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501 records in US in 2008
United States · United States House of Representatives · 3 April 2008
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2008
Joins the Secretary of Defense in honoring the children of members of the Armed Forces and recognizes that they share in the burden of protecting the nation. Urges the people of the United States to join the military community in observing April as National Month of the Military Child. Recognizes with great appreciation the contributions of private sector organizations in providing resources and assistance to military families and their communities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2008
Honors the service and sacrifice of, and identifies, the 4,009 men and women who lost their lives in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 487 men and women who lost their lives in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as of April 3, 2008. Honors their families and loved ones.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2008
Veterans Disability Fairness Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in order to carry out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) quality assurance program with respect to the administration of veterans' disability compensation, to ensure the accuracy and consistency across VA offices of the treatment of claims for disability compensation, including disability rating determinations and whether a disability is service-connected. Requires the Secretary to conduct reviews and audits, at least annually, to identify and correct any inaccuracies or inconsistencies in disability ratings and the adjudication of disability compensation claims by VA regional offices and employees responsible for such ratings or adjudications.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2008
Recognizes the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), also known as the Screaming Eagles, as one of the great divisions of American military history, and acknowledges their contributions. Recognizes America's debt to the 101st for the extraordinary service, sacrifice, and patriotism of such soldiers and their families.
United States · United States Senate · 2 April 2008
United States · United States Senate · 2 April 2008
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2008
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using community-based organizations to ensure that veterans receive needed care and benefits by: (1) increasing the coordination of providers of health care and benefits for veterans to assist veterans transitioning from military service to civilian life; (2) increasing the availability of high-quality medical and mental health services to transitioning veterans; and (3) providing assistance to families to help them adjust to such veterans in their transition.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2008
Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) conduct a long-term epidemiological study on the health of women veterans who served on active duty in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom; (2) assess barriers encountered by women veterans to the provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of comprehensive health care; (3) assess all health care services and programs provided by the VA for women veterans; (4) study the health consequences on women veterans of active-duty service in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom; (5) provide training and certification for mental health professionals who provide counseling and care to women veterans suffering from sexual trauma; (6) develop a program of training and certification for VA health care professionals on the effective treatment of women veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); (7) carry out a pilot program of child care for certain women veterans receiving health care from VA facilities; (8) carry out a pilot program of reintegration and readjustment services in group retreat settings for women veterans recently separated from service after a prolonged deployment; and (9) ensure that there is at least one full-time women veterans program manager at each VA medical center. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish care to a newborn child of a woman veteran receiving VA maternity care for up to 30 days after the birth of the child. Requires women veterans recently separated from service to be included on the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans and the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2008
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility projects (projects) in FY2009 in: (1) Palo Alto, California; (2) Lee County, Florida; (3) San Juan, Puerto Rico; and (4) San Antonio, Texas. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out projects in FY2009, as originally authorized under the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006, for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers in Denver, Colorado, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified major medical facility leases (leases) in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Authorizes appropriations for projects and leases authorized under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2008
Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program for veterans to: (1) increase the rates of basic educational assistance and the time limit for entitlement to and use of such assistance; (2) provide a stipend for individuals using such assistance to pursue a program of education at an institution of higher learning; (3) extend the period for the collection of a fee for the use of such assistance; (4) authorize the use of such assistance for business courses and seminars, courses taken to prepare for licensing or certification tests, and the repayment of federal student loans; (5) allow for withdrawal of the election not to enroll in the program; (6) state that such assistance shall not reduce eligibility for other financial aid; (7) extend the increase in benefits for certain individuals pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training; (8) modify the amount for reimbursement of state and local agencies administering veterans' education benefits; (9) provide educational assistance for veterans discharged under a general discharge; (10) increase the reporting fee payable to educational institutions that enroll veterans receiving assistance; (11) provide additional areas of work-study for veterans; (12) require a five-year pilot program for on-campus work-study positions; (13) increase the number of employees in the Education Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); (14) require an action plan for upgrading VA information technology used in the administration of educational benefits; and (15) modify the advance payment of initial educational assistance or subsistence allowance.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 1 April 2008
United States · United States Senate · 1 April 2008
United States · United States House of Representatives · 1 April 2008
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2008
