H.R. 5989

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5989 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5989

To amend chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code, to require the 
Department of Defense to operate a facility capable of processing 
identification and eligibility systems for members of the Armed Forces 
and their families near large metropolitan areas, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 7, 2025

Mr. Wied (for himself and Mr. Tiffany) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code, to require the 
Department of Defense to operate a facility capable of processing 
identification and eligibility systems for members of the Armed Forces 
and their families near large metropolitan areas, and for other 
purposes.

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 ``Supporting Troops' Access to 
Recognition Services Act'' or ``STARS Act''.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO MAINTAIN 
IDENTIFICATION AND ELIGIBILITY FACILITIES WITHIN 30 MILES 
OF MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS.

Chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section:
``Sec. 996. Requirements for locations of facilities providing 
identification and eligibility services
``(a) Requirement.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that--
``(1) a covered identification and eligibility facility is 
located not more than a 30 mile distance from each metropolitan 
statistical area (as defined by the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget) with a population of 300,000 or more 
according to the most recent United States census population 
estimates available; and
``(2) each such covered identification and eligibility 
facility is open and staffed by at least one person qualified 
to assist members of the armed forces and eligible dependents 
of such members with covered identification matters not less 
than two days per week during regular business hours.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `covered identification and eligibility 
facility' means a physical location capable of assisting 
members of the armed forces and eligible dependents of members 
of the armed forces with covered identification matters.
``(2) The term `covered identification matters' means 
matters relating to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility 
Reporting System and Real-Time Automated Personnel 
Identification System, or any successor to either such system, 
including the issuance of appropriate identification related to 
each such system.''.
<all>