jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-03-17 00:00:00

Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act or VETS Dogs Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) from prohibiting the use of service dogs in or on any VA facility or property or any facility or property that receives VA funding.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-03-17 00:00:00

Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act - Permits a veteran with any compensable service-connected disability (and the veteran's dependents) to use commissary and exchange stores on the same basis as a member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-03-29 00:00:00

Denies a pay adjustment to civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DOJ) who have an unacceptable performance rating.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-03-30 00:00:00

Support for Survivors Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to identify the most appropriate and effective means for the preservation by the Department of Defense (DOD) of documentary evidence of incidents of sexual assault or harassment in which a member of the Armed Forces is the victim (covered incidents), which shall be the sole means used by all the military departments. Requires the means identified to be in electronic form and to include the full protection of the victim's privacy and lifetime access to such evidence. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a joint task force to determine whether to establish a documentary evidence form, report, or document in lieu of forms, reports, and documents currently generated by DOD. Requires the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress on the means of preservation identified; and (2) provide for the implementation of such means by the military departments within 18 months after the enactment of this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-03-31 00:00:00

Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act - Removes the requirement that days of active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of the reserves may retire for non-regular (reserve) service must occur in the same fiscal year.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-03-31 00:00:00

World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to consider certain methods for verifying that an individual performed honorable service as a member of the merchant marine during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977. Requires such methods to include Social Security Administration (SSA) records and validated testimony in the case of the absence of Coast Guard shipping or discharge forms, ship logbooks, or other official employment records. Requires the Secretary to recognize masters of seagoing vessels or other command officers who were authorized to document an individual for purposes of hiring for the merchant marine or discharge therefrom, when determining whether to recognize service allegedly performed during such period.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-03-31 00:00:00

Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, during a federal funding gap impacting the Armed Forces, to transfer to the Secretary of Defense (DOD), and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) in the case of the Coast Guard, amounts necessary to continue to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces, including the reserves, who perform active service during the funding gap. Prohibits any such transfer after December 31, 2011.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-01 00:00:00

Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an increased work opportunity tax credit for the hiring in 2011 or 2012 of veterans discharged or released from active military duty after September 11, 2001. Reduces amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for general administration in FY2011 and FY2012 to offset the cost of the increased credit allowed by this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-04-01 00:00:00

Honoring Hometown Heroes Act - Permits the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a first responder (firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical service provider) serving in the line of duty.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-04 00:00:00

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Secretary of Defense (DOD), and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) in the case of the Coast Guard, amounts necessary to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces, including the reserves, who perform active service during any funding gap during FY2011 when interim or full-year appropriations for the military personnel accounts have not been enacted. Requires: (1) such members to continue to be paid even if the debt of the U.S. government reaches its statutory limit, and (2) such pay obligation to take priority over all other government obligations.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-06 00:00:00

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2011, 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. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act - Extends through 2016 the authority of the Secretary to provide specially adapted housing assistance to certain disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-07 00:00:00

Battlefield Excellence through Superior Training Practices Act or BEST Practices Act - Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD), no later than: (1) October 1, 2014, to develop, test, and validate human-based training methods for training members of the Armed Forces in the treatment of combat injuries, with the goal of replacing live animal-based training methods; and (2) October 1, 2016, to use only use human-based training methods for such purposes. Prohibits the use of animals in such training after the latter date. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees on the development and implementation of the human-based training methods.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-08 00:00:00

Prohibits: (1) more than one gravesite from being provided at Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington) to a veteran or member of the Armed Forces who is eligible for burial there and family members also eligible for burial there, and (2) a gravesite from being reserved at Arlington before an individual's death. Provides an exception under (2) above, in the case of a request submitted to the Secretary of the Army before January 1, 1962. Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress on reservations made for interment at Arlington.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-08 00:00:00

Provides that if a funding gap occurs during FY2011 impacting the Armed Forces, amounts shall be appropriated at the rate provided for military personnel accounts by Division A of H.R. 1, for the purpose of providing pay and allowances to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (including their reserve components) who perform active service during the funding gap.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-08 00:00:00

Honor Our Fallen Heroes Act - Appropriates amounts to the Secretary of Defense (DOD) and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) during a funding gap impacting the Armed Forces to allow for the timely payment of death gratuities under specified code provisions addressing death benefits for deceased military personnel. Defines "funding gap" as any period during FY2011 for which interim or full-year appropriations (other than as provided by this Act) for the personnel accounts of the Armed Forces for that fiscal year have not been enacted.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-12 00:00:00

Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011 - Provides that if a veteran claimant or representative submits new evidence in support of a case for which a substantive appeal has been filed to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, such evidence shall be submitted directly to the Board and not to the agency of jurisdiction, unless the claimant or representative requests that the evidence first be reviewed by the agency of jurisdiction.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-12 00:00:00

Appropriates amounts to the Secretary of Defense (DOD) (and the Secretary of Homeland Security [DHS] with respect to the Coast Guard) during a funding gap impacting the Armed Forces to allow for the timely payment of pay and allowances, and for death gratuities under specified code provisions addressing death benefits for deceased military personnel. Defines "funding gap" as any period during FY2011 for which interim or full-year appropriations (other than as provided by this Act) for the personnel accounts of the Armed Forces for that fiscal year have not been enacted.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-13 00:00:00

Defense Sexual Trauma Response Oversight and Good Governance Act (Defense STRONG Act) - Amends the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 to require the Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office to be appointed from general or flag officers or Department of Defense (DOD) employees in a comparable Senior Executive Service position. Requires the assignment within each military brigade or equivalent unit level of at least one full-time Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and one full-time Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, allowing the Secretary of the military department concerned to assign additional coordinators and/or advocates based on the demographics or needs of the unit. Allows only members of the Armed Forces (members) or DOD civilian personnel to be assigned as coordinators or advocates as of October 1, 2013. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a professional training and certification program for such coordinators and advocates. Entitles any member, or dependent of a member, who is the victim of a sexual assault to legal assistance provided by a military legal assistance counsel and coordinator and advocate services, regardless of whether the member elects unrestricted or restricted (confidential) reporting of the assault. Makes privileged any communications between a member or dependent and a coordinator, advocate, legal counsel, or person staffing a helpline. Directs the Secretary to establish a system for tracking and maintaining for at least 100 years any medical, investigative, and other records prepared or obtained by DOD in connection with a sexual assault involving a member or dependent. Requires permanent access to such records by the victim. Requires the transfer from the Secretary to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) of certain medical records in anticipation of a member's discharge, release, retirement, or medical treatment. Provides for the expedited consideration of, and priority for, an application by victims of sexual assault for a permanent change of station or unit transfer based on humanitarian conditions. Requires each military department Secretary to develop a curriculum to provide sexual assault prevention and response training and education for members and civilian employees of that department. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for the inclusion of a sexual assault prevention and response training module at each level of professional military education, and (2) require managers of specialty skills associated with first responders to integrate sexual assault response training in initial and recurring first responder training courses.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Economics and public finance
Date: 2011-04-14 00:00:00

Guarantee Paychecks for America's Military Families Act - Prioritizes, in the event that the public debt of the U.S. government reaches the statutory limit, the following obligations over all other obligations: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury to pay with legal tender the principal and interest on debt held by the public; (2) the Secretary of Defense (DOD) and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to pay members of the Armed Forces the earned pay, allowances, and other compensation paid from military personnel accounts; and (3) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out a contingency operation (as defined in existing provisions of federal military law), including the pay earned by civilian employees of the DOD and the Coast Guard serving in a combat zone (as defined in existing provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). Appropriates to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, for any period of lapsed appropriations, such amounts as may be necessary to allow such Secretaries to provide, during the period of lapsed appropriations and without interruption: (1) pay and allowances to members of Armed Forces, including reserve components thereof, who perform active service during the period of lapsed appropriations; and (2) pay to civilian employees of the DOD and the Coast Guard serving in a combat zone. Defines "period of lapsed appropriations" as any period during which appropriations are not available due to the absence of the timely enactment of any Act or joint resolution (whether a general appropriations Act or an Act or joint resolution making continuing appropriations) appropriating funds for the payment of the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces or civilian employees of the DOD and Coast Guard.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-15 00:00:00

Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011 or SERVE Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code concerning the prohibition on disruptions of funerals of members or former members of the Armed Forces to increase the period covered under such prohibition from one to two hours before and after a military funeral. Includes within such unlawful conduct any disturbance or disruption occurring within 500 feet of the residence of a surviving member of a deceased's immediate family. Provides civil remedies, including actual and statutory damages. Makes identical changes under federal veterans' provisions concerning the prohibition on certain demonstrations and disruptions at national cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-15 00:00:00

