zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
War Powers Reform Act - Amends the War Powers Resolution to direct the President in every possible instance to submit to Congress before introducing U.S. Armed Forces into hostilities or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated a written report setting forth the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities or involvement. Directs the President, in the absence of a declaration of war or a specific statutory authorization (currently, only in the absence of a declaration of war), to submit a written report to Congress within 48 hours when the Armed Forces are introduced into hostilities or foreign nations under specified circumstances and requires that such report include the circumstances necessitating the introduction, the constitutional and legislative authority under which such introduction took place, and the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities or involvement. Repeals an existing framework under which the President is required to terminate, within 60 days, subject to a possible 30-day extension, any use of Armed Forces with respect to which the President has submitted (or is required to submit) a report concerning the introduction of Armed Forces into hostilities in the absence of a declaration of war, unless: (1) Congress declares war or enacts specific authorization, (2) extends the 60-day period, or (3) is physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United States. Strikes provisions concerning congressional action to remove Armed Forces engaged in hostilities without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization. Replaces such framework with a process that prohibits funds available for the Armed Forces from being obligated or expended for introducing the Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated, in the absence of: (1) a declaration of war; (2) specific statutory authorization; or (3) a national emergency created by an attack or imminent threat of attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Armed Forces.

Date: 2011-12-16
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Repeals the affirmation in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 that the President's authority under the Authorization for Use of Military Force (P.L. 107-40) includes the authority for the U.S. Armed Forces, pending disposition under the law of war, to detain persons who: (1) planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored those responsible for those attacks; or (2) were a part of or substantially supported al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners, including any person who has committed a belligerent act or has directly supported such hostilities in aid of such enemy forces.

Date: 2012-01-18
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Tough and Smart National Security Act - Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should: ensure that members of the Armed Forces, particularly those serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, and veterans get needed support; work with the President to attack al Qaeda and other terrorist groups with a comprehensive strategy; confront the nuclear threat from Iran and North Korea; enhance U.S. tools for pursuing key national security interests; and reform cybersecurity policy to prevent cyber attacks, protect privacy and civil liberties, and avert and respond to catastrophic cyber incidents.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2012 for: (1) procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement; (2) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (3) purchases under the Defense Production Act of 1950; (4) research, development, test, and evaluation; (5) operation and maintenance; (6) active and reserve military personnel; (7) Working Capital Funds; (8) the National Defense Sealift Fund; (9) the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund (established under this Act); (10) chemical agents and munitions destruction; (11) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (12) the Defense Inspector General; (13) the Defense Health Program; (14) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (15) overseas contingency operations; (16) chemical demilitarization construction; (17) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; (18) Guard and reserve forces facilities; and (19) base closure and realignment activities. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) military personnel policy, including education and training and military justice; (2) military pay and allowances; (3) military health care; (4) acquisition policy and management; (5) DOD organization and management, including intelligence-related matters; (6) financial matters; (7) civilian personnel matters; (8) matters relating to foreign nations; (9) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and (10) reductions in DOD and Department of Energy (DOE) defense-related reporting requirements. Establishes in each of the Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, and National Guard a Reserve Component Technician Program. Revises and expands Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) provisions concerning offenses relating to rape, sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out a Troops-to-Teachers program. Consolidates and revises certain DOD travel and transportation authorities and allowances. Provides for commercial space launch cooperation between DOD, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the private sector. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2012 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies.

Date: 2011-05-12
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Department of Defense Audit Readiness Act of 2011 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to require the Department of Defense (DOD) Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness Plan to describe specific actions for ensuring that a complete and validated full statement of DOD budget resources is ready by no later than September 30, 2014.

