Summary:
Guard and Reserve Equal Access to Health Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide a physical examination to each member of a reserve component who: (1) will not otherwise receive one through that department, and (2) elects to receive such examination. Requires the Secretary concerned to: (1) provide such examination during the 90-day period before such member's scheduled date of separation, and (2) provide such member with a record of the examination.

Prohibits a member from being entitled to transitional health care benefits through their department solely by reason of being provided such examination.

secretary military department concerned provide physical examination member reserve component receive department elects receive examination requires secretary concerned provide examination day period member scheduled date separation provide member record examination prohibits member entitled transitional health care benefits department solely reason provided examination


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since the Conference Report was filed in the House on July 28, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 - Title I: Improvement of Access to Care from Non-Department of Veterans Affairs Providers - (Sec. 101) Requires hospital care and medical services to be furnished to veterans through agreements with specified non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities if the veterans:

 have been unable to schedule an appointment at a VA medical facility within the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA's) wait-time goals for hospital care or medical services and such veterans opt for non-VA care or services; reside more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility; reside in a state without a VA medical facility that provides hospital care, emergency medical services, and surgical care and such veterans reside more than 20 miles from such a facility; or reside within 40 miles of a VA medical facility but are required to travel by air, boat, or ferry to reach such facility or such veterans face an unusual or excessive geographical burden in accessing the facility. Provides for such care through agreements with any health care provider participating in the Medicare program, any federally-qualified health center, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Indian Health Service (IHS). Requires the VA to establish an electronic waiting list that is accessible, via a specified VA website, to veterans who have been unable to schedule an appointment at a VA medical facility within the VHA's wait-time goals so that they can make an informed choice of whether or not to receive care and services at non-VA facilities.

Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide those non-VA medical facilities with information as to whether or not a veteran is covered under a health care plan not administered by the VA. Makes such health care plans primarily responsible for paying for the hospital care and medical services provided to veterans for non-service-connected disabilities if such plans cover such care and services.

Directs the Secretary to issue to each veteran that is eligible for hospital care or medical services at a non-VA facility a Veterans Choice Card that the veteran may present to an eligible health care provider to facilitate the veteran's receipt of such care or services.

Directs the Secretary to provide veterans with information about the availability of care or services at non-VA facilities: (1) when they enroll in the VA patient enrollment system, (2) when they attempt to schedule an appointment for VA hospital care or medical services but are unable to do so within the VHA's wait-time goals, and (3) when they become eligible for hospital care or medical services at a non-VA facility under this Act.

Requires non-VA health care providers providing such care and services to veterans to: (1) maintain at least the same or similar credentials and licenses that are required of VA health care providers; and (2) submit, at least annually, verification of those licenses and credentials.

Terminates this Act's requirement that the Secretary furnish care and services through agreements with non-VA facilities on the earlier of the date: (1) the Secretary exhausts all amounts in the Veterans Choice Fund, established under this Act; or (2) that falls three years after this Act's enactment.

Directs the Secretary to submit an initial and final report to Congress on the furnishing of care and services under the program.

(Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary to conduct outreach to each Indian medical facility operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization through a contract or compact with the IHS to raise awareness of the ability of such facilities, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to enter into agreements with the VA for reimbursement for providing veterans with health care at such facilities.

Requires the Secretary to establish performance metrics for assessing the performance of the VA and IHS under a memorandum of understanding to increase access to, and the quality and coordination of, health care services.

Directs the Secretary and the Director of the IHS to jointly submit to Congress a report on the feasibility and advisability of the VA entering into agreements with the IHS, urban Indian organizations, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and Indian medical facilities to reimburse those entities for the provision of care to veterans who are not Indians.

(Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements for the reimbursement of direct care services provided to veterans with Native Hawaiian health care systems that are in receipt of funds from grants awarded, or contracts entered into, under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act.

(Sec. 104) Amends the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 to extend, until two years after this Act's enactment, a pilot program, commonly known as Project ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home), authorizing the Secretary to enter into contracts with non-VA medical facilities to provide health care to veterans who reside in highly rural areas.

Lists the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) within which the Secretary must carry out the pilot program, but allows the Secretary to carry out the program in other appropriate locations.

Requires a veteran's appointment at a participating non-VA medical facility to be scheduled within 5 days after the facility accepts the veteran's referral from the VA and to occur within 30 days after the appointment is made.

(Sec. 105) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary must comply with the prompt payment rule or any similar regulation or ruling in paying for health care under contracts with non-VA providers.

Directs the Secretary to establish and implement a system to process and pay claims for payment for health care furnished by non-VA health care providers that complies with the Prompt Payment Act.

Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to report to Congress, within one year after this Act's enactment, on the timeliness of such payments.

(Sec. 106) Requires the Secretary to transfer the authority to pay for health care through non-VA facilities from the VA's Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers to the VHA's Chief Business Office.

Title II: Health Care Administrative Matters - (Sec. 201) Directs the Secretary to enter into one or more contracts with a private sector entity or entities for an independent assessment of the health care furnished in VA medical facilities.

Requires the assessment to address:

 the current and projected demographics and unique health care needs of the VA's patient population; the VA's current and projected health care capabilities and resources; the authorities and mechanisms under which the Secretary may furnish health care at non-VA facilities; the appropriate system-wide access standard applicable to health care furnished by and through the VA; the workflow process at each VA medical facility for scheduling appointments for veterans; the organization, workflow processes, and tools used by the VA to support clinical staffing, access to care, effective length-of-stay management and care transitions, positive patient experience, accurate documentation, and subsequent coding of inpatient services; the staffing level and productivity of each VA medical facility; the VA's information technology strategies for furnishing and managing health care; the VHA's business processes; the VA's purchasing, distribution, and use of pharmaceuticals, medical and surgical supplies, medical devices, and health care related services; the VA's process for carrying out construction and maintenance projects at VA medical facilities and for carrying out its medical facility leasing program; and the competency of the VA's leadership. Requires the private sector entity or entities carrying out such assessment to report to the Secretary and Congress on findings and recommendations. Directs the Secretary to make that report publicly accessible on an Internet website of the VA.

(Sec. 202) Establishes the Commission on Access to Care to examine veterans' access to VA health care and to strategically examine how best to organize the VHA, locate health care resources, and deliver health care to veterans over the next 20 years. Directs the Commission to submit an interim and final report to the President on its findings and recommendations for improving access to health care through the VHA. Terminates the Commission 30 days after it submits such final report.

Directs the President to: (1) report to Congress on the feasibility and advisability of the Commission's recommendations, whether those recommendations require legislative action, and administrative actions that are being and will be taken to carry out such recommendations; and (2) require the Secretary and the heads of other relevant federal agencies to implement each feasible and advisable recommendation that can be implemented without further legislative action.

(Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary: (1) through a technology task force, to review the VA's needs regarding its system and software for scheduling veterans' medical appointments; and (2) to implement the task force recommendations the Secretary considers feasible, advisable, and cost-effective.

(Sec. 204) Directs the Secretary to improve veterans' access to telemedicine and other health care through the use of the VA's mobile vet centers and mobile medical centers by establishing standardized requirements for the operation of such centers. Includes among those requirements:

 the number of days each center is expected to travel each year, the number of locations each center is expected to visit each year, the number of appointments each center is expected to conduct each year, and the method and timing of notification given by each center to individuals in the area to which such center is traveling. Requires each mobile vet and mobile medical center to have the capability to provide telemedicine services.

Directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress on access to health care through the use of mobile vet and medical centers that includes statistics on the use of the centers, an analysis of their effectiveness, and recommendations for expanding or improving their services.

(Sec. 205) Requires the Secretary to ensure that scheduling and wait-time metrics or goals are not used as factors in determining the performance of: (1) directors, associate directors, assistant directors, deputy directors, chiefs of staff, and clinical leads of VA medical centers; and (2) directors, assistant directors, and quality management officers of the VISNs.

Directs the Secretary: (1) to modify the performance plans of the directors of the VA medical centers and VISNs to ensure that such plans are based on the quality of care received by veterans at the health care facilities under their jurisdictions; and (2) to the degree practicable, to assess the performance of other VA employees in leadership positions at VA medical centers and in VISNs.

