jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Treasury the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund for payments by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a monthly benefit of $1,000 to each individual who, between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, was a documented member of the U.S. merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was operated in U.S. waters by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation and under contract to, or the property of, the United States. Requires such individuals to: (1) apply for such benefit before October 1, 2009; and (2) not have received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012. Requires the Secretary to include, in annual budget documents submitted to Congress, detailed information on the Fund's operation.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish, maintain, and modify as necessary procedures for ensuring the effective coordination of outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs between and among the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Public Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. Directs the Secretary to give priority to state and county outreach assistance in locations that: (1) have relatively large concentrations of veterans; or (2) are experiencing growth in veteran populations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to state or county veterans agencies for state and local outreach services. Requires each participating agency to submit annually to the Secretary a three-year plan for the use of such funds. Authorizes appropriations.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Bartlett Montgomery GI Bill Act - Amends the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program to allow an individual who has completed six years of service in the Armed Forces and enters into an agreement to serve at least four more years to transfer their educational assistance entitlement to their spouse, child, or a combination thereof. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a percentage annual increase in the rates of such educational assistance based on the average monthly costs of higher education. Authorizes reimbursement of reductions in basic pay for educational assistance coverage in the case of extended active-duty service. Provides similar eligibility for the transfer of educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve who have completed at least six years of service and enter into an agreement to remain a member of such Reserve for at least four more years. Provides educational assistance eligibility credit for cumulative active-duty service in the Selected Reserve. Increases the rates of educational assistance under the Reserve Montgomery GI Bill. Applies an annual adjustment to the rates of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Combat-Related Special Compensation Act - Authorizes monthly combat-related special compensation pay to any military retiree who is entitled to retired pay and has a combat-related disability. (Currently, a retiree must meet those requirements and also have completed at least 20 years of retirement-creditable military service.) Provides a special compensation rule with respect to retirees with less than 20 years of service.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to make small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans eligible for the award by the Small Business Administration (SBA) of small business development grants in the same manner as small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Fallen Heroes Tax Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise provisions exempting deceased members of the Armed Forces who die from wounds, disease, or injury incurred while serving in a combat zone from income tax to extend the tax exemption to the last taxable year ending before such wounds, disease, or injury were incurred.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Amends veterans' benefit provisions to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of veterans rated totally disabled at the time of death who were former prisoners of war (currently, to the survivors of such veterans who died after September 30, 1999).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Congress
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Establishes the American Veterans Congressional Internship Program, under which each Member of the House of Representatives may hire for a maximum 12-month period, one additional employee who meets specified eligibility criteria to serve as the American Veteran Congressional Intern. Provides that such employment by a Member and the payment of the Intern's salary shall be in addition to all personnel and allowances otherwise made available to Members under other provisions of law, rule, or other authority.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) establish procedures for the predeployment notification to members of the Armed Forces of any known or likely use of depleted uranium in the theater of operation and any health risks associated with exposure to depleted uranium; (2) provide for training deploying members on the safe handling of depleted uranium contamination; (3) carry out a program to identify individuals exposed to depleted uranium during active service in the Armed Forces; (4) provide such individuals with bioassay testing and notification of test results; and (5) identify specified depleted uranium exposure events. Requires the Secretary of each military department to establish procedures for collecting, tracking, and maintaining information on the health status of individuals tested under this Act to assess long-term health consequences of exposure to depleted uranium. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct an independent review of bioassay types and contamination thresholds for purposes of required testing. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide appropriate treatment for any illness of an individual resulting from depleted uranium contamination or exposure. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a survey of radioisotope identification equipment used by the Department of Defense (DOD) to assess the capability of DOD facilities to identify concentrations of different radioisotopes in naturally occurring levels of uranium and to report survey findings to Congress.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-05 00:00:00

Combat Military Medically Retired Veteran's Fairness Act - Authorizes the payment of special compensation to members of the Armed Forces retired due to disability with less than 20 years of active service who were awarded the Purple Heart. States that such payments shall be made without regard to special rules applicable to other disability retirees which require offsetting reductions.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-05 00:00:00

