lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Health
Date: 2013-01-14 00:00:00

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

Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program for states with a shortage of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to streamline state requirements and procedures to assist veterans who completed military EMT training while serving in the Armed Forces to meet state EMT certification, licensure, and other requirements.

Authorizations appropriations for this Act out of funding for area health education centers.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-01-15 00:00:00

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

Stolen Valor Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of:

 a Congressional Medal of Honor, a distinguished-service cross, a Navy cross, an Air Force cross, a silver star, a Purple Heart, a Combat Infantryman's Badge, a Combat Action Badge, a Combat Medical Badge, a Combat Action Ribbon, a Combat Action Medal, or any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-01-15 00:00:00

Retired Pay Restoration Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that military retired pay should not be reduced because a military retiree is also eligible for veterans' disability compensation awarded for a service-connected disability.

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). Repeals provisions phasing in the full concurrent receipt of such pay through December 31, 2013.

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: 2013-01-22 00:00:00

Amends veterans' educational assistance program reporting requirements under which enrolled veterans (or eligible persons) and educational institutions must report enrollment information to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires individuals and educational institutions participating in the post-Vietnam era and post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance programs to report to the Secretary such enrollment and any updates on interruption or termination of the education (thereby making the enrollment reporting requirements for the post-Vietnam and post-9/11 programs consistent with other veterans' educational programs).

Defines "educational institution" to permit the inclusion of groups, districts, or consortiums of separately accredited educational institutions located in the same state that are organized in a manner facilitating the centralized reporting of enrollments.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-01-22 00:00:00

Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act - Amends federal military retired pay provisions to: (1) permit veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to concurrently receive both retired pay and disability compensation; (2) eliminate provisions requiring a phase-in between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2013, of concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation; (3) eliminate a phase-in of concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation for disabled veterans determined to be individually unemployable; and (4) require a limited reduction in retired pay for qualified disability retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-01-23 00:00:00

Fort McClellan Health Registry Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and maintain a special record to be known as the Fort McClellan Health Registry containing the name of each individual who, while serving in the Armed Forces, was stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, during the period beginning on January 1, 1935, and ending on May 20, 1999, and who: (1) applies for care or services from the VA; (2) files a claim for compensation on the basis of any disability which may be associated with such service; (3) dies and is survived by a spouse, child, or parent who files a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation on the basis of such service; (4) requests a health examination from the VA; or (5) receives such health examination and requests inclusion in the Registry. Requires the Secretary, upon request, to provide such health examination, as well as consultation and counseling with respect to examination results.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) notify individuals in the Registry of significant developments in research on the health consequences of potential exposure to a toxic substance or environmental hazard related to service at Fort McClellan; and (2) carry out appropriate outreach activities with respect to such health examinations, consultation, and counseling.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-04 00:00:00

Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to accept any of the following as proof of service in determining the eligibility of an individual to receive amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund: (1) the name of the eligible person included on the Approved Revised Reconstructed Guerilla Roster (commonly known as the "Missouri List"); (2) documents included in the claims folder of the eligible person that prove such service, including an affidavit from the government of the Philippines certifying such service; or (3) any other documents issued or accepted by the government of the Philippines as proof of such service.

Authorizes the Secretary to make a payment to such an individual filing a claim within 180 days after the enactment of this Act.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-06 00:00:00

VRAP Extension Act of 2013 - Amends the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 to extend through June 30, 2014, the veterans retraining assistance program.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit to Congress an interim report on the retraining assistance provided under such program.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-06 00:00:00

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2013, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-06 00:00:00

American Heroes COLA Act - Requires that, whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts payable under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall increase by the same percentage the amounts payable as veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children, but only if such percentage increase is calculated using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.

Increases the rate of VA special monthly pay for severely injured veterans. Provides a temporary rate for such pay during the period beginning December 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 2018.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-13 00:00:00

Servicemembers' Choice in Transition Act of 2013 - Amends provisions concerning the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense (DOD) (employment and job training assistance and related services for members of the Armed Forces being separated from active duty, and for their spouses) to require such Program to consist of at least five days of instruction as follows: (1) at least one day of service-specific pre-separation training; (2) up to one day each for instruction in preparation for employment, preparation for education or career or technical training, preparation for entrepreneurship, or other options determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned; (3) at least two days of in-depth instruction of the participant's choice in any of the subjects described under (2), above; and (4) up to one day in benefits provided under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and in other subjects determined by the Secretary concerned.

