datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 210 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the 
organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of 
the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service 
for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2011 
Ms. SPEIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain 
service in the organized military forces of the Govern-
ment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the 
Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes 
of benefits under programs administered by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Filipino Veterans Fair-
ness Act of 2011’’. 
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SEC. 2. CERTAIN SERVICE IN THE ORGANIZED MILITARY 
FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PHIL-
IPPINE SCOUTS DEEMED TO BE ACTIVE 
SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 107 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘not’’ after ‘‘Army of the 
United States, shall’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, except benefits under— 
’’ and all that follows in that subsection and in-
serting a period; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘not’’ after ‘‘Armed Forces 
Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945 shall’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘except—’’ and all that fol-
lows in that subsection and inserting a period; 
(3) by amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In determining the eligi-
bility of the service of an individual under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall take into account any alter-
native documentation regarding such service, includ-
ing documentation other than the Missouri List, 
that the Secretary determines relevant. 
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‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than March 1 of each 
year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report that includes— 
‘‘(A) the number of individuals applying 
for benefits pursuant to this section during the 
previous year; and 
‘‘(B) the number of such individuals that 
the Secretary approved for benefits.’’; and 
(4) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(d) RELATION
TO FILIPINO VETERANS EQUITY 
COMPENSATION FUND.—Section 1002(h) of the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (title X of divi-
sion A of Public Law 111–5; 123 Stat. 200; 38 U.S.C. 
107 note) shall not apply to an individual described in sub-
section (a) or (b) of this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(1) The heading 
of such section is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘§ 107. Certain service deemed to be active service: 
service in organized military forces of the 
Philippines 
and 
in 
the 
Philippine 
Scouts’’. 
(2) The item relating to such section in the table of 
sections at the beginning of chapter 1 of such title is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘107. Certain service deemed to be active service: service in organized military 
forces of the Philippines and in the Philippine Scouts.’’. 
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by this 
Act shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—No benefits shall accrue to any 
person for any period before the effective date of this Act 
by reason of the amendments made by this Act. 
Æ 
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‘‘(B) for purposes of leave under section
6382(a)(1)(D), a statement that the employee is un-
able to perform the functions of the position of the
employee; and
‘‘(5) in the case of certification for intermittent
leave for planned medical treatment, the dates on
which such treatment is expected to be given and the
duration of such treatment.
‘‘(c)(1) In any case in which the employing agency
has reason to doubt the validity of the certification pro-
vided under subsection (a) for leave under subparagraph
(C) or (D) of section 6382(a)(1), the employing agency
may require, at the expense of the agency, that the em-
ployee obtain the opinion of a second health care provider
designated or approved by the employing agency concern-
ing any information certified under subsection (b) for such
leave.
‘‘(2) Any health care provider designated or approved
under paragraph (1) shall not be employed on a regular
basis by the employing agency.
‘‘(d)(1) In any case in which the second opinion de-
scribed in subsection (c) differs from the original certifi-
cation provided under subsection (a), the employing agen-
cy may require, at the expense of the agency, that the em-
ployee obtain the opinion of a third health care provider
search shall be in addition to research that is authorized
under any other provision of law.
‘‘(b) RESEARCH CENTERS.—The Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases shall increase the number of Specialized Centers
of Research devoted to research on osteoporosis and relat-
ed bone disorders. The Director of the National Institute
on Aging shall increase the number of program project
grants devoted to creating centers of excellence in
osteoporosis and related bone disorders. The Director of
the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kid-
ney Diseases shall increase the number of program
projects grants in osteoporosis.
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$36,000,000 for the National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, $24,000,000 for the
National Institute on Aging, and $2,000,000 for the Na-
tional Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Dis-
eases for each of the fiscal years 1994 through 1996, and
such sums as may be necessary for subsequent fiscal
years. These funds are in addition to amounts authorized
to be appropriated for biomedical research relating to
osteoporosis and related bone disorders under any other
provision of law.
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(2)(A) SCHOOL
COMPLETION.—By the year
2000, the high school graduation rate will increase
to at least 90 percent.
(B) The objectives for this goal are that—
(i) the Nation must dramatically reduce its
dropout rate, and 75 percent of those students
who do drop out will successfully complete a
high school degree or its equivalent; and
(ii) the gap in high school graduation rates
between American students from minority back-
grounds and their non-minority counterparts
will be eliminated.
