zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act - Requires (current law authorizes) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to accept, for purposes of establishing a claim for veterans disability benefits, a report of a medical examination administered by a private physician without requiring confirmation by a Veterans Health Administration physician if the report is sufficiently complete. Defines "sufficiently complete" as competent, credible, probative, and containing such information as required to make a decision on the claim for which the report is provided.

Requires the Secretary to submit: (1) a report on the progress of the VA's Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative in reducing the necessity for in-person disability examinations, and (2) an annual report for each VA regional office regarding claims for which private medical evidence was determined to be unacceptable.

Date: 2014-03-11
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Appropriate Care for Disabled Veterans Act - Repeals the termination date of (thus, reinstates) the requirement for an annual report from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the Secretary's compliance, by facility and by service-network, with requirements for managing the provision of hospital care and medical services furnished to veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Date: 2014-03-11
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter and Corporal Jonathan Yale of the Marine Corps for acts of valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 22, 2008, for which they were originally awarded the Navy Cross.

Date: 2014-03-13
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Disabled Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act - Entitles a veteran who has a service-connected disability or combination of service-connected disabilities rated as not less than 70% disabling by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and who receives a passing grade in an examination for entrance into the federal competitive service to 15 additional points above his or her earned rating.

Requires a hiring agency to notify individuals who received a passing grade on an entrance examination in 2014 before the enactment of this Act to determine whether they are eligible for such additional points.

Date: 2014-03-13
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Department of Defense Survivor Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 (also known as the Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act) to appropriate funds for fiscal years after FY2014 during any period of lapsed appropriations for the payment of death gratuities and related benefits for survivors of deceased servicemembers.

Date: 2014-03-18
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2014 - Extends subcontracting limitations that apply to certain small businesses awarded contracts under various Small Business Administration (SBA) programs (requirements under the Small Business Act limit the amount that such small businesses may expend on subcontractors) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans with or without service-connected disabilities who are awarded contracts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Requires, for purposes of applying such subcontracting limitations to veterans with small businesses awarded such VA contracts, that: (1) small businesses owned and controlled by veterans be treated in the same manner as small businesses owned and controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities, and (2) "similarly situated entity" be defined as a subcontractor for a small business owned and controlled by a veteran with or without a service-connected disability (contract amounts expended by small businesses on subcontractors that are similarly situated entities are not considered toward subcontracting limits).

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon awarding such a contract, to obtain a certification from the offeror that specifies the performance requirements and acknowledges that the certification is subject to criminal laws concerning false or fraudulent statements or representations. Subjects small businesses to fines, imprisonment, or both for not acting in good faith.

Requires the VA's Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the VA's Chief Acquisition Officer to: (1) establish a process to monitor compliance with this Act, and (2) refer violations to the VA Inspector General. Directs the Inspector General to submit annual reports to Congress regarding such violations.

Date: 2014-03-21
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veteran Families Fairness Act - Provides for the payment of certain accrued veterans' benefits to the estate of a deceased veteran upon the veteran's death if the veteran has no living spouse, children, or dependent parents.

Allows the estate of a veteran who dies while his or her claim for accrued veterans' benefits is pending to file a request to be substituted as the claimant.

Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to process the claim of a substituted claimant: (1) by recognizing the original filing date of the claim, and (2) without penalty to the priority of the claim.

Directs the Secretary to notify the estates of veterans who died before this Act's enactment of their eligibility to apply for the deceased veteran's accrued benefits or apply to act as a substituted claimant. Gives estates one year after the date they received such notification to make such an application.

Requires the Secretary to reimburse a successful veterans' benefits claimant for the medical costs that: (1) were charged to the claimant while the claim was pending, and (2) would have been reimbursed or provided by the VA if the treatment occurred after the claim was approved. Directs the Secretary to recommend to each claimant, when they file a claim, to retain documentation regarding such costs.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Military Sexual Trauma Claims Administration Reform and Eligibility Act - Establishes a presumption, for the purpose of determining a veteran's eligibility for disability compensation, that a veteran's mental health condition was incurred in or aggravated by military sexual trauma if the veteran so certifies, despite a lack of evidence that such condition or trauma occurred during such service. Makes that presumption rebuttable.

