DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY FAMILY READINESS COUNCIL AND POLICY AND PLANS FOR MILITARY FAMILY READINESS.

SEC. 581. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY FAMILY READINESS COUNCIL AND POLICY AND PLANS FOR MILITARY FAMILY READINESS.(a) In General.—Subchapter I of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1781 the following new sections:“§ 1781a. Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council“(a) In General.—There is in the Department of Defense the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council (in this section referred to as the ‘Council’).“(b) Members.—(1) The Council shall consist of the following members:“(A) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, who shall serve as chair of the Council.“(B) One representative of each of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.“(C) Three individuals appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among representatives of military family organizations, including military family organizations of families of members of the regular components and of families of members of the reserve components.“(D) In addition to the representatives appointed under subparagraph (B), the senior enlisted advisors of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, or the spouse of a senior 122 STAT. 121 enlisted member from each of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.“(2) The term on the Council of the members appointed under paragraph (1)(C) shall be three years.“(c) Meetings.—The Council shall meet not less often than twice each year.“(d) Duties.—The duties of the Council shall include the following:“(1) To review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense regarding the policy and plans required under section 1781b of this title.“(2) To monitor requirements for the support of military family readiness by the Department of Defense.“(3) To evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense.“(e) Annual Reports.—(1) Not later than February 1 each year, the Council shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees a report on military family readiness.“(2) Each report under this subsection shall include the following:“(A) An assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense during the preceding fiscal year in meeting the needs and requirements of military families.“(B) Recommendations on actions to be taken to improve the capability of the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense to meet the needs and requirements of military families, including actions relating to the allocation of funding and other resources to and among such programs and activities. “§ 1781b. Department of Defense policy and plans for military family readiness“(a) Policy and Plans Required.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop a policy and plans for the Department of Defense for the support of military family readiness.“(b) Purposes.—The purposes of the policy and plans required under subsection (a) are as follows:“(1) To ensure that the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense are comprehensive, effective, and properly supported.“(2) To ensure that support is continuously available to military families in peacetime and in war, as well as during periods of force structure change and relocation of military units.“(3) To ensure that the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense are available to all military families, including military families of members of the regular components and military families of members of the reserve components.“(4) To make military family readiness an explicit element of applicable Department of Defense plans, programs, and budgeting activities, and that achievement of military family readiness is expressed through Department-wide goals that are identifiable and measurable.122 STAT. 122“(5) To ensure that the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense undergo continuous evaluation in order to ensure that resources are allocated and expended for such programs and activities to achieve Department-wide family readiness goals.“(c) Elements of Policy.—The policy required under subsection (a) shall include the following elements:“(1) A list of military family readiness programs and activities.“(2) Department of Defense-wide goals for military family support, including joint programs, both for military families of members of the regular components and military families of members of the reserve components.“(3) Policies on access to military family support programs and activities based on military family populations served and geographical location.“(4) Metrics to measure the performance and effectiveness of the military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense.“(5) A summary, by fiscal year, of the allocation of funds (including appropriated funds and nonappropriated funds) for major categories of military family readiness programs and activities of the Department of Defense, set forth for each of the military departments and for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.“(d) Annual Report.—Not later than March 1, 2008, and each year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plans required under subsection (a) for the five-fiscal year period beginning with the fiscal year in which the report is submitted. Each report shall include the plans covered by the report and an assessment of the discharge by the Department of Defense of the previous plans submitted under this section.” .(b) Report on Military Family Readiness Policy.—Not later than February 1, 2009, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the policy developed under section 1781b of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).(c) Surveys of Military Families.—Section 1782 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(d) Survey Required for Fiscal Year 2010.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), during fiscal year 2010, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a survey otherwise authorized under such subsection. Thereafter, additional surveys may be conducted not less often than once every three fiscal years.”.(d) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 88 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1781 the following new items: “1781a. Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council. “1781b. Department of Defense policy and plans for military family readiness.”.