IMPROVEMENT OF AUTHORITIES ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY EDUCATION PROGRAM.

SEC. 945. IMPROVEMENT OF AUTHORITIES ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY EDUCATION PROGRAM.(a) Expansion of Employment Creditable Under Service Agreements.—Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of section 802 of the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 (50 U.S.C. 1902) is amended to read as follows:“(2)(A) will (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense in coordination with the heads of the other Federal departments and agencies concerned) begin work not later than three years after the recipient’s completion of degree study during which scholarship assistance was provided under the program—“(i) for not less than one year in a position certified by the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of State (as appropriate), as contributing to the national security of the United States in the Department of Defense, any element of the intelligence community, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of State; or“(ii) for not less than one year in a position in a Federal agency or office that is identified by the Secretary of Defense under subsection (g) as having national security responsibilities if the recipient demonstrates to the Secretary that no position is available in the departments and agencies covered by clause (i); or“(B) will (in accordance with such regulations) begin work not later than two years after the recipient’s completion or termination of study for which fellowship assistance was provided under the program—“(i) for not less than one year in a position certified by the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of State (as appropriate), as contributing to the national security of the United States in the Department of Defense, any element of the intelligence community, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of State; or“(ii) for not less than one year in a position in a Federal agency or office that is identified by the Secretary of Defense under subsection (g) as having national security responsibilities if the recipient demonstrates to the Secretary that no position is available in the departments and agencies covered by clause (i); and”.(b) Temporary Employment and Retention of Certain Participants.—Such section is further amended—(1) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections (i) and (j), respectively; and(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection (h):“(h) Temporary Employment and Retention of Certain Participants.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense may—120 STAT. 2368“(A) appoint or retain a person provided scholarship or fellowship assistance under the program in a position in the Department of Defense on an interim basis during the period of the person’s pursuit of a degree under the program and for a period not to exceed two years after completion of the degree, but only if, in the case of the period after completion of the degree, there is an active investigation to provide security clearance to the person for an appropriate permanent position in the Department of Defense under subsection (b)(2); and“(B) if there is no appropriate permanent position available for the person after the end of the periods described in subparagraph (A), separate the person from employment with the Department without regard to any other provision of law, in which event the service agreement of the person under subsection (b) shall terminate.“(2) Treatment of certain service.—The period of service of a person covered by paragraph (1) in a position on an interim basis under that paragraph shall, after completion of the degree, be treated as a period of service for purposes of satisfying the obligated service requirements of the person under the service agreement of the person under subsection (b).”.(c) Plan for Improving Program.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a plan for improving the recruitment, placement, and retention within the Department of Defense of individuals who receive scholarships or fellowships under the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 (50 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) in order to facilitate the purposes of that Act in meeting the requirements of the Department in acquiring individuals with critical foreign language skills and individuals who are regional experts.