zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Revises the federal charter of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States to include the president elect of the Association on the national executive committee as a non-voting member. Specifies that the three national executive committee members on the national executive committee are a minimum of three (thus allowing for an increase in such number). Makes the president elect of the Association an officer. Specifies that the three national executive committee members who are officers of the Association are a minimum of three (thus allowing for an increase in such number). Eliminates the specific inclusion among the officers of a surgeon, a chaplain, a historian, and a public relations officer. Allows the addition as officers of any others specified in the Association's constitution (currently, as decided at the national convention). Declares that the officers shall take office at the national convention. Requires the judge advocate to be appointed by the national executive committee. Allows for appointment by the national executive committee of any other national officers specified in the Association's constitution. Revises the requirement that minutes be kept of the proceedings of the national council. Eliminates specification of the national council and replaces it with other national entities of the Association (the minutes of whose proceedings must be kept).

Date: 2009-09-16
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Youth Challenge Enhancement Act - Amends the National Guard Youth Challenge Program (a training program to improve life skills and employment potential of civilian youth participants) to increase the authorized Department of Defense (DOD) share of expenses to 100% of operating costs for the first three years of a state program of the Program.

Date: 2010-03-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Hire A Hero Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain employers a work opportunity tax credit for hiring members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard.

Date: 2010-03-16
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act - Removes the requirement that days of active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of the reserves may retire for non-regular (reserve) service must occur in the same fiscal year.

Date: 2010-03-25
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Border Enforcement Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) (Secretary) to deploy at least an additional 10,000 members of the National Guard for border control activities along the U.S.-Mexico border until the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies that the federal government has achieved operational control of the border. Authorizes the Secretary to exceed 10,000 upon the request of a state that shares a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border if, despite deployment of the additional 10,000, operational control of the border has not been achieved. Requires the Secretary to provide funding to a state that submits to the Secretary of State a state border control activities plan meeting certain requirements. Limits the number of National Guard that may be so deployed.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guardians of Freedom Act of 2010 - Directs the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to serve as an advocate and liaison for the National Guard of each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands (the states and such areas) and inform such National Guards of all actions that could affect their federal or state missions, including any equipment level or force structure changes. Requires the Chief to: (1) be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with responsibility for advocating for the National Guards of the states and such areas; and (2) consult with state governors and adjutant generals before any changes are made in National Guard force structure or equipment levels.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Fortifying Operational Reserve Component Efforts Act of 2009 or FORCE Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to conduct a review of Department of Defense (DOD) communications to reserve members of the Armed Forces and their families on health benefits, family support, and other resources available through DOD. Requires: (1) the review to include member and family surveys on their participation in programs and activities associated with member mobilization and demobilization; and (2) the Secretary, using review results, to enhance DOD educational materials provided to such members and families on such benefits, support, and resources.Directs: (1) the Secretary of the military department concerned (Secretary concerned) to assign to each unit of a reserve component under their jurisdiction full-time personnel to provide assistance to the family of a member during, and in connection with, the mobilization and deployment of such unit; and (2) the Secretary to ensure a minimum number of Transition Assistance Advisors in each state.Requires: (1) the Secretary to provide a post-deployment health reassessment to each reserve member returning from deployment in Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom; and (2) the Secretary concerned to provide each reserve member an annual briefing on health benefits available to members and dependents under the TRICARE program (a DOD managed care program).Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay to a reserve member activated for more than 30 days a monthly stipend to cover, during the activation period, the cost of private health insurance for the spouse and dependents of such member who reside more than 50 miles from the nearest military medical treatment facility or TRICARE services provider.Directs the Secretary to provide to reserve units comprehensive training on mental health matters.Provides funding for mental health care for National Guard members who incurred a psychological or mental illness or injury while on active duty.Requires the Secretary to: (1) measure the achievement of DOD objectives for reserve member participation in the Transition Assistance Program; and (2) ensure that each member of the Individual Ready Reserve who deploys as an individual is provided the same pre- and post-deployment information as provided to members who deploy as a unit.Expresses the sense of Congress that National Guard members returning from deployment in a contingency operation or homeland defense mission of one year or longer should: (1) not be required to commence full-time National Guard duty immediately upon their return; and (2) be permitted to elect to postpone commencement of deactivation from active-duty status until at least 90 days after such return.

