jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-03-26 00:00:00

Keith Nolan Air Force Deaf Demonstration Act of 2015

Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to carry out a demonstration program to assess the feasibility and advisability of permitting individuals with auditory impairments (including deafness) access as officers of the Air Force.

Authorizes between 15 and 20 individuals who are deaf or have a range of other auditory impairments, who otherwise meet all essential qualifications for accession as an officer of the Air Force, and who have not previously served as officers to participate in such program.

Requires selected participants to undergo the Basic Officer Training course or the Commissioned Officer Training course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, at the election of the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to designate a special advisor to act as a resource for participants, as well as a liaison between participants and those providing the officer training.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-04-16 00:00:00

Military Family Leave Act of 2015

Entitles an employed family member of a member of the Armed Forces who receives notification of a call or order to active duty in support of a contingency operation, or who is deployed in connection with a contingency operation, to two workweeks of leave per year for each family member who is so called or deployed. Allows such leave to: (1) be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule; and (2) consist of paid or unpaid leave, as the employer considers appropriate.

Allows an employer to require certification of entitlement to such leave within a leave request.

Provides employment and benefits protection for employees upon their return from such leave. Prohibits an employer from interfering with or otherwise denying the exercise of such leave rights.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-04-30 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2015 the tax credit for differential wage payments to employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-04-30 00:00:00

Legal Justice for Servicemembers Act of 2015

This bill revises whistle blower protections for members of the Armed Forces.

Prohibited personnel actions shall include:

 a superior's failure to respond to retaliatory action or harassment taken against a subordinate; and action that could be understood as an attempt to dissuade a service member from making or preparing a communication, or participating in any other activity. A service member may opt out of a military branch investigation in favor of an investigation by the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General (DODIG).

An investigating Inspector General (IG) may impose a 90-day stay of a personnel action, which may be extended by the military department concerned to complete an investigation, in order to prevent undue hardship to a service member if reasonable grounds exist to believe that a prohibited personnel action has occurred.

Periodic notice must be given to service members on the progress of IG investigations.

IG recommendations for disposition of complaints must include recommendations for disciplinary actions against the person who committed the prohibited personnel action, against a superior who knew or should have known but failed to address the action, or both.

An investigating IG shall submit a substantiated investigation to the appropriate military corrections board unless the service member requests otherwise.

Service members may request a corrections board hearing under specified circumstances.

DODIG shall prescribe uniform standards for: (1) investigation of allegations of prohibited personnel actions, and (2) staff training.

The investigative evidentiary burden of proof shall be "clear and convincing evidence."

Provisions are revised for improvements to authorities and procedures for correction of military records, including permitting a claimant to seek judicial review of a board's determination in an appropriate U.S. court.

The Inspector General Act of 1978 is amended to include the Inspectors General of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the National Guard Bureau, and the Coast Guard in the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2015 

 This bill increases monthly rates for veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Benefits under any other law (other than duplication of benefits) shall not be reduced or offset because the surviving spouse is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation.

 Six months after enactment of this Act, the VA shall pay to an individual who is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation predicated on the death of a veteran before January 1, 1993, monthly dependency and indemnity compensation that is the greater of the amount in effect either before or after enactment of this Act.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-05-22 00:00:00

Wounded Warrior Tax Equity Act of 2015

 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.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-06-04 00:00:00

Fallen Heroes Family Assistance Act

The Secretary of the military department concerned is required to provide transportation for the next of kin to attend the transfer ceremony of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who dies overseas in the line of duty in a combat or humanitarian relief operation or in combat zone designated by the Secretary of Defense.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-06-09 00:00:00

Veterans' Survivors Claims Processing Automation Act of 2015

 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay burial and funeral expenses, accrued benefits, dependency and indemnity compensation, and non-service connected disability or death pension amounts to a survivor of a veteran who has not filed a formal claim if the VA determines that the record contains sufficient evidence to establish the survivor's entitlement to such benefits.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-06-10 00:00:00

Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act

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: 2015-07-21 00:00:00

Military Recruiter Right to Carry Act of 2015

This bill states that, notwithstanding any Department of Defense policy or federal, state, or local law to the contrary, a member of the Armed Forces assigned to duty at an Armed Forces recruitment office has the right to carry a personal or service-issue firearm at the office.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-07-21 00:00:00

Securing Military Personnel Response Firearm Initiative Act or SEMPER FI Act

This bill directs the Secretary concerned to authorize an eligible member of the Armed Forces assigned to an Armed Forces recruitment center to carry a service-issue sidearm as a personal- or force-protection measure while on duty at the recruiting center, notwithstanding any federal, state, or local law or Department of Defense policy to the contrary.

In lieu of authorizing eligible members of the Armed Forces to carry a service-issue sidearm, or in addition, the Secretary concerned may implement additional security measures for Armed Forces recruitment centers, including improved structural security measures.

