ANCHOR for Military Families Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3566
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-10T07:11:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The ANCHOR for Military Families Act (H.R. 3566) aims to support military families during relocations by requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide comprehensive and timely information about available assistance programs. This helps ease the transition when service members receive orders to change their permanent duty station, focusing on family needs like education, housing, and mental health.
Key Provisions
- Expanded Counseling Requirements: Updates the relocation counseling process under Section 1056 of Title 10, U.S. Code, to include more details on local education systems, school enrollment procedures, and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (an agreement among states to standardize school transitions for military kids).
- New Information Mandate: Requires the Secretary of Defense to deliver information on relocation support to service members and their families at least 45 days before a move takes effect. This includes:
- Family assistance programs (e.g., financial planning, spouse job support, community integration).
- Housing options (e.g., on-base availability, rental protections, off-base resources).
- Mental health services during transitions.
- Educational support for children (e.g., school transitions, special education).
- Legal and financial counseling.
- Other relevant programs.
- Delivery and Accessibility: DoD must integrate this information into briefings, materials, and online resources at military bases. It also requires a communication strategy (e.g., digital tools, printed guides) to raise awareness and an assessment of user satisfaction.
- Reporting Requirement: The Secretary must brief the Senate and House Armed Services Committees annually for four years (starting one year after enactment) on implementation progress, awareness levels, and recommendations for improvements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 1056 of Title 10, U.S. Code, by broadening relocation counseling to explicitly cover education-related topics, including support for children with disabilities (e.g., transferring individualized education programs and linking to the Exceptional Family Member Program, which provides special needs services for military families).
- Adds a new subsection (e) mandating proactive, timed information sharing, which did not previously exist in such detail.
- Shifts from optional to required elements, ensuring structured dissemination of resources beyond basic orientation.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The DoD will need to update training, develop new materials, and conduct satisfaction surveys, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving program efficiency. Congressional oversight through briefings ensures accountability.
- On Citizens: Military families gain earlier access to critical resources, reducing relocation stress and supporting child education continuity, spouse employment, and overall well-being. This could lower family disruption rates, indirectly boosting military retention and readiness.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced family support may indirectly aid U.S. military operations abroad by stabilizing personnel during overseas moves.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Service Members and Families: Primary beneficiaries, receiving expanded guidance on relocation challenges.
- Department of Defense: Responsible for implementation, including the Secretary and base-level support staff.
- Educational and Support Entities: Schools, states participating in the Interstate Compact, and programs like the Exceptional Family Member Program, which must coordinate more closely.
- Congress: Armed Services Committees, which receive briefings to monitor and refine the law.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing relocation statutes without creating new entitlements, focusing on information access. It promotes compliance with interstate agreements like the Educational Opportunity Compact, potentially reducing legal disputes over school transitions.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; aligns with Congress's authority under Article I, Section 8 to regulate the military and provide for its support.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support for military family welfare (introduced by Reps. Randall and Wittman), potentially influencing future defense budgets for family programs. It addresses retention challenges amid frequent moves, a key concern for military policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Assuring Navigation of Compact Help for Ongoing Relocation for Military Families Act — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (5 pages)