lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2011-12-07 00:00:00

Spouse Equity Election Clarification Amendment Act of 2011 - Provides that a federal employee or Member of Congress who dies before the expiration of the two-year period for electing to provide a former spouse with an annuity benefit under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) shall be deemed to have elected to provide such benefit to such former spouse. Requires a former spouse to notify the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) within six months of the death of the employee or Member under whom an annuity benefit may be allowed.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2011-12-13 00:00:00

No Budget, No Pay Act - Prohibits the payment of any pay to any Member of Congress (excluding the Vice President): (1) if both houses of Congress have not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year before October 1 of that fiscal year and have not passed all the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year by such date, or (2) until both houses of Congress approve such a budget resolution and pass all such appropriations bills. Prohibits any retroactive pay for such a period.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2011-12-15 00:00:00

Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to prohibit the pay for Members of Congress from being increased by any adjustment scheduled to take effect in a calendar year unless, before January 1 of such year, each chamber, by a roll call vote, adopts a concurrent resolution agreeing to such increase.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2012-01-23 00:00:00

Do Your Job Act - Prohibits the disbursement of funds for salaries and expenses for specified congressional offices and committees, if on or before May 15 of any year Congress does not adopt a budget resolution for the fiscal year that begins on October 1 of that year. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit all payments otherwise required to be made for Members' compensation in an escrow account to be released to the Members only upon the adoption of such a resolution.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-01-24 00:00:00

Securing Annuities for Federal Employees Act of 2012 - Increases the employee contribution to the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) by .5% of salary in each of calendar years 2013, 2014, and 2015. Reduces the employer contribution to CSRS and FERS by the amount of the increased employee contribution. Establishes new annuity computation rules for federal employees and Members of Congress who begin service after December 31, 2012, and who have less than five years of civilian service creditable under CSRS or any other retirement system for federal employees (secure annuity employees). Increases the employee contribution for secure annuity employees and calculates annuities for such employees based upon the average of their highest five years of salary (for current federal employees, the calculation is based on the highest three years of salary). Eliminates the FERS annuity supplement for employees not subject to mandatory retirement who separate from service after December 31, 2012. Allows federal employees, including employees of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), and Members of Congress, to contribute payments received for accumulated and accrued annual or vacation leave to the Thrift Savings Fund.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-01-27 00:00:00

Amends the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (P.L. 111-242) to extend through December 31, 2013, the freeze on any cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the pay of certain federal civilian employees (thus extends such freeze from two to three calendar years). Extends through such date the prohibition against receipt by a senior executive or senior-level employee of any increase in the rate of basic pay absent a change of position that results in a substantial increase in responsibility or a promotion. Applies the pay limit freeze to Members of Congress. Declares that no statutory COLA for a legislative branch employee which would otherwise take effect during the period beginning on enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2013, shall be made.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2012-02-15 00:00:00

Pass a Budget Now Act - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to reduce the rate of pay for a Member of Congress for failure to agree to a concurrent resolution on the budget. Reduces the rate of pay during each pay period of any year, if there is no agreement by April 15 on a budget resolution for the following fiscal year, by an amount equal to the product of the average daily rate of pay involved and the number of days during the pay period which occur after April 15 and before Congress does reach agreement on a budget resolution. Requires all unpaid compensation to be used for deficit reduction.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-02-28 00:00:00

Presidential Allowance Modernization Act - Revises provisions relating to presidential pensions to allow former Presidents an annuity of $200,000 and an additional monetary allowance of $200,000 per year. Reduces such pension by the amount that a President's adjusted gross income in a taxable year exceeds $400,000.  Increases from $20,000 to $100,000 the annual annuity of a surviving spouse of a former President.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-03-21 00:00:00

Employees of America Streamlining for Your Savings Act of 2012 or the EASY Savings Act of 2012 - Expands the awards program for disclosures by federal employees of fraud, waste, or mismanagement that result in cost savings to the employee's agency to include identification of surplus funds or unnecessary budget authority. Directs that any savings resulting from the identification of such funds or budget authority be deposited in the Treasury and used to reduce a budget deficit or the federal debt. Prohibits the payment of awards to: (1) federal officers who serve in a position at level I of the Executive Schedule; (2) the head of an agency; or (3) a commissioner, board member, or other voting member of an independent establishment.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2012-03-28 00:00:00