Defines "military sexual trauma" as psychological trauma that, in the judgment of a mental health professional, resulted from a physical assault or battery of a sexual nature or sexual harassment that occurred while the veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training in the Armed Forces.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Department of Veterans Affairs Information Security Protection Act - Requires the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Information and Technology to submit to the congressional veterans committees (under current law, only to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) quarterly reports on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compliance with federally-required information security improvements. Directs the Assistant Secretary to submit to such committees: (1) quarterly, a plan of action to address critical known VA information security vulnerabilities; and (2) annually, a plan for identifying and replacing VA operating systems that are out-of-date or unsupported. Requires the Assistant Secretary to ensure that any software or Internet applications used on VA operating systems are secure from vulnerabilities that could affect the confidentiality of sensitive personal information on veterans.

Directs the Secretary to report, quarterly, to such committees on any incidents of failure to comply with established information security policies, any actions taken in response to such incidents, and certain related information. Requires the Secretary to submit a strategic plan for improving VA information security and to update such plan at least every two years.

Requires VA contractors with access to sensitive personal information to provide protective measures to safeguard from possible information security threats any information provided by the VA that will be resident on, or transiting through, information systems controlled by that contractor.

Date: 2014-04-01
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Honor Guardsmen and Reservists Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make available for purchase a memorial headstone or marker for the marked or unmarked grave of: (1) an individual who performed inactive duty training or active duty for training as a member of a reserve component, but did not serve on active duty and is not otherwise ineligible for a memorial headstone or marker on account of the nature of the individual's separation from the Armed Forces or other cause; or (2) such an individual whose remains are unavailable.

Date: 2014-04-01
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Work for Warriors Act of 2014 - Directs the Chief of the National Guard to carry out a pilot program, to be known as the Work for Warriors Program, to enhance Department of Defense (DOD) efforts to provide job placement assistance and related employment services to members of the reserve components. Requires each participating state to provide at least 30% in matching funds. Requires the Program to follow a direct employment program model, with one-on-one job placement and follow-up services to such individuals.

Requires the Chief to: (1) develop outcome measures to evaluate the success of the Program in each state, and (2) report to the congressional defense committees on Program results.

Grants the Chief authority to carry out the Program during FY2015-FY2018, with an authorized extension for up to two additional years.

Date: 2014-04-01
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Information Security Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) carry out certain information security activities, (2) ensure that officials and staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) possess specified qualifications in such areas, and (3) coordinate the staffing of related information technology and security offices.

Requires the Secretary to ensure that: (1) the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, the head of the Office of Information Security (OIS), and relevant field staff possess certain levels of information technology education, certifications, and experience; (2) Office of Information and Technology (OIT) staff are assigned to the OIS; and (3) subordinate OIT offices maintain appropriate information security functions.

Directs the Secretary to ensure that subordinate OIT offices maintain functions to: (1) integrate the VA's security architecture into the VA's overall enterprise architecture strategy, (2) restrict the development of new data warehouses and data marts holding sensitive personal information of veterans, and (3) reduce the number of data marts holding such personal information.

Defines: (1) "data mart" as a subset of a data warehouse that contains information for a specific entity of an organization rather than the entire organization, and (2) "data warehouse" as a collection of data designed to support management decision making that contains a wide variety of data presenting a coherent picture of business conditions for an entire organization at a single point in time and whose development includes systems to extract data from operating systems plus installation of a warehouse database system that provides managers flexible access to the data.

Requires the Secretary to safeguard VA network infrastructure, computers, and servers.

Directs the Secretary to protect the confidentiality of sensitive personal information of veterans by: (1) providing upgrades or phaseouts of outdated or unsupported operating systems to protect against harmful viruses and malicious software, and (2) securing VA web applications and the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (commonly referred to as the "Vista system," which allows for an integrated inpatient and outpatient electronic health record for patients and provides administrative tools to VA employees).

Directs the Secretary to submit certifications to Congress regarding the VA's compliance with information security requirements, including actions required by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Requires the Secretary to submit monthly reports to Congress regarding security vulnerabilities discovered after performing regular scans of VA computers and servers.

