lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-09-10 00:00:00

Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out the following leases at the VA's West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, California:

 any enhanced-use lease of real property for supportive housing that principally benefits veterans and their families; any lease of real property for not to exceed 50 years to a third party for services that principally benefit veterans and their families and that are related to health and wellness, education, vocational training and employment, peer activities or recreation, legal and federal benefits assistance, volunteerism, family support services, and transportation; and a lease of real property for not to exceed 10 years to the Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the University of California, Los Angeles, if the lease is consistent with the VA master plan and the provision of veterans services is the predominant focus. The VA shall not enter into any land-sharing agreements unless the agreements provide additional health care resources and benefit veterans and their families in ways other than generating additional revenue.

Any funds received by the VA from a lease shall be credited to the applicable VA medical facilities account and shall be available, without fiscal year limitation and without further appropriation, exclusively for campus renovation and maintenance.

The VA may, notwithstanding any other provision of law other than federal laws relating to environmental and historic preservation, grant easements or rights-of-way on, above, or under campus lands to:

 any local or regional public transportation authority to construct, operate, or maintain public mass transit facilities; and California, the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any public utility company for the purpose of providing public utilities. The VA may not sell or convey to a third party fee simple title to any real property or related improvements made at the campus.

The VA shall ensure that each lease is consistent with the draft master plan approved by the VA on January 28, 2016, or successor master plans.

The VA shall establish a Community Veterans Engagement Board to coordinate locally with the VA to: (1) identify community goals; and (2) provide advice to improve services for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their families.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-09-11 00:00:00

This bill increases the special monthly pension for living Medal of Honor recipients.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall not make an annual pension increase for such recipients, effective December 1, 2016, if the increased monthly pension under this Act takes effect before such date. If the VA does not make the December 1, 2016 increase, however, annual increases shall resume as of December 1, 2017.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Social welfare
Date: 2015-09-11 00:00:00

Veteran Disability Rating Parity Act 

This bill amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to treat service-connected disability rated and certified as total by the Department of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of the OASDI (including child's, widow's, and widower's benefits) and SSI programs.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-09-17 00:00:00

Lawrence J. Hackett Jr. Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Fairness Act

Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a task force to assess and make recommendations about the care and compensation that should be provided to veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange, their spouses, and multiple generations of their offspring.

Requires the task force to make recommendations:

 to establish the Agent Orange Illness Compensation Program to provide an exposed veteran or eligible survivor a lump sum payment for the veteran's injury, illness, or death; for the establishment of a national outreach and education campaign to communicate information about Agent Orange exposures and health conditions to veterans who are affected by incidents of toxic exposures and their families; for compensation and health care for individuals with Spina Bifida, birth defects, or other illnesses who are the children or descendants of members of the Armed Forces who served in Vietnam or in or near the demilitarized zone in Korea during certain time periods determined by the task force; and for the establishment of a unified policy to deal with the consequences of exposure to hazardous materials in the military.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-10-06 00:00:00

Veterans Care and Reporting Enforcement Act

This bill requires the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in the case of an investigation involving patient health and safety relating to VA hospital care or medical services, to:

 provide a copy of the IG's report to Congress and to the Member of Congress in whose district the VA facility is located; within three days make the report available on the IG's website for at least one year; and in the case of an investigation of a medical facility, post a notice of the investigation at an appropriate place and on the facility's website for at least 30 days.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-10-08 00:00:00

Final Farewell Act of 2016 

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to permit the interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery during weekends, other than federal holiday weekends, upon the request of the veteran's next-of-kin.

 Any grant to assist a state in establishing a veterans' cemetery shall require that the cemetery permits the interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran during weekends, other than federal holiday weekends, upon the request of the veteran's next-of-kin.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Social welfare
Date: 2015-10-16 00:00:00

Seniors Deserve A Raise Act

This bill requires cost-of-living increases in any benefit under title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act as well as military retirement and survivor benefits by any increase in the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly.

In addition to any such increase, each such benefit shall be further increased by 2.9% on January 1, 2016, and shall remain in effect every year thereafter.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-10-21 00:00:00

Honor Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish a memorial headstone or marker for an eligible individual whose remains are identified and available but whose gravesite's location is unknown.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-02 00:00:00

Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act

This bill includes veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands during the period January 1, 1977-December 31, 1980, as radiation exposed veterans for purposes of the Department of Veterans Affairs presumption of service-connection for specified cancers.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-04 00:00:00

Honoring the Hiring of Heroes Act

This bill directs the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish jointly a program to award special recognition to employers for veteran-friendly employment practices (Employment Salute Awards) and, in coordination with the Departments of Defense and Commerce, establish criteria for determining award recipients.

