10 U.S.C. § 1781b: Department of Defense policy and plans for military family readiness

The Secretary of Defense shall develop a policy and plans for the Department of Defense for the support of military family readiness. To ensure that the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense are comprehensive, effective, and properly supported. To ensure that support is continuously available to military families in peacetime and in war, as well as during periods of force structure change and relocation of military units. To ensure that the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense are available to all military families, including military families of members of the regular components, the reserve components, and the Space Force. To make military family readiness an explicit element of applicable Department of Defense plans, programs, and budgeting activities, and that achievement of military family readiness is expressed through Department-wide goals that are identifiable and measurable. To ensure that the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense undergo continuous evaluation in order to ensure that resources are allocated and expended for such programs and activities to achieve Department-wide family readiness goals. A list of military family readiness programs and activities. Department of Defense-wide goals for military family support, including joint programs, for military families of members of the regular components, members of the reserve components, and members of the Space Force. Policies on access to military family support programs and activities based on military family populations served and geographical location. Metrics to measure the performance and effectiveness of the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense. A summary, by fiscal year, of the allocation of funds (including appropriated funds and nonappropriated funds) for major categories of military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense, set forth for each of the military departments and for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. identify remote military installations; and assess and manage challenges associated with remote military installations and military personnel assigned to remote locations. Activities and facilities for the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of the Armed Forces. Availability of housing, located on and off remote military installations. Educational services for dependents of members of the Armed Forces, located on and off remote military installations. Availability of health care. Employment opportunities for military spouses. Risks associated with having insufficient support services for members of the Armed Forces and their dependents. Not later than March 1, 2023 , the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report setting forth the policy under this section. In this section, the term ‘military installation’ has the meaning given that term in section 2801 of title 10 , United States Code.” In determining whether to proceed with any basing decision associated with a covered military unit or major headquarters in the United States after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Jan. 1, 2021 ], the Secretary of the military department concerned shall take into account, among such other factors as that Secretary considers appropriate, the military family readiness considerations specified in this section, including those military family readiness considerations specified pursuant to subsection (e). has entered into reciprocity agreements to recognize and accept professional and occupational licensure and certification credentials granted by or in other States; or allows for the transfer of such licenses and certifications granted by or in other States. With regard to the military housing area in which an installation subject to a basing decision covered by subsection (a) is or will be located, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall take into account the extent to which housing (including military family housing) that meets Department of Defense requirements is available and accessible to members of the Armed Forces through the private sector in such military housing area. With regard to the community in which an installation subject to a basing decision covered by subsection (a) is or will be located, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall take into account the extent to which primary healthcare and specialty healthcare is available and accessible to dependents, including dependents with disabilities, of members of the Armed Forces through the private sector in such local community. The Secretary of the military department concerned shall take into account such other considerations in connection with military family readiness as the Secretary of Defense shall specify for purposes of compliance with this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the Secretary of a military department to make a basing decision covered by subsection (a) that the Secretary determines would diminish military readiness or impede military mission for the purpose of military family readiness. quantitative data available within the Department of Defense; and such reliable quantitative data from sources outside the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate. The Secretary of the military department concerned shall establish a scorecard for military installations under the jurisdiction of such Secretary, and for States and localities in which such installations are or may be located, to facilitate taking into account the considerations specified in this section whenever that Secretary makes a basing decision covered by subsection (a). The Secretary of the military department concerned shall update the scorecard established by that Secretary under this subsection not less frequently than once each year in order to keep the information in such scorecard as current as is practicable. A current version of each scorecard established under this subsection shall be available to the public through an Internet website of the military department concerned. Each Secretary of a military department shall publish on the website described in subparagraph (A) the methodology and criteria each time such Secretary establishes or updates a scorecard. Each Secretary of a military department shall establish a 60-day public comment period beginning on each date of publication of such methodology and criteria. In establishing or updating a scorecard under this subsection, each Secretary of the military department concerned shall coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to ensure consistency across the military departments. Not later than April 1 of each of 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Secretary of Defense shall brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on actions taken pursuant to this section, including a description and assessment of the effect of the taking into account of the considerations specified in this section on particular basing decisions in the United States during the one-year period ending on the date of the briefing. The term ‘covered military unit’ means a unit of the Armed Forces whose initial assignment to a military installation or relocation from a military installation to a different military installation requires the preparation of an environmental impact statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The term ‘major headquarters’ means the headquarters of a unit of the Armed Forces or command that is the appropriate command of a general officer or flag officer.”