Armed Forces And National Security
US Congress 116th Congress
To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend certain morale, welfare, and recreation privileges to recipients of the gold star lapel button. [HB-6412]
[Military ]
[Veterans ]
Allows an individual who received a gold star lapel button (signifying that the individual is a family member of a service member who died in combat) to use military commissary stores and morale, welfare, and recreation retail facilities.
Sponsored by: Rep. Adriano Espaillat
Introduced In House on 03/27/2020
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Expressing support for the designation of March 29, 2020, as "Vietnam Veterans Day". [HR-912]
[Veterans ]
[Military ]
This resolution expresses support for the designation of Vietnam Veterans Day. The resolution also recognizes the contributions of veterans who served in Vietnam during war and peace.
Sponsored by: Rep. Collin C. Peterson
Introduced In House on 03/27/2020
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William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 [HB-6395]
[Defense ]
[Cybersecurity ]
[Artificial Intelligence ]
[Military ]
[National Security ]
[Healthcare ]
[Energy ]
[Science ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Veterans ]
[Funding ]
[Grants ]
[Aerospace ]
Authorizes FY2021 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation. The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for Procurement, including aircraft, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, shipbuilding and conversion, and missiles; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; Working Capital Funds; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Drug
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Sponsored by: Rep. Adam Smith
Message On Senate Action Sent To The House. on 01/02/2021
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US Congress 116th Congress
Examining Mental Health Services for the National Guard and Reserves Act of 2020 [S.3581]
[Defense ]
[Healthcare ]
[Mental Health ]
[Veterans ]
[Military ]
Requires the Government Accountability Office to assess the mental health and resiliency services available to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces (i.e., National Guard and Reserves).
Sponsored by: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Armed Services. on 03/25/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
Secure United States Bases Act [HB-6392]
[Defense ]
[Military ]
[National Security ]
To modify the conditions and terms of all foreign military training programs operated within the United States by the Department of Defense and the Department of State.
Sponsored by: Rep. Matt Gaetz
Introduced In House on 03/25/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
Department of Defense Healthcare Billing Report Act [S.3580]
[Defense ]
[Healthcare ]
[Medicare and Medicaid ]
[Military ]
[Public Health ]
Requires the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the billing practices of the Department of Defense (DOD) for care received under the TRICARE program (a health care program operated by DOD for servicemembers, military retirees, and their dependents) or at military medical treatment facilities.
Sponsored by: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Armed Services. on 03/25/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act of 2019 [S.3587]
[Veterans ]
[Disabilities ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress regarding the accessibility of VA websites (including attached files and web-based applications) to individuals with disabilities. The report shall identify websites, files, and applications that are not accessible to such individuals and include the VA's plan to make each of them accessible.
Sponsored by: Sen. Robert P. Casey
Signed By President. on 12/04/2020
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Disabled Veterans Education Relief Act of 2020 [S.3575]
[Veterans ]
[Education ]
[Disabilities ]
Addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assistance entitlements and subsistence allowances. Under the bill, an assistance payment for training and rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities shall not be charged against an individual's entitlement to such assistance if an individual was unable to complete a course or program due to the closure of an educational institution or disapproval of the course. The bill also authorizes the VA to continue to pay subsistence allowances for a specified amount of time during
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Sponsored by: Sen. Richard Blumenthal
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Veterans' Affairs. on 03/24/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
Increasing Access for Veterans and Their Survivors Act of 2020 [HB-6353]
[Veterans ]
[Telecommunications ]
[Human Services ]
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include on its covered toll-free telephone number a Spanish prompt and the functionality of directing callers to a Spanish-speaking VA employee or a translation service. The VA must establish a fact sheet and protocol if it provides assistance through a translation service.
Sponsored by: Rep. Ro Khanna
Referred To The Subcommittee On Oversight And Investigations. on 07/13/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 [HB-6322]
[Veterans ]
[Education ]
[Student Loans ]
[Disaster Relief ]
[Public Health ]
[Healthcare ]
[Funding ]
[Grants ]
Addresses education programs and assistance for veterans during the covered period from March 1-December 21, 2020. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue paying work-study allowances during emergency periods. The VA is also authorized to continue paying educational assistance and subsistence allowances for a specified amount of time for programs of education that are suspended due to an emergency situation. An educational assistance payment shall not be charged against an individual's entitlement to
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Sponsored by: Rep. Kathy Castor
Became Public Law No: 116-140. (txt | Pdf) on 04/28/2020
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To require the Secretary of Defense to make testing for the coronavirus disease 19 available to all members of the Armed Forces deployed to an area in which the United States Central Command has responsibility. [HB-6310]
[Defense ]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Veterans ]
[Military ]
[National Security ]
Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to make available, to specified servicemembers, testing for the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19). The bill requires that testing be made available to all members of the Armed Forces deployed to an area in which the United States Central Command has responsibility (presently including 20 nations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia). DOD shall report on policies or protocols provided to members of the Armed Forces regarding testing.
