Defence

Protecting Moms Who Served Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020

Protecting Moms Who Served Act This bill authorizes an appropriation to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for FY2022 to improve maternity care coordination for women veterans throughout pregnancy and the one-year postpartum period. The VA must submit a plan to improve maternity care coordination to fulfill the responsibilities and requirements in the Veterans Health Administration Handbook 1330.03 (or successor handbook). The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among women veterans, with a focus on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Transparency for Student Veterans Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020

Transparency for Student Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide student outcome information to veterans and members of the Armed Forces under its comprehensive policy to provide education information on institutions of higher learning and training opportunities via the GI Bill comparison tool. Specifically, the VA must enter into a memorandum of understanding with specified agencies (e.g., Department of Defense) to receive specified information from such agencies about student outcomes with respect to students who are veterans, members of the Armed Forces, or dependents of such veterans or members. The bill requires the agencies to provide information including, but not limited to, graduation rates, student loan default rates, and median earnings for graduates. The VA must develop a plan to protect personally identifiable information when providing information on aggregate student outcomes.

Veterans in STEM Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020

Veterans in STEM Act This bill revises eligibility and prioritization for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

OVERSEA Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020

Oversight and Verification of Expenses and Readiness for Security Engagements Abroad Act of 2020 or the OVERSEA Act of 2020 This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report on the U.S. Coast Guard's allocation of resources to support its defense readiness mission, including an assessment of the impacts on the Coast Guard's nondefense mission readiness and operational capabilities due to the annual levels of funding provided by the Department of Defense to compensate the Coast Guard for its expenses to fulfill its defense readiness mission.

TRICARE ECHO Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020

TRICARE ECHO Improvement Act This bill expands benefits available under the TRICARE Extended Health Care Option program for beneficiaries with special needs, including by expanding coverage of respite care and durable medical equipment.

USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020

USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 This bill modifies provisions related to foreign intelligence surveillance. Among other things, the bill (1) repeals authorities providing for ongoing access to call detail records; (2) requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to decide whether to declassify a significant Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court decision within 180 days of the decision; and (3) requires government officers to disclose all relevant information, including any exculpatory information, when applying for a court order under certain foreign surveillance authorities.

USA FREEDOM Extension and Amici Curiae Reform Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020

USA FREEDOM Extension and Amici Curiae Reform Act of 2020 This bill expands the role and authority of amici curiae (outside parties appointed to assist courts in deciding certain cases) in proceedings before courts established under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). The bill also extends certain FISA-authorized investigative powers, including the power to access certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations, to June 19, 2020. The bill expands the circumstances under which a FISA court shall appoint an amicus, such as when a case involves (1) a significant First Amendment issue, or (2) a request for approval of a new program or technology. Currently, the statute directs a FISA court to appoint an amicus only when a case involves a novel or significant interpretation of the law. Under the bill, an amicus may (1) raise any issue at any time even if the court did not request assistance on that issue, (2) access un-redacted copies of relevant FISA court documents and related information, and (3) petition the FISA Court of Review or the Supreme Court to review a decision by a FISA-authorized court.

STOP FGM Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Strengthening the Opposition to Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2020 or the STOP FGM Act of 2020 This bill revises the federal criminal statute that prohibits certain conduct often referred to as female genital mutilation (FGM). Currently, the FGM statute prohibits performing certain procedures—circumcising, excising, or infibulating the female genitalia of a minor—for nonmedical purposes. However, it does not define FGM. In 2018 a federal district court invalidated the FGM statute in United States vs. Nagarwala . The court found, among other things, that the statute exceeds Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution because it (1) lacks detailed, record-based findings regarding how FGM substantially affects interstate commerce; and (2) lacks jurisdictional elements (e.g., requirements that charged offenses have an explicit connection with, or effect on, interstate commerce). In 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) decided not to appeal the decision. This bill creates a statutory definition of female genital mutilation and provides explicit findings regarding the effects of FGM on interstate commerce. The bill broadens the scope of prohibited FGM-related conduct on a minor to include attempting or conspiring to perform FGM; facilitating or consenting to FGM, as a parent, guardian, or caretaker; and transporting a minor for FGM. It expressly requires prohibited FGM-related conduct to have a connection to interstate or foreign commerce. The bill increases from 5 to 10 years the statutory maximum prison term for an FGM offense. It also prohibits a federal criminal defendant from asserting, as a defense, that FGM is required as a matter of religion, custom, tradition, ritual, or standard practice. DOJ, in consultation with various federal agencies, must report annually on FGM, including the estimated number of women and girls at risk of or subjected to FGM and actions taken by government agencies to combat the practice. Finally, the bill expresses the sense of Congress that the court erred in invalidating the existing statute. It expresses, among other sentiments, that Congress elects to amend the statute to clarify the commercial nature of FGM, but that Congress does not ratify the interpretation of the federal district court in Nagarwala .

