zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Military Retiree Dislocation Assistance Act of 2007 - Entitles a member of the Armed Forces who is retired or placed on the temporary disability list to a dislocation allowance when moving from such member's last duty station to such member's residence.

Date: 2007-07-11
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Rural Veterans Services Outreach and Training Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to make competitive grants to provide financial assistance to state departments of veterans affairs for the training of rural county veteran service officers in order to improve outreach and assistance to veterans, as well as their spouses, children, and parents, who may be eligible to receive veterans' or veterans-related benefits and who are residing in rural counties. Limits each grant to $1 million. Requires grants to be made on an annual basis.

Date: 2007-07-11
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Claims Processing Innovation Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a work credit system for evaluating regional offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) with respect to veterans' claims processing. Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop and maintain a system for processing veterans' disability compensation claims using artificial intelligence that utilizes medical and military service data to generate disability rating recommendations; and (2) maintain a regional office at which all such claims are processed exclusively electronically. Provides that if a veteran who is a claimant dies before completing the submission of a claim for benefits, the person who would receive any accrued benefit(s) due to such veteran shall be treated as the claimant for purposes of completing submission of the claim. Directs the Secretary to contract with a private entity to evaluate the training and assessment programs for VBA employees.

Date: 2007-07-16
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Disabled Veterans' Caregiver Compensation Act - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay monthly compensation of $234 to a veteran if and while totally disabled and in need of regular aid and attendance and while unpaid aid and attendance is provided by an adult family member who is dependent upon such veteran for support.

Date: 2007-07-17
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the federal judicial code with respect to certain widows and widowers whose judicial survivors' annuities are terminated on account of remarriage before age 55. Requires restoration of such benefits, at the same rate, upon the dissolution of the remarriage by death, divorce, or annulment, if specified requirements are met.

Date: 2007-07-18
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Law
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 (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretary of Defense to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of using a distinct military identification number, instead of a Social Security number, to identify each member of the armed forces.

Date: 2007-07-23
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Fair Mental Health Evaluation for Returning Veterans Act - Prohibits the Secretary of a military department from discharging due to a personality disorder a member of the Armed Forces who has served on active duty in a combat zone until the later of the date of: (1) completion by the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) of a review of Department of Defense (DOD) policies and procedures for diagnosing such a disorder; (2) issuance by the Secretary of policies and procedures to ensure the appropriate use of such a discharge; (3) establishment by the Secretary of an independent review board for personality disorder discharges; (4) submittal by the Secretary of a report to Congress on progress in implementing the requirements under (1) through (3), above; or (5) the date that is 45 days after the date of the submission of the report referred to in (4), which period shall permit Congress to consider the report. Provides an exception to such requirement in the case of a member who, during recruitment for or enlistment in the Armed Forces, provided false or misleading information, or omitted providing information about past criminal behavior, that is material to a discharge for personality disorder.

Date: 2007-07-24
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Equal Justice for Our Military Act of 2007 - Amends the federal judicial code to allow for review by writ of certiorari of certain cases denied relief or review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Date: 2007-07-25
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Law
Wounded Warrior Information Sharing Act - Directs that, in the case of a member of the Armed Forces being medically separated or retired, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall ensure (subject to the member's consent) that the member's address and contact information is transmitted, within 30 days after such separation or retirement, to the department or agency for veterans affairs of the state to which the member intends to reside.

Date: 2007-07-26
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2007 - Increases the authorized allowance for burial and funeral expenses for deceased veterans who: (1) at the time of death were in receipt of veterans' disability compensation or veterans' pension benefits; or (2) were veterans of any war or were discharged or released from active military service for a service-connected disability and for whom there is no next of kin or sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs. Increases the burial plot allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were receiving hospital or nursing home care in or through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Authorizes the annual adjustment of such allowances by the same percentage increase as adjustments to benefit amounts payable under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.

Date: 2007-07-31
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Allows veterans' disability compensation benefits to be paid to the survivor of a veteran whose service-connected disability was continuously rated totally disabling for at least one year immediately preceding death. (Current law allows such survivor right of payment if the disability was rated total for periods of up to ten years under various circumstances.)

