[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9870 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9870
To improve the provision of benefits and services to members of the
Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 27, 2024
Mr. Landsman (for himself and Ms. Blunt Rochester) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services,
and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Accountability,
Veterans' Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the provision of benefits and services to members of the
Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, 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 ``Parity for Public Health Service
Ready Reserve Act''.
SEC. 2. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE READY RESERVE CORPS (PHS RRC).
(a) Establishment.--Section 10141 of title 10, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``in each armed force''
and inserting ``in each uniformed service''; and
(2) in subsection (c), striking ``the same for all armed
forces'' and inserting ``the same for all reserve components of
the uniformed services''.
(b) Organization and Unit Structure.--Section 10143(b) of title 10,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by inserting ``and the Public Health Service
Ready Reserve Corps'' after ``other than the Coast
Guard''; and
(B) by striking ``war plans; and'' and inserting
``war plans;'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) in the case of the Public Health Service Ready
Reserve Corps, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
upon the recommendation of the Assistant Secretary for
Health.''.
(c) Placement in Ready Reserves.--Section 10145(a) of title 10,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``Ready Reserve of his armed
force for his prescribed term of service, unless he is transferred''
and inserting ``Ready Reserve of the reserve component of the member's
uniformed service for his or her prescribed term of service, unless
such member is transferred''.
(d) Standby Reserves.--
(1) Transfers to.--Section 10146 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to
Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps'' after
``operating as a service in the Navy''; and
(B) in subsection (b), by inserting ``or the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, as the case may
be,'' after ``prescribed by the Secretary concerned''.
(2) Transfers from.--Section 10150 of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by inserting ``and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services with respect to Public Health Service
Ready Reserve Corps'' after ``operating as a service in the
Navy''.
(3) Training requirements.--Section 10147(a) of title 10,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``in an armed force'' and inserting
``in a uniformed service''; and
(B) by inserting ``and the Secretary of Health and
Human Services with respect to Public Health Service
Ready Reserve Corps'' after ``operating as a service in
the Navy''.
(4) Failure to satisfactorily perform prescribed
training.--Section 10148(a) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and Human
Services with respect to Public Health Service Ready Reserve
Corps'' after ``Secretary of Defense''.
(e) Inactive Status List.--Section 10152 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by striking ``armed force'' and inserting ``uniformed
service''.
(f) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Authorized end strength of the ready reserves of the
armed forces.--Section 10142 of title 10, United States Code,
is amended by inserting ``of the armed forces'' after ``Ready
Reserve'' both places it appears.
(2) Continuous screening provisions applicable to armed
forces.--Section 10149 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or, in the
case of the Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services,'' after
``Secretary concerned''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``or, in
the case of a Member of Congress who also is a member
of the Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services'' after
``operating as a service in the Navy''.
(3) Composition of standby reserves of armed forces.--
Section 10151 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``of the armed forces'' after ``The Standby
Reserve''.
SEC. 3. DUAL COMPENSATION PARITY FOR READY RESERVE CORPS OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH SERVICE.
(a) Dual Employment.--Section 5534 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) by inserting ``, a member of the Ready Reserve Corps of
the Public Health Service,'' after ``armed forces''; and
(2) by inserting ``, member of the Ready Reserve Corps,''
after ``allowances as a Reserve''.
(b) Uniformed Service Leave.--
(1) In general.--Section 6323 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``Military
leave; Reserves and National Guardsmen'' and inserting
``Uniformed services leave'';
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``or the National
Guard'' and inserting the following:
``the National Guard''; and
(II) by inserting ``, or the Ready
Reserve Corps of the Public Health
Service'' after ``of title 32''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by
striking ``or'' at the end;
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
inserting ``or'' after the semicolon at
the end; and
(III) by inserting after
subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) in the case of a member of the Ready Reserve Corps of
the Public Health Service, performs services as a result of a
deployment to respond to an urgent or emergency public health
need, as defined in section 203A(a) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 204a(a));''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(e)(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an employee
as defined by section 2105 of this title or an individual employed by
the Government of the District of Columbia is entitled to leave without
loss in pay, time, or performance or efficiency rating for active duty
or inactive-duty training (as defined in section 101 of title 37) as a
member of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. Leave
under this subsection accrues for an employee or individual at the rate
of 15 days per fiscal year and, to the extent that it is not used in a
fiscal year, accumulates for use in the succeeding fiscal year until it
totals 15 days at the beginning of a fiscal year.
``(2) In the case of an employee or individual employed on a part-
time career employment basis (as defined in section 3401(2) of this
title), the rate at which leave accrues under this subsection shall be
a percentage of the rate prescribed under paragraph (1) which is
determined by dividing 40 into the number of hours in the regularly
scheduled workweek of that employee or individual during that fiscal
year.
``(3) The minimum charge for leave under this subsection is one
hour, and additional charges are in multiples thereof.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by
striking the item relating to section 6323 and inserting the
following:
``6323. Uniformed services leave.''.
SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE UNIFORMED
SERVICES.
(a) Clarification.--Section 3301(1) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(D) In the case of members of the regular
components of the Commissioned Corps of the Public
Health Service, the meaning given such term in section
101(21)(B).
``(E) In the case of members of the reserve
component of the Commissioned Corps of the Public
Health Service, service on active duty under a call or
order to active duty under subparagraph (B), (C), or
(D) of section 203(c)(2) of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 204(c)(2)) or section 216 of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 217).''.
