REVIEWS OF NATIONAL GUARD STRENGTH ACCOUNTING AND MANAGEMENT AND OTHER ISSUES.

SEC. 511. REVIEWS OF NATIONAL GUARD STRENGTH ACCOUNTING AND MANAGEMENT AND OTHER ISSUES. (a) Comptroller General Assessments.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on management of the National Guard. The report shall include the following: (1) The Comptroller General’s assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of Department of Defense plans for improving management and accounting for personnel strengths in the National Guard, including an assessment of the process that the Department of Defense, the National Guard Bureau, the Army National Guard and State-level National Guard leadership, and leadership in the other reserve components have for identifying and addressing in a timely manner specific units in which nonparticipation rates are significantly in excess of the established norms. (2) The Comptroller General’s assessment of the effectiveness of the process for Federal recognition of senior National Guard officers and recommendations for improvement to that process. (3) The Comptroller General’s assessment of the process for, and the nature and extent of, the administrative or judicial corrective action taken by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of the Air Force as a result of Inspector General investigations or other investigations in which allegations against senior National Guard officers are substantiated in whole or in part. (4) The Comptroller General’s determination of the effectiveness of the Federal protections provided for members or employees of the National Guard who report allegations of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement and the nature and extent to which corrective action is taken against those in the National Guard who retaliate against such members or employees. (b) Secretary Of Defense Report on Different Army and Air Force Procedures.—Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the differing Army and Air Force policies for taking adverse administrative actions against National Guard officers 116 STAT. 2537in a State status. The report shall include the Secretary’s determination as to whether changes should be made in those policies.