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
21st Century Servicemembers Protection Act - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow individuals called to military service to terminate or suspend a service contract, after the date of entry into service or the date of the military orders, if: (1) the service contract (such as phone, cable, Internet, or utilities) is executed before the individual is called to service for a period of at least 90 days; or (2) the person enters into the contract while in military service and thereafter receives orders for a change of permanent station to a location outside the United States, or to deploy with a military unit for a period of at least 180 days. Provides penalties against anyone who: (1) holds property or funds of a person in military service who lawfully terminates a contract; or (2) violates the 6% limit on interest rates charged to servicemembers during a period of military service.

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Allows members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are out of uniform to render the military salute during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the flag.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Commemorations
Fair Pay for America's Troops Act - Prohibits the suspension of military active-duty deployment limits by the President for national security purposes from being used to deny the payment of a high-deployment allowance to a member of the Armed Forces if the member is otherwise qualified. Sets such such allowance at $1,000 per month. (Current law allows an amount at the discretion of the Secretary of the military department concerned, not to exceed $1,000.) Repeals the authority to exclude from eligibility for such allowance specified duty assignments approved by the Secretary of Defense. Allows for the payment of such allowance in the case of excess active-duty rotation frequencies for reserve personnel.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Reservist Access to Justice Act of 2007 - Allows a court, if it determines that a federal, state, or private employer's failure to comply with a veteran's reemployment rights was willful, to require the employer to pay the individual the greater of any loss of wages or benefits, or $20,000. Requires (current law authorizes) a court to exercise injunctive relief to fully vindicate such rights. Authorizes a court to require a state or private employer to pay punitive damages for violations found to be with malice or reckless indifference to the individual's federally-protected reemployment rights. Makes federal arbitration procedures inapplicable to claims for veterans' employment and reemployment rights and benefits.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act - Deems service of a person as a member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps between July 1, 1943, and December 15, 1945 (qualified service), to be active military service for purposes of all laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Requires: (1) the Secretary of Defense to issue an honorable discharge to each person whose qualified service warrants one; and (2) the discharge to be issued before the end of the one-year period beginning on the enactment of this Act.Prohibits benefits from being paid to persons as a result of such enactment for any period before the enactment date.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guard and Reserve Early Retirement Act of 2007 - Revises provisions concerning eligibility for military retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service to: (1) remove the requirement that the person be at least 60 years of age; and (2) provide an additional qualifier in the case of a combination of minimum age and earned duty points (requiring 4500 points with a minimum age of 55, descending to 1000 points with a minimum age of 60). Continues 60 as the minimum eligibility age for such retirees for health care furnished through the Department of Defense (DOD).

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Second Chance for America's Veterans Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a three-year workforce reentry program for veterans who are residents of a penal institution or an institution that provides long-term care for mental illness and are at-risk for homelessness once they leave such institution absent referral and counseling services. Makes available under the program job referral, counseling, and other services deemed necessary to minimize recidivism and improve job placement. Requires the program to be carried out in at least 24 locations equitably distributed throughout the United States.

Date: 2007-08-04
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Support for Injured Servicemembers Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitle an eligible employee who is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of a covered servicemember to a total of 26 workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for the servicemember. Defines covered servicemember as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, is otherwise in medical hold or medical holdover status, or is otherwise on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty that may render the member medically unfit to perform his or her duties. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid vacation, personal, family leave, or medical or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the availability of such leave during any other 12-month period. Amends federal civil service law to entitle civilian federal employees to the same leave allowance. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid annual or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period.

Date: 2007-09-06
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Labor and employment
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the taxpayer election to treat combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of calculating earned income tax credit amounts.

Date: 2007-09-14
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Sets $25 million as the maximum amount per fiscal year for reimbursement to states and local agencies administering veterans' education benefits.

Date: 2007-09-17
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitle an eligible employee to up to 24 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period to care for a spouse, parent, son, or daughter who is an injured member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy for a serious combat-related injury or illness.