Veteran’s Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Veteran's Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement programs and resources related to the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to establish in its National Surgery Office a national clinical pathway for all stages of prostate cancer that includes specified elements. A clinical pathway is a health care management tool designed around research and evidence-backed practices that provides direction for the clinical care and treatment of a specific episode of a condition or ailment. The VA must publish the proposed clinical pathway in the Federal Register for public comment. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to publish the established clinical pathway on a public VA website and to update the clinical pathway at least annually. Under the bill, the VA must submit (1) a plan to establish a comprehensive prostate cancer program, and (2) a plan that provides for continual funding for supporting prostate cancer research through the VA Office of Research and Development. The VA must also establish a program evaluation tool to learn best practices of multidisciplinary disease-based implementation. Finally, the VA must establish a real-time, actionable, national prostate cancer registry that is accessible to clinicians and researchers.

Supporting Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Supporting Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop, implement, and maintain a standard of coordinated care for members of the Armed Forces who are survivors of sexual trauma, including by requiring that information is posted in DOD facilities regarding VA services for such survivors.

Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2020 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out specified major medical facility projects during FY2020. The bill also indicates the maximum amount that can be spent on each project.

Espionage Act Reform Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Espionage Act Reform Act of 2020 This bill limits the scope of certain criminal offenses relating to classified information. Under the bill, the offense of disclosing classified information to an unauthorized person may be committed only by an individual who is authorized to receive the classified information and has signed a nondisclosure agreement regarding such classified information (i.e., a covered person), whereas under current law any individual may be charged with this offense. Under the bill, this offense shall not apply to disclosures of information to any Member of Congress, a federal court, an inspector general in the intelligence community, or certain bodies such as the Federal Trade Commission. Similarly, under the bill, certain offenses related to gathering, transmitting, or losing defense information may be committed only by a covered person or a foreign agent, whereas currently such offenses may be committed by any person. Under the bill, an individual who is not a foreign agent may not be criminally charged for such offenses unless the individual meets certain requirements, such as having committed a felony under federal law in the course of committing the offense. An offense related to obtaining and copying a document connected with the national defense shall apply only to an unlawfully obtained nonpublic document, whereas the current statute does not limit the scope of this offense to such documents. An offense related to dispensing certain public property of value shall apply only to tangible things, whereas the current statute does not limit the scope of this offense to tangible things.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to continue to pay educational assistance or subsistence allowances to eligible persons when educational institutions are closed.

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

This bill extends the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue to pay educational assistance and subsistence allowances during periods when educational institutions are temporarily closed due to an emergency situation or executive order. Under the bill, the VA may only continue to pay educational assistance and subsistence allowances for up to eight weeks (currently four weeks) after the date of the temporary closure of the educational institution.

Climate Readiness Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Climate Readiness Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Defense to report on (1) the national security implications associated with climate change, and (2) strategies and approaches to responding to such change. The report must consider geopolitical and military impacts, including effects on the resiliency of missions of the Armed Forces.

Preparing Ser­vice­mem­bers for Success Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Preparing Servicemembers for Success Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish additional performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of DOD's Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) programs in connecting members of the Armed Forces with professional credential programs. Such measures must include the following: (1) the percentage of members, prior to separation, participating in a professional credential program through a COOL program; (2) the percentage of such individuals who go on to complete that professional credential program; and (3) the percentage of those who complete that professional credential program and are employed not later than one year after separation or release from the Armed Forces.

Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Fiscal Transparency Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Fiscal Transparency Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of State to submit a strategy outlining U.S. support for a transition to civilian-led government in Sudan, and it authorizes certain measures to support and assist such a political transition. Specifically, the bill requires the State Department to submit a strategy that includes (1) an articulation of specific U.S. objectives for the political transition in Sudan and a plan to achieve such objectives; (2) an assessment of reforms necessary to promote human rights, essential freedoms, and accountability, as well as a description of efforts to address such reforms; and (3) an assessment of security sector reforms by the Sudanese government, such as demobilizing militias and fostering civilian control of the armed forces. The bill also authorizes the President to provide certain support for (1) democratic governance, rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms; (2) programs to advance economic growth, private-sector productivity, and market-based solutions to development challenges; (3) conflict mitigation strategies to support long-term peace, stability and oversight of Sudanese security and intelligence services; and (4) accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The President must impose sanctions on individuals who the President determines are committing human rights abuses, exploiting natural resources, or undermining the political transition in Sudan. Upon certification that Sudan has taken steps to improve fiscal transparency, the Department of the Treasury and the State Department must engage with international financial institutions to restructure, reschedule, or cancel the sovereign debt of Sudan.