Requires the VA Secretary to submit to the congressional veterans committees the results of a study to determine the feasibility of providing veterans' benefits instruction at all overseas locations where such instruction is provided through a joint contract with the Secretary of Labor.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-13 00:00:00

Authorizes and requests the President to award the Medal of Honor to Arthur Jibilian for his actions, while a member of the Navy and OSS, during the successful 1944 operation by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), code-named "Operation Halyard," to protect and facilitate in the rescue of over 500 allied airmen behind enemy lines.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-13 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 17, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Ruth Moore Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress in each of 2014 through 2018 on claims submitted for disabilities based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active duty. Includes as a covered mental health condition post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or any other mental health diagnosis that the Secretary determines to be related to military sexual trauma.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should update and improve VA regulations with respect to military sexual trauma by: (1) ensuring that it is specified as an in-service stressor in determining the service-connection of PTSD, and (2) recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities that can result from such trauma. Requires each veteran submitting such a claim to be provided the most recently updated regulations concerning such trauma, as well as other information designed to aid such claims.

Extends until FY2019 the required rounding to the nearest dollar of VA basic educational assistance and survivors' and dependents' educational assistance.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-14 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 assisting 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. Requires such employees to complete a certification course on privacy issues before receiving such access.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-25 00:00:00

Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013 - (Sec. 3) Authorizes the provision of advance appropriations for the following discretionary (under current law, medical care) accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): (1) Veterans Health Administration Medical Services, Medical Support and Compliance, Medical Facilities, and Medical and Prosthetic Research; (2) National Cemetery Administration; and (3) Veterans Benefits Administration, Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program.

Authorizes the provision of advance appropriations for the following VA discretionary administration accounts: (1) general operating expenses, (2) information technology systems, (3) the Office of the Inspector General, (4) construction for major and minor projects, and (5) grants for the construction of state extended care facilities and veterans cemeteries.

(Sec. 4) Requires the Comptroller General, for each of FY2015-FY2017, to: (1) review the budget requests for the VA Medical Services, Medical Support and Compliance, and Medical Facilities accounts contained in the President's budget request for that fiscal year; and (2) report review results to the congressional veterans, appropriations, and budget committees.

(Sec. 5) Directs the VA Secretary to submit annually to Congress a future-years veterans program reflecting estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations included in the budget for that fiscal year. Requires each program to set forth a five-year VA plan to address the U.S. commitment to veterans and the resources necessary to meet that commitment. Requires the Secretary, in 2017 and quadrennially thereafter, to conduct a review of the strategy for meeting such commitment and resources requirement (quadrennial veterans review). Requires each review to be coordinated with the future-years veterans program. Directs the Secretary to report to the veterans committees on each review. Directs the Secretary to provide annually to the appropriate VA officials written policy guidance for the preparation and review of the planning and program recommendations and budget proposals of the VA elements of such officials. Requires the Secretary to designate a Chief Strategy Officer to advise the Secretary on long-range VA strategy and implications.

(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to: (1) study and report to the veterans committees on the functions and organizational structure of the Office of the Secretary and the VA, and (2) contract for an independent study covering the same matters.

(Sec. 7) Prohibits the Secretary from paying any performance award to a VA Senior Executive Service employee during FY2014-FY2018.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-26 00:00:00

Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act of 2013 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exclude as family income for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing assistance purposes any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) payments made to veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for expenses related to such aid and attendance.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-26 00:00:00

VetSuccess Enhancement Act - Extends from 12 to 17 years after discharge or release from active-duty service the authorized period for veterans with service-connected disabilities to enroll in certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) vocational training and rehabilitation programs.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-27 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate at least one city in the United States each year as an "American World War II City" based on: (1) contributions to the war effort during World War II; and (2) efforts to preserve the history of such contributions, including preservation organizations or museums, restoration of World War II facilities, and recognition of World War II veterans.

Designates Wilmington, North Carolina, as the first such city.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-28 00:00:00

Permits the posthumous transfer of Post 9/11 Educational Assistance (an educational assistance entitlement for certain members of the Armed Forces serving on or after September 11, 2001) to the spouse or children of eligible Armed Forces members when the application of a member electing to transfer such assistance was not approved before the member died in the line of duty.