Date: 2009-01-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the National Guard Youth Challenge Program (a training program to improve life skills and employment potential of civilian youth participants) to increase the Department of Defense (DOD) share of expenses to: (1) 100% of operating costs, in the first two years of a state program of the Program; and (2) 75% of operating costs, in the case of any other state program of the Program.

Date: 2009-03-19
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Makes a member of the Retired Reserve who is qualified for a non-regular (reserve) retirement at age 60, but is not yet 60, eligible for health benefits under TRICARE Standard (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program for members of the reserves). Terminates such eligibility when the member becomes eligible for TRICARE Standard at age 60. Includes immediate family members under such coverage. Requires members to pay a premium for such coverage.

Date: 2009-03-26
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Makes funds appropriated to the Department of Defense (DOD) available for costs incurred by the National Guard in conducting international military-to-civilian contacts, civilian-to-civilian contacts, and comparable activities in order to: (1) support objectives of the commander of the combatant command for the theater of operations in which the contacts occur; (2) build international civil-military partnerships and capacity; (3) strengthen cooperation between U.S. and foreign departments and agencies; (4) facilitate intergovernmental collaboration between the U.S. government and foreign governments; and (5) facilitate the exchange of information between the U.S. government and foreign governments on matters relating to defense and security.

Date: 2009-04-01
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Voluntary Support for Reservists and National Guard Members Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to designate that a portion (but not less than $5) of any income tax overpayment be paid over to the Reserve Income Replacement Program to benefit reservists and National Guard members.

Date: 2009-06-03
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Increases (from 1,600 to 3,200) the limitation on the number of non-dual status technicians employed by the Army National Guard. Increases (from 1,950 to 3,550) the permanent limitation on the total number of such personnel employed by the National Guard.

Date: 2009-06-18
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2009 - Adds the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Requires the Chief to: (1) identify gaps between federal and state military capabilities to prepare for and respond to emergencies; and (2) make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense for military assistance to civil authorities to address such gaps. Requires annual defense budget documents to specify separate amounts for training and equipment and military construction for the National Guard for military assistance to civil authorities and other domestic operations. Reestablishes the position of Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Directs the Secretary to assure that tactical control of the Armed Forces on duty within a state or possession is vested in the governor thereof when such forces are engaged in a domestic operation, including emergency response. Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2010 for National Guard: (1) continuity of operations, continuity of government, and consequence management in connection with response to terrorist and other attacks and catastrophes; (2) emergency preparedness and response activities; and (3) staffing of joint operations coordination centers in response to terrorist and other attacks and catastrophes. States that the United States Northern Command and the United States Pacific Command shall be the combatant commands principally responsible for the military support of civil authorities in the United States. Requires the Commander of each Command and the Chief to enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth the operational relationships, and individual roles and responsibilities, during responses to domestic emergencies among such Commands and the National Guard Bureau. Requires the officers serving as Commander of Army North Command and Commander of Air Force North Command to be officers in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, respectively. Expresses the sense of Congress that, in assigning officers to such positions, the President should afford a preference to officers who have served as a state adjutant general.

Date: 2009-06-25
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to reimburse a member of the reserves for transportation expenses incurred in connection with: (1) round-trip travel in excess of 100 miles to an inactive duty training location, regardless of the method of transportation; and (2) round-trip travel of any distance to an inactive duty training location, if such travel requires a commercial method of transportation other than ground transportation. Requires the Secretary, in determining the amount of the allowance or reimbursement, to use the reimbursement rate for the use of privately-owned vehicles by government employees on official business.

Date: 2009-08-03
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Utah National Guard Readiness Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to convey, without consideration, to the state of Utah all interest of the United States in and to certain federal land that is located within the boundaries of the parcel of public land withdrawn by the Utah National Guard and known as "Camp Williams" for the purpose of permitting the Utah National Guard to use such federal land.

