jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-26 00:00:00

Harry Lew Military Hazing Accountability and Prevention Act

This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to: (1) establish a data-collection system for reports, including anonymous reports, of hazing incidents involving a member of the Armed Forces; and (2) issue DOD-wide guidance regarding database availability and use, including information on protected classes such as race and religion.

Each military department shall: (1) improve service member training to better recognize, prevent, and respond to hazing at all command levels; and (2) conduct an annual hazing survey, which shall include the extent to which service members report hazing and the effectiveness of anti-hazing training.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-27 00:00:00

VA Appeals Modernization Act of 2016

This bill amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits appeals process to permit a claimant to request:

 a review of the Agency of Original Jurisdiction's decision by a higher-level adjudicator within the agency under which no additional evidence may be submitted; or a Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) review under which no BVA hearing is requested and no additional evidence may be submitted or under which a BVA hearing is requested and the appellant requests an opportunity to submit additional evidence at, and within 90 days of, the hearing. ("Agency of Original Jurisdiction" means the activity which entered the original determination with regard to a claim for veterans benefits.)

The BVA shall maintain two such separate dockets.

A finding favorable to a claimant is binding on all subsequent VA adjudicators unless clear and convincing evidence is shown to the contrary.

The BVA may remand a claim to the agency to obtain a corrective advisory medical opinion.

The bill revises effective dates of awards provisions.

The VA's duty to assist a claimant shall not apply: (1) once the claimant is provided notice of the agency's initial decision, and (2) to higher-level agency or BVA review.

The VA is not required to send notice for a supplemental claim or to readjudicate a claim that has been disallowed except when new and relevant evidence is presented or secured (currently such provisions applies to reopening such claim).

A claimants's notice of disagreement must set out specific allegations of error of fact or law. The BVA is authorized to dismiss an appeal which fails to do so.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-27 00:00:00

Medal of Honor Legacy Act

This bill directs the Department of the Army to reserve 100 in-ground burial plots at Arlington National Cemetery for interment of deceased Medal of Honor recipients.

Such requirement shall terminate when the Army submits a report on the cemetery's interment and inurnment capacity that includes: (1) the estimated date of achieving maximum capacity; and (2) recommendations to ensure that such capacity is not reached until well into the future, including actions to redefine interment eligibility and considerations for cemetery expansion.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-28 00:00:00

Appropriate Care for Disabled Veterans Act

This bill repeals the termination date of (thus, reinstates) the requirement for an annual report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the VA's compliance, by facility and by service-network, with requirements for managing the provision of hospital care and medical services furnished to veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-28 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 7, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 or the CHIP IN for Vets Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program under which it may accept up to five donations by non-federal entities of: (1) real property that includes a constructed facility or that is to be used as the site of a facility constructed by the entity, and (2) a facility to be constructed by the entity on real property of the VA.

A donation must be: (1) a property for which funds have been appropriated for a VA facility project or a property that is identified as meeting a need of the VA as part of its long-range capital planning process and that is the location for a VA facility project that is included on the Strategic Capital Investment Planning process priority list; and (2) donated pursuant to a formal agreement with the VA for a VA facility project in an amount acceptable to the VA at no additional cost to the federal government.

Such a formal agreement must provide for: (1) the donation of real property that includes a constructed facility; or (2) the construction of a facility on VA real property or on real property donated to the VA by the entity. An agreement that provides for the construction of a facility shall require the entity to:

 conduct all necessary environmental and historic preservation due diligence, comply with all local zoning requirements, obtain all required construction permits, use construction standards required of the VA when designing, repairing, altering, or building the facility, and provide the real property, improvements, goods, or services in a manner sufficient to complete the construction at no additional cost to the federal government. The VA may not: (1) pay rent, usage fees, or any other amounts to an entity for the use or occupancy of real property donated under this bill; and (2) provide funds to help the entity finance, design, or construct such a facility that are in addition to those appropriated for the facility as of the date of the donation agreement.

An entity that: (1) is donating a facility constructed by the entity shall be required to provide other funds in addition to the amounts provided by the VA that are needed to complete construction of the facility; and (2) seeks to donate real property shall submit an application to address needs relating to VA facilities, including health care needs, identified in its Construction and Long-Range Capital Plan in such manner as the VA may require.

The VA shall include in the annual budget submitted to Congress by the President information regarding real property donated under the pilot program and the status of facility projects relating to that property.

