Casualty assistance program: review; implementation plan

(a) GAO review Not later than January 1, 2027, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report containing the results of a review of operations of the casualty assistance program of the Department of Defense. Elements of such report shall include recommendations of the Comptroller General regarding the feasibility and advisability of the following: (1) Improving and standardizing across the Armed Forces— (A) the selection and management (including lengths of assignments) of casualty assistance officers; and (B) training of casualty assistance officers regarding the policies, procedures, entitlements, benefits, and financial obligations relevant to survivors of members of the Armed Forces. (2) The implementation of a registry of the Department through which a survivor may elect to provide their contact information to the Department to facilitate contact and outreach to such survivor. (3) The development a long-term care program for such survivors, modeled on the Survivor Outreach Services of the Army, that provides information and access to survivor benefits, case managers, and counselors. (b) Implementation plan Not later than 180 days after the Secretary receives the report under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives— (1) a copy of such report; and (2) the plan of the Secretary to implement such recommendations of the Comptroller General.