zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Areawide Integrated Pest Management Act of 2015 or the AIPM Act of 2015 

This bill amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to expand the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program to include grants to colleges, universities, and other entities for qualified areawide integrated pest management projects to prevent the spread of pests and invasive species.

The bill establishes an areawide integrated pest management committee to consider stakeholder feedback and determine priorities for the projects.

The projects must be implemented on a landscape scale or larger and include collaboration with specified federal, regional, state, and nongovernmental entities. The projects may prevent the spread of pests and invasive species through: prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression; educational programs; and physical, mechanical, cultural biologically-based, or chemical controls.

A qualified project must:

 provide for significant benefits for the prevention, eradication, or management of pests and invasive species; provide for economic and environmental benefits to agriculture, individuals, wildlife, and the environment; address the annual priorities established by the integrated pest management committee; last no more than five years; establish a regional advisory committee to oversee the project; and involve the cooperative extension services in translating the results of research into practical information and tools to be shared. USDA must transfer to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture the authority for the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program.

Date: 2015-11-03
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Agriculture and food
This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reimburse producers on farms for losses that are due to the inability to plant, grow, or ship a crop to market due to a federal or state government quarantine to control the Oriental fruit fly.

The payments are limited to 70% of the market value of the affected crop and end as soon as possible once the producer is able to resume marketing a crop after the quarantine is lifted.

In implementing this bill, USDA must not discriminate against or penalize a producer that obtained, or did not obtain, crop insurance, noninsured crop disaster assistance, or similar risk protection for the same type of crop, except that assistance provided by this bill must be reduced by the amount of assistance provided for the same losses under any other federal law.

Producers receiving assistance under this bill must agree to obtain crop insurance, noninsured crop disaster assistance, or similar risk protection for the same type of crop for at least the next two crop years, if the insurance, assistance, or protection is available.

Date: 2015-12-10
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Agriculture and food
VFD Repeal Act of 2016

This bill repeals the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) final rule regarding the Veterinary Feed Directive published on June 3, 2015, and prohibits the FDA from issuing any similar rule. (Veterinary Feed Directive regulations prohibit the use of medically important antibiotics for animal production purposes. Under these regulations, an animal producer may only use such antibiotics with the authorization of a veterinarian for the prevention, control, or treatment of a specifically identified disease. The rule repealed by this bill revised those regulations, including to require a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship for a veterinarian to authorize the use of antibiotics.)

Date: 2016-04-29
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Health
Preventing Antibiotic Resistance Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to refuse a new animal drug application if the drug is a medically important antimicrobial (used to treat humans) and the applicant fails to demonstrate that the drug meets specified criteria for use in animals, including that: (1) the drug is effective, (2) the drug is targeted to animals at risk of developing a specific bacterial disease, (3) the drug has a defined duration of therapy, and (4) there is reasonable certainty of no harm to human health from microbial resistance to the drug.

Sponsors of certain medically important antimicrobials already approved for use in food-producing animals must submit evidence to the FDA that demonstrates that their drug meets the criteria described above for approved indications. The FDA must withdraw approval for any indication for which the FDA determines there is insufficient evidence that the drug meets the criteria.

This bill expresses the sense of the Senate that a veterinarian-client-patient relationship should ensure that medically important antimicrobials are used in food-producing animals in a manner consistent with best practices.

Date: 2015-03-02
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Health
National Heroes Credit Protection Act - Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to authorize a member of the reserves who is deployed outside the United States for 180 days or more in support of a contingency operation (servicemember) to request that a consumer reporting agency (CRA) include in that servicemember's file a military service deployment explanation (explanation) with respect to an account that was opened by the servicemember before such deployment. Requires: (1) a reseller of credit reporting information to include in any report on a servicemember any explanation placed in such servicemember's file by another CRA; and (2) any user of a consumer credit report containing such explanation to acknowledge the explanation.