Date: 2014-04-02
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) adopt the unique device identification system developed for medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or implement a comparable standard identification system, for identifying biological implants intended for use in medical procedures conducted in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities; (2) implement a compatible system for tracking the implants from donor to implantation; and (3) implement inventory controls compatible with such tracking system so that all patients who have received, in a VA medical facility, a biological implant subject to a recall by the FDA can be notified of the recall.

 Authorizes the Secretary to procure biological implants only from vendors that meet specified conditions, including that the vendor uses the standard identification system, consents to periodic VA inspections and audits, is registered with the FDA, and maintains national accreditation specific to biological implants. Requires the Secretary to: (1) procure such implants under General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedules, (2) accommodate reasonable vendor requests to undertake specified outreach efforts to educate VA medical professionals about the use and efficacy of implants that are listed on such Schedules, and (3) procure biological implants that are unavailable for procurement under such Schedules using competitive procedures in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

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

Date: 2014-04-02
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Lawrence J. Hackett Jr. Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Fairness Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a task force to assess and make recommendations about the care and compensation that should be provided to veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange, their spouses, and multiple generations of their offspring.

Requires the task force to make recommendations: (1) to establish the Agent Orange Illness Compensation Program to provide an exposed veteran or eligible survivor a lump sum payment for the veteran's injury, illness, or death; (2) for the establishment of a national outreach and education campaign to communicate information about Agent Orange exposures and health conditions to veterans who are affected by incidents of toxic exposures and their families; (3) for compensation and health care for individuals with Spina Bifida, birth defects, or other illnesses who are the children or descendants of members of the Armed Forces who served in Vietnam or in or near the demilitarized zone in Korea during certain time periods determined by the task force; and (4) for the establishment of a unified policy to deal with the consequences of exposure to hazardous materials in the military.

Terminates the task force not later than two years after its establishment.

Date: 2014-04-04
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans' Job Corps Act - Authorizes the President to establish and operate a Veterans' Job Corps to employ veterans and veterans' widows or widowers who are otherwise unemployed in the construction, maintenance, and carrying on of public works in connection with: (1) the forestation of U.S. or state lands; (2) the prevention of forest fires, floods, and soil erosion; (3) public safety; (4) plant pest and disease control; and (5) the construction, maintenance, or repair of paths, trails, and fire-lanes in National Park System units and other public lands.

Directs the President to employ individuals in the Corps in the following order of preference: (1) unemployed veterans, and (2) widows or widowers who are eligible for unemployment compensation immediately before employment in the Corps.

Authorizes the President to provide individuals employed in the Corps with housing, necessary subsistence, clothing, medical attendance and hospitalization, a cash allowance, and transportation to and from the places of employment.

Prohibits the employment in the Corps of an individual convicted of a felony or a veteran who was discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.

Date: 2014-04-08
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Dignified Interment of Our Veterans Act of 2014 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a study on matters relating to the identification, claiming, and interring of unclaimed remains of veterans, including: (1) estimating the number of unclaimed remains; (2) assessing the effectiveness of VA procedures for claiming and interring unclaimed remains of veterans; (3) assessing state and local laws that affect the ability of the Secretary to identify, claim, and inter such remains; and (4) recommending appropriate legislative or administrative action.

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Date: 2014-04-10
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Express Appeals Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) carry out a five-year pilot program to provide the option of an alternative appeals process to determine appeals of claims for disability compensation more quickly, and (2) inform claimants about such program.

Authorizes a claimant to elect to file an express appeal by filing with the Secretary: (1) a notice of disagreement, (2) all evidence that the claimant believes is needed for the appeal, (3) a statement of the argument in support of the claim, and (4) the claimant's written election to have the appeal determined under the pilot program. Requires the Secretary to transfer jurisdiction over an express appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Requires a claimant to make such election: (1) at any time during the traditional appeal process if the claimant has filed a traditional appeal before the pilot program commences, or (2) by 90 days after the Secretary provides notice of the determination of the claim if the claimant has not filed a traditional appeal.

Directs the Secretary to inform a claimant who seeks to change a traditional appeal to an express appeal about whether any time will be saved. Allows a claimant who elects to file an express appeal to elect to revert to a traditional appeal at any time.