Date: 2009-09-25
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Sergeant Coleman Bean National Guard and Reserves Mental Health Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to authorize the Secretary of the military department concerned (Secretary concerned) to call or order to active duty a member of the National Guard or reserves previously deployed in connection with a contingency operation, in order to perform a post-deployment mental health assessment of such member. Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that each of the following individuals receive, at least once every 90 days, a telephone call from properly-trained DOD personnel to determine their emotional, psychological, medical, and career needs and concerns: (1) members of the Individual Ready Reserve who deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq on or after September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation; or (2) an individual mobilization augmentee or member of the inactive National Guard who has so deployed. Excludes from such requirement members not subjected or exposed to operational risk factors during such deployment. Requires the person making the call to refer a member identified as being at-risk of self-caused harm to the nearest military medical treatment facility or accredited TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program) provider for immediate evaluation and necessary treatment. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to call such a member to active duty, with their consent, for such evaluation and treatment. Requires annual reports from the Secretary to Congress on the number of members so referred, as well as their health and career status.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from 100 miles to 50 miles the distance from home threshold for allowing members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces to claim a tax deduction for their expenses paid or incurred in connection with their military service.

Date: 2010-09-22
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Transition Assistance Advisor Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD), as part of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, to ensure: (1) during the period beginning 180 days before the commencement of a contingency operation and ending 180 days after its conclusion, at least one Transition Assistance Advisor for every 1,500 Army and Air National Guard members who reside in each state; and (2) during any other period, at least one Advisor for every 5,000 Army and Air National Guard members who reside in each state.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guardians of Freedom Act of 2011 - Directs the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to serve as an advocate and liaison for the National Guard of each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands (the states and such areas) and inform such National Guards of all actions that could affect their federal or state missions, including any equipment level or force structure changes. Requires the Chief to: (1) be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with responsibility for advocating for the National Guards of the states and such areas; and (2) consult with state governors and adjutants general before any changes are made in National Guard force structure or equipment levels.

Date: 2011-02-10
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 20, 2011. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Utah National Guard Readiness Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to convey to the state of Utah, without consideration, certain lands located within the boundaries of the public lands currently withdrawn for military use by the Utah National Guard and known as "Camp Williams" for the purpose of permitting the Utah National Guard to use such conveyed land. Provides for the supersedence of a specified Executive Order only insofar as it affects the lands identified for conveyance. Reverts conveyed lands to the United States if the Secretary of Defense (DOD) determines that the land, or any part of such land, is sold or attempted to be sold, or that it or any part is used for non-National Guard or non-national defense purposes. Requires the state, with respect to any part of the land conveyed that the Secretary of Defense determines is subject to reversion, if such Secretary determines that the part contains hazardous materials, to pay the United States the fair market value of that part of the conveyed land. Bars the application of the reversionary interest to that part of the land.

Date: 2011-02-14
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Honors as a veteran any person entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or, but for age, would be so entitled. Provides that such person shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of such recognition.

Date: 2011-03-10
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that each of the following individuals receive, at least once every 90 days, a telephone call from properly-trained DOD personnel to determine their emotional, psychological, medical, and career needs and concerns: (1) members of the Individual Ready Reserve who deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq in support of a contingency operation, (2) a member of a reserve component who the Secretary determines is an individual mobilization augmentee who has so deployed, or (3) a member of the inactive National Guard. Requires the person making the call to refer a member identified as being at-risk of self-caused harm to the nearest military medical treatment facility or accredited TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program) provider for immediate evaluation and necessary treatment. Directs the Secretary to refer such member to a private provider upon determining that such provider will ensure that the member will receive treatment and assistance without delay. Requires annual reports from the Secretary to Congress on the number of members so referred, their health and career status, and any situations that may be impeding the counseling calls from reaching all appropriate members. Requires a one-time report from the Comptroller General to Congress on suicide among such members. Directs the Secretary to develop, evaluate, and more widely disseminate programs that promote: (1) connectivity between members of the Armed Forces and their family, peers, and immediate chain of command; and (2) suicide risk identification and response, with particular emphasis on members of reserve components.

