H.R. 6146: Supporting Tours Across Years Act

The Supporting Tours Across Years Act, or STAY Act, is a proposed legislation that aims to address the frequency of permanent changes of station (PCS) for members of the Armed Forces, as well as their rotations between naval vessels and onshore assignments. The overall goal is to explore options that would reduce how often service members have to relocate. Here are the key components of the bill:

Report Requirement

The bill mandates that, by March 1, 2026, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness must submit a report to the congressional defense committees. This report should provide options for reducing the frequency of PCS and sea-shore rotations for military personnel.

Content of the Report

The required report must cover several specific areas:

• Cost Analysis: An analysis detailing the costs associated with PCS and rotations over the five fiscal years prior to the report, broken down by military department and occupational specialty.
• Cost Savings Assessment: An assessment of potential savings for the Department of Defense that could be achieved by reducing the frequency of these changes.
• Impact Evaluation: An evaluation of how a reduction in PCS and rotation frequency could affect the retention of military personnel, employment opportunities for their spouses, and the education of their children.
• Operational Feasibility: Identification of specific billets, duty stations, and communities where longer tour lengths or rotation adjustments could be made while still maintaining operational readiness and allowing for career progression.
• Recommendations: Suggestions for legislative or policy changes needed to implement pilot programs or formalize extensions for tour lengths or adjustments to rotations.

Implications

The legislation seeks to analyze and propose solutions for the challenges related to frequent moves faced by military families. By focusing on this issue, the bill aims to improve the stability and well-being of service members and their families.

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