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51 records in US in 2007
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Prohibits, with a specified exception, the obligation or expenditure of funds for the V-22 or CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft program. Repeals a provision of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 granting multiyear procurement authority for the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Declares that the Senate remembers, honors, and commends the achievements of the U.S. Air Force in serving and defending the United States on the 60th anniversary of its creation as an independent military service.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
The Guard and Reserves Are Fighting Too Act of 2008 - Recodifies under federal veterans' benefits provisions former federal armed forces provisions relating to educational assistance programs for members of the Ready Reserve ordered to active duty by reason of war or national emergency. Revises the amount of assistance available for licensing or certification tests. Includes under such recodification provisions concerning an educational assistance allowance for members of the Ready Reserve for flight training. Repeals the authority for accelerated payment of such assistance. Provides for program administration through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for FY2010 and thereafter (with transition provisions). Extends the time limitation for the use of the Ready Reserve educational assistance entitlement to ten years after separation from the Ready Reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
First Line of Defense Infrastructure Improvement Act - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to direct the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration to establish a competitive grant program to improve first responder incident response and firefighter livability by making improvements to the infrastructure of fire stations. Requires the Administrator to award grants in each of FY2009-FY2013 to eligible fire services for: (1) repairing a station if the condition of the infrastructure prevents the service from performing incident response duties in a timely manner because the station is either decaying or contains structural impairments that impede egress of equipment or personnel; or (2) renovating a station if it does not properly accommodate all fire service personnel through the use of gender-equitable facilities. Prohibits the use of grant funds for activities related to the planning or design of infrastructure improvements. Directs the Administrator to give priority to a fire service seeking assistance for a fire station located not more than 25 miles from: (1) a facility that produces nuclear power; (2) a facility that produces, treats, or refines more than 20,000 barrels of oil per day; or (3) a location with at least one critical infrastructure, such as an international seaport, airport, refinery, or treatment plant. Prohibits the Administrator from awarding a grant exceeding 40% of the reasonable cost of carrying out the project. Conditions receipt of a grant on the fire service funding the remaining amount using non-federal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
False Claims Act Correction Act of 2007 - Amends the False Claims Act to revise requirements and procedures governing civil actions for false claims (qui tam actions) brought by private persons. Repeals the requirement that a false or fraudulent claim for payment must be presented directly to a federal employee or member of the Armed Forces (thus tying liability for such claims directly to federal money and property, regardless to whom the claim is presented). Revises requirements for alternate remedies affecting qui tam actions and related qui tam plaintiff awards. Allows dismissal of a private action based upon prior public disclosures only upon timely motion to dismiss by the Attorney General. Revises the prohibition of retaliatory action against whistleblowers to include material hindering of the person in obtaining new employment or other business opportunities. Requires the government to pay from the proceeds of an action for financial losses suffered by administrative beneficiaries (thus permitting actions for fraud instituted against nontaxpayer funds under federal trust and administration). Expands from six years to ten years the statute of limitations for bringing a civil action. Requires the government, if it elects to intervene and proceed with an action, to file its own complaint, or amend the complaint of a person who brought a civil action, but in any event to relate back to the filing date of the original qui tam complaint to the extent that such claim arises out of the same set of facts. Declares that a person bringing a private qui tam action shall not be required to identify specific claims that result from an alleged course of misconduct if: (1) the facts alleged in the complaint, if ultimately proven true, would provide a reasonable indication that one or more false claims are likely to have occurred; and (2) the allegations in the pleading provide adequate notice of the specific nature of the alleged misconduct to permit the government effectively to investigate and defendants fairly to defend such allegations. Declares void any contracts, agreements, or private terms or conditions of employment that limit or circumvent the rights of a person to bring a qui tam action. Declares further that no court-ordered seal on a qui tam action shall prevent the government or the person bringing the action from serving the complaint or related documents upon state or local law enforcement authorities. Modifies procedures for civil investigative demands. Cites circumstances in which the government may move to dismiss a qui tam action by a federal employee (who has, in effect, not exhausted administrative procedures for addressing the allegations in the false claim complaint).