Retired Pay Restoration Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that military retired pay should not be reduced because a military retiree is also eligible for veterans' disability compensation awarded for a service-connected disability. Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability (currently, only a disability rated at 50 percent or more). Repeals provisions phasing in the full concurrent receipt of such pay through December 31, 2013. Makes eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay those individuals who were retired or separated from military service due to a service-connected disability.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-01-05 00:00:00

Border Patrol Agent Recruitment Act of 2007 - Amends federal employee provisions to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to fix at 45 the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a border patrol position (position) for any individual who is a retired member of the Armed Forces at the time of appointment. Makes eligible for retirement under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) any such individual who serves in the position for 15 years after such appointment.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-01-05 00:00:00

Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2007 - Requires executive agencies to furnish a U.S. flag to drape the casket of a civilian federal employee who dies in a combat zone, upon request of the deceased's next of kin or a close associate of the deceased. Requires notification of federal civilian employees who are located or stationed in a combat zone to perform one or more functions in support of military operations of the flag ceremony benefit provided for under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-09 00:00:00

Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) suicide among veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious problem; and (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in developing and implementing the comprehensive program outlined in this Act, should take into consideration the special needs of such veterans and of elderly veterans who are at high risk for depression and experience high rates of suicide. Directs the Secretary to develop and carry out a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. Requires the program to include: (1) mandatory training for appropriate staff and contractors of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who interact with veterans; (2) mental health assessments of veterans; (3) designation of a suicide prevention counselor at each Department medical facility; (4) research on best practices for suicide prevention; (5) mental health care for veterans who have experienced sexual trauma while in military service; (6) 24-hour veterans' mental health care availability; (7) a toll-free hotline; and (8) outreach and education for veterans and their families. Authorizes the Secretary to develop and carry a peer support counseling program as part of such program. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the program.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-09 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to study and report to Congress on the accuracy and possible extension of expiration dates on certain prescription drugs maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-09 00:00:00

Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act - Amends federal military retired pay provisions to: (1) permit veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to claim both retired pay and disability compensation; (2) eliminate provisions requiring a phase in between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2013, of concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation; (3) provide a special reduction rule with respect to the concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation in the case of disability retirees with less than 20 years of creditable service; and (4) extend combat-related special compensation to certain veterans with less than 20 years of service who have a combat-related disability.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Social welfare
Date: 2007-01-09 00:00:00

Military Families Financial Security Act - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act, with respect to income eligibility for SSI, to provide for the treatment of cash military compensation other than basic pay as earned income, and of certain housing payments as in-kind support and maintenance.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-09 00:00:00

Redesignates the: (1) Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps; and (2) Secretary of the Navy as the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. Makes similar redesignations with respect to Department Assistant Secretaries and the General Counsel.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-09 00:00:00

Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to make permanent (currently, terminates on December 31, 2006) the authority for the provision by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of government markers or memorial headstones for the marked graves of veterans buried in private cemeteries. Amends the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 to make eligible for such markers or headstones certain veterans dying on or after November 1, 1990 (currently, September 11, 2001).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-10 00:00:00

Universal National Service Act of 2007 - Declares that it is the obligation of every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform a two-year period of national service, unless exempted, either as a member of an active or reserve component of the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense. Requires induction into national service by the President. Allows persons to be inducted only: (1) under a declaration of war or national emergency; or (2) when members of the Armed Forces are engaged in a contingency operation. Requires each person, before induction, to be examined physically and mentally for classification for fitness to perform. Sets forth provisions governing: (1) induction deferments, postponements, and exemptions, including exemption of a conscientious objector from combatant training and military service; and (2) discharge following national service. Amends the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the military registration of females. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit combat pay otherwise excluded from gross income to be treated as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-11 00:00:00

Veterans' Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act - Requires that, whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts payable under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase by the same percentage the amounts payable as veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-11 00:00:00