War Powers Reform Act of 2011 - Amends the War Powers Resolution to repeal an existing framework under which the President is required to terminate, within 60 days, subject to a possible 30-day extension, any use of Armed Forces with respect to which the President has submitted (or is required to submit) a report concerning the introduction of Armed Forces into hostilities in the absence of a declaration of war, unless: (1) Congress declares war or enacts specific authorization, (2) extends the 60-day period, or (3) is physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United States. Strikes provisions concerning congressional action to remove Armed Forces engaged in hostilities without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization. Replaces such framework with a process that prohibits funds available for the Armed Forces from being obligated or expended for introducing the Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated, in the absence of: (1) a declaration of war; (2) specific statutory authorization or obligation under a treaty; or (3) a national emergency created by an attack or imminent threat of attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Armed Forces. Provides that such prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit the use of such funds to provide for the defense of Israel created by an attack upon Israel.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-04-15 00:00:00

Veterans' Choice in Filing Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a two-year pilot program to permit a qualifying veteran filing a claim for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits to submit such claim to any VA regional office. Includes as a qualifying veteran one who, except for the pilot program, would be required to submit such claim to one of five VA regional offices selected by the Secretary based on below-average performance. Requires reports from the Secretary to Congress on: (1) the five below-average offices selected by the Secretary; and (2) the pilot program, including recommendations on the allocation of resources among the regional offices.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-05-04 00:00:00

Force Protection and Readiness Act - Grants, in cases arising under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for communications made between an alleged victim of sexual assault and a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate of the Department of Defense (DOD), to an individual who consulted with such an Advocate, a victim service organization, or a health care professional the privilege of refusing to disclose a confidential communication made by the individual if such communication was made for the purpose of securing advice, counseling, treatment, or assistance in connection with a sexual assault or other sexual misconduct. Allows the privilege to be claimed by the individual's guardian or conservator. Provides exceptions. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide for the expedited consideration of a request for a permanent change of military station or unit transfer submitted by a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who was a victim of sexual assault or other sexual offense. Codifies under federal law a required information database on sexual assault incidents involving members of the Armed Forces. Repeals a superseded requirement under the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a universal hotline to facilitate the reporting of sexual assault involving members of the Armed Forces. Requires: (1) at least one full-time Sexual Assault Victim Advocate to be assigned to each battalion or equivalent military unit, and (2) appropriate training and certification of such advocates. Requires a copy of the record of proceedings of a court-martial involving a sexual assault or other sexual offense to be given to the victim if the victim testified during the proceedings. Directs the Secretary to provide a training module for judge advocates who serve as trial counsel to improve their ability to investigate and prosecute cases involving a sexual assault or other sexual offense.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-05-04 00:00:00

United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act - Deems service of a person as a member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps between July 1, 1943, and December 15, 1945 (qualified service), to be active military service for purposes of all laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Requires: (1) the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to issue an honorable discharge to each person whose qualified service warrants one, and (2) the discharge to be issued before the end of the one-year period beginning on the enactment of this Act. Prohibits benefits from being paid to persons as a result of such enactment for any period before the enactment date.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-05-11 00:00:00

Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to award the Army Combat Action Badge to any member of the Army who participated in combat during which the person actually engaged, or was personally engaged by, the enemy at any time between December 7, 1941, and September 18, 2001, as long as such person has not been previously recognized for such participation.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-05-11 00:00:00

Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year program of outreach to veterans to increase: (1) their access and use of federal, state, and local programs providing compensation and other benefits for service in the Armed Forces; and (2) their awareness of and eligibility for such programs. Allows the Secretary, under the program, to enter into agreements with other federal and state agencies and specified authorities and commissions to carry out projects to further such purposes.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-05-12 00:00:00

Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with respect to each of the 48 contiguous states, to ensure that veterans eligible for hospital care and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have access to: (1) at least one full-service VA medical center in the state, or (2) hospital care and medical services comparable to that provided in full-service VA medical centers through contract with other health providers in the state. Makes such requirement effective only to the extent and in amounts provided in advance in appropriations Acts. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on compliance with such requirement, including its effect on improving the quality and standards of veterans' care.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2011-05-12 00:00:00

Wounded Warrior Tax Equity Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prevent any extension of the tax collection period after assessment for taxpayers who are members of the Armed Forces due to a hospitalization for combat zone injuries.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-05-12 00:00:00

Sets a maximum age limit of 40 years for an original appointment to a position as a federal law enforcement officer in the case of individuals who have been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions. Increases the age at which such an individual must be separated from service as an officer to 60 years of age, with an authorized exemption until age 63.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-05-13 00:00:00

Military Commissions Guilty Plea Adjustment Act - Permits a guilty plea made by the accused prior to the announcement of the sentence in a capital offense trial before a military commission to form the basis of an agreement to reduce the maximum approved sentence.