Supporting Troops’ Access to Recognition Services Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5989 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5989 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. _______________________________________________________________________ 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Troops' Access to Recognition Services Act'' or ``STARS Act''. SEC. 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: ``Sec. 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