[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3242]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6037. Mr. PADILLA submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2027 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 in title V, insert the following:
SEC. __. PILOT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
AND MILITARY FAMILIES TRANSITIONING TO CIVILIAN
LIFE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
establish a non-clinical, community-based pilot program under
which eligible organizations shall provide support to members
of the Armed Forces and military families transitioning to
civilian life.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the pilot program shall be--
(1) to provide personalized, whole-family transition and
wellness support to strengthen resilience, stability, and
long-term well-being during and after separation from the
Armed Forces; and
(2) to treat transition as a whole-family life change and
complement (not duplicate) the Transition Assistance Program
through upstream, preventative support.
(c) Locations; Duration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out
the pilot program at four geographically diverse military
installations during the three-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Locations.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary of
Defense shall carry out the pilot program at one military
installation in each of the following areas:
(A) The West Coast of the United States.
(B) The Midwest of the United States.
(C) The East Coast of the United States.
(D) Outside of the United States.
(3) Preference.--In selecting locations for the pilot
program, the Secretary of Defense shall give preference to
locations that serve as major force projection platforms.
(d) Eligible Organizations; Selection.--The Secretary of
Defense shall select organizations to participate in the
pilot program from among national organizations serving
members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families
with a demonstrated capability to execute national programs
through a community-based lens to provide or coordinate the
provision of military transition services for such
individuals.
(e) Eligible Members and Families; Priority; Referrals.--
(1) In general.--An individual is eligible for services
under the pilot program if the individual is--
(A) a member of the Armed Forces on active duty who is
within one year of separation from the Armed Forces,
including a single member without dependents; or
(B) a member of the family of a member of the Armed Forces
described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Priority.--In selecting members of the Armed Forces and
families for the pilot program, organizations participating
in the pilot program shall prioritize--
(A) members of the Armed Forces facing accelerated or
involuntary separations from the Armed Forces, and families
of such members; and
(B) members of the Armed Forces with limited time for
transition planning, and families of such members.
(3) Referrals.--Eligible members of the Armed Forces and
families may be referred to the pilot program through any of
the following:
(A) The Transition Assistance Program.
(B) The command of the member.
(C) A partner organization.
(D) Self-referral.
(f) Activities.--
(1) In general.--Under the pilot program, each organization
participating in the pilot program, in collaboration with
local Transition Assistance Program offices, shall--
(A) identify eligible members of the Armed Forces and
families;
(B) provide to such members and families, during the one-
year period following separation from the Armed Forces, the
services described in paragraph (2); and
(C) track the progress of such members and families.
(2) Services.--In carrying out paragraph (1)(B), each
organization participating in the pilot program shall--
(A) provide resources, training, and community connection
support, including--
(i) peer-led support groups;
(ii) resilience workshops;
(iii) a digital resource hub focused on emotional wellness,
practical life skills, and community reintegration for
spouses, children, and caregivers;
(iv) employment assistance for spouses;
(v) skills training and credentialing;
(vi) benefits navigation; and
(vii) reintegration and wellness support;
(B) assign each single member of the Armed Forces or
family, as the case may be, a dedicated transition
coordinator to conduct assessments, develop personalized
transition plans, and provide high-touch navigation across
employment, education, healthcare, benefits, and community
resources;
(C) perform a whole-family wellness and transition
assessment that produces a customized transition roadmap
aligned to separation timeline, reason for separation, and
family dynamics;
(D) establish tailored support pathways based on
individualized needs rather than a one-size-fits-all
approach; and
(E) connect families to and coordinate with existing
Federal, State, nonprofit, and community resources, rather
than create duplicative programs.
(g) Outcomes.--Each organization participating in the pilot
program shall track the following:
(1) Short-term outcomes, from 0 to 6 months post-
separation, including readiness and confidence, stress,
status of transition plans, and resource connections.
(2) Mid-term outcomes, from 6 to 12 months post-separation,
including employment outcomes, financial stability, and
family wellbeing.
(3) Long-term outcomes, from 12 to 36 months post-
separation, including employment outcomes, resilience, and
crisis intervention needs.
(h) Implementation.--In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall coordinate and ensure a seamless post-separation
handoff of services between the Department of Defense and the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(i) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the pilot program terminates, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to Congress a report that includes the
following:
(1) A detailed accounting of the results of the pilot
program.
(2) A recommendation on whether to extend the pilot
program.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the
pilot program established under subsection (a).
(2) Transition assistance program.--The term ``Transition
Assistance Program'' means the program of the Department of
Defense for preseparation counseling, employment assistance,
and other transitional services provided under sections 1142
and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
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