VIETNAM WARTIME ACCOUNTING INITIATIVE.

SEC. 1245. [10 U.S.C. 113 note] VIETNAM WARTIME ACCOUNTING INITIATIVE. (a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, may carry out a cooperative program with the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam and other entities of the Government of Vietnam to assist in accounting for killed or missing Vietnamese persons from the Vietnam War (referred to in this section as “missing persons from the Vietnam War”). (b) Purpose.—The purpose of the cooperative program under subsection (a) is to carry out the following activities: (1) Collection, digitization, verification, and sharing of archival information. (2) Building the capacity of Vietnam to manage archival information and personal data. (3) Supporting activities to build the capacity of Vietnam for locating, recovering, and conducting DNA analysis and identification of missing persons from the Vietnam War. (4) Increasing exchanges, training, and dialogue among veterans and families of missing persons from the Vietnam War. (5) Other support activities the Secretary of Defense considers necessary and appropriate. (c) Designation of Lead Coordinating Office.—The Secretary shall designate an office within the Department of Defense to serve as the lead coordinating office for the program carried out under this section. (d) Termination.—The authority provided by subsection (a) shall terminate on October 1, 2031.