SERVE Act Service Enlistment and Recruitment of Valuable Engagement Act
Impact
The bill proposes a two-year pilot program to designate high schools as 'HERO schools' based on their military enlistment rates, which would be aimed at fostering a culture of military service within education. These schools are required to demonstrate programs that support students' aspirations for military service, ensuring that they have access to military recruiters and resources such as JROTC programs. Priority will be established for students from these schools in the admissions processes for military academies, a change intended to entice more students towards military careers and strengthen the recruitment pipeline.
Summary
House Bill 3107, known as the Service Enlistment and Recruitment of Valuable Engagement Act or 'SERVE Act,' is aimed at enhancing military recruitment through improved access to student directory information. The bill recognizes the challenges faced by the military in recruiting qualified personnel, citing a significant disconnect between today's youth and military service. This lack of connection, coupled with factors such as a strong economy and shrinking eligible population, has raised concerns about maintaining sufficient force levels to meet national security needs.
Contention
While the intention behind HB 3107 is to bolster military recruitment, potential points of contention include the ethics of targeting high school students and the implications for local education systems. Critics might raise concerns about the prioritization of military recruitment over a broad educational mission, which could lead to an environment where students feel pressured to consider military service as the primary post-graduation option. There may also be discussions around ensuring that schools maintain a balanced approach to career education, offering diverse paths beyond military engagement.
To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for supporting new mobile cancer screening units to expand patient access to essential screening services in rural and underserved communities, and for other purposes.
To direct the Secretary of Defense, in consultation the heads of certain agencies and organizations, to conduct a study on the health effects of indoor residential mold growth in covered military housing, and for other purposes.
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish the Military Firefighters Compensation Fund to provide compensation to current and former military firefighters, or survivors of such firefighters, for illnesses incurred in the line of duty due to exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects.Under the bill, current and former military firefighters are presumed to have been exposed to PFAS (in the absence of substantial evidence to the contrary) if the firefighter was employed at a military installation, facility of the National Guard, or formerly used defense site during a period when PFAS would have been present at such facility.The bill provides that in cases where a military firefighter is deceased at the time of payment of compensation, the surviving spouse must receive the payment. If there is no surviving spouse, the bill provides for the order of distribution to other surviving parties (e.g., a child or parent of the firefighter). The bill also provides that a survivor of a firefighter may file a claim for compensation if the firefighter dies before filing a claim.DOD must furnish the services, appliances, and supplies prescribed or recommended to a military firefighter who is receiving medical benefits for an illness related to PFAS exposure. Additionally, such firefighter may be furnished necessary and reasonable transportation and expenses incident to securing care for such illness.