The Employment Salute Award Fund is established in the Treasury for the deposit of employer award application fees collected under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-05 00:00:00

Veteran Engagement Teams Act or the VET Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), beginning not later than October 1, 2016, to carry out a three-year pilot program under which the VA shall carry out Veteran Engagement Team events to assist veterans in completing VA disability and pension claims.

Such events shall be carried out:

 during the first year, at least once a month within the jurisdiction of each of 10 VA regional offices, including at least 2 regional offices in each of the 5 districts of the Veterans Benefits Administration; during each of the second and third years, at least once a month within the jurisdiction of each of 15 VA regional offices, including at least 3 regional offices in each district; at different locations within each regional office's jurisdiction and at least 50 miles from any regional office; during the sponsoring regional office's normal business hours; and with a sufficient number of physicians (to be available for opinions only), veteran service and rating representatives, and other appropriate claims personnel to initiate, update, and finalize the completion and adjudication of claims. Amounts shall be paid to a VA employee for event work only from amounts otherwise available for the employee's salary. No additional appropriations are authorized for such payments.

The VA shall: (1) collect and analyze event-satisfaction information from attending veterans, and (2) report annually to Congress on event implementation.

The VA may not permanently transfer any Veterans Health Administration physician to staff an event.

(Sec. 3) The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to reduce the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses that may be paid by the VA in FY2017.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-05 00:00:00

Purple Heart Heroes Act of 2015

This bill permits a veteran who has a compensable disability attributable to an injury for which the veteran was awarded the Purple Heart to use commissary stores and MWR retail facilities on the same basis as a member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.

A dependent of the veteran shall be permitted to use these facilities on the same basis as a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.

"MWR retail facility" means exchange stores and other revenue-generating facilities operated by nonappropriated fund activities of the Department of Defense for the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-05 00:00:00

Support Earned Recognition for Veterans Act or the SERV Act 

Excludes from the definitions of "active duty," "active duty for training," and "inactive duty training," for veteran benefit or employment preference purposes, any service performed at a preparatory school of a service academy by a student who is not otherwise a member of the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Other
Date: 2015-11-05 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Charles S. Kettles for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-11-16 00:00:00

This bill amends the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) to require that at least 10% of the funds made available for federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs, including highway safety research and development, and for the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012 be expended through small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-17 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to make grants for structural repairs and remodeling to community centers, clinics, and hospitals that serve veterans.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-18 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on February 9, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 1) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to convey to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs all right, title, and interest of the United States in the property known as "The Community Living Center" at the Lake Baldwin Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Orlando, Florida.

 The deed of conveyance shall require all of the property to be used for the sole purpose of providing nursing home, domiciliary, or adult day health care to veterans.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-19 00:00:00

Fair Treatment for Families of Veterans Act

This bill revises the effective date for reductions or discontinuances of Department of Veterans Affairs compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and pensions by reason of marriage, remarriage, or death.

The effective date is changed from the last day of the month before a marriage, remarriage, or death occurs to the last day of the month during which the event occurs.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-19 00:00:00

Support America's Armed Forces Reserve Component Retirees Act of 2015

This bill authorizes a retiring National Guard member who first enters a uniformed service on or after January 1, 2018, to receive retirement pay after 20 years of service.

Computation of the high-three year retired pay base average for such a member shall only include the 36 months for which he or she was entitled to monthly basic pay.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-30 00:00:00

Jumpstart VA Construction Act

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into partnership agreements with non-federal entities for the construction of major medical construction projects authorized by law.

Each selected project shall be for construction of a new facility for which: (1) Congress has appropriated funds, (2) the design and development phase is complete, and (3) construction has not begun as of the date of enactment of this Act.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-12-01 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to direct a VA employee to repay all or part of the transferee relocation expenses paid to the employee if: (1) the VA determines such repayment is appropriate, and (2) the employee is afforded notice and opportunity for a hearing conducted by another federal department or agency before repayment.

 A decision regarding employee repayment shall be final and may not be reviewed by any department, agency, or court.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-12-02 00:00:00

Access to Military Service Records Act of 2015

This bill limits to the cost of mailing the fee that the National Archives and Records Administration may charge a veteran (or, if such individual is deceased, the individual's next of kin or immediate family) who requests his or her military service record.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-12-18 00:00:00

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

Vietnam Helicopter Crew Memorial Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of the Army to place in Arlington National Cemetery a memorial honoring helicopter pilots and crew members who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era.