Prohibits the Secretary from including in the performance goals of any VISN or VA medical center employee any goal that might disincentivize the payment of VA amounts to provide health care through a non-VA provider.

(Sec. 206) Requires the Secretary to publish the wait-times for the scheduling of a veteran's appointment in each VA medical center for primary care, specialty care, and care that is based on the severity of the veteran's condition.

Directs the Secretary to develop and make publicly available a comprehensive database containing all applicable patient safety, quality of care, and outcome measures for VA health care that are tracked by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to update such database at least once each year.

Requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide the HHS Secretary with the information needed to make VA medical center patient quality and outcome information publicly available through the HHS's Hospital Compare website.

Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a review of the VA health care safety and quality metrics the Secretary makes publicly available under this section to assess the degree to which the Secretary is in compliance with this section's provisions.

(Sec. 207) Requires: (1) the VA website to include a link to the VA's health care providers database that provides the public with the location of each VA physician's residency training and identifies whether the physician is currently in residency, and (2) each veteran who is to undergo a surgical procedure by or through the VA to be provided information on the credentials of the surgeon who is to perform the procedure.

Directs the Comptroller General to submit an assessment to Congress of: (1) the manner in which contractors under the VA's Patient-Centered Community Care initiative oversee the credentials of physicians within their networks, (2) the VA's oversight of the contracts under the Patient-Centered Community Care initiative, and (3) the VA's verification of the credentials and licenses of health care providers furnishing hospital care and medical services to veterans in non-VA facilities. Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress and implement a plan to address the Comptroller General's findings and recommendations.

(Sec. 208) Requires the annual budget that the President submits to Congress to include specified information regarding: (1) the cost of providing, and the number of veterans receiving, medical care through contracts with non-VA facilities; and (2) the number of VA employees on paid administrative leave during the preceding fiscal year.

(Sec. 209) Directs the Secretary to establish policies penalizing VA employees who knowingly submit, or knowingly require another VA employee to submit, false data concerning health care wait times or quality measures to another VA employee.

Title III: Health Care Staffing, Recruitment, and Training Matters - (Sec. 301) Requires the Inspector General of the VA to determine, annually, the five health care occupations for which there are the largest staffing shortages throughout the VA. Authorizes the Secretary to recruit and directly appoint qualified health care providers to serve in such occupations for the VA.

Directs the Secretary to establish graduate medical residency programs, or ensure that existing graduate medical residency programs have a sufficient number of residency positions, at any VA medical facility that is: (1) experiencing a physician shortage, and (2) located in a community that is designated as a health professional shortage area.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) allocate the residency positions among the occupations on the list of those experiencing the largest staffing shortages throughout the VA; and (2) give priority to residency positions and programs in primary care, mental health, and any other specialty the Secretary deems appropriate.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) increase the the number of residency positions at VA medical facilities by up to 1,500 positions over the five-year period beginning one year after this Act's enactment; and (2) give priority in increasing such positions to VA medical facilities that do not have a medical residency program and that are located in communities that have a high concentration of veterans.

Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress, until 2019, on graduate medical education residency positions at VA medical facilities.

Directs the Secretary, under the VA's Health Professionals Educational Assistance program, to give scholarship priority to applicants pursuing education or training towards a career in a health care occupation that represents one of the five largest staffing shortages in the VA.

Requires the Secretary to submit a biennial report to Congress, until 2024, assessing the staffing of each VA medical facility.

(Sec. 302) Extends through 2019 (under current law, 2014) the VA's health professionals educational assistance program.

Raises, from $60,000 to $120,000, the per-individual limit on education debt reduction payments made by the VA to health personnel who: (1) are difficult to recruit or retain, and (2) provide the VA with direct-patient care services or services incident thereto. Raises the per year limit on such payments from $12,000 to $24,000.

(Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary to establish a role-specific clinic management training program to provide in-person, standardized education on health care practice management and scheduling to all appropriate employees, as determined by the Secretary, at VA medical facilities. Terminates the program after two years. Requires the Secretary, thereafter, to provide health care management training materials to all managers of, and health care providers at, VA medical facilities and such other VA employees the Secretary considers appropriate upon the commencement of their employment. Requires the Secretary to regularly update the training materials.

Title IV: Health Care Related to Sexual Trauma - (Sec. 401) Expands eligibility for counseling and treatment for sexual trauma to veterans who were on inactive duty training when they experienced sexual assault or harassment.

(Sec. 402) Authorizes the Secretary to provide such counseling and treatment to active-duty members of the Armed Forces who experienced sexual assault or harassment while serving on active duty or active or inactive duty training. (Under current law, such services are provided only to veterans.) Prohibits such a member from being required to obtain a referral before receiving such services.

(Sec. 403) Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the treatment and services available from the VA for male veterans who experience military sexual trauma compared to the treatment and services available to female veterans who experience such trauma.

Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee to report to Congress on the transition of military sexual abuse treatment from the DOD to the VA.

Title V: Other Health Care Matters - (Sec. 501) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to extend, from September 30, 2014, to October 6, 2017, the pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assistance to eligible veterans with traumatic brain injury to enhance their rehabilitation, quality of life, and community integration.

Title VI: Major Medical Facility Leases - (Sec. 601) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain major medical facility leases at specified locations for up to specified amounts. Directs the Secretary, in exercising such authority, to record as the full cost of the contractual obligation at the time a contract is executed either: (1) the amount of total payments under the full lease term, or (2) the first-year payments plus the specified cancellation costs if the lease is terminated before its full term.

Requires the funding prospectus of a proposed lease to include a detailed analysis of how the lease is expected to comply with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-11 and the Anti-Deficiency Act, including an analysis of: (1) the classification of the lease as a lease-purchase, capital lease, or operating lease; (2) the obligation of budgetary resources associated with the lease; and (3) the methodology used in determining the asset cost, fair market value, and cancellation costs of the lease.

Directs the Secretary, at least 30 days before entering into a lease, to submit to Congress: (1) notice of the intention to enter into, and a detailed summary of, such lease; (2) a description and analysis of any differences between the lease prospectus submitted and the proposed lease; and (3) a scoring analysis demonstrating that the proposed lease fully complies with OMB Circular A-11. Requires the Secretary, no more than 30 days after entering into a lease, to report any material differences between the proposed lease and the lease entered.

Title VII: Other Veterans Matters - (Sec. 701) Expands the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship to include surviving spouses (currently, children) of service members who die in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.

Terminates a surviving spouse's entitlement to such assistance on the earlier of: (1) the date that is 15 years after the date on which the surviving spouse's military spouse died, or (2) the date on which the surviving spouse remarries.

Requires a surviving spouse entitled to such assistance and to veterans' educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill to elect a single coverage.

(Sec. 702) Directs the Secretary to disapprove, for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force and the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance programs, courses of education provided by a public educational institution of higher education (IHE) that charges veterans living in the state higher tuition and fees than it charges in-state residents, regardless of the veteran's state of residence. Makes this provision applicable to: (1) veterans who were discharged or released from at least 90 days of active service less than three years before their date of enrollment in the applicable course, (2) family members eligible for such assistance due to their relationship to such veterans, and (3) courses that commence on or after July 1, 2015.

Prohibits the Secretary from disapproving a public IHE's course on the grounds that the IHE conditions a veteran's receipt of in-state tuition rates on such veteran: (1) demonstrating an intent, by means other than physical presence, to establish residency in the state; or (2) satisfying other requirements not related to the establishment of residency.

(Sec. 703) Extends through FY2024 the current $90 per month limit on a VA pension paid to veterans residing in nursing homes when their nursing costs are paid through title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.

(Sec. 704) Extends, through fiscal year 2024, the Secretary's authority to collect fees for certain housing loans made, insured, or guaranteed by the VA.

(Sec. 705) Limits the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses payable to VA employees in each of FY2015-FY2024.

(Sec. 706) Extends, through FY2024, the VA's authority to obtain veterans' income verification information from the Commissioner of Social Security or the Secretary of the Treasury.