Amends federal armed forces provisions to prohibit a person from being appointed as Secretary of Defense within three (currently, ten) years after active-duty service as a commissioned officer in a regular component of the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-01-11 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax free rollovers of military death gratuities to Roth individual retirement accounts, health savings and Archer medical savings accounts, and Coverdell education savings accounts.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-11 00:00:00

Repeals the Military Selective Service Act.Prohibits the Office of Selective Service Records from being reestablished upon such repeal. Transfers the assets, property, and records held by the Selective Service System (SSS), as well as unexpended balances, to the Administrator of General Services. Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to assist officers and employees of the SSS to transfer to other positions in the executive branch.Prohibits any person from being denied a right, privilege, benefit, or employment position under Federal law on the grounds that the person failed to register under the Military Selective Service Act before its repeal.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-12 00:00:00

Prohibits any funds made available to the Department of Defense (DOD) from being obligated or expended to increase the number of U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq at any time in excess of the number serving there as of January 1, 2007, unless a specific authorization for the increase is enacted into law.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-12 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care and medical services, and authorizes the Secretary to furnish nursing home care, as needed to any veteran who was awarded the Mariners Medal (currently, only the Purple Heart).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-12 00:00:00

Protect the Troops and Bring Them Home Act of 2007 - Allows funds made available to the Department of Defense (DOD) to be obligated or expended within the Republic of Iraq only for providing: (1) the continued protection of members of the Armed Forces in Iraq pending their withdrawal; and (2) the safe and orderly withdrawal of such troops pursuant to a schedule that provides for withdrawal commencement no later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act and withdrawal completion no later than December 31, 2007. Prohibits any DOD funds from being obligated or expended to increase the number of Armed Forces serving in Iraq at any time. Permits the obligation or expenditure of funds to ensure the security of Iraq and its transition to democratic rule through specified consultations, financial or equipment assistance, or economic or reconstruction assistance.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-12 00:00:00

Honor Our Commitment to Veterans Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to administer the health care enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs so as to enroll any eligible veteran who applies. (This directive in effect terminates an administrative freeze on the enrollment of veterans in the lowest priority enrollment category.)
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Education
Date: 2007-01-18 00:00:00

Children of Fallen Soldiers Pell Grant Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Educaton Act of 1965 to eliminate the expected family contribution used in determining Pell Grant eligibility in the case of a student applicant whose parent or guardian was killed while performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-19 00:00:00

Amends the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 to extend the period during which members of the Armed Forces deployed in connection with Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, or Iraqi Freedom may request and receive reimbursement for purchasing protective helmet pads.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-22 00:00:00

Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007 - Extends, for veterans who served in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War or during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998, from two to five years the period of elgibility for hospital care, medical services, or nursing home care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs following discharge or release for such veterans, or, for veterans who were discharged or released more than five years before the enactment of this Act and who did not enroll before such enactment, enrollment must be within three years of such enactment.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Social welfare
Date: 2007-01-24 00:00:00

Blind Veterans Fairness Act - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to disregard state paid annuities for blind veterans and their spouses in determining SSI benefits.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-24 00:00:00

Joseph I. Hoover Combat Veteran Affidavit Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' disability compensation and benefits, to accept the sworn affidavit of a veteran who served on or before July 27, 1953, as proof of a service connection of a disease or injury alleged to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service, if there is no clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-24 00:00:00

Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act - Requires the United States to forgive any overpayment of military retired or retainer pay for any period after the death of the recipient through the last day of the month in which such death occurs, if such payment is electronically deposited to a joint account bearing the name of the decedent and the decedent's designated beneficiary. Provides a special effective date for the first annuity payment to a survivor under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) when an overpayment is so forgiven.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-24 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: 2007-01-29 00:00:00

Reduces from age 57 to age 55 the age after which the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse. Prohibits payment of retroactive benefits. Permits eligibility for such benefits by an individual who but for having remarried would be eligible for such benefits by reason such age reduction and whose remarriage was before the date of the enactment of this Act and after the individual had attained age 57 only if the individual submits an application for such benefits within one year of enactment.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2007-01-31 00:00:00

Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 - Deems certain service performed before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts as active military service for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Repeals certain provisions discounting such service as qualifying service.