zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Clarifying Amendment to Provide Terrorism Victims Equity Act or the CAPTIVE Act

This bill amends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 regarding the blocked assets of a terrorist party which shall be subject to execution or attachment in aid of execution in order to satisfy a judgment based upon an act of terrorism in an action brought by or on behalf of the person obtaining the judgment.

The bill redefines "blocked asset" to include any asset seized or frozen by the United States under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

The bill also defines a "person" who has obtained such a judgment as a natural person who, at the time the act of terrorism was committed upon which the judgment was obtained, was:

 a national of the United States; a member of the U.S. Armed Forces; or otherwise an employee of the federal government, or of a federal government contractor, acting within the scope of employment. If the person described is deceased, the personal representative of the estate of that deceased person shall count as the person.

Date: 2016-05-10
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Law
This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to include in the national instant criminal background check system (i.e., the NICS database) information about an individual who is or has been under a federal terrorism investigation.

A federal department or agency must submit to DOJ information about such individual.

Additionally, if a licensed gun dealer requests a background check on a prospective gun buyer who is or has been under a federal terrorism investigation, then the NICS database must notify the appropriate division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the request and the pending firearm transfer.

Date: 2016-06-15
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Fighting Terrorism and Upholding Due Process Act

This bill amends the federal criminal code to allow the Department of Justice (DOJ), in conjunction with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, to establish a list of persons that: (1) there is probable cause to believe, have engaged in or supported terrorism; and (2) there is reason to believe, may use a firearm in connection with terrorism.

DOJ may, in accordance with procedures established by this bill, prohibit a person on the list from: (1) participating in the transfer of a firearm, (2) receiving or maintaining a firearms license, or (3) receiving or maintaining a license or permit for explosives.

Date: 2016-06-16
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide training for administering community awareness briefings and related activities in furtherance of its efforts to counter violent extremism, identify and report suspicious activities, and increase awareness of and more quickly identify terrorism threats, including the travel of individuals from the United States to support a foreign terrorist organization abroad.

DHS shall: (1) assess its efforts to support countering violent extremism at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels; (2) notify Congress of the number of employees of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments with security clearances sponsored by DHS; and (3) incorporate the public testimonials of former extremists into its efforts to combat terrorist recruitment.

The bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in DHS a board to coordinate and integrate DHS's intelligence, activities, and policy related to its counterterrorism mission and functions. The board shall advise DHS on the issuance of terrorism alerts. DHS shall appoint a Coordinator for Counterterrorism to serve as the chair of the board.

Date: 2016-06-16
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Emergency management
Stop Terrorist Operational Resources and Money Act

This bill expresses the sense of Congress regarding the importance of the United States and its partners curtailing the financial resources of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The President may designate a country as a Jurisdiction of Terrorism Financing Concern if the President determines that government officials know, or should know, that activities are taking place within the country that substantially finance the operations of, or acts of international terrorism by, foreign terrorist organizations.

The President shall, after so designating a country: (1) submit a report that identifies the country and sets forth the information used to make such designation; and (2) take one or more actions to limit military and technology exports, cut or suspend development and security assistance, and suspend credit, procurement, and contracting by federal agencies with respect to such country.

The President may, as an alternative to such actions, enter into an agreement with a foreign government that obligates such government to more effectively counter activities that finance the operations of, or acts of international terrorism by, foreign terrorist organizations.

With respect to a financial institution, the President: (1) may remove a limitation or condition for national security purposes, and (2) shall not be required to apply sanctions if the sanctionable activity is terminated or the institution is taking significant steps to do so.

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended to permit the allocation of funds for countering terrorism financing under the program to provide technical assistance to foreign governments and foreign central banks of developing or transitional countries.

The President shall prescribe regulations to prohibit, or impose strict conditions on, the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that knowingly:

 facilitates a significant transaction or transactions for ISIL or its affiliates; facilitates a significant transaction for a person acting on behalf of, or owned or controlled by, ISIL or its affiliates; or engages in money laundering or significant financial services to carry out such an activity. The bill prescribes penalties for violations of such prohibitions.

The Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 is amended to include in the annual country reports on terrorism for each foreign country in which terrorism financing activities are taking place assessments of such activities and government preventive efforts and capacities.

Date: 2016-06-29
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: International affairs
Terror Intelligence Improvement Act of 2016

This bill requires each federal department or agency to provide to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) information about a person who is or has been under a federal terrorism investigation.

