jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-20 00:00:00

Financial Independence for Disabled Veterans Act of 2016

This bill requires the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to prescribe regulations to permit continued participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) by a member of the uniformed services after such member's discharge or release from service if such individual is entitled to veterans disability compensation.

For purposes of provisions regarding TSP contributions, such individual's monthly veterans disability compensation shall be deemed to be his or her basic pay for a monthly pay period, but such individual's contribution shall not require or authorize a matching government contribution.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-21 00:00:00

Arla Harrell Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reconsider and make a new determination regarding each claim for disability compensation in connection with exposure to mustard gas or lewisite during active military, naval, or air service during World War II that was denied before this bill's enactment. The VA or the Department of Defense (DOD): (1) shall presume that a veteran experienced full-body exposure to mustard gas or lewisite unless proven otherwise; and (2) may not use information contained in the DOD and VA Chemical Biological Warfare Database or any list of known testing sites for mustard gas or lewisite maintained by the VA or DOD as the sole reason for determining that the veteran did not experience such exposure.

The VA shall report to Congress every 90 days on reconsidered claims that were denied.

The VA and DOD shall jointly establish a policy for processing future claims in connection with such exposure.

The bill requires DOD, for purposes of determining whether a site should be added to the list of DOD sites where mustard gas or lewisite testing occurred, to: (1) investigate and assess sites where the Army Corps of Engineers has uncovered evidence of mustard gas or lewisite testing or where more than two veterans submitted claims in connection with exposure that were denied; and (2) report on experiments conducted by DOD during World War II to assess the effects of mustard gas and lewisite.

The VA shall: (1) investigate and assess VA actions to reach out to individuals who had been exposed in such experiments, the disability compensation claims that were filed, and the percentage of such claims that were denied; and (2) submit a comprehensive list of each location where such an experiment was conducted.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-21 00:00:00

Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), if it is unable to identify a deceased veteran's next of kin and if it determines that sufficient resources for the furnishing of a casket or urn for the burial of such veteran are not otherwise available, to furnish a casket or urn for the burial of such veteran in a national cemetery (current law) or in a veterans cemetery of a state or tribal organization for which the VA has provided a grant for the establishment, expansion, and improvement of veterans' cemeteries.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-22 00:00:00

Keep Student Veterans in Their Homes Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue to pay educational assistance and subsistence allowances to eligible veterans and eligible persons enrolled in specified courses solely for a monthly housing stipend of up to four months following a permanent school closure.

A housing or educational assistance payment shall not be counted against the aggregate period for which such assistance may be provided or charged against the individual's entitlement to educational assistance.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

Private Corrado Piccoli Purple Heart Preservation Act of 2016

This bill provides that regulations restricting the purchase, production, sale, or exchange of military medals or decorations may not authorize the sale of a Purple Heart awarded to a member of the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

Collaborating for Economic Reintegration of Troops Act or the CERT Act

This bill establishes the Commission on Veteran Certification Standards which shall:

 examine the challenges confronting members of the Armed Forces and their spouses upon post-service entry into the civilian workforce; determine best state practices and evaluate efforts to assist members of the Armed Forces in obtaining professional credentials to facilitate the transfer of military skills and certifications to civilian settings; identify industries and jobs that can most benefit from military experience; develop recommended Blue Star credentialing standards and design evaluation criteria that the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs can use to evaluate state and territory utilization of such standards; and develop related administrative recommendations.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-11-14 00:00:00

Honor Our National Guard Act

This bill prohibits the department concerned (the Department of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Homeland Security, Commerce, or Health and Human Services) from requiring the repayment by a member of the uniformed services of any bonus or similar payment under provisions regarding special pay and repayment of an unearned portion of a bonus, incentive pay, or a similar benefit unless the Department, in the case of such a required repayment for failure to perform the required service:

 obtains a signed statement from a commanding officer of at least at the grade of O-6 in the member's chain of command, provides notice to the member of the intent to require repayment, and provides specified notice for the member to respond and provide evidence that the member fulfilled the required service. In the case of such a required repayment by reason that the contract providing for the payment of the bonus is found invalid, the department shall:

 appoint an investigating officer; confirm that such officer determines that the member committed fraud or did not complete the service requirement; and obtain the written concurrence of a general or flag officer in the member's chain of command. The department shall repay, and pay interest on, any amount a member repaid the Department of Defense for a bonus or similar payment the contract for which was found to be invalid.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-11-14 00:00:00

Military Hunger Prevention Act

This bill excludes the value of a housing allowance for a member of a uniformed service from any income, assets, or resources calculation for determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) and the family subsistence supplemental allowance program.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2016-11-14 00:00:00

Alternatives to Licensing that Lower Obstacles to Work Act of 2016 or the ALLOW Act

This bill declares, for purposes of establishing an individual's authorization to engage in an occupation on a military installation located on federally-owned land, that the federal government endorses occupational licenses and certifications granted by a state (including the District of Columbia [DC]), regardless of whether the installation is located in the issuing state or DC, provided that:

 the license or certification is not expired, revoked, or suspended by the issuing state; and there are no outstanding enforcement actions against the individual brought by the licensing board or certifying authority for that occupation in the issuing state. District of Columbia Occupational Licensing Reform Act

The bill declares DC policy regarding occupational licensing laws.

