Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 1.djvu/382

 110 STAT. 358 PUBLIC LAW 104-106—FEB. 10, 1996 37 USC 403 note. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on July 1, 1996. SEC. 604. PAYMENT OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR QUARTERS TO MEM- BERS IN PAY GRADE E-6 WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO SEA DUTY. (a) PAYMENT AUTHORIZED. — Section 403(c)(2) of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the first sentence, by striking out "E-7" and inserting in lieu thereof "E-6"; and (2) in the second sentence, by striking out "E-6" and inserting in lieu thereof "E-5". 37 USC 403 note. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on July 1, 1996. SEC. 605. LIMITATION ON REDUCTION OF VARIABLE HOUSING ALLOW- ANCE FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS. (a) LIMITATION ON REDUCTION IN VHA. — (1) Subsection (c)(3) of section 403a of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: "However, so long as a member of a uniformed service retains uninterrupted eligibility to receive a variable housing allowance within an area and the member's certified housing costs are not reduced (as indicated by certifications provided by the member under subsection (b)(4)), the monthly amount of a variable housing allowance under this section for the member within that area may not be reduced as a result of systematic adjustments required by changes in housing costs within that area.". (2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply for fiscal years after fiscal year 1995. (b) EFFECT ON TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR VHA.— Subsection (d)(3) of such section is amended by inserting after the first sentence the following new sentence: "In addition, the total amount determined under paragraph (1) shall be adjusted to ensure that sufficient amounts are available to allow payment of any additional amounts of variable housing allowance necessary as a result of the requirements of the second sentence of subsection (c)(3).". (c) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION. —Not later than June 1, 1996, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report describing the procedures to be used to implement the amendments made by this section and the costs of such amendments. (d) RESOLVING VHA INADEQUACIES IN HIGH HOUSING COST AREAS. —If the Secretary of Defense determines that, despite the amendments made by this section, inadequacies exist in the provision of variable housing allowances under section 403a of title 37, United States Code, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing a legislative proposal to address the inadequacies. The Secretary shall make the determination required by this subsection and submit the report, if necessary, not later than May 31, 1996. SEC 606. CLARIFICATION OF LIMITATION ON ELIGIBILITY FOR FAM- ILY SEPARATION ALLOWANCE. Section 427(b)(4) of title 37, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by inserting "paragraph (1)(A) of after "not entitled to an allowance under". Applicability. 37 USC 403a not e. Reports.

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