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 1940 to extend from 90 days to one year the period following release from active duty during which a member of the Armed Forces shall be protected from mortgage foreclosure.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Helping Our Veterans to Keep Their Homes Act of 2008 - Increases from 90% to 100% of the reasonable value of a veteran's dwelling or farm residence the amount of the loan to be guaranteed or made in the case of a loan to refinance certain loans. Repeals the current fee schedule with respect to veterans' housing and small business loans. Changes the loan fee for such loans to 1% of the total amount of the loan guaranteed, insured, or made, or in the case of a loan assumption, the unpaid principal balance of the loan on the date of the transfer of the property. Extends the demonstration projects involving: (1) adjustable rate mortgages through FY2018; and (2) hybrid adjustable rate through FY2012. Increases the maximum loan guaranty amount of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) conforming limit limitation determined for a single-family residence, as adjusted for the year involved. Provides for an annual inflation increase in home loan guaranty amounts. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review and streamline the process of guaranteeing home loans for the purchase of a condominium.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of the use of educational assistance under certain programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay for training costs associated with the purchase of a franchise enterprise. Prohibits the use of such assistance unless: (1) training is required and provided in connection with the purchase and operation of a franchise; and (2) such training, and the training entity, are approved by the Secretary. Provides training and entity approval requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned, in the case of funeral honors for a veteran that are provided by a detail consisting solely of members of veterans organizations or other related organizations, to support the provision of such funeral honors through a daily stipend to each detail participant.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to back-date to September 11, 2001, the period of active duty or performed active service, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations, for which members of Ready Reserve components of the armed forces shall receive credit in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Veterans' Access to Local Options for Recovery Act of 2007 (VALOR Act) - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into a contract with a non-Department of Veterans Affairs facility located in an eligible metropolitan statistical area to provide hospital care and medical services to veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Savings Account for Every American Act of 2007 - Allows employees and self-employed individuals with a social security number to elect to participate in a S.A.F.E. account. Defines such an account as a trust created exclusively for the benefit of an individual or his or her beneficiaries. Requires: (1) employers of electing employees to establish a payroll deduction program to make employee contributions (6.2% of wages) to such accounts; and (2) employer matching contributions after a participating employee has maintained an account for 15 years. Imposes penalties on employers who fail to make required payroll deductions or pay deducted wages to S.A.F.E. accounts. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to study and report to the President and Congress on extending S.A.F.E. accounts to federal civilian and military employees. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt S.A.F.E. accounts from income taxation. Allows a tax deduction from gross income for cash contributions to such an account. Includes distributions from such an account in employee gross income, with specified exceptions for distributions after age 59 1/2 or death, purchase of certain insurance contracts, and rollovers. Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to exempt S.A.F.E. account participants from social security taxes and exclude such participants from old age, survivors and disability insurance coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Recognizes the strategic importance of the African continent and welcomes the establishment of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany. Urges the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to work collaboratively and to consult with African partners in implementing AFRICOM's mandate. Encourages African nations to take advantage of AFRICOM to collaborate in promoting peace and stability on the continent.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the United States, in concert with its international partners, should strengthen its commitment to stabilizing Afghanistan and contribute the necessary levels of economic, civilian, and military resources to achieve that end; and (2) the United States should redeploy to Afghanistan military forces in Iraq not essential for targeted counterterrorism activities, training and equipping Iraqi security forces, or protection of U.S. citizens and facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2007
Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to use the fingerprints provided by an individual at the time of military enlistment to satisfy any naturalization fingerprint requirements if: (1) the individual may be naturalized under the Immigration and Nationality Act, was fingerprinted in accordance with Department of Defense (DOD) requirements, and submits a naturalization application within 24 months of enlistment; and (2) Secretary determines that the fingerprints are sufficient to adjudicate the application. Requires the Secretary to update the appropriate Internet websites to reflect naturalization law changes. Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) report to the congressional defense and judiciary committees on the naturalization application process; and (2) conduct a study of this Act's implementation by the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2007
Grants a federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America (a nonprofit corporation and incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia).
