jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-06-03 00:00:00

Track It to Prevent It Act - Directs: (1) the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the results of command climate assessments are provided to the relevant individual commander and to the next higher level of command, (2) the Secretary of each military department to include in performance evaluations and assessments used by each Armed Force a designated form where senior commanders can indicate whether the commander has conducted the required climate assessments and to require that any failure to do so be noted in the commander's performance evaluation and considered a serious factor for any subsequent promotion, and (3) the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (DOD) to develop a system to track whether commanders are conducting such climate assessments.

Requires unit commanders, working with the Inspector General, to gather all climate assessments from the unit and develop a compliance report that includes: (1) a comprehensive overview of the concerns members of the unit expressed, (2) data showing how leadership is perceived in the unit, and (3) a detailed strategic plan on how leadership plans to address the expressed concerns.

Directs the Defense Secretary to require commanders to include letters of reprimand, non-punitive letters of actions, and counseling statements involving substantiated cases of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the performance evaluation report of a member of the Armed Forces for the purpose of: (1) providing commanders increased visibility of the background information of unit members, (2) identifying and preventing trends of bad behavior early and effectively disciplining repeated actions which hinder units from fostering a healthy climate, and (3) preventing the transfer of sexual offenders.

Requires the Secretary of each military department to: (1) develop an assessment program modeled after the current Department of the Army Multi-Source Assessment and Feedback Program, (2) include individual counseling as part of the performance evaluation process, and (3) conduct health welfare inspections on a monthly basis and provide the results to both the commander and senior commander.

Directs the Defense Secretary to: (1) conduct a review of security measures and identify security gaps on military installations; (2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using 24-hour electronic monitoring or placing security personnel at all points of entry into barracks and multi-family residences; and (3) conduct a review of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity to identify and evaluate the resource and personnel gaps in the Office, identify and evaluate the Office's role in sexual harassment cases, and evaluate how the Office works with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office to address sexual harassment in the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-06-04 00:00:00

Disabled Military Child Protection Act of 2013 - Authorizes monthly annuity payments under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child who is incapable of self-support because of mental or physical incapacity.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-06-06 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish an electronic means by which members of the Ready Reserve of the Armed Forces can track their operational active-duty service performed after January 28, 2008.

Requires the tour calculator to specify early retirement credit authorized for each qualifying tour of active duty, as well as cumulative early reserve retirement credit authorized to date.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-06-06 00:00:00

Allows members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans to render the military salute during the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-06-12 00:00:00

TBI Treatment Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to carry out a five-year pilot program to establish a process for providing payments to health care facilities for investigational treatments of traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder received by members of the Armed Forces in facilities other than military treatment facilities. Subjects such payments to specified conditions, including approval of the treatment by the Secretary and demonstrated improvement by the patient.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop and maintain a database containing data from each patient case involving the use of such treatments, (2) establish a process to notify members of the Armed Forces of the opportunity to receive such treatments, and (3) report annually to Congress on the implementation of this Act and any available results of investigational treatment studies.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-06-19 00:00:00

Prohibits funds made available to any federal department or agency for any fiscal year from being obligated or expended to provide military assistance to any of the armed combatants in Syria absent express prior statutory authorization from Congress.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2013-06-25 00:00:00

Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds made available to the Department of Defense (DOD) or any other U.S. government department or agency for military assistance to opposition forces in Syria.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-06-26 00:00:00

Helping Veterans Exposed to Toxic Chemicals Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish within the Department of Defense (DOD) three centers of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions relating to exposure to open burn pits and other environmental exposures.

Requires the Secretary to select for such centers entities that: (1) are equipped with the specialized equipment needed to study, diagnose, and treat health conditions relating to such exposure; (2) have a publication track record of post-deployment health exposures among veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan; (3) have collaborated with a geosciences department that has a medical geology division; (4) have developed animal models and in vitro models of dust immunology and lung injury from Iraq and Afghanistan; and (5) have expertise in allergy and immunology, pulmonary diseases, and industrial and management engineering.

Directs the Secretary to ensure that the centers collaborate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), institutions of higher education, and other appropriate public and private entities to carry out specified responsibilities, including to: (1) implement the comprehensive plan and strategy for DOD for the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions relating to such exposure; and (2) provide for dissemination within DOD of best practices for the treatment of such conditions and the training of health professionals.