Espionage Act Reform Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Espionage Act Reform Act of 2020 This bill limits the scope of certain criminal offenses relating to classified information. Under the bill, the offense of disclosing classified information to an unauthorized person may be committed only by an individual who is authorized to receive the classified information and has signed a nondisclosure agreement regarding such classified information (i.e., a covered person), whereas under current law any individual may be charged with this offense. Under the bill, this offense shall not apply to disclosures of information to any Member of Congress, a federal court, an inspector general in the intelligence community, or certain bodies such as the Federal Trade Commission. Similarly, under the bill, certain offenses related to gathering, transmitting, or losing defense information may be committed only by a covered person or a foreign agent, whereas currently such offenses may be committed by any person. Under the bill, an individual who is not a foreign agent may not be criminally charged for such offenses unless the individual meets certain requirements, such as having committed a felony under federal law in the course of committing the offense. An offense related to obtaining and copying a document connected with the national defense shall apply only to an unlawfully obtained nonpublic document, whereas the current statute does not limit the scope of this offense to such documents. An offense related to dispensing certain public property of value shall apply only to tangible things, whereas the current statute does not limit the scope of this offense to tangible things.

A bill to authorize the posthumous honorary promotion to general of Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews, United States Army.

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

This bill authorizes the President to issue a posthumous honorary commission promoting Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews, U.S. Army, to the grade of general.

Secure United States Bases Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Secure United States Bases Act This bill revises requirements related to U.S.-based foreign military training programs. Specifically, the bill creates a visa category for certain aliens who have been accepted into a U.S.-based military training program; adds application, vetting, and monitoring requirements for foreign military trainees; and requires the Department of Defense to develop a method for classifying the relative risk, by country, of accepting foreign personnel into U.S. military training programs.

Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020

Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into contracts to place certain disabled veterans in medical foster homes at the request of such veterans. Specifically, the bill concerns veterans with service-connected disabilities to whom the VA is required to provide nursing home care. Medical foster homes are homes designed to provide non-institutional, long-term, supportive care for veterans who are unable to live independently and prefer a family setting. In any year, not more than a daily average of 900 veterans placed in a medical foster home may have their care covered.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 AND THE FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PROGRAM

United States · United States Senate · 4 March 2020

[H.A.S.C. No. 116-74]HEARING ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 AND OVERSIGHT OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS

United States · United States House of Representatives · 4 March 2020

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021

United States · United States Senate · 4 March 2020

[H.A.S.C. No. 116-72] The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Budget Request For The Department Of The Air Force

United States · United States House of Representatives · 4 March 2020

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REVIEW OF VETTING POLICIES FOR INTERNATIONAL MILITARY STUDENTS FOLLOWING THE ATTACK ON NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA

United States · United States Senate · 4 March 2020

Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020

Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act This bill revises the definition of Vietnam era for purposes of the laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, the bill adjusts the start date of the era to November 1, 1955 (currently February 28, 1961), when relating to veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam.

U.S.-Africa Strategic Security Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020

U.S.-Africa Strategic Security Act This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD), absent a report that addresses specified issues, from using FY2020 funds to reduce the number of U.S. Armed Forces deployed to the U.S. Africa Command Area of responsibility. Specifically, DOD must report on issues including U.S. political and military strategies in the region and the potential effects of a withdrawal.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020

This bill modifies the process for repaying service members and veterans who paid to keep benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, but later chose to utilize Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Specifically, the bill removes the requirement for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue the repayments with the last monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This requirement has limited the repayments to individuals who are receiving stipends. Under the bill, the VA must make such a repayment before the exhaustion of the individual's entitlement to education assistance.

Coast Guard Retirement Parity Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020

Coast Guard Retirement Parity Act This bill modifies the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund to pay for U.S. Coast Guard retirement and survivor benefit programs in the same manner as other branches of the military. Currently, Coast Guard retirement and survivor benefit payments come out of the yearly Coast Guard budget as a mandatory appropriation. Such payments are not paid in the event of a government shutdown; however, retirement benefits for other branches of the military are still paid through the Military Retirement Fund.

A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for concurrent receipt of veterans' disability compensation and retired pay for disability retirees with fewer than 20 years of service and a combat-related disability, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020

This bill allows a veteran with a combat-related disability and fewer than 20 years of creditable service to receive retirement pay, without reduction, concurrent with disability compensation.

[H.A.S.C. No. 116-71]HEARING ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 AND OVERSIGHT OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS

United States · United States House of Representatives · 3 March 2020

[H.A.S.C. No. 116-69] The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Budget Request for the Department of the Army

United States · United States House of Representatives · 3 March 2020

Reduce Unemployment for Veterans of All Ages Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2020

Reduce Unemployment for Veterans of All Ages Act of 2020 This bill eliminates the 12-year eligibility limitation on Department of Veterans Affairs training or vocational rehabilitation benefits for veterans with a service-connected disability.

Matthew P. Donovan, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, vice Robert L. Wilkie, resigned.

