[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6571. Mr. HEINRICH 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. REPORT ON STAFFING SHORTAGES IN PERSONNEL 
                   SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES.

       (a) In General.--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 report on 
     staffing shortages among social workers, counselors, and 
     family advocacy personnel who provide assistance to military 
     families.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include--
       (1) a description of the actions being taken by the 
     Department of Defense as of the date of the report to address 
     shortages described in subsection (a);
       (2) an assessment of how the Department can improve efforts 
     to address such shortages; and
       (3) a description of the challenges the Department faces 
     when a military family subject to child abuse proceedings 
     moves across State lines, including with respect to--
       (A) transferring records; and
       (B) the sharing of information between--
       (i) the Department and State child welfare agencies; and
       (ii) the commander concerned before the relocation of the 
     family and the commander concerned after that relocation.
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