[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4375 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4375
To amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to establish special pay
and allowances for members of the Armed Forces assigned to cold weather
operations, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 9, 2022
Ms. Murkowski (for herself and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed
Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to establish special pay
and allowances for members of the Armed Forces assigned to cold weather
operations, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Don Young Arctic Warrior Act''.
SEC. 2. SPECIAL PAY AND ALLOWANCES FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES ASSIGNED TO COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS.
(a) Special Pay.--
(1) Establishment.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 37,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 336
the following new section:
``Sec. 337. Special pay: members of the Armed Forces assigned to cold
weather operations
``(a) Special Pay Authorized.--The Secretary concerned shall pay
monthly special pay (to be known as `arctic pay') to a member of the
Armed Forces--
``(1) assigned to perform cold weather operations; or
``(2) required to maintain proficiency through frequent
operations in cold weather.
``(b) Amount of Pay.--Special pay under this section shall equal
$300 per month.
``(c) Relationship to Other Pay or Allowances.--Special pay under
this section is in addition to any other pay or allowance to which a
member is entitled.
``(d) Sunset.--No special pay may be paid under this section after
December 31, 2023.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 336 the following:
``337. Special pay: members of the armed forces assigned to cold
weather operations.''.
(3) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe
regulations for the payment of arctic pay under section 337 of
such title, as added by paragraph (1).
(b) Allowance for Broadband.--
(1) Establishment.--Chapter 7 of title 37, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 425 the following
new section:
``Sec. 426. Allowance for broadband for certain members of the Armed
Forces assigned to permanent duty stations in Alaska
``(a) Allowance Authorized.--The Secretary concerned shall pay, to
a member of the Armed Forces in the grade of E-5 or below who is
assigned to a permanent duty station in Alaska, a monthly allowance for
broadband.
``(b) Amount.--The monthly allowance to a member under this section
shall be--
``(1) $125 during calendar year 2023; and
``(2) in subsequent calendar years, an amount determined by
the Secretary of Defense based on the difference between the
average costs of unlimited broadband plans in Alaska and in the
continental United States.
``(c) Sunset.--No allowance may be paid under this section after
December 31, 2028.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 425 the following:
``426. Allowance for broadband for certain members of the Armed Forces
assigned to permanent duty stations in
Alaska.''.
(3) Effective date.--Section 426 of such title, as added by
paragraph (1), shall take effect on the day the Secretary of
Defense prescribes regulations under paragraph (4).
(4) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
prescribe regulations to carry out section 426 of such title,
as added by paragraph (1).
(5) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2027, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
report containing--
(A) the evaluation of the Secretary of the
allowance under section 426 of such title, as added by
paragraph (1); and
(B) any recommendation of the Secretary regarding
whether such allowance should be amended, extended, or
made permanent.
(c) Travel and Transportation Allowance.--
(1) Entitlement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
prescribe regulations and guidance that entitle a member of the
Armed Forces in the grade of E-5 or below who is assigned to a
permanent duty station in Alaska to a one-time allowance for
air travel for the member and dependents of such member.
(2) Amounts.--
(A) Travel to permanent residence.--If the air
travel for which an allowance under paragraph (1) is
paid to a member is to the permanent residence of the
member, the amount of the allowance shall equal the
total costs of such air travel.
(B) Travel to other destinations.--If the air
travel for which an allowance under paragraph (1) is
paid to a member is to a destination in the United
States other than the permanent residence of the
member, the amount of the allowance shall be equal to
the lesser of the following:
(i) The rate for such air travel under the
City Pair Program of the General Services
Administration (or successor program) in effect
at the time of such air travel.
(ii) The actual costs of such air travel.
(3) Timing.--Air travel for which an allowance under
paragraph (1) is paid to a member may not commence later than
30 months after the member is assigned to a permanent duty
station in Alaska.
(4) Additional authorization.--The Secretary concerned (as
defined in section 101 of title 37, United States Code) may
authorize an additional allowance for a member who has used the
allowance to which such member is entitled under paragraph (1).
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON CAR SHARING ON REMOTE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to carry out
a pilot program to allow car sharing at military installations in
Alaska.