Date: 2011-03-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Technician Equity Act - Provides a person the right to be employed as a non-dual status technician if: (1) the technician position has been designated to be filled only by a non-dual status technician, or (2) the person occupying the technician position has at least 20 years of service as a dual status military technician. Repeals: (1) the permanent limitation on the number of non-dual status technicians, and (2) the prohibition against overtime pay for National Guard technicians. Provides for: (1) continued compensation for a military technician who was hired as a dual status technician but who is no longer a member of the Selected Reserve; and (2) certain enlistment, reenlistment, and student loan benefits for military technicians. Provides for a technician's rights of grievance, arbitration, appeal, and review beyond the current stage of the adjutant general of the jurisdiction concerned. Makes a dual status military technician eligible for early retirement if separating from the Selected Reserve or ceasing to hold a specified military grade after: (1) completing 25 years of technician service, or (2) becoming 50 years old and completing 20 years of such service. Increases annual paid employment leave to 30 days for reserve or National Guard duty. Revises specified provisions regarding employer health plan contributions for members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces. Reduces to 55 the eligibility age for retired pay for non-regular service.

Date: 2011-03-17
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Designates Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States. Directs the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to provide military ceremonial support at the dedication of any monument, plaque, or other official recognition celebrating such designation. Prohibits federal funds from being used in connection with such recognition.

Date: 2011-04-01
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide employers a business tax credit for up to 10% of compensation not paid to their employees who were members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard absent from work to perform active duty. Limits such credit to $2,000 for any one Ready Reserve-National Guard employee per year.

Date: 2011-04-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Requires that, for each fiscal year beginning with FY2012, discretionary new budget authority provided in an appropriations Act for the military personnel accounts of the Department of Defense (DOD) shall: (1) be made available for that fiscal year; and (2) include, for each account, advance discretionary new budget authority that first becomes available for the first fiscal year after the budget year. Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) include in annual budget documents detailed estimates of the funds necessary for the military personnel accounts for the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, and (2) report annually to Congress on the sufficiency of DOD resources for the next fiscal year for the provision of military pay and allowances for regular and reserve military personnel.

Date: 2011-04-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011 - Provides employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty.

Date: 2011-05-10
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 to exempt for an additional four-year period qualifying Armed Forces reserve component and National Guard members (who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for at least 90 days, and remain eligible for an exemption during the 540-day period following such active duty or homeland defense activity service) from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7 (Liquidation) of the Bankruptcy Code, as amended by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

Date: 2011-06-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Memorialize Our Guardsmen and Reservists Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make available for purchase a memorial headstone or marker for the marked or unmarked grave of: (1) an individual who performed inactive duty training or active duty for training as a member of a reserve component, but did not serve on active duty and is not otherwise ineligible for a memorial headstone or marker on account of the nature of the individual's separation from the Armed Forces or other cause; or (2) such an individual whose remains are unavailable.

Date: 2011-06-23
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Outreach Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to assist a state National Guard in providing pre- and post-deployment outreach, reintegration, and readjustment program services to: (1) reserve component Armed Forces members residing in the state or National Guard members of the state regardless of place of residence who are ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation and such members upon returning from such active duty, (2) veterans, and (3) dependents of such members and veterans. Requires: (1) supported programs to use direct person-to-person outreach and other relevant activities ensuring that eligible persons receive all the available services and support; and (2) a decision to commit, obligate, or expend funds with or to a specific National Guard to be based on certain merit-based or competitive procedures.

Date: 2011-06-24
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits reducing the rate of basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard upon the transition of the member from active duty to full-time National Guard duty, or from full-time National Guard duty to active duty, when the transition occurs without a break in active service.

Date: 2011-08-01
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Joining Forces for Military Mental Health Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, through community partnerships with private nonprofit organizations, to carry out a three-year pilot program assessing the enhancement of Department of Defense (DOD) efforts in research, treatment, education, and outreach on mental health and substance use disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in members of the National Guard and Reserves and their family members and caregivers. Allows the Secretary, using a competitive or merit-based award process, to award up to five grants to such community partners, provided that the awardee agrees to make matching contributions from nonfederal sources (whether public or private) of at least $3 for each $1 provided under the grant. Requires grant-seeking organizations to submit an application including a description of proposed collaboration initiatives and existing research efforts.