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2007
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.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2007
Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from authorizing an honor guard to participate in the funeral of any veteran interred in a national cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Administration unless the honor guard agrees to offer to the family of each veteran in whose funeral the honor guard chooses to participate the option of having it perform one of the 13-fold flag recitations. Expresses the sense of Congress that 13-fold flag recitations are a historical tradition and that it should be the policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to authorize honor guards to participate in the funerals of veterans and proactively offer such a recitation to each veteran's family.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2007
Amends Public Law 110-92 to extend through December 31, 2007, specified continuing appropriations for FY2008. Makes specified appropriations for payment to the heirs at law of Julia Carson, late a Representative from the state of Indiana. Continues in effect throughout FY2008 the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to any veteran who participated in a test conducted by the Department of Defense Deseret Test Center as part of a program for chemical and biological warfare testing from 1962 through 1973 (including the program designated as “Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD)” and related land-based tests). Continues in effect throughout FY2008 the Secretary's authority to furnish, when requested, an appropriate government headstone or marker at U.S. expense for the grave of an individual eligible for burial in a national cemetery, or an individual who at the time of death was entitled to military retired pay, who is buried in a private cemetery.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2007
Recognizes and expresses appreciation for the courageous and loyal contributions made by the American soldiers detained in Berga, Germany, during World War II and encourages the people of the United States to recognize their service and loyalty.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2007
Military Housing Privatization Initiatives Projects Oversight and Accountability Act of 2007 - Requires each military housing privatization initiative project to be carried out under a guaranteed maximum price contract (to be reviewed by an independent third party) and accompanied by a performance schedule. Requires each Secretary concerned to prescribe regulations for effective oversight and management of projects under the Secretary's jurisdiction. Establishes requirements for: (1) combining projects in the event of termination of a lease or foreclosure on a project; (2) funding reserves; (3) sequestration and release of funds to be paid under a contract; (4) community meetings to convey project information; (5) certification of construction experience; (6) bonding levels; and (7) communication, review, and the effect of unsatisfactory performance or default (including the selection of a successor contractor). Requires annual reports on lessons learned regarding the operation of military housing privatization initiative projects.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2007
National Bombing Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish an Office for Bombing Prevention within the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Protective Security Coordination Division of the Office of Infrastructure Protection. Assigns the Office primary responsibility for enhancing the ability and coordinating the efforts of the nation to deter, detect, prevent, protect against, and respond to terrorist explosive attacks in the United States. Directs the Secretary to develop and periodically update a national strategy to prevent and prepare for terrorist explosive attacks in the United States. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, to: (1) ensure coordination and information sharing regarding nonmilitary research, development, testing, and evaluation activities relating to the detection and prevention of, protection against, and response to terrorist attacks in the United States using explosives or improvised explosive devices and the development of tools and technologies necessary to neutralize and disable explosive devices; (2) coordinate with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other relevant federal departments to ensure that military policies, procedures, activities, tools, and technologies to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks are adapted to nonmilitary uses; (3) establish a technology transfer program to facilitate the identification, modification, and commercialization of technology and equipment for use by governmental agencies, emergency response providers, and the private sector against such attacks; and (4) establish a working group to advise and assist in the identification of military technologies developed by the Department of Defense (DOD) or the private sector to protect against and respond to explosive attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2007
Additional Safeguards For Lease and Development of Non-Excess Property of Military Departments Act - Prohibits the lease of non-excess land that is under the control of a military department if the land is located in an area designated UBC Seismic Zone 4. Provides for an exception if the Secretary concerned determines that seismic activity would not have any significant impact on any portion of the proposed development under the lease. Prohibits such Secretary from omitting a revocation provision from a lease allowed under this exception. Requires revocation of previously-approved leases in such zones unless a lease is under substantial construction or the Secretary determines a lease should not be revoked.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2007
Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income payments made to members of the Armed Forces as enlistment and reenlistment bonuses. Requires the Secretary of Defense to continue the payment to members of the Armed Forces who are retired or separated for disability due to a combat-related injury of certain bonuses to which such members were entitled immediately before retirement or separation and to which such members would continue to be entitled if they were not retired or separated.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2007
In Memory Medal For Forgotten Veterans Act - Establishes the "Jesus (Chuchi) Salgado Medal" to be issued by the Secretary of Defense to a qualifying veteran who died after serving in the Vietnam War but whose death is determined to be a direct result of such service and whose name is not eligible for placement on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2007
Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to require, when a court-martial sentence that resulted in forfeiture of pay and allowances is later set aside or disapproved or, as finally approved, does not provide for a punishment resulting in forfeiture, that the restoration of the forfeited amounts be adjusted for inflation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
Alien Smuggling and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to check against all available terrorist watchlists those alien smugglers and smuggled individuals who are interdicted at U.S. land, air, and sea borders. Revises alien smuggling and related criminal offense and penalty provisions. Provides extraterritorial jurisdiction over such offenses. Limits a defense of necessity for knowingly bringing an illegal alien into the United States from the high seas. Exempts from certain of such violations (transporting or harboring in the United States) a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the United States (or its agents or officers) that encourages, invites, or enables an alien who is present in the United States to serve as a volunteer minister or missionary for such organization in the United States, provided the minister or missionary has been a member of the denomination for at least one year. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend as appropriate sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of alien smuggling offenses and criminal failure to heave to or obstruction of boarding.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
USERRA Enforcement Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends provisions concerning uniformed services members' employment or reemployment rights or benefits to: (1) require complainants to be notified of their rights within five days after receipt of the complaint by the Secretary of Labor; (2) require investigation and resolution of complaints to be completed no later than 90 days after receipt of the complaint; and (3) impose a 15-day deadline on referral to the Attorney General or to the Office of Special Counsel of an unsuccessful effort to resolve a complaint against a state or private employer or a federal executive agency, respectively. Requires the Attorney General or the Special Counsel, as appropriate, to make a decision and provide notification concerning representation of a complainant within 45 days of a referral. Modifies requirements for annual case reporting by the Secretary to include data of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and data concerning those with disabilities. Requires the Comptroller General to make quarterly reports on claims processing. Requires the Secretary to ensure that: (1) report information is categorized in a uniform way; and (2) the Secretary and the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the Attorney General, and the Special Counsel each have electronic access to case files reviewed under the uniformed services employment and reemployment rights provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2007 - Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of gold medals to Native American code talkers of specified Indian tribes. Defines "code talker" as a Native American who served in the Armed Forces during a foreign conflict and who participated in military communications using a native language. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and Indian tribes, to identify code talkers eligible for a gold medal.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Guaranty Cost Reduction Act of 2007 - Increases the maximum guarantee amount regarding home purchase or construction loans to certain veterans. Permits guaranteeing certain refinancing loans for 100% (currently, 90%) of reasonable value Modifies requirements regarding the fees veterans pay for the loan guarantees. Sets the maximum guarantee amount if the dwelling is determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be affordable housing and the veteran is the first owner-occupant. Allows amounts deposited in the existing Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund that are not used for loan guarantees to be used to reduce loan closing costs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
Detainee Interrogation Recording Act of 2007 - Requires the President to take such actions as are necessary, in accordance with specified laws and treaties, to ensure the videotaping of each strategic interrogation and other pertinent interaction between detainees or prisoners under the effective control of the U.S. and members of the Armed Forces, U.S. intelligence operatives, or U.S. contractors. Directs the President to provide for the appropriate classification of videotapes or recordings made under that requirement. Requires such videotapes to be made available, under seal if appropriate, to both prosecution and defense attorneys to the extent that they are material to any military or civilian criminal proceeding. Defines strategic interrogation as an interrogation at: (1) a corps or theater-level detention facility; or (2) a detention facility outside of the area where the detainee or prisoner was initially captured, including one owned, operated, borrowed, or leased by the U.S. government and a detention facility of a foreign government. Prohibits construing this Act to require videotaping during direct tactical combat operations. Requires the President to ensure that representatives of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent are granted access to detainees or prisoners in the custody or effective control of the Armed Forces. Directs the Judge Advocates General to jointly develop guidelines to ensure that the videotaping required by this Act is sufficiently expansive to prevent any abuse of detainees and prisoners and violations of specified laws and treaties.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
