REPORT RELATING TO IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSING FOR UNACCOMPANIED MEMBERS.

SEC. 2805. REPORT RELATING TO IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSING FOR UNACCOMPANIED MEMBERS. (a) Report Required.— (1) Not later than April 1, 1999, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on— (A) the plans of each of the military departments to improve the condition, suitability, and availability of housing for members of the Armed Forces who are unaccompanied by dependents; and (B) the costs associated with the implementation of the plans. (2) The Secretary of Defense shall prepare the report in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments. (b) Elements.— The report under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) The plans and programs of each of the military departments to improve housing on military installations for unaccompanied members of the Armed Forces, including an assessment of the requirement, a schedule to implement such plans and programs, and an explanation of the standards used to determine the adequacy, suitability, and availability of housing outside of military installations. (2) A justification for the initiative to build single occupancy rooms with a shared bath (commonly known as the “1 Plus 1 Initiative”), including— 112 STAT. 2204 (A) a description of the manner in which the initiative is designed to enhance the quality of life for enlisted members and the retention of such members in adequate numbers; and (B) an assessment of the analysis and data used in the justification to implement the initiative. (3) The cost for each military department of implementing the initiative, including the amount of funds, by fiscal year, authorized and appropriated for military construction and real property maintenance obligated or expended on the improvement of military housing for unaccompanied members beginning on October 1, 1996, and the amount of funds required to be expended to ensure the suitability of such housing for unaccompanied members. (4) An explanation of the difference in cost between— (A) upgrading existing military housing to the standard proposed in the initiative; and (B) rehabilitating such housing within existing standards. (5) An assessment of the viability and utility of the authorities provided by subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, to contribute to the improvement of the condition, suitability, and availability of housing for unaccompanied members, especially members in junior grades. (6) The views of the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and each of the senior enlisted members of the Armed Forces regarding the initiative referred to in paragraph (2) and regarding any alternatives to the initiative having the potential of enhancing the quality of life for unaccompanied members, improving the readiness of the Armed Forces, and improving the retention of enlisted members in adequate numbers.