113th Congress Veteran Legislation November 2013
As of 12 NOV, of the 3445 House and 1676 Senate items of legislation introduced in the 113th Congress, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. A good indication on the likelihood of a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s text, determine its current status and number of cosponsors, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html. To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html.
H.R.32 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation.
SUMMARY AS OF:
1/3/2013–Introduced.
Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act – Repeals certain provisions which require the offset of amounts paid in dependency and indemnity compensation from Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities for the surviving spouses of former military personnel who are entitled to military retired pay or who would be entitled to retired pay except for being under 60 years of age.
Prohibits requiring repayment of certain amounts previously paid to SBP recipients in the form of a retired pay refund.
Repeals the optional authority of (and instead requires) the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay an annuity to a member’s dependent children when there is no eligible surviving spouse.
Directs the Secretary concerned to restore annuity eligibility to a surviving spouse who earlier agreed to transfer such eligibility to a surviving child or children of a member.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/3/2013) Related Bills: S.734
Cosponsors: 184
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
S.734 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans’ dependency and indemnity compensation.
SUMMARY AS OF:
4/16/2013–Introduced.
Repeals certain provisions which require the offset of amounts paid in dependency and indemnity compensation from Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities for the surviving spouses of former military personnel who are entitled to military retired pay or would be entitled to such pay, except for being under 60 years of age.
Prohibits recoupment by the Secretary of Defense (DOD) of certain amounts previously paid to SBP recipients in the form of a retired pay refund.
Repeals the optional authority of (and instead requires) the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay an annuity to a member’s dependent children when there is no eligible surviving spouse. Directs the Secretary concerned to restore annuity eligibility to a surviving spouse who earlier agreed to transfer such eligibility to a surviving child or children of a member.
Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 4/16/2013) Related Bill.: H.R. 32
Cosponsors: 31
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/16/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-12] (introduced 1/15/2013) Related Bills: S.234
Cosponsors: 81
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/15/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. 2/4/13: referred to Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
S.234 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2013. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 2/7/2013) Related Bills: H.R.303
Cosponsors: 20
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/7/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
H.R.333 : Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] (introduced 1/22/2013)
Cosponsors: 110
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/22/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. 2/4/13: referred to Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
H.R.543
Latest Title: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes.
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013 – Includes as part of the Republic of Vietnam its territorial seas for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam.
Sponsor: Rep Gibson, Christopher P. [NY-19] (introduced 2/6/2013)
Cosponsors: 154
Latest Major Action: 2/15/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
H.R.569 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013. A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2013, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] (introduced 2/6/2013) Related Bills: H.R.570
Cosponsors: 51
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 4/16/13: Sub-Committee hearing held. 4/25/13: referred to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
H.R.570 : American Heroes COLA Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be made automatically by law each year in the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] (introduced 2/6/2013) Related Bills: H.R.569
Cosponsors: 39
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 5/21/13: reported out of Committee on Veterans Affairs. 5/21/13: Passed House. 5/22/13: Referred to Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
S893: Veterans Compensation Cost –of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013
5/8/2013–Introduced.
Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013 – Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2013, the rates of veterans’ disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.
Sponsor: Senator Bernard Sanders
Cosponsors: 17
Latest Major Action: 6/12/13: hearing held by Committee on Veterans Affairs; 7/24/13: ordered to be reported favorably without amendment; 9/4/13: placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar no. 165. 10/29/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 11/12/13: passed in the House. 11/14/13: presented to the President.
H.R.679 : Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law.
Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 2/13/2013) Related bills: S. 629
Cosponsors: 58
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/22/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. 4/17/13: subcommittee hearings held.
S.629 : Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2013. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of the Armed Forces of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] (introduced 3/20/2013) Related bills: H.R.679
Cosponsors: 24
Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/20/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 6/12/13: hearings held by Committee on Veterans Affairs.
H.R.1134 : Vet Rural Health Care Improvement. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a grant program and pilot program designed to improve the delivery of health care to veterans residing in rural areas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Gallego, Pete P. [TX-23] (introduced 3/13/2013)
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/13/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 4/2/13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
H.R.1494 : Blue Water Navy Ship Accountability Act. To direct the Secretary of Defense to review the operation of certain ships during the Vietnam Era, and for other purposes.
SUMMARY AS OF:
4/11/2013–Introduced.
Blue Water Navy Ship Accountability Act – Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to: (1) review the logs of each Navy ship known to have operated in the waters near Vietnam during the Vietnam Era (January 9, 1962, through May 7, 1975); (2) determine, for each such ship, the date(s) so operated and its closest proximity to shore during such operation; and (3) provide such information to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires the VA Secretary to make such unclassified information publicly available.
Sponsor: Rep Gibson, Christopher P. [NY-19] (introduced 4/11/2013)
Cosponsors: 38
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 4/11/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. 4/26/13: referred to Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. 6/28/13: Subcommittee hearings held. 7/23/13: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs discharged. 7/23/2013 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged.
