lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-17 00:00:00

VA Patient Protection Act of 2015

 This bill establishes an additional method for filing whistle blower complaints in which a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee may file such complaints with his or her immediate and next-level supervisors, and ultimately with the VA after having properly filed a complaint at each supervisory level.

If a supervisor makes a positive determination regarding such complaint the VA shall: (1) inform the employee of the ability to volunteer for a transfer, and (2) give preference to such transfer.

The VA may not exempt any employee from such whistle blower coverage.

The central whistle blower office shall be responsible for investigating all VA whistle blower complaints, regardless of whether such complaints are made by or against an employee who is not a Senior Executive Service member.

The VA shall carry out specified adverse actions against a supervisor who commits a prohibited personnel action relating to a whistle blower complaint.

 A supervisor who commits a prohibited personnel action shall not be paid any award or bonus for a one-year period, and any award or bonus paid during that period shall be recouped.

VA employees shall receive annual whistle blower complaint training.

Congressional testimony by a VA employee in his or her official capacity shall be considered official duty, and the VA shall provide any such employee with travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, during the period when the employee is so testifying.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-19 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reissue veterans benefits to a beneficiary in all cases of fiduciary misuse.

The VA shall pay the beneficiary or the successor fiduciary an amount equal to the misused benefits.

 VA access to fiduciary-held financial accounts shall be increased by requiring any fiduciary to authorize the VA to obtain any financial record held by an institution regarding the fiduciary or the beneficiary whenever the VA determines that such record is necessary:

 for the administration of a VA program; or to safeguard the beneficiary's benefits against neglect, misappropriation, embezzlement, or fraud.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-11-30 00:00:00

Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 2015

 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to:

 adopt the unique device identification system developed for medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or implement a comparable standard identification system, for identifying biological implants intended for use in VA medical facilities; permit a vendor to use any of the accredited entities identified by the FDA as an issuing agency; implement a compatible system for tracking implants from human donor or animal source to implantation; and implement inventory controls compatible with such tracking system so that patients who have received a biological implant in a VA medical facility subject to FDA recall can be appropriately notified. The bill also prescribes requirements for vendors from which the VA may procure biological implants of human origin, and for vendors from which the VA may procure biological implants of non-human origin. Such a vendor must:

 use the standard identification system adopted or implemented by VA under this Act; be registered as required by FDA procedures; consent to periodic VA inspections and audits regarding records and product handling; agree to cooperate with all biological implant recalls conducted on the vendor's own initiative, on the initiative of the original product manufacturer used by the vendor, or by FDA request or statutory order; agree to notify the VA within 60 days of any adverse event report it provides to the FDA, or of any FDA warning letter issued to the vendor; and agree to retain all records associated with the procurement of a biological implant by the VA for at least 10 years. The VA shall: (1) procure such implants under General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedules if they are available under such Schedules, (2) accommodate reasonable vendor requests to undertake specified outreach efforts to educate VA medical professionals about the use and efficacy of implants, and (3) procure biological implants that are unavailable under such Schedules using competitive procedures in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

 Any VA procurement employee responsible for a biological implant procurement transaction with intent to avoid, or with reckless disregard of, the requirements of this Act shall be ineligible to hold a certificate of appointment as a contracting officer or to serve as the representative of an ordering officer, contracting officer, or purchase card holder.

 Certain biological implants may be temporarily procured by the VA without relabeling under the standard identification system.
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.)

Fiscal Year 2016 Department of Veterans Affairs Seismic Safety and Construction Authorization Act

(Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out the following major medical facility projects (each with specified maximum authorized funds):

 seismic corrections to buildings, including retrofitting and replacement of high-risk buildings, in San Francisco, California; seismic corrections to facilities, including facilities to support homeless veterans, at the medical center in West Los Angeles, California; seismic corrections to the mental health and community living center in Long Beach, California; construction of an outpatient clinic, administrative space, cemetery, and columbarium in Alameda, California; realignment of medical facilities in Livermore, California; construction of a medical center in Louisville, Kentucky; construction of a replacement community living center in Perry Point, Maryland; and seismic corrections and other renovations to several buildings and construction of a specialty care building in American Lake, Washington. A specified amount is authorized to be appropriated to the VA for such projects for FY2016 or the year in which funds are appropriated for the Construction, Major Projects, account.

 Such projects may only be carried out using:

 funds appropriated for FY2016 pursuant to such authorization; funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a fiscal year before, or a fiscal year after, FY2016 that remain available for obligation; funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for FY2016 for a category of activity not specific to a project; and funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for a fiscal year before, or a fiscal year after, FY2016 for a category of activity not specific to a project.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-01-11 00:00:00

Women Airforce Service Pilot Arlington Inurnment Restoration Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of the Army to ensure that the cremated remains of persons who served as Women's Air Forces Service Pilots are eligible for inurnment in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-01-28 00:00:00

Express Appeals Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) carry out a five-year pilot program to provide the option of an alternative appeals process to determine appeals of claims for disability compensation more quickly, and (2) inform claimants about such program.