Protecting America's Homeowners Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through January 1, 2011, the temporary exclusion from gross income of the discharge of an indebtedness for a qualified principal residence. Declares invalid, throughout a specified moratorium period, the terms of any home mortgage loan that requires a consumer to pay a prepayment penalty for paying all or part of the outstanding principal before its contractual due date. Directs the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (NRC) to continue to award to counseling intermediaries and State Housing Finance Agencies certain funds previously designated for mortgage foreclosure mitigation activities in states and areas with high rates of mortgage foreclosures or defaults. Appropriates additional funds for FY2008 for: (1) NRC foreclosure mitigation activities; and (2) state and local governmental redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. Sets forth across-the-board 0.25 percent rescissions in non-defense, non-homeland-security discretionary spending for FY2009. Amends the Truth In Lending Act to require additional creditor disclosures concerning mortgage loans. Requires the annual percentage rate (APR) applicable to credit secured by an interest in real property to include settlement costs. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association Charter Act to provide that securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (Freddie Mac) are not exempt from registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933 (thus requiring registration of such securities). Sets a limit upon aggregate annual registration fees paid by specified entities that do not include a registered investment company. Establishes in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a Financial Counseling and Foreclosure Prevention Fund to provide assistance to the NRC to make grants to certain federally approved counseling intermediaries for mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance to states and areas with high rates of defaults and foreclosures.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2008
Military Voting Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Uniformed Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to direct the Secretary of Defense (the Presidential designee) to establish procedures for collecting absentee ballots of military overseas voters in elections for federal office, and for delivering such ballots to the appropriate state election officials. Requires the Secretary to: (1) ensure that such ballots are delivered prior to the time established for the closing of the polls on the date of the election; (2) carry out delivery requirements through a contract with a private provider of air transportation, which shall include a mechanism for ballot tracking; and (3) take steps to ensure that such voters are able to cast their votes in a private and independent manner, and that vote contents remain secret until tabulated by the state election officials.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2008
Permits any active duty member of the Armed Forces who is assigned to a congressional liaison office of the Department of Defense (DOD) at the House of Representatives to obtain membership in the exercise facility established for House employees in the same manner as such individuals and in accordance with such regulations as the Committee on House Administration may promulgate.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2008
Recognizes the historic significance of the journey to, and successful crossing of, the North Pole by the USS Nautilus. Commends its officers and crew on the 50th anniversary of such achievement. Recognizes the Nautilus's journey as not only a military and scientific accomplishment, but also in confirming America's long-standing interest in that vital region. Commends the role of the Nautilus and the U.S. submarine force in protecting the interests of the free world during the Cold War. Supports the continuing role of the U.S. submarine force in defending our country in the 21st century.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2008
Amends the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 to extend the authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide funds to state and local governments for utility costs resulting from the provision of temporary housing units to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes of the 2005 season where the state or local government has previously arranged to pay for such utilities on behalf of the evacuees, to cover the term of any leases for up to 36 months (currently, 24 months) contracted by or prior to February 7, 2006.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2008
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2009. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) research, development, test, and evaluation; (6) operation and maintenance, including working capital funds, the Defense Health Program, chemical agents and munitions destruction, drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, and the Defense Inspector General; (6) active and reserve military personnel, including end strengths; (7) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program; (8) chemical demilitarization construction; and (9) Guard and reserve forces facilities. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) active and reserve military personnel, including officer and reserve personnel policy; (2) military education and training; (3) military pay and allowances; (4) retired pay and survivor benefits; (5) military health care; (6) acquisition policy and management; (7) DOD organization and management, including the chemical demilitarization program and intelligence-related matters; (8) financial matters, including counter-drug activities and matters related to homeland security; (9) civilian personnel matters; (10) matters relating to foreign nations; (11) matters relating to building partner capabilities to combat international terrorism; and (12) base closure and realignment activities. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2008
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2009. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) research, development, test, and evaluation; (6) operation and maintenance, including for defense working capital funds, the Defense Health Program, chemical agents and munitions destruction, drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, and the Defense Inspector General; (7) active and reserve military personnel, including end strengths and the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (8) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program; (9) chemical demilitarization construction; and (10) Guard and reserve forces facilities. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) active and reserve military personnel policy; (2) military education and training; (3) military pay and allowances; (4) retired pay and survivor benefits; (5) military health care; (6) acquisition policy and management; (7) DOD organization and management, including the chemical demilitarization program; (8) DOD financial matters, including counter-drug activities and matters relating to homeland security; (9) civilian personnel matters; and (10) matters relating to building partner capabilities to combat international terrorism. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2008
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update, at least once every six years, any plans and specifications of suitable housing units furnished to veterans eligible for specially adapted housing assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2008
Increases, as of January 1, 2009, the rates of basic veterans' educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2008
Honors Army Specialist Monica L. Brown, who risked her life to save the lives of fellow wounded soldiers while serving in Afghanistan. Pledges continued support for the men and women of the Armed Forces.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 March 2008
United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 March 2008
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2008