United States · United States Senate · 2 March 2020

Victor G. Mercado, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vice James H. Anderson.

United States · United States Senate · 2 March 2020

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should continue to support the people of Nicaragua in their peaceful efforts to promote the restoration of democracy and the defense of human rights, and use the tools under United States law to increase political and economic pressure on the government of Daniel Ortega.

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2020

This resolution calls on Nicaragua to release all political prisoners and cease all acts of repression against dissenting voices, urges and encourages efforts to advance electoral reforms in Nicaragua, and exhorts the U.S. government to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the death of U.S. citizen Eddy Montes, who was shot and killed while in the custody of Nicaraguan police.

Veterans Burial Benefit Correction Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2020

Veterans Burial Benefit Correction Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide an outer burial receptacle (i.e., a container for a casket) for new graves in cemeteries funded by a grant to a state or a tribal organization under the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program.

REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2020

Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal HIV Discrimination Act of 2020 or the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act of 2020 This bill concerns the burdens that federal and state laws, policies, and regulations may place upon people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Defense (DOD) to initiate a national review of federal (including military) and state laws, policies, regulations, and judicial precedents and decisions regarding criminal and related civil commitment cases involving people living with HIV. DOJ must transmit to Congress and make publicly available the results of such review with related recommendations. DOJ and HHS must (1) develop and publicly release guidance and best practice recommendations for states, and (2) establish an integrated monitoring and evaluation system to measure state progress. DOJ, HHS, and DOD must transmit to the President and Congress any proposals necessary to implement adjustments to federal laws, policies, or regulations. This bill shall not be construed to discourage the prosecution of individuals who intentionally transmit or attempt to transmit HIV to another individual.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should continue to support the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, also known as the Warthog and A-10C or OA-10C, program.

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2020

This resolution expresses continued support for the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, also known as the Warthog and A-10C or OA-10C, program as imperative to national security.

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with the city of Vallejo, California, for the transfer of Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo, California, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into an agreement with the city of Vallejo, California, for the transfer to the VA of Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo, California, to be maintained as a national shrine.

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to collect overpayments of specially adapted housing assistance.

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to collect overpayments of assistance made to specified individuals (e.g., individuals who applied for assistance or attorneys) in relation to the specially adapted housing program.

VA Family Leave Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020

VA Family Leave Act of 2020 This bill provides employees of the Veterans Health Administration with the same family and medical leave benefits as other federal employees, beginning in FY2021.

Restore Veterans’ Compensation Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020

Restore Veterans' Compensation Act of 2020 This bill eliminates the recoupment of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive payments from members of the Armed Forces who subsequently receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, the bill limits recoupment of such pay from service members who subsequently receive military retired or retainer pay.

Veteran Families Financial Support Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020

Veteran Families Financial Support Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a new veterans life insurance program starting January 1, 2023, for veterans with a service-connected disability. The policy does not go into force unless a veteran has been paying premiums for two years after enrollment. If a veteran dies during the two-year period, the VA shall pay the veteran's beneficiary the amount of premiums paid by the veteran plus interest. The bill phases out an existing service-disabled veteran insurance program upon the implementation of the program in this bill.

Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020

Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020 This bill provides for a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to the Buffalo Soldier regiments (six all-Black calvary and infantry regiments authorized by Congress in 1866 to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces), in recognition of their vital service to the United States. Following the award of the medal, it shall be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture of the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be displayed as appropriate and made available for research.

Expressing support for the designation of February 28, as "Desert Storm Veterans Day".

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020

This resolution expresses the support of the House of Representatives for the designation of Desert Storm Veterans Day to honor and recognize the contributions of the veterans who served in Operation Desert Storm. The resolution also encourages state and local governments to designate a Desert Storm Veterans Day. The resolution supports the expeditious handling of claims by the Department of Veterans Affairs for Desert Storm veterans and urges that these veterans continue to receive high quality medical treatment for ailments associated with their service in Desert Storm.

State and National Guard Fairness Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020

State and National Guard Fairness Act of 2020 This bill allows a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed expenses incurred by members of an Armed Forces reserve component or state defense forces.

[H.A.S.C. No. 116-66] The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Budget Request For The Department Of The Navy

United States · United States House of Representatives · 27 February 2020

Major Richard Star Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020

Major Richard Star Act This bill provides that a combat-disabled uniformed services retiree with fewer than 20 years of creditable service may concurrently receive, without reduction veterans' disability compensation, and retired pay or combat-related special compensation.

National Security Transparency Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020

National Security Transparency Act This bill requires an individual serving as an acting official in certain positions related to national security to periodically appear before Congress. This requirement shall apply to an individual acting as the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Director of the National Security Agency, or the Director of National Intelligence. (Individuals serving in these positions must receive Senate confirmation, but the President may appoint without confirmation an acting official to perform the position's duties on a temporary basis.)