The legislation mandates the Secretary of Defense to evaluate relocation assistance programs for Armed Forces members.
Key elements of the evaluation include:
Analyzing if current Department of Defense relocation assistance programs meet statutory requirements and service member needs.
Identifying the most utilized relocation assistance programs and factors influencing their use.
Identifying barriers to accessing effective relocation assistance and strategies to overcome these barriers.
Assessing the success of relocation assistance programs in high-cost areas, including partnerships with local communities and housing supply adequacy.
Analyzing support mechanisms for military families moving to high-cost areas due to permanent station changes.
The Secretary of Defense is required to consult with military family support organizations, service members, commanders, state and local officials, housing experts, and other relevant parties during the evaluation.
A best practices guide will be published within 180 days after the evaluation, aimed at helping military installation leadership and local communities assist service members with relocation.
Within one year of the Act’s enactment, a report must be submitted to congressional defense committees including the evaluation findings, the best practices guide, recommendations for legislative or policy changes, and a roadmap for implementing these best practices.
Three years after the guide’s publication, the Comptroller General will review its implementation and the effectiveness of relocation assistance programs, focusing on high-cost areas.
The term “high-cost area” will be defined by the Secretary of Defense through regulations, considering feedback from various stakeholders and relevant factors indicating high-cost living areas.
