jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Honor Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to provide scholarships for the pursuit of a graduate or postgraduate degree in behavioral health sciences to veterans who performed active-duty service in a theater of combat or during a contingency operation overseas. Requires the veteran, following completion of the degree requirements, to serve for an agreed-upon period with either the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or Department of Defense (DOD) furnishing mental health services to veterans or to members of the Armed Forces (members). Directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to employ and train former members who performed service described above as DOD psychiatric technicians and nurses providing mental health counseling and related services to members deployed to a combat zone. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon request, to provide: (1) referral and related assistance to former members not otherwise authorized for counseling through the VA; and (2) readjustment counseling and mental health services to former members through Vet Centers. Requires the suicide of a former member with a medical history of a combat-related mental health condition, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs within a two-year period after separation or retirement to be treated as a death in the line of active duty for purposes of eligibility for active-duty survivors' benefits provided through the VA. Requires the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, jointly and annually, to: (1) review and assess their respective programs for the reintegration of members and veterans into civilian life following their retirement, discharge, or release; and (2) report review and assessment results to Congress.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-04-02 00:00:00

Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program of financial assistance for individuals who: (1) are accepted for, or currently enrolled in, a program of study leading to a degree or certificate in visual impairment or orientation and mobility, or both; and (2) enter into an agreement to serve, after program completion, as a full-time Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee for three years within the first six years after program completion. Sets maximum assistance amounts of $15,000 per academic year and $45,000 total. Requires prorated repayment for failure to satisfy education or service requirements, while allowing the Secretary to waive or suspend such repayment whenever noncompliance is due to circumstances beyond the control of the participant, or when waiver or suspension is in the best interests of the United States.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-04-02 00:00:00

Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009 - Increases from $11,000 to $22,500 the amount authorized to be provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to certain disabled veterans for the purchase of an automobile and any necessary adaptive equipment.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-04-02 00:00:00

Prohibits the collection by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of copayments or other fees for hospital or nursing home care in the case of catastrophically disabled veterans.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-04-27 00:00:00

Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare services. Directs the National Drug Court Institute to conduct national training programs for state and local communities to improve the professional skills of drug court practitioners and provide comprehensive technical assistance to adult, juvenile, and family dependency drug courts.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-04-28 00:00:00

Clarification of Characteristics of Combat Service Act of 2009 - Requires, in each case in which a veteran is seeking service-connection for a disability after service in a particular combat zone, that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) accept credible lay or other evidence as sufficient proof that the veteran encountered an event associated with service in particular locations where the veteran served or in particular circumstances under which the veteran served in that combat zone.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-04-30 00:00:00

Wounded Warrior Transition Assistance Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of each military department to provide each reserve member of that department who is being evaluated for separation or retirement for disability, or for placement on the temporary disability retired list or inactive status list, the option to remain on active duty during such evaluation in order to continue to receive military pay and allowances, until the member is: (1) cleared to return to duty; or (2) separated, retired, or placed on the temporary disability retired or inactive status list. Requires each Secretary to retain on active duty (for pay and allowances purposes) a reserve member who incurs an injury or illness while on active duty, is being discharged or separated from the Armed Forces, or is being released from active duty, and is not being evaluated in connection with such discharge, separation, or release, until the member is: (1) retired or placed on the temporary disability retired or inactive status list; or (2) determined ineligible for such care or benefits based solely upon the injury or illness. Requires military human resources commands to return to active duty during their evaluation period reserve members who request such option. Encourages the use of local residences by reserve members during such transition periods. Authorizes the use of Defense Health Program funds for reserve members who become ill or injured while on active duty and separate as a result of such illness or injury. Provides for the assignment of Judge Advocate General personnel to assist members of the Armed Forces (members) in connection with the medical discharge process and disability evaluations. Expresses support for access of veterans service organizations to military facilities to provide counseling and services to members.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-05 00:00:00

Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 - Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions with respect to former prisoners of war (POWs) to repeal the currently required 30-day minimum period of internment prior to the presumption of service connection for certain listed diseases, for purposes of the payment of veterans' disability compensation. Adds diabetes (type 2) to the listed diseases. Requires: (1) such presumption also with respect to any disease that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines warrants such presumption by reason of having a positive association with the experience of being a POW; and (2) the Secretary to make such a determination within 60 days after a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War that such presumption be established for a non-listed disease.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-07 00:00:00

Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009 - Provides limitations on the recoupment of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive payments from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving military retired or retainer pay. Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to waive such recoupments in cases of financial hardship.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-11 00:00:00

Reduces the level of difficulty required in the use of prostheses by veterans suffering the loss of hands, arms, or legs as a result of military service before becoming eligible for a higher level of veterans' disability compensation for such injury. Authorizes additional veterans' disability compensation for service-disabled veterans determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to residual effects of traumatic brain injury.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-11 00:00:00

Commences the payment of original awards of veterans' disability compensation, in the case of veterans who are retired or separated from active military service for a disability or disabilities, as of the date the award becomes effective. Provides a similar effective date for a waiver by such veterans of military retired or retainer pay in an amount equal to the disability compensation received.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-13 00:00:00

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2010. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund; (6) research, development, test, and evaluation; (7) operation and maintenance, including for the Iraq Freedom Fund, the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund, environmental restoration, humanitarian aid, and cooperative threat reduction; (8) Working Capital Funds; (9) the National Defense Sealift Fund; (10) the Defense Health Program; (11) chemical agents and munitions destruction; (12) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (13) the Defense Inspector General; (14) the Defense Coalition Support Fund; (15) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (16) active and reserve military personnel, including end strengths; and (17) the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) military personnel policy; (2) military pay and allowances; (3) retired pay and survivor benefits; (4) military health care; (5) acquisition policy and management; (6) DOD organization and management; (7) financial matters, including counter-drug activities; (8) civilian personnel matters; (9) matters relating to foreign nations; and (10) matters relating to military construction, family housing, and real property. Provides for reimbursement of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for certain costs associated with the former Nansemond Ordnance Depot Site, Suffolk, Virginia. Establishes in the Treasury the Refined Petroleum Products, Marginal Expense Transfer Account for DOD purchases of refined petroleum products. Provides a special monthly allowance to servicemembers recovering from combat or combat-related catastrophic injuries.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-20 00:00:00

Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act - Directs (current law authorizes) the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide certain medical and dental services to members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve not otherwise eligible for such services if a qualified health professional determines that the services are necessary to ensure that the member meets applicable standards of medical and dental readiness. Provides funding for such services through the Defense Health Program. Requires (current law authorizes) the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide, to each member of the Ready Reserve ordered to active duty of more than 30 days, necessary medical and dental screening and care to ensure that the member meets applicable medical and dental standards for deployment.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-20 00:00:00

Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2009 or PRO-VETS Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense for the transfer of data to the Secretary for providing members of the Armed Forces and veterans with individualized information concerning veterans' benefits that each member and veteran may be eligible for. Requires the Secretary, after receiving such data, to: (1) compile a list of all benefits for which each member or veteran may be eligible; (2) notify the member or veteran (or their legal representative) of such benefits; and (3) provide a second notification if the member or veteran does not apply for a listed benefit within 60 days, as well as annual notifications thereafter. Requires additional notifications based on changed circumstances. Allows each member or veteran the option to decline further notifications. Directs the Secretary to use transferred data to reduce the amount of information that a member or veteran must provide when applying for benefits. Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a member or veteran the opportunity to decline authorization for the transfer of information under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-21 00:00:00

Increases the monthly rates of veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Provides a phase-in of DIC payments in the case of veterans who die of a non-service-connected disability after being eligible for at least five years for VA compensation for a service-connected disability rated as total. Reduces from 57 to 55 the age after which the remarriage of a surviving spouse shall not terminate DIC payments.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-21 00:00:00

Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to: (1) design and produce a military service medal, to be known as the Atomic Veterans Service Medal, to honor retired and former members of the Armed Forces who participated in a radiation-risk activity while serving on active duty; and (2) issue the Medal to such veteran or their next-of-kin.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-21 00:00:00

Establishes within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services, who shall report to the VHA's Under Secretary for Health on all matters relating to the education and training, employment, appropriate utilization, and optimal participation of physician assistants within VHA programs and initiatives.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2009-06-15 00:00:00