The FBI and its Joint Terrorism Task Forces must immediately be notified of a request to transfer a firearm or explosive to a person who is, or was within the previous 10 years, under a federal terrorism investigation.

The Inspector General of the Intelligence Community must audit the federal government's terrorism-related screening and watch list procedures.

The bill directs the Department of Justice to establish a process to delay and prevent the transfer of a firearm or explosive to a person who is, or was within the previous 10 years, under a federal terrorism investigation.

Date: 2016-09-15
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Terrorism Survivors Student Loan Deferment Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow a borrower who is a victim of a terrorist attack to defer (i.e., suspend repayments on) student loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan, Federal Direct Loan, and Federal Perkins Loan programs.

Date: 2016-09-19
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Education
Empowering Law Enforcement to Keep America Safe Act of 2016

This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the categories of subscriber transactional records that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may request from wire or electronic communication service providers about a person or entity for an authorized investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities.

Under current law, the FBI may request a person's or an entity's name, address, length of service, and telephone toll billing records. The bill allows the FBI to also request:

 email addresses, telephone numbers, instrument numbers, or other account identifying information; means and sources of payment (including card or bank account information); account numbers, login history, service start dates, or types of services; IP addresses or network addresses; or communication addressing, routing, or transmission information (excluding cell tower information), session times, or durations for an electronic communication. The bill prohibits the FBI from requesting the contents of an electronic communication.

The bill also amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to make permanent the government's authority to track a non-U.S. person who engages in international terrorism or preparatory activities (commonly referred to as a "lone wolf") under the same evidentiary standards that apply to an agent of a foreign power under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. (Currently, this provision is scheduled to expire on December 15, 2019.)

Date: 2016-09-21
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
No Explosives or Arms for Terrorists and Criminals Act

This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise the prohibition on transferring a firearm knowing that the firearm will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime.

Specifically, it broadens the scope of the prohibition to bar the transfer or receipt of a firearm, or the attempt or conspiracy to do so, knowing or reasonably believing that the firearm will be used to commit a crime of violence, a drug trafficking crime, or a federal crime of terrorism. It increases from 10 to 15 years the maximum prison term for a violator.

Additionally, the bill adds a new provision to prohibit the transfer of an explosive precursor (i.e., a chemical substance used to make explosive material) knowing or reasonably believing that that the explosive precursor will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime. It imposes penalties—a fine, a 10-year maximum prison term, or both—on a person who violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, the prohibition.

 Finally, the bill imposes penalties—a fine, a 10-year maximum prison term, or both—on a person who conspires or attempts to transfer explosive materials knowing or reasonably believing that the explosive materials will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime.

Date: 2016-09-26
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Terrorism Victims Protection Act 

This bill amends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 to allow a person's judgment against a terrorist party or a state sponsor of terrorism to be satisfied with: (1) assets blocked by the U.S. government that pass through the U.S. financial system as a transfer of funds between non-state owned, non-U.S. financial institutions located outside the United States or as a mid-stream electronic fund transfer in possession of an intermediary bank; (2) assets located outside the United States that, if located in the United States, would be subject to seizure or freezing under the Trading with the Enemy Act or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, if a U.S. court has jurisdiction over the person in possession; or (3) attempted transfers for the benefit of a terrorist party to accounts located outside the United States.

 The bill protects the interests of non-terrorist third parties in the blocked assets, but these third-party protections do not apply to custodial interests of a foreign securities intermediary holding blocked assets outside the United States for the government of Iran.

The bill nullifies attempted transfers outside the United States of assets of a state sponsor of terrorism liable for personal injury or death, unless the person who held the asset establishes that the transfer was not a willful violation of a court order or an enforcement process.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
This bill prohibits the U.S. government from providing monetary instruments or precious metals to a government of a state sponsor of terrorism or an agent acting on behalf of such government.

The bill applies such prohibition to the government of North Korea or an agent acting on its behalf until the President certifies that North Korea has met the criteria for ending sanctions against it under the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: International affairs
Empowering Partners to Counter Violent Extremism Act of 2016

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the Office for Partnerships Against Violent Extremism (OPAVE), to be headed by an Assistant Secretary.