H.R.1520 : POW/MIA Accounting and Recovery Support Act of 2013. A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to allow civilian employees of the Department of Defense to delay furloughs until returning from a deployment in support of accounting and recovery efforts by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command.
Sponsor: Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-8] (introduced 4/12/2013)
Cosponsors: 5
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/23/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
H.R.1725 : Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war.
SUMMARY AS OF:
4/25/2013–Introduced.
Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act – Makes any veteran who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, the Persian Gulf War, Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, or any other period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities, eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for any mental illness through the Department of Veterans Affairs (V
A), notwithstanding insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the mental illness is attributable to such service.
Sponsor: Rep Cartwright, Matt [PA-17] (introduced 4/25/2013)
Cosponsors: 82
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/8/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
H.R.1770 : Correct Reserve SBP Inequities. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the different treatment under the Survivor Benefit Plan accorded members of the reserve components who die from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during inactive-duty training compared to members of the Armed Forces who die in the line of duty while on active duty.
Sponsor: Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3] (introduced 4/26/2013)
Cosponsors: 9
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/6/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
H.R.1774 : Wounded Veteran Job Security Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the reemployment of certain persons following absences from a position of employment for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment for certain injuries and illnesses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-35] (introduced 4/26/2013) Cosponsors (18)
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/8/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
H.R.2056 : Veteran Employment Transition Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans, to improve the coordination of veteran job training services between the Department of Labor, the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Department of Defense, to require transparency for Executive departments in meeting the Government-wide goals for contracting with small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] (introduced 5/20/2013) Related Bills: S.140
Cosponsors: 73
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services; House Small Business; House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 5/20/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs, Armed Services, Small Business, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. 7/8/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
S.140 : Vet Work Opportunity Credit. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans, to improve the coordination of veteran job training services between the Department of Labor, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense, to require transparency for Executive departments in meeting the Government-wide goals for contracting with small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Related Bills: H.R.2056
Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 1/24/2013)
Cosponsors: 3
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 1/24/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
H.R.2519 : Assistance to Agent Orange Exposed Individuals. A bill to direct the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance for individuals affected by exposure to Agent Orange, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-13] (introduced 6/26/2013)
Co-sponsors: 12
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Energy and Commerce; House Foreign Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/26/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. 7/8/13: referred to Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
H.R.2882 : Improving Opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Act of 2013. A bill to amend the Small Business Act and title 38, United States Code to provide for a consolidated definition of a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans, and for other purposes
Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 7/31/2013) cosponsors: 6
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Small Business
Latest Major Action: 7/31/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. 8/13/13: referred to House Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
H.R.2906 : Fairness to Veterans for Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013. A bill to amend MAP-21 to improve contracting opportunities for veteran-owned small business concerns, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] (introduced 8/1/2013) cosponsors: 1
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Small Business
Latest Major Action: 8/2/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. 8/13/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
H.R.3098 : Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the treatment of certain small business concerns for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences.
Sponsor: Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-9] (introduced 9/12/2013)Cosponsors: 6 Related Bills: S.430
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/12/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
S.430
Latest Title: Veterans Small Business Opportunity and Protection Act of 2013
Sponsor: Sen Heller, Dean [NV] (introduced 2/28/2013) Cosponsors (2)
Related Bills: H.R.3098, S.495
Latest Major Action: 6/12/2013 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.
S.495
Latest Title: Careers for Veterans Act of 2013
Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/7/2013) Cosponsors (6)
Latest Major Action: 6/12/2013 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.
H.R.3181 : Defending Veterans from Sequestration Act of 2013. A bill to amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to clarify the treatment of administrative expenses of the Department of Veterans Affairs during sequestration.
Sponsor: Rep Michaud (Maine); co-sponsors: 1
9/25/13: referred to House Committee on the Budget.
H.R.3225 : Vet Benefit Appropriations During Shutdown. A bill to Make continuing appropriations for veterans benefits in the event of a Government shutdown.
Sponsor: Rep Salmon (Arizona) Cosponsors: 46
10/1/13: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations
H.R.3230 : Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act. A bill to make continuing appropriations during a Government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during such period.
Sponsor: Rep Rogers (KY) Cosponsors: 2
10/5/13: read 2nd time; placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders
H.R.3241 : Pay our Guardsmen and Civilian Defense Personnel Act. A bill to amend the Pay Our Military Act to provide for continuing appropriations for defense civilian personnel (including military technicians (dual status)) and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces performing inactive-duty training.
Sponsor: Rep Scott (GA) Cosponsors: 30
10/3/13 referred to House Committee on Appropriations
H.R.3274 : Fallen Heroes and Families Assistance Act. A bill to amend the Pay Our Military Act to make appropriations available to continue the payment of a death gratuity and certain other death-related compensation in the event of the death of members of the Armed Forces and certain other persons who pass away during a Government shutdown.
