118 STAT. 1939 PUBLIC LAW 108–375—OCT. 28, 2004 SEC. 598. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON TRANSITION ASSIST ANCE PROGRAMS FOR MEMBERS SEPARATING FROM THE ARMED FORCES. (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the programs of the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies under which transition assist ance is provided to members of the Armed Forces who are sepa rating from active duty service. (b) ELEMENTS OF REPORT.—(1) With regard to the transition assistance programs under section 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code, the report required by subsection (a) shall include— (A) an analysis of the extent to which such programs are meeting the current needs of members of the Armed Forces as they are discharged or released from active duty; (B) a discussion of the original purposes of the programs; (C) a discussion of how the programs are currently being administered in relationship to those purposes; (D) an assessment of whether the programs are adequate to meet the current needs of members of the reserve compo nents; and (E) such recommendations as the Comptroller General con siders appropriate for improving such programs, including any recommendation regarding whether participation by members of the Armed Forces in such programs should be required. (2) The report shall include an analysis of any differences among the Armed Forces and among the commands of military installations of the Armed Forces regarding how transition assist ance is being provided under the transition assistance programs and such recommendations as the Comptroller General considers appropriate— (A) to achieve uniformity in the provision of assistance under such programs; and (B) to ensure that the transition assistance is provided under such programs to members of the Armed Forces who are being separated at medical facilities of the uniformed serv ices or Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to Armed Forces personnel on a temporary disability retired list under section 1202 or 1205 of title 10, United States Code. (3) The report shall include— (A) an analysis of the relationship between the Department of Defense transition assistance programs and the transition assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor, including the relationship between the benefits delivery at discharge program carried out jointly by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs and the other transition assistance pro grams; and (B) an assessment of the quality and thoroughness of information being provided during preseparation briefings under such transition assistance programs regarding the full range of benefits available to qualified members of the Armed Forces under programs operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the requirements for qualifying for those benefits. (4) The report shall specify the rates of participation of members of the Armed Forces in the transition assistance programs and include such recommendations as the Comptroller General considers
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