Sponsored by: Rep. Mark Pocan
Introduced In House on 03/19/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
A resolution encouraging the President to use authorities provided by the Defense Production Act of 1950 to scale up the national response to the coronavirus crisis. [SR-547]
[Defense ]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Disaster Relief ]
[Manufacturing ]
[Funding ]
[National Security ]
This resolution calls upon the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to increase production of medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus disease). The resolution supports the use of such authorities to distribute medical materials, including by directing suppliers to prioritize and accept contracts to restock the Strategic National Stockpile; and establish voluntary agreements and provide financial incentives to manufacturers
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Sponsored by: Sen. Cory A. Booker
Referred To The Committee On Banking, Housing, And Urban Affairs. on 03/18/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to make testing for the coronavirus disease 19 available to all members of the Armed Forces deployed to an area in which the United States Central Command has responsibility. [S.3507]
[Defense ]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Military ]
[National Security ]
Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to make available, to specified servicemembers, testing for the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19). The bill requires that testing be made available to all members of the Armed Forces deployed to an area in which the United States Central Command has responsibility (presently including 20 nations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia). DOD shall report on policies or protocols provided to members of the Armed Forces regarding testing.
Sponsored by: Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Armed Services. on 03/17/2020
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A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to treat certain programs of education converted to distance learning by reason of emergencies and health-related situations in the same manner as programs of education pursued at educational institutions, and for other purposes. [S.3503]
[Veterans ]
[Education ]
[Healthcare ]
[Funding ]
Authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue to provide educational assistance through December 21, 2020, for programs of education that have been converted to distance learning due to an emergency or health-related situation. Such assistance includes monthly housing stipends or subsistence allowances.
Sponsored by: Sen. Susan M. Collins
Signed By President. on 03/21/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
A bill to provide a 77-day extension of certain authorities for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations, and for other purposes. [S.3501]
[National Security ]
[Cybersecurity ]
[International ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Defense ]
Extends through May 30, 2020, certain authorities related to foreign intelligence gathering, such as those relating to accessing certain business records and treating individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers for intelligence purposes.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mitch McConnell
Introduced In The Senate, Read Twice, Considered, Read The Third Time, And Passed Without Amendment By Voice Vote. on 03/16/2020
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Fairness for Families of Fallen Sailors Act [HB-6277]
[Military ]
[Human Rights ]
[Veterans ]
To amend title 46, United States Code, to provide for a cause of action by the family of a military service member who dies from an accident on the high seas, and for other purposes.
Sponsored by: Rep. Donald Norcross
Introduced In House on 03/13/2020
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Veterans’ True Choice Act of 2020 [HB-6285]
[Veterans ]
[Healthcare ]
[Military ]
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide eligibility for TRICARE Select to veterans with service-connected disabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsored by: Rep. Andy Biggs
Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 07/13/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act of 2020 [S.3458]
[Veterans ]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Funding ]
[Budget and Spending ]
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit a report outlining the actions taken and plan to address the areas of concern identified in the 2019 High-Risk List of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding acquisition management, risk management, and health care improvement. The VA must also report annually on the implementation of priority recommendations of the GAO that pertain to the VA.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Veterans' Affairs. on 03/12/2020
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To direct the Mayor of the District of Columbia to establish a District of Columbia National Guard Educational Assistance Program to encourage the enlistment and retention of persons in the District of Columbia National Guard by providing financial assistance to enable members of the National Guard of the District of Columbia to attend undergraduate, vocational, or technical courses. [HB-6255]
[Education ]
[Veterans ]
[Military ]
[Funding ]
[Grants ]
To direct the Mayor of the District of Columbia to establish a District of Columbia National Guard Educational Assistance Program to encourage the enlistment and retention of persons in the District of Columbia National Guard by providing financial assistance to enable members of the National Guard of the District of Columbia to attend undergraduate, vocational, or technical courses.
Sponsored by: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Introduced In House on 03/12/2020
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US Congress 116th Congress
Veterans Court of Appeals Support Act of 2020 [S.3464]
[Veterans ]
[Military ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
Permanently increases the maximum number of judges presiding over the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to nine judges.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Veterans' Affairs. on 03/12/2020