The bill establishes an Office of Supervision of Occupational Boards in the office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, or another appropriate DC government agency, to be responsible for exercising active supervision over each occupational licensing board to ensure compliance with occupational licensing policy.

The bill prescribes procedures for the Office's review, approval, or rejection of occupational licensure actions before their adoption.

The DC Council shall establish a legislative committee to analyze occupational regulations and review any proposed legislation to impose or modify an occupational regulation to ensure compliance.

An individual may engage in a lawful occupation without being subject to occupational regulations that are arbitrary or unnecessary and substantially burdensome.

The DC government and its boards may not require an occupational license, certification, or registration for a person, or impose any other occupational regulation that imposes a substantial burden on a person, unless:

 the government has an important interest in protecting against present and recognizable harm to public health, safety, or welfare; and the regulation is substantially related to achievement of that interest. Any person providing tour guide services for a fee at certain national parks and memorials shall not be required to obtain a license, certification, or permit to provide those services.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-11-15 00:00:00

Veterans Earned Their Bonus Act or the VET Bonus Act

This bill prohibits the Department of the Army from recouping a bonus or similar benefit that was provided to a member of the California Army National Guard between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010, unless the Army proves, after a hearing opportunity, that the member knowingly: (1) participated in fraud or misrepresentation to receive the bonus or benefit, or (2) failed to satisfy the service requirement upon which the bonus or benefit was conditioned.

A member shall be presumed to have acted in good faith in procuring the bonus or benefit and to have satisfied the service requirement.

The Army shall: (1) reimburse a member for any amount previously recouped, plus interest; (2) notify each consumer reporting agency that any debt and recoupment measures linked to the bonus or benefit were not valid; and (3) provide financial assistance to a member who is facing financial hardship because of the recoupment measures.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-11-15 00:00:00

National Guard Pay Integrity Act

This bill requires the Department concerned (the Department of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Homeland Security, Commerce, or Health and Human Services) to: (1) absolve any debt resulting from any bonus, incentive pay, or similar benefit (including any student loan payment or repayment) that was paid to a member of the California National Guard for recruitment or reenlistment during FY2004-FY2010; and (2) refund any such amount such person already repaid to the United States.

Such requirement shall not apply with respect to a debt resulting from any such amount that was paid under circumstances involving fraud or misrepresentation on the part of the California National Guard member.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-11-17 00:00:00

National Guard Bonus Repayment and Financial Relief Act

This bill requires the Army to review all bonuses, incentive pays, or similar benefits received by members of the Army National Guard between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010, to determine if such benefits were issued erroneously and to either: (1) waive repayment of such an erroneous payment if the member concerned fully satisfies any period of service otherwise agreed to or imposed upon the member in connection with receipt of the payment; or (2) repay any such erroneous payment and any interest that was repaid by a member before this bill's enactment if the member fully satisfies any such period of service.

The Army may require an Army National Guard member to repay any such erroneous payment upon determining that: (1) the member knowingly received the benefit through fraud or misrepresentation in which the member participated, or (2) repayment is otherwise consistent with provisions governing repayment of unearned pay.

For any such member granted relief under this bill, the Army shall: (1) notify all consumer credit reporting agencies that any debt subject to the relief was never valid, and (2) provide assistance to the member facing financial hardship as a result of recoupment actions taken in connection with receipt of the payment. A consumer reporting agency notified of the invalidity of such a debt may not, after the date of notice, make any consumer report containing information relating to the debt.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-12-06 00:00:00

Veterans Health Care Trust Fund Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), upon the commencement of any war, to establish a trust fund to be named for that war.

Amounts collected pursuant to a war tax (required by this bill) shall be deposited into such fund and may be used by the VA to provide for veterans who serve on active duty during that war programs and benefits directly related to their health care.

For any fiscal year during which the VA makes a withdrawal from such a fund, the Government Accountability Office shall conduct an audit of the consolidated financial statements relating to the fund.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the imposition upon individuals who have not served on active duty in the Armed Forces of a graduated income tax with respect to each war occurring at any time during the taxable year.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-12-07 00:00:00

Army Combat Action Badge Eligibility Act

This bill authorizes the Department of the Army to award the Army Combat Action Badge to a person who: (1) participated as a member of the Army between December 7, 1941, and September 18, 2001, in combat during which the person was personally engaged with the enemy; and (2) has not been recognized previously for such participation.