Fair Funding for Schools Act - Amends the Impact Aid program (which compensates local educational agencies (LEAs) for the financial burden of federal activities affecting their areas) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to alter the formula for determining the payments due LEAs for federal ownership of property when appropriations for a fiscal year are insufficient to provide them with full compensation. Alters the formula for determining the payments due LEAs for eligible federally-connected children. Includes not only children in average daily attendance, but also those enrolled pursuant to a state open enrollment policy. Continues an LEA's eligibility for such payments while activities associated with military base closures and realignments or force structure changes or relocations are ongoing. Allows the calculation of such payments using current student counts instead of prior fiscal year data when LEAs experience a specified influx of new students due to federal activities. Alters the formula for determining the construction payments due LEAs that are eligible for other Impact Aid payments. Divides 80% of the construction funds evenly between LEAs impacted by military dependent children and LEAs impacted by children residing on Indian lands, with the remainder reserved for emergency repair and modernization grants to LEAs serving Indian lands or experiencing a specified influx of new students due to federal activities. Alters the formula for determining whether a state's plan for equalizing assistance to its LEAs will except it from the prohibition on state aid to LEAs being affected by Impact Aid payments. Requires new LEAs applying for Impact Aid to have boundaries established by state law and the authority to tax or receive an imputed local tax. Reauthorizes appropriations for the Impact Aid program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
Congratulates the Army Reserve on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the enactment of its original authorizing law on April 23, 1908. Recognizes and commends the Army Reserve for the service of its past and present citizen-soldiers whose personal courage, contributions, and sacrifices have helped preserve the freedom and advance the national security and homeland defense of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2007
Allows the Secretary of Defense to transfer the amount of any congressionally directed spending item in or in connection with the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2008 (division A of P.L. 110-116) to one or more of the accounts of the Department of State, Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or accounts or other agencies conducting operations or activities in Iraq or Afghanistan, for the purpose of funding such operations or activities. Defines "congressionally directed spending item" as language included primarily at the request of a Member of Congress providing, authorizing, or recommending a specific amount of discretionary budget authority, credit authority, or other spending authority for a contract, loan, loan guarantee, grant, loan authority, or other expenditure with or to an entity, or targeted to a specific state, locality, or congressional district other than through a statutory or administrative formula-driven or competitive award process. Terminates the budget, credit, or other spending authority for the congressionally directed spending item upon the transfer of the amount of such item.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2007
Directs the Secretary of Defense, before furloughing Department of Defense (DOD) employees on the basis of a lack of funds, to suspend all nonessential DOD service contracts as necessary to make up for the lack of funds. Applies this Act to FY2008.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2007
Warrant Officer Aaron Walsh Stop DOD-Sponsored Gambling Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to prohibit the use of gambling devices on property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, except for charitable events and state lotteries.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2007
Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prescribe standards for appointment and practice as a physician within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires: (1) applicants to provide certain information, including each lawsuit, civil action, or other claim against the individual for medical malpractice or negligence, and their results; (2) each appointee to disclose any judgments against the individual for medical malpractice or negligence and any payments made; and (3) physicians already employed within the VHA to disclose such information. Prohibits a new appointment without: (1) approval of the regional director of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (Network) in which the individual will serve; (2) board certification in the specialties in which the individual will practice; and (3) a license to practice medicine in that state. Requires: (1) the VHA's Under Secretary of Health to designate a National Quality Assurance Officer for the VHA quality assurance program; (2) each Network regional director to appoint a quality assurance officer; and (3) the director of each VHA medical facility to appoint a quality assurance officer. Directs the Secretary to review VA policies for maintaining health care quality and patient safety at VA medical facilities. Requires the Secretary, in order to recruit and retain VHA physicians in hard-to-fill positions, to: (1) repay certain educational loans for individuals who agree to serve for at least three years as a VHA physician; (2) reimburse tuition for medical students who agree to serve as a VHA physician after such education; and (3) enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program an individual who agrees to serve as a VHA physician for at least five days per month. Encourages the Secretary to undertake additional incentives to encourage individuals to serve or practice as VHA physicians.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2007