Requires the Board of Veterans' Appeals to: (1) maintain express appeals on a separate docket, (2) hear express appeals in the order received, and (3) decide not more than one express appeal for each four traditional appeals decided.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the effects of new evidence submitted or additional information needed after an express appeal is filed, and (2) a prohibition against the Board providing hearings for express appeals.

Date: 2014-05-08
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Manufacturing Jobs for Veterans Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor, as part of the Veteran's Workforce Investment Program, to carry out a five-year pilot program (to be known as the Veterans Manufacturing Employment Program) to award competitive grants to three states for the establishment and administration of a State Manufacturing Employment Program to make grants to manufacturing employers and labor-management organizations that provide training, on-job training, apprenticeships, and certification classes to eligible veterans.

Date: 2014-05-09
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Gold Star Families Equality Act - Requires a lapel button to be designed to identify widows, parents, and next of kin of members of the Armed Forces who die, under circumstances not already prescribed for under existing eligibility standards for a gold star lapel button, while serving on active duty or while assigned to a reserve component in a drill status.

Makes such next of kin button available retroactively to survivors of members of the Armed Forces who have died since September 10, 2001.

Directs the Secretary of each military department and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to provide for the issuance of a Gold Star Installation Access Card to family members with gold or next of kin buttons to expedite their ability to gain unescorted access to military installations for the purpose of obtaining on-base services and benefits.

Requires regulations to be prescribed to permit parents (including stepparents, parents though adoption, or foster parents who stood in loco parentis) with such buttons to use commissary stores and other military retail facilities on the same basis as surviving spouses or children.

Date: 2014-05-20
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans National Remembrance Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), in selecting a location for the establishment of a new national cemetery, to: (1) give priority to a state that does not have a national cemetery and that has the largest population of veterans among states without such a cemetary, and (2) ensure that such location is within 10 miles of a significant amount of the population to be served by such cemetery during the 25 years following its establishment.

Permits the Secretary, after establishing two national cemeteries, to waive the requirement of giving priority to a state that does not have a national cemetery if such waiver will allow the Secretary to establish a cemetery that will serve a larger population of veterans.

Date: 2014-05-21
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2014 - Increases the monthly rates of veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Prohibits benefits under any other law (other than duplication of benefits) from being reduced or offset because the surviving spouse is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation.

Date: 2014-05-22
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Involved in Police Services Act of 2014 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow public safety and community policing grants to be used, during the three-year period beginning on the date of this Act's enactment, to hire former honorably-discharged members of the Armed Forces to serve as career law enforcement officers for community-oriented policing, particularly in jurisdictions in which the violent crime rate is higher than the national violent crime rate, according to the uniform crime report compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Date: 2014-05-29
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Veterans' Health Accountability Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide a voucher for the market price of the needed service for use at a non-VA facility for any veteran who has been denied health care at any VA facility on a timely basis (defined as one day for procedures and seven calendar days for tests).

Makes all veterans eligible for VA-paid care from non-VA facilities, and directs the Secretary of the VA to immediately prepare for the privatization of all VA facilities within one calendar year, if more than 10% of the Veterans Health Administration's budget goes toward such health vouchers.

Date: 2014-05-29
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to: (1) design and produce a military service medal, to be known as the Atomic Veterans Service Medal, to honor retired and former members of the Armed Forces who participated in a radiation-risk activity while serving on active duty; and (2) issue the Medal to such veterans or their next-of-kin.

Date: 2014-05-30
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Cold War Service Medal Act of 2014 - Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to issue the Cold War Service Medal to members of the Armed Forces who were discharged or released under honorable conditions after having: (1) served on active duty for at least 24 consecutive months during the Cold War (September 2, 1945, through December 26, 1991), (2) deployed outside the continental United States for at least 30 days during such period, or (3) performed other Cold War service as the Secretary of Defense (DOD) may prescribe.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the DOD Secretary should expedite the design of the Medal as well its issuance to eligible members.