The Assistant Secretary shall be responsible for:

 leading DHS efforts to counter violent extremism; developing a digital engagement strategy that expands DHS outreach efforts to counter violent extremist messaging; serving as DHS's primary representative in coordinating countering violent extremism efforts with the CVE Task Force and with other federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations; serving as the primary DHS-level representative in coordinating with the Department of State on international countering violent extremism issues; providing guidance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the use of grants made under the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program to state, local, and tribal governments under the allowable uses guidelines related to countering violent extremism; developing a plan to expand philanthropic support for domestic efforts related to countering violent extremism; and awarding grants to, or entering into cooperative agreements with, state, local, and tribal governments and institutions of higher education to support the efforts of local communities in the United States to counter violent extremism. DHS's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties shall conduct an annual review to ensure that OPAVE's activities that relate to countering violent extremism respect the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of all persons.

DHS shall submit to Congress a comprehensive DHS strategy and an implementation plan to counter violent extremism in the United States.

DHS's Under Secretary for Science and Technology, in coordination with the OPAVE, may: (1) establish one or more countering violent extremism labs, and (2) reprioritize grants to centers for homeland security to fund each lab.

DHS and the Department of State shall incorporate into their efforts to combat terrorist recruitment and communications the public testimonials of former or estranged violent extremists.

 The OPAVE may implement a program that facilitates groups of students at institutions of higher education throughout the world in designing, piloting, implementing, and measuring the success of a social or digital initiative, product, or tool that counters the messaging of terrorist organizations communications and narratives.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Emergency management
Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

This bill declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) ensure that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components enhance and unify their efforts to interdict, detain, seize, and investigate cultural property illegally imported into the United States, disrupt and dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks engaged in or facilitating illegal trade in cultural property, and support prosecutions of persons engaged in such illegal trade; and (2) protect cultural property pursuant to obligations under international conventions.

It directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to: (1) designate a principal coordinator to direct, manage, coordinate, and update policies and procedures, and conduct interagency communications, regarding illegally imported cultural property; (2) update and devise directives, regulations, rules, and memoranda of understanding relating to policies and procedures on the illegal importation of cultural property; and (3) train relevant personnel on cultural property laws, identification of at-risk items, and investigative techniques with respect to illegally traded cultural property.

DHS must authorize relevant component heads to enter into agreements or memoranda of understanding with the Smithsonian Institution to further activities to protect cultural property.

The CBP and ICE must jointly report to Congress on implementation of this bill and other actions to prevent the illegal importation of cultural property into the United States.

Date: 2016-12-09
Topic: International Affairs (Terrorism)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Federal Employee Combat Zone Tax Parity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of civilian federal employees compensation for active service in a combat zone or for periods of hospitalization for wounds, diseases, or injuries incurred while serving in a combat zone.

Date: 2007-04-19
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Taxation
Directs the Comptroller General to require methodological, scientific, and technical experts within the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to undertake a new investigation to address specified questions relating to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, including: (1) cost estimates with respect to its closing and the transfer of its personnel, functions, and activities to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; (2) a shortfall of defense scientists and engineers; and (3) the failure of the Department of Defense (DOD) to timely provide a report required by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission as to whether the transfer of such personnel, functions, and activities will be accomplished without disruption of their support to the Global War on Terror or other critical contingency operations.

Date: 2007-07-19
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
BRAC Cost Overruns Protection Act of 2007 or BRAC COP Act of 2007 - Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to direct the Secretary of Defense to report to the congressional defense committees on the costs of implementing recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission that relate to military base closures and realignments that have not been fully implemented. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify such committees if the Secretary determines that the current estimate of implementation costs for an individual major base closure or realignment is at least 25% greater than the baseline estimate for such closure or realignment; and (2) develop a business plan to reduce the costs of any individual substantially over-budget major base closure or realignment to a level less than 25% greater than its baseline estimate. Directs the: (1) Secretary to submit to the President a recommendation regarding whether to continue implementation of a substantially over-budget major base closure or realignment; and (2) President to report to Congress regarding the implementation of such a closure or realignment. Prohibits the Secretary from continuing or discontinuing the implementation of a substantially over-budget major closure or realignment recommended by the President if a joint resolution disapproving the President's recommendation is enacted.

Date: 2007-07-31
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 1940 to extend from 90 days to one year the period following release from active duty during which a member of the Armed Forces shall be protected from mortgage foreclosure.

