Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 1229
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Apr 29, 2019
Overview
Text
Introduced
Apr 29, 2019
Latest Action
Apr 29, 2019
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
1229
Congress
116
Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National Security
Primary focus of measure is military operations and spending, facilities, procurement and weapons, personnel, intelligence; strategic materials; war and emergency powers; veterans’ issues. Measures concerning alliances and collective security, arms sales and military assistance, or arms control may fall under International Affairs policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act

This bill addresses Department of Defense (DOD) oversight and service member protections in DOD-sponsored private military housing. Among other things, the bill covers contracts, unit inspection, remedying substandard conditions, handling housing-related injuries, and prohibiting improper financial interests by public officials.

Specifically, DOD must establish requirements for entering into and renewing contracts with private landlords and must make the financial details of such agreements public.

DOD must employ certified independent housing inspectors to ensure that private military housing units are safe, clean, and adequate, and that they meet federal, state, and local laws and standards of habitability. DOD must allow state and local housing inspectors to conduct no-notice inspections, including on military installations.

DOD must require each landlord to provide access to the landlord's maintenance work order system. Service members may file a claim with DOD to withhold the basic allowance for housing if a landlord has not met maintenance guidelines or the unit is uninhabitable according to state and local law.

Military treatment facilities must screen service members and family members for medical conditions resulting from unsafe private housing, and landlords must pay medical bills associated with housing-related injuries. The Department of Veterans Affairs must provide similar care for veterans and their families.

The bill prohibits members of defense-related congressional committees and certain military officers and high-level DOD employees from having a financial interest in private military housing. Violations are subject to civil penalties.

Text (1)
April 29, 2019
Actions (2)
04/29/2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
04/29/2019
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Nov 1, 2022 8:02:12 PM