jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-04-16 00:00:00

Traumatic Brain Injury Access to Options Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure that each member of the Armed Forces who incurs a traumatic brain injury (where the member is unable to perform activities of daily living for at least five consecutive days from the date of a medical assessment) while on active duty shall be retained on active duty for one year after the date of the assessment. Prohibits such member from being evaluated during the one-year period by a physical evaluation board for determining eligibility for retirement or separation due to such disability. Allows a member (or his or her guardian or legal advocate) to choose to make such requirements inapplicable to the member. Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to extend the one-year period as appropriate in light of medical progress. Requires annual Comptroller General assessments of traumatic brain injury care and services provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-04-25 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a three-year pilot program on the feasibility and advisability of delivering community reintegration support and services to veterans by assisting veterans organizations in developing and promoting veterans peer support. Designates the pilot program as the "Heroes Helping Heroes Program." Requires the Secretary to select up to 20 program participants, and to award grants to such participants in amounts from $100,000 to $300,000 per fiscal year. Requires grant recipients to contribute at least 10% of the grant funds awarded.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-04-25 00:00:00

Sets $19 million as the maximum amount per fiscal year for reimbursement to states and local agencies administering veterans' education benefits. Extends through FY2007 a pilot program of on-job training for veterans' claims adjudicators. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to waive, for public interest purposes on a case-by-case basis, the residency requirement for a Director for Veterans' Employment and Training. Includes veterans of the Global War on Terror within an ongoing veterans' unemployment study. Amends the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 to extend through 2009 an increase in benefits for veterans pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-04-26 00:00:00

Reduces from 60 to 55 the minimum age for the receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-04-30 00:00:00

Requires the: (1) Secretary of Defense to prescribe standards for determinations of ratings of military disability to assure that such ratings are consistent across the military departments; and (2) standards to take into account all medical conditions incurred by members of the Armed Forces while in military status. Directs the: (1) Secretary of each military department to utilize the standard schedule for rating disabilities used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in making disability determinations; and (2) Secretary to prescribe training requirements for personnel making such determinations.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-02 00:00:00

Veterans' Dignified Burial Assistance Act of 2007 - Increases from $300 to $400 the burial plot allowance paid for veterans interred in cemeteries other than national cemeteries. Waives the requirement that, for a state to receive such allowance for the reimbursement of burial costs, it must file for such within two years after the burial or cremation of the veteran. Authorizes the use of up to $5 million per year under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) state cemetery grant program for operating and maintaining state cemeteries.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-03 00:00:00

Revises provisions concerning Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) use of state approving agencies (agencies) for approving courses of education for veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill veterans' educational assistance program. Authorizes (current law requires) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to promote the development of veterans' apprenticeship and on-job training programs. Authorizes the Secretary to determine the criteria and contract conditions for reimbursing agencies for salary and travel costs incurred on behalf of the VA, including the condition that the agencies report annually to the Secretary and the congressional veterans' committees on resources expended and personnel qualification and performance standards. Limits the annual authorized amount for the VA for such expenses.Requires the Secretary to establish performance measures to assess the effectiveness of agencies in: (1) the services for which they are reimbursed; and (2) coordinating with other entities to reduce overlap and improve efficiency in approval activities.Requires the Secretary to establish standards of approval for accredited and nonaccredited courses offered by an educational institution, based on specified measures. Authorizes an agency, in approving courses for which such standards have been met, to rely upon determinations made by other entities, including the Departments of Labor and Education. Allows approval to be revoked by the Secretary or the agency, under conditions established by the Secretary.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-03 00:00:00

Veterans' Education and Vocational Benefits Improvement Act of 2007 - Authorizes the accelerated payment of veterans' educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill for individuals who, during the period beginning October 1, 2008, and ending September 30, 2012, first enroll in an approved program of education not exceeding two years and not leading to an associate, bachelors, masters, or equivalent degree (in effect, for vocational school). Provides the same benefit for: (1) participants under the survivors' and dependents' educational assistance program; (2) members of the Selected Reserve; and (3) reserve personnel supporting contingency and other combat-related operations. Authorizes, for the latter personnel, the payment of 80% of the total educational assistance allowance for those serving an aggregate of three years or more in support of such contingency or related operations. Authorizes such personnel to make pay contributions for an increased amount of educational assistance.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-07 00:00:00

Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans to establish a separate account for the funding of outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and a separate subaccount for the funding of outreach activities of the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish and maintain procedures for ensuring the effective coordination of VA outreach activities between and among such elements, the Office of the Secretary, and the Office of Public Affairs; and (2) ensure that outreach is provided in locations proximate to populations of veterans and other individuals in states that offer a high probability of improving veterans' outreach and assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to appropriate state veterans agencies for such purpose.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-08 00:00:00

