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.

Sponsor: Chrissy Houlahan (Democratic-PA)December 5, 2025

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Creates a text message program for military families in Okinawa

A new pilot program would send text messages to military service members and their adult family members stationed in Okinawa, Japan. These messages would share important updates on jobs, childcare, health benefits, and military policies. People would be automatically signed up but could choose to stop receiving texts at any time.

What Would Change

Today, there is no specific program required by law to send text messages with timely information to military service members and their adult family members in Okinawa, Japan. If this bill becomes law, the Department of Defense would create a pilot program within one year to automatically send texts about jobs, childcare, health benefits, and policy updates to these families, who could opt out at any time.

Key Provisions

Creates a pilot program to send text messages to military service members and their adult family members in Okinawa, Japan.
Automatically enrolls eligible service members and their adult family members, allowing them to opt out at any time.
Sends texts with information on military spouse jobs, career help, childcare, TRICARE health benefits, and policy changes.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress by October 1, 2027, on the program's success and potential expansion.

View on Congress.gov

HR 6490 · 119th Congress · December 5, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10

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.

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity