Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
Public Law 118-15
The following are excerpts, highlighted in red, from the final legislation and/or conference report which contain references to and studies for The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (Pound signs [##] between passages denote the deletion of unrelated text.)
HR5009 Joyce, David (R-Ohio) 12/19/24
Enrolled (finally passed both houses)
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 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..
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TITLE XV-CYBERSPACE-RELATED MATTERS
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Subtitle E—Reports and Other Matters
Sec. 1541. Oversight and reporting on the Mission Partner Environment and associated activities within the Department of Defense.
Sec. 1542. Extension of certification requirement regarding contracting for military recruiting.
Sec. 1543. Prohibition on disestablishment or merger of officer career paths within the Cyber Branch of the United States Army.
Sec. 1544. Independent assessment of cyber organizational models.
Sec. 1545. Limitation on availability of funds for the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture.
Sec. 1546. Risk framework for foreign mobile applications of concern.
Sec. 1547. Joint partner-sharing network capabilities for Middle East defense integration.
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SEC. 1544. Independent assessment of cyber organizational models
(a) AGREEMENT
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (in this section referred to as the “National Academies”) for the National Academies to conduct an evaluation of alternative organizational models for the cyber forces of the Armed Forces.
(2) TIMING.—The Secretary shall seek to enter into the agreement described in paragraph (1) by the date that is not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) EVALUATION
(1) IN GENERAL.—The evaluation of alternative organizational models conducted by the National Academies under an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a) shall include—
(A) refining and further evolving the current organizational approach for the cyber forces of the Armed Forces;
(B) the feasibility and advisability of establishing a separate Armed Force in the Department of Defense dedicated to operations in the cyber domain;
(C) consideration of adoption or adaptation of alternative organizational models for the cyber forces of the Armed Forces;
(D) consideration of an organizational model combining the refinement and evolution described in subparagraph (A) and the establishment of a separate Armed Force described in subparagraph (B); and
(E) any other organizational models for the cyber forces of the Armed Forces determined feasible and advisable by the National Academies.
(2) SCOPE.—In carrying out the evaluation described in paragraph (1), for each organizational model evaluated the National Academies shall consider—
(A) the effects of the organizational model on—
(i) the ability of the Department of Defense to effectively conduct military cyber operations, including offensive, defensive and analytical missions;
(ii) the ability of the Department to organize, train, and equip military cyber operations forces (including military, civilian and other enabling personnel);
(iii) the recruitment, retention, and workforce development policies of the Department of Defense with respect to the personnel needed for military cyber operations;
(iv) the division of responsibilities between a dedicated cyber force and the other Armed Forces with respect to network management, resourcing, policy, and operations;
(v) the doctrine and use of the military cyber operations forces; and
(vi) the costs to the Department resulting;
(B) such other effects of the organizational model on the operations of the Department; and
(C) the relevant authorities and policies of the Department of Defense.
(c) SUPPORT FROM FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.—Upon a request from the National Academies, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center under which such federally funded research and development center shall support the National Academies in conducting the evaluation of alternative organizational models under an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a).
(d) ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PERSONNEL, INFORMATION, AND RESOURCES.—An agreement entered into between the Secretary of Defense and the National Academies pursuant to subsection (a) shall—
(1) require the Secretary to provide to the National Academies access to such personnel, information, and resources of the Department of Defense as jointly determined necessary by the National Academies and the Secretary for the National Academies to conduct the evaluation of alternative organizational models under such agreement; and
(2) if the Secretary refuses to provide the access described in paragraph (1) or any other major obstacle to such access occurs, require the National Academies to notify the congressional defense committees of such refusal or obstacle not later than seven days after the date of such refusal or on which the National Academies become aware of such obstacle, as applicable.
(e) REPORT
(1) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—An agreement entered into between the Secretary of Defense and the National Academies under subsection (a) shall—
(A) require the National Academies to submit to the congressional defense committees a consensus report containing the findings of the National Academies with respect to the evaluation of alternative organizational models conducted by the National Academies under an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a);
(B) require the National Academies to submit such report in an unclassified manner; and
(C) permit the National Academies to include in such report a classified annex.
(2) PROHIBITION AGAINST INTERFERENCE.—No officer or employee of the Federal Government may take or fail to take any action, or cause any action to be taken or not be taken, for the purpose of altering the findings of the National Academies in the report required pursuant to paragraph (1) prior to the submission of such report pursuant to such paragraph.
(3) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE VIEWS ON ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the date on which the National Academies submits to the congressional defense committees the report required pursuant to paragraph (1) with respect to the evaluation of alternative organizational models conducted by the National Academies under an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the opinions of the Secretary with respect to such evaluation.
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