(b) Program Elements.--To carry out a pilot program under this
section, the Secretary shall take steps including the following:
(1) Seek to enter into an agreement with an entity that--
(A) provides car sharing services; and
(B) is capable of serving all military
installations in Alaska.
(2) Provide to members assigned to such installations the
resources the Secretary determines necessary to participate in
such pilot program.
(3) Promote such pilot program to such members.
(c) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date the
Secretary enters into an agreement under subsection (b)(1), the
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan
to carry out the pilot program.
(d) Duration.--A pilot program under this section shall terminate
two years after the Secretary commences such pilot program.
(e) Report.--Upon the termination of a pilot program under this
section, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report containing the following information:
(1) The number of individuals who used car sharing services
offered pursuant to the pilot program.
(2) The cost to the United States of the pilot program.
(3) An analysis of the effect of the pilot program on
mental health and community connectedness of members described
in subsection (b)(2).
(4) Other information the Secretary determines appropriate.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Congressional defense committees.--The term
``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
(2) Military installation.--The term ``military
installation'' has the meaning given that term in section 2801
of title 10, United States Code.
SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION REGARDING LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVISION OF
NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES BY CERTAIN HEALTH-CARE
PROFESSIONALS.
Section 1094 of title 10, United States Code is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ``, including by
providing non-medical counseling services in connection with
such practice,'' after ``the health profession or professions
of the health-care professional''; and
(2) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(3) The term `non-medical counseling'--
``(A) means short-term, non-therapeutic counseling
that is not an appropriate substitute for individuals
in need of clinical therapy; and
``(B) includes counseling that is supportive in
nature and addresses issues such as general conditions
of living, life skills, improving relationships at home
and at work, stress management, adjustment issues (such
as those related to returning from a deployment),
marital problems, parenting, and grief and loss.''.
SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE UNDER
MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM.
(a) Expansion of Certain Behavioral Health Programs at the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.--
(1) Establishment of graduate programs.--The Secretary of
Defense shall establish graduate degree-granting programs in
counseling and social work at the Uniformed Services University
of the Health Sciences.
(2) Expansion of clinical psychology graduate program.--The
Secretary of Defense shall take such steps as may be necessary
to expand the clinical psychology graduate program of the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
(3) Post-award employment obligation.--
(A) Agreement with secretary.--Subject to
subparagraph (B), as a condition of enrolling in a
degree-granting program in clinical psychology, social
work, or counseling at the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences, a civilian student
shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of
Defense pursuant to which the student agrees that, if
the student does not become a member of a uniformed
service upon graduating such program, the student shall
work on a full-time basis as a covered civilian
behavioral health provider for a period that is at
least equivalent to the period during which the student
was enrolled in such program.
(B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement
entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include
such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of
Defense may determine necessary to protect the
interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate
for purposes of this section, including terms and
conditions providing for limited exceptions from the
employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
(C) Repayment.--
(i) In general.--A civilian graduate who
does not complete the employment obligation
required under the agreement entered into
pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall repay to the
Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the
cost of attendance in the program described in
such subparagraph that are paid by the
Secretary on behalf of the civilian graduate.
(ii) Determination of amount.--The amount
of any repayment required under clause (i)
shall be determined by the Secretary.
(D) Applicability.--This paragraph shall apply to
civilian students who enroll in the first year of a
degree-granting program in clinical psychology, social
work, or counseling at the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences on or after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(4) Implementation plan.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a plan
for the implementation of this subsection.
(B) Elements.--The plan required by subparagraph
(A) shall include--
(i) a determination as to the resources for
personnel and facilities required for the
implementation of this subsection;
(ii) estimated timelines for such
implementation; and
(iii) a projection of the number of
graduates from the programs specified in
paragraph (1) upon the completion of such
implementation.
(b) Scholarship-for-Service Program for Civilian Behavioral Health
Providers.--
(1) In general.--Beginning not later than two years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall carry out a program under which--
(A) the Secretary may provide--
(i) direct grants to cover tuition, fees,
living expenses, and any other cost of
attendance at an institution of higher
education to an individual enrolled in a
program of study leading to a graduate degree
in clinical psychology, social work,
counseling, or a related field (as determined
by the Secretary); and
(ii) student loan repayment assistance to a
credentialed behavioral health provider who has
a graduate degree in clinical psychology,
social work, counseling, or a related field (as
determined by the Secretary); and
(B) in exchange for such assistance, the recipient
shall commit to work as a covered civilian behavioral
health provider in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Post-award employment obligations.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), as a
condition of receiving assistance under paragraph (1),
the recipient of such assistance shall enter into an
agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to
which the recipient agrees to work on a full-time basis
as a covered civilian behavioral health provider for a
period that is at least equivalent to the period during
which the recipient received assistance under such
paragraph.