Requires the center to have access to and make use of the data accumulated by the burn pits registry established under the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-06-28 00:00:00

21st Century Health Care for Heroes Act - Amends the Wounded Warrior Act to direct the Secretaries of Defenseand Veterans Affairs, in implementing electronic health record systems that provide for the full interoperability of personal health care information between the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to ensure that: (1) a health data authoritative source is created within 180 days, (2) the ability of patients of both Departments to download their medical records is achieved within 365 days, (3) seamless integration of personal health care information between the Departments is achieved within 365 days, (4) standardization of health care data of the Departments is achieved within 365 days, (5) acceleration of the exchange of real-time data between the Departments is achieved within 365 days, (6) the upgrade of the graphical user interface to display the new standardized health care data of the Departments is achieved within 365 days, (7) incoming members of the Armed Forces and their dependents may elect to receive an electronic copy of their health care records beginning not later than October 1, 2014, and (8) current members of the Armed Forces and their dependents may elect to receive an electronic copy of their health care records beginning not later than October 1, 2015.

Requires such Secretaries to study the feasibility of establishing a secure, remote, and network-accessible computer storage system (commonly referred to as cloud storage) to: (1) provide members of the Armed Forces and veterans the ability to upload their health care records, and (2) allow DOD and VA medical providers to access such records.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-07-17 00:00:00

Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Planning Reform Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit annually to Congress a future-years veterans program (program) reflecting estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations included in the budget for that fiscal year. Requires each program to set forth a five-year VA plan to address the U.S. commitment to veterans and the resources necessary to meet that commitment.

Requires the Secretary, in 2017 and quadrennially thereafter, to conduct a review of the strategy for meeting such commitment and resources requirement (quadrennial veterans review). Requires each review to be coordinated with the above program. Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans committees on each review.

Directs the Secretary to provide annually to the appropriate VA officials written policy guidance for the preparation and review of the planning and program recommendations and budget proposals of the VA elements of such officials.

Requires the Secretary to designate a Chief Strategy Officer to advise the Secretary on long-range VA strategy and implications.

Directs the Secretary to study (through an independent contractor) and report to the veterans committees on the functions and organizational structure of the Office of the Secretary and the VA, including the most efficient and economical allocation and structure for assisting the Secretary in carrying out duties and responsibilities.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-07-22 00:00:00

Stop Pay for Violent Offenders Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned (Secretary concerned) to suspend all or a portion of the pay and allowances of a member of the Armed Forces who is being held in confinement pending trial by court-martial or by civil authority for any sex-related or capital offense.

Entitles such member to: (1) written notice of the suspension, (2) a reasonable time (at least seven days) to request a suspension waiver and to furnish supporting evidence, (3) representation by an attorney or other representative in making such request, and (4) a written response by the Secretary concerned and the reasons for any denial of such request.

Requires any member who is subsequently acquitted of any such charges to be paid the full amount of the withheld pay and allowances.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-07-25 00:00:00

Restore Honor to Service Members Act - Requires appropriate military record correction boards or discharge review boards to review the discharge characterization of any former members of the Armed Forces requesting a review who were discharged because of their sexual orientation. Permits such boards to change a characterization to honorable if such characterization is any characterization except honorable.

Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that any such changes are carried out consistently and uniformly across the military departments using specified criteria, including that: (1) the original discharge was based on the policy of Don't Ask Don't Tell (as in effect before it was repealed pursuant to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010) or a similar earlier policy; and (2) the discharge characterization will be changed if, with respect to the original discharge, there were no aggravating circumstances, such as misconduct, that would have independently led to any discharge characterization except honorable.

Prohibits "aggravating circumstances" from including: (1) an offense of sodomy committed by the member against a consenting person of the same sex; or (2) statements, consensual sexual conduct, or consensual acts relating to sexual orientation or identity, or the disclosure of such statements, conduct, or acts, that were prohibited at the time of discharge but that became permitted after such discharge.

Directs the Secretary of each military department to ensure that oral historians of the department: (1) review discharges between World War II and September 2011 based on sexual orientation, and (2) receive oral testimony of individuals who personally experienced discrimination and discharge because of actual or perceived sexual orientation so that such testimony may serve as an official record of such discriminatory policies and their impact on American lives.

Requires the reissuance of specified military personnel records and discharge forms in a manner that shall not reflect the sexual orientation of the member.

Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to remove from the offense of sodomy specified activity referred to as unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-07-30 00:00:00

Wounded Warrior Service Dog Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretaries of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly establish the K-9 Companion Corps program for the awarding of grants to assist nonprofit organizations in establishing, planning, designing, and/or operating programs to provide assistance dogs to certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans who have certain disabilities. Defines "assistance dog" to mean a dog specifically trained to perform physical tasks to mitigate the effects of such a disability, except that such term does not include a dog specifically trained for comfort or personal defense.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-07-30 00:00:00

Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend the 6% interest rate limitation on debt entered into during a servicemember's military service to any debt entered into to consolidate or refinance one or more student loans incurred before such service.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-08-01 00:00:00

National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to back-date to September 11, 2001, the period of active duty or performed active service, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations, for which members of Ready Reserve components of the armed forces shall receive credit in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-08-02 00:00:00

Armed Services Always Paid Act or ASAP Act - Provides for funding the pay and allowances, without interruption, of members of the Armed Forces, including reserve personnel, during any period of lapsed appropriations.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-08-02 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide to each member of the Armed Forces who is scheduled to be separated from service a copy of such member's medical records in an electronic format.