Code Talkers Recognition Act - Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for: (1) the award on behalf of Congress of a single gold medal of appropriate design to honor the Native American members of the U.S. Armed Forces, collectively, who served as Code Talkers in any foreign conflict in which the United States was involved during the 20th century for display in the Smithsonian Institution; and (2) presentation of a gold duplicate of such medal to each Indian tribe that had tribal members who served as such Code Talkers. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike: (1) silver duplicates for transmittal to each individual who served as a Code Talker (or next of kin); and (2) bronze duplicates for public sale.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2007
Makes corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 1585 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008) concerning: (1) Navy construction and land acquisition projects, including costs of construction at Naval Station Bremerton, Washington; and (2) the general reduction of the amount authorized for base closure and realignment activities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2007
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3050 Hunsinger Lane in Louisville, Kentucky, as the "Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of Louisville Memorial Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2007
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free distributions of amounts from a flexible spending arrangement to members of a military reserve component ordered or called to active duty for at least 180 days or for an indefinite period.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2007
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 1585) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2007
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2007 or FISA Amendments Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to authorize the Attorney General (AG) and Director of National Intelligence to jointly authorize, for periods up to one year, the targeting (electronic surveillance) of persons located outside the United States to acquire foreign intelligence information. Requires specified targeting and surveillance minimization procedures to be followed, with Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Court) review of such procedures. States that: (1) FISA shall be the exclusive means for targeting U.S. persons inside or outside the United States, except where specific statutory authorization exists to obtain foreign intelligence information without an order under FISA; and (2) chapters 119 (Wire and Electronic Communications Interception and Interception of Oral Communications) and 121 (Stored Wire and Electronic Communications and Transactional Records Access) of the federal criminal code and FISA shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance and interception of domestic communications may be conducted. Requires the AG to submit semiannually to the congressional intelligence committees copies of any orders of the Court or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review that include significant construction or interpretation of FISA. Revises generally provisions concerning the application for, and issue of, Court orders. Allows the AG to authorize the emergency employment of electronic surveillance under certain circumstances, including: (1) determining that an emergency exists; (2) informing a Court judge of such determination; and (3) applying for a Court order authorizing such surveillance. Provides similar authority an outlines similar procedures for the emergency employment of a physical search. Requires the AG, after authorizing the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device on an emergency basis, to apply to the Court for an authorization order within 168 (current law requires 48) hours after the emergency installation and use. Authorizes the Court to sit en banc when: (1) necessary to secure or maintain uniformity of Court decisions; or (2) the proceeding involves a question of exceptional importance. Requires the Inspectors General of the Department of Justice and relevant elements of the intelligence community to complete a comprehensive audit of the Terrorist Surveillance Program and any closely related intelligence activities, to include acquiring all documents relevant to such programs, including memoranda concerning legal authority of a program, program authorizations, certifications to telecommunications carriers, and court orders. Requires a joint report to the congressional Intelligence committees containing the results of the audit. Provides limitations (and preempts state law) on civil actions against electronic communication service providers and persons providing assistance in connection with an intelligence activity.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2007