(3)(A) STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND CITIZEN-
SHIP.—By the year 2000, American students will
leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated com-
petency over challenging subject matter including
English, mathematics, science, foreign languages,
arts, history, and geography, and every school in
America will ensure that all students learn to use
their minds well, so they may be prepared for re-
sponsible citizenship, further learning, and produc-
tive employment in our modern economy.
(B) The objectives for this goal are that—
(i) the academic performance of elemen-
tary and secondary students will increase sig-
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nificantly in every quartile, and the distribution
of minority students in each level will more
closely reflect the student population as a
whole;
(ii) the percentage of students who dem-
onstrate the ability to reason, solve problems,
apply knowledge, and write and communicate
effectively will increase substantially;
(iii) all students will be involved in activi-
ties that promote and demonstrate good citizen-
ship, community service, and personal respon-
sibility;
(iv) the percentage of students who are
competent in more than one language will sub-
stantially increase; and
(v) all students will be knowledgeable
about the diverse cultural heritage of this Na-
tion and about the world community.
(4)(A) MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE.—By the
year 2000, United States students will be first in the
world in mathematics and science achievement.
(B) The objectives for this goal are that—
(i) math and science education will be
strengthened throughout the system, especially
in the early grades;
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(ii) the number of teachers with a sub-
stantive background in mathematics and science
will increase by 50 percent; and
(iii) the number of United States under-
graduate and graduate students, especially
women and minorities, who complete degrees in
mathematics, science, and engineering will in-
crease significantly.
(5)(A) 
ADULT
LITERACY
AND
LIFELONG
LEARNING.—By the year 2000, every adult Amer-
ican will be literate and will possess the knowledge
and skills necessary to compete in a global economy
and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizen-
ship.
(B) The objectives for this Goal are that—
(i) every major American business will be
involved in strengthening the connection be-
tween education and work;
(ii) all workers will have the opportunity to
acquire the knowledge and skills, from basic to
highly technical, needed to adapt to emerging
new technologies, work methods, and markets
through public and private educational, voca-
tional, technical, workplace, or other programs;
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(iii) the number of quality programs, in-
cluding those at libraries, that are designed to
serve more effectively the needs of the growing
number of part-time and midcareer students
will increase substantially;
(iv) the proportion of those qualified stu-
dents, especially minorities, who enter college,
who complete at least two years, and who com-
plete their degree programs will increase sub-
stantially; and
(v) the proportion of college graduates who
demonstrate an advanced ability to think criti-
cally, communicate effectively, and solve prob-
lems will increase substantially.
(6)(A) SAFE, DISCIPLINED, AND
DRUG-FREE
SCHOOLS.—By the year 2000, every school in Amer-
ica will be free of drugs and violence and will offer
a disciplined environment conducive to learning.
(B) The objectives for this Goal are that—
(i) every school will implement a firm and
fair policy on use, possession, and distribution
of drugs and alcohol;
(ii) parents, businesses, and community or-
ganizations will work together to ensure that
schools are a safe haven for all children; and
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(iii) every school district will develop a
comprehensive K–12 drug and alcohol preven-
tion education program. Drug and alcohol cur-
riculum should be taught as an integral part of
health education. In addition, community-based
teams should be organized to provide students
and teachers with needed support.
TITLE II—NATIONAL EDUCATION REFORM
LEADERSHIP, STANDARDS, AND ASSESSMENTS
PART A—NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS PANEL
PURPOSE
SEC. 201. It is the purpose of this part to establish
a bipartisan mechanism for—
(1) building a national consensus for education
improvement;
(2) reporting on progress toward achieving the
national education goals; and
(3) reviewing and approving the voluntary na-
tional content and student performance standards
and opportunity-to-learn standards certified by the
National Education Standards and Improvement
Council, as well as the criteria for their certification,
and the criteria for the certification of State assess-
ments by the National Education Standards and Im-
provement Council.
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(B) identify actions that should be taken by
Federal, State, and local governments to enhance
progress toward achieving the national education
goals.
(2) National report cards shall be presented in a
form, and include data, that is understandable to parents
and the general public.
POWERS OF THE GOALS PANEL
SEC. 204. (a) HEARINGS.—(1) The Goals Panel
shall, for the purpose of carrying out this part, conduct
such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take
such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Goals
Panel considers appropriate.