 The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress every two years until the program ends on the donation agreements under the program.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-10 00:00:00

Success in Transition for All Veterans Act

This bill directs the Department of Labor to carry out a research program to evaluate whether the transition assistance program addresses the differentiated needs, challenges, and post-military service aspirations of women veterans, veterans with disabilities, Native American veterans, veterans who are residents of a U.S. territory, veterans who are part of the indigenous population of a U.S. territory, and other groups of minority veterans. (The transition assistance program is a Labor program that assists members of the armed forces separating from active duty and their spouses in identifying and obtaining employment and training opportunities.)

The research program shall address:

 whether and how employment barriers and employment aspirations facing such veterans are substantively different from other veteran populations; and whether the transition program is designed to address such differences and, if not, changes that could be made to do so.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-11 00:00:00

State Outreach for Local Veterans Employment Act of 2016

This bill prohibits the Department of Labor from rejecting a disabled veterans training and employment outreach plan submitted by a state based solely on which agency the state selected to carry out the plan.

Labor shall encourage each state to: (1) colocate its disabled veterans outreach program specialists and local veterans employment representatives with one or more one-stop centers, and (2) tailor its plan to meet the employment and training needs of in-state veterans.

If a plan addresses a significant employment barrier, a state may propose such barriers as appropriate in order to allow additional categories of veterans to receive outreach and local veterans employment representative services.

 Labor shall, if it objects to only a portion of a state's plan: (1) approve those portions of the plan that it does not object to, (2) submit to the state an explanation of which portions were not approved and why, and (3) allow the state to submit revisions to such portions for approval.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-13 00:00:00

Improving Transition Programs for All Veterans Act

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to study and report on programs to assist veterans in their transition to civilian life.

Such study shall determine the effectiveness of current programs, especially concerning the challenges faced by women veterans, veterans with disabilities, Native American veterans, veterans who are residents of a U.S. territory, veterans who are part of the indigenous population of a U.S. territory, and other groups of minority veterans with regard to: (1) pursuing higher education, (2) entering the civilian workforce and translating military experience and skills to the job market, and (3) transitioning to civilian life for veterans families.

(Sec. 4) No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this bill. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-16 00:00:00

Justice for Victims of Military Sexual Assault Act

This bill requires each military department to establish a career military justice litigation track for judge advocates in the Armed Forces. Judge advocates participating in the litigation track must have assignments that: (1) relate to the practice of military justice under the Uniform Code of Military Justice; and (2) include trial counsel, defense counsel, military trial judge, military appellate judge, academic instructor, Special Victims Prosecutor, Victims' Legal Counsel, Special Victims' Counsel, and other positions within criminal law offices or divisions of their armed force.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-17 00:00:00

Servicemember and Veteran Financial Transparency Act 

This bill requires that the Department of Labor's employment and training transition program for members of the Armed Forces separating from active duty include information about the requirement that a veteran who receives voluntary separation pay will have monthly amounts deducted from his or her Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation until the total amount deducted equals the amount of voluntary separation pay received.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-26 00:00:00

Veteran Opportunities on Local Transportation Act of 2016 or the VOLT Act of 2016

This bill authorizes a recipient of public transportation assistance to advertise and award a construction contract that includes requirements for employing veterans residing in or adjacent to any of the areas in which work is to be performed if:

 the project's estimated cost exceeds $10 million; there is no requirement to hire an individual who does not have relevant craft or trade work skills, unless the individual is subject to an apprenticeship or other training program; and the requirements do not compromise the project's quality, unreasonably delay its completion, or unreasonably increase its cost.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-07 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a quality assurance document for carrying out the toll-free Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), which shall: (1) outline performance indicators and objectives to improve the VCL, including at backup call centers; (2) include time frames to meet such indicators and objectives; and (3) be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget.

The VA shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the VCL, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology. The plan shall include guidelines for periodic VCL testing.

 The VA shall submit the document and plan within 180 days.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-09 00:00:00

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay the actual burial and funeral costs (up to a specified limit) for veterans who die in an institution where they were receiving hospital care or medical services under the Veterans Choice Program.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-09 00:00:00

Justice for Servicemembers Act of 2016

This bill amends the Uniformed Services Employment Rights Act of 1994 to: (1) consider procedural protections or provisions under such Act concerning employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services to be a right or benefit subject to the protection of such Act, and (2) make any agreement to arbitrate a claim under such provisions unenforceable unless all parties consent to arbitration after a complaint on the specific claim has been filed in court or with the Merit Systems Protection Board and all parties knowingly and voluntarily consent to have that particular claim subjected to arbitration.

