lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-03-16 00:00:00

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation, to carry out a five-year pilot program under which the VA shall provide service dogs and veterinary health insurance to certain veterans who: (1) served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001; and (2) were diagnosed with, and continue to suffer from, post-traumatic stress disorder.

The provision of a service dog shall be done in addition to other types of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and shall not replace established treatment modalities.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-03-17 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to construct on the Arlington Ridge tract in the area of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, a structure for visitor services, including a public restroom facility.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-03-23 00:00:00

Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds for acts of valor in World War II to save the lives of more than 200 Jewish members of the Armed Forces.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-19 00:00:00

Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the presentation of a single gold medal in honor of the Dust Off crews (helicopter air ambulance crews) of the Vietnam War in recognition of their heroic military service.

It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should also make such medal available for display elsewhere, particularly at appropriate locations associated with the Vietnam War, and that preference should be given to locations affiliated with the Smithsonian.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-26 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Corporal David Dunnels White of the 37th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, for his capture of Confederate Major General George Washington Custis Lee at the Battle of Sailor's Creek, Virginia, on April 6, 1865.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-07-05 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: 2016-07-07 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: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-07-14 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: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

RCAF/RAF-Americans Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of all U.S. nationals who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force or the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-09 00:00:00

This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the collective award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the troops from the United States and the Philippines who defended Bataan, Philippines, and were subsequently prisoners of war in recognition of their personal sacrifice and service during World War II.

The medal shall be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, which is urged to make the medal available for display at other locations associated with such troops.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Arts, culture, religion
Date: 2016-09-22 00:00:00

This bill designates the Medal of Honor Museum, which is to be built in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, as the "National Medal of Honor Museum."
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Health
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

Military Injury Surgical Systems Integrated Operationally Nationwide to Achieve ZERO Preventable Deaths Act or the MISSION ZERO Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response to award grants to certain trauma centers to enable military trauma care providers and trauma teams to provide trauma care and related acute care at those trauma centers. Funds may be used to train and incorporate military trauma care providers into the trauma center, including expenditures for malpractice insurance, office space, information technology, specialty education and supervision, trauma programs, and state license fees. Grantees must allow the military trauma care providers to be deployed for military operations, training, or response to a mass casualty incident.
Topic: Defense — Other
Date: 2016-11-14 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James C. McCloughan for acts of valor during the Vietnam War for which he was previously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-11-17 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the President, notwithstanding otherwise applicable time requirements, to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Doris Miller for acts of valor during World War II while a member of the Navy.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-11-17 00:00:00

Recognizing Mayaguez Veterans Act

This bill requires the military department concerned, upon application by or on behalf of a veteran who was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participation in the Mayaguez rescue operation of May 12-May 15, 1975, or who otherwise participated in such operation, to award that veteran the Vietnam Service Medal, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable requirements. Such award shall be made in lieu of any Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal awarded for participation in such operation.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-11-15 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James C. McCloughan for acts of valor during the Vietnam War for which he was previously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-01-07 00:00:00

Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow veterans a deduction from gross income, up to $400 a year, for their travel expenses, including those of a family member, to a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center for treatment related to a service-connected disability or for an examination related to a claim for disability compensation or a pension.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-01-07 00:00:00

Veterans Affairs Research Transparency Act of 2015

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make available on a publicly-available Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website: (1) data files that contain information on VA research, (2) a data dictionary on each data file, and (3) instructions on how to obtain access to each data file for use in research.

Directs the Secretary, within 540 days after this Act's enactment, to require, as a condition on the use of any data gathered or formulated from research funded by VA, that any final, peer-reviewed manuscript prepared for publication that uses such data be submitted to the Secretary for deposit in a digital archive (established by the Secretary under this Act). Requires such archive to be publicly available.

Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive to submit to the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense (DOD) options and recommendations for establishing a program of long-term cooperation and data-sharing between and within VA and DOD to facilitate research on outcomes of military service, readjustment after combat deployment, and other topics of importance to veterans, members of the Armed Forces (members), their families, and members of communities that have a significant population of veterans or members.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-01-08 00:00:00

Wounded Veterans Recreation Act of 2015

Amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to require the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass to be made available at no charge to, and for the lifetime of, any veteran with a service-connected disability. (The Pass is currently made available at no charge to, and for the lifetime of, any U.S. citizen or person domiciled in the United States who has been medically determined to be permanently disabled.)