Date: 2011-11-02
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2013. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement; (2) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (3) purchases under the Defense Production Act of 1950; (4) research, development, test, and evaluation; (5) operation and maintenance; (6) active and reserve military personnel; (7) Working Capital Funds; (8) the National Defense Sealift Fund; (9) the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; (10) chemical agents and munitions destruction; (11) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (12) the Defense Inspector General; (13) the Defense Health Program; (14) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (15) overseas contingency operations; (16) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; (17) Guard and reserve forces facilities; and (18) base closure and realignment activities. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) military personnel policy, including education and training and defense dependents education; (2) military pay and allowances; (3) military health care; (4) acquisition policy and management; (5) DOD organization and management, including intelligence- and space-related matters; (6) civilian personnel matters; (7) matters relating to foreign nations; and (8) matters relating to military construction and military family housing. Establishes: (1) a Troops-to-Teachers Program to assist members and former members of the Armed Forces in obtaining employment as teachers; and (2) the Defense Coalition Repair Fund to support the sale, transfer, or distribution of defense articles to coalition partners and allied or friendly nations. Military Retirement Modernization Commission Act - Establishes the Military Retirement Modernization Commission. Federal Civilian Employees in Zones of Armed Conflict Benefits Act of 2012 - Provides certain allowances, special payments, and related benefits to federal employees assigned to designated zones of armed conflict. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2013 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies. Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 2012 - Establishes the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission to make recommendations for defense base closures and realignments in 2013 and 2015.

Date: 2012-04-26
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Audit the Pentagon Act of 2012 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to require the financial improvement and audit readiness plan of the Department of Defense (DOD) to ensure that: (1) a complete and validated statement of DOD budgetary resources is ready by the end of FY2014, and (2) the full set of DOD consolidated financial statements for each of FY2017 and thereafter are ready in a timely manner and in preparation for audit. Provides that DOD financial statements shall cease to be covered by specified DOD financial reporting requirements upon the issuance of an unqualified audit opinion (UAO) on such statements. Directs the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) to report to Congress on each DOD report required to be submitted to Congress that: (1) would no longer be necessary if their financial statements were audited with a UAO, and (2) interferes with DOD capacity to achieve such an audit. Provides specified DOD program thresholds for reprogramming of funds without prior notice to Congress if a military department obtains an audit with a UAO on its statement of budgetary resources for any fiscal year after 2013. Provides that, if a military department obtains such an audit, then a specified amount shall be available for the payment of certain bonuses for DOD civilian employees determined to have made beneficial contributions to the achievement of the department mission. Outlines bonus exclusions and limitations. Requires additional qualifications and responsibilities of the Comptroller and certain other DOD financial management officials upon the failure to obtain an audit with a UAO on its statement of budgetary resources for FY2014. Provides that if a military department fails to obtain such an audit for FY2017, then the following shall not be available to such department for such fiscal year and thereafter: (1) the program thresholds and bonus payments authorized under this Act, and (2) the expenditure of funds for major defense acquisition program activities beyond Milestone B. Requires, in addition and upon such failure, the reorganization of the position of DOD Chief Management Officer, with added qualifications and responsibilities. Directs the Secretary of Defense to amend the acquisition guidance of DOD to place specific limits on the procurement of any enterprise resource planning business system, including a three-year limit on its total procurement time from initial obligation of funds to full deployment and sustainment.

Date: 2012-08-02
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Instructs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that the civilian and contract services workforces of DOD are sufficiently sized, taking into account military strategy requirements and military end-strength. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to submit a report that assesses the sufficiency of the sizing of the DOD civilian and contract services workforces. Requires such report to assess whether such sizing is consistent with federal workforce management and sourcing laws.

Date: 2012-09-21
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Redesignates: (1) the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, and (2) the Secretary of the Navy as the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. Makes similar redesignations with respect to the Department Under Secretary, the Department Assistant Secretaries, and the General Counsel.

Date: 2013-01-03
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Homes for Heroes Act of 2013 - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish in the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs to: (1) ensure veterans fair access to HUD housing and homeless assistance programs, (2) coordinate all HUD programs and activities relating to veterans, and (3) serve as a HUD liaison with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Terminates, at the same time as such establishment, the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Programs in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs.

Directs the Secretaries of HUD and VA to report annually to Congress with respect to veterans homelessness and housing assistance.

Date: 2013-01-23
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense and appropriations committees a detailed outline of, and accounting under the discretionary spending limit for: (1) the efficiencies relating to Department of Defense (DOD) contracting for goods and services, and (2) the DOD budget initiate.

Authorizes the Secretary to transfer amounts made available by a continuing resolution among DOD accounts. Prohibits the amount transferred to any account from exceeding that authorized for such account by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.