 The Army may place such a memorial only if it enters into an agreement under which the association agrees to: (1) pay all costs necessary to construct, install, and maintain the memorial; and (2) to such other provisions as the Army may require.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-01-06 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on May 10, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 1) This bill directs the Department of the Army to ensure that the cremated remains of persons whose service has been determined to be active duty service pursuant to the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 are eligible for above ground inurnment in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

 Such provision shall apply with respect to: (1) the remains of a person that are not formally interred or inurned as of the date of the enactment of this Act, and (2) a person who dies on or after such date.

(Sec. 2) The Department of the Army shall report to Congress on Arlington National Cemetery's interment and inurnment capacity, including:

 the estimated date that the cemetery will reach maximum interment and inurnment capacity; and recommendations for legislative actions and non legislative options to ensure that the cemetery's maximum interment and inurnment capacity is not reached until well into the future, including options with respect to redefining interment and inurnment eligibility and expansion opportunities beyond the cemetery's current boundaries.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-01-08 00:00:00

Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2016

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work with federal agencies, states, and experts to develop and implement federal and state standards that protect individuals who are eligible for increased pension for a non-service-connected disability or death or for service on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices.

The Government Accountability Office must: (1) report standards that would be effective in protecting such individuals if the VA fails to submit such standards as required, and (2) complete a study on standards implemented under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-04 00:00:00

Be Responsive to all Veterans Expeditiously Act of 2016 or the BRAVE Act of 2016

This bill requires the primary telephone line for any Department of Veterans Affairs facility to include voice mail.

The introductory message of any voice mail shall inform the caller of: (1) the facility's name, (2) the expected response time, and (3) an emergency telephone number.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-10 00:00:00

Military Retiree Employment Act

This bill permits, for a specified five-year period, retired members of the Armed Forces to be appointed to civil service positions in or under the Department of Defense (DOD) during the first 180 days after retirement without meeting current requirements regarding: (1) appointment authorization, (2) basic pay increase, or (3) existence of a state of national emergency.

The Office of Personnel Management shall establish an oversight plan to monitor such appointments.

DOD shall ensure that every DOD employee is informed, within one calendar day, of the publication of a vacancy within that employee's office that requires qualifications related to the employee's current duties.

DOD shall ensure for 10 years that each employee who is a veteran and who is newly hired or appointed to a DOD position shall be informed of the effect of certain DOD guidelines for reduction in force protection.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-02-26 00:00:00

Sanctioned Iranian Entities Oversight Act of 2016

This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 to extend through 2019 the annual report the President must submit to Congress regarding the use of certain Iranian seaports by foreign vessels and the use of foreign airports by sanctioned Iranian air carriers.

Such report shall also include a description of Department of State efforts to encourage other countries to prohibit the use of air space and airports by sanctioned Iranian air carriers.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-26 00:00:00

Veteran Suicide Prevention Act

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to complete a publicly available review of the deaths of all covered veterans who died by suicide during the preceding five-year period.

 Such review shall include:

 the total number of veterans who died by suicide during the five-year period; a summary that includes age, gender, and race; a list of the medications prescribed to, and found in the systems of, such veterans at the time of their deaths, and a summary of medical diagnoses by VA physicians which led to the prescribing of such medications; the number of instances in which the veteran was concurrently on multiple medications prescribed by VA physicians; the percentage of veterans who were not taking any medication prescribed by a VA physician; the percentage of veterans with combat experience or trauma; Veterans Health Administration facilities with markedly high prescription and patient suicide rates; a description of VA policies governing the prescribing of medications; and recommendations to improve the safety and well-being of veterans. "Covered veteran" means any veteran who received VA hospital care or medical services during the five-year period preceding the veteran's death.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2016-03-02 00:00:00

Jobs for Veterans Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an increased work opportunity tax credit for employers who hire veterans who have been certified as discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and who begin work for the employer after December 31, 2015, and before January 1, 2020. This increased credit is in addition to any work opportunity tax credit allowed to a veteran with a service-connected disability.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2016-03-02 00:00:00

Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to declare that any person who knowingly engages in any scheme or artifice to defraud an individual of veterans' benefits, or in connection with obtaining veteran's benefits for that individual, shall be fined, imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

 "Veterans' benefits" means any benefit provided by federal law for a veteran or a dependent or survivor of a veteran.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-03-16 00:00:00

(Sec. 1) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish at a private cemetery, and upon request, a headstone, marker, or medallion that signifies the status of an eligible veteran who served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917, as a Medal of Honor recipient.

If the VA furnished a headstone, marker, or medallion for a deceased veteran that does not signify his or her status as a Medal of Honor recipient, the VA shall upon request replace that headstone, marker, or medallion with one that signifies the deceased's status as a Medal of Honor recipient.

(Sec. 2) The bill authorizes award of the Presidential Memorial Certificate to certain deceased members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, the Air or Army National Guard, and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.