Date: 2007-12-19
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Appropriates to the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2007 for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure functions, an amount equal to that authorized to be appropriated for such purposes for such fiscal year under the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Division B of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007).

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits either the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the Army from funding the transfer of personnel or functions from Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, pursuant to the recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, until at least 30 days after the Comptroller General completes an audit of a report of the Secretary of Defense stating that: (1) such transfer to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, will be accomplished without disruption of their support to the Global War on Terror or other critical contingency operations; and (2) safeguards exist to mitigate potential degradation of such support and ensure maximum retention of critical workforce.

Date: 2007-07-19
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
BRAC Cost Overruns Protection Act of 2007 or BRAC COP Act of 2007 - Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to direct the Secretary of Defense to report to the congressional defense committees on the costs of implementing recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission that relate to military base closures and realignments that have not been fully implemented. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify such committees if the Secretary determines that the current estimate of implementation costs for an individual major base closure or realignment is at least 25% greater than the baseline estimate for such closure or realignment; and (2) develop a business plan to reduce the costs of any individual substantially over-budget major base closure or realignment to a level less than 25% greater than its baseline estimate. Directs the: (1) Secretary to submit to the President a recommendation regarding whether to continue implementation of a substantially over-budget major base closure or realignment; and (2) President to report to Congress regarding the implementation of such a closure or realignment. Prohibits the Secretary from continuing or discontinuing the implementation of a substantially over-budget major closure or realignment recommended by the President if a joint resolution disapproving the President's recommendation is enacted.

Date: 2007-07-30
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Troops to Nurse Teachers Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out programs under which commissioned officers of the nurse corps: (1) serve as full-time faculty of accredited schools of nursing in exchange for additional service or in exchange for scholarships provided by the school to those accepting commissions in the nurse corps; (2) receive scholarships leading to a graduate degree in nursing in exchange for service as nursing school faculty and to undertake activities to encourage nurses to serve in the Armed Forces nurse corps; (3) receive nursing faculty career placement and continuing education assistance if they are retirement-eligible and have graduate degrees qualifying them as nurse instructors; or (4) receive, while serving after retirement as faculty at a nursing school, retired pay without reduction and a pay differential to ensure that compensation for faculty member service will not be less than the basic pay received before retirement.Requires: (1) any program established under this Act to last at least two years; and (2) the Secretary to assess each program to determine if it should be continued.

Date: 2008-03-05
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits the Secretaries of Defense and the Army from closing or otherwise reducing the personnel, functions, or operations at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, notwithstanding the 2005 recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission pursuant to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990.

Date: 2009-02-11
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Restoring Congressional Oversight and Strengthening Military Jointness Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Defense (DOD) from effecting or implementing the disestablishment, closure, or realignment of the United States Joint Forces Command, or conducting any civilian workload reductions at such Command, until: (1) 30 legislative or 60 calendar days have passed since the Secretary has notified the congressional defense committees of a proposed disestablishment, closure, or realignment; and (2) the Comptroller General has submitted to such committees an independent assessment of such proposal.

Date: 2010-09-15
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
BRAC Wage Locality Pay Parity Act of 2011 - Requires that all civilian employees of military installations which are not located within the same pay locality and which are reorganized or associated as a single joint installation receive uniform locality pay at the percentage payable with respect to the locality then receiving the highest locality pay.

Date: 2011-05-03
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Repeals the limit (eight) on the number of cooperative arrangements that may be entered into by Army industrial facilities with non-Army entities. Makes such authority permanent (under current law, terminates at the end of FY2014). Revises a report requirement under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to include an assessment of the effectiveness of the use of such authority and recommendations to improve the ability of each facility to compete for such contracts. Requires each military industrial facility of the military departments and defense agencies (other than facilities approved for closure or major realignment under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990) to be designated as a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence in the recognized core competencies of the designee.

Date: 2011-07-15
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Send Equipment for National Defense Act or SEND Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense, within one year after eligible equipment returns to the United States from Iraq, to transfer at least 10% of such equipment to federal and state agencies, with a preference to agencies that will use the equipment primarily for U.S. southern border security purposes. Defines as "eligible equipment" that equipment determined to be suitable for use in law enforcement activities, including surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles, night-vision goggles, and high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicles (humvees). Authorizes the Secretary to waive the transfer requirement in the case of equipment needed for immediate use, after certification to Congress.

