Text of Senate Amendment 6514

On 2026-06-24, Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6514" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6514

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3627-S3628] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6514. Mr. WARNER 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 end of part III of subtitle F of title V, add the following: SEC. 566. DEPLOYMENT-READY EMPLOYER DESIGNATION WITHIN MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP. (a) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish within the Military Spouse Employment Partnership a voluntary recognition designation, to be known as the ``Deployment-Ready Employer'' designation, for employers that demonstrate exemplary support for military spouses and military families during periods of military deployment. (b) Criteria.--In establishing criteria for the designation under subsection (a), the Secretary may consider whether an employer maintains policies or practices relating to-- (1) workplace flexibility for military spouses during periods of military deployment; (2) telework or remote work opportunities, where duties permit; (3) flexible scheduling to accommodate military family responsibilities; (4) leave policies responsive to military family needs; (5) employment continuity for military spouses following permanent changes of station; (6) recruitment, retention, and career advancement of military spouses; and (7) such other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Consultation.--In establishing criteria for the designation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with military spouses, employers participating in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, military family advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (d) Recognition.--The Secretary shall-- (1) publicly recognize employers receiving the designation under subsection (a); (2) maintain on a publicly available website a list of employers receiving the designation; and (3) promote employers with the designation through outreach and engagement activities of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership. (e) Annual Briefing.--Not later than March 1 of each year beginning after the establishment of the designation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide to [[Page S3628]] the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on-- (1) participation in the designation program under subsection (a); (2) employer practices identified as effective in supporting military families during deployments; and (3) any recommendations for improving employment outcomes for military spouses. ______