ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

SEC. 652. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. (a) Authority.—(1) Subchapter I of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “§ 1788. Additional family assistance “(a) Authority.—The Secretary of Defense may provide for the families of members of the armed forces serving on active duty, in addition to any other assistance available for such families, any assistance that the Secretary considers appropriate to ensure that the children of such members obtain needed child care, education, and other youth services. “(b) Primary Purpose of Assistance.—The assistance authorized by this section should be directed primarily toward providing needed family support, including child care, education, and other youth services, for children of members of the Armed Forces who are deployed, assigned to duty, or ordered to active duty in connection with a contingency operation.”. (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: “1788. Additional family assistance.”. (b) Effective Date.—Section 1788 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2002.