jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-03-29 00:00:00

Expresses the sense of Congress, among other things, that: (1) children of members of the Armed Forces deserve health-care practices and policies that are designed to meet their pediatric-specific needs and ensure and maintain their access to pediatric-specific treatment, providers, and facilities; and (2) the TRICARE program (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program) should meet the needs of such children, including those with special needs and chronic conditions. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a working group to review the TRICARE program and make appropriate recommendations with respect to pediatric-specific health care and health care settings. Requires an initial and final report from the working group to the congressional defense and appropriations committees.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-04-17 00:00:00

Fairness for World War II and Korean War Spouses Act - Makes the annual rate of pension paid to the surviving spouses of veterans of World War II or the Korean conflict the greater of the following amounts, reduced by the survivor's annual income: (1) the current limit applicable to surviving spouses of veterans of any period of war; or (2) the amount equal to the poverty line, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the prior year. Prohibits benefits paid by any federal entity from being included in the determination of annual income.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2012-04-18 00:00:00

Right to Habeas Corpus Act - States that nothing in the Authorization for Use of Military Force or the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 shall be construed to deny the availability of the writ of habeas corpus in a court ordained or established by or under Article III of the Constitution for any person detained in the United States pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-04-24 00:00:00

Veterans Affairs Employee Accountability Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that no employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who violates any civil law covered by the Federal Acquisition Regulation receives any retention incentive, payment, or award for or during the year of such violation.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-04-25 00:00:00

Fairness for Military Homeowners Act of 2012 - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to prohibit the absence of a servicemember from his or her principal place of residence due to active-duty military service from preventing such servicemember from refinancing a mortgage on such residence. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to a servicemember who entered into a refinancing on such residence within the past five years.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-04-26 00:00:00

Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD), within 60 days after the enactment of this Act, to ensure the continuous military command responsibility and accountability for the care, handling, and transportation of the remains of each deceased member of the Armed Forces who dies overseas, beginning with initial recovery of the remains, through the defense mortuary system, until their interment or when the remains are otherwise accepted by the person designated to direct their disposition.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-04-27 00:00:00

Makes the $100,000 payment limit for qualified losses under the traumatic injury protection coverage of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance inapplicable to any loss directly caused by: (1) armed conflict, (2) training under conditions simulating armed conflict, (3) hazardous service, or (4) a traumatic event caused through an instrumentality of war.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-04-27 00:00:00

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense (DOD), and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) with respect to the Coast Guard, should duly honor those members of the Armed Forces who are killed or wounded in the United States in terrorist attacks that are inspired by the ideology that gives rise to terrorism, as defined by the Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Provides that, for purposes of awarding the Purple Heart, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall treat a member of the Armed Forces who is killed or wounded in a terrorist attack within the United States in the same manner as a member killed or wounded in action due to an act of an enemy of the United States. Makes this Act effective as of January 1, 2009. Directs the Secretaries concerned to: (1) review each death or wounding of a member within the United States between January 1, 2009, and the date of enactment of this Act to determine whether such death or wounding qualifies as a death or wounding resulting from a terrorist attack for purposes of this Act; and (2) upon a positive determination, take appropriate action.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-04-27 00:00:00

Service Members and Communities Count Act of 2012 - Requires the Secretary of Commerce, beginning with the 2020 census, to ensure that all members of the Armed Forces deployed abroad are fully and accurately counted in the tabulation of total population by states and are properly attributed to the state in which their permanent duty station or homeport is located.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-07 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) (Secretary) to: (1) assess and develop a uniform definition of hazing, applicable to members of the Armed Forces (members), for inclusion in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ); and (2) submit such definition to Congress. Expresses the sense of Congress that such definition should cover, at a minimum, any situation in which a member suffers or is exposed to any cruelty, indignity, humiliation, hardship, harm, harassment, or oppression, or the deprivation or abridgment of any right, by another member. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the prevention of and response to hazing involving members. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and implement a centralized, case-level database for the collection and maintenance of information regarding hazing, including incidents occurring at officer candidate schools, military academies and their preparatory schools, and basic training and professional schools for enlisted members. Requires such Secretaries to: (1) submit to Congress a plan to implement the database, and (2) complete implementation within 15 months after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress: (1) a description of the current status of the Defense Incident-Based Reporting System, and (2) an explanation of how such System will relate to the database. Requires annual reports from each Secretary on the hazing incidents involving members. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to report to Congress on the policies to prevent hazing and the systems initiated to track incidents of hazing in each of the military departments.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-07 00:00:00