Requires the entrance fees charged those who do not have a free National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass to be adjusted to maintain total receipts.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2015-01-08 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Gold Star Fathers Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Includes as a preference eligible for federal employment purposes a parent (currently, the mother only) of either an individual who lost his or her life under honorable conditions while serving in the Armed Forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during the period beginning April 28, 1952, and ending July 1, 1955, or a service-connected permanently and totally disabled veteran, if: (1) the spouse of such parent is totally and permanently disabled; or (2) such parent, when preference is claimed, is unmarried or legally separated from his or her spouse.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-01-22 00:00:00

Military Family Relief Act of 2015

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay temporary (not to exceed six months) dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) to the surviving spouse of a veteran if, at the time of death, the veteran was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated as total for at least one year preceding the veteran's death.

Authorizes the payment to such survivor, for the same period, of any veteran's pension that the deceased was receiving at the time of death, without regard to the annual income and net worth of the surviving spouse.

Allows a surviving spouse who is entitled to a pension or DIC under any other VA provision to be paid the amount by which such pension or DIC exceeds the amount of pension paid under this Act.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2015-01-22 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Entitles any federal employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more, during the 12-month period beginning on the first day of employment, to up to 104 hours of leave, without loss or reduction in pay, for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability for which sick leave could regularly be used. Requires the forfeiture of any such leave that is not used during such 12-month period.

Requires such employee to submit to the head of the employing agency certification that such employee used such leave for purposes of being furnished treatment for such disability by a health care provider.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-01-22 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine to conduct a comprehensive review of VA examinations that assess the cognitive impairments of individuals who submit claims for compensation for service-connected traumatic brain injury.

Requires: (1) the Institute, in conducting the review, to convene a group of experts in clinical neuropsychology and other related disciplines; and (2) the review to include a determination of the adequacy of the VA's tools and protocols used in conducting such examinations and the credentials that are necessary for health care specialists and providers to perform the portions of such examinations that assess cognitive functions.

Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress any Institute recommendations for legislative or administrative action to improve the adjudication of claims.

Requires Secretary to seek to enter an agreement with a similar nongovernmental, nonprofit organization to conduct such review if the Secretary is unable to enter into an acceptable agreement with the Institute.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-01-27 00:00:00

Charlie Morgan Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act of 2015

Revises the definition of "surviving spouse" for purposes of veterans benefits provisions to eliminate the requirement that the person who was the spouse of a veteran at the time of the veteran's death be a person of the opposite sex.

Considers an individual to be a "spouse" if the marriage of the individual is considered valid under the laws of any state.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-01-27 00:00:00

Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2015

Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability (under current law, only a disability rated at 50% or more).

Makes eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay those individuals who were retired or separated from military service due to a service-connected disability.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-01-28 00:00:00

Increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability to Veterans Act of 2016

 This bill requires the reduction of the federal annuities of individuals removed from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Senior Executive Service (SES) if they are convicted of a felony that influenced their performance while employed in such position.

The VA may order the reduction of the federal annuities of individuals who were convicted of such a felony and were subject to removal or transfer from the SES but who left the VA before final action was taken. Such annuities shall be reduced by excluding the covered service performed after the activity that subjects such an individual to transfer or removal occurs.

 An individual whose annuity is reduced may appeal the reduction to the Office of Personnel Management.

 The VA may not place an SES employee on administrative leave for more than a total of 14 days during any 365-day period. The VA may waive such prohibition if it provides Congress with a detailed explanation of the reasons the employee was placed on administrative leave and the reasons for extending such leave.

 The VA shall conduct an annual performance plan for each political appointee that is similar to the plan conducted for career appointee SES employees.

 A supervisor of an employee on probation shall determine, during the 30-day period ending on the date on which the probationary period ends, whether the employee: (1) has demonstrated successful performance, and (2) should continue past the probationary period.

 Each annual performance plan for a supervisor of an employee serving a probationary period shall hold the supervisor accountable for: (1) providing regular feedback to the employee before making a determination regarding such employee's probationary status, and (2) making a timely probationary status determination.

 The evaluation of VA managers shall include actions taken to address employee performance.

