119-hr3107

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3107 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3107

 To enhance military recruitment by improving access to student 
 directory information, enabling the military to inform prospective 
applicants about service options and the benefits of military service, 
 such as competitive pay, education, and valuable experience, which is 
 crucial for meeting National Security Strategy requirements and 
 supporting combatant commander demand.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 30, 2025

Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia (for herself, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Panetta, and Ms. 
 Houlahan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Oversight and Government Reform, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
 the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To enhance military recruitment by improving access to student 
 directory information, enabling the military to inform prospective 
applicants about service options and the benefits of military service, 
 such as competitive pay, education, and valuable experience, which is 
 crucial for meeting National Security Strategy requirements and 
 supporting combatant commander demand.

 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 ``Service Enlistment and Recruitment 
of Valuable Engagement Act'' or the ``SERVE Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress makes the following findings:

    (1) Ensuring that the United States has a sufficient number 
 of qualified active duty military personnel is a matter of 
 national security. To maintain force levels, the Department of 
 Defense must balance recruiting new members with retaining 
 trained servicemembers. However, the current recruitment 
 environment is the most challenging it has been in 50 years. A 
 combination of factors, including a strong economy, a shrinking 
 eligible population, and declining trust in institutions among 
 Generation Z, has significantly impacted the Department's 
 ability to recruit. As of 2022, only 12 percent of youth had a 
 parent who served in the military, down from 40 percent in 
 1995.

    (2) The disconnect between today's youth and the military 
 has led to a lack of awareness regarding the benefits of 
 military service, such as competitive pay, career training, and 
 a meaningful mission. Research indicates that over half of 
 youth have never considered military service, underscoring the 
 urgent need for a renewed national call to service.

    (3) The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

    (JROTC) program offers essential leadership training and character 
 development for high school students. By establishing 
 formalized authorization for students without a JROTC unit at 
 their school to utilize JROTC units at other school within 
 their school district, we will improve access and opportunities 
 for students.

SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS ON ACCESS TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS.

    (a) Meaningful Access to High Schools.--

    (1) Recruiting.--

Section 503
            (c) (1)
        (A) of chapter 31 of 
 title 10, United States Code, is amended--
        (A) in clause
            (i) , by striking ``the same access to 
 secondary school students as is provided generally to 
 postsecondary educational institutions or to 
 prospective employers of those students'' and inserting 
 ``meaningful access to secondary schools, including 
 monthly visits or at a minimum no fewer than 4 times 
 per academic year spread across the school year, in 
 high traffic areas during peak school hours, lunch 
 periods, between classes in a manner that does not 
 interfere with class attendance, and with reasonable 
 notice, in auditoriums and other meeting spaces, at 
 athletic functions and other group or social 
 activities''; and
        (B) in clause
            (iii) --
            (i) by striking ``60 days'' and inserting 
 ``the 60th day after the start of the school 
 year, and thereafter, not later than 30 days''; 
 and
            (ii) by inserting ``academic grades, 
 genders,'' after ``student names,''.

    (2) ROTC access.--

Section 983

    (b) of title 10, United States 
 Code, is amended--
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``in a manner 
 that is at least equal in quality and scope to the 
 access to campuses and to students that is provided to 
 any other employer'' and inserting ``that, at a 
 minimum, includes no fewer than 4 times per academic 
 year spread across the school year during peak school 
 hours, while classes are in session, in high-traffic 
 areas, and with reasonable notice, in auditoriums and 
 other meeting spaces, and during athletic functions and 
 other group or social activities'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) --
            (I) by inserting ``academic grades, 
 genders,'' after ``names,''; and
            (II) by striking ``60th day'' and 
 inserting ``60th day after the start of 
 the school year and thereafter not 
 later than 30 days''; and
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (B) , by striking the 
 period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
 and
            (C) by adding at the end the following new 
 paragraphs:
 ``

    (3) access by military recruiters for purposes of 
 military recruiting, with respect to students (who are 17 years 
 of age or older) not returning to the institution after having 
 been enrolled during the previous semester--
 ``
        (A) the information required under subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) ; and
 ``
        (B) the reason for failure to return, if 
 collected by the institution; and
 ``

    (4) access by military recruiters for purposes of 
 military recruiting to lists of students (who are 17 years of 
 age or older) enrolled at that institution (or any subelement 
 of that institution) who have submitted a Free Application for 
 Federal Student Aid, together with the listed information 
 required under subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) , if collected by the 
 institution.''.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF AFFILIATION TYPES FOR JROTC.

    (a) 

=== Policy ===
-The Department of Defense shall establish policy to 
create two types of affiliation within the Junior Reserve Officers' 
Training Corps

    (JROTC) program, as follows:

    (1) Host unit.--A JROTC unit located at a high school that 
 has a Memorandum of Agreement with a military department to 
 maintain a JROTC program on its campus, staffed full-time.

    (2) Cross-town.--A high school that has an agreement with a 
 host JROTC unit's institution, allowing its students to enroll 
 in the JROTC program of the host unit and participate in 
 activities at both campuses, without dedicated staff.