Comprehensive Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 2007 - Makes various changes or additions to veterans' compensation, pension, health care, housing, burial, and other benefits, including: (1) a report on veterans who were misclassified as not being catastrophically disabled; (2) a pilot program on veterans' lung cancer screening; (3) a repeal of the prohibition against the concurrent receipt of veterans' disability compensation or pension and military retired pay; (4) an increase in the rates of veterans' disability compensation; (5) a repeal of the reduction of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities by the amount of veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) received; (6) a report on the adequacy of DIC for survivors of veterans who die from service-connected disabilities; (7) a reduction in premiums under the service-disabled veterans life insurance program; (8) an increase in the veterans' burial plot allowance; (9) an FY2008 authorization of appropriations for the state cemetery grants program; (10) an increase in grant amounts for specially adapted housing for veterans; (11) an increased coverage amount under the veterans' mortgage life insurance program; (12) adjusted veterans' home loan fees; (13) judicial review of the adoption or revision of veterans' disability ratings; (14) establishment of the DOD/VA Clinical Information Data Exchange Bureau; (15) a study and report concerning the disability ratings systems of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); and (16) a report on the provision of assisted living benefits for veterans.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-08 00:00:00

Makes permanent (under current law, expires December 31, 2007) the requirement that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs furnish, upon request, an appropriate government headstone or marker for the graves of certain veterans eligible for burial in national cemeteries, but buried in private cemeteries.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-09 00:00:00

Military and Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act - Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly establish a program of treatment and rehabilitative services for traumatic brain injury (TBI) with respect to members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Requires the: (1) Secretary of Defense to establish protocols for the detection and diagnosis of TBI; (2) Secretaries to inform members and veterans with TBI and their families as to treatment rights and options available; (3) Secretaries to assign a qualified lead case manager and lead primary care physician to each member and veteran that participates in the program; and (4) Secretaries to enter into cooperative agreements with entities with expertise in the treatment and rehabilitation needs of individuals with TBI. Directs the Secretaries to establish protocols to ensure that members receive continuity of care and assistance during and after the transition from military service to civilian life. Requires the Secretary of Defense to: (1) review certain previous decisions of discharge from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions to determine whether a TBI was a cause of action that precipitated the discharge and, if so, reconsider and redesignate the discharge; and (2) conduct specified TBI research.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-16 00:00:00

21st Century GI Bill of Rights Act of 2007 - Entitles to basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill certain members of the Armed Forces or reserves who, after September 11, 2001: (1) are deployed overseas; or (2) serve for an aggregate of at least two years or, before such period, are discharged due to a service-connected disability, hardship, or certain medical conditions. Entitles such individuals to 36 months of educational assistance. Authorizes: (1) specialized training and certification programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities; and (2) payments for tutorial assistance and licensure and certification tests. Requires (with exceptions) the use of such assistance within ten years after the individual's last discharge or release from active duty. Requires individuals eligible under both the above program and the regular Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program to elect one program for participation. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the maximum guaranty amount under the veterans' home loan program with respect to residences of a particular size in an area for which the median price for such size exceeds the normal guaranty maximum. Repeals the home loan guaranty fees charged to veterans. Amends the Small Business Act relating to the microloan program to authorize small business loans to veterans in amounts up to $100,000 at an interest rate of no more than 2.5%.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-22 00:00:00

Supply Our Soldiers Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide for a program under which postal benefits are provided to a member of the Armed Forces who is on active duty and who is either: (1) serving in Iraq or Afghanistan; or (2) hospitalized at a military medical facility as a result of such service. Provides the postal benefits in the form of coupons or other evidence of credit (vouchers) to use for postal-free mailings.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-23 00:00:00

Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2007 - Increases the authorized allowance for burial and funeral expenses for deceased veterans who: (1) at the time of death were in receipt of veterans' disability compensation or veterans' pension benefits; or (2) were veterans of any war or were discharged or released from active military service for a service-connected disability and for whom there is no next of kin or sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs. Increases the burial plot allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were receiving hospital or nursing home care in or through the Department of Veterans Affairs.Authorizes the annual adjustment of such allowances based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-05-24 00:00:00

Gold Star Parents Annuity Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay a special pension to each person who has received a Gold Star lapel button as a parent of a member of the Armed Forces who died while serving.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-06-12 00:00:00