Makes such transfer authority inapplicable in the event a regular appropriations Act for DOD is enacted for FY2013.

Requires 15 days' advance notification to such committees prior to any such transfer.

Date: 2013-02-25
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretary of Defense, in order to carry out the prohibition against the use of FY2013 Department of Defense (DOD) funds for the medium extended air defense system (MEADS) as contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2013, to reprogram any such funds to other missile defense programs and projects not part of MEADS. Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress within 15 days after such reprogramming.

Date: 2013-04-10
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Information Technology Exchange Program Act of 2013 or ITEP Act of 2013 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to extend through FY2023 a pilot program for the temporary exchange of information technology personnel between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the private sector.

Extends a related reporting requirement.

Date: 2013-05-22
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Designating Requirements On Notification of Executive-ordered Strikes Act of 2013 or the DRONES Act - Prohibits a federal department or agency or the Armed Forces from deliberately targeting a citizen of the United States or of a strategic treaty ally in a pre-planned lethal operation unless such operation is planned and executed pursuant to a written determination signed personally by the President: (1) confirming the status of the targeted citizen as an enemy combatant, and (2) authorizing the deliberate lethal targeting based on an articulated need for the use of lethal force.

Requires the President, within 30 days after making such a determination, to submit a report to specified congressional committees: (1) certifying that the timing and details of the operation were approved personally by the President, and (2) detailing the information used to determine that the targeted citizen is an enemy combatant and the reasons why lethal force was necessary.

Prohibits this Act from being construed to authorize such lethal targeting of such a citizen inside any location under U.S. jurisdiction.

Prohibits the President, the head of any federal agency, or a general officer or flag officer of the Armed Forces from authorizing the use of cluster munitions: (1) unless the sub-munitions of such munitions, after arming, will not result in more than 1% unexploded ordnance across the range of intended operational environments and the policy applicable to the use of such munitions requires that they will only be used against clearly defined military targets and will not be used in locations where civilian noncombatants are known to be present or in areas normally inhabited by civilian noncombatants; or (2) if such use is reasonably likely to unintentionally harm any citizen of the United States or of a strategic treaty ally (i.e., when any such citizen is known to be within a two-mile radius of the area to be targeted).

Authorizes the President to waive such limitations where vital to protect U.S. security. Requires congressional notification of such waiver. Directs the President, following the use of cluster munitions, to submit a plan for cleaning up any such munitions and sub-munitions that fail to explode.

Prohibits such officials from providing cluster munitions to a foreign nation, agency or armed force unless: (1) such munitions will be used in a combined military operation with the United States, and (2) the use of such munitions complies with this Act.

Date: 2013-06-19
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Audit the Pentagon Act of 2013 - Provides that Department of Defense (DOD) financial statements shall cease to be covered by specified DOD financial reporting requirements upon the issuance of an unqualified audit opinion (UAO) on such statements.

Provides that if DOD obtains a UAO on its statement of budgetary resources for any fiscal year after FY2014, the limitation on the total amount of authorizations that the Secretary of Defense may transfer pursuant to general transfer authority in the national interest in the succeeding fiscal year shall be $8 billion. Sets forth thresholds for the reprogramming of funds that shall apply to increases or decreases to the program base amount for a procurement or research program or an operation and maintenance or military personnel budget activity for a military department, defense agency, or defense field activity that obtains a UAO on its statement of budgetary resources.

Requires additional qualifications and responsibilities of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and certain other DOD financial management officials if DOD fails to obtain a UAO on its general fund statement of budgetary resources for FY2015 by December 31, 2015.

Provides that if DOD fails to obtain a UAO on its general fund statement of budgetary resources for FY2018 by December 31, 2018, the reprogramming authority provided above will cease to apply. Requires, effective as of April 1, 2019, the reorganization of the position of DOD Chief Management Officer, with added qualifications and responsibilities.

Transfers jurisdiction of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service from DOD to the Department of the Treasury and requires the Secretary of the Treasury to administer such Service.