    (b) Guidance.--The Department of Defense shall issue guidance to 
implement these affiliation types within the JROTC program, ensuring 
clarity on the roles, responsibilities, and requirements for each 
affiliation type.

SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE MILITARY-FRIENDLY 
 SCHOOLS.

    (a) Establishment of Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
establish a two-year pilot program to recognize high schools that 
demonstrate military enlistment rates above the State average. The 
program shall aim to highlight and support schools that foster a 
culture of service and commitment to national defense by encouraging 
military enlistment among their students.

    (b) Designation of Schools.--

    (1) In general.--As part of the pilot program, the 
 Secretary of Defense shall designate eligible high schools as 
 ``HERO schools'' (Honoring Excellence and Recruitment 
 Opportunities) based on their military enlistment rates and 
 demonstrated support for students interested in serving in the 
 Armed Forces.

    (2) Designation.--The designation shall be made in a formal 
 letter from the Secretary of Defense, which shall be sent to 
 each school that meets the criteria outlined in subsection
            (c) .
            (c) Eligibility Criteria.--To be eligible for the designation, a 
school must meet the following criteria:

    (1) The school must have a military enlistment rate that 
 exceeds the State average for high schools in the same grade 
 band (9th through 12th grade).

    (2) The school must have programs, activities, or 
 partnerships in place that support students' aspirations for 
 military service, including access to military recruiters, 
 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

    (JROTC) programs, and 
 military preparation coursework.

    (3) The school must demonstrate a commitment to fostering a 
 positive relationship with military services via the local 
 recruiting stations and an understanding of the opportunities 
 available through military enlistment.
            (d) Pilot Program Duration.--The pilot program shall last for two 
years, with a review of its effectiveness and impact at the end of the 
first year.

SEC. 6. PRIORITY CONSIDERATION FOR APPLICANTS FROM HIGH SCHOOLS WITH 
 ABOVE-AVERAGE MILITARY ENLISTMENT RATES.

    (a) Priority Consideration for Military Service Academy 
Applicants.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 
Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of 
the Air Force, shall establish a policy to provide priority 
consideration for admission to the military service academies (the 
United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the 
United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Coast Guard 
Academy) for applicants who are graduates of high schools with military 
enlistment rates above the State average.

    (b) Eligibility Criteria for Priority Consideration.--

    (1) In general.--To be eligible for priority consideration, 
 a high school must meet the following criteria:
        (A) The high school's military enlistment rate 
 exceeds the State average for high schools in the same 
 grade band (9th through 12th grade).
        (B) The high school demonstrates ongoing support 
 for military service and provide resources for students 
 interested in military careers, including access to 
 recruiters, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

    (JROTC) programs, and military preparatory coursework.
            (C) The school has a documented history of 
 encouraging students to pursue military service as a 
 viable post-graduation option.

    (2) Priority status.--Applicants from eligible high schools 
 shall receive priority status in the admissions process for 
 each respective military service academy, including 
 consideration for appointments and appointments from 
 congressional nominations.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL WEEK OF MILITARY RECRUITMENT.

    (a) Designation.--Chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``

Sec. 149. National Week of Military Recruitment
 ``

    (a) Designation.--A National Week of Military Recruitment.
 ``

    (b) Proclamation.--The President is requested to issue each year 
a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe 
the National Week of Military Recruitment with appropriate ceremonies 
and activities.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 1 of 
title 36, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to 

section 148 the following new item:

``149. National Week of Military Recruitment.''.

SEC. 8. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Report on JROTC 

=== Policy ===
-

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
 submit a report to the congressional defense committees on the 
 status of the policy established under 

section 4

    (a) .

    (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph

    (1) shall include the following elements:
        (A) The number and locations of cross-town units 
 established under the new policy.
        (B) Total enrollment numbers for each cross-town 
 institution.
            (C) Recommendations for further improvements or 
 changes to enhance the effectiveness of the JROTC 
 program.

    (b) Report on Pilot Program To Recognize Military-Friendly 
Schools.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to Congress 
not later than 90 days after the conclusion of the two-year pilot 
program established under 

section 5. The report shall include--

    (1) a list of schools designated as HERO schools;

    (2) an analysis of the impact of the designation on 
 military enlistment rates and school culture; and

    (3) recommendations for the expansion or continuation of 
 the program beyond the pilot phase.
            (c) Reports on Policy To Provide Priority Consideration for 
Applicants From High Schools With Above-Average Military Enlistment 
Rates.--

    (1) Implementation 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 outlining the process for 
 identifying eligible high schools under 

section 6, the criteria 
 used for determining military enlistment rates, and a timeline 
 for the implementation of the priority consideration policy 
 under such section.

    (2) Annual report.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit 
 to Congress an annual report on the number of applicants 
 receiving priority consideration under 

section 6, the cities 
 and States where the applicants attended high school, the 
 outcomes of their applications, and any impacts on military 
 service academy enrollment patterns.
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