Date: 2011-08-01
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Adds the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Bureau) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Reestablishes the position of Vice Chief of the Bureau. Terminates the position of Director of the Joint Staff of the Bureau and transfers existing duties of the Director to the Vice Chief.

Date: 2011-11-17
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 15, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to determine that the changes made to the program guidance relating to the award of Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence administrative absence days or other authorized benefits described herein to members and former members of the reserves under a specified Department of Defense (DOD) instruction shall not apply to current or former reservists whose qualified mobilization commenced before October 1, 2011, and continued until the termination of the mobilization. Includes within such authorized benefits: (1) the payment of up to $200 per day for each day the individual would have qualified for a day of administrative absence had the above changes not applied to the individual, in the case of a former member of the Armed Forces; (2) either one day of administrative absence or up to $200 per day as described above, in the case of a member on active duty at the time of the provision of benefits; and (3) either one day of administrative absence to be retained for future use or up to $200 per day as described above, in the case of a member serving in the Selected Reserve, Inactive National Guard, or Individual Ready Reserve at the time of the provision of benefits. Excludes such additional benefits for former members discharged or released under other than honorable conditions. Terminates the benefit authority under this Act on October 1, 2014. Directs the Secretary to transfer specified funds from the Pentagon Reservation Maintenance Revolving Fund as a funding offset for such benefits.

Date: 2012-02-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Space-Available Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to provide transportation on Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft on a space-available basis for: (1) active duty and reserve members holding a valid Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card; (2) retired members who, but for not attaining age 60, would be eligible for military retired pay; (3) an unremarried widow or widower of an active or reserve member; and (3) certain dependents of members described above. Allows the Secretary to establish an order of priority based on considerations of military needs and readiness.

Date: 2012-03-07
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Requires the Chief of the Forest Service to make the eight Forest Service First Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS I) units available, without compensation, to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have C-130H aircraft configured to contain such an MAFFS I unit and adequate pilot and crew member training in its use to fight wildfires. Directs the Chief to make the nine Forest Service Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS II) units immediately available, without compensation, to specified units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve in Wyoming, North Carolina, Colorado, and California. Prohibits the Chief from procuring air tankers to fight wildfires from a foreign government without certifying that MAFFS air tanker support available from units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve is being fully utilized or is insufficient to address wildfires on National Forest System land.

Date: 2012-06-19
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Emergency management
Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned, if more than 15% of the qualified students at a secondary educational institution are enrolled in its Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) unit and the institution has fewer than three program instructors, to detail additional active-duty officers and employ additional retired members of the Armed Forces to serve as an instructor. Requires the Secretary concerned to cover the entire cost of employment of any additional instructors.

Date: 2012-09-20
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guardians of Freedom Act of 2011 - Directs the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to serve as an advocate and liaison for the National Guard of each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands (the states and such areas) and inform such National Guards of all actions that could affect their federal or state missions, including any equipment level or force structure changes. Requires the Chief to: (1) be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with responsibility for advocating for the National Guards of the states and such areas; and (2) consult with state governors and adjutants general before any changes are made in National Guard force structure or equipment levels.

Date: 2011-01-31
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide to each reserve member performing inactive-duty training during scheduled unit training assemblies access to mental health assessments with a licensed mental health professional, who shall be available for referrals during duty hours at the principal duty location of the member's unit. Requires all mental health services provided to be subject to and comply with applicable federal privacy and security rules. Requires each reserve member participating in annual training or individual duty training to have access, during such participation, to specified behavioral health support programs, including: (1) suicide prevention and post-suicide response, and (2) psychological health programs.

Date: 2011-02-10
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Hire A Hero Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow employers a work opportunity tax credit for hiring a member of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard, and (2) make such credit permanent. Rescinds the amount of appropriated but unobligated discretionary funds determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to be equal to the reduction in tax revenues resulting from this Act. Exempts unobligated funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Social Security Administration (SSA). Requires the Director to identify to which appropriation accounts such rescissions shall apply and report to the Secretary of the Treasury and Congress on such rescissions.

Date: 2011-02-16
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011 - Honors as a veteran any person entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or, but for age, would be so entitled. Provides that such person shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of such recognition.