(B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement
entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include
such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of
Defense may determine necessary to protect the
interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate
for purposes of this section, including terms and
conditions providing for limited exceptions from the
post-award employment obligation specified in such
subparagraph.
(3) Repayment.--
(A) In general.--An individual who receives
assistance under paragraph (1) and does not complete
the employment obligation required under the agreement
entered into pursuant to paragraph (2) shall repay to
the Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the
financial assistance received by the individual under
paragraph (1).
(B) Determination of amount.--The amount of any
repayment required under subparagraph (A) shall be
determined by the Secretary.
(4) Implementation plan.--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 plan for
the implementation of this subsection.
(c) Internship Programs for Civilian Behavioral Health.--
(1) Establishment of programs.--The Secretary of Defense
shall establish paid pre-doctoral and post-doctoral internship
programs for the purpose of training clinical psychologists to
work as covered civilian behavioral health providers.
(2) Employment obligation.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), as a
condition of participating in an internship program
under paragraph (1), an individual shall enter into an
agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to
which the individual agrees to work on a full-time
basis as a covered civilian behavioral health provider
for a period that is at least equivalent to the period
of participation by the individual in such internship
program.
(B) Other terms and conditions.--An agreement
entered into pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include
such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of
Defense may determine necessary to protect the
interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate
for purposes of this section, including terms and
conditions providing for limited exceptions from the
employment obligation specified in such subparagraph.
(3) Repayment.--
(A) In general.--An individual who participates in
an internship program under paragraph (1) and does not
complete the employment obligation required under the
agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (2) shall
repay to the Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of
the cost of administering such program with respect to
such individual and of any payment received by the
individual under such program.
(B) Determination of amount.--The amount of any
repayment required under subparagraph (A) shall be
determined by the Secretary.
(4) Implementation plan.--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 plan for
the implementation of this subsection.
(d) Retention Bonuses for Certain Behavioral Health Providers.--
(1) Retention bonus.--From amounts available in the
Department of Defense Civilian Workforce Incentive Fund
established under section 9902(a)(3) of title 5, United States
Code, the Secretary of Defense may pay an incentive payment of
not more than $50,000 annually per employee to employees
described in paragraph (2) for the purposes of retaining such
employees.
(2) Eligible recipients of bonus.--Employees described in
this paragraph are covered civilian behavioral health providers
in the following professions:
(A) Clinical psychologists.
(B) Social workers.
(C) Counselors.
(e) Report on Behavioral Health Workforce.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
conduct an analysis of the behavioral health workforce under
the direct care component of the TRICARE program and submit to
the congressional defense committees a report containing the
results of such analysis.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include, with respect to the workforce specified in such
paragraph, the following:
(A) The number of positions authorized for military
behavioral health providers within such workforce, and
the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by
the professions described in paragraph (3).
(B) The number of positions authorized for civilian
behavioral health providers within such workforce, and
the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by
the professions described in paragraph (3).
(C) For each military department, the ratio of
military behavioral health providers assigned to
military medical treatment facilities compared to
civilian behavioral health providers so assigned,
disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph
(3).
(D) For each military department, the number of
military behavioral health providers authorized to be
embedded within an operational unit, and the number of
such positions filled, disaggregated by the professions
described in paragraph (3).
(E) Data on the historical demand for behavioral
health services by members of the Armed Forces.
(F) An estimate of the number of health care
providers necessary to meet the demand by such members
for behavioral health services under the direct care
component of the TRICARE program, disaggregated by
provider type.
(G) An identification of any shortfall between the
estimated number under subparagraph (F) and the total
number of positions for behavioral health providers
filled within such workforce.
(H) Such other information as the Secretary may
determine appropriate.