(Sec. 707) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) remove any individual from the VA Senior Executive Service if the Secretary determines that the individual's performance or misconduct warrants such removal, and (2) remove such individual from the civil service or transfer the individual to a General Schedule position at any appropriate grade for which the individual is qualified.

Makes the transfer option applicable to individuals who: (1) previously occupied a permanent position within the competitive service or excepted service, or (2) did not occupy any position within the federal government prior to their employment in a senior executive position at the VA.

Requires the Secretary to provide Congress with written notice of each such removal or transfer, and the reason for making it, within 30 days after the removal or transfer.

Gives an individual seven days to appeal such a removal or transfer to the Merit Systems Protection Board (Board). Requires the Board to refer the appeal to an administrative law judge who is to conduct an expedited review that results in a final decision on such an appeal within 21 days. Makes the removal or transfer final if the administrative law judge cannot issue a decision in accordance with the 21-day requirement.

Directs the Board to report to Congress on the actions it plans to take to conduct such expedited reviews.

Waives, for 120 days after this Act's enactment, limitations on the initiation of an action to remove an individual from the VA Senior Executive Service.

Title VIII: Other Matters - (Sec. 801) Authorizes appropriations for use by the Secretary to improve veterans' access to care and the VA's physical infrastructure. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress, within one year after this Act's enactment, on how the Secretary has obligated such funds.

Directs the Secretary to submit a funding plan to Congress describing how the Secretary intends to use such funds.

(Sec. 802) Establishes the Veterans Choice Fund in the Treasury, which the Secretary shall use to carry out section 101 of this Act. Limits the amount that may be used for administrative purposes, but establishes a congressional notification process through which the Secretary may raise such limit. Authorizes appropriations.

Expresses the sense of Congress that it expects the VA will maintain at least its existing obligations for non-VA care programs in addition to but distinct from the Veterans Choice Fund for each of FY2015-FY2017.

(Sec. 803) Treats such funding as emergency funding that is not subject to pay-as-you-go spending constraints.

measure amended conference report filed house july summary version repeated choice accountability act title improvement access care affairs providers sec requires hospital care medical services furnished veterans agreements specified non-department_of_veterans_affairs facilities veterans unable schedule appointment medical facility veterans_health_administration vha wait time goals hospital care medical services veterans opt non care services reside miles medical facility reside state medical facility provides hospital care emergency medical services surgical care veterans reside miles facility reside miles medical facility required travel air boat ferry reach facility veterans face unusual excessive geographical burden accessing facility provides care agreements health care provider participating medicare program federally qualified health center department_of_defense dod indian_health_service ihs requires establish electronic waiting list accessible specified website veterans unable schedule appointment medical facility vha wait time goals informed choice receive care services non-va facilities requires secretary veterans_affairs provide non medical facilities information veteran covered health care plan administered makes health care plans primarily responsible paying hospital care medical services provided veterans non service connected disabilities plans cover care services directs secretary issue veteran eligible hospital care medical services non-va facility veterans veteran present eligible health care provider facilitate veteran receipt care services directs secretary provide veterans information availability care services non-va facilities enroll patient enrollment system attempt schedule appointment hospital care medical services unable vha wait time goals eligible hospital care medical services non-va facility act requires non health care providers providing care services veterans maintain similar credentials licenses required health care providers submit annually verification licenses credentials terminates act requirement secretary furnish care services agreements non-va facilities earlier date secretary amounts established act falls years act enactment directs secretary submit initial final report congress furnishing care services program sec directs secretary conduct outreach indian medical facility operated indian tribe tribal organization contract compact ihs raise awareness ability facilities indian tribes tribal organizations enter agreements reimbursement providing veterans health care facilities requires secretary establish performance metrics assessing performance ihs memorandum understanding increase access quality coordination health care services directs secretary director ihs jointly submit congress report feasibility advisability entering agreements ihs urban indian organizations indian tribes tribal organizations indian medical facilities reimburse entities provision care veterans indians sec directs secretary enter agreements reimbursement direct care services provided veterans native hawaiian health care systems receipt funds grants awarded contracts entered native_hawaiian_health_care_improvement_act sec amends care improvements act extend years act enactment pilot program commonly known access received home authorizing secretary enter contracts non medical facilities provide health care veterans reside highly rural areas visns secretary carry pilot program allows secretary carry program appropriate locations requires veteran appointment participating non-va medical facility scheduled days facility accepts veteran referral occur days appointment sec expresses sense congress secretary comply prompt payment rule similar regulation ruling paying health care contracts non providers directs secretary establish implement system process pay claims payment health care furnished non-va health care providers complies prompt payment act requires comptroller general gao report congress year act enactment timeliness payments sec requires secretary transfer authority pay health care non-va facilities veterans_integrated_service_networks medical centers vha title health care administrative matters sec directs secretary enter contracts private sector entity entities independent assessment health care furnished medical facilities requires assessment address current projected demographics unique health care needs patient population current projected health care capabilities resources authorities mechanisms secretary furnish health care non-va facilities appropriate system wide access standard applicable health care furnished process medical facility scheduling appointments veterans organization processes tools support clinical staffing access care effective length stay management care transitions positive patient experience accurate documentation subsequent coding inpatient services staffing level productivity medical facility information technology strategies furnishing managing health care vha business processes purchasing distribution use pharmaceuticals medical surgical supplies medical devices health care related services process carrying construction maintenance projects medical facilities carrying medical facility leasing program competency leadership requires private sector entity entities carrying assessment report secretary congress findings recommendations directs secretary report publicly accessible internet website sec examine veterans access health care strategically examine best organize vha locate health care resources deliver health care veterans years directs commission submit interim final report president findings recommendations improving access health care vha terminates commission days submits final report directs president report congress feasibility advisability commission recommendations recommendations require legislative action administrative actions taken carry recommendations require secretary heads relevant federal agencies implement feasible advisable recommendation implemented legislative action sec directs secretary technology task force review needs system software scheduling veterans medical appointments implement task force recommendations secretary considers feasible advisable cost effective sec directs secretary improve veterans access telemedicine health care use mobile vet centers mobile medical centers establishing standardized requirements operation centers includes requirements number days center expected travel year number locations center expected visit year number appointments center expected conduct year method timing notification given center individuals area center traveling requires mobile vet mobile medical center capability provide telemedicine services directs secretary submit annual report congress access health care use mobile vet medical centers includes statistics use centers analysis effectiveness recommendations expanding improving services sec requires secretary ensure scheduling wait time metrics goals factors determining performance directors associate directors assistant directors deputy directors chiefs staff clinical leads medical centers directors assistant directors quality management officers visns directs secretary modify performance plans directors medical centers visns ensure plans based quality care received veterans health care facilities jurisdictions degree practicable assess performance employees leadership positions medical centers visns prohibits secretary including performance goals visn medical center employee goal payment amounts provide health care non-va provider sec requires secretary publish wait times scheduling veteran appointment medical center primary care specialty care care based severity veteran condition directs secretary develop publicly available comprehensive database containing applicable patient safety quality care outcome measures health care tracked secretary requires secretary update database year requires secretary enter agreement secretary health_and_human_services hhs provide hhs secretary information needed medical center patient quality outcome information publicly available hhs website directs comptroller general conduct review health care safety quality metrics secretary makes publicly available section assess degree secretary compliance section provisions sec requires website include link health care providers database provides public location physician residency training identifies physician currently residency veteran undergo surgical procedure provided information credentials surgeon perform procedure directs comptroller general submit assessment congress manner contractors initiative oversee credentials physicians networks oversight contracts initiative verification credentials licenses health care providers furnishing hospital care medical services veterans non-va facilities requires secretary submit congress implement plan address comptroller_general findings recommendations sec requires annual budget president submits congress include specified information cost providing number veterans receiving medical care contracts non-va facilities number employees paid administrative leave preceding fiscal year sec directs secretary establish policies penalizing employees knowingly submit knowingly require employee submit false data concerning health care wait times quality measures employee title iii health care staffing recruitment training matters sec requires inspector general determine annually health care occupations largest staffing shortages authorizes secretary recruit directly appoint qualified health care providers serve occupations directs secretary establish graduate medical residency programs ensure existing graduate medical residency programs sufficient number residency positions medical facility experiencing physician shortage located community designated health professional shortage area requires secretary allocate residency positions occupations list experiencing largest staffing shortages priority residency positions programs primary care mental health specialty secretary deems appropriate directs secretary increase number residency positions medical facilities positions year period beginning year act enactment priority increasing positions medical facilities medical residency program located communities high concentration veterans requires secretary submit annual report congress graduate medical education residency positions medical facilities directs secretary program scholarship priority applicants pursuing education training career health care occupation represents largest staffing shortages requires secretary submit biennial report congress assessing staffing medical facility sec extends current law health professionals educational assistance program raises individual limit education debt reduction payments health personnel difficult recruit retain provide direct patient care services services incident thereto raises year limit payments sec directs secretary establish role specific clinic management training program provide person standardized education health care practice management scheduling appropriate employees determined secretary medical facilities terminates program years requires secretary provide health care management training materials managers health care providers medical facilities employees secretary considers appropriate commencement employment requires secretary regularly update training materials title health care related sexual trauma sec expands eligibility counseling treatment sexual trauma veterans inactive duty training experienced sexual assault harassment sec authorizes secretary provide counseling treatment active duty members armed_forces experienced sexual assault harassment serving active duty active inactive duty training current law services provided veterans prohibits member required obtain referral receiving services sec requires secretary report congress treatment services available male veterans experience military sexual trauma compared treatment services available female veterans experience trauma directs report congress transition military sexual abuse treatment dod title health care matters sec amends national_defense_authorization_act fiscal year extend september october pilot program assess effectiveness providing assistance eligible veterans traumatic brain injury enhance rehabilitation quality life community integration title sec authorizes secretary carry certain major medical facility leases specified locations specified amounts directs secretary exercising authority record cost contractual obligation time contract executed total payments lease term year payments plus specified cancellation costs lease terminated term requires funding prospectus proposed lease include detailed analysis lease expected comply office_of_management_and_budget omb circular a-11 including analysis classification lease lease purchase capital lease operating lease obligation budgetary resources associated lease methodology determining asset cost fair market value cancellation costs lease directs secretary days entering lease submit congress notice intention enter detailed summary lease description analysis differences lease prospectus submitted proposed lease scoring analysis demonstrating proposed lease fully complies omb circular a-11 requires secretary days entering lease report material differences proposed lease lease entered title vii veterans matters sec expands marine gunnery sergeant include surviving spouses currently children service members die line duty september terminates surviving spouse entitlement assistance earlier date years date surviving spouse military spouse died date surviving spouse remarries requires surviving spouse entitled assistance veterans educational assistance montgomery bill elect single coverage sec directs secretary disapprove purposes volunteer force educational assistance programs courses education provided public educational institution higher education ihe charges veterans living state higher tuition fees charges state residents regardless veteran state residence makes provision applicable veterans discharged released days active service years date enrollment applicable course family members eligible assistance relationship veterans courses commence july prohibits secretary disapproving public ihe course grounds ihe conditions veteran receipt state tuition rates veteran demonstrating intent means physical presence establish residency state satisfying requirements related establishment residency sec extends fy2024 current month limit pension paid veterans residing nursing homes nursing costs paid title xix medicaid social security act sec extends fiscal year secretary authority collect fees certain housing loans insured guaranteed sec limits aggregate awards bonuses payable employees sec extends fy2024 authority obtain veterans income verification information commissioner_of_social_security secretary treasury sec authorizes secretary remove individual va_senior_executive_service secretary determines individual performance misconduct warrants removal remove individual civil service transfer individual general schedule position appropriate grade individual qualified makes transfer option applicable individuals previously occupied permanent position competitive service excepted service occupy position federal government prior employment senior executive position requires secretary provide congress written notice removal transfer reason making days removal transfer gives individual seven days appeal removal transfer requires board refer appeal administrative law judge conduct expedited review results final decision appeal days makes removal transfer final administrative law judge issue decision accordance day requirement directs board report congress actions plans conduct expedited reviews waives days act enactment limitations initiation action remove individual va_senior_executive_service title viii matters sec authorizes appropriations use secretary improve veterans access care physical infrastructure requires secretary report congress year act enactment secretary obligated funds directs secretary submit funding plan congress describing secretary intends use funds sec establishes treasury secretary shall use carry section act limits administrative purposes establishes congressional notification process secretary raise limit authorizes appropriations expresses sense congress expects maintain existing obligations non-va care programs addition distinct fy2015 fy2017 sec treats funding emergency funding subject pay spending constraints