Date: 2011-11-15
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Defense Supply Chain and Industrial Base Security Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to: (1) develop a defense supply chain and industrial base strategy, and subsequent plan, designed to secure the supply chain and industrial base sectors determined to be critical to U.S. national security; (2) review the strategy and plan on a biennial basis; and (3) report to Congress on the strategy and plan, as well as on the results of each review.

Date: 2011-11-16
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Defense Base Act Insurance Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends the Defense Base Act (the Act) to require satisfaction through the Government Defense Base Act self-insurance program of insurance and benefits requirements imposed on defense contractors with respect to on-job injuries. Directs the Secretaries of Defense (DOD) and Labor to jointly: (1) develop and execute an implementation strategy for a self-insurance program for insurance required by the Act, and (2) report to Congress on such strategy and on the implementation of this Act.

Date: 2012-06-05
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Defense Sexual Trauma Response Oversight and Good Governance Act (Defense STRONG Act) - Amends the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 to require the Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office to be appointed from general or flag officers or Department of Defense (DOD) employees in a comparable Senior Executive Service position. Requires the assignment within each military brigade or equivalent unit level of at least one full-time Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and one full-time Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, allowing the Secretary of the military department concerned to assign additional coordinators and/or advocates based on the demographics or needs of the unit. Allows only members of the Armed Forces (members) or DOD civilian personnel to be assigned as coordinators or advocates as of October 1, 2013. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a professional training and certification program for such coordinators and advocates. Entitles any member, or dependent of a member, who is the victim of a sexual assault to legal assistance provided by a military legal assistance counsel and coordinator and advocate services, regardless of whether the member elects unrestricted or restricted (confidential) reporting of the assault. Makes privileged any communications between a member or dependent and a coordinator, advocate, or person staffing a helpline. Directs the Secretary to establish a system for tracking and permanently maintaining any medical, investigative, and other records prepared or obtained by DOD in connection with a sexual assault involving a member or dependent. Requires the transfer from the Secretary to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) of certain medical information in anticipation of a member's discharge, release, retirement, medical treatment, or claim for disability. Provides for the expedited consideration of, and priority for, an application by victims of sexual assault for a permanent change of station or unit transfer based on humanitarian conditions. Requires each military department Secretary to develop curricula to provide sexual assault prevention and response training and education for members and civilian employees of that department. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for the inclusion of a sexual assault prevention and response training module at each level of professional military education, and (2) require managers of specialty skills associated with first responders to integrate sexual assault response training in initial and recurring first responder training courses.

Date: 2011-05-18
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Servicemembers Rights Enforcement Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (the Act) concerning the protection of servicemembers against default judgments to require a plaintiff, before filing an affidavit, to conduct a diligent and reasonable investigation to determine whether or not the defendant is in military service, including a search of available records of the Department of Defense (DOD) and any other available information. Makes a private right of action for a violation of the Act retroactive to December 19, 2003. Allows a veteran on whose behalf a complaint of a violation of employment or reemployment rights is made by the Attorney General (AG) to intervene in such action, and to obtain appropriate relief. Requires the AG, within 60 days after receiving a referral of an unsuccessful attempt to resolve a complaint relating to a state or private employer, to notify the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted of either the decision to commence such an action or of when such decision is expected to be made. Requires, in the latter case, such decision to be made within an additional 30 days. Requires the AG to commence such an action when there is reasonable cause to believe that a state or private employer is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such employment and reemployment rights and benefits, and that the pattern or practice is intended to deny the full exercise of such rights and benefits. Provides the Special Counsel with subpoena power to require the attendance and testimony of, and production of documents from, federal employees, to be enforced through the Merit Systems Protection Board. Authorizes the AG to issue and serve a civil investigative demand for the production of documentary material relevant to an investigation under the Act.