Date: 2007-01-17
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Empowerment Act of 2007 - Expands the: (1) authority of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Bureau) to include membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) (and raises the grade of the Chief from lieutenant general to general); and (2) functions of the Bureau to include facilitating and coordinating, with other federal agencies and the states, the use of Guard personnel and resources for, and in, contingency operations, military operations other than war, natural disasters, and support of civil authorities. Directs the Chief to: (1) identify gaps between federal and state capabilities to prepare for and respond to emergencies; and (2) make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense on Guard programs and activities to address such gaps. Requires annual Department of Defense (DOD) budget justification documents to include separate amounts for Guard training and equipment for military assistance to civil authorities and other domestic operations. Expresses the sense of Congress calling for consideration of eligible reserve officers for promotion to the grades of lieutenant general or vice admiral on the active duty list. Treats service as a Bureau adjutant general as joint duty experience. Requires the position of Deputy Commander of the U.S. Northern Command to be filled by a qualified Guard officer eligible for promotion to the grade of lieutenant general. Requires an annual plan for the use of the Armed Forces and National Guard for responding to disasters and acts of terrorism.

Date: 2007-01-30
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Forgotten Veteran's Retirement Compensation Act - Limits the conditions under which military retired pay based on nonregular service involving members of reserve components completing their service before 1966 may be revoked. Provides for back payment of retired pay to such veterans or, if deceased, to their surviving spouses and dependent children.

Date: 2007-01-30
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to convey to the Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation, Inc., all interest of the United States in and to the A-12 Blackbird aircraft with tail number 60-6931 that is under the jurisdiction of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and as of January 1, 2007, was on loan to the Foundation and on display with the 133rd Airlift Wing at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota.

Date: 2007-02-05
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business tax credit for up to 50 percent of the actual compensation paid to employees who were members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard and who were absent from work to perform active duty. Limits such credit to $2,000 for any one Ready Reserve-National Guard employee.

Date: 2007-02-06
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide employers a business tax credit for up to ten percent 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: 2007-02-06
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Excludes funds provided for the National Guard Youth Challenge Program by federal agencies other than the Department of Defense from the matching-funds requirement. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 to the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Program.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Ready Employers Willing to Assist Reservists' Deployment Act of 2007 or the REWARD Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a tax credit for 50% of the wages paid to their employees on active military duty for more than 90 days as Ready Reserve or National Guard and for 50% of the wages paid to temporary replacement employees.

Date: 2007-02-27
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
National Guard and Reserve Retirement Modernization Act - Amends federal law concerning receipt of retired pay for non-regular service to provide that, in the case of a member of the Ready Reserve who serves on active duty after September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in response to a national emergency, retirement eligibility age shall be reduced below 60 by three months for each aggregate of 90 days during which the member so performs in any fiscal year after such date. Prohibits such retirement eligibility date from being reduced below age 50. Continues age 60 as the minimum eligibility age for DOD-authorized health care for such retirees.

Date: 2007-03-09
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow a military reservist who is ordered to active duty for a period of more than 90 days: (1) an exemption during the period of active duty from payment of rent on a primary residence occupied by such member or dependents; and (2) a deferral of mortgage payments on a principal residence. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow lessors of military reservists granted an exemption from rent payments under this Act a refundable tax credit for the exempted lease amounts.

Date: 2007-03-13
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Coming Together for Guard and Reserve Families Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to enhance and improve Department of Defense (DOD) programs to provide family support for families of members of the National Guard and Reserve undergoing deployment (members). Requires such support to include post-deployment assistance for spouses and parents of returning members. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a pilot program of family-to-family support for families of such members; and (2) contract for support services for children, infants, and toddlers of such members. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly expand and enhance access to mental health services for families of members who are disabled during military service. Requires a report from the Comptroller General to Congress on barriers to access to mental health services through TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program), including the number of providers under TRICARE that are located more than 40 miles from a military installation.

Date: 2007-03-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Montgomery GI Bill Integration Act of 2007 - Recodifies under federal veterans' benefits provisions former federal armed forces provisions relating to educational assistance programs for members of the reserve components. Increases monthly educational assistance benefit amounts. Includes under such recodification provisions concerning Selected Reserve educational assistance allowances for: (1) apprenticeships and on-the-job training; (2) correspondence courses; (3) flight training; (4) tutorial assistance; (5) courses beyond the baccalaureate degree level; (6) persons with skills or specialties for which there is a critical shortage; and (7) licensing and certification tests. Extends the time limitation for the use of such entitlement to the earlier of 14 years after the person first becomes entitled to such assistance or the date upon which the person is separated from the Selected Reserve (currently, ten years after the person first becomes entitled to such assistance). Extends the time limitation for the use of the Ready Reserve educational assistance entitlement to ten years after separation from the Ready Reserve.

Date: 2007-03-22
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Permits the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay up to $300 for travel expenses to a member of the Selected Reserve performing inactive duty training or attending a unit training assembly outside the commuting limits of the member's station for the purpose of maintaining mission readiness.

Date: 2007-04-20
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a national combat veteran reintegration program (to be known as the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program) to provide National Guard members and their families with information, services, referral, and outreach opportunities throughout the entire deployment cycle. Requires the Program to consist of informational events and activities for such members, their families, and community members through the following phases of the deployment cycle: (1) pre-deployment; (2) deployment; (3) demobilization; and (4) post-deployment-reconstitution. Requires the: (1) National Guard Bureau to establish the Office for Reintegration Programs to administer state National Guard reintegration programs; and (2) Bureau Chief to establish a Center for Excellence in Reintegration.

Date: 2007-05-01
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly submit to Congress a plan to maximize access to the benefits delivery at discharge program for members of the reserves who have been called or ordered to active duty at any time since September 11, 2001.

Date: 2007-05-09
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Reservists and Guardsmen Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2008 the exemption from tax penalties for premature distributions from retirement plans by members of the National Guard or Ready Reserve called to active duty.

Date: 2007-05-16
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Hire a Hero Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the federal government should support private sector employment initiatives for military personnel to help ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces have access to gainful employment. Authorizes the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist the following individuals in securing employment in the private sector: (1) a member of the National Guard or reserve; (2) a member of the Armed Forces who is nearing separation, discharge, or release; and (3) a former member of the Armed Forces. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Chief, in awarding such grants, should consider organizations that partner with private entities and associations involved in construction, energy, transportation, aerospace, domestic security, and other areas in which the employment of individuals having past military service would be of particular utility. Requires the Chief to establish fiscal control, accountability, and program performance measures for grantees.

Date: 2007-08-03
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 lands that are 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. Revokes a specified Executive Order only insofar as it affects the lands identified for conveyance.Provides for the reversion to the United States of the lands conveyed if the Secretary determines that the land, or any part of such land, is sold or attempted to be sold, or that it or any part of it is used for non-National Guard or non-national defense purposes. Requires that any such determination be made in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Governor of Utah and on the record after an opportunity for comment. Requires the state, with respect to any part of the land conveyed that the Secretary determines is subject to reversion and if the Secretary also 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: 2007-09-25
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2007 - Provides employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to prohibit the bankruptcy court from dismissing or converting a case based on means testing while the debtor: (1) is either on active duty in the military service of the United States or performing a homeland defense activity for at least 90 days, and during the 540 days following the end of such period; and (3) was called to such active duty or performed such homeland defense activity after September 11, 2001, as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or the National Guard. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to study and report to Congress on whether and to what degree members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard: (1) avail themselves of the benefits of this Act; (2) are debtors in federal bankruptcy cases substantially related to service that qualifies such members for such benefits of this Act; and (3) are debtors in federal bankruptcy cases materially related to such service. Requires such study to include the effects that the use by such members of this Act has upon: (1) the bankruptcy system; (2) creditors; and (3) the debt-incurrence practices of such members.

Date: 2007-11-01
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
National Guard and Reserve Active Duty Higher Education Act - Revises eligibility requirements for educational assistance to members of the Ready Reserve of the Armed Forces supporting contingency operations to require such assistance to be based on the members' cumulative days of active duty service. (Currently, such assistance is based on the members' consecutive days of active duty service).

Date: 2007-11-09
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Strengthening the Transition and Reintegration of the National Guard and Reserves Act or STRONGR Act - Provides an additional 180-day period of military mental health care coverage for members of the reserves separated from service following active duty of more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation. Increases the amount of basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel supporting contingency operations. Entitles a federal employee who is a member of a reserve component to receive the difference in pay between military compensation and civilian compensation during periods of active duty exceeding 30 days. Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to reimburse states or local governments for 50% of the civilian compensation paid by such governments to equalize military and civilian pay. Increases the reimbursement rate to 100% if active duty extends beyond nine months. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an active-duty reserve component employee credit for employers who provide compensation to employees on active duty.

Date: 2007-11-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Education Benefits Extension Act of 2008 - Eliminates the ten-year time limit for use of entitlement to education assistance under the Montgomery GI bill. Prohibits, however, any increase in the rate of benefit payments after the end of the ten-year period following the last discharge or release from active duty of an individual entitled to educational assistance. Prohibits, furthermore, any transfer of an individual's entitlement to a dependent after the end of such ten-year period. Extends the time periods for the use of educational assistance benefits to which members of the selected reserve and members of the reserve component supporting contingency operations are entitled.

Date: 2008-01-17
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Provides for continued National Guard support for border control activities along the U.S.- Mexico border under Operation Jump Start until operational control of such border has been achieved. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide funding to a state that submits to the Secretary of State a state border control activities plan that meets certain requirements. Limits the number of National Guard that may be so deployed.

Date: 2008-03-10
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008 - 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 for the National Guard for military assistance to civil authorities and other domestic operations. Redesignates the: (1) Director and Deputy Director of the Army National Guard as the Vice Chief and Deputy Vice Chief of the Army National Guard; and (2) Director and Deputy Director of the Air National Guard as the Vice Chief and Deputy Vice Chief of the Air National Guard. Treats Vice Chief service as an adjutant general as joint duty experience for assignment or promotion purposes. 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. 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 emergency response activities. Requires the officer serving as: (1) Commander of Army North Command to be an officer in the Army National Guard; and (2) Commander of Air Force North Command to be an officer in the Air National Guard. 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. Requires at least one of each of three specified commander and deputy commander joint task force positions to be an officer in the Army or Air National Guard.

Date: 2008-03-13
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard and Ready Reserves Employment Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a tax credit for 15% of the first $10,000 of wages paid to an employee who is a member of the National Guard or Ready Reserve. Terminates such credit after 2011.

Date: 2008-04-08
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
National Guard Technician Recruitment and Retention Act of 2008 - Provides that if an individual is first employed by the National Guard as a military technician (dual status) while already a member of a reserve component, the Secretary of the military department concerned may not require the individual to repay any enlistment, reenlistment, or affiliation bonus connected with the individual's enlistment or reenlistment before such employment. Prohibits such individual from being precluded from receiving any such bonus or denied the opportunity to participate in any Department of Defense (DOD) educational loan repayment program as an additional incentive to accept and maintain reserve membership. Repeals the prohibition against overtime pay for such technicians.

Date: 2008-07-08
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guard and Reserve Financial Stability Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow small employers (employers with 50 or fewer employees) a business tax credit for 50 percent of the lesser of: (1) actual compensation paid to each Ready Reserve-National Guard employee while on active duty or hospitalized incident to such duty; or (2) $30,000. Terminates such credit after 2009.Allows employers a work opportunity tax credit for the hiring of temporary employees to replace Ready Reserve-National Guard employees for the period such employees are on active duty.

Date: 2008-09-26
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Helping Our Patriotic Employers at Helping Our Military Employees Act of 2007 or the HOPE at HOME Act of 2007- Entitles federal employees who are absent from their jobs for a period of more than 90 days for the purpose of performing active duty service in the uniformed services to receive the full amount of basic pay that they would have received if there had been no such interruption in their federal employment.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow employers a business tax credit for 50 percent of the actual compensation paid to Ready Reserve-National Guard employees while on active duty or hospitalized incident to such duty; (2) allow employers a tax credit for wages paid to temporary employees hired to replace Ready Reserve-National Guard employees while on active duty; (3) provide for withholding of tax on differential wage payments to active duty members of the uniformed services; and (4) treat such differential wage payments as employee compensation for retirement plan purposes, including for the deductibility of contributions to individual retirement accounts.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for the Army and Air National Guards for equipment reset (resupply) requirements, and to otherwise remedy other equipment shortfalls in order to bring the Army and Air National Guards to full equipment readiness. Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress on the capability of the U.S. defense industrial base to produce the necessary equipment.

Date: 2007-03-05
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Coming Together for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to enhance and improve Department of Defense (DOD) programs to provide family support for families of members of the National Guard and Reserve undergoing deployment (members). Requires such support to include post-deployment assistance for spouses and parents of returning members. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a pilot program of family-to-family support for families of such members; and (2) contract for support services for children, infants, and toddlers of such members. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly expand and enhance access to mental health services for families of members who are disabled during military service. Requires a report from the Comptroller General to Congress on barriers to access to mental health services through TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program), including the number of providers under TRICARE that are located more than 40 miles from a military installation.

Date: 2007-03-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Small Business Opportunity Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to extend certain small business loan time limits with respect to a small business owned and controlled by: (1) a veteran called to active duty on or after September 11, 2001; or (2) a service-disabled veteran who became disabled due to an injury or illness incurred or aggravated during a period of active duty on or after such date. Extends such time limits by the period that the veteran was on active duty. Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study for promoting positive working relations between employers and their reserve component employees. Increases: (1) certain Small Business Administration (SBA) loan limits for small business owners who are members of the National Guard or reserves; and (2) SBA funding for the Office of Veterans Business Development. Directs the President to establish an interagency task force to coordinate federal efforts to increase capital and business development opportunities for, and increase the award of federal contracting and subcontracting opportunities to, small businesses owned and controlled by disabled veterans and other veterans (businesses). Requires the SBA Administrator and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure one-stop online registration for such small businesses. Authorizes the Secretary to develop business development assistance for such small businesses.

Date: 2007-03-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Commerce
Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a national combat veteran reintegration program (to be known as the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program) to provide National Guard members and their families with information, services, referral, and outreach opportunities throughout the entire deployment cycle. Requires the Program to consist of informational events and activities for such members, their families, and community members through the following phases of the deployment cycle: (1) pre-deployment; (2) deployment; (3) demobilization; and (4) post-deployment-reconstitution. Requires the: (1) National Guard Bureau to establish the Office for Reintegration Programs to administer state National Guard reintegration programs; and (2) Bureau Chief to establish a Center for Excellence in Reintegration.

Date: 2007-05-02
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of: (1) contracting with a private entity with expertise in the health and well-being of families and children in order to enhance and develop support services for the children of members of the National Guard and reserve who are deployed; and (2) establishing a pilot program on family-to-family support for families of deployed members of the National Guard and reserve.

Date: 2007-06-19
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Higher Education Opportunity for Our National Guard and Reserve Soldiers Act - Extends by an additional ten years the time limit for the use of educational assistance by members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel supporting contingency and certain other operations. Prohibits such extension with respect to any person discharged or released from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.

Date: 2007-06-25
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Requires the Coast Guard Commandant to study an area commonly identified as Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, located in Buffalo, New York, and report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on the most cost-effective method for providing shore facilities and the feasibility of consolidating and relocating shore facilities on a portion of the existing site while meeting and expanding Sector Buffalo operational requirements. Requires that the report contain a preliminary plan for the design, engineering, and construction of the proposed project.

Date: 2007-07-17
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Increases authorized monthly educational assistance amounts for members of the Selected Reserve. Reduces the military retirement eligibility age in the case of a person who serves in the reserves on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, below 60 years of age by six months for each 90 days that the person so serves. Prohibits such eligibility age from being reduced below 50. Requires that, if a member of the reserves requires treatment for more than 30 days for a wound or injury incurred on active duty, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall transfer such member to a treatment facility that is not more than 30 miles from either the hometown or permanent duty station of the member, as elected by such member. Requires a member of the reserves who travels more than 50 miles for drill, instruction, or annual training duty to be reimbursed for the costs of such travel.

Date: 2007-07-26
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Reinforce First Responders and Emergency Employees Deployed Overseas in the Military Act of 2007 or the Reinforce FREEDOM Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make a grant to a first responder agency (a law enforcement or fire agency of a state or local government or an ambulance service) an employee of which (or a significant portion of the voluntary staff of which) is: (1) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces; and (2) on active duty or has received orders to begin active duty. Authorizes the use of grant funds for: (1) the salary of an individual hired to replace such employee or volunteer; (2) overtime expenses for an employee performing tasks that would have been performed by such employee or volunteer; and (3) the cost of equipment, maintenance, or other activities that a first responder agency was unable to acquire or perform because of the costs of replacing such employee or volunteer or the need for which was caused by such employee's or volunteer's deployment.

Date: 2007-08-02
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Emergency management
Hire a Hero Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the federal government should support private sector employment initiatives for military personnel to help ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces have access to gainful employment. Authorizes the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist the following individuals in securing employment in the private sector: (1) a member of the National Guard or reserve; (2) a member of the Armed Forces who is nearing separation, discharge, or release; and (3) a former member of the Armed Forces. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Chief, in awarding such grants, should consider organizations that partner with private entities and associations involved in construction, energy, transportation, aerospace, domestic security, and other areas in which the employment of individuals having past military service would be of particular utility. Requires the Chief to establish fiscal control, accountability, and program performance measures for grantees.

Date: 2007-08-02
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense (DOD) should undertake actions to ensure that family members of National Guard and Reserve personnel who are deployed have full access to mental health care during the periods of mobilization, deployment, and demobilization.Requires the Secretary of Defense to undertake an initiative to increase access to mental health care, including education concerning mental health challenges and information on available resources, for family members of such personnel who are mobilized.Requires reimbursement under the TRICARE program for certain mental health care services, including chemical dependency treatment, provided to a family member of a covered Guard or Reserve member during a period of deployment on active duty for more than 30 days in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom who, while on such duty, is covered by the TRICARE program on a for self and family basis.Requires regular reports from the Secretary assessing the access and quality of such family mental health care services and recommendations for legislative and administrative action.

Date: 2007-12-18
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Reserve Component Residence Protection Act of 2008 - Requires a second basic allowance for housing to be provided to: (1) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces with or without dependents who is called or ordered to active duty to attend accession training, in support of a contingency operation, or for a period of more than 30 days; or (2) a retired Armed Forces member with or without dependents who is ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation or for a period of more than 30 days. (Under current law, the allowance is authorized but not required and is not payable to a member with dependents.)Makes payment retroactive for a member of a reserve component or a retired member with dependents who is on active duty as of the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2008-04-29
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to regulate food, including by authorizing the Secretary to: (1) suspend the registration of a food facility; and (2) order a cessation on distribution or recall of food.Directs the Secretary to allocate resources based on the risk profile of food facilities or food.Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy.Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist state, local, and tribal governments in preparing for, assessing, decontaminating, and recovering from an agriculture or food emergency. Requires the Secretary to: (1) assess fees on domestic food facilities and food importers; (2) promulgate regulations on sanitary transportation practices for food; and (3) develop a policy to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood education programs.Directs the Secretary to: (1) recognize accreditation bodies that accredit food testing laboratories; and (2) improve the capabilities to track and trace raw agricultural commodities.Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance foodborne illness surveillance systems.Provides for: (1) foreign supplier verification programs; (2) a voluntary qualified importer program; and (3) the inspection of foreign facilities registered to import food.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with respect to veterans who have been discharged from active-duty service for 365 days or less and for whom a permanent disability rating is not immediately assignable, to assign a pre-stabilization disability rating of: (1) 100%, for a veteran with a severe disability for whom substantially gainful employment is not feasible or advisable; and (2) 50%, for a veteran with a wound or injury for whom material impairment of employability is likely. Terminates the pre-stabilization rating: (1) when a veteran receives a permanent disability rating based on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) schedule for rating disabilities; or (2) 365 days after the veteran's last separation or release from active duty. Allows the Secretary, when appropriate, to extend the pre-stabilization rating beyond such date.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Excludes funds provided for the National Guard Youth Challenge Program by federal agencies other than the Department of Defense (DOD) from the matching-funds requirement. Authorizes appropriations for FY2010 to the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Program.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Ready Employers Willing to Assist Reservists' Deployment Act of 2009 or the REWARD Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a tax credit for 50% of the wages paid to their employees on active military duty for more than 90 days as Ready Reserve or National Guard and for 50% of the wages paid to temporary replacement employees.

Date: 2009-01-09
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide employers a business tax credit for up to ten percent 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: 2009-02-03
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Eliminates the requirement that a member or former member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired pay for non-regular (reserve) service be at least 60 years of age before being eligible for medical and dental care in a military health care facility.

Date: 2009-02-10
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned, at the request of a state or local government that has one or more first responder employees who are also members of a reserve component and absent from their employment as first responders under a call or order to serve on active duty for more than 30 days, to reimburse the state or local government by the amount actually paid by the state or local government to such employees during their absence.

Date: 2009-02-23
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Technician Recruitment and Retention Act - Provides that if an individual is first employed by the National Guard as a military technician (dual status) while already a member of a reserve component, the Secretary of the military department concerned may not require the individual to repay any enlistment, reenlistment, or affiliation bonus connected with the individual's enlistment or reenlistment before such employment. Prohibits such individual from being precluded from receiving any such bonus or denied the opportunity to participate in any Department of Defense (DOD) educational loan repayment program as an additional incentive to accept and maintain reserve membership. Repeals the prohibition against overtime pay for such technicians.

Date: 2009-07-24
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Technician Equity Act - Authorizes the employment of a person 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) up to 12 months of 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; (2) an extended deployment bonus for military technicians; (3) certain enlistment, reinlistment, and student loan benefits for military technicians. Reduces the eligibility age for retired pay to 55 years old. 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.

Date: 2009-07-27
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: 2009-07-31
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security