S-3352 : Still Just a Bill

The "Restore Honor to Service Members Act of 2023" (S. 3352) aims to increase awareness and improve the process for former members of the Armed Forces to review their discharge characterizations, particularly those discharged under the repealed section 654 of title 10, United States Code, or similar policies.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Establishment of a Tiger Team: Requires the Secretary of Defense to create a team responsible for conducting outreach to former service members about the discharge review process established in Section 527 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
• Collaboration with Stakeholders: Mandates the Tiger Team to collaborate with external stakeholders, including the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Archivist of the United States, and representatives from veterans service organizations.
• Reporting Requirements: Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit plans and reports to Congress detailing outreach strategies, implementation schedules, and outcomes of the Tiger Team's activities.
• Review of Discharge Guidance: Directs the Secretary of Defense to review and update existing guidance to ensure that appropriate discharge boards review discharge characterizations, notwithstanding documentation requirements.
• Veterans Benefits: Specifies that the effective date for veterans benefits for those who have their discharge characterization changed will be the original date of discharge.

In summary, S. 3352 seeks to improve outreach, ensure consistency in discharge reviews, and provide appropriate benefits to former service members who may have been unjustly discharged.