,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #caha ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #aj1 #bjai,ms4 ,finkenauer 7for herself1 ,mrs4 ,bustos1 ,mr4 ,loebsack1 ,mr4 ,ryan1 and ,mr4 ,tonko7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,defense to enter into a contract with an eligible institution to carry out research and education activities relating to military painting4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,military ,readiness and ,cost ,savings ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,bob ,stump ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjjc 7,public ,law #ajg-cad71 which passed with broad bipartisan support1 established an ,office of ,corrosion ,policy and ,oversight within the ,office of the ,under ,secretary of ,defense for ,acquisition and ,sustainment4 ,the office was created to oversee and coordinate efforts throughout the ,department of ,defense to prevent and mitigate corrosion of the military equipment and infrastructure of the ,department4 7#b7 ,corrosion of the equipment and infrastructure of the ,department of ,defense 7referred to in this section as the ,department7 is expensive and impedes military readiness4 ,according to a study commissioned by the ,department's ,office of ,corrosion ,policy and ,oversight1 corrosion costs the ,department #bj4f billion annually across all services4 ,these costs comprise #ba percent of the ,department's total maintenance costs across all services4 ,corrosion is responsible for #aa percent1 or roughly #a4a million1 of all non-available days for ,department assets4 7#c7 ,chemical-agent-resistant-coatings1 which help to protect military vehicles and equipment from chemical and biological weapons and severe environmental conditions that cause corrosion1 can range in price from #ajj to #hjj per gallon4 ,with approximately #c1gfj assets of varying sizes painted at a typical ,department depot per year1 such coatings comprise a significant annual cost category for the operation of the facility and the maintenance of military assets1 according to analysis from the ,southwest ,research ,institute4 7#d7 ,military painter training and certification helps reduce waste and rework of military assets1 reducing the costs associated with the application of chemical-agent-resistant-coatings4 ,for example1 one military painter training and certification provider helped ,letterkenny ,army ,depot use #h1ajj fewer gallons of such coatings per year1 saving the depot #ejj1jjj per year through improved transfer efficiency and reduced rework1 according to the ,southwest ,research ,institute4 7#e7 ,the ,senate ,report accompanying ,s4 #aeai 7#aaeth ,congress2 the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjah7 included language recognizing the importance of military painter training1 noting that paint training programs can save the ,department time and funding resources by using advanced technology and equipment along with hands-on training to effectively apply coatings and reduce waste4 ,additionally1 increasing coating transfer efficiency and preventing corrosion and rework can improve asset readiness4 7#f7 ,investing in military painter and coating training and certification programs helps improve military readiness1 increases safety for service members1 and reduces paint costs4 ,it is prudent for ,congress to invest in research that will foster innovations in those areas4 7#g7 ,the importance of corrosion resistance goes beyond ,department assets4 ,across nearly every sector1 corrosion is expensive and poses a safety risk to users4 ,for example1 decaying roads and bridges cost the ,united ,states economy #e1jjj1jjj1jjj a year1 according to the ,national ,association of ,corrosion ,engineers4 ,congress has a duty to pair ,federal infrastructure investment with corrosion management to ensure new and existing public infrastructure is built to last4 7#h7 ,the proper application of anticorrosion coatings requires a high degree of knowledge and skill4 ,according to the ,international ,union of ,painters and ,allied ,trades1 a poorly executed corrosion prevention project will leave an asset unprotected1 increase costs to repair or replace all or parts of it1 and irresponsibly use taxpayer dollars4 ,using trained and certified painters is the most effective way to ensure assets are truly protected from corrosion4 #c4 ,national center for military painter training and applied research 7a7 ,establishment ,chapter #aca of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #bbbh the following new section3 #bbbh;a4 ,national ,center for ,military ,painter ,training and ,applied ,research 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,defense1 acting through the ,director of the ,office of ,corrosion ,policy and ,oversight1 shall seek to enter into a contract with an eligible institution under which the institution will carry out the functions described in subsection 7c74 7b7 ,designation ,the ,secretary shall designate the institution that is awarded a contract under subsection 7a7 as the ,national ,center for ,military ,painting and ,applied ,research 7referred to in this section as the ,center74 7c7 ,functions ,the ,center shall-- 7#a7 serve as a testing facility for the application of new paint coatings developed by industry-leading research and development facilities2 7#b7 partner with industry to assess the efficacy of specific blends of chemical-agent-resistant coating powder on certain military assets to assure maximum cost efficiency1 coating effectiveness1 and quality finish2 7#c7 expand training and certification programs for military painters to covered facilities that have an ongoing1 unmet need for such programs2 7#d7 develop new teaching tools1 which may include the use of virtual reality technology to enable trainees to simulate the painting of a variety of military assets2 7#e7 develop online learning modules for training military painters in the use of liquid and powder coatings2 7#f7 explore the adoption of automated painting technologies while recognizing that the repair of certain military assets is best performed manually2 7#g7 provide on-site consultation and technical assistance at covered facilities to maximize cost efficiency1 quality assurance1 and operational effectiveness in painting and coating operations2 and 7#h7 conduct outreach to servicemembers at covered facilities1 in coordination with ,department of ,defense and any appropriate skilled labor organizations1 employers1 and industry organizations with specialties in corrosion and painting1 to raise awareness of military painter career opportunities and any related industrial and commercial painting apprenticeship opportunities for ,veterans4 7d7 ,contract procedures ,a contract under subsection 7a7 shall be awarded in accordance with full and open competition 7as that term is defined in chapter #a of title #da1 ,united ,states ,code74 7e7 ,provision of services for ,coast ,guard ,the ,secretary of ,defense may enter into an agreement with the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating under which the ,center may provide1 with or without reimbursement for the cost thereof1 training and other assistance to the ,coast ,guard in accordance with subsection 7c74 7f7 ,annual report ,not later than ,september #cj of each year covered by the contract under subsection 7a71 the ,center shall submit to the ,director of the ,office of ,corrosion ,policy and ,oversight a report that describes the progress of the ,center in carrying out the functions described in subsection 7c71 including the progress of the ,center in-- 7#a7 expanding training programs for military painters2 and 7#b7 conducting applied research relating to military painting4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term eligible institution means an entity that-- 7,a7 as of the date of the enactment of this section1 provides military painter training programs that lead to a certification that is recognized by the ,department of ,defense2 7,b7 demonstrates the ability to establish sustainable military painter operations at multiple covered facilities1 including on military bases and depots2 7,c7 has a proven ability to scale a military painter training program to meet the needs of multiple covered facilities1 including by developing or expanding a certified train-the-trainer program2 7,d7 demonstrates experience in developing and managing a military painter training and certification program that has proven success in achieving cost savings and unit readiness through training in the prevention and control of corrosion2 and 7,e7 possesses the facilities and equipment necessary to conduct applied research on the efficacy of military paint composites and coatings and the transfer efficiency of such composites and coatings4 7#b7 ,the term covered facilities means-- 7,a7 the facilities of the ,department of ,defense1 including the facilities of-- 7i7 the ,armed ,forces2 7ii7 the reserve components1 including the ,national ,guard2 and 7iii7 the ,army ,corps of ,engineers2 and 7,b7 subject to an agreement under subsection 7e71 the facilities of the ,coast ,guard4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-- 7#a7 #b1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj2 and 7#b7 #c1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbc4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #bbbh the following new item3 #bbbh;a4 ,national ,center for ,military ,painter ,training and ,applied ,research4 4