Date: 2007-09-17
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Labor and employment
Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to develop a joint disability evaluation system under which: (1) the Department of Defense (DOD) shall be responsible for determining whether an injured member of the Armed Forces is fit to perform the duties of the member's office, grade, rank, or rating, or should be retired or separated because of physical disability; and (2) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall be responsible for establishing the disability rating, compensation, and benefits programs for the member so retired or separated. Directs the Secretaries to develop a single medical examination for the evaluation of members of the Armed Forces who incur an injury that may require retirement or separation which shall be used by: (1) DOD medical evaluation boards and physical evaluation boards to determine fitness to perform the duties of the member's office, grade, rank, or rating; and (2) VA to establish the member's disability rating, compensation, and benefits programs. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assess VA training programs, including an evaluation of DOD training programs for personnel whose responsibilities are related to the disability evaluation system established by this Act.

Date: 2007-09-19
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
America's Heroes Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the exemption from tax penalties for premature withdrawals from retirement plans made by individuals called to active duty in the Armed Forces.

Date: 2007-09-19
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Providing Tax Fairness for Service Members and Veterans Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2011: (1) the taxpayer election to include combat pay as earned income for purposes of computing the earned income tax credit; and (2) eligibility of veterans for mortgage financing without regard to first-time homebuyer requirements.

Date: 2007-09-20
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Veterans Benefits Awareness Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to purchase advertising in national media outlets to promote awareness of veterans' benefits, including assistance for homeless veterans, the promotion of veteran-owned small businesses, opportunities for employment in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and for education, training, compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, and health care benefits, as well as mental health care (including the prevention of suicide among veterans).

Date: 2007-09-27
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the use of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds to finance the purchase of residences for veterans who are exempt from prior homeownership requirements.

Date: 2007-10-03
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Military Valor Roll of Honor Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the Military Valor Roll of Honor registry which shall: (1) contain the names and citations of all members of the Armed Forces, members of the U.S. merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service), and civilians affiliated with the Armed Forces who have been awarded the medal of honor or any other medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces, the U.S. merchant marine, or affiliated civilians; and (2) be a publicly available database.

Date: 2007-10-04
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Servicemembers Telecom Contract Relief Act - Allows a person in military service to terminate a telecommunications contract for cellular phone service, cable or satellite television service, or internet service at any time after: (1) entry into military service; or (2) the date of the station or deployment orders. Requires for termination that: (1) the contract is executed by or on behalf of a person who thereafter and during the term of the contract enters military service (or receives order to enter military service) under an order specifying a period of not less than 90 days (or who enters military service under an order specifying a period of 90 days or less and who, without a break in service, receives orders extending the period of military service to a period of not less than 90 days); or (2) the person enters into the contract while in military service and thereafter receives military orders for a permanent change of station outside of the continental United States, or to deploy with a military unit for a period of not less than 90 days, to a location that does not support continuation of the service under the contract.

