Sec. 599C. Plan to combat racial bias, discrimination, and harassment against Asian American service members, civilians, and contractor personnel
368 words·~2 min read·
/bill/117/hr/7900/pcs/section-599c·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that: Asian American service members, civilians, and contractors serve with honor and distinction in the Department of Defense. Asian Americans continue to be underrepresented in the Department of Defense and other national security agencies, especially at senior leadership and general and flag officer levels. Greater recruitment, retention, and inclusion of Asian American personnel, particularly those with language skills and cultural competencies, is critical to implementation of the Administration’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance and National Defense Strategy, both of which place greater emphasis on strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Department of Defense has a responsibility to take meaningful action in addressing the higher rates of racially or ethnically rooted bias, discrimination, and harassment experienced and reported by service members, civilians, and contractor personnel of Asian American descent, especially women. Protecting and upholding our values in diversity, equity, and inclusion at home are essential to our efforts in promoting democracy and inclusion abroad. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes— an assessment of the extent to which Department of Defense service members, civilians, and contractor personnel experience anti-Asian bias, discrimination, or harassment, including contributing factors such as the security clearance review process; a review of Department of Defense programs, policies, and practices that impact diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, especially with respect to such service members, civilians, and contractor personnel who are Asian Americans; and recommendations, developed in consultation with Asian American organizations, to address unconscious bias, discrimination, and harassment targeted at Asian Americans and to improve recruitment and retention of Asian American service members, civilians, and contractor personnel, including accountability measures and improvements to services to inform and support personnel with resolving discrimination complaints through administrative or judicial processes; and make the report required under paragraph
(1)publicly available on the website of the Department of Defense. Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— implement the recommendations described in subsection (b)(1)(C); and provide to the congressional defense committees an update on the implementation of such recommendations.