Sec. 624. Improvements to basic allowance for housing
718 words·~3 min read·
/bill/119/s/1071/eah/section-624A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Defense shall seek to improve transparency of the calculation of BAH by— developing a clear, accessible document that explains how rates of BAH are determined, including methodology and types of data sources used, which shall be— reviewed and updated not less frequently than annually and as rates and calculation methods change; and made available on a publicly accessible internet website and distributed across all relevant components of the Department of Defense; and providing to members of the Armed Forces when such members experience a permanent change of station, permanent change of assignment, change in dependency status, change in grade, or any other event that may impact the eligibility of such members for or rate of BAH— the information included in the document developed under paragraph (1); and an explanation of the type of rental housing the rate of BAH received by such members is intended to support in each locality.
Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with a covered entity to conduct a study in which the covered entity— assesses the adequacy of the current BAH for MHAs selected under paragraph (3), including a review of the commuting times and distances of members of the Armed Forces and the overall affordability of housing in such MHAs; reviews existing methods of calculating BAH and proposes methods of calculating BAH described in paragraph
(2)for MHAs selected under paragraph
(3)that are more efficient and accurate than such existing methods, as appropriate; and evaluates the feasibility and advisability of using machine learning and artificial intelligence in the calculation of BAH and, if feasible and advisable, incorporates machine learning and artificial intelligence into the proposed methods described in clause (i). During the study conducted in accordance with subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall pay BAH in MHAs selected under paragraph
(3)at rates prescribed under section 403 of title 37, United States Code. A proposed monthly rate of BAH described in this paragraph— accurately reflects housing prices in the MHA subject to such rate; and is sufficient for military families who reside in such MHA to procure adequate and affordable housing. The Secretary shall select not fewer than 15 MHAs for the covered entity to evaluate in the study conducted in accordance with paragraph (1). In selecting MHAs for evaluation under such study, the Secretary shall consider factors including the following: Variety of geographic location. The ranks of members who reside in an MHA. Whether members who reside in an MHA have dependents. Economic factors including inflation, cost of living, and the cost of private mortgage insurance. An agreement entered into under paragraph (1)(A) shall require the study conducted under such agreement to be completed not later than the date that is three years after the date on which the Secretary and the covered entity enter into such agreement. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter until the completion of the study conducted in accordance with paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the status of the study under this section. Not later than 120 days after the date of the completion of the study conducted in accordance with paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the results of such study. Such report shall include— an evaluation by the Secretary of the proposed methods of calculating BAH by a covered entity pursuant to an agreement under paragraph (1); and any recommendations of the Secretary for legislation to improve the methods of calculating BAH based on the study. In this section: The term BAH means the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services under section 403 of title 37, United States Code. The term covered entity means an entity or combination of entities— with combined expertise in data analysis and machine learning and access to relevant data on local rental rates in real estate markets in the MHAs selected under subsection (b)(3); and that has not participated in anticompetitive price-fixing in a real estate market. The term MHA means military housing area.