Coast Guard Academy student advisory board and access to timely and independent wellness support services for cadets and candidates

(a) In general Subchapter I of Chapter 19 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1907. Coast Guard Academy Student and Women Advisory Board (a) Establishment The Commandant shall establish within the Coast Guard Academy an advisory board to be known as the Coast Guard Academy Student and Women Advisory Board (in this section referred to as the Advisory Board). (b) Membership The Advisory Board shall be composed of not fewer than 12 cadets of the Coast Guard Academy who are enrolled at the Coast Guard Academy at the time of appointment, including not fewer than 3 cadets from each class. (c) Appointment (1) In general Cadets shall be appointed to the Advisory Board by the Provost, in consultation with the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy. (2) Application Cadets who are eligible for appointment to the Advisory Board shall submit an application for appointment to the Provost of the Coast Guard Academy, or a designee of the Provost, for consideration. (d) Selection The Provost shall select eligible applicants who— (1) are best suited to fulfill the duties described in subsection (g); and (2) best represent the student body makeup at the Coast Guard Academy. (e) Term (1) In general Appointments shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of the swearing in of a new class of cadets at the Coast Guard Academy. (2) Term The term of membership of a cadet on the Advisory Board shall be 1 academic year. (f) Meetings The Advisory Board shall meet in person with the Superintendent not less frequently than twice each academic year to discuss the activities of the Advisory Board. (g) Duties The Advisory Board shall— (1) identify challenges facing Coast Guard Academy cadets, including cadets who are women, relating to— (A) health and wellbeing; (B) cadet perspectives and information with respect to sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention, response, and recovery at the Coast Guard Academy; (C) the culture of, and leadership development and access to health care for, cadets at the Academy who are women; and (D) any other matter the Advisory Board considers important; (2) discuss and propose possible solutions to such challenges, including improvements to leadership development at the Coast Guard Academy; and (3) periodically review the efficacy of Coast Guard Academy academic, wellness, and other relevant programs and provide recommendations to the Commandant for improvement of such programs. (h) Working groups (1) In general The Advisory Board shall establish 2 working groups of which— (A) 1 working group shall be composed, at least in part, of Coast Guard Academy cadets who are not current members of the Advisory Board and members of the Cadets Against Sexual Assault, or any similar successor organization, to assist the Advisory Board in carrying out its duties under subsection (g)(1)(B); and (B) 1 working group shall be composed, at least in part, of Coast Guard Academy cadets who are not current members of the Advisory Board to assist the Advisory Board in carrying out its duties under subsection (g)(1)(C). (2) Other working groups The Advisory Board may establish such other working groups (which may be composed, at least in part, of Coast Guard Academy cadets who are not current members of the Advisory Board) as the Advisory Board finds to be necessary to carry out the Board’s duties other than the duties in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (g)(1). (i) Reporting (1) Commandant and Superintendent The Advisory Board shall regularly submit a report or provide a briefing to the Commandant and the Superintendent on the results of the activities carried out in furtherance of the duties of the Advisory Board under subsection (g), including recommendations for actions to be taken based on such results, not less than once per academic semester. (2) Annual report The Advisory Board shall transmit to the Commandant, through the Provost and the Superintendent an annual report at the conclusion of the academic year, containing the information and materials that were presented to the Commandant or Superintendent, or both, during the regularly occurring briefings under paragraph (1). (3) Congress The Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives any report or other materials provided to the Commandant and Superintendent under paragraph (1) and any other information related to the Advisory requested by the Committees.. (b) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 19 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1906 the following: 1907. Coast Guard Academy Student and Women Advisory Board..