Sec. 671. PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND DEFINITIONS
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/statute-compilations/comps-10359/sec-671A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
## SEC. 671 PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND DEFINITIONS ###
(a)Purpose The purpose of this subtitle is to establish the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission to conduct a review of the military compensation and retirement systems and to make recommendations to modernize such systems in order to— ####
(1)ensure the long-term viability of the All-Volunteer Force by sustaining the required human resources of that force during all levels of conflict and economic conditions; ####
(2)enable the quality of life for members of the Armed Forces and the other uniformed services and their families in a manner that fosters successful recruitment, retention, and careers for members of the Armed Forces and the other uniformed services; and ####
(3)modernize and achieve fiscal sustainability for the compensation and retirement systems for the Armed Forces and the other uniformed services for the 21st century. ###
(b)Scope of Review ####
(1)Required elements of review In order to provide the fullest understanding of the matters required to balance the primary purpose of the review specified in subsection (a), the Commission shall make its recommendations for changes to the military compensation and retirement systems only after— #####
(A)examining all laws, policies, and practices of the Federal Government that result in any direct payment of authorized or appropriated funds to— ######
(i)current and former members (veteran and retired) of the uniformed services, including the reserve components of those services; and ######
(ii)the spouses, family members, children, survivors, and other persons authorized to receive such payments as a result of their connection to the members of the uniformed services named in clause (i); #####
(B)examining all laws, policies, and practices of the Federal Government that result in any expenditure of authorized or appropriated funds to support the persons named in subparagraph
(A)and their quality of life, including— ######
(i)health, disability, survivor, education, and dependent support programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including outlays from the various Federal trust funds supporting those programs; ######
(ii)Department of Education impact aid; ######
(iii)support or funding provided to States, territories, colleges and universities; ######
(iv)Department of Defense morale, recreation, and welfare programs, the resale programs (military exchanges and commissaries), and dependent school system; ######
(v)the tax treatment of military compensation and benefits; and ######
(vi)military family housing; and #####
(C)such other matters as the Commission considers appropriate. ####
(2)Priorities In weighing its recommendations on those matters necessary to sustain the human resources of the All-Volunteer Force, the Commission shall— #####
(A)pay particular attention to the interrelationships and interplay of impact between and among the various programs of the Federal Government, especially as those programs influence decisions of persons about joining the uniformed services and of members of the uniformed services about remaining in the those services; and #####
(B)closely weigh its recommendations regarding the web of interrelated programs supporting spouses and families of members of the uniformed services, so that changes in such programs do not adversely impact decisions to remain in the uniformed services. ####
(3)Exception The Commission shall not examine any program that uses appropriated funding for initial entry training or unit training of members of the uniformed services. ###
(c)Definitions In this subtitle: ####
(1)The term “Armed Forces” has the meaning given the term “armed forces” in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code. ####
(2)The term “Commission” means the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission established by section 672. ####
(3)The term “Commission establishment date” means the first day of the first month beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. ####
(4)The term “military compensation and retirement systems” means the military compensation system and the military retirement system. ####
(5)The term “military compensation system” means provisions of law providing eligibility for and the computation of military compensation, including regular military compensation, special and incentive pays and allowances, medical and dental care, educational assistance and related benefits, and commissary and exchange benefits and related benefits and activities, and includes any other laws, policies, or practices of the Federal Government that result in any direct payment of authorized or appropriated funds to the persons specified in subsection (b)(1)(A). ####
(6)The term “military retirement system” means retirement benefits, including retired pay based upon service in the uniformed services and survivor annuities based upon such service. ####
(7)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Defense. ####
(8)The term “uniformed services” has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code. ####
(9)The terms “veterans service organization” and “military-related advocacy group or association” mean an organization whose primary purpose is to advocate for veterans, military personnel, military retirees, or military families.