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119-hr-6490119th CongressWALLET

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to provide certain members of the Armed Forces with timely and relevant information via text message, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Representative Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

Introduced

Summary

A Push-Text Initiative to deliver targeted text messages to service members and adult dependents in Okinawa. This bill would create a Department of Defense pilot that automatically enrolls members assigned to Marine Corps Installations Pacific and their adult dependents while allowing recipients to opt out at any time.

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  • Families: Spouses and adult dependents would receive timely info on spouse employment and career support, childcare availability and fee assistance, and general TRICARE health benefits. Messages are limited to 5 covered information categories and any other resources the Secretary finds relevant.
  • Service members: Eligible service members are automatically enrolled using all available text contact information. The pilot focuses outreach on enrollment deadlines, policy changes that affect members or dependents, and health-related resources.
  • Department of Defense: The Secretary must stand up the pilot within one year and report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by Oct. 1, 2027 on implementation, participation metrics (for example number enrolled and opt-out rate), outcomes, cost analysis, and recommendations on expanding DoD-wide. The sources do not identify a dedicated funding authorization for the pilot.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Okinawa military text-message pilot

If enacted, the Department of Defense would start a "Push-Text Initiative" pilot within one year. It would automatically enroll service members assigned to Marine Corps Installations Pacific in Okinawa, Japan, and their adult dependents using available text contact information. Recipients could opt out at any time. Texts would be limited to five categories: military spouse employment and career support; childcare services, availability, and fee assistance; general TRICARE benefits, enrollment deadlines, and health resources; notices of DoD policy, regulation, or Federal law changes affecting members or dependents; and other Secretary-designated well-being information. The Secretary would report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees by October 1, 2027, with implementation details, participation and usage data, observed outcomes and costs, and recommendations on possible Department-wide expansion.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

PA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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