Date: 2007-10-09
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007 - Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007 - Requires a member of the Armed Forces who receives a bonus or similar benefit subject to the condition that the member continue to satisfy certain eligibility requirements to repay the unearned portion of the bonus or similar benefit if the member fails to satisfy the eligibility requirements and prohibits receiving any unpaid amounts, unless the Secretary concerned determines that the imposition of the repayment requirement and termination of the payment of unpaid amounts of the bonus or similar benefit would be contrary to a personnel policy or management objective, would be against equity and good conscience, or would be contrary to the best interests of the United States. Provides that if a member dies (other than as a result of their own misconduct) or is separated or retired due to a combat-related injury, then the Secretary concerned shall: (1) not require repayment by the member or member's estate of the unearned portion of any bonus or special pay previously paid to the member; and (2) require the payment to the member or member's estate of the remainder of any bonus or special pay not yet paid, but to which the member was entitled to immediately before their death, retirement, or separation. Requires the latter payment to made in a lump sum within 90 days after such death, retirement, or separation. Provides the same discretionary authority and requirements as above for the Secretary concerned with respect to repayment by a member of the unearned portion of any military bonus, special pay, or similar benefit when the member fails to satisfy any service or eligibility requirement.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Recognition of Forgotten Atomic Veterans and their Surviving Spouses Act of 2007 - Directs the Attorney General (AG) to: (1) obtain from files of the Operations Office of the Department of Energy in Nevada records showing the identity of all atomic veterans (those exposed to ionizing radiation or fallout from the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device); (2) locate such veterans; and (3) advise them of the provisions of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, including the right to file a claim thereunder. Directs the AG, with respect to each identified veteran who is deceased, to locate and advise his or her surviving spouse of such Act and their right to file a claim. Directs the AG to assist each such veteran or surviving spouse in filing such a claim. Expands the number of diseases considered service-connected when appearing in radiation-exposed veterans.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
You Were There, You Get Care Act of 2007 - Presumes specified diseases, and any other disease found by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to result from exposure to depleted uranium or the byproducts of the burn-off that occurs when a depleted uranium munition penetrates a target, among those diseases that will be presumed to be service-connected (and therefore compensable) when appearing in radiation-exposed veterans. Includes, for purposes of such coverage, service during the Persian Gulf War or any subsequent conflict in which depleted uranium munitions are used. Directs the Secretary to provide for an independent medical study to determine other diseases that may result from exposure to depleted uranium. Requires study results to be submitted to the congressional veterans' committees.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Combat Troops Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the taxpayer election to include combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of calculating the earned income tax credit; and (2) allow an additional $1,000 standard tax deduction in 2007 and 2008 for members of the uniformed services on active duty for more than 30 days.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Military Financial Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2008: (1) the exemption from tax penalties for withdrawals from retirement plans made by active duty military personnel; and (2) mortgage revenue bond issuance authority for financing of home purchases by veterans.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2008 - Requires (current law authorizes) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain veterans without a service-connected disability enrolled as active participants of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care plan for the cost of emergency treatment received in a non-VA facility until such time as such veterans are transferred to a VA facility. Requires (current law authorizes) the Secretary to reimburse certain veterans with a service-connected disability or a non-service-connected disability associated with or aggravating a service-connected disability for the value of emergency treatment for which such veterans have made payment from sources other than the VA.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Active Duty Military Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain small business owners (businesses having 100 or fewer employees) and self-employed individuals a tax credit for wages paid to members of the Ready Reserve of the Armed Forces and to temporary replacement employees for such members while on active military duty; (2) treat differential wage payments made to members of the Ready Reserve as earned income for tax withholding and retirement plan purposes; (3) allow the rollover of military death gratuities to individual retirement accounts, health savings accounts, Archer medical savings accounts, and education savings accounts; (4) increase the standard tax deduction by $1,000 in 2007 and 2008 for members of the uniformed services on active duty for more than 30 days; and (5) make permanent the taxpayer election to treat combat pay as earned income for purposes of computing the earned income tax credit and tax-free retirement plan distributions to individuals called to active duty.

Date: 2007-10-15
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to state that a person who is an elected member of a state or local legislature who is absent from the state or local area in compliance with military or naval orders shall not, solely by reason of that absence, be denied the right to vote on any pending legislative matter.

Date: 2007-10-16
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Captain Scott Corwin Armed Forces Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) provide enhanced criminal penalties for killing, or conspiring or attempting to kill, any member of the Armed Forces; and (2) add as an aggravating factor in death penalty deliberations the killing of a member of the Armed Forces.

Date: 2007-10-18
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, subject to the availability of appropriated funds, to conduct a longitudinal study of each group of individuals who began participating in a veterans' vocational rehabilitation program during FY2009, FY2011, and FY2014. Requires the Secretary: (1) to study each group over at least a 20-year period; and (2) to report to the congressional veterans' committees during each year covered by the study.

Date: 2007-10-18
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent: (1) the taxpayer election to include combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit; and (2) the exemption from penalties for premature distributions from retirement plans to individuals called or ordered to active military duty.Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to exclude from supplement security income benefit determinations any state annuity paid to a blind veteran.