Student Veterans' College Affordability Act of 2008 - Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to entitle to educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill certain individuals who serve on active duty in the Armed Forces (including the reserves) on or after September 11, 2001. Establishes the duration of such assistance (in most cases 36 months) and assistance amounts. Requires programs of education pursued with such assistance to be approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Allows for the pursuit of an approved program of education while on active duty. Allows, under such assistance, for the pursuit of: (1) programs on less than a half-time basis; (2) apprenticeship or other on-job training; (3) correspondence courses; (4) flight training; (5) tutorial assistance; and (6) licensure and certification tests. Authorizes the provision of supplemental veterans' educational assistance for additional service above the qualifying amount for basic educational assistance. Directs the Secretary to carry out a program under which colleges and universities can voluntarily contribute a portion of the educational assistance costs for veterans attending such college or university, which contributions shall be matched by the Secretary. Terminates the educational assistance authorized under this Act 15 years after the qualifying individual's last discharge or release from active duty. Bars the duplication of educational assistance benefits. Directs the Secretary to inform individuals of their entitlement to assistance provided under this Act. Allows individuals currently under the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program to elect to participate in the post-9/11 educational assistance program with respect to any unused entitlement. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit educational assistance provided under specified benefit programs for veterans and members of the Selected Reserve from being considered in analyses of their need for assistance under title IV (Student Assistance) of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2008
Honors the service and achievements of women in the Armed Forces and female veterans. Expresses support for groups that raise awareness about the service and achievements of such women.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2008
Recognizes President Ronald Reagan's vision and efforts to promote peace and security. Commemorates the 25th anniversary of his Strategic Defense Initiative speech.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2008
Recognizes and honors the sacrifice of the members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war. Urges President George W. Bush: (1) not to enter into any long-term United States-Iraq strategic agreement without the approval of Congress; (2) to begin an immediate and safe redeployment of forces from Iraq; and (3) to live up to his responsibilities and adequately provide health care assistance to U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 13 March 2008
United States · United States House of Representatives · 13 March 2008
United States · United States House of Representatives · 13 March 2008
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Armed Forces Mental Health Professionals Recruitment and Retention Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends federal military pay provisions to provide: (1) a bonus of up to $25,000 per year for officers who agree to remain on active duty as clinical psychologists; (2) an accession bonus of up to $400,000 to clinical psychologists with a critically short wartime specialty who agree to accept a commission and remain on active duty for at least four years; and (3) special pay for officers serving as clinical psychologists for at least one year. Provides: (1) an accession bonus of up to $30,000 for social workers in critically short wartime specialties agreeing to serve as officers on active duty for at least three years; and (2) special pay for officers serving as social workers for at least one year. Provides special pay for officers serving as mental health nurses for at least one year. Includes psychiatrists, social workers, and mental health nurses under Department of Defense (DOD) authority to provide retention incentives for members of the Armed Forces qualified in critical military skills or assigned to high priority units. Includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses, and other behavioral health professionals as eligible health professions under the DOD health professions scholarship and financial assistance program. Authorizes the Secretary of each military department to use the authorities in this Act to facilitate the recruitment and retention in the reserve components of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, and mental health nurses.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Provides a temporary increase, during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2011, in the maximum veterans' loan guaranty amount for housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 1940 to extend: (1) from the duration of military service to one year after such service the period during which a member of the Armed Forces may not be charged a mortgage interest rate in excess of 6%; and (2) from 90 days to one year after release from service the period during which a member shall be protected from mortgage foreclosure.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the hope and lifetime learning tax credits with a higher education opportunity tax credit. Allows a higher education opportunity tax credit for 100% of qualified tuition and related expenses (including a certain allowance for books) up to $1,000, 50% for such expenses between $1,000 and $3,000, and 20% of such expenses between $3,000 and $5,500. Reduces credit amounts for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes over $70,000 ($140,000 in the case of a joint return). Allows an increased tax credit for students who served certain periods of active duty in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001. Limits such credit to three eligible students per taxpayer in any taxable year and for four taxable years. Denies such credit to certain part-time students and students convicted of a felony drug offense. Repeals the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Amends federal armed forces law to add provisions concerning investigations of suicides committed by members of the Armed Forces (members). Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned, in the case of a member's suicide, to establish a board, made up of commissioned officers serving on active duty, to investigate the causes contributing to the suicide, including preventive actions that could have been taken. Requires: (1) the protection of confidentiality with respect to such investigations; (2) the investigation to be completed within 30 days after the suicide; and (3) an interim and final board report to the Secretary concerned. Directs the Secretary concerned to make public the investigation results, while protecting the confidentiality of the member. Requires all reports received by the Secretary concerned to be transmitted to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, who shall take appropriate actions to reduce the incidence of suicide among members.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain an electronic database on the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide among members of the Armed Forces on active duty, as well as members of the National Guard and reserves who are demobilized from active duty. Requires: (1) regular reports from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees; and (2) such reports to be made available to the public (absent personally-identifying information).