Date: 2012-04-18
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Army Arsenal Strategic Workload Enhancement Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to develop and promulgate guidelines for the Department of Defense (DOD), defense agencies, and military services to have supplies, components, end items, parts, assemblies, and sub-assemblies (supplies and parts) made in factories or arsenals owned by the United States, to the extent that such factories or arsenals can make such supplies and parts on an economical basis while preserving the ability to provide an effective and timely response to mobilizations, national defense contingency situations, and other emergency requirements. Requires the Secretary of the Army to: (1) assign government-owned and operated Army factories and arsenals sufficient workload to ensure cost efficiency and technical competence in peacetime, while preserving the response ability described above; and (2) make Army arsenals available to DOD, the defense agencies, and military services for the procurement of supplies, components, parts, systems, and subsystems. Directs: (1) the Secretary to report annually to Congress on Army arsenal capabilities, workload, performance, and required capital investments; and (2) the Comptroller General to review each report for completeness and compliance and provide findings to the congressional defense committees.

Date: 2012-05-09
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Base Redevelopment and Indemnification Correction Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to expand the indemnification responsibilities of the Department of Defense (DOD) with respect to transferred property at former military installations to include all military installations closed since October 24, 1988, the date of enactment of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act.

Date: 2013-06-05
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
New Markets Tax Credit Military Installation Act of 2013 or the NMTC Military Installation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the new markets tax credit, to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to allocate in 2014 and thereafter funds in the limitation amount for such credit among qualified community development entities to make qualified low-income community investments within the former boundaries of military installations realigned or closed due to a base closure law.

Date: 2013-10-30
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Taxation
Army Combat Vehicle Industrial Base Study Validation Act of 2013 - Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to report to the congressional defense committees on the Army's study of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle industrial base submitted to Congress pursuant to the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. Requires such report to: (1) address each of the combat vehicles included in the study, (2) include an assessment of the reasonableness of the study's methods, and (3) include findings and recommendations on the combat vehicle industrial base.

Date: 2013-11-19
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill requires the Department of the Air Force, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to report on perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonates contamination at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, Plattsburgh, Hoosick Falls, and Petersburgh, New York, and any other appropriate sites.

The report shall include:

 an accelerated time line and status on the inspection and cleanup at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, Plattsburgh, Hoosick Falls, and Petersburgh; an update on Air Force efforts to notify everyone potentially impacted by the contamination; an assessment of the Air Force's role, if any, in the new contaminations; a summary of Air Force support for the EPA regarding the latest contaminations; and a proposal requiring financial compensation for cleanup, water accessibility interim programs, and water source filtration initiatives in the event the Air Force is responsible for the contamination.

Date: 2016-09-27
Topic: Defense (Civilian Personnel)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act - (Sec. 2) Recognizes the great suffering and steadfast loyalty and courage of the people of Guam during the Japanese occupation of Guam in World War II. (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make the following payments for Guam World War II claims: (1) spouses, children or parents of compensable Guam decedents would be eligible for $25,000; (2) compensable Guam victims who were raped or suffered severe personal injury would be eligible for $15,000, those who were subjected to forced labor or suffered personal injury would be eligible for $12,000, and those who were subjected to forced march, internment, or hiding to evade internment would be eligible for $10,000; and (3) eligible heirs of compensable decedents or compensable victims would be eligible for $7,000. Requires payments to be made to living compensable Guam victims before survivor payments are made. Defines "compensable Guam decedent" and "compensable Guam victim." (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to adjudicate claims and determine payment eligibility. Requires: (1) claims to be filed within one year after the Commission publishes public notice of the filing period in the Federal Register; and (2) the Commission to make filing period information available to the public through the media in Guam. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program for research, educational, and media activities that memorialize the events surrounding the occupation of Guam during World War II, honor the loyalty of the people of Guam during such occupation, or both. (Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations which shall remain available for obligation until September 30, 2012, for: (1) claims payments and adjudication; and (2) the World War II grants program.

Date: 2007-03-20
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: Law
Amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include the Territory of Guam among the affected areas for which health claims relating to atmospheric nuclear testing are allowed. Sets forth periods of required presence during testing periods for persons in Guam filing leukemia or specified disease claims. Authorizes assistance for residents of Guam not otherwise covered, to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the National Cancer Institute. Makes covered individuals eligible for the costs of screening, follow-up referrals, work-up diagnosis, and disease-specific treatment. Directs the Health Resources and Services Administration to conduct an education program about the health risks of fallout exposure from the U.S. nuclear-weapons testing.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: Law
Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay (subject to the availability of appropriated funds) a specified amount of compensation to those members of the Armed Forces and U.S. civilian employees, or to the surviving spouses of such members and employees, who were captured by Japan and who were used as slave labor during World War II.