(2) In carrying out this part, the Goals Panel shall
conduct hearings to receive reports, views, and analyses
of a broad spectrum of experts and the public on the es-
tablishment of voluntary national content and student per-
formance standards, assessments, and opportunity-to-
learn standards.
(b) INFORMATION.—The Goals Panel may secure di-
rectly from any department or agency of the United States
information necessary to enable the Goals Panel to carry
out this part. Upon request of the Chairperson of the
Goals Panel, the head of a department or agency shall
furnish such information to the Goals Panel to the extent
permitted by law.
HR 1804 IH
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Goals Panel may use
the United States mail in the same manner and under the
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the
United States.
(d) GIFTS; USE OF FACILITIES.—The Goals Panel
may—
(1) accept, administer, and utilize gifts or dona-
tions of services, money, or property, whether real or
personal, tangible or intangible; and
(2) with their consent, use the research, equip-
ment, services, and facilities of any agency or instru-
mentality of the United States, or of any State or
political subdivision thereof.
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE
ARRANGEMENTS
AND
SUP-
PORT.—(1) The Secretary shall provide to the Goals
Panel, on a reimbursable basis, such administrative sup-
port services as the Goals panel may request.
(2) The Secretary shall, to the extent appropriate,
and on a reimbursable basis, make contracts and other
arrangements that are requested by the Goals Panel to
help it compile and analyze data or carry out other func-
tions necessary to the performance of this responsibilities.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
SEC. 205. (a) MEETINGS.—The Goals Panel shall
meet on a regular basis, as necessary, at the call of the
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Chairperson of the Goals Panel or a majority of its mem-
bers.
(b) QUORUM.—A majority of the members shall con-
stitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(c) VOTING.—No individual may vote, or exercise any
of the powers of a member, by proxy.
(d) PUBLIC ACCESS.—The Goals Panel shall ensure
public access to its proceedings (other that proceedings,
or portions of proceedings, relating to internal personnel
and management matters) and make available to the pub-
lic, at reasonable cost, transcripts of such proceedings.
DIRECTOR AND STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS
SEC. 206. (a) DIRECTOR.—The Chairperson of the
Goals Panel shall, without regard to the provisions of title
5, United States Code, relating to the appointment and
compensation of officers or employees of the United
States, appoint a Director to be paid at a rate not to ex-
ceed the rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Execu-
tive Schedule.
(b) APPOINTMENT
AND PAY
OF EMPLOYEES.—
(1)(A) The Director may appoint not more than four addi-
tional employees to serve as staff to the Goals Panel with-
out regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service.
(B) The employees appointed under paragraph (1)(A)
may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter
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51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating
to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but shall
not be paid a rate that exceeds the maximum rate of basic
pay payable for GS–15 of the General Schedule.
(2) The Director may appoint additional employees
to serve as staff to the Goals panel consistent with title
5, United States Code.
(c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Goals Panel
may procure temporary and intermittent services of ex-
perts and consultants under section 3019(b) of title 5,
United States Code.
(d) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon the re-
quest of the Goals Panel, the head of any department or
agency of the United States may detail any of the person-
nel of that agency to the Goals Panel to assist the Goals
Panel in its duties under this part.
PART B—NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND
IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL
PURPOSE; DEFINITION
SEC. 211. (a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this
part to establish a mechanism to—
(1) certify voluntary national content and stu-
dent performance standards that define what Amer-
ican students should know and be able to do;
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(2) certify content and student performance
standards submitted by States on a voluntary basis,
if such standards are comparable in rigor and qual-
ity to the voluntary national content and student
performance standards certified by the Council;
(3) certify voluntary national opportunity-to-
learn standards that describe the conditions of
teaching and learning necessary for all students to
have a fair opportunity to achieve the knowledge and
skills described in the voluntary national content and
student performance standards certified by the Na-
tional Education Standards and Improvement Coun-
cil;
(4) certify opportunity-to-learn standards sub-
mitted by States on a voluntary basis, if they are
consistent with the voluntary national opportunity-
to-learn standards; and
(5) certify systems of assessments submitted by
States on a voluntary basis, if they are aligned with
State content standards certified by the Council and
if they are valid, reliable, and fair when used for
their intended purposes.
(b) DEFINITION.—As used in this Act, the term ‘‘op-
portunity-to-learn standards’’ includes ways of measuring
the extent to which such standards are being met.