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
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.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Protect Our Troops and Our Constitution Act of 2008 - Prohibits funds from being used to: (1) establish or maintain any permanent or long-term U.S. military base or facility in Iraq; or (2) implement any agreement that is consistent with U.S. security commitments to Iraq under the Declaration of Principles or any agreement that provides "authority to fight" for U.S. Armed Forces engaged in combat operations other than for self-defense purposes, unless the agreement is an Article II treaty with respect to which the Senate has given its advice and consent to ratification or the agreement is approved by an Act of Congress enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) long-term U.S.-Iraq relations should be determined by the U.S. Administration taking office on January 20, 2009; (2) in determining its policy toward Iraq such Administration should consult with Congress, the government of Iraq, Coalition partners, and Iraq's neighbors; and (3) to maintain international legal authority as well as immunity from Iraqi prosecution for U.S. Armed Forces and other Coalition forces operating in Iraq while such Administration determines policy toward Iraq the current U.S. Administration should encourage the government of Iraq to request renewal of the U.N. mandate for Iraq beyond December 31, 2008.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
State Secret Protection Act of 2008 - Declares that in any civil action brought in federal or state court the government has a privilege to refuse to give evidence and to prevent any person from giving evidence only if the government shows that public disclosure of the evidence that the government seeks to protect would be reasonably likely to cause significant harm to the national defense or the diplomatic relations of the United States. Requires the court to take steps, including in camera hearings and other proceedings, to protect sensitive information that comes before it. Sets forth rules regarding the participation of counsel or the disclosure of information when it presents a risk of harm. Provides for court-ordered presentation of adequate or nonprivileged substitutes for privileged evidence. Allows the government to: (1) assert the privilege in connection with any claim in a civil action to which it is a party; or (2) intervene in a civil action to which it is not a party in order to do so. Provides that once the government has asserted the privilege, and before the court makes any determinations, the court shall: (1) undertake a preliminary review of the information in question; and (2) provide the government an opportunity to seek protective measures under this Act. Establishes procedures and a standard for assessing the privilege claim. Allows disclosure of an item of evidence to a nongovernmental party, or admission at trial, if the court determines that the privilege is not validly asserted. Prohibits such disclosure or admission if the privilege is determined valid. Grants the courts of appeal jurisdiction of an appeal by any party from any interlocutory decision or order of a U.S. district court.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Amends Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prohibit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from issuing a license authorizing the importation into the United States of: (1) low-level radioactive waste; or (2) specific radioactive waste streams exempted from regulation under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act. Exempts from such prohibition low-level radioactive waste: (1) that is being returned to a U.S. government or military facility authorized to possess it; or (2) resulting from the use in a foreign country of nuclear material obtained by the foreign user from an entity in the United States that is being returned to the United States for management and disposal. Authorizes the President to waive the prohibition and authorize the grant of a specific license only after finding that such importation would meet an important national or international policy goal.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot program to ensure that, for each veteran seeking primary care from a participating medical facility, the standard for access to such care, determined from the date that the veteran contacts the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeking an appointment until a visit with a primary-care provider is completed, is 30 days. Directs the Secretary to periodically review the performance of VA health-care facilities in meeting such standards. Authorizes the Secretary to contract for health care services in non-VA facilities when the Secretary is unable to meet access standards.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Provides transitional health care (medical and dental care and other military-related health benefits) for 180 days following separation for members of the Armed Forces separated from active duty who agree to become a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
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.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Provides for the concurrent payment of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation for disabilities rated at 50% or higher for a member or former member of the Armed Forces entitled to voluntary separation incentive payments.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Department of Veterans Affairs Prosthetics Employees Standards Act of 2007- Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require that an individual may perform orthotics, pedorthics, or prosthetics services for patients of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as an employee of the VA, or as an employee of a contractor of the VA, at a work site in which there is a state licensure requirement applicable to the performance of such services in private practice only if the individual is licensed in accordance with such state requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Amends the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 to provide a temporary increase, during the period beginning February 13, 2008, and ending on December 31, 2008, in the maximum veterans' loan guaranty amount for housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Condemns the government of Venezuela for its support of international terrorist groups. Directs the Secretary of State to work with the countries of the Western Hemisphere to ensure implementation of: (1) the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism; and (2) U.N. Security Council resolutions to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and to halt the spread of global terrorism. Calls upon the government of Venezuela to renounce all support to terrorist organizations, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian National Liberation Army. Urges the U.S. government to designate Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism.