[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1030 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1030
To develop a database of members of the Armed Forces who died in non-
combat military plane crashes and to provide support to the families of
such members, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2025
Ms. Strickland introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, 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 develop a database of members of the Armed Forces who died in non-
combat military plane crashes and to provide support to the families of
such members, 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 ``Flight 293 Remembrance Act''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO
DIED IN NON-COMBAT MILITARY PLANE CRASHES.
(a) Identification.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall--
(1) identify and document all non-combat military plane
crashes categorized as ``Operational Loss/Non-War Loss''--
(A) based on a thorough review of records of the
Department of Defense starting with calendar year 1984;
and
(B) for such crashes that occurred before calendar
year 1984, using information obtained from other
organizations; and
(2) develop and maintain a publicly accessible database of
the names, ranks, and service details of all members of the
Armed Forces who died in such crashes.
(b) Assistance to Families.--The Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall provide
assistance to the families of members of the Armed Forces who died in
crashes described in subsection (a)(1)--
(1) to ensure that those families are aware of and have
full access to the benefits, resources, and support services
available from the Department of Defense;
(2) to offer personalized guidance on navigating and
applying for those benefits, resources, and services, including
financial assistance, counseling services, and survivor
benefits tailored to non-combat losses; and
(3) to connect those families with community and peer
support networks that allow them to meet and share experiences
with others who have faced similar losses.
(c) Designated Point of Contact.--The Secretary of Defense shall
establish a designated point of contact within the Department of
Defense--
(1) to be responsible for guiding families of members of
the Armed Forces who died in crashes described in subsection
(a)(1) through the benefits process;
(2) to provide those families with updates on--
(A) the availability of new programs, services, and
benefits;
(B) changes to law that may affect the eligibility
of those families for support; and
(C) advancements in efforts to recover members who
died in crashes described in subsection (a)(1); and
(3) to liaise with relevant agencies, such as the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and local support organizations
to ensure those families receive coordinated, streamlined
assistance.
(d) Consultations.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary of
Defense may consult with organizations with knowledge of and expertise
relating to crashes described in subsection (a)(1).
(e) Report Required.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
Congress a report on efforts carried out under this section that
includes--
(1) the number of families receiving support under
subsection (b) and a description of the types of support those
families received;
(2) an assessment of progress made in developing the
database required by subsection (a)(2) that includes an
estimate of the percentage of crashes described in subsection
(a)(1) that have been included in the database as of the date
of the report;
(3) an assessment of the effectiveness of efforts carried
out under this section and the satisfaction of the families of
members of the Armed Forces who died in crashes described in
subsection (a)(1); and
(4) any recommendations for legislative changes to improve
efforts carried out under this section.
(f) Nondiscrimination Provisions.--
(1) In general.--For the purpose of applying the
prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of disability
under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
794), on the basis of sex under title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), or on the basis of
race, color, or national origin under title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), programs and
activities funded or otherwise financially assisted in whole or
in part under this section to provide assistance to families
under this section, even if carried out directly by the
Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs,
are considered to be education programs and activities
receiving Federal financial assistance.
(2) Enforcement.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall effectuate the provisions
of paragraph (1) by issuing regulations, applicable to officers
or employees of the Department of Defense or Department of
Veterans Affairs, respectively, who provide assistance under
this section directly, including provisions specifying how the
corresponding Secretary shall enforce the regulations.
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