Appeals filed under the pilot program are described as "fully developed appeals."

A claimant may elect to file a fully developed appeal by filing with the VA: (1) a notice of disagreement along with the claimant's written election to have the appeal determined under the pilot program, (2) all evidence that the claimant believes is needed for the appeal, and (3) a statement of the argument in support of the claim.

 A claimant who elects the pilot program may elect to revert to the standard appeals process at any time. Such reversion, however, shall be final.

 Such a claimant or an electing claimant who is later determined to be ineligible for the pilot program shall revert to the standard appeals process without any penalty other than the loss of docket number.

The VA shall transfer jurisdiction over a fully developed appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board shall:

 maintain fully developed appeals on a separate docket; hear fully developed appeals in the order received; decide not more than one fully developed appeal for each four traditional appeals decided, though this ratio may be adjusted for fairness purposes beginning one year after the pilot program begins; and decide each fully developed appeal within one year of a claimant's filing the notice of disagreement. A claimant may not submit or identify to the Board any new evidence relating to a fully developed appeal after filing such appeal unless the claimant reverts to the standard appeals process.

The Board shall establish an office to develop necessary federal records, independent medical opinions, and new medical exams.

The Board may not provide hearings for fully developed appeals.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-04 00:00:00

Medal of Honor Surviving Spouses Recognition Act of 2016

This bill requires the payment of a Medal of Honor special pension to the surviving spouse of a deceased Medal of Honor recipient if that person was married to the recipient for: (1) at least one year; or (2) any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage.

The special pension for a living Medal of Honor recipient is increased to $1,299.61 per month.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-09 00:00:00

Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act or the Military SAVE Act

This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to make eligible for treatment in a non-Department of Veterans Affairs entity any veteran who was the victim of a sexual trauma which occurred while the veteran was serving on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-02-25 00:00:00

This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide transportation on scheduled and unscheduled military flights within the continental United States and on scheduled overseas flights on a space-available basis for veterans with a service-connected, permanent disability rated as total.

 In establishing space-available transportation priorities under the travel program, DOD shall provide transportation on the same basis as such transportation is provided to members of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-03-15 00:00:00

Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act

 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions relating to exposure to open burn pits and other environmental exposures in Afghanistan or Iraq.

The VA shall, in selecting the center's site, consider entities that:

 are equipped with the specialized equipment needed to study, diagnose, and treat health conditions relating to such exposure; have a publication track record of post-deployment health exposures among veterans who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; have collaborated with a geosciences department that has a medical geology division; have developed animal models and in vitro models of dust immunology and lung injury consistent with the injuries of members of the Armed Forces who served in support of such operations; and have expertise in allergy and immunology, pulmonary diseases, and industrial and management engineering. The VA shall ensure that the center collaborates with the Department of Defense (DOD), institutions of higher education, and other appropriate public and private entities to:

 provide for dissemination within the VA of best practices for the treatment of such conditions and the training of health professionals; provide guidance for the VA and DOD health systems in determining the personnel required to provide quality health care for members of the Armed Forces and veterans with such conditions; establish, implement, and oversee a comprehensive program to train VA and DOD health professionals in the treatment of such conditions; facilitate advancements in the study of the short-term and long-term effects of such exposure; conduct basic science and translational research on such conditions for the purposes of understanding the etiology of such conditions and developing preventive interventions and new treatments; and provide medical treatment to all veterans identified as part of the burn pits registry established under the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012. The center shall have access to and make use of the data accumulated by such registry.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-03-17 00:00:00

Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify:

 certain severance payments 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:

 notice of the amount of improperly withheld severance payments, and 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 Act.

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.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-18 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the Department of the Army to award the Distinguished Service Cross to Chaplain (First Lieutenant) Joseph Verbis LaFleur for acts of valor during World War II.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-04-26 00:00:00

This bill allows amounts authorized to be appropriated for FY2017 for the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance that are available as foreign currency fluctuation savings to be made available for repair, recapitalization, and certification of dry docks at naval shipyards.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-06-16 00:00:00

Guardians of America's Freedom Medal Act

This bill requires each military department to carry out a program to award medals or other commendations to military working dogs and their handlers to recognize valor or meritorious achievement.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-09-13 00:00:00

Second Division Memorial Modification Act

This bill authorizes the Second Indianhead Division Association, Inc. Scholarship and Memorials Foundation to place three benches honoring the members of the Second Infantry Division killed in the Cold War in Korea, the War in Iraq, and the War in Afghanistan at the Second Division Memorial located in President's Park in the District of Columbia.