Date: 2007-10-23
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse a member of a veterans' service organization or other organization approved by the Secretary for transportation and other appropriate expenses incurred in connection with the voluntary provision of a funeral honors detail at the funeral of a veteran, including when requested by a funeral home.

Date: 2007-10-24
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase to $5,000 the maximum dollar amount of the child tax credit for the surviving spouse and children of a member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving in a combat zone; and (2) waive the adjusted gross income limitation applicable to the child tax credit for such military families.

Date: 2007-10-24
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Military Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Act - Establishes in the Department of Defense (DOD) an Office of the Victims' Advocate to facilitate access to services for victims of domestic or family violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the military. Directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Office, to require DOD policies for victim assistance, family advocacy, and equal opportunity programs to provide for a victims' advocates program within each military department. Authorizes the Secretary to award contracts to: (1) support DOD crisis intervention services for victims of such violence; and (2) provide training on prevention of such violence. Prohibits any person from restricting a member of the Armed Forces in communicating with the Office or from taking or withholding a personnel action in retaliation for making such a communication. Provides for: (1) employment of a sexual assault nurse examiner, a psychiatrist, and a complimentary clinical team at each DOD military treatment facility; and (2) DOD community level programs and shelter services for active duty members and their families who are victims of such violence shelter . Specifies the rights of victims of such violence reported to a military law enforcement agency. Directs a military commanding officer who receives a qualifying complaint alleging such violence to investigate it and report. Specifies circumstances under which military law enforcement officers shall arrest a person for committing domestic violence. Establishes a Director of Special Investigations in DOD to review investigations of allegations of such violence and refer cases for prosecution.Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to: (1) include as "aggravated assault" and specify penalty limits for an assault involving domestic or family violence; and (2) provide for court-martial punishment of violations of no contact or protective orders. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) contract for treatment services for members of the Armed Forces who have committed such violence; and (2) ensure that sex offender treatment providers in the contracted program meet the state licensing or certification standards. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) ensure that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care providers receive training in the screening and referral of veterans who have suffered military sexual trauma; and (2) conduct related pilot programs. Prohibits the Secretary of the military department concerned from approving a financial award or a promotion for an officer or employee who has been convicted of or disciplined for committing such violence. Directs the Secretary to study: (1) the prevalence and nature of such violence, of intimate partner violence, and of child maltreatment, abuse, suicide, and homicide in the Armed Forces; and (2) military procedures after an incident is reported.

Date: 2007-10-29
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Military Family Job Protection Act - Prohibits a covered family member who is caring for a servicemember who is undergoing medical treatment for an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated while on active military duty from being denied retention in employment, promotion, or any employment benefit by an employer on the basis of the family member's absence from such employment for a period of not more than 52 weeks. Includes as a covered family member one who, while caring for the recovering servicemember, is: (1) on invitational orders; (2) a non-medical attendee; or (3) receiving per diem payments from the Department of Defense (DOD).

Date: 2007-10-30
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Labor and employment
Repeals specified exceptions to rights of certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees to engage in collective bargaining. Requires a final decision of the (VA) with respect to the review of an adverse personnel action against a (VA) employee to be issued not later than 60 days after such action has been appealed. Subjects such decision to judicial review in the appropriate U.S. District Court or, if the decision is made by a labor arbitrator, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Date: 2007-10-31
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Atomic Veterans Relief Act - Includes within the definition of a "radiation-risk activity" for purposes of eligibility criteria for veterans' disability compensation the exposure to ionizing radiation due to residual contamination resulting from participation in a nuclear detonation. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in regulations pertaining to the service-connection of veterans' disabilities additional provisions to ensure, in the case of a claim by a radiation-exposed veteran for service-connection of a nonpresumptive disability, that the procedures for establishment of whether the disability is service-connected do not require imputation to the veteran, through a process known as dose reconstruction, of any particular level of exposure to ionizing radiation.

Date: 2007-11-01
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Disabled Veterans Right to Commissaries and Space Available Travel Act - Requires veterans with disabilities rated at 30% or more to be permitted to use commissary and exchange stores on the same basis as members of the Armed Forces eligible for retired or retainer pay. Extends such benefit to dependents on the same basis. Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide transportation on Department of Defense aircraft on a space-available basis for any veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 50% or more on the same basis as members entitled to retired or retainer pay. Extends such benefit to dependents on the same basis.