Allows transfers of such entitlements by individuals honorably discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces due to a service-connected disability or after sustaining an injury in line of duty requiring hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care or treatment. (Current law requires an individual to be serving as a member of the Armed Forces when the transfer is executed.) Sets forth extended and alternative eligibility periods for such individuals.

Applies this Act to individuals who become eligible to transfer such benefits on or after August 1, 2009.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-02-28 00:00:00

Includes as a homeless veteran, for purposes of eligibility for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs, a veteran or veteran's family who: (1) is fleeing domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the individual's or family's current housing situation; and (2) has no other residence and lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-03-05 00:00:00

Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013 - Includes fertility counseling and treatment within authorized Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical services. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such counseling and treatment, including the use of assisted reproductive technology, to a spouse or surrogate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty and who is enrolled in the VA health care system, as long as the spouse and veteran apply jointly for such counseling and treatment.

Authorizes the Secretary to pay to any such veteran an amount to assist in the adoption of one or more children.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) report annually to the congressional veterans committees on the counseling and treatment provided under this Act; (2) prescribe regulations on the furnishing of such counseling, treatment, and adoption assistance; and (3) coordinate the furnishing of such counseling and treatment with that provided by the Department of Defense (DOD).

Directs the Secretary to facilitate research conducted collaboratively by the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) in order to improve VA's ability to meet the long-term reproductive health care needs of veterans who have a service-connected genitourinary disability or a condition that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, such as a spinal cord injury, that affects the veterans' ability to reproduce.

Requires the Secretary to enhance the capabilities of the VA women veterans contact center: (1) to respond to requests for assistance with accessing VA health care and benefits, and (2) for referral to community resources to obtain assistance with services not furnished by the VA.

Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 relating to a pilot program of group retreat reintegration and readjustment counseling for women veterans recently separated from service to: (1) increase from at least 3 to at least 14 the number of locations for such counseling, and (2) extend the pilot program for an additional 2 years.

Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program of providing child care assistance to veterans receiving or in need of VA readjustment counseling and related mental health services.

Directs the Secretary to impose, as a contract condition, a contractor user fee with respect to each contract entered into by the VA for a good or service. Provides for the determination of fee amounts. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such fee if the contractor is an individual or a small business. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Veterans Affairs Fertility Counseling and Treatment Fund. Provides for the deposit into such Fund of all contractor user fee amounts.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-03-05 00:00:00

Servicemember Mental Health Review Act - Extends through 2014 (under current law, through 2009) the authority of the Physical Disability Board of Review (Board) to review the disability determinations of individuals who, since September 11, 2001, are separated from the Armed Forces due to unfitness for duty because of a mental condition with a disability rating of 20% or less and are found to be ineligible for retirement. Adds to those eligible for such review individuals who, before December 31, 2014, are separated due to unfitness because of a mental condition not amounting to disability, including separation based on a personality or adjustment disorder. Requires the Board to: (1) review, upon request, the findings and decisions of the appropriate physical evaluation board with respect to such latter individuals; and (2) include as Board members at least one licensed psychologist and one licensed psychiatrist who have had no fiduciary relationship to the Department of Defense (DOD) since December 31, 2001. Allows the Board to review disability determinations of non-requesting individuals, after obtaining their consent.

Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned to correct the military records of individuals in accordance with Board recommendations, unless such Secretary finds that the Board has made a clearly erroneous recommendation.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that eligible individuals receive notification of their right to a separation review by the Board, including the right to obtain counsel.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-03-13 00:00:00

Permits a member of the Armed Forces (member) who is involuntarily separated from active duty or the Selected Reserve and who has a service-connected disability (and the member's dependents) to use commissary and exchange stores on the same basis as a member entitled to retired or retainer pay.

Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that such authority is fully implemented within 90 days after the enactment of this Act.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-03-13 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas in order to assist such veterans in traveling to VA medical centers for medical care. Requires the Secretary to conduct outreach to educate veterans and their family members about the availability of such transportation.

Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program, at rural VA medical centers, for the implementation of electronic health record systems that allow for full interoperability of personal health care information between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the VA.
Topic: Defense — Other
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-03-18 00:00:00

Authorizes and requests the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to former Major Dominic S. Gentile, U.S. Army Air Forces, for acts of valor as a pilot during World War II.