Date: 2011-03-04
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
See Something, Say Something Act of 2011 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to grant immunity from civil liability to persons who, in good faith and based on an objectively reasonable suspicion, report suspicious activity indicating that an individual may be engaging, or preparing to engage, in a violation of law relating to an act of terrorism.Grants qualified immunity from civil liability to any authorized official who observes, or receives a report of, such activity and takes reasonable action in good faith to respond, consistent with applicable law in the relevant jurisdiction. Provides that an authorized official not entitled to assert the defense of qualified immunity shall nonetheless be immune from civil immunity if that official takes reasonable action, in good faith, to respond to the reported activity.

Date: 2011-03-08
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Law
National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity Act of 2011 - Authorizes space-available travel on military aircraft, on the same basis as active-duty members, for members of the reserves. Authorizes such travel, on the same basis as members entitled to retired pay, for: (1) a member or former member of the reserves who is entitled to retired pay but for attaining the required age (generally, 60); and (2) unremarried widows and widowers of retired members entitled to retired pay or of members who died in the line of duty or as the result of a line-of-duty condition. Authorizes such travel for certain dependents of such members, if accompanying the member.

Date: 2011-03-10
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Individual Ready Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that each of the following individuals receive, at least once every 90 days, a telephone call from properly-trained DOD personnel to determine their emotional, psychological, medical, and career needs and concerns: (1) members of the Individual Ready Reserve who deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq in support of a contingency operation, (2) a member of a reserve component who the Secretary determines is an individual mobilization augmentee who has so deployed, or (3) a member of the inactive National Guard. Requires the person making the call to refer a member identified as being at-risk of self-caused harm to the nearest military medical treatment facility or accredited TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program) provider for immediate evaluation and necessary treatment. Directs the Secretary to refer such member to a private provider upon determining that such provider will ensure that the member will receive treatment and assistance without delay. Requires annual reports from the Secretary to Congress on the number of members so referred, as well as their health and career status, and any situations that may be impeding the counseling calls from reaching all appropriate members. Requires a one-time report from the Comptroller General to Congress on suicide among such members. Directs the Secretary to develop, evaluate, and more widely disseminate programs that promote: (1) connectivity between members of the Armed Forces and their family, peers, and immediate chain of command; and (2) suicide risk identification and response, with particular emphasis on members of reserve components.

Date: 2011-03-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to reimburse a member of the reserves for transportation expenses incurred in connection with: (1) round-trip travel in excess of 100 miles to an inactive duty training location, regardless of the method of transportation; and (2) round-trip travel of any distance to an inactive duty training location, if such travel requires a commercial method of transportation other than ground transportation. Requires the Secretary, in determining the amount of the allowance or reimbursement, to use the reimbursement rate for the use of privately-owned vehicles by government employees on official business.

Date: 2011-04-05
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011 - Reestablishes the position of Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Vice Chief). Terminates the position of Director of the Joint Staff of the National Guard Bureau (Director) and transfers existing duties of the Director to the Vice Chief. Adds the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue the Task Force for Emergency Readiness (TFER) pilot program as a permanent FEMA program. Requires the Administrator to carry out the program in at least five states in addition to the five states in which the program is carried out as of the enactment of this Act. Requires the Chief to: (1) identify, using catastrophic disaster response plans for each state developed under the program, any gaps in state civilian and military response capabilities that federal military capabilities are unprepared to fill; (2) notify the Secretary of Defense and the respective Commanders of the U.S. Northern and Pacific Commands of any such gaps; and (3) assist, acting through the Adjutants General of the States, states in developing state plans on responses to catastrophic disaster emergencies. Directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter into a memorandum of understanding on coordination between Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and between such departments and the states, in the use of military forces in response to domestic emergencies. Authorizes appropriations for the DOD for FY2012 for National Guard: (1) continuity of operations, continuity of government, and consequence management in connection with response to terrorist and other attacks and catastrophes; (2) emergency preparedness and response activities; and (3) staffing of joint operations coordination centers in response to terrorist and other attacks and catastrophes. States that the U.S. Northern and Pacific Commands shall be the combatant commands principally responsible for the military support of civil authorities in the United States. Requires the Commander of each Command and the Chief to enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth the operational relationships, and individual roles and responsibilities, during responses to domestic emergencies among such Commands and the National Guard Bureau. Requires the officers serving as Commander of Army North Command and Commander of Air Force North Command to be officers in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, respectively. Directs the Secretary of Defense to modify specified regulations prescribed pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to provide for the use of available appropriated State Partnership Program funds for contacts between members of the National Guard and civilian personnel of foreign governments outside the ministry of defense on matters within the core competencies of the National Guard.