Provides that if a military department fails to obtain a UAO on its financial statements: (1) for FY2018 by December 31, 2018, the reprogramming authority provided above will cease to apply; and (2) for any fiscal year after 2017, amounts available to that department may not be obligated for a weapon or weapon system or platform being acquired under a major defense acquisition program for any activity beyond Milestone B approval not already obtained.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to amend the acquisition guidance of DOD to place specific limits on the procurement of any enterprise resource planning business system, including a three-year limit on its total procurement time from initial obligation of funds to full deployment and sustainment.

Date: 2013-09-26
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniform and Civilian Employees Act (REDUCE Act) - Limits full-time positions in the Department of Defense (DOD), in each of FY2021-FY2025, subject to specified adjustments to be made by the DOD Secretary, to a number not greater than 85% of the number of such positions at DOD as of September 30, 2015. Permits not more than 1,000 of such positions to be career appointees within the Senior Executive Service. Authorizes the DOD Secretary to offer voluntary separation incentive payments and voluntary early retirement payments to achieve the reductions required by this Act, but requires the Secretary to use involuntary measures, including reductions in force, beginning on October 1, 2015, to achieve required reductions in personnel levels if voluntary measures are inadequate. 

Date: 2014-03-14
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to require the Principal Cyber Advisor (PCA) (the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on military cyber forces) to establish and submit to Congress a comprehensive list of cyber and information technology ranges and facilities of the Department of Defense (DOD).

Defines "cyber and information technology ranges and facilities" as cyber ranges, test facilities, test beds, and other DOD means for testing, training, and developing software, personnel, and tools for accommodating DOD's mission.

Requires the PCA to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether listed ranges and facilities should be managed centrally to increase efficiency, should provide capability or capacity to more DOD elements, or both.

Directs the Secretary to establish or designate an entity to coordinate such ranges and facilities that the PCA determines should be centrally managed. Requires the head of such entity to: (1) manage and identify opportunities for integration of such ranges and facilities; and (2) assist the military departments, the National Guard, and elements of DOD to gain access to such ranges and facilities.

Requires the PCA to establish and maintain a list of commonly used terms relating to cyber matters to improve the coordination and cooperation among the military departments and other federal agencies.

Directs the head of the coordination entity to carry out one or more pilot programs to demonstrate commercially available, cloud-based cyber training, exercise, and test environments that are accessible to defense laboratories, the National Guard, academia, and the private sector.

Date: 2014-04-28
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
DOD Cloud Security Act - Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) review and summarize the best practices relating to cloud security by reviewing the practices of other federal agencies and commercial cloud providers, (2) assess the cloud capacity of the Department of Defense (DOD) and other departments by assessing how and to what extent DOD has adopted commercial cloud practices, and (3) assess the opportunities for DOD to utilize cloud computing in lieu of or in addition to conventional computing.

Requires the Chief Information Officer of DOD to: (1) determine the security requirements that are necessary for any cloud service to store DOD information; (2) conduct a threat-based assessment of whether security controls resident in commercial cloud services and the cloud services of other federal agencies meet DOD's security requirements; (3) require any government-owned, operated, or unique system that is or will be designed to provide cloud capabilities for DOD to be certified and accredited through the same process used for commercial service providers; (4) ensure that, as part of any DOD pilot demonstrations with commercial cloud vendors, an analysis is conducted of the Defense Information Systems Agency working with commercial service providers operating for DOD; and (5) ensure that a briefing is provided to specified congressional committees within 30 days after the conclusion of such pilot demonstrations.

Date: 2014-04-28
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2013 - Appropriates funds for FY2013 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military personnel; (2) operation and maintenance (O&M), including for the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, environmental restoration, overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid, former Soviet Union cooperative threat reduction, and the DOD Acquisition Workforce Development Fund; (3) procurement, including for aircraft, missile, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and purchases under the Defense Production Act of 1950; (4) research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E); (5) Defense Working Capital Funds and the National Defense Sealift Fund; (6) the Defense Health Program; (7) chemical agents and munitions destruction; (8) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (9) the Office of the Inspector General; (10) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund; (11) the Intelligence Community Management Account; and (12) overseas contingency operations and related activities, including military, reserve, and National Guard personnel, O&M, the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund, the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund, procurement, RDT&E, and the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund.

Specifies authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds.

Rescinds specified funds from various accounts under prior defense appropriations Acts.

Date: 2013-03-04
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2014.

Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, other procurement, and purchases under the Defense Production Act of 1950; (2) research, development, test, and evaluation; (3) operation and maintenance; (4) active and reserve military personnel; (5) the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; (6) Working Capital Funds; (7) the National Defense Sealift Fund; (8) the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; (9) chemical agents and munitions destruction; (10) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (11) the Defense Inspector General; (12) the Defense Health Program; (13) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (14) overseas contingency operations, including the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (15) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; (16) Guard and reserve forces facilities; and (17) base closure and realignment activities. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) military personnel policy, including education and training; (2) military pay and allowances; (3) military health care; (4) acquisition policy and management; (5) DOD organization and management; (6) financial matters, including counter-drug activities; (7) civilian personnel matters; (8) matters relating to foreign nations, including assistance and training; and (9) matters relating to military construction and military family housing.

Directs the Secretary of the Navy to establish southern sea otter military readiness areas.

Provides procedures for the judicial review of decisions concerning the correction of military personnel records.

Provides civil remedies for DOD and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for losses resulting from the submission of false or fraudulent claims and statements.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to operate the Inter-European Air Forces Academy.

Revises or adds overseas servicemember voting rights and authorities under the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act.

Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2014 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies.

Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 2013 - Establishes the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission to provide a process for the closure and realignment of U.S. military installations.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 - Authorizes FY2015 appropriations for military activities of the Department of Defense (DOD) and for military construction. Authorizes military personnel strengths for FY2015.

Authorizes FY2015 appropriations to DOD for:

 procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund, and other procurement; research, development, test, and evaluation; operation and maintenance; military personnel; working capital funds; the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; chemical agents and munitions destruction; drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; the Office of the Inspector General; and    the Defense Health Program. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning:

 end strengths for active and reserve forces; military personnel policy, including education and training, sexual assault prevention and response, and military justice and legal matters; military pay and allowances; military health care; acquisition policy and management; DOD organization and management; financial matters; counter-drug and counterterrorism activities; civilian personnel matters; matters relating to foreign nations; cooperative threat reduction; and military construction and military family housing. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2015 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program and base realignment and closure (BRAC) activities.  

Date: 2014-05-05
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Commission on the Future of the Army Act of 2014 - Prohibits the use of funds made available for FY2015 for the Army to: (1) reduce Army personnel below the authorized fiscal year end strengths of 450,000 for active duty personnel of the Army, 345,000 for the Army National Guard, and 195,000 for the Army Reserve; or (2) divest, retire, or transfer any AH-64 Apache aircraft assigned to units of the Army National Guard as of January 15, 2014, or to reduce related personnel below the levels of such personnel as of September 30, 2014.

Directs the Secretary of the Army to ensure the continuing readiness of the AH-64 Apache aircraft and crews during FY2015.

Permits the use of such funds, after the Commission established by this Act submits its interim report, to prepare for the transfer of not more than 72 AH-64 Apache aircraft from the Army National Guard to the regular Army if the Secretary of Defense (DOD) certifies that such a transfer would not: (1) degrade the strategic depth or regeneration capacities of the Army, (2) degrade the Army National Guard in its role as the combat reserve of the Army, and (3) occur before October 1, 2014.

Establishes the National Commission on the Future of the Army, which shall: (1) undertake a comprehensive study of the structure of the Army and policy assumptions related to its size and force mixture in order to make recommendations on how the structure should be modified to best fulfill mission requirements in a manner consistent with available resources, and (2) submit a final report to the President and the congressional defense committees by February 1, 2016. Directs the Commission to study and submit an interim report on the feasibility and advisability of a partial transfer of Army National Guard AH-64 Apache aircraft from the Army National Guard to the regular Army.

Date: 2014-05-06
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Carl Levin National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 - Authorizes FY2015 appropriations for military activities of the Department of Defense (DOD), military construction, and for national security activities of the Department of Energy (DOE). Authorizes military personnel strengths for FY2015.

Authorizes FY2015 appropriations to DOD for:

 procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement; research, development, test, and evaluation; operation and maintenance; military personnel; working capital funds; the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund; chemical agents and munitions destruction; drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; the Office of the Inspector General; the Defense Health Program; and overseas contingency operations. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning:

 end strengths for active and reserve forces; military personnel policy, including education and training, sexual assault prevention and response, and military justice and legal matters; military pay and allowances; military health care; acquisition policy and management, including major defense acquisition programs; DOD organization and management; financial matters; counter-drug activities; counterterrorism; civilian personnel matters; matters relating to foreign nations, including assistance and training; cooperative threat reduction; nuclear forces; space, intelligence, and cyberspace related matters; and military construction and military family housing. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2015 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies.

Authorizes appropriation for FY2015 to the Department of Energy for national security programs.

Date: 2014-06-02
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Redesignates: (1) the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, and (2) the Secretary of the Navy as the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. Makes similar redesignations with respect to the Department Under Secretary, the Department Assistant Secretaries, and the General Counsel.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniformed and Civilian Employees Act or the REDUCE Act

Limits full-time positions in the Department of Defense (DOD), in each of FY2022-FY2026, subject to specified adjustments to be made by the DOD Secretary, to a number not greater than 85% of the number of such positions at DOD as of September 30, 2016. Permits not more than 1,000 of such positions to be career appointees within the Senior Executive Service. Authorizes the DOD Secretary to offer voluntary separation incentive payments and voluntary early retirement payments to achieve the reductions required by this Act, but requires the Secretary to use involuntary measures, including reductions in force, beginning on October 1, 2016, to achieve required reductions in personnel levels if voluntary measures are inadequate. 

Date: 2015-01-14
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
VA Regional Office Accountability Act

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in a required annual report on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expenditures and activities a report on each VA regional office that failed to reach administrative goals concerning the timeliness and accuracy of veterans' claims adjudication.

Date: 2015-02-02
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015

Provides FY2015 appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Provides appropriations for Departmental Management and Operations for the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management, the Office of the Under Secretary for Management, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Analysis and Operations, and the Office of Inspector General.

Provides appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service.

Provides appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for the National Protection and Programs Directorate, the Office of Health Affairs, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Provides appropriations for Research, Development, Training, and Services for U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Science and Technology, and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

Sets forth permissible, restricted, and prohibited uses for funds provided by this Act.

Rescinds specified amounts previously appropriated to DHS.

Date: 2015-02-11
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Emergency management
This bill requires Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) appropriations to be paid for with revenues. FY2015 OCO funds must not be used during a period beginning 90 days after enactment of this bill and ending upon enactment of a law increasing revenues by at least the amount of the OCO appropriation. The bill also amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to create a point of order against legislation increasing funding for OCO for any fiscal year unless a provision increasing revenues by at least the same amount is included. Under current law, OCO funding is exempt from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.

Date: 2015-03-19
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Save Oak Flat Act

This bill repeals the provisions under the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 providing for a land exchange between the Department of Agriculture and Resolution Copper Mining, LLC. Under the provisions of that Act, 2,422 acres of Forest Service land located in Pinal County, Arizona, are to be exchanged for various parcels of land owned by Resolution Copper.

Date: 2015-06-17
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Equal Justice for Our Military Act of 2015

Amends the federal judicial code to allow for review by writ of certiorari of certain cases denied relief or review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Declares that the time for application for such a writ shall be as prescribed by rules of the Supreme Court.

Date: 2015-06-18
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Law
Defending Our Defenders Act 

This bill provides appropriations for pay and allowances for the military and supporting civilian and contractor personnel during a funding gap in which interim or full-year appropriations for the personnel accounts of the Armed Forces have not been enacted for the fiscal year.

The bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from furloughing any employee funded by a working-capital fund unless: (1) the fund is insolvent, or (2) the fund has insufficient funds to pay the employee. DOD may waive this restriction for national security.

If the public debt reaches the statutory limit, the following obligations must have equal priority over all other U.S. obligations:

 principal and interest on debt held by the public, pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces on active duty, salaries for DOD civilian employees, and salaries for DOD contractors. The funds and authorities provided by this bill are available until the earliest of January 1, 2016, or enactment of specified appropriations legislation.

Date: 2015-09-25
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Pay Our Military Act 

This bill provides FY2016 and FY2017 appropriations for military pay and allowances during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations are not in effect.