Date: 2007-11-05
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Quality of Life Study Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract with the Institute of Medicine, or other appropriate entity, to conduct a study analyzing the extent to which the Department of Veterans Affairs schedule for rating disabilities accounts for or should be amended to account, measure, and compensate for loss of quality of life to veterans due to a disability resulting from a personal injury suffered or disease contracted in the line of duty. Provides that if a veteran who is a claimant dies before completing the submission of a claim for benefits, the person who would receive any accrued benefits due to such veteran shall be treated as the claimant for purposes of completing submission of the claim. Requires an annual report from the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) to the congressional veterans' committees summarizing the Court's workload. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Court should be provided with appropriate office space, without undue disruption, inconvenience, or cost. Requires a report from the Administrator of General Services to the veterans' committees on the feasibility of leasing additional space for the Court, and using the entire building in which the Court is now housed as a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center.

Date: 2007-11-06
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Military Service Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent: (1) penalty-free distributions from individual retirement plans to individuals called or ordered to active military duty; and (2) the taxpayer election to include combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of computing the earned income tax credit.

Date: 2007-11-06
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Repeals specified exceptions to rights of certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees to engage in collective bargaining. Requires a final decision of the VA with respect to the review of an adverse personnel action against a VA employee to be issued not later than 60 days after such action has been appealed. Subjects such decision to judicial review in the appropriate U.S. District Court or, if the decision is made by a labor arbitrator, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Date: 2007-11-06
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Requires Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations governing determinations of ineligibility for appointment to a position in an executive agency because of deliberate failure to register with the selective service to provide exceptions for: (1) the appointment of an individual who was discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions; and (2) the appointment or continued employment of an individual who has reached 31 years of age.

Date: 2007-11-07
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a $300 plot allowance to a state for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in state cemeteries.

Date: 2007-11-09
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to place in Arlington National Cemetery an American Braille tactile flag honoring blind members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and other Americans. Grants the Secretary exclusive authority to approve an appropriate design and site within Arlington National Cemetery for the memorial.

Date: 2007-11-13
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Suicide Study Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs conduct a study to determine the number of veterans who have committed suicide between January 1, 1997, and the date of the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2007-11-15
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Immediate Benefits for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, for purposes of the laws administered by the Secretary and at the request of an eligible member of the Armed Forces who has served on active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, to assign to that member a 30% temporary disability rating upon such member's separation from the Armed Forces, or in the case of an eligible member who has received a medical diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, upon receipt of such diagnosis. States that upon assignment of a permanent disability rating to a member who has received such temporary rating: (1) if the permanent rating exceeds 30% payments shall be made for such "temporary rating months" to equal the payments under the higher permanent rating; and (2) if the permanent rating is less than 30% the member shall not be required to repay such amounts. States that disability compensation payments received by a member who receives such temporary disability rating are not subject to offset even though the member also receives separation or disability severance pay.

Date: 2007-11-15
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a Bonus Review Board which shall review proposed ratings, bonuses, and pay adjustments for covered VA employees and make recommendations with respect to the award of such ratings, bonuses, and pay adjustments.

Date: 2007-11-15
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make a grant to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to plan, develop, manage, and implement the Paralympic Program (Program) for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces (members). Directs the USOC to use a grant to recruit, support, encourage, schedule, facilitate, supervise, and implement paralympic instruction and competition activities, training and technical assistance, and coordination and program development activities for such disabled veterans and members. Requires: (1) the Secretary to conduct an outreach program to inform eligible veterans and separating members about the Program; and (2) a memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement between the Secretary and the USOC regarding Program implementation. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events, headed by a Director, to carry out qualifying programs and events for disabled veterans and members. Authorizes the Director to provide an allowance for a disabled veteran for each month in which the veteran is training or competing in a USOC-sanctioned event or residing at a USOC training center. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to direct the VA's Under Secretary for Health to: (1) make VA medical staff available to facilitate veteran participation in USOC sporting events; (2) allow such personnel to participate in the Program without requiring the use of personal leave; and (3) support other similar activities or events.