Transparency and Accountability in Congressional Travel Act of 2012 - Prohibits a Member of Congress or congressional employee from undertaking any official foreign travel unless, within 14 days before and within 14 days after such travel, the individual prepares and submits to the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate, as appropriate, a specified statement (in both paper and electronic form) containing travel-related information. Allows the Member or congressional employee to exclude classified information from such statements, so long as the Member includes documentation in support of such exclusion. Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) or the Secretary of State, as appropriate, for official travel by a Member or congressional employee for which any of the costs are to be paid by their respective departmental funds, to give such individual, within 10 days after completion of such travel, a written statement specifying: (1) the cost incurred, itemized by the cost of transportation, lodging, and meals; and (2) whether the aircraft used was chartered, private, military, or, in the case of commercial aircraft, whether the seating was coach, business class, or first class. Requires the Clerk and the Secretary to post such statements on their respective official public Internet sites. Prohibits a vacation stopover for annual leave at any point during official foreign travel. Specifies restrictions on official foreign travel by Member and House committee employees, except travel to a military installation or to a theater of operations of the Armed Forces. Requires each Member and congressional employee who undertakes official foreign travel to: (1) take necessary actions to reduce travel costs, and (2) return any per diem remaining unexpended at conclusion of the travel.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-04-17 00:00:00

Federal Employee Phased Retirement Act - Allows a retirement-eligible federal employee under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), with the concurrence of the head of the employing agency, to make a one-time election to enter phased retirement status under which such employee shall be appointed to a position for which the working percentage (the number of hours worked by such employee per pay period divided by the number of hours worked by a full-time employee in a comparable position) is 50%. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide for a different working percentage which shall not be less than 20% or more than 80%. Denies eligibility for any employee after the date such employee is required to be separated from service under mandatory retirement provisions. Imposes certain requirements for and limitations on the employment of such a phased retiree, including that such retiree: (1) must have been employed on a full-time basis for not less than the three-year period ending on the date of an election under this Act; (2) may not be employed in more than one position at any time, but may transfer to another position in the same or different agency; and (3) must spend not less than 20% of working hours mentoring other employees. Sets forth rules for the computation of: (1) a phased retirement annuity, which shall be paid in addition to the basic pay for the position to which a phased retiree is appointed; and (2) a composite annuity, which a phased retiree shall be entitled to receive upon electing to enter full retirement status. Authorizes a phased retiree: (1) with the concurrence of the head of the employing agency, to elect to terminate phased retirement status and return to a full-time work schedule; or (2) elect to enter full retirement status at any time. Allows a phased retiree under CSRS or FERS who has completed at least one year of service as such a retiree to contribute to a Thrift Savings Fund account any part of any payment received as accumulated and current accrued annual or vacation leave.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-04-17 00:00:00

Recess Appointment Restoration Act - Prohibits payment from the Treasury to any individual who is appointed to fill a vacancy that must be filled by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, until such appointee has been confirmed by the Senate, unless such individual was appointed while the Senate was adjourned for at least 10 days.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-04-17 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make Thrift Savings Fund accounts subject to a federal tax levy. Requires any revenue gain attributable to the enacment of this Act to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury and used solely for deficit reduction.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2012-04-18 00:00:00

Congressional Salary Reduction Act - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to: (1) eliminate automatic cost of living (COLA) adjustments for Members of Congress, and (2) reduce Members' annual rate of pay to 95% of the annual rate for the most recent pay period preceding the regularly scheduled federal general election held in November 2012.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Health
Date: 2012-04-19 00:00:00

Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act of 2012 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage for routine HIV screening under terms and conditions no less favorable than for other routine preventive health services. Prohibits such a plan from taking specified actions to avoid the requirements of this Act. Requires inclusion of a notice of such screening coverage in the uniform summary of benefits and coverage explanation provided by the group health plan or health insurance issuer. Defines "routine HIV screening" as having the meaning given the term by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) after consultation with the the Office of National AIDS Policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health care professionals, and other qualified individuals. Applies requirements of this Act to health insurance coverage offered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2012-05-11 00:00:00

Congressional Double Dipping Pension Prevention Act - Prohibits any former Member of Congress who is registered as a lobbyist from receiving pension benefits under either the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) while such former Member is employed as a lobbyist and is receiving an annual income from lobbying activities in excess of $1 million.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-05-16 00:00:00

Amends provisions of federal law relating to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and its employees to: (1) require the transfer of any surplus government contributions to the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) in FY2012-FY2014 for postal employees to USPS for repayment of debt obligations and to make required payments to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund and to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, and (2) authorize USPS to provide nonpostal services. Expresses the sense of Congress that if USPS is permitted to offer its employees health benefits under a program separate from the Federal Employees Health Benefits  Program, the Postmaster General shall work with employee representatives in exclusive bargaining units to establish such a program.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-05-31 00:00:00

Access to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide veterans' case-tracking information access to employees of a Member of Congress or of a state or local governmental agency who regularly assist veterans with benefit claims. Directs the Secretary to ensure that such access does not: (1) allow the employee to modify the data in the case-tracking system, and (2) include access to medical records.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2012-06-15 00:00:00

Redefines "Member of Congress" under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) with respect to the exclusion from the meaning of "Member" as any Member of the House of Representatives, including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to Congress, who opts out of FERS, but only if he or she served as a Member before the enactment of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2004. Repeals the requirement of service before enactment of such Act. (Thus, allows Members to opt out of FERS benefits regardless of when they have been elected.)
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-06-21 00:00:00

