jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-15 00:00:00

Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2008 or PRO-VETS Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense for the transfer of data to the Secretary for providing members of the Armed Forces and veterans with individualized information concerning veterans' benefits that each member and veteran may be eligible for. Requires the Secretary, after receiving such data, to: (1) compile a list of all benefits for which each member or veteran may be eligible; (2) notify the member or veteran (or their legal representative) of such benefits; and (3) provide a second notification if the member or veteran does not apply for a listed benefit within 60 days, as well as annual notifications thereafter. Requires additional notifications based on changed circumstances. Allows each member or veteran the option to decline further notifications. Directs the Secretary to use transferred data to reduce the amount of information that a member or veteran must provide when applying for benefits. Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a member or veteran the opportunity to decline authorization for the transfer of information under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-16 00:00:00

Authorizes a military chaplain, if called upon to lead a prayer outside of a religious service, to close the prayer according to the dictates of the chaplain's conscience.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-22 00:00:00

Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008 - Includes as part of the Republic of Vietnam, for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam, such Republic's inland waterways, waters offshore, and airspace above.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-23 00:00:00

Hubbard Act - Amends federal employment, armed forces, military pay, and veterans' benefits law to authorize the provision of the following benefits to a member of the Armed Forces who is discharged at the member's request pursuant to a Department of Defense (DOD) policy permitting the early discharge of a member who is the only surviving child in a family in which the father or mother, or one or more siblings, served in the Armed Forces and, incident to such service, was killed, died as a result of wounds, accident, or disease, is in a captured or missing in action status, or is permanently disabled: (1) continued payment, through the original agreed-upon service period, of any bonus, incentive, or similar benefit to which the member was entitled during service; (2) separation pay, even though the member has completed less than six years of active service before discharge; (3) transitional health care, on the same basis as an active-duty member, for 180 days after discharge; (4) transitional commissary and exchange benefits, on the same basis as an active-duty member, for two years after discharge; (5) veterans' housing loan, employment and training, and basic educational assistance; (6) federal unemployment compensation; and (7) veteran's preference for federal employment purposes. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the limitation on contributions to funeral trusts. Makes this Act effective with respect to any such discharge granted after September 11, 2001.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-29 00:00:00

Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to pay the balance on any federal educational loan of an officer of the Marine Corps who was commissioned on or after September 11, 2001, and is not in default on such loan.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2008-07-29 00:00:00

Filipino Veterans Assistance Act of 2008 - Authorizes the President to provide assistance to the Republic of the Philippines to provide benefits to persons (and certain dependents thereof) who served: (1) before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States; or (2) in the Philippine Scouts. Includes within the benefits to be provided: (1) compensation for service-connected disabilities; (2) dependency and indemnity compensation; (3) medical care; (4) education benefits; and (5) death pensions.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-30 00:00:00

Fallen Hero Commemoration Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to grant access to accredited members of the media: (1) at military commemoration ceremonies and military memorial services for members of the Armed Forces who have died on active duty; and (2) when the remains of such members arrive at U.S. military installations. Authorizes the Secretary to establish the policy for media accreditation.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-31 00:00:00

Combat Operations and Medical Benefit Authorization for Our Troops Act of 2008 or COMBAT Act - Increases the maximum monthly rates of: (1) hazardous duty pay; (2) hostile fire or imminent danger pay; (3) special pay for service as a member of a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team; (4) special pay for members extending duty at designated overseas locations; (5) combat-related injury rehabilitation pay; and (6) the family separation allowance. Increases the maximum annual rates of special pay for: (1) officers serving as psychologists and nonphysician health care providers; and (2) special warfare officers extending their active-duty period.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-31 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in determining the amount of any allowance or reimbursement to be paid under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) veterans beneficiary travel program, to use the mileage reimbursement rates for the use of privately owned vehicles by government employees traveling on official business. Authorizes the Secretary to use a rate in excess of such rate. Prohibits the Secretary from making payments for travel performed by a special mode unless it is: (1) medically required and previously authorized; or (2) in connection with a medical emergency of such a nature that delay would have been hazardous to the person's life or health. Eliminates required deductions in connection with travel under the program. Allows such payments in connection with all veterans and family members eligible for examination, treatment, care, rehabilitation, or counseling through the VA.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-31 00:00:00

Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide uncharged leave or a monetary benefit to any member or former member of the Armed Forces who, on any day beginning on January 19, 2007, and ending on the date of implementation of the Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence program, would have qualified for a day of administrative absence under such program had it been in effect. Makes such benefit: (1) an amount not to exceed $200 for each day, in the case of a former member; and (2) either one day of administrative absence or an amount not to exceed $200, in the case of a current member. Excludes from such benefit any members discharged or released under other than honorable conditions. Sets at 40 the maximum number of days for which such benefit may be provided.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-31 00:00:00

Defines "combat with the enemy," for purposes of proof of service-connection for veterans' disability compensation, as service on active duty: (1) in a theater of combat operations during a period of war; or (2) in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-31 00:00:00

Department of Defense Service Dog Pilot Program Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish and carry out a two-year pilot program to furnish service dogs to any member of the Armed Forces: (1) who has a service-connected disability, including a disability that limits mobility; and (2) for whom a service dog may be of substantial benefit in the treatment of such disability.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-07-31 00:00:00

Combat Bonus Act - Requires the payment of a one-time bonus of $1,500 to each active-duty and reserve member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marines who: (1) serves for 90 days or more on or after October 7, 2001, in a combat zone designated in connection with Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom; and (2) if discharged or released, is done so under conditions other than dishonorable. Makes individuals eligible for such bonus for qualifying service of less than 90 days if the individual: (1) dies of injuries incurred in connection with such service; or (2) is evacuated from a theater of combat due to an injury incurred in connection with such service.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-08-01 00:00:00

Protecting Military Family Financial Benefits Act of 2007 [sic] - Allows an unmarried member of the Armed Forces with one or more dependent children, upon becoming eligible to participate in the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), to elect to provide an SBP annuity to an individual who acts as a guardian or caretaker to the dependent child or children.Directs the Secretary of Defense to appoint a panel to review and identify best practices among pre-deployment counseling and services provided by the military departments to unmarried members of the Armed Forces with dependent children.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-08-01 00:00:00

Presumes to be service-connected, and therefore compensable through veterans' disability compensation, cancers of any tissues through the opening of the gastrointestinal tract to the end, becoming manifest to a degree of disability of 10% or more.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-08-01 00:00:00

Veterans' Authorities Extension Act of 2008 - Makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) include noninstitutional extended care services within authorized services; (2) provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who participated in certain chemical and biological testing conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD); (3) carry out certain income verification in order to verify eligibility for needs-based care and services; and (4) establish research corporations. Extends through: (1) FY2013 VA authority to conduct recovery audits with respect to benefit overpayments; and (2) 2009 VA authority to provide nursing home care to certain service-connected disabled veterans in need of such care.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-09-09 00:00:00

Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act - Allows a veteran who is eligible to receive financial educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill to elect to use (with the approval of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) any such assistance to establish and operate a business that the veteran will own and operate as his or her primary source of income.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-09-15 00:00:00

Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2008 - Establishes in the Treasury the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, whose amounts shall be available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs without fiscal year limitation to make payments to specified eligible persons who served: (1) before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States; or (2) in the Philippine Scouts. Sets the payment amounts at $15,000 for U.S. citizens and $9,000 for non-U.S. citizens. States that acceptance of such payment shall constitute a release of any claim against the United States for such service. Requires the Secretary to include information concerning compensation fund operation within annual budget documents submitted to Congress. Authorizes appropriations.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Date: 2008-09-17 00:00:00

Modifies the requirement that the Secretary of Labor provide employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services to each member of the Armed Forces who is being separated from active duty (and the member's spouse). Directs the Secretary concerned (the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs), where such services are available on a routine basis, to require each member to receive such services.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-09-17 00:00:00

Revises TRICARE (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program) to authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide extended health care services and treatment, by way of contract with private providers, for dependent autism-diagnosed children of military retirees not entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and not enrolled under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of such title.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-09-22 00:00:00

Amends federal veterans law to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, subject to the availability of appropriations, to increase by up to $1,000 a month the rate of the Medal of Honor special pension. Terminates such authority at the end of FY2013.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Date: 2008-09-22 00:00:00

Authorizes the burial in a national cemetery of a parent of a deceased veteran or qualified reserve member if there is no eligible spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of such veteran or member.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Date: 2008-09-23 00:00:00

Wounded Veteran Job Security Act - Prohibits any employment discrimination or acts of reprisal against any person who has, or who has been treated for, an injury, illness, or disability determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Date: 2008-09-23 00:00:00

Combat-Related Special Compensation Technical Corrections Act of 2008 - Revises the formula for determining the payment of combat-related special compensation for certain eligible combat-related disabled members of the Armed Forces who are retired for disability.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2008-09-26 00:00:00

Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare services. Directs the National Drug Court Institute to conduct national training programs for state and local communities to improve the professional skills of drug court practitioners and provide comprehensive technical assistance to adult, juvenile, and family dependency drug courts.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-09-27 00:00:00

Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2008 - Waives a state's sovereign immunity with respect to the enforcement of uniformed services members' employment or reemployment rights or benefits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Makes unenforceable agreements between an employer and employee requiring arbitration of disputes arising under USERRA. Provides exceptions. Requires the validity and enforceability of such an agreement to be determined by a court (as opposed to the arbitrator). Provides increased liquidated damages, and authorizes punitive damages, against state or private employer violations of USERRA. Provides a right to a jury trial in such cases. Requires (current law authorizes) the award of attorney fees in actions to enforce USERRA. Defines "successor in interest" for USERRA purposes. Prohibits: (1) any statute of limitations from applying to USERRA proceedings; and (2) wage discrimination against members covered under USERRA. Requires (current law authorizes) a court to use equitable relief, including injunctions and restraining orders when appropriate, for USERRA violations.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Date: 2008-09-29 00:00:00

Requires Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations governing determinations of ineligibility for appointment to a position in an executive agency because of deliberate failure to register with the selective service to provide an exception for the appointment of an individual who was discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions.Requires the Director of the Selective Service System to prescribe procedures: (1) for the adjudication of determinations of whether a failure to register was knowing and willful; and (2) under which such a determination may not be made if the individual concerned shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the failure to register was neither knowing nor willful. Allows any individual whose case was adjudicated under the earlier regulations from February 21, 2007, through the effective date of regulations prescribed under this Act to have his or her case readjudicated.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-10-03 00:00:00

Security Clearance Oversight and Accountability Act - Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to direct the President: (1) every four years, to conduct an audit of how the executive branch determines whether a security clearance is required for a particular position in the federal government, and report audit results to Congress; (2) every year, to report to Congress on the security clearance process with respect to government employees, government contractors, and intelligence community personnel; and (3) to submit a one-time report to Congress on security clearance investigations and adjudications. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to report annually to Congress on security clearance determinations completed or ongoing during the preceding fiscal year that have taken longer than one year to complete.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Date: 2008-11-19 00:00:00

Extends the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense (DOD) and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include all veterans with a combat-related disability. (Under current law, such concurrent receipt is limited to those veterans who incur a disability in the line of duty in a combat zone or during the performance of duty in combat-related operations.) Makes such amendment effective as of January 28, 2008 (the date of enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2008-11-20 00:00:00

Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to: (1) each establish a process to provide payments for treatments of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) received by members of the Armed Forces or veterans in health care facilities other than Department of Defense (DOD) or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities; (2) jointly develop and maintain a patient database involving the use of a treatment under this Act; and (3) ensure that the database ensures patient confidentiality.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Date: 2008-12-09 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct, and report to Congress on, a study on the acquisition of a specified parcel of land in Beaufort, South Carolina, to be used for expansion of the Beaufort National Cemetery.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Date: 2008-12-09 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) acquire a specified parcel of land in Beaufort, South Carolina, to be used for expansion of the Beaufort National Cemetery; and (2) report to Congress on the acquisition.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Rebuilding America's Military Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress should enact legislation to: (1) restore and enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces for deterrence, combat, and post-conflict operations; (2) enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces, including the reset of military equipment; and (3) support the men and women of the Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard and Reserves.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to entitle to educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill individuals in certain length-of-service categories who, commencing on or after September 11, 2001, serve on active duty in the Armed Forces. Establishes the duration of such assistance (in most cases 36 months) and assistance amounts. Requires programs of education pursued with such assistance to be approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Allows for the pursuit of an approved program of education while on active duty. Allows, under such assistance, for the pursuit of: (1) programs on less than a half-time basis; (2) apprenticeship or other on-job training; (3) correspondence courses; (4) flight training; (5) tutorial assistance; and (6) licensure and certification tests. Makes individuals entitled to assistance under this Act also eligible for supplemental educational assistance for additional active duty service.Requires the Secretary to carry out a program, to be known as the "Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program," under which colleges and universities may enter into an agreement with the Secretary to cover, for certain individuals, a portion of established charges not otherwise covered and match contributions toward such costs.Requires educational assistance under this Act to be used within 15 years of the individual's discharge or release from active duty (with exceptions). Allows individuals currently under the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program to elect to participate in the post-9/11 educational assistance program with respect to any unused entitlement.