Date: 2014-06-05
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to:

 select a medical center in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to serve as the national center (Center) for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of health conditions of descendants (i.e., a biological child, grandchild, or great-grandchild) of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces that are related to that exposure; establish an advisory board to advise the center, to determine which health conditions result from exposure to toxic substances, and to study and evaluate cases of exposure of current and former members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances; and establish an Office of Extramural Research to conduct research on wounds, illnesses, injuries, and other conditions suffered by active members of the Armed Forces resulting from exposure to toxic substances and to assist the Advisory Board in considering claims of exposure to toxic substances. Requires the Center, in coordination with the National Birth Defect Registry, to track and research the genetic link between individuals who are exposed to Agent Orange and the medical conditions of their children.

Extends eligibility for medical care and caregiver assistance to descendants of a veteran who was exposed to toxic substances while serving as a member of the Armed Forces if: (1) the descendant has a health condition resulting from exposure to toxic substances and is homebound due to such condition, and (2) the veteran has or had the same health condition.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to declassify documents (other than documents that would materially and immediately threaten national security) related to any known incident in which not less than 100 members of the Armed Forces were exposed to a toxic substance that resulted in at least one case of disability.

Directs the VA Secretary, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the DOD Secretary to jointly conduct a national outreach and education campaign directed at members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their family members to communicate information on incidents of exposure to toxic substances, health conditions resulting form such exposure, and the potential long-term effects of such exposure.

Date: 2014-06-09
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Helping Veterans Save for Health Care Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that a veteran receiving hospital care or medical services for a service-connected disabililty is not disqualified from participating in or contributing to a tax-preferred health savings account (HSA).

Date: 2014-06-19
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Taxation
Help Employ and Recruit Our Excellent Servicemembers Grant Act of 2014 or the HEROES Grant Act of 2014 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the use of public safety and community policing (COPS ON THE BEAT) grants to hire veterans and other individuals as employees of law enforcement agencies for positions that do not require sworn authority.

Date: 2014-06-30
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans' Assistance to Lower Unemployment and Enhance VA Services Act or the VALUES Act - Entitles disabled veterans and the mothers or spouses of certain deceased or disabled veterans to receive an additional 15 points on their examination for entrance into the competitive service at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Entitles certain veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces to receive an additional 10 points on their examination for entrance into the competitive service at the VA.

Date: 2014-07-08
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Wounded Warrior Employment Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and publish an action plan for improving the training and rehabilitation services and assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Requires such plan to include:

 a comprehensive analysis of, and recommendations and a proposed implementation plan for remedying, workload management challenges at regional offices of the VA, including steps to reduce counselor case loads of veterans participating in a rehabilitation program; a comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the disproportionately low percentage of veterans with service-connected disabilities who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, who opt to participate in a VA rehabilitation program relative to the percentage of such veterans who use their entitlement to VA educational assistance; recommendations and a proposed implementation plan for encouraging more veterans with service-connected disabilities who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, to participate in VA rehabilitation programs; and a national staff training program for vocational rehabilitation counselors, that includes the provision of training to assist counselors in understanding the very profound disorientation experienced by warriors because of their injury, training to assist counselors in working in partnership with veterans on individual rehabilitation plans, and training on post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions and on moderate to severe traumatic brain injury that is designed to improve the ability of such counselors to assist veterans with such conditions.

Date: 2014-07-09
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Small Business Support Act - Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) from assessing a guarantee fee in connection with a loan made under the SBA Express Program to a veteran or spouse of a veteran on or after October 1, 2014.

Directs the Administrator to report to Congress on: (1) the feasibility of providing financial planning and counseling to owners of small business concerns who are members of a reserve component prior to deployment; (2) the level of outreach to and consultation with female veterans by women's business centers and veterans business outreach centers; and (3) the Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, which shall include a discussion of SBA outreach efforts to increase participation, the number of loans made, and an analysis of the effectiveness of, and recommendations for improving, the Program.

Date: 2014-07-09
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Commerce
Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2014 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) work with federal agencies, states, and such experts as the Secretary considers appropriate to develop and implement federal and state standards that protect individuals who are eligible for increased pension for a non-service-connected disability or death or for service on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices; and (2) submit such standards to specified congressional committees not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Requires the Comptroller General: (1) within one year after enactment of this Act, to report standards that would be effective in protecting such individuals if the Secretary fails to submit such standards within such 180 days; and (2) not later than 540 days after enactment of this Act, to complete a study on standards implemented under this Act and report the findings to such committees.