Consent shall not be considered voluntary when a person is required to agree to arbitrate an action, complaint, or claim alleging a violation of such provisions as a condition of future or continued employment, advancement in employment, or receipt of any right or benefit of employment.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-09 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Military Residency Choice Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permit the spouse of a servicemember to elect to use the same residence as the servicemember for purposes of taxation and voting, regardless of the date on which the marriage of the spouse and the servicemember occurred.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-09 00:00:00

Providing Leadership and Improving Veterans Care Act

This bill prohibits any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) senior executive employee whose responsibilities include participation in the rating, ranking, or selection process to fill VA medical center director positions from being paid a bonus unless the VA determines that no permanent VA medical center director position has been vacant for 18 consecutive months.

 Within 30 days after enactment of this bill and every 180 days thereafter, the VA shall report to Congress on the number and length of vacancies in VA medical center director positions.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-10 00:00:00

This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to include members of the Armed Forces and their family members among individuals who are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-14 00:00:00

VA Procurement Efficiency and Transparency Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with respect to any VA contract that is reported in the Federal Procurement Data System, to record the amount of any cost or price savings realized by using competitive procedures in awarding such contract.

The VA shall make available and use on a VA-wide basis the standardized procurement templates used by the Central Office of the VA, the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. Such templates may be customized to address particular procurement situations.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-22 00:00:00

Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program Extension Act

This bill amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to reauthorize through FY2020 a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-28 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

Veterans' Compensation COLA Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2016, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance [OASDI]) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.

(Sec. 3) The VA shall publish such increased amounts in the Federal Register not later than the date on which certain OASDI cost-of-living increases are required to be published during FY2017.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-28 00:00:00

Protecting Veterans Credit Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to exclude from a consumer report: (1) for one year, information related to a veteran's choice medical program (program) debt; and (2) information related to a fully paid or settled program debt that had been characterized as delinquent, charged off, or in collection.

The Consumer Credit Protection Act is amended to provide a mechanism for veterans to dispute the inclusion of program debt already on a credit report. A consumer reporting agency shall, within 30 days after receiving notice of such dispute, delete such information from the veteran's file and notify the furnisher and the veteran.

Within five days after the initial communication with a veteran, a debt collector shall, unless the appropriate information is contained in the initial communication or the veteran has paid the debt, send the veteran a written notice containing specified debt-related information, including information concerning debt amount, creditors, the insurance company involved, and the hospital or medical care provider.

If a veteran notifies the debt collector within such one-year period that the program debt is disputed or that the veteran requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection until debt verification or the name and address of the original creditor is obtained.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-07-08 00:00:00

More for Veterans Act

This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to ensure that retired and honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces, including members medically discharged, separated, or on the temporary disability retirement list, and their immediate family remain eligible for Military OneSource Program services for at least one year after the end of the member's tour of service, retirement date, or separation date.

(Military OneSource is a DOD-funded program that provides comprehensive information on aspects of military life at no cost to active duty National Guard and Reserve Component members and their families.)
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

Providing Accountability for Veterans Affairs Executives Act of 2016 or the PAVE Act of 2016

This bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and other specified officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as a condition of office and employment and for the duration of their terms, to receive hospital care or medical services (other than emergency medical services) solely from the VA.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2016-07-21 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a qualified hazardous duty area to be treated in the same manner as a combat zone for certain tax provisions.

A "qualified hazardous duty area" is the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt if a member of the Armed Forces performs services in such location that qualify for special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger.

The requirement applies to specified tax provisions relating to:

 the special rule where a deceased spouse was in missing status; the exclusion from gross income of certain combat pay of members of the Armed Forces; income taxes of members of the Armed Forces on death; combat zone-related deaths of members of the Armed Forces; the definition of wages relating to combat pay for members of the Armed Forces; the taxation of phone service originating from a combat zone from members of the Armed Forces; joint tax returns where an individual is in missing status; and additional time for individuals serving in combat zones to file returns, pay taxes, and perform other specified acts.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-09-08 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Federal Aviation Administration Veteran Transition Improvement Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill applies federal civil service requirements to leave used by disabled armed forces veterans in the personnel management system of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

To verify that leave credited to such an employee is used for treating a service-connected disability, the employee shall certify to FAA Human Resource Management that the employee used that leave for purposes of being furnished treatment for that disability by a health care provider.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-09 00:00:00

Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act

This bill includes veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands between January 1, 1977, and December 31, 1980, as radiation exposed veterans for purposes of the Department of Veterans Affairs presumption of service-connection for specified cancers.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-20 00:00:00

VA Accountability for Location of Records Act or the VALOR Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish, within 14 days after receiving a request, any record in its custody pertaining to a claim, or relating to the military service or medical records of a veteran, that the VA is otherwise authorized to furnish to the requester.

If the VA is unable to furnish a record by such time, it shall inform the requester within 10 days after receiving the request of the reason for the delay and the estimated date on which the record will be furnished.