Renovate and Enhance Veterans' Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2012 or REVAMP Act of 2012- Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible veterans service organizations for repairs and rehabilitation of their existing facilities. Defines "eligible veterans service organization" as: (1) a tax-exempt entity organized on a local or area basis; and (2) a local or area chapter, post, or other unit of a national, regional, statewide, or other larger entity of which local or area chapters, posts, or units are members (but not any such national, regional, statewide, or other larger entity itself). Prohibits an eligible veterans service organization from receiving such grant amounts, for any single fiscal year, in an amount exceeding the lesser of the cost of the proposed repair or rehabilitation or $250,000. Makes a grant recipient ineligible to receive another such grant until after five succeeding fiscal years. Prohibits the use of such grants for construction or acquisition of a new facility.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-08 00:00:00

Service Member Anti-Hazing Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to: (1) develop and implement a policy to prevent and respond to hazing of members of that military department; (2) develop and implement a program to train such members on the dangers of, and need to, avoid hazing and a program of training on issues of diversity, which each member shall attend at least annually; (3) expand any policies for reporting incidents to include a phone service for the anonymous reporting of such incidents; and (4) develop and implement a procedure to transfer to another unit a victim of a substantial hazing incident. Establishes the Military Hazing Prevention Oversight Panel to make recommendations to the Secretary concerned on the development of the policies, programs, and procedures required above, and on ways to improve them.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-09 00:00:00

Make Our Veterans Smile Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), beginning on January 1, 2013, to provide necessary outpatient dental services and treatment and related dental appliances to veterans awarded the Purple Heart.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-10 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish within Arlington National Cemetery a Tomb of Remembrance for the interment of cremated fragments of the remains of members of the Armed Forces killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, or any subsequent war or contingency operation if such fragments are: (1) unidentifiable by use of DNA testing or other means, (2) unclaimed after a reasonable period, (3) identified and authorized for such interment by the person designated to direct disposition, or (4) designated as "No Further Pursuit" remains.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-15 00:00:00

Military Family Home Protection Act - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow a court, in an action to enforce an obligation on real or personal property secured by a mortgage against a servicemember on active duty, a totally disabled veteran, or the surviving spouse of a member who died during military service, to either: (1) stay the proceedings for a period of time as justice and equity require, or (2) adjust the obligation to preserve the interests of all parties. Prohibits the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of the subject property for the service period, as well as the 12-month period after: (1) the servicemember is discharged or redeployed from a contingency operation, (2) the veteran is retired, or (3) the death of the servicemember (in the case of a surviving spouse). Increases the civil penalties for violations of the sale or foreclosure prohibitions. Prohibits an individual from being denied or refused credit solely by reason of eligibility for relief under this Act. Requires each lending institution acting as a creditor to such servicemember, veteran, or surviving spouse to designate an employee responsible for ensuring the institution's compliance with the requirements of this Act. Requires any such institution that had prior annual assets of $10 billion or more to maintain on its primary website a toll-free number for information with respect to the protections afforded under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-16 00:00:00

Gender Equality Combat Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to report to the congressional defense committees on the implementation of a termination of the ground combat exclusion policy for female members of the Armed Forces (DOD policy under which female members are excluded from units and positions below brigade level whose primary mission is to engage in direct combat on the ground).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2012-05-17 00:00:00

Ports as Small Business Incubators Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish the Ports as Small Business Incubators Program. Requires the Administrator to award grants of at least $300,000 and up to $500,000 to port authorities selected by the Administrator. Allows grant funds to be used only for the costs of providing selected small businesses with access to commercial real property. Requires each Program participant, in providing such access, to give a priority to small businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as those that the participant determines would create "green" jobs (jobs involving the development of clean energy and the improvement of air and water quality).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-18 00:00:00

Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 - 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 have no next of kin or sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs. Increases the burial and funeral allowances for veterans who: (1) at the time of death, were receiving hospital or nursing home care in or through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); or (2) die as a result of a service-connected disability. Authorizes the annual adjustment of such allowances by the same percentage increase as adjustments to benefit amounts payable under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Authorizes a burial plot allowance, as well as reimbursement for a burial headstone or marker, for a veteran of any war. Authorizes the VA to cover the burial and funeral expenses of a deceased veteran: (1) who is homeless, has no next of kin or other person claiming the body, and does not have sufficient resources to cover such expenses; (2) whose service in the Armed Forces was not during wartime; and (3) who was either discharged under honorable conditions or died during a period deemed to be active service. Prohibits any deduction from the burial allowance because of a veteran's assets or because of any contribution toward the burial and funeral expenses, unless the expenses incurred are covered by the United States, a state, an agency or political subdivision of the United States or a state, or the veteran's employer.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2012-05-18 00:00:00

