[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6523. Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself and Ms. Rosen) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her 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 subtitle E of title V, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. __. STUDY ON GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT COORDINATION TO 
                   IMPROVE TRANSITION OF SEPARATING MEMBERS OF THE 
                   ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Defense, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall 
     conduct a study on the following as related to the transition 
     of members of the Armed Forces to civilian life:
       (1) Data transfers and interoperability, including the 
     following:
       (A) The information collected through the Transition 
     Assistance Program that is electronically transmitted from 
     the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs.
       (B) The stage in the separation process at which such 
     transfer occurs.
       (C) The information, if any, that is made available to 
     State veterans agencies when a transitioning member of the 
     Armed Forces identifies a State of intended residence.
       (D) Any statutory, regulatory, or privacy restrictions that 
     limit appropriate data sharing with State veterans agencies.
       (2) Data integrity, security, and cyber protections, 
     including the following:
       (A) Existing safeguards to ensure the accuracy, 
     completeness, and integrity of veteran transition data 
     transferred between the Department of Defense, the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs, and other authorized entities.
       (B) The cybersecurity protocols that govern the 
     transmission of personally identifiable information collected 
     through the Transition Assistance Program.
       (C) Any established standards or audit processes to ensure 
     that veteran transition data remains protected while enabling 
     appropriate interagency access.
       (D) Existing accountability mechanisms to detect and 
     correct data errors that could delay access to earned 
     benefits.
       (3) Government-to-government coordination, including the 
     following:
       (A) How the Department of Defense and the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs coordinate with State veterans agencies as 
     government partners rather than solely as external 
     stakeholders.
       (B) Any formal agreements, memoranda of understanding, or 
     statutory authorities governing the exchange of transition-
     related data between Federal and State agencies.
       (C) Existing mechanisms to enable secure government-to-
     government data sharing to support coordinated outreach and 
     benefits assistance for newly separated veterans.
       (4) Notification and outreach to transitioning members of 
     the Armed Forces, including the following:
       (A) Whether States are notified when such members identify 
     a particular State as their post-service residence.
       (B) Existing mechanisms to facilitate a ``warm handoff'' 
     from Department of Defense transition counselors to the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs and State veterans service 
     officers.
       (C) Whether improved data sharing would allow States to 
     proactively engage transitioning members prior to or 
     immediately following discharge.
       (5) Fiscal efficiency and program outcomes, including the 
     following:
       (A) The Federal funding allocated annually to support the 
     Transition Assistance Program across participating agencies.
       (B) The measurable outcomes that demonstrate the program's 
     effectiveness in connecting transitioning members of the 
     Armed Forces with employment opportunities, education 
     programs, and benefits provided by the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs.
       (C) Opportunities to improve fiscal efficiency by reducing 
     duplicative efforts between the Department of Defense, the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, and State veterans agencies 
     through improved coordination and shared data systems.
       (6) Opportunities to strengthen Federal-State partnerships, 
     including through the following:
       (A) Secure government-to-government data sharing 
     agreements.
       (B) Earlier notification to States regarding transitioning 
     members of the Armed Forces.
       (C) Integration of State veterans service officers into the 
     Transition Assistance Program.
       (D) Pilot programs enabling coordinated outreach between 
     installations of the Department of Defense, offices of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, and State veterans agencies.
       (b) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Defense shall submit to Congress the findings of the study 
     required by subsection (a).
       (c) Definition.--In this section, 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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