123STA T . 23 5 1 PUBLIC LA W 111 –84—O CT. 28 , 2 0 0 9(2)Thet e rm‘ ‘ S e c ret a r y c on cerne d’ ’ha s the mean i n g gi v en that term in section 10 1( 5 )o f tit l e 37,U nited States C ode . (g) DURATION . — (1) I N GE NERA L .—The a u thority to p rovide b enefits under this section shall e x pire on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this A ct. (2) CON S TRU C TION.— E xpiration under this subsection of the authority to provide benefits under this section shall not affect the utili z ation of any day of administrative absence pro - vided a member of the Armed F orces under subsection (b)(2), or the payment of any payment authorized a member or former member of the Armed Forces under subsection (b), before the expiration of the authority in this section. SEC.605 . R E PO R T O NH O U S I N G ST A N D ARDS AND HOUSING SUR V E Y S USED TO DETER M INE B ASIC A L LO W ANCE F OR HOUSING. (a) R E P ORT RE Q UIRE D .— N ot later than J uly 1, 2010, the Sec- retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense commit- tees a report containing the follo w ing reviews
(1) A review of the housing standards used to determine the monthly rates of basic allowance for housing under section 4 03 of title 37, United States Code. (2) A review of the process and schedule for conducting surveys used to establish locality rates in housing areas to determine such monthly rates of basic allowance for housing. (b) ELE M ENTS O FH OUSING STANDARDS RE V IE W .—In conducting the reviews under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider whether the housing standards and survey process are suitable in terms of— (1) recognizing the societal needs and expectations of fami- lies in the United States
(2) providing for an appropriate q uality of life for members of the Armed Forces in all grades; (3) recognizing the appropriate rewards and prestige associ- ated with promotion to higher military grades throughout the ran k structure; and (4) reflecting the most current housing cost data available. (c) INCLUSION OF RECOMMENDED C H ANGES.—The report required by subsection (a) shall include— (1) such recommended changes to the housing standards, including an estimate of the cost of each recommended change, as the Secretary considers appropriate; and (2) such recommended changes to improve the survey process, including ensuring that the housing cost data used to establish the rates is the most current data available, as the Secretary considers appropriate. SEC. 606. COMPTROLLER GENERAL COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF MILITARY AND PRIVATE - SECTOR PAY AND BENEFITS. (a) STUD Y REQUIRED.—The Comptroller G eneral shall conduct a study comparing pay and benefits provided by law to members of the Armed Forces with pay and benefits provided by the private sector to comparably situated private-sector employees to assess how the differences in pay and benefits effect recruiting and reten- tion of members of the Armed Forces. (b) ELEMENTS.—The study required by subsection (a) shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