Defenders of Freedom Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to military personnel to: (1) extend the limitation period for filing tax refund claims resulting from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability determinations; (2) make permanent the taxpayer election to treat combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit; (3) treat differential wage payments made to active duty members of the uniformed services as wages for retirement plan purposes; (4) make permanent the exemption from the 10% penalty for premature retirement plan distributions made by active duty military personnel; (5) treat state payments to members of the uniformed services as qualified military benefits for purposes of the tax exclusion of such benefits; (6) make permanent the authority of the Social Security Administration to disclose tax return information to the VA for purposes of determining eligibility for certain veterans benefit programs; (7) extend through 2010 mortgage bond financing exemption rules for certain veterans; (8) make permanent the tax exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal residence by certain members of the Intelligence Community; (9) allow unlimited tax-free rollovers of military death gratuities to Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs); (10) allow employers a tax credit for differential wage payments made to active duty military personnel; and (11) set forth tax rules for U.S. citizens and certain permanent residents (expatriates) who relinquish their citizenship or residency to avoid U.S taxation.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-06-15 00:00:00

National Guard and Reservists Financial Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the exemption from tax penalties for premature distributions from retirement plans by members of the National Guard or Ready Reserve called to active duty.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-06-19 00:00:00

Military Family Support Act of 2007 - Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a program to authorize a caregiver (a federal employee at least 21 years of age capable of providing care to a child or other dependent family member of a member of the Armed Forces) to use: (1) any available sick leave for the provision of such care in the same manner as annual leave is used; and (2) any federal leave available to that caregiver as though that period of caregiving is a medical emergency. Requires the service member for whom the caregiving is provided to be performing service in support of a contingency operation or in situations for which hostile fire or imminent danger pay is authorized and to designate the caregiver for his or her family. Terminates the program on December 31, 2012.Directs the Secretary of Labor to: (1) establish a program to authorize employees of private businesses to use sick or any other leave for caregiving in the same manner as above; and (2) solicit businesses to voluntarily participate in the program. Requires caregiver designation. Terminates the program on December 31, 2012. Provides for an offsetting reduction in FY2008 appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for research, development, test and evaluation.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-06-19 00:00:00

Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members deployed in support of a contingency operation. States that if a motion for change of custody of a child of such a member is filed while the member is so deployed, no court may enter an order modifying or amending a previous child custody judgment, except if there is clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child. Prohibits any court from considering a member's absence due to deployment in support of a contingency operation in determining the best interest of the child.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-06-19 00:00:00

Provides that, in the case of a member with minor dependents who has a spouse who is also a member and that spouse is deployed in an area for which imminent danger pay is authorized, the member may request a deployment deferment from such an area until the spouse returns from such deployment.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-07-10 00:00:00

Veterans' Authorities Expansion Act of 2007 - Makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who participated in tests conducted by the Department of Defense Deseret Test Center as part of a program for chemical and biological warfare testing; and (2) provide government markers or memorial headstones for the graves of veterans buried in private cemeteries. Amends the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 to extend through December 30, 2010, the authority for an increase in basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill for individuals pursuing apprenticeship or on-job training. Extends through FY2010 the VA's work-study allowance program.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Commemorations
Date: 2007-07-25 00:00:00

Allows members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are out of uniform to render the military salute during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the flag.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Labor and employment
Date: 2007-07-26 00:00:00

Military Family Job Protection Act - Prohibits a covered family member who is caring for a servicemember who is undergoing medical treatment for an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated while on active military duty from being denied retention in employment, promotion, or any employment benefit by an employer on the basis of the family member's absence from such employment for a period of not more than 52 weeks. Includes as a covered family member one who, while caring for the recovering servicemember, is: (1) on invitational orders; (2) a non-medical attendee; or (3) receiving per diem payments from the Department of Defense (DOD).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Labor and employment
Date: 2007-08-02 00:00:00

Support for Injured Servicemembers Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitle an eligible employee who is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of a covered servicemember to a total of 26 workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for the servicemember. Defines covered servicemember as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, is otherwise in medical hold or medical holdover status, or is otherwise on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty that may render the member medically unfit to perform his or her duties. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid vacation, personal, family leave, or medical or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the availability of such leave during any other 12-month period. Amends federal civil service law to entitle civilian federal employees to the same leave allowance. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid annual or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-09-06 00:00:00

Authorizes the payment of an additional special monthly pension, to a veteran already eligible for a basic pension due to service during a period of war and having a permanent and total non-service-connected disability, if such veteran either: (1) has an additional disability or disabilities rated at 60% or more; or (2) by reason of a disability or disabilities is permanently housebound but does not qualify for pension at the aid and attendance rate.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-09-06 00:00:00

Veterans' Pride Initiative Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and promote programs and activities for honoring veterans, increasing public awareness and appreciation of veterans' service, and encouraging veterans and their families to express pride in such service. Authorizes the next-of-kin of a deceased veteran to wear awards and decorations earned by the veteran during programs and activities in connection with Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day events, as well as such other patriotic observances as the Secretary may prescribe.