Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/1954

 118 STAT. 1924 PUBLIC LAW 108–375—OCT. 28, 2004 conclusions of the panel as a result of the study and review, together with any recommendations for legislative or administrative action that the panel considers appropriate. The Secretary of Defense shall transmit the report, together with any comments the Secretary wishes to provide, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives not later than May 1, 2005. (9) In this section, the term ‘‘Armed Forces’’ does not include the Coast Guard. Subtitle K—Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces SEC. 576. EXAMINATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE ARMED FORCES BY THE DEFENSE TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED TO EXAMINE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE AT THE MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES. (a) EXTENSION OF TASK FORCE.—(1) The task force in the Department of Defense established by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 526 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136; 117 Stat. 1466) to examine matters relating to sexual harassment and violence at the United States Military Academy and United States Naval Academy shall continue in existence for a period of at least 18 months after the date as of which the task force would otherwise be terminated pursuant to subsection (i) of that section. (2) Upon the completion of the functions of the task force referred to in paragraph (1) pursuant to section 526 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, the name of the task force shall be changed to the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services, and the task force shall then carry out the functions specified in this section. The task force shall not begin to carry out the functions specified in this section until it has completed its functions under such section 526. (3) Before the task force extended under this subsection begins to carry out the functions specified in this section, the Secretary of Defense may, consistent with the qualifications required by sec tion 526(f) of Public Law 108–136, change the composition of the task force as the Secretary considers appropriate for the effective performance of such functions, except that— (A) any change initiated by the Secretary in the member ship of the task force under this paragraph may not take effect before the task force has completed its functions under section 526 of Public Law 108–136; and (B) the total number of members of the task force may not exceed 14. (b) EXAMINATION OF MATTERS RELATING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE ARMED FORCES.—The task force shall conduct an examina tion of matters relating to sexual assault in cases in which members of the Armed Forces are either victims or commit acts of sexual assault. (c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Task Force shall include in its report under subsection (e) recommendations of ways by which civilian officials within the Department of Defense and leadership within the Armed Forces may more effectively address matters relating to sexual assault. That report shall include an assessment of, and recommendations (including any recommendations for 10 USC 4331 note.

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