No federal funds may be used for these modifications or augmentations.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-15 00:00:00

(Sec. 1) This bill authorizes the Army, in the case of a military manufacturing arsenal, depot, or plant (a government-owned, government-operated defense plant of the Army that manufactures weapons, weapon components, or both), to authorize leases of and contracts for non-excess military property for a term of up to 25 years if it determines that such a lease or contract will promote the national defense or be in the public interest for the purpose of:

 helping to maintain the viability of such arsenal, depot, or plant and any military installations on which it is located; eliminating, or at least reducing, the cost of government ownership of the arsenal, depot, or plant; and leveraging private investment at the arsenal, depot, or plant through long-term facility use contracts, property management contracts, leases, or other agreements that support and advance the preceding purposes. The Army may delegate such authority to the commander of the major subordinate command of the Army responsible for the arsenal, depot, or plant, or if part of a larger military installation, the installation as a whole. The commander may approve such a lease or contract on a case-by-case or class basis. Any lease or contract approved utilizing such authority is subject to a 90-day hold period so that the Army real property manager may review it. If such manager disapproves of it, the agreement shall be null and void upon transmittal to the delegating authority of a written disapproval, including a justification, within the hold period. If no such disapproval is transmitted within such period, the agreement shall be deemed approved.

 If, by 60 days after receiving a disapproval, the delegating authority submits a new contract or lease that addresses the manager's concerns, it shall be deemed approved unless the manager transmits a disapproval within 30 days of submission.

 The authority under this bill shall terminate at the close of September 30, 2019.
Topic: Civil Rights — Voting Rights
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-01-05 00:00:00

Voter Bounty Registration Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prescribe standards for paid distribution of voter registration application forms.Prohibits any individual from distributing a voter registration application form for federal elections in a state if the individual: (1) is not registered to vote in such elections; (2) has been convicted of a felony under any state or federal law; (3) does not sign and print legibly the individual's name on the form; or (4) does not provide identifying information to the election official to whom the form will be submitted.Excepts from this prohibition the distribution of a voter registration application form by an individual who is not compensated directly or indirectly for it.Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) individuals not meeting such standards; and (2) anyone who employs such an individual knowingly, or who should reasonably be expected to know the individual is ineligible.
Topic: Civil Rights — Voting Rights
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-01-31 00:00:00

Amends the short title of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 to add the names of Cesar E. Chavez and Barbara C. Jordan.
Topic: Civil Rights — Voting Rights
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2007-02-05 00:00:00

Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act of 2007 - Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual: (1) is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility; or (2) is on parole or probation for a felony offense. Provides for enforcement and remedies for violations of this Act.Specifies that: (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act; and (2) the rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law, and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
Topic: Civil Rights — Voting Rights
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-05-17 00:00:00

Voting Enhancement and Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct the Technical Guidelines Development Committee to develop for the Election Assistance Commission specific guidelines, meeting certain criteria, for the operation of electronic voting equipment in federal elections. Requires states to comply with such guidelines. Requires states to: (1) administer audits of the results of federal elections held in the state in accordance with a state audit plan; and (2) develop and implement election security protocols for protecting the voting equipment and contingency plans for addressing voting system failures and other emergencies.
Topic: Civil Rights — Voting Rights
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-06-22 00:00:00

Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to include within the elections covered under such Act elections for the governor, and member of the House of Representatives of the legislature, of American Samoa.
Topic: Civil Rights — Voting Rights
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-09-07 00:00:00

Know Your Vote Counts Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to revise voting system standards to require the voting system used in an election for federal office to provide the voter with an auditable paper record showing how the vote will be recorded by the system after the voter enters it. Requires the voter to use such record to verify that the vote shown is the vote the voter intends to cast. Requires the system, if the voter does not verify his or her vote, to provide the voter with: (1) the opportunity to change the ballot and correct any error, and (2) a new auditable paper record that reflects the change or correction made by the voter. Makes a vote final once a voter verifies that the vote shown on a paper record is the vote the voter intends to cast. Makes the paper record serve as a permanent paper record of the vote. Prohibits the removal of such record from the polling place except for purposes related to a recount. Requires voluntary voting system guidelines to include guidelines to ensure security of electronic data.
Topic: Civil Rights — Voting Rights
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-09-19 00:00:00

Voter Freedom Act of 2007 - Declares that an individual shall have the right to be placed as a candidate on, and to have his or her political party, body, or group affiliation in connection with such candidacy placed on, a ballot or similar voting materials to be used in a congressional election. Requires the individual to file a petition with at least 1,000 signatures of registered voters in the congressional district (or 1,000 eligible voters in the district if the state does not provide for voter registration). Specifies the period during which such a petition must be circulated.