrolled in such a school 
     on the date of the death of the member; or
       ``(2) the proximity of the school in which the dependent 
     seeks enrollment to the location where the dependent resided 
     on the date of the death of the member.
       ``(b) Tuition-free, Space-available Enrollment.--Enrollment 
     of a dependent of a covered member in a school operated by 
     the Department of Defense Education Activity shall be on a 
     tuition-free and space-available basis.
       ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Covered member.--The term `covered member' means a 
     member of the armed forces who died while serving on active 
     duty or active Guard and Reserve duty.
       ``(2) School operated by the department of defense 
     education activity.--The term `school operated by the 
     Department of Defense Education Activity' means--
       ``(A) a Department of Defense domestic dependent elementary 
     or secondary school established under section 2164 of this 
     title; or
       ``(B) any elementary or secondary school for dependents of 
     members of the armed forces operated by the Department of 
     Defense Education Activity.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 108 of such title is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 2164a the 
     following new item:

``2164b. Eligibility of dependents of certain deceased members for 
              enrollment in schools operated by Department of Defense 
              Education Activity.''.
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the 
     amendments made by this section may be construed to affect 
     the eligibility of dependents of individuals described in 
     subsection (j)(2) of section 2164 of title 10, United States 
     Code, for enrollment in a Department of Defense education 
     program provided by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to 
     subsection (a) of that section.
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