HR 1804 IH
NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND IMPROVEMENT
COUNCIL
SEC. 212. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is estab-
lished in the executive branch a National Education
Standards and Improvement Council (hereafter in this
part referred to as the ‘‘Council’’).
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Council shall be composed
of twenty members (hereafter in this part referred to as
‘‘members’’) appointed by the President from nominations
submitted by the Goals Panel.
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—(1) The members of the
Council shall include—
(A) five professional educators, including ele-
mentary and secondary classroom teachers, pre-
school educators and other school-based profes-
sionals, local district or State administrators, and
other educators;
(B) five representatives of business and indus-
try and postsecondary educational institutions, in-
cluding at least one representative of business and
industry who is also a member of the National Skill
Standards Board established pursuant to title IV of
this Act;
(C) five representatives of the public, including
representatives of advocacy and civil rights groups,
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parents, civic leaders, and local and State education
policymakers (including State or local school
boards); and
(D) five education experts, including experts in
measurement and assessment, curriculum, school fi-
nance and equity, and school reform.
(2) The Goals Panel shall submit to the President
at least fifteen nominations for each of the four categories
of appointment described in paragraph (1).
(3) To the extent feasible, the membership of the
Council shall be geographically representative of the Unit-
ed States and reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the
United States.
(d) TERMS.—(1) Members shall be appointed for
three-year terms, with no member serving more than two
consecutive terms.
(2) The President shall establish initial terms for in-
dividuals of one, two, or three years in order to establish
a rotation in which one third of the members are selected
each year.
(e) DATE OF APPOINTMENT.—The initial members
shall be appointed not later than one hundred and twenty
days after the date of enactment of this Act.
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(f) INITIATION.—The Council shall begin to carry out
the duties of the Council under this part when all twenty
members have been appointed.
(g) RETENTION.—In order to retain an appointment
to the Council, a member must attend at least two-thirds
of the scheduled meetings of the Council in any given year.
(h) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Council shall not
affect the powers of the Council, but shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointment.
(i) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Council who
are not regular full-time employees of the United States
may, while attending meetings or hearings of the Council,
be provided compensation at a rate fixed by the Secretary,
but not exceeding the maximum rate of basic pay payable
for GS–15 of the General Schedule.
(j) TRAVEL.—Each member of the Council may be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub-
sistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United
States Code, for each day the member is engaged in the
performance of duties away from the home or regular
place of business of the member.
(k) OFFICERS.—The members of the Council shall se-
lect officers from among its members. The officers of the
Council shall serve for one-year terms.
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(C) In determining appropriate certification criteria,
the Council shall—
(i) consider standards and criteria being devel-
oped by other national organizations and recent re-
search on assessment;
(ii) recommend needed research;
(iii) encourage the development and field testing
of systems of assessments; and
(iv) provide a public forum for discussing, de-
bating, and building consensus for the criteria to be
used for the certification of assessment systems.
(D) Prior to determining the certification criteria, the
Council shall take public comment on its proposed criteria.
(f) PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES.—In carrying out its
responsibilities under this title, the Council shall—
(1) work with Federal and non-Federal agencies
and organizations that are conducting research,
studies, or demonstration projects to determine
internationally competitive education standards and
assessments, and may establish subject matter and
other panels to advise it on particular content, stu-
dent performance, and opportunity-to-learn stand-
ards and on assessments;
(2) shall establish cooperative arrangements
with the National Skill Standards Board to promote
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the coordination of the development of content and
student performance standards under this title with
the development of skill standards under title IV of
this Act;
(3) recommend studies to the Secretary that
are necessary to carry out the Council’s responsibil-
ities;
(4) inform the public about what constitutes
high quality, internationally competitive, content,
student 
performance, 
and 
opportunity-to-learn
standards, and assessment systems;
(5) on a regular basis, review and update cri-
teria for certifying content, student performance,
and opportunity-to-learn standards, and assessment
systems; and
(6) periodically recertify, as appropriate, the
voluntary national content and student performance
standards, and the voluntary national opportunity-
to-learn standards that it certifies under this sec-
tion.
ANNUAL REPORTS
SEC. 214. Not later than one year after the date the
Council concludes its first meeting, and in each succeeding
year, the Council shall prepare and submit a report to the
President, the Secretary, the appropriate committees of