Summary:
Guard Appropriation Restoration During Shutdown Act or the GARDS Act - Amends the Pay Our Military Act (P.L. 113-39) to make FY2014 continuing appropriations for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect to provide for: (1) members of the National Guard who perform inactive-duty training or other service for which members would otherwise be entitled to pay and allowances (under such Act only members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service); and (2) civilian personnel of the National Guard, including military technicians (dual status), without regard to any determination by the Secretary of Defense (DOD) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) that such personnel are providing support to members of the Armed Forces performing active service.

Makes appropriations for FY2014, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect, such sums as are necessary to provide for the operation and maintenance of the National Guard, including necessary sums to prevent any interruption or delay in the performance by the National Guard of domestic disaster relief and recovery operations.

guard appropriation restoration shutdown act act amends pay military act fy2014 continuing appropriations period interim year appropriations fy2014 effect provide members national_guard perform inactive duty training service members entitled pay allowances act members armed_forces including reserve components perform active service civilian personnel national_guard including military technicians dual status regard determination secretary defense dod secretary homeland_security dhs personnel providing support members armed_forces performing active service makes appropriations fy2014 money treasury appropriated period interim year appropriations fy2014 effect sums necessary provide operation maintenance national_guard including necessary sums prevent interruption delay performance national_guard domestic disaster relief recovery operations


Summary: Hire A Hero Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow employers a work opportunity tax credit for hiring a member of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard, and (2) make such credit with respect to the hiring of qualified veterans and members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard permanent.

hire hero act amends internal revenue code allow employers work opportunity tax credit hiring member ready_reserve national_guard credit respect hiring qualified veterans members ready_reserve national_guard permanent


Summary:
Jobs for Heroes Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the work opportunity tax credit, to: (1) revise the definition of "qualified veteran" to expand the eligibility of veterans for such credit, (2) allow such credit for the hiring of a qualified member of the Ready Reserve or National Guard, and (3) make such credit permanent.

Revises the tax credit for differential wage payments made by employers on behalf of Members of the Uniformed Services to: (1) extend eligibility for such credit to an employer without regard to the size of such employer's workforce, and (2) make such credit permanent.

jobs heroes act amends internal revenue code respect work opportunity tax credit revise definition qualified veteran expand eligibility veterans credit allow credit hiring qualified member ready_reserve national_guard credit permanent revises tax credit differential wage payments employers behalf members uniformed_services extend eligibility credit employer regard size employer workforce credit permanent


Summary: Military Reserve Small Business Jobs Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2018 the tax credit for differential wage payments made by a small business employer on behalf of employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services.

military reserve small business jobs act amends internal revenue code extend tax credit differential wage payments small business employer behalf employees active duty members uniformed services


Summary: National Guard and Reserve Equal Access to Legal Services Act - Expands eligibility for legal assistance provided by the Armed Forces special victims' counsel for eligible members and dependents who are victims of sex-related offenses to include a member of a reserve component who is a victim of an alleged sex-offense committed by a member of the Armed Forces during: (1) a period in which the individual served on active duty, full-time National Guard duty, or inactive-duty training; or (2) any period, regardless of the duty status of the individual, if the circumstances of the alleged sex-related offense have a nexus to the military service of the individual based on the membership in the Armed Forces of either the victim or the member who allegedly committed such offense.

services act expands eligibility legal assistance provided armed_forces special victims counsel eligible members dependents victims sex related offenses include member reserve component victim alleged sex offense committed member armed_forces period individual served active duty time national_guard duty inactive duty training period regardless duty status individual circumstances alleged sex related offense nexus military service individual based membership armed_forces victim member allegedly committed offense


Summary:
Southwest Border Protection Act of 2014 - Requires Secretary of Defense (DOD), at the request of a governor of a state that shares a portion of the international border between the United States and Mexico, to order to active duty, and provide for the deployment of, at least 10,000 members of the National Guard to assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in achieving operational control of such border. Provides for such deployment to be in addition to the number of National Guard members already deployed along such border as of the enactment of this Act.

