Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/3306

 119 STAT. 3288

PUBLIC LAW 109–163—JAN. 6, 2006

be serving under an initial enlistment for a period of not less than two years. (c) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THRIFT SAVINGS FUND.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Army may make contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund on behalf of any participant in the pilot program under subsection (a) for any pay period during the period of the pilot program. (2) LIMITATIONS.—The amount of any contributions made with respect to a member under paragraph (1) shall be subject to the provisions of section 8432(c) of title 5, United States Code. (d) REPORT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 1, 2007, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the pilot program under subsection (a). (2) ELEMENTS.—The report shall include the following: (A) A description of the pilot program, including the number of members of the Army who participated in the pilot program and the contributions made by the Army to the Thrift Savings Fund on behalf of such members during the period of the pilot program. (B) An assessment, based on the pilot program and taking into account the views of officers and senior enlisted personnel of the Army, and of field recruiters, of the extent to which contributions by the military departments to the Thrift Savings Fund on behalf of members of the Armed Forces similar to the participants in the pilot program— (i) would enhance the recruiting efforts of the Armed Forces; and (ii) would assist such members in establishing habits of financial responsibility during their initial enlistment in the Armed Forces. SEC. 607. PROHIBITION AGAINST REQUIRING CERTAIN INJURED MEMBERS TO PAY FOR MEALS PROVIDED BY MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITIES.

(a) TEMPORARY PROHIBITION.—Section 402 of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection: ‘‘(h) NO PAYMENT FOR MEALS RECEIVED AT MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITIES.—(1) A member of the armed forces who is undergoing medical recuperation or therapy, or is otherwise in the status of continuous care, including outpatient care, at a military treatment facility for an injury, illness, or disease described in paragraph (2) shall not be required to pay any charge for meals provided to the member by the military treatment facility during any month covered by paragraph (3) in which the member is entitled to a basic allowance for subsistence under this section. ‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) applies with respect to an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated by a member while the member was serving on active duty— ‘‘(A) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom; or

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