Sec. 596. National Commission on Quality of Life for the All-Volunteer Armed Force
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There is established an independent commission in the legislative branch to be known as the Commission on Quality of Life for the All-Volunteer Armed Force (in this section referred to as the Commission ). The Commission shall carry out the following duties: Establish a framework for making an objective, metrics-informed assessment of quality of life for members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees across the Department of Defense. Such framework shall include factors related to compensation, morale, military families, military and civilian spouse employment, benefits, occupational health and safety, living conditions, and any other factors that the Commission deems appropriate.
Using the framework established in subparagraph (A), make an initial assessment of quality of life for members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees across the Department of Defense, including separate analyses for members of the Armed Forces and civilians at the junior, mid-grade, and senior levels, as well as any other relevant subpopulations that the Commission deems appropriate. As appropriate, make specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound policy recommendations to improve quality of life for members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees across the Department of Defense.
Such recommendations shall include considerations of the following factors: Current military personnel requirements of the Department of Defense, with particular attention to critical skills specialties for which existing personnel policies are inadequate to recruit and retain members of the Armed Forces to meet such current requirements. Current civilian personnel requirements of the Department of Defense, with particular attention to critical skills specialties for which existing personnel policies are inadequate to recruit and retain civilians to meet such requirements.
Best practices in military recruiting, retention, talent management, and career management for both the active and reserve components, including Department of Defense and service-specific policies related to military assignments, promotion, evaluation, and professional development. Budget requirements, including foreseeable risks and benefits of trade-offs between personnel investments and investments in readiness, acquisitions, and research and development in the Department of Defense.
Examine the ways in which the Department of Defense communicates its employee value proposition both to current members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees and also to prospective recruits and employees of the Department of Defense, and make recommendations for improvement. Assess and make recommendations for the Department of Defense to communicate the value and benefits of military and civilian service to the American public. Submit a comprehensive report, including all of the Commission’s analysis, findings, recommendations, and any legislative or regulatory proposals necessary to implement the Commission’s recommendations.
The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties under this section. The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out its duties under this section. Upon request of the co-chairs of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services, goods, and property from non-Federal entities for the purposes of aiding and facilitating the work of the Commission. The authority under this paragraph does not extend to gifts of money. The Commission shall document gifts accepted under the authority provided by clause
(i)and shall avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest. Except as specifically provided in this section, a member of the Commission shall comply with rules set forth by the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate and the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives governing employees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively. Not later than December 31, 2025, the Commission shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives an unclassified report, with classified annexes if necessary, that includes the initial findings and any preliminary recommendations of the Commission as a result of the studies required under this section, with a final report, recommendations, and any legislative proposals as the Commission considers appropriate in light of the results of the studies to be submitted at a time agreed subsequent to the submission if the initial report. The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of whom— one shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate; one shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; one shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; one shall be appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; one shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and one shall be appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. There shall be two Co-Chairs of the Commission. The Republican leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives shall jointly select one Co-Chair, and the Democratic leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives shall jointly select the other. Members shall be appointed to the commission under paragraph
(1)by not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Individuals making appointments under paragraph shall provide notice of the appointments to the Secretary of Defense (in this section referred to as the Secretary ). In making appointments under this subsection, consideration shall be given to individuals with expertise in— labor economics; human resources and talent management military personnel law and policy; sales, advertising, and marketing; military strategy and force structure; civil service laws and policies; demography; education and training; and American military history. Officers or employees of the Federal Government (other than experts or consultants the services of which are procured under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code) may not be appointed as members of the Commission. Members of Congress may not serve on the Commission. Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A member may be removed from the Commission for cause by the individual serving in the position responsible for the original appointment of such member under paragraph (1), provided that notice has first been provided to such member of the cause for removal and voted and agreed upon by three quarters of the members serving. A vacancy created by the removal of a member under this subsection shall not affect the powers of the Commission, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. A majority of the members serving on the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed as published in the Congressional Record, the Commission shall hold its initial meeting. Notwithstanding the requirements of section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, including the required supervision under subsection (a)(3) of such section, members of the Commission shall be deemed to be Federal employees in the legislative branch subject to all the laws and policies applicable to legislative branch employees. Notwithstanding the provision of section 2903(b) of title 5, United States Code, an employee of an executive branch agency, otherwise authorized to administer oaths under section 2903 of title 5, United States Code, may administer the oath of office to Commissioners for the purpose of their service to the Commission. The appropriate Federal departments or agencies shall cooperate with the Commission in expeditiously providing to the Commission members and staff appropriate security clearances to the extent possible pursuant to existing procedures and requirements, except that no person may be provided with access to classified information under this Act without the appropriate security clearances. Each member of the Commission may be compensated at a rate not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission. The Co-Chairs of the Commission may appoint and fix the rate of basic pay for an Executive Director in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code. The Executive Director may appoint and fix the rate of basic pay for additional personnel as staff of the Commission in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code. On a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis, the heads of departments and agencies of the Federal Government may provide, and the Commission may accept, personnel detailed from such departments and agencies, including active duty military personnel. The members and staff of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission. Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for support of the Commission, the Secretary may make transfers to the Commission for commission expenses, including compensation of commission members, officers, and employees, and provision of other such services, funds, facilities, and other support services as necessary for the performance of the Commission's functions. Funds made available to support and provide assistance to the Commission may be used for payment of compensation of members, officers, and employees of the Commission without transfer under this subparagraph. Amounts transferred under this subparagraph shall remain available until expended. Transfer authority provided by this subparagraph is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law. Section 2215 of title 10, United States Code, shall not apply to a transfer of funds under this subparagraph. The Secretary of the Treasury may establish an account or accounts for the Commission from which any amounts transferred under this clause may be used for activities of the Commission. The Secretary shall designate at least one officer or employee of the Department of Defense to serve as a liaison officer between the Department and the Commission. To the extent that funds are available for such purpose, or on a reimbursable basis, the Secretary may, at the request of the Co-Chairs of the Commission— enter into contracts for the acquisition of administrative supplies and equipment for use by the Commission; and make available the services of a federally funded research and development center or an independent, nongovernmental organization, described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code. Upon the appointment of the Co-Chairs under subsection (b), the Secretary may provide administrative support authorized under this section necessary to facilitate the standing up of the Commission. The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the submission of the report required under subsection (a)(4).