Text of Senate Amendment 6037

On 2026-06-24, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6037" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6037

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3242] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6037. Mr. PADILLA submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place in title V, insert the following: SEC. __. PILOT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND MILITARY FAMILIES TRANSITIONING TO CIVILIAN LIFE. (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a non-clinical, community-based pilot program under which eligible organizations shall provide support to members of the Armed Forces and military families transitioning to civilian life. (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the pilot program shall be-- (1) to provide personalized, whole-family transition and wellness support to strengthen resilience, stability, and long-term well-being during and after separation from the Armed Forces; and (2) to treat transition as a whole-family life change and complement (not duplicate) the Transition Assistance Program through upstream, preventative support. (c) Locations; Duration.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out the pilot program at four geographically diverse military installations during the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Locations.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out the pilot program at one military installation in each of the following areas: (A) The West Coast of the United States. (B) The Midwest of the United States. (C) The East Coast of the United States. (D) Outside of the United States. (3) Preference.--In selecting locations for the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall give preference to locations that serve as major force projection platforms. (d) Eligible Organizations; Selection.--The Secretary of Defense shall select organizations to participate in the pilot program from among national organizations serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families with a demonstrated capability to execute national programs through a community-based lens to provide or coordinate the provision of military transition services for such individuals. (e) Eligible Members and Families; Priority; Referrals.-- (1) In general.--An individual is eligible for services under the pilot program if the individual is-- (A) a member of the Armed Forces on active duty who is within one year of separation from the Armed Forces, including a single member without dependents; or (B) a member of the family of a member of the Armed Forces described in subparagraph (A). (2) Priority.--In selecting members of the Armed Forces and families for the pilot program, organizations participating in the pilot program shall prioritize-- (A) members of the Armed Forces facing accelerated or involuntary separations from the Armed Forces, and families of such members; and (B) members of the Armed Forces with limited time for transition planning, and families of such members. (3) Referrals.--Eligible members of the Armed Forces and families may be referred to the pilot program through any of the following: (A) The Transition Assistance Program. (B) The command of the member. (C) A partner organization. (D) Self-referral. (f) Activities.-- (1) In general.--Under the pilot program, each organization participating in the pilot program, in collaboration with local Transition Assistance Program offices, shall-- (A) identify eligible members of the Armed Forces and families; (B) provide to such members and families, during the one- year period following separation from the Armed Forces, the services described in paragraph (2); and (C) track the progress of such members and families. (2) Services.--In carrying out paragraph (1)(B), each organization participating in the pilot program shall-- (A) provide resources, training, and community connection support, including-- (i) peer-led support groups; (ii) resilience workshops; (iii) a digital resource hub focused on emotional wellness, practical life skills, and community reintegration for spouses, children, and caregivers; (iv) employment assistance for spouses; (v) skills training and credentialing; (vi) benefits navigation; and (vii) reintegration and wellness support; (B) assign each single member of the Armed Forces or family, as the case may be, a dedicated transition coordinator to conduct assessments, develop personalized transition plans, and provide high-touch navigation across employment, education, healthcare, benefits, and community resources; (C) perform a whole-family wellness and transition assessment that produces a customized transition roadmap aligned to separation timeline, reason for separation, and family dynamics; (D) establish tailored support pathways based on individualized needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach; and (E) connect families to and coordinate with existing Federal, State, nonprofit, and community resources, rather than create duplicative programs. (g) Outcomes.--Each organization participating in the pilot program shall track the following: (1) Short-term outcomes, from 0 to 6 months post- separation, including readiness and confidence, stress, status of transition plans, and resource connections. (2) Mid-term outcomes, from 6 to 12 months post-separation, including employment outcomes, financial stability, and family wellbeing. (3) Long-term outcomes, from 12 to 36 months post- separation, including employment outcomes, resilience, and crisis intervention needs. (h) Implementation.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate and ensure a seamless post-separation handoff of services between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. (i) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following: (1) A detailed accounting of the results of the pilot program. (2) A recommendation on whether to extend the pilot program. (j) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the pilot program established under subsection (a). (2) Transition assistance program.--The term ``Transition Assistance Program'' means the program of the Department of Defense for preseparation counseling, employment assistance, and other transitional services provided under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code. ______