[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4309 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4309
To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct an evaluation of
relocation assistance programs available to members of the Armed
Forces.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 9, 2024
Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mr. Ossoff) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct an evaluation of
relocation assistance programs available to members of the Armed
Forces.
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 ``Relocation Assistance for Military
Families Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. EVALUATION OF RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct an in-depth
evaluation of relocation assistance programs carried out under section
1056 of title 10, United States Code, and the use of such programs by
members of the Armed Forces.
(b) Elements.--The evaluation required by subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) An analysis of whether the relocation assistance
programs offered by the Department of Defense as of the date of
the enactment of this Act--
(A) conform to the requirements for such programs
under section 1056 of title 10, United States Code; and
(B) meet the needs of members of the Armed Forces.
(2) An identification of the relocation assistance programs
most frequently used by members, including an identification of
the key factors that contribute to such usage.
(3) An identification of--
(A) specific barriers faced by members in accessing
effective relocation assistance; and
(B) strategies to mitigate those barriers.
(4) An identification of a representative sample of
military installations located in high-cost areas and, with
respect to such installations, an assessment of the following:
(A) The success of relocation assistance programs
at such installations.
(B) Partnerships between such installations and
local communities aimed at helping alleviate financial
burdens for members, specifically related to housing.
(C) Housing supply for members, both accompanied
and unaccompanied by dependents, comparing supply with
total need.
(5) An analysis of the support mechanisms available as of
the date of the enactment of this Act for military families
facing significant financial burdens as a result of permanent
changes of station to high-cost areas.
(c) Consultations.--In conducting the evaluation required by
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the following:
(1) Military family support organizations.
(2) Members of the Armed Forces who have recently undergone
permanent changes of station, both accompanied and
unaccompanied by dependents.
(3) Members who have used relocation assistance services,
with a focus on those who have moved to or from high-cost
areas.
(4) Commanders of military installations.
(5) A selection of State and local officials that represent
areas in the vicinity of military installations.
(6) The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation of
the Department of Defense.
(7) Housing and urban development experts with expertise in
accommodations in high-cost areas.
(8) Such other individuals or organizations as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
(d) Best Practices Guide.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
completion of the evaluation required by subsection (a), the
Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of
the military departments, shall publish a best practices guide
to be used by the leadership of military installations and by
local communities to assist members of the Armed Forces with
accessing relocation assistance programs.
(2) Elements.--The best practices guide required by
paragraph (1) shall address access to relocation assistance
programs determined, pursuant to the evaluation conducted under
subsection (a), to be successful in assisting members who make
permanent changes of station to high-cost areas. Such programs
shall include programs offered both through the Department of
Defense and through local communities.
(e) Report Required.--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 (as defined in section 101 of title
10, United States Code) a report that includes the following:
(1) Detailed findings from the evaluation conducted under
subsection (a).
(2) The best practices guide required by subsection (d),
not later than 30 days before publication of the guide.
(3) Recommendations for legislative or policy changes to
relocation assistance programs to better fulfill the objectives
of section 1056 of title 10, United States Code.
(4) A roadmap, including projected timelines and resources
required, for--
(A) implementation and integration of the best
practices set forth in the guide; and
(B) addressing the needs of members of the Armed
Forces making permanent changes of station to high-cost
areas.
(f) Review of Best Practices Guide Implementation.--Not later than
3 years after the best practices guide required by subsection (d) is
published, the Comptroller General of the United States shall review
the implementation of the guide, relocation assistance programs, and
other resources provided to members of the Armed Forces to assist such
members with permanent changes of station, specifically focusing on
high-cost areas.
(g) High-Cost Area Defined.--
(1) In general.--In this section, the term ``high-cost
area'' shall have the meaning determined by the Secretary of
Defense in regulations prescribed in accordance with paragraph
(2).
(2) Regulations.--In prescribing regulations defining the
term ``high-cost area'' for purposes of this section, the
Secretary shall--
(A) solicit and incorporate feedback from--
(i) appropriate officials of the General
Services Administration who work on relevant
matters; and
(ii) individuals and entities described in
subsection (c); and
(B) consider relevant factors from across various
Federal agencies that may indicate areas that are high
cost, such as the non-standard per diem rates of the
General Services Administration.
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