Date: 2014-07-09
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans' Whistleblower and Patient Protection Act of 2014 - Establishes within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an Office of Whistleblower and Patient Protection.

Requires the Director of such Office to establish a dedicated Internet website and toll-free telephone number for any individual to file a complaint regarding an alleged prohibited personnel practice committed by a VA officer or employee or the safety of a patient at a VA medical facility.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to refer to the Director for investigation any such complaint the Secretary receives directly. Prohibits the Secretary from referring any such complaint to any other element of the VA.

Requires the Secretary to ensure that VA employees located at a medical facility are able to efficiently refer any such complaints received to the Director. Prohibits the Director from disclosing the identity of any individual who files such a complaint without the individual's consent, except when necessary because of an imminent danger to public health or safety or imminent violation of any criminal law.

Requires the Director to: (1) investigate each complaint to determine whether there is a substantial likelihood that it discloses a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or substantial and specific danger to public health and safety; (2) make such determination within 240 days after its receipt; (3) notify the Secretary upon making a positive determination and refer the complaint, as appropriate, to the head of the appropriate federal department or agency; and (4) coordinate with the VA's Inspector General and Special Counsel to avoid duplicative actions.

Date: 2014-07-10
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to exclude loans made to veterans from the definition of a "member business loan," thus excluding them from the limit on the total amount of member business loans a credit union may have outstanding.

Date: 2014-07-10
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Responsive and Efficient Appeals Courts for Heroes Act of 2014 - Authorizes the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, acting as a panel or en banc, to hear class action appeals in accordance with specified procedures.

Allows one or more appellants to bring such a class action as the representative party on behalf of all members of such class if:

 there is at least one question of law or fact common to the class, the class is likely to consist of at least 50 members, the resolution of the common questions of law or fact is likely to have a material effect on the claims of the members of the class, and the representative party will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class. Gives an appellant 60 days after filing an appeal to file a motion with the Court to certify the appeal as a class action with respect to an issue that the appellant intends to raise. Allows the Court to waive such 60-day period for good cause shown.

Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), upon the filing of such motion, to: (1) make reasonable efforts to determine the approximate number of individuals with pending claims for benefits for whom class certification is sought, and (2) file a response.

Requires the Court, after the Secretary has filed such response, to determine by order whether to grant class certification with respect to an issue considered under the appeal and allow the appellant to act as the representative party of the class. Requires that order, if certification is granted, to: (1) define the class and issue for which the class is certified, and (2) appoint counsel for the class. Authorizes the Court, acting as a panel or en banc, to alter or amend an order before final judgement.

Requires the Court to include in the class only individuals who have, as of the date of the Court's entry of judgment on the class action, filed a claim that has not been finally resolved.

Allows the Court to stay the individual claims of class members during the period the Court is considering the class action.

 Requires the Court to allow a veterans' organization to intervene in a class action appeal if the organization has an interest in the common questions of law or fact in the class action.

Requires the Court's permission before the appeal and a common issue of law or fact may be settled, voluntarily dismissed, compromised, or remanded by agreement.

Allows any member of the class, or an individual who would have been a member of the class if certification was granted, to appeal any decision of the Court to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Sets the salary of the Court's judges at the rate applicable to federal appellate court judges. (Currently, their salary is set at the rate applicable to federal district court judges.)

Date: 2014-07-11
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Requires service in the United States Merchant Marine of an individual who served as a crew member of a vessel that was in oceangoing service during the Vietnam Era in the Southeast Asia theater of operations and who receives a certificate of honorable discharge under this Act to be considered to be active duty in determining the individual's eligibility for veterans benefits.

Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD), upon application, to issue a certificate of honorable discharge to such an individual who engaged in service of a nature and duration that warrants such certificate in accordance with standards under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977.

Date: 2014-07-15
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Rural Veteran Access to Care Act - Provides for the reimbursement of the travel expenses a veteran with a service-connected disability incurs for the examination, treatment, or care for which the veteran is eligible. (Currently, that disability must be rated at 30% or more, unless the travel is in connection with the treatment or care of the disability or the veteran qualifies for such reimbursement on other grounds.)