(b) Additional Clarification.--Section 3311 of such title is
amended--
(1) in the section heading by striking ``in the Armed
Forces'' and inserting ``in the uniformed services'';
(2) in subsection (b), in paragraphs (1) through (11), by
striking ``Armed Forces'' each place it appears and inserting
``uniformed services'';
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``Armed Forces'' each
place it appears and inserting ``uniformed services'';
(4) in subsection (d)(3)(A), by striking ``Armed Forces''
and inserting ``uniformed services''; and
(5) in subsection (f)(4)(B)(ii), by striking ``Armed
Forces'' and inserting ``uniformed services''.
(c) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall apply with respect to service occurring on or after March 27,
2020.
(d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 33 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to
section 3311 and inserting the following new item:
``3311. Educational assistance for service in the uniformed services
commencing on or after September 11, 2001:
entitlement.''.
(e) Technical Correction.--Section 101 of such title is amended, in
paragraphs (21) through (23), by striking ``Reserve Corps of the Public
Health Service'' each place it appears and inserting ``Ready Reserve
Corps of the Public Health Service''.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE READY RESERVE CORPS.
(a) In General.--Section 16131 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``each military department'' and
inserting ``the reserve component of that Secretary's
uniformed service'';
(B) by striking ``and'' after ``Secretary of
Defense,'';
(C) by inserting ``, and the Secretary of Health
and Human Services with respect to the Public Health
Service Ready Reserve Corps,'' after ``Navy''; and
(D) by striking ``of the armed forces under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned'' and inserting
``of the uniformed services under the jurisdiction of
such Secretary'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``or the Secretary
of Health and Human Services, as the case may be'' after
``Secretary concerned'';
(3) in subsection (c)(3)(B)(i), by inserting ``or section
203 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 204(a)(4))''
after ``of this title'';
(4) in subsection (g)(2)(A), by inserting ``or the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, as the case may be''
after ``Secretary concerned''; and
(5) in subsection (i)--
(A) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary
of Defense'' each place it appears; and
(B) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary
concerned'' each place it appears.
(b) Eligibility.--Section 16132(c) of title 10, United States Code,
is amended by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary of Defense''.
(c) Authority To Transfer Unused Education Benefits to Family
Members.--Section 16132a of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, as the case may be,'' after
``Secretary concerned'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``member of the armed
forces'' and inserting ``member of the reserve component of
such member's uniformed service'';
(3) in subsection (d), by inserting ``and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services'' after ``Secretary of Defense'';
(4) in subsection (f)(2), by inserting ``or the Secretary
of Health and Human Services, as the case may be,'' after
``Secretary concerned'';
(5) in subsection (g), by striking ``armed forces'' and
inserting ``uniformed services'' both places it appears;
(6) in subsection (h)(5)(B)--
(A) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary
concerned''; and
(B) by inserting ``or a member of the Public Health
Service Commissioned Corps, as the case may be'' after
``enlisted member''; and
(7) in subsection (j), by inserting ``and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services'' after ``Secretary of Defense''.
(d) Failure To Participate Satisfactorily; Penalties.--Section
16135(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, as the case may be'' after ``Secretary concerned'';
and
(2) by striking ``of an armed force'' and inserting ``of a
uniformed service''.
(e) Administration of the Program.--Section 16136(a) of title 10,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``and by the Secretary of Homeland
Security'' and inserting ``by the Secretary of Homeland
Security, and by the Secretary of Health and Human Services'';
and
(2) by inserting ``or the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, as the case may be,'' after ``Secretary concerned''.
(f) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsections (a) through
(e) shall apply with respect to service occurring on or after March 27,
2020.
SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.
(a) In General.--Section 221(a) of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 213a(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(22) Chapter 40, Leave, except that section 701(b) shall
be applied and administered by substituting `120 days' leave'
for `60 days' leave'.
``(23) Section 982, Members: service on State and local
juries.
``(24) Section 1145, Health benefits.
``(25) Section 1076a, TRICARE dental program.
``(26) Section 1076d, TRICARE program: TRICARE Reserve
Select coverage for members of the Selected Reserve.
``(27) Section 1076e, TRICARE program: TRICARE Retired
Reserve coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve who
are qualified for a non-regular retirement but are not yet age
60.
``(28) Section 1057, Use of armed forces insignia on State
license plates.
``(29) Section 1094, Licensure requirement for health-care
professionals.
``(30) Section 987, Terms of consumer credit extended to
members and dependents: limitations.
``(31) Section 1074, Medical and dental care for members
and certain former members.
``(32) Section 1074a, Medical and dental care: members on
duty other than active duty for a period of more than 30
days.''.
(b) Repeal.--Section 219 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 210-1) is repealed.
SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF RESERVE FORCES POLICY BOARD TO INCLUDE
REPRESENTATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.
Section 10301(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``20
members'' and inserting ``21 members''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(9) One active or retired officer of the Ready Reserve
Corps of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps or one
civilian, appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human
Services.''.
SEC. 8. FUNDING OF READY RESERVE CORPS.
Section 203(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 204(d))
is amended by striking ``$12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010
through 2014'' and inserting ``$13,600,000 for each of fiscal years
2024 and 2025''.
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