Number:        118-14
Date:             January 13, 2025

The President Signs H.R. 5009,
the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025”

On December 23, 2024, the President signed H.R. 5009, the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025” (Public Law 118-159).  The Senate passed this bill on December 18, 2024 by roll call vote of 85-14.  The House passed the bill on December 11, 2024 by roll call vote of 281-140.

The following are provisions of interest to the Social Security Administration, which relate to personnel and security.

DIVISION A – DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE XI—Civilian Personnel

Section 1102. Extension of authority for noncompetitive appointments of military spouses by federal agencies.

• Amends section 1119 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31) to extend the hiring authority under 5 U.S.C. §3330d by extending the sunset date from December 31, 2028 to December 31, 2033.

Section 1108. Treatment of veterans who did not register for the selective service.

• Amends 5 U.S.C. § 3328 to exempt an individual who did not register for the Selective Service, when required, from being ineligible for appointment to a position in an Executive agency if such individual:

• is a veteran,
• provides proof of active duty 1 service, and
• is no longer required to register for Selective Service.

Section 1109. Increase in military leave accrual and accumulation for federal employees.

• Amends 5 U.S.C. §6323(a)(1) by increasing military leave for federal employees from 15 to 20 days per fiscal year.

DIVISION E – OTHER MATTERS

TITLE LVI—Homeland Security-Related Matters

Section 5603. Government-wide study.

• Requires the General Services Administration – in coordination with Federal Protective Service, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Management and Budget, and any other relevant entities – to carry out a government-wide study examining options to assist agencies to produce a security assessment process for high-security leased adjacent space before entering into a lease with a covered entity 2.

DIVISION F – INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025

Title LXVI – Security Clearances and Intelligence Community Workforce Improvements, Subtitle B—Work Force Improvements  

Section 6612. Appointment of spouses of certain federal employees.

• Amends 5 U.S.C. §3330d to extend the hiring authority under this section to spouses of Department of State and intelligence community employees.

DIVISION G – DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025

Title LXXII – Organization and Operations

Section 7215. Continuation of rest and recuperation and overseas operations leave.

• Amends 22 U.S.C. §4083 to allow—

• the Secretary of Defense or other agency 3 head to prescribe regulations to grant an employee of the agency serving in a combat zone, or any other high risk, high threat post, up to 20 days of paid leave per leave year 4 for rest and recuperation.

• the Secretary of Defense or other agency head to prescribe regulations to grant an employee of the agency serving abroad up to 10 days of paid leave per leave year for the purpose of local holidays.

Title LXXVIII – Other Matters

Section 7810. Coordinator for Afghan relocation efforts.

• Allows any federal government employee to be detailed or assigned to the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts as established by this section.