Requires such a governor-requested deployment to continue until: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies that the federal government has achieved operational control, or (2) the governor withdraws the request.

Exempts National Guard members deployed under this Act from being counted toward any limits on: (1) end strength, or (2) the number of National Guard personnel that may be placed on active duty for operational support.

southwest border protection act requires secretary defense dod request governor state shares portion international border united_states mexico order active duty provide deployment members national_guard assist achieving operational control border provides deployment addition number national_guard members deployed border enactment act requires governor requested deployment continue secretary homeland_security dhs certifies federal government achieved operational control governor withdraws request members deployed act counted limits end strength number national_guard personnel placed active duty operational support


Summary:
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2013 - Honors as a veteran any person entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or, but for age, would be so entitled.

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

honor_america honors veteran person entitled retired pay nonregular reserve service age entitled provides person shall entitled benefit reason recognition


Summary: Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2013 - Grants hiring preferences for federal employment to members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who: (1) have successfully completed officer candidate training or entry level and skill training and have incurred, or are performing, a 6-year commitment with a reserve component (3 point preference); (2) have completed at least 10 years of service with a reserve component and has earned at least 50 retirement points per year (4 point preference); or (3) are retired from service in a reserve component and are eligible for, but have not yet begun receiving, retired pay for non-regular service (5 point preference).

military reserve jobs act grants hiring preferences federal employment members reserve component armed_forces successfully completed officer candidate training entry level skill training incurred performing year commitment reserve component point preference completed years service reserve component earned retirement points year point preference retired service reserve component eligible begun receiving retired pay non regular service point preference


Summary:
National Guard Technician Equity Act - Provides a person the right to be employed as a non-dual status technician if: (1) the technician position has been designated to be filled only by a non-dual status technician, or (2) the person occupying the technician position has at least 20 years of service as a dual status military technician.

Repeals: (1) the permanent limitation on the number of non-dual status technicians, and (2) the prohibition against overtime pay for National Guard technicians.

 Allows military technicians who were hired as dual status technicians but are no longer members of the Selected Reserve to continue to receive compensation.

Requires dual status military technicians who are fully qualified for, and properly performing, the duties of such position to be: (1) retained in the Armed Forces, (2) exempt from consideration for involuntary separation by a military retention board, and (3) entitled to re-enlist as enlisted members so as to maintain their eligibility for continued employment as dual status military technicians.

Provides for a technician's rights of grievance, arbitration, appeal, and review beyond the current stage of the adjutant general of the jurisdiction concerned.

Prohibits federal employees who volunteer for active National Guard and Reserve duty from accruing military leave at the rate of 15 days each fiscal year for active duty, inactive duty training, or funeral honors duty in the National Guard or Reserves.

Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate the feasibility of converting military technicians from coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) to coverage under the TRICARE Reserve Select option of the TRICARE program.

person right employed non dual status technician technician position designated filled non dual status technician person occupying technician position years service dual status military technician repeals permanent limitation number non dual status technicians prohibition overtime pay national_guard technicians allows military technicians hired dual status technicians longer members selected_reserve continue receive compensation requires dual status military technicians fully qualified properly performing duties position retained armed_forces exempt consideration involuntary separation military retention board entitled enlist enlisted members maintain eligibility continued employment dual status military technicians provides technician rights grievance arbitration appeal review current stage adjutant general jurisdiction concerned prohibits federal employees volunteer active national_guard_and_reserve duty accruing military leave rate days fiscal year active duty inactive duty training funeral honors duty national_guard reserves directs comptroller general evaluate feasibility converting military technicians coverage federal_employees_health_benefits_program fehbp coverage option tricare program


Summary:
Modifies the process for assignment of additional general officers to the National Guard Bureau by requiring that two such officers of each of the Army and the Air National Guard be recommended by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from at least three candidates identified by the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force, respectively. (Under current law, two officers are selected by each Secretary.)

 Requires the Director and Deputy Director of each of the Army and the Air National Guards to assist the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in carrying out functions of the Bureau relevant to the respective branches. (Under current law, that function is carried out by the assigned general officers of the Army and the Air National Guards.)

modifies process assignment additional general officers national_guard_bureau requiring officers army air_national_guard recommended chief national_guard_bureau candidates identified secretaries army air_force respectively current law officers selected secretary requires director deputy director army assist chief national_guard_bureau carrying functions bureau relevant respective branches current law function carried assigned general officers army


Summary: National Guard and Reserve Access to Counsel Act - Expands eligibility for legal assistance provided by the Armed Forces special victims' counsel for eligible members and dependents who are victims of sex-related offenses to include a member of a reserve component who is a victim of an alleged sex-offense during: (1) a period in which the individual served on active duty, full-time National Guard duty, or inactive-duty training; or (2) any period, regardless of the duty status of the individual, if the circumstances of the alleged sex-related offense have a nexus to the military service of the victim, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense (DOD).

eligibility legal assistance provided armed_forces special victims counsel eligible members dependents victims sex related offenses include member reserve component victim alleged sex offense period individual served active duty time national_guard duty inactive duty training period regardless duty status individual circumstances alleged sex related offense nexus military service victim determined regulations prescribed secretary defense dod


Summary:
National Guard Investigations Transparency and Improvement Act of 2014 - Codifies the establishment of the Office of Complex Administrative Investigations (the Office) in the Office of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Requires the Office to undertake complex administrative investigations of matters relating to members of the National Guard when in state status, including investigations of sexual assault, upon the request of: (1) the Chief; (2) an adjutant general of a state, a territory, or the District of Columbia; (3) a governor of a state or territory; or (4) the Commanding General of the National Guard of the District of Columbia.

Defines "complex administrative investigation" as any investigation specified by the Chief involving factors giving rise to unusual complexity, including: (1) questions of jurisdiction between the United States and a state or territory, (2) matters requiring specialized training among investigating officers, or (3) matters raising the need for an independent investigation to ensure fairness and impartiality.

Requires the Chief to treat any final report of the Office relating to such matters as if it were the report of an inspector general of the Department of Defense (DOD) or a military department.

Directs the Chief to submit to Members of Congress from the state or territory concerned the final report adopted by the Office regarding such an investigation. Requires the Chief to submit to Congress an annual report regarding all investigations undertaken by the Office during the preceding year.

codifies establishment office requires office undertake complex administrative investigations matters relating members national_guard state status including investigations sexual assault request chief adjutant general state territory district_of_columbia governor state territory commanding general defines complex administrative investigation investigation specified chief involving factors giving rise unusual complexity including questions jurisdiction united_states state territory matters requiring specialized training investigating officers matters raising need independent investigation ensure fairness requires chief treat final report office relating matters report inspector general department_of_defense dod military department directs chief submit members congress state territory concerned final report adopted office investigation requires chief submit congress annual report investigations undertaken office preceding year


Summary: Guard and Military Reservist Pay Security Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for differential wage payments to active duty members of the Uniformed Services, to: (1) make such credit permanent; (2) increase the rate of such credit to 100%; (3) require an annual adjustment for inflation to credit amounts after 2015; and (4) make such credit available to all employers, not just small business employers.

internal revenue code respect tax credit differential wage payments active duty members uniformed_services credit permanent increase rate credit require annual adjustment inflation credit amounts credit available employers small business employers


Summary:
Cyber Defense National Guard Act

 Requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress regarding the feasibility of establishing a Cyber Defense National Guard.