The Army may make arrangements with suppliers of the badge so that eligible persons may procure it directly from suppliers, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating administrative costs for carrying out this bill.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-12-08 00:00:00

Service Members Financial Planning Assistance Act of 2016

This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, effective as of January 1, 2018, to require the department concerned (Department of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Homeland Security, or Commerce) to ensure that certain members of the uniformed services who will be eligible to make an election of lump sum payment of certain military retired pay have access to retirement planning assistance with a certified financial planner, at no cost, by December 30, 2017, to help weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of making such election and of selecting a particular payment percentage.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-12-08 00:00:00

Soldier's Help Obtaining Negotiated Rates Act or the Solider's HONR Act

This bill amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permit an individual to provide to a creditor as proof of military service, in order to qualify for the active service interest rate limitation, a certified letter from a commanding officer or any other appropriate indicator of military service. A creditor may use information from the Defense Manpower Database Center indicating that the individual is on active duty.

A creditor that uses center information has not failed to treat the individual's debt as required if: (1) such information indicates that such individual is not on active duty; and (2) the creditor has not received the other proof required.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-12-08 00:00:00

This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to expand eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) cover a veteran who is unable to schedule an appointment with his or her primary care physician at the same VA medical facility at which the veteran had the most recent appointment with the physician because the physician is no longer employed at such facility, and (2) establish a minimum one-year period of care or services under such program.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-01-21 00:00:00

Military Spouse Job Continuity Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces (military spouse) who moves with such member to another state under a permanent change of station order a tax credit for up to $500 of qualified relicensing costs incurred by such spouse. Defines "qualified relicensing costs" as costs for a state license or certification to engage in the profession that such military spouse engaged in while residing in the former state.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-01-22 00:00:00

Operation United Assistance Tax Exclusion Act of 2015

Provides for a tax exclusion of compensation paid to a member of the Armed Forces serving in Operation United Assistance in the Ebola virus disease outbreak area (i.e., Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and any other region designated as experiencing a widespread Ebola virus disease outbreak). Requires that such service member undergo a program of at least 21 days of controlled monitoring upon return from the outbreak area.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-03-03 00:00:00

Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015

Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to: (1) provide an individual with a mental health screening before such individual enlists or is commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces, and (2) use such results as a baseline for any subsequent mental health examinations.

Prohibits the Secretary from considering the results of such screening in determining the promotion of a member of the Armed Forces.

Directs the Secretary to treat a screening in the same manner as medical records with respect to laws and regulations relating to the privacy of information.

Requires the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health to submit to Congress and the Department of Defense (DOD) a report on preliminary mental health screenings of members of the Armed Forces, including recommendations regarding: (1) establishing preliminary mental health screenings to establish parity with physical screenings; and (2) the composition of the mental health screening, evidenced-based best practices, and how to track changes relating to traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions.

Directs DOD and the Government Accountability Office to report on the efficacy of preliminary mental health screenings. Requires DOD to report on the efficacy of the mental health components of the physical examinations to members of the Armed Forces who are separated from active duty.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2015-03-04 00:00:00

Service Members and Communities Count Act of 2014 [sic]

Requires the Department 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 residence at their permanent duty station or homeport is located.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Education
Date: 2015-03-26 00:00:00

Servicemember and Veteran Protection Act of 2015

Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces and National Guard to defer payments of principal on their Federal Family Education Loans, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans for the period (up to 180 days) beginning on the date they receive a call or order to duty in connection with a war, military operation, or national emergency and ending on their first day of service. (Currently, the payment of principal on those loans is also deferred during their period of service and for the 180-day period after their demobilization date.)

Allows individuals whose call to duty is cancelled before their first day of service: (1) due to a service training injury, to defer payments of principal on those loans through what would have been their period of service; and (2) for a reason other than a service training injury, to defer payments of principal on those loans for 14 days after that cancellation.

Directs the Secretary of Defense, each fiscal year, to provide an increase in the rates of educational assistance payable to certain members of the Selected Reserve, which shall be not less than the percentage by which the average cost of undergraduate tuition in the United States for the last academic year exceeds the average cost of such tuition for the year before that academic year. (Currently, such percentage increase is based on increases in the Consumer Price Index over such period.)

Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to require a consumer reporting agency, upon the request of an active duty military consumer or an individual acting on that consumer's behalf, to:

 include an active duty freeze alert in the file of that consumer and also provide that alert along with any credit score generated in using that file for at least 12 months, exclude the consumer for 2 years from any list of consumers prepared by the agency and provided to any third party to offer credit or insurance to the consumer as part of a transaction that was not initiated by the consumer, and refer the active duty freeze alert information to each of the other consumer reporting agencies that compile and maintain files on consumers on a nationwide basis. Requires each active duty freeze alert to notify prospective users of the consumer's credit report that the consumer does not authorize: (1) the establishment of any new credit plan or extension of credit in the consumer's name, (2) the issuance of an additional card on an existing credit account requested by a consumer, or (3) any increase in the credit limit on an existing credit account requested by a consumer. Prohibits prospective users of the credit report from taking such actions.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress on the effect on the privacy of veterans of the use of social security numbers to uniquely identify veterans.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-04-14 00:00:00

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

Wounded Warrior Tax Equity Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to prevent any suspension of the tax collection period after assessment for taxpayers who are members of the Armed Forces due to a continuous hospitalization for combat zone injuries or the next 180 days after such hospitalization.