Veterans Access to Capital Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), using up to 20% of annual amounts available for SBA loans to state and local development companies, to make loans directly to small businesses owned and controlled by veterans to be used on projects having a sound business purpose. Provides loan limits and requires partial project funding by such small business. Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator to make up to 20% of the annual amounts available for SBA section 7(a) general small business loans available for loans to veteran-owned small businesses. Directs the Administrator, for purposes of loans or loan guarantees to veteran- or disabled veteran-owned small businesses, to reduce any applicable requirement relating to the veteran's credit score, as long as the veteran has complied with other conditions that the Administrator may require.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-05-18 00:00:00

Entitles the spouse or unremarried widow or widower of either a veteran who performed certain active duty or a current member of the Armed Forces to receive an additional five points preference for entrance into the competitive service.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-31 00:00:00

Veterans Disability Examination Access Improvement Act - Amends the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 to extend through 2012 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) authority for the performance of medical disability evaluations by contract physicians.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2012-06-06 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax deduction for charitable contributions to a post or organization of war veterans, to treat recipients of the Korea Defense Service Medal as war veterans.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-06-08 00:00:00

Civil Liberties Act of 2012 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (such Act) to provide that, in the case of a person detained in the United States pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force or such Act, disposition under the law of war shall occur immediately upon custody and shall only mean transfer for trial and proceedings by a court established under article III of the Constitution or an appropriate state court. Requires such trial and proceedings to have all due process provided under the Constitution. Prohibits any person detained, captured, or arrested in the United States or a U.S. territory or possession from being transferred to the custody of the Armed Forces for detention under the Authorization for Use of Military Force or such Act. Repeals the requirement of detention in military custody pending disposition under the law of war for individuals determined to be a member or part of al Qaeda or an associated force who has participated in planning or carrying out an attack or attempted attack against the United States or its coalition partners.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-06-12 00:00:00

Military Savings Act of 2012 - Directs the Undersecretary of Defense (Comptroller) to carry out a five-year pilot program to develop innovative consumer financial products that encourage savings and wealth-creation among active-duty servicemembers. Requires the program to be carried out in such a way that it does not exacerbate the incidence of servicemember credit overextension. Directs the Undersecretary to choose at least 10 military installations at which to implement the program. Directs the Undersecretary to contract for an annual independent program evaluation until its termination. Allows the Undersecretary, under certain conditions, to expand the program to a nationwide program and to extend its duration.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-06-21 00:00:00

Housing for Blinded Veterans Act - Changes from "5/200 visual acuity or less" to "central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of standard correcting lenses" the standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for veterans' specially adapted housing assistance provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-06-21 00:00:00

Vocational Employment and Technical Skills Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to require a state applicant for a grant or contract for certain veterans' employment and training programs to demonstrate that when that state approves or denies any required professional certification or license (including a driver's license), it takes into consideration any training received by the veteran while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-06-21 00:00:00

Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2012 - 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 (under current law, authorizes) the award of attorney fees in actions to enforce USERRA. Requires (under current law, authorizes) a court to use equitable relief, including injunctions and restraining orders when appropriate, for USERRA violations. Requires federal procurement contracts to include a notice that the contractor may have USERRA obligations. Requires a Comptroller General study on the effectiveness of federal education and outreach programs on employer obligations under USERRA.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-06-27 00:00:00

Volunteer Veterans for Cemetery Service Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Secretary of the military department concerned to accept voluntary services performed by a veteran or veterans organization at a national cemetery, including the veteran's sharing with visitors of the story of the veteran's military service.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-06-27 00:00:00

Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act of 2012 - Considers a person a spouse, for purposes of military personnel policies and military and veterans' benefits, if the marriage of the individual is valid in the state in which the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any state, if the marriage is valid in the place in which the marriage was entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a state. Includes as a state the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. territories and possessions.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-06-29 00:00:00

Dignified Burial of Veterans Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a casket or urn of sufficient quality for a dignified burial for the burial in a national cemetery of a deceased veteran with no next of kin, or other person claiming the body of the deceased veteran, and who is without sufficient resources to cover burial and funeral expense. Prohibits the furnishing of such casket or urn in the case of a veteran convicted of a federal or state capital crime. Requires the Secretary, in the case of a deceased veteran with no next of kin and without sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial expenses, to ensure that the entity responsible for transporting the body to a national cemetery for burial notifies the VA as to whether such veteran was cremated and steps taken to ensure that such veteran has no next of kin. Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans committees on VA compliance with industry standards for caskets and urns.