Date: 2014-07-15
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
POW Accountability Act - Requires: (1) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to review the list maintained by the Secretary of veterans the Secretary determines are former prisoners of war (VA POW list) and the list maintained by the Secretary of Defense (DOD), acting through the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, of members of the Armed Forces who were prisoners of war (DOD POW list) to identify any discrepancies in such lists; and (2) the VA's Inspector General to review the process by which the Secretary determines that a veteran is a former prisoner of war.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the VA POW list, including information on such discrepancies and the results of the Inspector General's review.

Date: 2014-07-23
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2014 - Entitles any federal employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more, during the 12-month period beginning on the first day of employment, to up to 104 hours of leave, without loss or reduction in pay, for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability for which sick leave could regularly be used. Requires the forfeiture of any such leave that is not used during such 12-month period.

Requires such employee to submit to the head of the employing agency certification that such employee used such leave for purposes of being furnished treatment for such disability by a health care provider.

Date: 2014-07-29
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2014 - Amends the Small Business Act to require the interagency task force that is responsible for coordinating federal efforts to improve the business development and federal contracting opportunities available to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans to coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and develop proposals to provide access to, and manage the distribution of, excess or surplus U.S. property to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate state agency.

Date: 2014-07-29
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Commerce
Creating Opportunities for Military Members to Use Transportation Efficiently Act of 2014 or the COMMUTE Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Office of Economic Adjustment, to establish a Military Community Infrastructure Program to provide grants to a state or political subdivision, a public transportation owner or operator, a local governmental authority, a metropolitan planning organization (MPO), or a regional transportation planning organization for transportation infrastructure improvement projects in military communities.

Directs the Secretary to conduct a traffic impact study for any urbanized area that expects a significant increase in traffic due to a military installation within or abutting such area.

Date: 2014-07-30
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the U.S. Army for acts of valor, sacrifice, and courage at the risk of his own life beyond the call of duty during the Vietnam War.

Date: 2014-07-30
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Private legislation
Medical Leave for Veterans Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue regulations to entitle any federal employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more, during the 12-month period beginning on the first day of employment, to up to 104 hours of leave, without loss or reduction in pay, for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability for which sick leave could regularly be used. Requires the forfeiture of any such leave that is not used during such 12-month period.

Requires such employee to submit to the Secretary certification that such employee used such leave for purposes of being furnished treatment for such disability by a health care provider. .

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
VA Appeals Backlog Relief Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regional office certifies a VA Form 9, Appeal to Board of Veterans' Appeals, submitted by a veteran to appeal a decision relating to a claim, by not later than one year after receiving such form.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Air Travel Streamlining Act of 2014 - Requires: (1) the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to waive the application fee for veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 50% or more who apply to participate in TSA's Pre-check program, and (2) the Administrator and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a system to verify such a veteran's disability rating and whether such veteran's disability is service-connected.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Dignified Burial Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA): (1) upon confirming the veteran status of a deceased veteran in the custody of a local medical examiner, funeral director, county service group, or other similar entity, to request from such entity the specific date of the scheduled interment of such veteran; and (2) during each 30-day period following such request, to repeat the request until such entity confirms that such veteran has been interred.

Requires the Secretary, by January 31 of each year, to submit to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees a report on deceased veterans who were interred after the 30-day period following the date on which the Secretary made such request. Requires the report to include: (1) the number of deceased veterans who were not interred in such 30-day period during the prior year, (2) the number of such deceased veterans who are not interred as of the date of the report, and (3) the entity with custody of each such deceased veteran.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a Patriot employer a business-related tax credit for up to 10% of the first $15,000 of wages paid to any employee in a taxable year. Sets forth criteria for designation as a Patriot employer, including requirements that such employer: (1) maintains its headquarters in the United States and does not expatriate to avoid payment of U.S. income taxes, (2) complies with the employer mandate to provide minimum essential health care coverage to its employees under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (3) compensates at least 90% of its employees at a level that is 150% of the federal poverty level for a family of three and provides 90% of its employees with a basic level of retirement benefits, (4) provides for differential wage payments to its employees who are members of the Uniformed Services, and (5) increases the number of its employees performing substantially all of their services inside the United States to offset the number of employees who work outside the United States.

Sets forth a rule for the deferral of the tax deduction for foreign-related interest expense.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Defense (Other)
Subject: Taxation