REPORT ON TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION OF CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS.

SEC. 535. REPORT ON TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION OF CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS.(a) Report Required.—Not later than September 1, 2008, the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to the congressional defense committees and the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the feasibility and merits of transferring the administration of the educational assistance programs for members of the reserve components contained in chapters 1606 and 1607 of title 10, United States Code, from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs.(b) Elements of Report.—The report shall specifically address the following:(1) A discussion of the history and purpose of the educational assistance benefits under chapters 1606 and 1607 of title 10, United States Code, and the data most recently available, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, relating to the cost of providing such benefits and the projected costs 122 STAT. 113 of providing such benefits over the ten-year period beginning on the such date.(2) The effect of a transfer of administrative jurisdiction on the delivery of educational assistance benefits to members of the reserve components.(3) The effect of a transfer of administrative jurisdiction on Department of Defense efforts relating to recruiting, retention, and compensation, including bonuses, special pays, and incentive pays.(4) The extent to which educational assistance benefits influence the decision of a person to join a reserve component.(5) The extent to which the educational assistance benefits available under chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code, affect retention rates, including statistics showing how many members remain in the reserve components in order to continue to receive education benefits under such chapter.(6) The extent to which the educational assistance benefits available under chapter 1607 of title 10, United States Code, affect retention rates, including statistics showing how many members remain in the reserve components in order to continue to receive education benefits under such chapter.(7) The practical and budgetary issues involved in a transfer of administrative jurisdiction, including a discussion of the cost of equating the educational assistance benefits for members of the active and reserve components.(8) Any recommendations of the Secretary for legislation to enhance or improve the delivery of educational assistance benefits for members of the reserve components.(9) The feasibility and likely effects of transferring the administration of the educational assistance programs for members of the reserve components contained in chapters 1606 and 1607 of title 10, United States Code, from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs through the recodification of such chapters in title 38, United States Code, as proposed in section 525 of H.R. 1585 of the 110th Congress, as passed by the House of Representatives, together with any recommendations of the Secretary for improving that section.(10) A discussion of the effects and impact of the amendments to chapter 1607 of title 10, United States Code, made by section 530 of this Act, relating to the extension of the time limit for the use of educational assistance benefits under that chapter.(c) Reviews of Report.—Before submission of the report to Congress, the Secretary of Defense shall secure the review of the report by the Defense Business Board, in cooperation with the Reserve Forces Policy Board. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall secure the review of the report by the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Education. The results of such reviews shall be included as an appendix to the report.(d) Comptroller General Review.—Not later than November 1, 2008, the Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional committees referred to in subsection (a) an assessment of the report, including a review of the costs inherent in the transfer of administrative jurisdiction and the recruiting and retention data and other assumptions used by the Secretary of Defense in preparing the report. As part of the assessment, the Comptroller General shall 122 STAT. 114 solicit responses from the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.