FISA Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to authorize the Attorney General (AG) and Director of National Intelligence to jointly authorize, for periods up to one year, the targeting (electronic surveillance) of persons located outside the United States to acquire foreign intelligence information. Requires specified targeting and surveillance minimization procedures to be followed, with Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Court) review of such procedures. States that chapters 119 (Wire and Electronic Communications Interception and Interception of Oral Communications) and 121 (Stored Wire and Electronic Communications and Transactional Records Access) of the federal criminal code and FISA shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance and interception of domestic communications may be conducted. Requires the AG to submit semiannually to the congressional intelligence committees copies of any orders of the Court or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review that include significant construction or interpretation of FISA. Revises generally provisions concerning the application for, and issue of, Court orders. Allows the AG to authorize the emergency employment of electronic surveillance under certain circumstances, including: (1) determining that an emergency exists; (2) informing a Court judge of such determination; and (3) applying for a Court order authorizing such surveillance. Provides similar authority an outlines similar procedures for the emergency employment of a physical search. Requires the AG, after authorizing the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device on an emergency basis, to apply to the Court for an authorization order within 168 (current law requires 48) hours after the emergency installation and use. Authorizes the Court to sit en banc when: (1) necessary to secure or maintain uniformity of Court decisions; or (2) the proceeding involves a question of exceptional importance.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2007
Declares that it is U.S. policy to commit a minimum of 4% of the nation's gross domestic product to the base defense budget in order to meet the fundamental national security requirements of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2007
Prohibits requiring repayment of a bonus or similar benefit, and requires the payment of any portion of such benefit not yet paid, when certain eligibility requirements for the receipt of such benefit are not met due to the death or retirement or separation of the member due to an injury, illness, or other impairment not incurred as a result of the member's own misconduct. Permits, in cases not covered by the above paragraph, additional exceptions to the repayment requirement when it would be contrary to personnel policy, good conscience, or the best interests of the United States. Provides for the retroactive application of this Act beginning on September 11, 2001, as specified.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2007
Emergency Relief Tax Check-Off for Our Armed Forces Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction (available to taxpayers who do not itemize their tax deductions) for charitable contributions of up to $1,000 ($2,000 in the case of a joint return) to the Armed Forces Relief Trust. Allows taxpayers to designate on their tax returns a portion of any overpayment of tax as a contribution to the Trust or to make a cash contribution to the Trust with their tax returns. Establishes an advisory board to advise the Trust on its operation and on the distribution of contributed funds.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2007
Declares that it is U.S. policy to commit a minimum of 4% of the nation's gross domestic product to the base defense budget in order to meet the fundamental national security requirements of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2007
Gold Star Parents Annuity Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay a special pension to each person who has received a Gold Star lapel button as a parent of a member of the Armed Forces who died while serving.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2007
Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007 - Increases funding (with an offset), for FY2008-FY2009, for the Office of Veterans Business Development of the Small Business Administration (SBA), with excess funds to be used to support veterans business outreach centers. Amends the Small Business Act to direct the President to establish an interagency task force to coordinate federal efforts to increase capital and business development opportunities for, and the award of federal contracts and subcontracts to, small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and veterans. Extends permanently the SBA's Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs. Directs the SBA's Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development to: (1) ensure that veterans business outreach centers regularly participate in the workshops of the transition assistance program of the Department of Labor; and (2) establish a women veterans business training resource program. Increases the number of veterans business outreach centers. Requires the Administrator to sponsor an independent study on gaps in the availability of veterans business outreach centers across the United States. National Reservist Enterprise Transition and Sustainability Act of 2007 - Directs the SBA Administrator to establish a program to provide business planning assistance to small businesses owned and operated by reservists. Authorizes a small business development center to carry out a veterans assistance and services program. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a loan pre-consideration process for small business loans to reservists; (2) develop an outreach and technical assistance program with respect to loans and grants made to reservists; and (3) give priority to reservists' loan applications. Increases the loan limit for such loans. Authorizes the Administrator to make noncollateralized small business loans to reservists. Provides relief from SBA time limits in the case of certain veteran or service-disabled veteran small business loans. Requires a: (1) report concerning types of assistance needed by service-disabled veterans who wish to become entrepreneurs; and (2) study on options for promoting positive working relations between employers and their reservist employees. Directs the Administrator to carry out an increased veteran participation program for loans made to veteran or reservist small business owners.