Requires such records to include any medical records that, in connection with service in the National Guard, are maintained by the governor of the appropriate state, commonwealth, territory, or possession or the Commanding General of the National Guard of the District of Columbia.

Directs the Secretary concerned to provide to a member who is scheduled to be separated a comprehensive physical examination immediately before that separation. Repeals provisions authorizing the waiver of such examination if the member has otherwise undergone an examination within 12 months before the scheduled date of separation. Prohibits a member from being entitled to health care benefits solely by reason of being provided such examination.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-08-02 00:00:00

Justice for Fort Hood and Little Rock Heroes Act - Requires an individual who, while a member of the Armed Forces, was killed or wounded in the attack at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009, or in the attack at the recruiting station in Little Rock, Arkansas, on June 1, 2009, to be treated as if the individual has been awarded a Purple Heart as of the date of this Act's enactment for purposes of all applicable federal laws, regulations, and policies.

Requires such an individual who was wounded in either such attack to be treated as an "eligible combat-related disabled uniformed services retiree" for purposes of determining that individual's eligibility for combat-related special compensation.

Disqualifies an individual whose death or wound was the result of the individual's willful misconduct.

Encourages each state and local government to treat such an individual as eligible for any benefits provided to individuals by reason of being killed or wounded while serving in the line of duty as a member of the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-09-25 00:00:00

Battlefield Excellence through Superior Training Practices Act or the BEST Practices Act - Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD), no later than: (1) October 1, 2016, to develop, test, and validate human-based training methods for training members of the Armed Forces in the treatment of combat trauma injuries, with the goal of replacing live animal-based training methods; and (2) October 1, 2018, 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: 2013-10-03 00:00:00

Pay our Guardsmen and Civilian Defense Personnel Act - Amends the Pay Our Military Act (P.L. 113-39) to make FY2014 continuing appropriations for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect to provide for pay and allowances to: (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform inactive-duty training (under such Act only members performing active service) during such period; and (2) all civilian personnel of DOD (and the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] in the case of the Coast Guard), including all military technicians (dual status).
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-10-08 00:00:00

Fallen Heroes and Families Assistance Act - Amends the Pay Our Military Act (P.L. 113-39) to make FY2014 appropriations, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect, for such sums as are necessary to continue programs and activities concerning:

 payment of death gratuities to certain survivors of deceased military service members, including for the death of members on active duty or inactive duty training, the death of members after discharge or release from duty or training, members and employees dying outside the United States while assigned to intelligence duties, and other eligible survivors; payment of pay and allowances due a member of the Armed Forces and unpaid at the time of the member's death; payment of authorized funeral and burial expenses, including authorized funeral travel and travel related to the dignified transfer of remains and unit memorial services; and continuation of a basic allowance of housing for certain dependents of members dying on active duty.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-10-08 00:00:00

Amends the Pay our Military Act (P.L. 113-39) to make FY2014 continuing appropriations for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect to provide for military tuition assistance to members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service during such period.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-10-11 00:00:00

Amends the Pay Our Military Act (P.L. 113-39) to specify that FY2014 continuing appropriations provided for pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, is to include cadets in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy appointed as midshipmen in Navy Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Navy Reserve) who perform active service for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect.

Makes continuing appropriations for pay and allowances to civilian personnel of the Department of Transportation (DOT) whom the Secretary of Transportation determines are providing support to such members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, performing active service during such period (under such Act only civilian personnel and contractors of the Department of Defense [DOD], and the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] in the case of the Coast Guard, whom the Secretary concerned determines are providing such support).

Provides for pay and allowances to DOD, DHS, and DOT civilian personnel providing support to those in training for such service.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-10-11 00:00:00

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), during any period for which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect for payment of military death gratuities and funeral and related transportation and housing expenses, to transfer, from unobligated amounts in the Health Insurance Reform Implementation Fund established by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152), to the Secretary of Defense (DOD) sufficient funds to provide the following benefits on behalf of members of the Armed Forces who die during such period:

 payment of death gratuities to certain survivors of deceased military service members, including for the death of members on active duty or inactive duty training, the death of members after discharge or release from duty or training, members and employees dying outside the United States while assigned to intelligence duties, and other eligible survivors; payment of authorized funeral and burial expenses, including authorized funeral travel and travel related to the dignified transfer of remains and unit memorial services; and temporary continuation of a basic allowance of housing for certain dependents of members dying on active duty.