(3) Provider types.--The professions described in this
paragraph are as follows:
(A) Clinical psychologists.
(B) Social workers.
(C) Counselors.
(D) Such other professions as the Secretary may
determine appropriate.
(f) Plan To Address Shortfalls in Behavioral Health Workforce.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to
address any shortfall of the behavioral health workforce
identified under subsection (e)(2)(G).
(2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall--
(A) address, with respect to any shortfall of
military behavioral health providers (addressed
separately with respect to such providers assigned to
military medical treatment facilities and such
providers assigned to be embedded within operational
units)--
(i) recruitment;
(ii) accession;
(iii) retention;
(iv) special pay and other aspects of
compensation;
(v) workload;
(vi) the role of the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences and the Armed
Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program
under chapter 105 of title 10, United States
Code;
(vii) any additional authorities or
resources necessary for the Secretary to
increase the number of such providers; and
(viii) such other considerations as the
Secretary may consider appropriate;
(B) address, with respect to any shortfall of
civilian behavioral health providers--
(i) recruitment;
(ii) hiring;
(iii) retention;
(iv) pay and benefits;
(v) workload;
(vi) educational scholarship programs;
(vii) any additional authorities or
resources necessary for the Secretary to
increase the number of such providers; and
(viii) such other considerations as the
Secretary may consider appropriate;
(C) recommend whether the number of military
behavioral health providers in each military department
should be increased, and if so, by how many;
(D) include a plan to expand access to behavioral
health services under the military health system
through the use of telehealth;
(E) include a plan by each military department to
allocate additional uniformed mental health providers
in military medical treatment facilities at remote
installations; and
(F) assess the feasibility of hiring civilian
mental health providers at remote installations to
augment the provision of mental health care services by
uniformed mental health providers.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Armed forces; congressional defense committees.--The
terms ``Armed Forces'' and ``congressional defense committees''
have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 10,
United States Code.
(2) Behavioral health.--The term ``behavioral health''
includes psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work,
counseling, and related fields.
(3) Civilian behavioral health provider.--The term
``civilian behavioral health provider'' means a behavioral
health provider who is a civilian employee of the Department of
Defense.
(4) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of attendance''
has the meaning given that term in section 472 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
(5) Covered civilian behavioral health provider.--The term
``covered civilian behavioral health provider'' means a
civilian behavioral health provider whose employment by the
Secretary of Defense involves the provision of behavioral
health services at a military medical treatment facility.
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(7) Military behavioral health provider.--The term
``military behavioral health provider'' means a behavioral
health provider who is a member of the Armed Forces.
(8) TRICARE program.--The term ``TRICARE program'' has the
meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 10, United
States Code.
(9) Uniformed services university of the health sciences.--
The term ``Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences'' means the university established under section 2112
of title 10, United States Code.
SEC. 6. PILOT PROGRAM ON SAFE STORAGE OF PERSONALLY OWNED FIREARMS.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish a
pilot program to promote the safe storage of personally owned firearms.
(b) Voluntary Participation.--Participation by members of the Armed
Forces in the pilot program under subsection (a) shall be on a
voluntary basis.
(c) Elements.--Under the pilot program under subsection (a), the
Secretary of Defense shall furnish to members of the Armed Forces who
are participating in the pilot program at military installations
selected under subsection (e) locking devices and firearm safes for the
purpose of securing personally owned firearms when not in use
(including by directly providing, subsidizing, or otherwise making
available such devices or safes).
(d) Plan.--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 plan for the implementation of the pilot program
under subsection (a).
(e) Selection of Installations.--Not later than two years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
select not fewer than five military installations at which to carry out
the pilot program under subsection (a).
(f) Duration.--The duration of the pilot program under subsection
(a) shall be for a period of six years.
(g) Report.--Upon the termination of the pilot program under
subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report containing the following
information:
(1) The number and type of locking devices and firearm
safes furnished to members of the Armed Forces under the pilot
program.
(2) The cost of carrying out the pilot program.
(3) An analysis of the effect of the pilot program on
suicide prevention.
(4) Such other information as the Secretary may determine
appropriate, which shall exclude any personally identifiable
information about participants in the pilot program.
(h) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``Armed Forces'' and
``congressional defense committees'' have the meanings given those
terms in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
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