WASHINGTON, DC - Led by Ranking Member Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Chairman Mike Coffman (R-CO), the Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel today released its proposals for the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Subcommittee will meet at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 26th, in Rayburn 2212. The markup will be webcast on the committee’s website. The Subcommittee's mark is available here.

The Military Personnel proposal is an integral part of the NDAA, supporting and protecting our warfighters with the care and benefits they need, deserve, and have earned. Specifically, this year's proposal:

Begins to rebuild readiness by helping to recruit and retain America’s best and brightest while also growing the force by:

  • Enabling the full funding of the by-law pay raise for the troops, the highest in 9 years;
  • Authorizing increased end­-strength across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard;
  • Extending special pay and bonuses for servicemembers;
  • Expanding the Department’s authority to award constructive service credit for those entering the military with advanced education, experience, and training to help the military compete with the private sector in recruiting talent with specialized skills;
  • Making permanent the Career Intermission Program, which allows servicemembers to take a break from active service to pursue personal interests, family needs, professional education, or career opportunities.

Caring for our troops and their families by:

  • Enhancing ongoing Military Health System organizational reforms for the Services to transition military medical treatment facilities to the Defense Health Agency by ensuring no military medical treatment facility will be closed or downgraded until the completion of the transition to the Defense Health Agency; 
  • Requiring DOD to assess the ability of the Defense Health Agency to deliver mental health care services and review research efforts involving Traumatic Brain Injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and post-traumatic stress disorder;
  • Requiring the Secretary of Defense to update and review the policy and procedures related to wounded warrior care coordination, administrative support, and facility standards;
  • Requiring the Department of Defense to establish a prescription drug monitoring program and share information with state prescription drug monitoring programs; 
  • Overhauling the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to provide servicemembers tailored resources and information as they prepare to enter civilian life.

Oversight of critical issues, including:

  • Requiring the Department of Defense Education Agency (DODEA) to consolidate juvenile misconduct data into one centralized reporting database;   
  • Directing the Secretary of the Army to take steps to extend the life of Arlington National Cemetery;
  • Requiring the Army Marketing Group to implement measures to improve advertising and marketing campaign effectiveness and also to uphold accountability by withholding a portion of funding until required action is taken;
  • Improving crime reporting by requiring DOD to establish centralized oversight to ensure criminal data is transmitted to the FBI database.

Protecting servicemembers and their families from Sexual Assault by:

  • Expanding eligibility for the expedited transfer process following sexual assault to include additional Active Duty personnel and cadets at military service academies;
  • Requiring DOD to establish a comprehensive oversight plan for implementation of the Department’s new harassment prevention and response policy;

Mandating increased DOD oversight of those required to register as sex offenders.

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