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[DOCID: f:h3410ih.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3410
To provide for the inclusion of hazardous duty pay and diving pay in
the computation of military retired pay for members of the armed forces
with extensive hazardous duty experience, to require a study on the
need for a tax credit for businesses that employ members of the
National Guard and Reserve, and to require a study on the expansion of
the Junior ROTC and similar military programs for young people.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 5, 2001
Ms. Granger introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the inclusion of hazardous duty pay and diving pay in
the computation of military retired pay for members of the armed forces
with extensive hazardous duty experience, to require a study on the
need for a tax credit for businesses that employ members of the
National Guard and Reserve, and to require a study on the expansion of
the Junior ROTC and similar military programs for young people.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Recruiting, Retention, and Reservist
Promotion Act''.
SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF HAZARDOUS DUTY PAY AND DIVING PAY IN COMPUTATION
OF MILITARY RETIRED PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
WITH EXTENSIVE HAZARDOUS DUTY EXPERIENCE.
(a) In General.--(1) Chapter 71 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1414. Increase in retired pay for members with extensive
hazardous duty experience
``(a) Increase in Retired Pay for Qualifying Members.--The retired
pay of a member who performs qualifying hazardous duty and who retires
on or after the date of the enactment of this section shall be
increased by the amount determined under subsection (b).
``(b) Computation of Increase.--The amount of an increase in
retired pay under this section shall be sum of the following:
``(1) Hazardous duty special pay.--If the member received
special pay under section 301 of title 37, the amount equal to
the product of--
``(A) the monthly amount of special pay under that
section as in effect for the final month for which the
member received that special pay; and
``(B) the fraction in which the numerator is the
number of months for which the member received such
special pay and the denominator is the total number of
months for which the member received basic pay.
``(2) Diving duty special pay.--If the member received
special pay under section 304 of title 37, the amount equal to
the product of--
``(A) the monthly amount of special pay under that
section as in effect for the final months for which the
member received that special pay; and
``(B) the fraction in which the numerator is the
number of months for which the member received such
special pay and the denominator is the total number of
months for which the member received basic pay.
``(c) Qualifying Members.--A member shall be considered to have
performed qualifying hazardous duty for purposes of this section if the
member received special pay under section 301 of title 37 (relating to
special pay for hazardous duty) or section 304 of title 37 (relating to
special pay for diving duty), or both, for not less than 60 months
(whether or not consecutive).
``(d) Treatment Under Other Provisions Relating to Retired Pay.--An
amount by which retired pay is increased under this section shall not
be considered to be retired pay for purposes of section 1408 of this
title or for purposes of the Survivor Benefit Plan under subchapter II
of chapter 73 of this title.
``(e) Retainer Pay.--In this section, the term `retired pay'
includes retainer pay payable under section 6330 of this title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``1414. Increase in retired pay for members with extensive hazardous
duty experience.''.
SEC. 3. STUDY OF TAX CREDITS AND SMALL BUSINESS LOAN CHANGES TO ASSIST
BUSINESSES THAT EMPLOY GUARD AND RESERVE MEMBERS.
(a) Study Required.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study
to determine--
(1) whether members of the National Guard and Reserve
comprise a disproportionately large portion of the employees of
any size or type of business, including small business
concerns;
(2) the amount of Federal tax benefit which would be
appropriate to compensate such a business for costs associated
with employing members of National Guard and Reserve units and
having such members called to active duty; and
(3) whether changes can be made to the small business loan
program, such as a targeted level of loans, reduced interest
rates, and reduced paperwork burdens for loan applications, to
assist small business concerns to deal with the costs
associated with employing members of National Guard and Reserve
units and having such members called to active duty.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to congress
a report containing the results of the study. The report shall include
legislative proposals--
(1) to provide the recommended tax benefit identified in
the study; and
(2) to modify the small business loan program to assist
small business concerns that employ members of National Guard
and Reserve units.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON EXPANSION OF JUNIOR ROTC AND SIMILAR MILITARY
PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, the Civil
Air Patrol, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and the Young Marines of
the Marine Corps League provide significant benefits for the
Armed Forces, including significant public relations benefits;
and
(2) there is substantial interest in expanding the scope of
these programs.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
Congress a report providing the Secretary's assessment of the
feasibility and desirability of expanding the Junior Reserve Officers'
Training Corps program of each of the military departments, the Civil
Air Patrol, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and the Young Marines of the
Marine Corps League. The report shall include such recommendations as
the Secretary considers appropriate for expansion of these programs
through an increase in the number of units or participants in these
programs, increased funding for these programs, or such other means as
the Secretary determines.
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