Date: 2011-05-19
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Basic Allowance for Housing Equity Act - Prohibits reducing the rate of basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Army or Air National Guard upon the transition of the member from active duty to full-time National Guard duty, or from full-time National Guard duty to active duty, when the transition occurs without a break in active service.

Date: 2011-09-20
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity Act of 2011 - Authorizes space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserves. Authorizes such travel for a member or former member of the reserves who is entitled to retired pay but for attaining the required age (generally, 60). Authorizes travel on a space-available basis to unremarried widows and widowers of retired members entitled to retired pay or of members who died in the line of duty or as the result of a line-of-duty condition. Authorizes such travel for certain dependents of members described above, if accompanying the member.

Date: 2011-10-31
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Outreach Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to assist a state National Guard in providing pre- and post-deployment outreach, reintegration, and readjustment program services to: (1) reserve component Armed Forces members residing in the state or National Guard members of the state regardless of place of residence who are ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation and such members upon returning from such active duty, (2) veterans, and (3) dependents of such members and veterans. Requires: (1) supported programs to use direct person-to-person outreach and other relevant activities ensuring that eligible persons receive all the available services and support; and (2) a decision to commit, obligate, or expend funds with or to a specific National Guard to be based on certain merit-based or competitive procedures.

Date: 2011-11-08
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011 - Provides employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty.

Date: 2011-11-08
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Technician Equity Act - Provides a person the right to be employed as a non-dual status technician if: (1) the technician position has been designated to be filled only by a non-dual status technician, or (2) the person occupying the technician position has at least 20 years of service as a dual status military technician. Repeals: (1) the permanent limitation on the number of non-dual status technicians, and (2) the prohibition against overtime pay for National Guard technicians. Provides for: (1) continued compensation for a military technician who was hired as a dual status technician but who is no longer a member of the Selected Reserve; and (2) certain enlistment, reenlistment, and student loan benefits for military technicians. Provides for a technician's rights of grievance, arbitration, appeal, and review beyond the current stage of the adjutant general of the jurisdiction concerned. Makes a dual status military technician eligible for early retirement if separating from the Selected Reserve or ceasing to hold a specified military grade after: (1) completing 25 years of technician service, or (2) becoming 50 years old and completing 20 years of such service. Increases annual paid employment leave to 30 days for reserve or National Guard duty. Revises specified provisions regarding employer health plan contributions for members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces. Reduces to 55 the eligibility age for retired pay for non-regular service.

Date: 2011-11-17
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Space-Available Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to provide transportation on Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft on a space-available basis for: (1) active duty and reserve members holding a valid Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card; (2) retired members who, but for not attaining age 60, would be eligible for military retired pay; (3) an unremarried widow or widower of an active or reserve member; and (3) certain dependents of members described above. Allows the Secretary to establish an order of priority based on considerations of military needs and readiness.

Date: 2012-02-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Chris Kotch VA Education Access Act - Makes eligible under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program an individual who is: (1) discharged or released from the Armed Forces (under current law, from active duty in the Armed Forces) due to a service-connected disability; or (2) transferred to the temporary disability retirement list.

Date: 2013-02-08
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard State Partnership Program Enhancement Act - Codifies under federal law the National Guard State Partnership Program (defense and security partnerships between the National Guard and the military and security forces, and related disaster management, emergency response, and security ministries, of a foreign country). Allows funds available to the Department of Defense (DOD), including for the Army and Air National Guard, to be used for such purposes.

Repeals superseded authority under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.

Date: 2013-02-13
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act - Honors as a veteran any person entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or, but for age, would be so entitled.

Provides that such person shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of such recognition.

Date: 2013-02-13
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security