Date: 2008-07-15
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: Law
Directs the Secretary of the Army to issue a certificate of service to Filipino nationals who the Secretary determines have performed any military service in the Philippine Islands during World War II which qualifies such a person or a survivor to receive any military, veterans', or other benefits under U.S. laws.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Republic of the Marshall Islands Supplemental Nuclear Compensation Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 to direct the Secretary of Energy, as a part of the Marshall Islands program, to periodically conduct: (1) a visual study of the concrete exterior of the Cactus Crater containment structure on Runit Island; and (2) a radiochemical analysis of the groundwater surrounding, and in, the Cactus Crater containment structure on Runit Island. Makes specified funds available to conduct such radiochemical groundwater analysis. Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees whether the surveys and analyses indicate any significant change in the health risks to the people of Enewetak from the contaminants within the Cactus Crater containment structure. (Sec. 3) Amends the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 to include a citizen or national of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Federated States of Micronesia within the definitions of "covered employee," "atomic weapons employee," and "Department of Energy contractor employee." Provides for an offset of benefits under such Act for an individual who has received benefits under such Act and under the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the same illness (other than medical benefits and benefits for vocational rehabilitation that the individual received by reason of the illness). (Sec. 4) Amends the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide to the Republic of the Marshall Islands an annual supplemental health care grant to: (1) provide enhanced primary health care, with an emphasis on providing regular screenings for radiogenic illnesses by upgrading existing services or by providing quarterly medical field team visits in Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap, Utrik, Ailuk, Mejit, Likiep, Wotho, Wotje, and Ujelang Atolls, which were affected by the U.S. nuclear testing program; (2) enhance the capabilities of the Marshall Islands to provide secondary treatment for radiogenic illness; and (3) operate a whole-body counting facility on Utrik Atoll. Appropriates FY2009-FY2023 funds.

Date: 2007-07-10
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: Health
Agent Orange Equitable Compensation Act - States that awards of veterans' disability compensation based on a presumption of service-connection due to exposure to certain herbicide agents during service in Vietnam (Agent Orange compensation) shall not be effective earlier than the effective date of the regulation establishing such presumption. States that, for purposes of such presumption, a veteran will be considered to have served in Vietnam only if the veteran was physically present on land in Vietnam or on its inland waterways, and not if the veteran served only on the waters offshore or in airspace above.

Date: 2007-09-06
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Requires the payment of compound interest by the United States on the payment of any claim in connection with the correction of a military record that involves the setting aside of a conviction by court-martial.

Date: 2008-01-23
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay (subject to the availability of appropriated funds) a specified amount of compensation to those members of the Armed Forces and U.S. civilian employees, or to the surviving spouses of such members and employees, who were captured by Japan and who were used as slave labor during World War II.

Date: 2008-06-10
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: Law
Libyan Claims Resolution Act - States that Congress supports the President's efforts to provide fair compensation to all U.S. nationals who have terrorism-related claims against Libya as part of the process of restoring normal U.S.-Libya relations. Defines "claims agreement" as a binding international agreement between the United States and Libya that provides for the settlement of terrorism-related claims of U.S. nationals against Libya through fair compensation Authorizes the Secretary of State, after consultation with the appropriate congressional committees, to designate one or more entities to assist in providing compensation to U.S. nationals pursuant to a claims agreement. States that: (1) upon such designation property that relates to the claims agreement and that is held by or transferred to or from a designated entity shall be immune from attachment or any other judicial process; (2) such entity and any person acting through or on its behalf shall not be liable in any federal or state court for any action taken to implement a claims agreement; and (3) such entity shall not be subject to the Government Corporation Control Act. Exempts Libya (and related instrumentalities and individuals) from specified property liens and attachments, limitations on foreign jurisdictional immunity, and private rights of action if the Secretary certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the U.S. government has received sufficient funds pursuant to the claims agreement to ensure: (1) payment of specified settlements to the Pan Am 103 victims families, the LaBelle Disco bombing victims, and other relevant terrorism cases; and (2) fair compensation of specified claims by U.S. nationals against Libya for wrongful death or physical injury in cases pending on the date of enactment of this Act. (Applies such provisions only to conduct or events occurring before June 30, 2006.) States that the designation and certification authorities under this Act: (1) are within the Secretary's sole discretion and may not be delegated; and (2) are not subject to judicial review.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Defense (Claims against Military)
Subject: International affairs