Military Voters' Equal Access to Voter Registration Act of 2009 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require designating direct each Secretary of a military department to designate an office on each Armed Forces installation to ensure that certain individuals are provided the opportunity to register to vote in federal elections, update voter registrations, and request absentee ballots under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Designates as those individuals those who are: (1) members of the Armed Forces and are undergoing a permanent change of duty station, deploying overseas for at least 6 months, returning from an overseas deployment of at least 6 months, or requests assistance related to voter registration; and (2) are dependents of members of the Armed Forces, request assistance, and are at least 18 years old. Considers an office so designated to be a voter registration agency for all purposes of the Act. Requires informing Armed Forces members and their dependents of the assistance available under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-06-19 00:00:00

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility projects (projects) in FY2010 in: (1) Livermore, California; (2) Walla Walla, Washington; and (3) Louisville, Kentucky. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out projects in FY2010, as previously authorized, for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers in Denver, Colorado, and Bay Pines, Florida. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified major medical facility leases (leases) in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas. Authorizes appropriations for projects and leases authorized under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Immigration
Date: 2009-06-24 00:00:00

Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2009 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt from worldwide or numerical immigrant limitations aliens who are the children of Filipino World War II veterans naturalized pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Law
Date: 2009-06-24 00:00:00

Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Tort Claims Act to allow claims for damages to be brought against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the Armed Forces arising out of a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the performance of medical, dental, or related health care functions that is provided by persons acting within the scope of their office or employment by or at the direction of the government, whether inside or outside the United States. Prohibits a claim under this Act from being reduced by the amount of any benefit received under a Servicemember's Group Life Insurance policy. Makes this Act inapplicable to any claim arising out of the combatant activities of the Armed Forces during the time of armed conflict.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-07-06 00:00:00

Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009 or the VETS Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to acknowledge the receipt of any claim for medical services, disability compensation, or pension under laws administered by the Secretary, or any other communication relating to such services, compensation, or pension, within 30 days after its receipt.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-07-09 00:00:00

National Guard and Reserve Soft Landing Reintegration Act - Requires that a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who was deployed for more than 179 days for a contingency operation or a homeland defense mission be: (1) retained on active duty in the Armed Forces for 90 days after the end of the member's demobilization from a deployment; (2) allowed to use accrued leave; and (3) paid specified pay and allowances. Allows a member to be released from such retention if the member requests release after the first 15 days of the retention. Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide each member so retained (and, as practicable, appropriate family members) reintegration counseling and services.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2009-07-09 00:00:00

Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2009 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to revise requirements for the audit capacity of voting systems, particularly those for a permanent paper record. Requires the voting system to require the use of an individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot of the voter's vote that shall be marked and made available for inspection by the voter before the voter's vote is cast and counted, and which shall be counted by hand or read by an optical scanner or other counting device. Requires the voting system to provide the voter with an opportunity to correct any system-made error in the voter-verified paper ballot before it is permanently preserved. Requires each paper ballot used to be: (1) suitable for a manual audit; and (2) counted by hand in any recount or audit conducted with respect to any federal election. Sets forth a special rule for treatment of disputes when paper ballots have been shown to be compromised. Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to make grants to eligible entities to study, test, and develop accessible ballot voting, verification, and casting mechanisms and devices and best practices to enhance the accessibility of paper ballot voting and verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy. Specifies additional voting system requirements and prohibitions. Requires the NSF Director to make grants to eligible entities to conduct research on the development of election-dedicated voting system software. Makes available additional funding to enable states to meet the costs of the requirements imposed by this Act. Provides for complaints to the Attorney General by persons aggrieved by violations of HAVA. Requires each state to administer audits of federal election results, without advance notice to the precincts selected, consisting of random hand counts of the voter-verified paper ballots. Makes an exception from this requirement for elections in which the winning candidate had no opponent or received 80% or more of the vote total. Prescribes requirements for determination of the number of ballots counted under the audit. Prescribes the process for administering audits. Requires the Election Auditor of a state, as soon as practicable after the completion of an audit, to submit the results to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for publication. Prohibits certification of the results of any election until completion of audits. Provides for payments to states for the costs of conducting audits. Exempts from this Act any election for which a recount under state law will commence before certification of the election results. Repeals the EAC's exemption from certain federal government contracting requirements.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-07-10 00:00:00

Wounded Warrior Retention Act of 2009 - Sets forth requirements applicable to the retention in the Armed Forces of members of the Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard or Reserve, who seek to remain in military service following an injury or disability suffered or incurred in the line of duty.