Requires the report to address: (1) the number of persons who would be needed to defend the critical infrastructure of the United States from a cyber attack or man-made intentional or unintentional catastrophic incident; (2) elements of the federal government that would be best equipped to recruit, train, and manage such a National Guard; (3) resources that can be pre-positioned and training that can be instilled to assure responsiveness if an incident disrupts communications in a region or area; (4) logistics of allowing governors to use such a National Guard in states during times of cyber emergency; and (5) whether a force trained to defend U.S. networks in a major attack or natural or man-made disaster will benefit overall efforts to defend the interests of the United States.

requires director national_intelligence report congress feasibility establishing requires report address number persons needed defend critical infrastructure united_states cyber attack man intentional unintentional catastrophic incident elements federal government best equipped recruit train manage national_guard resources pre positioned training assure responsiveness incident disrupts communications region area logistics allowing governors use national_guard states times cyber emergency force trained defend networks major attack natural man disaster benefit overall efforts defend interests united_states


Summary:
GI Bill Fairness Act of 2015

Includes as active duty for purposes of eligibility for post-9/11 veterans educational assistance service of a member of a reserve component ordered to active duty to receive authorized medical care, to be medically evaluated, or to complete a required Department of Defense health care study.

bill fairness act includes active duty purposes eligibility veterans educational assistance service member reserve component ordered active duty receive authorized medical care medically evaluated complete required department_of_defense health care study


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act

(Sec. 2) Any person who is entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or who, but for age, would be so entitled shall be honored as a veteran.

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

measure amended introduced expanded summary house reported version repeated honor_america act sec person entitled retired pay nonregular reserve service age entitled shall honored veteran person shall entitled benefit reason recognition


Summary:
State Partnership Program Enhancement Act of 2015

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to revise and extend indefinitely the authority of the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish exchange programs for members of the National Guard under the National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP). (Currently, the authority is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2016.)

 Authorizes DOD, with the concurrence of the Department of State, to establish such programs for exchanges of members of the National Guard of a state or territory and the military forces or security forces or other government organizations of a foreign country to support the national interests and security cooperation goals and objectives of the United States as defined by the current and evolving national global strategic policies of the United States. (Currently, the primary function of the SPP is disaster and emergency response.)

Directs DOD, with the concurrence of the State Department, to establish procedures for SPP planning, programming, budgeting, accounting, and performance metrics.

Requires the National Guard Bureau to: (1) maintain a list of core competencies of the National Guard to support SPP activities, and (2) designate a director for each state and territory.

Requires DOD to coordinate SPP regulations with combatant commanders to ensure that program activities meet theater security cooperation objectives. Requires the State Department to coordinate such regulations with relevant chiefs of mission to meet diplomatic objectives.

Establishes the National Guard State Partnership Program Fund in the Treasury, into which appropriated amounts shall be credited and transferred for program activity uses, including payment of costs for personnel, training, operations, and equipment.

amends national defense authorization act fiscal year revise extend indefinitely authority department_of_defense dod establish exchange programs members national_guard currently authority scheduled terminate september authorizes dod concurrence department_of_state establish programs exchanges members national_guard state territory military forces security forces government organizations foreign country support national interests security cooperation goals objectives united_states defined current evolving national global strategic policies united_states currently primary function disaster emergency response directs dod concurrence state_department establish procedures planning programming budgeting accounting performance metrics requires national_guard_bureau maintain list core competencies national_guard support activities designate director state territory requires dod coordinate regulations combatant commanders ensure program activities meet theater security cooperation objectives requires state_department coordinate regulations relevant chiefs mission meet diplomatic objectives establishes treasury appropriated amounts shall credited transferred program activity uses including payment costs personnel training operations equipment


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 to exempt for an additional four-year period qualifying Armed Forces reserve component and National Guard members (who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for at least 90 days, and remain eligible for an exemption during the 540-day period following such active duty or homeland defense activity service) from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7 (Liquidation) of the Bankruptcy Code.

measure amended introduced expanded summary house passed version repeated national_guard reservist debt relief extension act sec bill amends national_guard reservists debt relief act exempt additional year period qualifying armed_forces reserve component national_guard members september called active duty perform homeland defense activity days remain eligible exemption day period following active duty homeland defense activity service application means test presumption abuse chapter liquidation bankruptcy code


Summary:
Guard and Reserve Equal Access to Health Act

This bill directs the military department concerned to provide a physical examination to each requesting member of a reserve component who will not otherwise receive one through that department.

 The military department concerned shall: (1) provide such examination during the 90-day period before such member's scheduled date of separation, and (2) give the member a record of the examination.

A member shall not be entitled to transitional health care benefits through his or her department solely by reason of being given such examination.

bill directs military department concerned provide physical examination requesting member reserve component receive department military department concerned shall provide examination day period member scheduled date separation member record examination member shall entitled transitional health care benefits department solely reason given examination


Summary:
Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow members of the Ready Reserve of a reserve component of the Armed Forces to make the maximum allowable contribution ($18,000 in 2016) to their Thrift Savings Plans without limiting the amount such members may contribute to a retirement plan based upon other employment. The bill also doubles the maximum allowable contribution amount to the Thrift Savings Plans of federal employees in the Ready Reserve.

servicemember retirement improvement act bill amends internal_revenue_code allow members ready_reserve reserve component armed_forces maximum allowable contribution plans limiting members contribute retirement plan based employment bill doubles maximum allowable contribution plans federal employees ready_reserve


Summary:
Sound of Freedom Act

This bill states that it shall be Department of Defense (DOD) policy that flyovers of public events in support of community relations activities may only be flown as part of an approved training mission at no additional expense to the federal government.

The Adjutant General of a state in which an Army National Guard or Air National Guard unit is based shall be the approval authority for all Air National Guard and Army National Guard flyovers in that state, including any flyover request in any civilian domain at a non-aviation related event.

DOD shall maintain records of flyover requests and approvals in a publicly accessible database updated annually.

"Flyover" means aviation support:

 in which a straight and level flight limited to one pass by a single military aircraft, or by a single formation of four or fewer military aircraft of the same type, from the same military department over a predetermined point on the ground at a specific time; that does not involve aerobatics or demonstrations; and that uses bank angles of up to 90 degrees if required to improve spectator visibility of the aircraft.

sound freedom act bill states shall department_of_defense dod policy public events support community relations activities flown approved training mission additional expense federal government adjutant general state army_national_guard air_national_guard unit based shall approval authority state including request civilian domain non aviation related event dod shall maintain records requests approvals publicly accessible database updated annually means aviation support straight level flight limited pass single military aircraft single formation fewer military aircraft type military department predetermined point ground specific time involve demonstrations uses bank degrees required improve visibility aircraft


Summary:
This bill makes eligible for TRICARE health care benefits certain National Guard members (and dependents) who are performing disaster response duty, if the performance of such a duty immediately follows a period in which the member served on full-time additional National Guard duty.

"Disaster response duty" means duty performed by a member of the National Guard in state status pursuant to an emergency declaration by the state governor (or, for the District of Columbia, by the mayor) in response to a disaster or in preparation for an imminent disaster.

bill makes eligible tricare health care benefits certain national_guard members dependents performing disaster response duty performance duty immediately follows period member served time additional national_guard duty disaster response duty means duty performed member national_guard state status pursuant emergency declaration state governor district_of_columbia mayor response disaster preparation imminent disaster


Summary:
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from 100 miles to 50 miles the distance from home requirement for the tax deduction of the travel expenses of a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces.

The bill requires the Department of Defense to report to Congress on the travel costs of members of reserve components.

bill amends internal_revenue_code reduce miles miles distance home requirement tax deduction travel expenses member reserve component armed_forces bill requires department_of_defense report congress travel costs members reserve components


Summary: This bill authorizes award of the Presidential Memorial Certificate to certain deceased members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and certain deceased members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

bill authorizes award certain deceased members reserve components armed_forces certain deceased members


Summary:
Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2015

This bill establishes tiered hiring preferences for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. The bill grants: (1) a 2-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed at least 6 years of service in a reserve component and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service, and (2) a 3-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed a least 10 years of service and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service.

The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on federal employment opportunities for members of a reserve component and the impact of this Act on the hiring of reservists and veterans by the federal government.

military reserve jobs act bill establishes tiered hiring preferences members reserve components armed_forces bill grants point preference current members reserve component completed years service reserve component credited retirement points year service point preference current members reserve component completed years service credited retirement points year service bill requires government_accountability_office report congress federal employment opportunities members reserve component impact act hiring reservists veterans federal government


Summary:
Military Reserve Small Business Jobs Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2019 the tax credit for differential wage payments made by a small business employer on behalf of employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services.

military reserve small business jobs act amends internal revenue code extend tax credit differential wage payments small business employer behalf employees active duty members uniformed services


Summary:
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2015

Honors as a veteran any person who is entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or who would be so entitled, but for age.

