ACCESS TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FOR CERTAIN SURVIVING SPOUSES AND OTHER NEXT OF KIN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO DIE WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY OR CERTAIN RESERVE DUTY.

SEC. 626. [10 U.S.C. 113 note] ACCESS TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FOR CERTAIN SURVIVING SPOUSES AND OTHER NEXT OF KIN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO DIE WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY OR CERTAIN RESERVE DUTY. (a) Procedures for Access of Surviving Spouses Required.—The Secretary of Defense, acting jointly with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall establish procedures by which an eligible surviving spouse may obtain unescorted access, as appropriate, to military installations in order to receive benefits to which the eligible surviving spouse may be entitled by law or policy. (b) Procedures for Access of Next of Kin Authorized.— (1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense, acting jointly with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish procedures by which the next of kin of a covered member of the Armed Forces, in addition to an eligible surviving spouse, may obtain access to military installations for such purposes and under such conditions as the Secretaries jointly consider appropriate. (2) Next of kin.—If the Secretaries establish procedures pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall jointly specify the individuals who shall constitute next of kin for purposes of such procedures. (c) Considerations.—Any procedures established under this section shall— (1) be applied consistently across the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, including all components of the Departments; (2) minimize any administrative burden on a surviving spouse or dependent child, including through the elimination of any requirement for a surviving spouse to apply as a personal agent for continued access to military installations in accompaniment of a dependent child; (3) take into account measures required to ensure the security of military installations, including purpose and eligibility for access and renewal periodicity; and (4) take into account such other factors as the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security considers appropriate. (d) Deadline.—The procedures required by subsection (a) shall be established by the date that is not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (e) Definitions.—In this section: (1) The term “eligible surviving spouse” means an individual who is a surviving spouse of a covered member of the Armed Forces, without regard to whether the individual remarries after the death of the covered member of the Armed Forces. (2) The term “covered member of the Armed Forces” means a member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving— (A) on active duty; or (B) on such reserve duty as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security may jointly specify for purposes of this section.