This Act shall not be interpreted to grant any member of the Armed Forces the authority to conduct civilian law enforcement functions within U.S. territory.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-07-28 00:00:00

Armed Forces Career Center Protection Act

This bill directs each of the military departments, and the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, to provide for the installation of reinforced bullet-proof glass and entry doors at Armed Forces recruitment centers, including leased recruitment facilities, as an additional security measure.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

Half-Staff for Homeland Heroes Act

This bill requires that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in honor of a member of the Armed Forces who dies from an injury incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty in the United States.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

US Navy SEAL SCPO Tyrone Snowden Woods Ceremony Invitee Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of State to:

 prescribe a policy by which a member of a diplomatic mission may designate those next-of-kin who will be invited to, and be entitled to attend, any memorial service held to honor the member in the event of his or her death in service to the United States; and publicize such policy and make the appropriate forms available to each member of a diplomatic mission.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-05 00:00:00

Enlisted Legal Assistance Act

This bill requires the Secretary of the department concerned to provide personal civil legal assistance to:

 an active duty member of the Armed Forces in pay grades E-1 through E-5 and his or her dependents; and a survivor who was a dependent of the member at the time of the member's death, except that survivor eligibility shall be determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-12-02 00:00:00

SCRA Rights Protection Act of 2015

This bill amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to allow the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy that arises under a contract with a servicemember (or with a servicemember and spouse jointly) that provides for arbitration, only if all parties to the controversy consent in writing to arbitration after the controversy arises.

A servicemember's waiver of any SCRA rights and protections shall be effective only if it is made after a specific dispute has arisen and is identified in the waiver.

A representative of members of an aggrieved class, or a member of the class, may bring a private civil action for a violation of any SCRA rights or protections.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-12-09 00:00:00

Military Family Stability Act of 2015

This bill allows a member of the Armed Forces undergoing a permanent change of station and the member's spouse to elect jointly that the spouse may relocate to the new location at the time during the covered relocation period as the member and spouse jointly select.

The following families shall be eligible:

 the spouse is employed, or enrolled in a degree-, certificate-, or license-granting program, at the beginning of the covered relocation period; the member and spouse have one or more children in school; the spouse or children are covered under the Exceptional Family Member Program; the member and spouse are caring for an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness; or the member is undergoing a permanent change of station as an individual augmentee or other deployment arrangement. Families with other needs may receive exceptions granted by military commanders on a case-by-case basis.

A member undergoing a permanent change of station who has one or more specified dependents and is no longer married to the individual who is or was the parent of such dependents at the beginning of the covered period of relocation may elect that such dependents relocate to the new location as follows:

 by the member alone if the former spouse is dead or has no custodial rights, or by the member and the former spouse jointly in all other circumstances. A member may not make:

 more than three elections; or any election unless the member's period of obligated service, or the time remaining under the member's enlistment contract, at the time of election is at least 24 months. The bill prescribes related housing and housing allowance requirements.

Transportation allowances authorized for personal property of a member and spouse may be allocated as the member and spouse select.

The Department of Defense shall establish a single application approval process for coverage under this Act which shall apply uniformly among the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-12-15 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the limitation period for claiming a credit or refund for taxpayers who receive tax-exempt combat pay from 3 years from the date the return was filed, or 2 years from the date the tax was paid, to 15 years from either of such dates.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-12-18 00:00:00

Arm All Pilots Act of 2015

This bill revises requirements for the federal flight deck officer program.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall designate additional training facilities for:

 firearms training and recurrent training for federal flight deck officers, and initial firearm training and certification of pilots seeking to be deputized as federal flight deck officers. DHS (formerly, the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security of the Department of Transportation) shall:

 require officers, but no less than once every six months, to requalify to carry firearms on domestic flights; and permit officers to requalify at certified private or government-owned gun ranges. DHS may require certain limitations on initial and recurrent training for such officers.

The bill revises the authority of federal flight deck officers to carry firearms on domestic and foreign flights.

DHS may not establish medical or physical standards for a pilot to become a federal flight deck officer inconsistent with or more stringent than Federal Aviation Administration requirements for issuance of a first- or second-class airman medical certificate.

A pilot deputized as a federal flight deck officer may move from inactive to active status after completing one recurrent training program.

DHS shall allow officers to be screened through the Transportation Security Administration's Known Crew Member program when entering an airport sterile area.

Each air carrier certifying to DHS that it has a pilot deputized as a federal flight deck officer on all its flights shall receive a refund of up to 10% of security service fees collected from passengers on flights operated by that air carrier.

DHS shall revise certain federal regulations to classify information about deputized pilots as sensitive security information.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-01 00:00:00

Rural Guard Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the removal, on a case by case basis, of the $300 cap on travel expense reimbursements to certain members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve who: (1) live in a rural area in the same state as the inactive duty training location; and (2) are required to travel to the inactive training location using a boat or aircraft due to limited or nonexistent vehicular routes, or from a permanent residence more than 75 miles from that location.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-04 00:00:00

Draft America's Daughters Act of 2016

This bill amends the Military Selective Service Act to extend the registration and conscription requirements of the Selective Service System to all U.S. citizens and residents between the ages of 18 and 26. (Currently such provisions apply only to men.)
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-08 00:00:00

This bill extends through FY2018 (at $400 per month) the special survivor indemnity allowance for a surviving or former spouse of a deceased member of the Armed Forces whose annuity under the survivor benefit program is offset by the amount of dependency and indemnity compensation received from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-10 00:00:00

This bill extends through FY2022 (at increasing monthly amounts for each fiscal year) the special survivor indemnity allowance for a surviving or former spouse of a deceased member of the Armed Forces whose annuity under the survivor benefit program is offset by the amount of dependency and indemnity compensation received from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-10 00:00:00

This bill repeals the Military Selective Service Act.