Date: 2007-12-04
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Gold Star Parents Annuity Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay a special pension to each person who has received a Gold Star lapel button as a parent of a member of the Armed Forces who died while serving.

Date: 2007-12-04
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits requiring repayment of a bonus or similar benefit, and requires the payment of any portion of such benefit not yet paid, when certain eligibility requirements for the receipt of such benefit are not met due to the death or retirement or separation of the member due to an injury, illness, or other impairment not incurred as a result of the member's own misconduct. Permits, in cases not covered by the above paragraph, additional exceptions to the repayment requirement when it would be contrary to personnel policy, good conscience, or the best interests of the United States. Provides for the retroactive application of this Act beginning on September 11, 2001, as specified.

Date: 2007-12-06
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Emergency Relief Tax Check-Off for Our Armed Forces Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction (available to taxpayers who do not itemize their tax deductions) for charitable contributions of up to $1,000 ($2,000 in the case of a joint return) to the Armed Forces Relief Trust. Allows taxpayers to designate on their tax returns a portion of any overpayment of tax as a contribution to the Trust or to make a cash contribution to the Trust with their tax returns.Establishes an advisory board to advise the Trust on its operation and on the distribution of contributed funds.

Date: 2007-12-06
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free distributions of amounts from a flexible spending arrangement to members of a military reserve component ordered or called to active duty for at least 180 days or for an indefinite period.

Date: 2007-12-11
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Taxation
In Memory Medal For Forgotten Veterans Act - Establishes the "Jesus (Chuchi) Salgado Medal" to be issued by the Secretary of Defense to a qualifying veteran who died after serving in the Vietnam War but whose death is determined to be a direct result of such service and whose name is not eligible for placement on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Date: 2007-12-17
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income payments made to members of the Armed Forces as enlistment and reenlistment bonuses. Requires the Secretary of Defense to continue the payment to members of the Armed Forces who are retired or separated for disability due to a combat-related injury of certain bonuses to which such members were entitled immediately before retirement or separation and to which such members would continue to be entitled if they were not retired or separated.

Date: 2007-12-17
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from authorizing an honor guard to participate in the funeral of any veteran interred in a national cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Administration unless the honor guard agrees to offer to the family of each veteran in whose funeral the honor guard chooses to participate the option of having it perform one of the 13-fold flag recitations.Expresses the sense of Congress that 13-fold flag recitations are a historical tradition and that it should be the policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to authorize honor guards to participate in the funerals of veterans and proactively offer such a recitation to each veteran's family.

Date: 2007-12-18
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Helping Our Veterans to Keep Their Homes Act of 2008 - Increases from 90% to 100% of the reasonable value of a veteran's dwelling or farm residence the amount of the loan to be guaranteed or made in the case of a loan to refinance certain loans. Repeals the current fee schedule with respect to veterans' housing and small business loans. Changes the loan fee for such loans to 1% of the total amount of the loan guaranteed, insured, or made, or in the case of a loan assumption, the unpaid principal balance of the loan on the date of the transfer of the property. Extends the demonstration projects involving: (1) adjustable rate mortgages through FY2018; and (2) hybrid adjustable rate through FY2012. Increases the maximum loan guaranty amount of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) conforming limit limitation determined for a single-family residence, as adjusted for the year involved. Provides for an annual inflation increase in home loan guaranty amounts. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review and streamline the process of guaranteeing home loans for the purchase of a condominium.

Date: 2007-12-19
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned, in the case of funeral honors for a veteran that are provided by a detail consisting solely of members of veterans organizations or other related organizations, to support the provision of such funeral honors through a daily stipend to each detail participant.

Date: 2007-12-19
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to back-date to September 11, 2001, the period of active duty or performed active service, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations, for which members of Ready Reserve components of the armed forces shall receive credit in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.

Date: 2007-12-19
Topic: Defense (Personnel Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security