 Before terminating VA employment, an official who has participated personally and substantially in a VA acquisition that exceeds $1 million or who held a key acquisitions position at the VA shall obtain a written opinion from a VA ethics counselor regarding any restrictions on activities that the official may undertake on behalf of a contractor during the two-year period after the official terminates VA employment. A contractor may not knowingly provide compensation to such an individual during such two-year period unless the contractor determines that the individual has obtained or requested such written opinion.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-01-28 00:00:00

Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to revive, for a three-year period, VA's Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program that was carried out between January 2013 and February 2014. Requires VA to: (1) expand the pilot program to include at least 250 intermediate care technicians, and (2) give priority in assigning those technicians to VA facilities at which veterans have the longest wait times.

Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to transfer credentialing data regarding DOD health care providers that are hired by VA to VA.

Authorizes VA to allow a covered nurse to practice independently, without the supervision or direction of others, under a set of VA-approved privileges, regardless of the state in which VA employs the covered nurse. Defines a "covered nurse" as an advanced practice registered nurse who is employed by VA as: (1) a nurse midwife; (2) a clinical nurse specialist, with respect to the provision of mental health care; or (3) a nurse practitioner.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-02-26 00:00:00

GI Bill Fairness Act of 2015

Includes as active duty for purposes of eligibility for post-9/11 veterans educational assistance service of a member of a reserve component ordered to active duty to receive authorized medical care, to be medically evaluated, or to complete a required Department of Defense health care study.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Education
Date: 2015-02-26 00:00:00

Veteran Education Empowerment Act

Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to award up to 30 four-year grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia of IHEs to establish, maintain, and improve Veteran Student Centers.

Permits a grantee to use a portion of the grant to provide veteran students with supportive instruction services.

Requires a grantee to be an IHE or consortium that: (1) enrolls in undergraduate or graduate courses a significant number or percentage of veterans or members of the Armed Forces, and (2) presents a sustainability plan demonstrating that its Veteran Student Center will be maintained and will continue to operate after the grant ends.

Defines a "Veteran Student Center" as a dedicated space on a campus that provides students who are veterans or members of the Armed Forces with: (1) a lounge or meeting space for themselves, their spouses or partners, and veterans in the community; (2) a centralized office for veteran services that is staffed by trained employees and volunteers and serves as a single point of contact to coordinate veterans support services; and (3) comprehensive academic and tutoring services to veterans.

Requires that office to provide such students with assistance in:

 transitioning from the military to student life, transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce, networking with other veteran students and veterans in the community, understanding and obtaining benefits provided by the IHE and federal and state government for which they may be eligible, understanding how to succeed in the IHE, and understanding their disability-related rights and protections under specified federal laws. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a website for veteran student services at IHEs, which details best practices for serving veteran students at IHEs.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-03-03 00:00:00

(Sec. 1) This bill provides that if the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) makes an adverse finding that a VA employee has violated a VA policy for which the employee may be removed or suspended, or has violated a law for which the employee may be imprisoned for more than one year, the VA may not award a bonus to such employee until the earlier of the date that:

 is five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the adverse finding was made, or the finding is found to have been made in error. If an adverse finding is made, the VA, after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing, shall direct the employee to repay any bonus he or she received during the year in which the adverse finding is made, unless such finding is found to have been made in error.

(Sec. 2) If a VA employee receives a reprimand or admonishment the VA shall retain a copy of such reprimand or admonishment in the employee's permanent record as long as he or she is employed by the VA.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-03-09 00:00:00

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015

 Includes as part of the Republic of Vietnam its territorial seas for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-03-10 00:00:00

Dignified Interment of Our Veterans Act of 2015

Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study and report to Congress on matters relating to the interring of veterans' unclaimed remains in national cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration, including:

 the scope of the issues relating to veterans' unclaimed remains, including the estimated number of such remains; the effectiveness of VA procedures for working with persons or entities having custody of unclaimed remains to facilitate the interment of such remains in such cemeteries; state and local laws that affect the Secretary's ability to inter unclaimed veterans' remains in such cemeteries; and recommendations for appropriate legislative or administrative action.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-03-18 00:00:00

Requires the termination of any employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is found to have:

 retaliated or threatened to retaliate against any employee or applicant for employment for disclosing what the employee or applicant reasonably believes to be a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety (provided the disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law); retaliated or threatened to retaliate against any employee or applicant for exercising, or assisting another individual in exercising, any appeal, complaint, or grievance right granted by any law, rule, or regulation; or implemented or enforced certain nondisclosure policies, forms, or agreements that conflict with whistleblower protections and employee rights.