HR-6470 : Still Just a Bill

The Restore Honor to Service Members Act of 2023 (H.R. 6470) aims to increase awareness and provide relief to former members of the Armed Forces who may have been affected by discriminatory discharge policies. Key provisions include:

• Establishment of a Tiger Team: A team within the Department of Defense will conduct outreach to veterans, informing them about the process to review discharge characterizations, particularly those potentially affected by the former "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy (section 654 of title 10).
• Collaboration with Stakeholders: The Tiger Team will collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Archives, veterans service organizations, and other relevant groups to improve outreach efforts.
• Reporting to Congress: The Secretary of Defense is required to provide multiple reports to Congress, including a plan for identifying and contacting eligible individuals, updates on the plan's implementation, and a final report on the Tiger Team's activities and outcomes.
• Review of Discharge Guidance: The bill directs the Secretary of Defense to review and update guidance to ensure discharge review boards consider requests from covered members, even without full documentation. An exception is included if evidence unrelated to the request substantiates the original discharge decision.
• Veterans Benefits: For veterans whose discharge characterization is upgraded due to this review process, the effective date for veterans' benefits will be the original date of discharge. This provision does not authorize benefits for any period before the characterization change.
• Review of Consistency: Mandates the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of the consistency and uniformity of discharge reviews, submitting annual reports to Congress for four years with comments and recommendations.

In essence, the bill seeks to proactively identify and assist veterans who may have received less than honorable discharges due to past discriminatory policies, ensuring they are aware of their right to a review and potentially receive the benefits they are entitled to.