Government Employee Accountability Act - Sets forth investigative leave requirements for federal employees in the competitive service and Senior Executive Service (SES) career employees. Defines "investigative leave" as a temporary absence without duty for disciplinary reasons, for up to 90 days. Authorizes a federal agency to place an employee on investigative leave: (1) without loss of pay and without charge to annual or sick leave only for misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misappropriation of funds; or (2) without pay if such employee's conduct is determined to be serious or flagrant. Requires an agency head to: (1) review the investigation into an employee's misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misappropriation of funds at the end of each 45-day investigative period; (2) report on such review to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs not later than 5 business days after the end of each 45-day period; and (3) remove, suspend without pay, or reinstate or restore such employee to duty at the end of the investigative leave period. Allows an agency to extend a period of investigative leave for an additional period not to exceed 90 days. Entitles an employee, before being placed on investigative leave, to: (1) at least 30-days' advance written notice, stating specific reasons for the proposed action, unless there is reasonable cause to believe that the employee has committed a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment can be imposed or unless the agency head determines that the employee's conduct is serious or flagrant; (2) a reasonable time, but not less than 7 days, to answer orally and in writing and to furnish affidavits and other evidence in support of the answer; (3) be represented by an attorney or other representative; and (4) a written decision with specific reasons at the earliest practicable date. Entitles an employee who is placed on administrative leave to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Includes misappropriation of funds as a ground in suspending or reinstating an SES employee or placing such employee in another civil service position.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Congress
Date: 2012-07-09 00:00:00

Amends the Revised Statutes of the United States with respect to the requirement that the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives deduct from the monthly payments of each Member of the House (or Delegate) the amount of the Member's salary for each day of absence from the House, except in the case of the Member's sickness or the sickness of a family member. Adds Resident Commissioner to Member and Delegate under such requirement. Considers a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner (Member) to be absent from the House on a day if the individual does not cast a vote on any vote taken in the House (including any vote taken in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union) on that day. Requires a written notice to the Speaker of the House about the Member's or family member's sickness under the exception. Requires the Chief Administrative Officer, within five days after the end of each month, to publish on the House official public Internet site a list showing: (1) specified information regarding each Member whose pay was subject to such a deduction for the month; and (2) each Member who submitted a written notice to the Speaker during the month, together with a copy of the notice.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-07-10 00:00:00

Wildland Firefighters Health Protection Act - Defines "wildland firefighter" as an employee of a federal land management agency who performs work directly related to the prevention, control, suppression, and management of wildfires, including an employee who is assigned to support wildland fire suppression activities and an employee who is transferred to a supervisory or administrative position. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in cooperation with such agencies, to commence development of a separate wildland firefighter occupational series that will more accurately reflect the variety of duties performed. Requires a wildland firefighter's hours of work officially ordered or approved in excess of 40 hours per week or 8 hours per day to be considered overtime work. Makes time the firefighter is away from his or her official duty station assigned to an emergency incident, in support of an emergency incident, or pre-positioned for emergency response compensable as work time. Includes hazardous duty differentials as basic pay for retirement purposes. Prohibits OPM from excluding wildland firefighters from federal employees' group life insurance (FEGLI) and from federal health care benefits.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2012-08-02 00:00:00

Servicemembers Rights Enforcement Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (the Act) concerning the protection of servicemembers against default judgments to require a plaintiff, before filing an affidavit, to conduct a diligent and reasonable investigation to determine whether or not the defendant is in military service, including a search of available records of the Department of Defense (DOD) and any other available information. Doubles the penalties for first and subsequent violations of the Act. Allows a veteran on whose behalf a complaint of a violation of employment or reemployment rights is made by the Attorney General (AG) to intervene in such action, and to obtain appropriate relief. Requires the AG, within 60 days after receiving a referral of an unsuccessful attempt to resolve a complaint relating to a state or private employer, to notify the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted of either the decision to commence such an action or of when such decision is expected to be made. Requires, in the latter case, such decision to be made within an additional 30 days. Requires the AG to commence such an action when there is reasonable cause to believe that a state or private employer is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such employment and reemployment rights and benefits, and that the pattern or practice is intended to deny the full exercise of such rights and benefits. Provides the Special Counsel with subpoena power to require the attendance and testimony of, and production of documents from, federal employees, to be enforced through the Merit Systems Protection Board. Authorizes the AG to issue and serve a civil investigative demand for the production of documentary material relevant to an investigation under the Act.
Topic: Government Operations — Employees
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-08-02 00:00:00

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act - Makes an employee of a land management agency who served under a time-limited appointment in the competitive service eligible to compete for a permanent appointment in the agency if the original appointment was competitive, totaled a period of at least 24 months, and the employee's performance was satisfactory. Requires such an employee's appointment to a full-time position, if such a position is offered and the employee agrees to such employment, if the original position stated that there was the potential for the position to become permanent.