No person may be denied a right, privilege, benefit, or employment position under federal law on the grounds that the person failed to present himself for and submit to registration under the Military Selective Service Act before its repeal by this bill.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Education
Date: 2016-03-23 00:00:00

Disabled Veterans Student Loan Protection Act of 2016

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify the federal student loan discharge process for a veteran who has a total and permanent disability.

Specifically, it directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a system to automatically transmit, from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Department of Defense (DOD), an applicable determination of unemployability or assignment of a service-connected disability rating of 100%.

ED must accept, as sufficient documentation of a borrower's total and permanent disability, a determination of unemployability by the VA or an assignment of a service-connected disability rating of 100% by the VA or DOD that is transmitted in accordance with such system.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-11 00:00:00

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay additional compensation in the form of two $10,000 lump-sum payments to a veteran who is paid disability compensation for: (1) the anatomical loss of one or more creative organs, or (2) the permanent or static loss of use of one or more creative organs. (Creative organs are those involved in reproduction.)
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-13 00:00:00

Stepping up for American Workers and Troops Act

This bill directs the the Department of Defense (DOD), in the case of athletic footwear needed by members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps upon their initial entry into the Armed Forces, to: (1) furnish such footwear directly instead of providing a cash allowance to the service members to purchase such footwear, and (2) comply with American source requirements in procuring such footwear.

A cash allowance may be provided for the purchase of footwear that is medically required to meet a service member's unique physiological needs that cannot be met with footwear furnished by DOD.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-18 00:00:00

Prevent Retaliation and Open up Transparency to Expand Care for Troops Act of 2016 or the PROTECT Act

This bill amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to establish the offense of retaliation. Retaliation provisions require that any person subject to the code who, with the intent to retaliate against any person for reporting or planning to report a criminal offense, or with the intent to discourage any person from reporting a criminal offense, wrongfully takes or threatens to take an adverse personnel action against any person, or wrongfully withholds or threatens to withhold a favorable personnel action with respect to any person, shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

The Department of Defense (DOD) shall prescribe uniform standards for conduct of each of the following functions at all stages of the military justice system, including pretrial, trial, post-trial, and appellate processes:

 collection and analysis of data concerning substantive offenses and procedural matters in a manner that facilitates case management and decision making and enhances the quality of periodic reviews; case processing and management; timely and accurate production and distribution of trial records; and facilitation of access to docket information, filings, and records. Each military department shall ensure that any individual investigating an allegation of retaliation against a person who has made a protected communication must have training in the definition and characteristics of retaliation. If the investigation involves alleged retaliation in response to a communication regarding rape, sexual assault, or other sexual misconduct, the training shall include specific instruction regarding such violations.

It is the sense of Congress that DOD should ensure that its medical and mental health providers are adequately trained to meet the needs of male survivors of military sexual trauma.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-20 00:00:00

Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD), within one year after enactment of this bill, to identify:

 certain disability severance payments that were not considered gross income to veterans with combat-related injuries paid after January 17, 1991, from which DOD withheld amounts for tax purposes, and the individuals to whom such severance payments were made. DOD shall provide each such veteran with: (1) notice of the amount of improperly withheld severance payments, and (2) instructions for filing amended tax returns to recover such amount.

The period for filing a related claim with the Internal Revenue Service for a credit or refund is extended beyond the three-year limitation to the date that is one year after DOD provides the veteran with the information required by this bill.

(Sec. 4) DOD shall ensure that amounts are not withheld for tax purposes from DOD severance payments to individuals when such payments are not considered gross income.

(Sec. 5) DOD shall report on: (1) the number of identified individuals, (2) the aggregate amount of payments withheld for tax purposes from such severance payments, and (3) a description of how DOD shall ensure that the withheld amounts will not be considered gross income to the affected individuals.
Topic: Defense — Personnel Issues
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-26 00:00:00

Love Lives On Act of 2016

This bill amends the definition of a veteran's "surviving spouse," for the purpose of veterans benefits provisions, to eliminate the requirement that such person: (1) has not remarried; or (2) has not, since the death of the veteran and after September 19, 1962, lived with another person and held himself or herself out to be the other person's spouse.

The effective date of an award of specified veterans benefits to a surviving spouse based upon termination of a remarriage by death or divorce occurring before the date of enactment of this bill shall be the date of death, or the date the judicial decree or divorce becomes final, if an application therefor is received within one year of the remarriage's termination.