In the event of a government shutdown, the bill provides continuing appropriations for pay and allowances of:

 members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service during the period; members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during the period; and civilian personnel or contractors of the Department of Defense (and the Department of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) that are providing support to members of the Armed Forces. The appropriations provided by this bill for a fiscal year are available until the earliest of: (1) the enactment into law of specified appropriations legislation for the fiscal year, (2) the end of the fiscal year, or (3) January 1, 2017.

Date: 2015-09-28
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Wasteful Defense Spending Reduction Act of 2016

The bill establishes the Wasteful Defense Spending Reduction Commission, which shall: (1) review and make recommendations for the termination of Department of Defense (DOD) procurement programs, and (2) submit a schedule for the termination of each program identified.

 DOD: (1) may not terminate such a program unless a joint resolution approving such termination is enacted, and (2) shall carry out an approved termination in accordance with the schedule submitted by the commission.

The commission shall terminate on December 31, 2017.

This bill requires that any amounts remaining from funds appropriated for the commission or any program terminated pursuant to this bill be deobligated, rescinded, and returned to the Treasury for deficit reduction.

Date: 2016-06-22
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
VA Management Alignment Act of 2016

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report (including recommendations for appropriate legislation) regarding the roles, responsibility, and accountability of elements and individuals of the VA.

In creating such report, the VA shall utilize the results of:

 the Independent Assessment of the Health Care Delivery Systems and Management Process of the VA established by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014; any study or report by the Commission on Care established by such Act; and other studies or reports, including a report titled "Task Force on Improving Effectiveness of VHA Governance: Report to the VHA Under Secretary for Health," dated February 28, 2015. The VA shall also specify clearly delineated roles and responsibilities to optimize the organizational effectiveness and accountability of each:

 Administration, staff office, or staff organization and each subordinate organization thereof; and key leader of the VA in relation to any Administration, staff office, or staff organization, Veteran Integrated Service Network, or medical facility.

Date: 2016-11-30
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Public Release and Implementation of Department of Defense Overhead Cost Savings Act

This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to: (1) submit to specified congressional committees the Defense Business Board study entitled "Transforming Department of Defense's Core Business Processes for Revolutionary Change" and any supporting information used by the board to conduct such study, and (2) make such study publicly available.

The bill sets forth House and Senate procedures for the expedited consideration of legislation to implement at least 80% of the DOD cost savings identified in such study.

Date: 2016-12-08
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015

Provides FY2015 appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Provides appropriations for Departmental Management and Operations for the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management, the Office of the Under Secretary for Management, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Analysis and Operations, and the Office of Inspector General.

Provides appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service.

Provides appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for the National Protection and Programs Directorate, the Office of Health Affairs, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Provides appropriations for Research, Development, Training, and Services for U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Science and Technology, and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

Sets forth permissible, restricted, and prohibited uses for funds provided by this Act.

Rescinds specified amounts previously appropriated to DHS.

Date: 2015-01-27
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Emergency management
Audit the Pentagon Act of 2015 

This bill establishes consequences if the Department of Defense (DOD) fails to obtain an audit with an unqualified opinion of its financial statements. The bill provides additional authorities and flexibility if DOD obtains an audit.

If DOD obtains the audit, the bill provides that the financial statements are no longer covered by specified reporting requirements. The bill also authorizes DOD to transfer and reprogram specified funds.

If DOD fails to obtains an audit for FY2016, the bill establishes additional qualifications for the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and other specified DOD financial management officials. The bill also permits the Deputy Secretary of Defense to prescribe additional duties and powers for the officials.

If DOD does not obtain an audit for FY2018, the bill: (1) cancels the transfer authority provided by this Act, (2) establishes a Chief Management Officer to be responsible for the management and administration of DOD, and (3) transfers jurisdiction of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service from DOD to the Department of the Treasury.

For failing to obtain an audit for fiscal years after FY2017, the bill cancels the reprogramming authority provided by this Act and prohibits DOD from using funds for certain weapons, weapons systems, or platforms being acquired as a major defense acquisition program.

The bill requires DOD to amend acquisition guidance to place specified restrictions and limitations on the procurement of certain Enterprise Resource Planning business systems.

Date: 2015-01-29
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security