Supporting Troops’ Access to Recognition Services Act

119 HR 5989 IH: STARS Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-11-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5989 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 7, 2025 Mr. Wied (for himself and Mr. Tiffany ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Department of Defense to operate a facility capable of processing identification and eligibility systems for members of the Armed Forces and their families near large metropolitan areas, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Troops’ Access to Recognition Services Act or STARS Act . 2. Requirement for the Department of Defense to maintain identification and eligibility facilities within 30 miles of major metropolitan areas Chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 996. Requirements for locations of facilities providing identification and eligibility services (a) Requirement The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that— (1) a covered identification and eligibility facility is located not more than a 30 mile distance from each metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget) with a population of 300,000 or more according to the most recent United States census population estimates available; and (2) each such covered identification and eligibility facility is open and staffed by at least one person qualified to assist members of the armed forces and eligible dependents of such members with covered identification matters not less than two days per week during regular business hours. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered identification and eligibility facility means a physical location capable of assisting members of the armed forces and eligible dependents of members of the armed forces with covered identification matters. (2) The term covered identification matters means matters relating to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System and Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System, or any successor to either such system, including the issuance of appropriate identification related to each such system. .