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

honor_america honors veteran person entitled retired pay nonregular reserve service entitled age provides person shall entitled benefit reason recognition


Summary:
State Partnership Program Enhancement Act of 2015

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to revise and extend indefinitely the authority of the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish exchange programs for members of the National Guard under the National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP). (Currently, the authority is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2016.)

Requires the National Guard Bureau to: (1) maintain a list of core competencies of the National Guard to support SPP activities, and (2) designate a director for each state and territory.

Requires DOD to coordinate SPP regulations with combatant commanders to ensure that program activities meet theater security cooperation objectives. Requires the Department of State to coordinate such regulations with relevant chiefs of mission to meet diplomatic objectives.

Establishes the National Guard State Partnership Program Fund in the Treasury, into which appropriated amounts shall be credited and transferred for program activity uses, including payment of costs for personnel, training, operations, and equipment.

amends national defense authorization act fiscal year revise extend indefinitely authority department_of_defense dod establish exchange programs members national_guard currently authority scheduled terminate september requires national_guard_bureau maintain list core competencies national_guard support activities designate director state territory requires dod coordinate regulations combatant commanders ensure program activities meet theater security cooperation objectives requires department_of_state coordinate regulations relevant chiefs mission meet diplomatic objectives establishes treasury appropriated amounts shall credited transferred program activity uses including payment costs personnel training operations equipment


Summary:
HUBZone Expansion Act of 2015

This bill amends the Small Business Act to expand the HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) program of Small Business Administration loans to small businesses in HUBZone areas for communities affected by base realignment and closure.

The expansion includes the areas that can be used by small businesses whose principal offices are located in base closure HUBZones, with at least 35% of their employees residing in:

 a HUBZone, a census tract in which the base closure HUBZone is wholly contained, a census tract that intersects the boundaries of the base closure HUBZone, or a census tract contiguous with these census tracts. HUBZone eligibility assistance for base closure areas is extended from five years to eight years after their closure.

hubzone expansion act bill amends small_business_act expand hubzone historically underutilized business zone program small_business_administration loans small businesses hubzone areas communities affected base realignment closure expansion includes areas small businesses principal offices located base closure hubzones employees residing hubzone census tract base closure hubzone wholly contained census tract boundaries base closure hubzone census tract contiguous census tracts hubzone eligibility assistance base closure areas extended years years closure


Summary:
Modular Airborne Firefighting System Flexibility Act

This bill authorizes the National Guard to provide assistance to support civilian authority firefighting operations or activities, including aerial firefighting employment of the Modular Airborne Firefighting System.

Such authority is based on a recognition of the basic premises of the National Incident Management System and the National Response Framework that: (1) incidents are typically managed at the local level first; and (2) local jurisdictions retain command, control, and authority over response activities for their jurisdictional areas.

bill authorizes national_guard provide assistance support civilian authority firefighting operations activities including aerial firefighting employment authority based recognition basic premises national response framework incidents typically managed local level local jurisdictions retain command control authority response activities jurisdictional areas


Summary: Corporate Entitlement Reform Act of 2007 - Establishes the Corporate Entitlement Reform Commission to: (1) examine and identify federal programs and tax laws that provide corporate entitlements (federally-funded payments to profitmaking enterprises provided without a reasonable expectation that activities performed in return for such payments would result in benefits to the public at least as great as the payments); (2) review such entitlements; (3) recommend $50 billion in federal savings on corporate entitlements for the period beginning October 1, 2007, and ending September 30, 2017; and (4) report to Congress on its findings and recommendations. Sets forth procedures for congressional consideration and implementation of the Commission's recommendations.

corporate entitlement reform act establishes corporate entitlement reform commission examine identify federal programs tax laws provide corporate entitlements federally funded payments enterprises provided reasonable expectation activities performed return payments result benefits public great payments review entitlements recommend billion federal savings corporate entitlements period beginning october ending september report congress findings recommendations sets forth procedures congressional consideration implementation commission recommendations


Summary: Antitrust Modernization Commission Extension Act of 2007 - Amends the Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 2002 to extend the termination date of the Antitrust Modernization Commission to 60 (currently, 30) days after the Commission's report to the President and Congress.

extension act amends extend termination date currently days commission report president congress


Summary: Compete Act of 2007 - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to revise requirements for the internal control assessment component of a securities issuer's annual report. Requires the attestation and report by a registered public accounting firm on an issuer's management assessment of its internal control structure and procedures to focus upon the process and system used by management to identify and manage risks, identify and implement key controls, and come to a conclusion on the effectiveness of the internal controls over financial reporting. Prohibits an auditor's attestation and report from including a separate (pass/fail) opinion on the effectiveness of such internal controls. Requires such attestation and report to be performed at three-year intervals. Prescribes standards for such attestations and reports, including a risk-based evaluation. Permits attestations and reports to rely on examinations and inspections by federal and state regulatory agencies. Instructs the Securities and Exchange Commission to develop a standard of materiality for such assessments and reports based upon whether the internal control has a material effect on the company's financial statements and is significant to the issuer's overall financial status. Exempts a smaller public company from the requirements for management assessment of internal controls, unless it voluntarily elects to comply with them.

compete act amends sarbanes oxley act revise requirements internal control assessment component securities issuer annual report requires attestation report registered public accounting firm issuer management assessment internal control structure procedures focus process system management identify manage risks identify implement key controls come conclusion effectiveness internal controls financial reporting prohibits auditor attestation report including separate pass fail opinion effectiveness internal controls requires attestation report performed year intervals prescribes standards attestations reports including risk based evaluation permits attestations reports rely examinations inspections federal state regulatory agencies instructs securities_and_exchange_commission develop standard assessments reports based internal control material effect company financial statements significant issuer overall financial status exempts smaller public company requirements management assessment internal controls voluntarily elects comply


Summary: No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007 or NOPEC - Amends the Sherman Act to declare it to be illegal and a violation of the Act for any foreign state or instrumentality thereof to act collectively or in combination with any other foreign state or any other person, whether by cartel or any other association or form of cooperation or joint action, to limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product (petroleum), to set or maintain the price of petroleum, or to otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for petroleum, when such action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of petroleum in the United States. Denies a foreign state engaged in such conduct sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction or judgements of U.S. courts in any action brought to enforce this Act. States that no U.S. court shall decline, based on the act of state doctrine, to make a determination on the merits in an action brought under this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action in U.S. district court to enforce this Act. Makes an exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state in an action brought under this Act.

act sherman act declare illegal violation act foreign state instrumentality thereof act collectively combination foreign state person cartel association form cooperation joint action limit production distribution oil natural gas petroleum product petroleum set maintain price petroleum action restraint trade petroleum action direct substantial reasonably foreseeable effect market supply price distribution petroleum united_states denies foreign state engaged conduct sovereign immunity jurisdiction courts action brought enforce act states court shall decline based act state doctrine determination merits action brought act authorizes attorney general bring action district court enforce act makes exception jurisdictional immunity foreign state action brought act


Summary: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat as corporations for income tax purposes certain publicly traded partnerships which directly or indirectly derive income or gain from providing services as an investment adviser (as defined by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) or asset management services.

amends internal revenue code treat corporations income tax purposes certain publicly traded partnerships directly indirectly derive income gain providing services investment adviser defined asset management services


Summary: Income Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny employers a tax deduction for payments of excessive compensation to any employee (i.e., more than 25 times the lowest compensation paid any other employee); and (2) require such employers to file a report on compensation paid to their employees with the Secretary of the Treasury.

income equity act amends internal revenue code deny employers tax deduction payments excessive compensation employee times lowest compensation paid employee require employers file report compensation paid employees secretary treasury


