H.R.6489 / 116th Congress

To improve military family readiness.

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 10, 2020

This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to address military family readiness and resiliency.

Specifically, DOD must

establish and implement a strategy regarding communication with military families;

develop an Exceptional Family Member Program case-management model;

if feasible, provide child care to service members or DOD employees working on rotating shifts at military installations;

develop a policy and tracking mechanism for monitoring and prohibiting the overprescribing of opioids;

conduct a pilot program to recruit military spouses into paid internships; and

comply with various requirements for studies and reports.

The Government Accountability Office must report on disputes between military families and schools.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Thornberry, Mac [R-TX-13] · R–TX

Committees

Armed Services Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Apr 10, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Apr 10, 2020
Introduced in House
Apr 10, 2020
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Apr 10, 2020 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 6395 · William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.6489 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6489, 116th Congress: To improve military family readiness.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6489

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-04-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6489/BILLS-116hr6489ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.6489 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.6489 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6489, 116th Congress: To improve military family readiness.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6489

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-04-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6489/BILLS-116hr6489ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6489 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.6489 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6489, 116th Congress: To improve military family readiness.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6489

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-04-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6489/BILLS-116hr6489ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6489 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.6489 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6489, 116th Congress: To improve military family readiness.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6489

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-04-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6489/BILLS-116hr6489ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6489 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.