[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3627-S3628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6514. Mr. WARNER 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 end of part III of subtitle F of title V, add the 
     following:

     SEC. 566. DEPLOYMENT-READY EMPLOYER DESIGNATION WITHIN 
                   MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP.

       (a) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     establish within the Military Spouse Employment Partnership a 
     voluntary recognition designation, to be known as the 
     ``Deployment-Ready Employer'' designation, for employers that 
     demonstrate exemplary support for military spouses and 
     military families during periods of military deployment.
       (b) Criteria.--In establishing criteria for the designation 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary may consider whether an 
     employer maintains policies or practices relating to--
       (1) workplace flexibility for military spouses during 
     periods of military deployment;
       (2) telework or remote work opportunities, where duties 
     permit;
       (3) flexible scheduling to accommodate military family 
     responsibilities;
       (4) leave policies responsive to military family needs;
       (5) employment continuity for military spouses following 
     permanent changes of station;
       (6) recruitment, retention, and career advancement of 
     military spouses; and
       (7) such other factors as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.
       (c) Consultation.--In establishing criteria for the 
     designation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult 
     with military spouses, employers participating in the 
     Military Spouse Employment Partnership, military family 
     advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders, as determined 
     appropriate by the Secretary.
       (d) Recognition.--The Secretary shall--
       (1) publicly recognize employers receiving the designation 
     under subsection (a);
       (2) maintain on a publicly available website a list of 
     employers receiving the designation; and
       (3) promote employers with the designation through outreach 
     and engagement activities of the Military Spouse Employment 
     Partnership.
       (e) Annual Briefing.--Not later than March 1 of each year 
     beginning after the establishment of the designation under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide to

[[Page S3628]]

     the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives a briefing on--
       (1) participation in the designation program under 
     subsection (a);
       (2) employer practices identified as effective in 
     supporting military families during deployments; and
       (3) any recommendations for improving employment outcomes 
     for military spouses.
                                 ______