Summary: S Corporation Modernization Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the tax treatment of S corporations, including by: (1) reducing from 10 to 7 years the period during which S corporation built-in gains are subject to tax; (2) allowing nonresident aliens to qualify as beneficiaries of an electing small business trust (ESBT); (3) repealing mandatory termination of S corporation elections for excessive passive investment income; (4) allowing S corporations to increase passive investment income from 25 to 60% without incurring additional tax; (5) allowing individual retirement accounts to be S corporation shareholders; and (6) allowing ESBTs to claim expanded charitable tax deductions.Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on entity neutrality under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to S corporations, limited liability companies, and other pass-through entities.

corporation modernization act amends internal revenue code revise tax treatment corporations including reducing years period corporation built gains subject tax allowing nonresident aliens qualify beneficiaries electing small business trust esbt repealing mandatory termination corporation elections excessive passive investment income allowing corporations increase passive investment income incurring additional tax allowing individual retirement accounts corporation shareholders allowing esbts claim expanded charitable tax deductions directs comptroller general study report congress entity neutrality internal revenue code respect corporations limited liability companies pass entities


Summary: Extractive Industries Transparency Disclosure Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to instruct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require specified annual reports of an issuer to disclose the total payments made to an agency or instrumentality of a foreign government: (1) for natural resources in a foreign country; or (2) in connection with the extraction of natural resources from a foreign country.Requires compilation of such information so that it is accessible by the public directly from the SEC website without separately accessing the annual reports of each issuer filing the information on the EDGAR system.

transparency disclosure act amends securities exchange act instruct securities_and_exchange_commission sec require specified annual reports issuer disclose total payments agency instrumentality foreign government natural resources foreign country connection extraction natural resources foreign country requires compilation information accessible public directly sec website separately accessing annual reports issuer filing information system


Summary: Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008 - Title I: Amendment to Sherman Act - No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008 or NOPEC - (Sec. 102) Amends the Sherman Act to make it illegal for any foreign state or instrumentality thereof to act collectively or in combination with any other foreign state or any other person, when such action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of petroleum in the United States, to: (1) limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product (petroleum); (2) set or maintain the price of petroleum; or (3) otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for petroleum. Denies a foreign state engaged in such conduct sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction or judgments of U.S. courts in any action brought to enforce this Act. States that no U.S. court shall decline, based on the act of state doctrine, to make a determination on the merits in an action brought under this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action in U.S. district court to enforce this Act. (Sec. 103) Makes an exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state in an action brought under this Act. Title II: Creation of Department of Justice Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force - (Sec. 201) Directs the Attorney General to establish in the Department of Justice (DOJ) a Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force to: (1) develop, coordinate, and facilitate the implementation of DOJ investigative and enforcement policies related to petroleum industry antitrust issues under federal law; and (2) report annually to Congress on DOJ investigatory and enforcement efforts related to petroleum industry antitrust issues, and on issues related to the application of federal antitrust laws to the market for petroleum. Title III: Study by the Government Accountability Office - (Sec. 301) Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) conduct a study evaluating the effects of mergers addressed in covered petroleum merger consent decrees on competition in the markets involved, including the effectiveness of divestitures required in such decrees in preserving competition in those markets; and (2) report study results to Congress and DOJ. Directs the Attorney General to refer such report to the Task Force, which shall consider whether any further enforcement action is warranted to protect or restore competition in any market affected by a transaction to which any covered merger consent decree relates.

gas price relief consumers act title amendment sherman act oil producing exporting cartels act sec amends sherman act illegal foreign state instrumentality thereof act collectively combination foreign state person action direct substantial reasonably foreseeable effect market supply price distribution petroleum united_states limit production distribution oil natural gas petroleum product petroleum set maintain price petroleum action restraint trade petroleum denies foreign state engaged conduct sovereign immunity jurisdiction judgments courts action brought enforce act states court shall decline based act state doctrine determination merits action brought act authorizes attorney general bring action district court enforce act sec makes exception jurisdictional immunity foreign state action brought act title sec directs attorney general establish department_of_justice doj develop coordinate facilitate implementation doj investigative enforcement policies related petroleum industry antitrust issues federal law report annually congress doj investigatory enforcement efforts related petroleum industry antitrust issues issues related application federal antitrust laws market petroleum title iii study government_accountability_office sec directs comptroller general conduct study evaluating effects mergers addressed covered petroleum merger consent decrees competition markets involved including effectiveness required decrees preserving competition markets report study results congress doj directs attorney general refer report task_force shall consider enforcement action warranted protect restore competition market affected transaction covered merger consent decree relates


Summary: Stop Business with Terrorists Act of 2008 - Subjects the parent company of a foreign entity that violates certain executive orders prohibiting certain business transactions with Iran (or other such prohibitions imposed on Iran under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) to penalties to the same extent as if the parent company had engaged in such violations. Provides that such prohibitions and penalties shall not apply to a parent company of an entity on which the President imposed a penalty for a violation that was in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act if the parent company divests or terminates its business with such entity not later than 90 days after such date of enactment.

stop business terrorists act subjects parent company foreign entity violates certain executive orders prohibiting certain business transactions iran prohibitions imposed iran authority international_emergency_economic_powers_act penalties extent parent company engaged violations provides prohibitions penalties shall apply parent company entity president imposed penalty violation effect date enactment act parent company divests terminates business entity later days date enactment


Summary: Small Business Tax Flexibility Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit certain small start-up businesses to elect a taxable year, other than the required taxable year, which ends on the last day of any of the months of April through November (or at the end of an equivalent annual period).

amends internal revenue code permit certain small start businesses elect taxable year required taxable year ends day months april november end equivalent annual period


Summary: No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007 or NOPEC - Amends the Sherman Act to declare it to be illegal and a violation of the Act for any foreign state or instrumentality thereof to act collectively or in combination with any other foreign state or any other person, whether by cartel or any other association or form of cooperation or joint action, to limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product (petroleum), to set or maintain the price of petroleum, or to otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for petroleum, when such action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of petroleum in the United States. Denies a foreign state engaged in such conduct sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction or judgements of U.S. courts in any action brought to enforce this Act. States that no U.S. court shall decline, based on the act of state doctrine, to make a determination on the merits in an action brought under this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action in U.S. district court to enforce this Act. Amends the Federal judicial code to make an exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state in an action brought under this Act.

act sherman act declare illegal violation act foreign state instrumentality thereof act collectively combination foreign state person cartel association form cooperation joint action limit production distribution oil natural gas petroleum product petroleum set maintain price petroleum action restraint trade petroleum action direct substantial reasonably foreseeable effect market supply price distribution petroleum united_states denies foreign state engaged conduct sovereign immunity jurisdiction courts action brought enforce act states court shall decline based act state doctrine determination merits action brought act authorizes attorney general bring action district court enforce act amends federal judicial code exception jurisdictional immunity foreign state action brought act


Summary: Ending Corporate Tax Favors for Stock Options Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) limit the employer tax deduction for stock options granted to its employees to the value of such options as recorded on the employer's books at the time such options are granted; and (2) apply the $1 million limitation on the employer tax deduction for employee remuneration to stock option compensation.

ending corporate tax favors stock options act amends internal revenue code limit employer tax deduction stock options granted employees value options recorded employer books time options granted apply million limitation employer tax deduction employee remuneration stock option compensation


Summary: Small Business Stimulus Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase to $200,000 the expensing allowance for depreciable business assets in 2008; (2) extend through 2008 the five-year carryback allowed for certain unused net operating losses; and (3) extend through 2008 the tax credit for increasing research activities.

small business stimulus act amends internal revenue code increase expensing allowance depreciable business assets extend year carryback allowed certain unused net operating losses extend tax credit increasing research activities


Summary: Directs the Attorney General to establish a Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force in the Department of Justice (DOJ) to examine all issues relating to the application of federal antitrust laws to the petroleum markets, including the existence and effects of: (1) price gouging in the sales of gasoline; (2) international oil cartels; (3) collusive behavior in restricting petroleum production; (4) anticompetitive price discrimination; and (5) anticompetitive manipulation in futures markets or other trading exchanges relating to petroleum.

directs attorney general establish department_of_justice doj examine issues relating application federal antitrust laws petroleum markets including existence effects price gouging sales gasoline international oil cartels behavior restricting petroleum production anticompetitive price discrimination anticompetitive manipulation futures markets trading exchanges relating petroleum