Sponsor: Rep Barber (AZ) Cosponsors: 24
10/8/13: referred to the House Committee on Appropriations
H.R.3287 : VSO Access to DVA Facilities. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans service organizations with the same access to Department of Veterans Affairs facilities during the Government shutdown as such organizations had immediately prior to the shutdown, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep McNerney Cosponsors: 9
10/11/13: referred to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs
H.R.3289 : Military Death Benefits Payment During Shutdown. A bill to provide funds during the lapse of appropriations for the payment of military death gratuities and funeral and related transportation and housing expenses through the transfer of unobligated amounts in the Health Insurance Reform Implementation Fund.
Sponsor: Rep Kimgston (GA) cosponsors: none
10/11/13: referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce
S.1564 : Protecting Those Who Protected Us Act of 2013. A bill making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits and services in the event of a Government shutdown.
Sponsor: Senator Sanders cosponsors: 7
9/30/13: referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations
S.6 : Putting Our Veterans Back to Work Act of 2013. A bill to reauthorize the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, to provide assistance to small businesses owned by veterans, to improve enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.
SUMMARY AS OF:
1/22/2013–Introduced.
Putting Our Veterans Back to Work Act of 2013 – Amends the: (1) VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 to extend through March 31, 2016, the veterans retraining assistance program; and (2) Wounded Warrior Act to extend through 2016 the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) (Secretary) to provide the same rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces (members) with severe injuries or illnesses as are provided to veterans.
Extends through: (1) March 31, 2016, additional VA rehabilitation programs for certain disabled veterans who have completed a VA rehabilitation program and have exhausted their rights to state unemployment benefits; and (2) FY2015 the collaborative veterans’ training, mentoring, and placement program.
Directs the Secretary to develop a single, unified federal web-based employment portal for veterans to access information on federal programs and activities concerning veterans employment, unemployment benefits, and training.
Directs the: (1) Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to award grants to hire veterans as firefighters, and (2) Attorney General (AG) to award grants to hire veterans as law enforcement officers.
Requires the head of each executive and defense agency to consider favorably, as an evaluation factor in federal solicitations for contracts and task or delivery orders valued at or above $25 million, the employment by a prospective contractor of veterans constituting at least 5% of the contractor’s workforce.
Allows a veteran on whose behalf a complaint of a violation of employment or reemployment rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) is made by the AG to intervene in such action, and to obtain appropriate relief. Requires the AG, within 60 days after receiving a referral of an unsuccessful attempt to resolve a complaint relating to a state or private employer, to notify the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted of either the decision to commence such an action or of when such decision is expected to be made. Requires, in the latter case, such d
ecision to be made within an additional 30 days. Requires the AG to commence such an action when there is reasonable cause to believe that a state or private employer is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such rights and benefits, and that the pattern or practice denies the full exercise of such rights and benefits.
Authorizes the suspension, termination, or debarment of federal contractors for repeated failures or refusals to comply with USERRA protections.
Provides the Special Counsel with subpoena power to require the attendance and testimony of, and production of documents from, federal employees, to be enforced through the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Authorizes the AG, in employment or reemployment rights investigations, to issue and serve a civil investigative demand for the production of documentary material.
Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 1/22/2013)
Cosponsors: 25
Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/22/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 6/12/13: hearings held by Committee on Veterans Affairs.
7/24/2013 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
S.210 : Stolen Valor Act of 2013. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to fraudulent representations about having received military declarations or medals.
Sponsor: Sen Heller, Dean [NV] (introduced 2/4/2013) cosponsors: 22
Related Bills: H.R.258
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. NOTE: became public law 113-12 on 6/3/13
H.R.258 : Stolen Valor Act of 2013. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to fraudulent representations about having received military declarations or medals.
Sponsor: Rep Heck, Joseph J. [NV-3] (introduced 1/15/2013) Related Bills: S.210
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 5/20/2013 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 390 – 3 (Roll no. 161).
Became Public Law No: 113-12 on 6/3/13
S.409 : Vietnam Veterans Day Observance. A bill to add Vietnam Veterans Day as a patriotic and national observance.
Authorizes the President to annually issue a proclamation: (1) designating March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day, (2) honoring and recognizing the contributions of veterans who served in Vietnam during war and peace, (3) encouraging state and local governments to establish a Vietnam Veterans Day, and (4) encouraging the people of the United States to observe such Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/28/2013)
Cosponsors: 8
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 2/28/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
S.492 : Vet State Licenses and Credentials. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require States to recognize the military experience of veterans when issuing licenses and credentials to veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/7/2013) Related bills: S.495
Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/7/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
6/12/13: Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs; hearings held.
S.495 : Careers for Veterans Act of 2013. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require Federal agencies to hire veterans, to require States to recognize the military experience of veterans when issuing licenses and credentials to veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/7/2013) Cosponsors: 6 Related bills: S.430
Latest Major Action: 6/12/2013 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.
S.700 : Troop Talent Act of 2013. A bill to ensure that the education and training provided members of the Armed Forces and veterans better assists members and veterans in obtaining civilian certifications and licenses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kaine, Tim [VA] (introduced 4/10/2013) cosponsors: 18
Related Bills: H.R.1796
Latest Major Action: 4/10/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
H.R.1796 :Troop Talent Act of 2013. A bill to ensure that the education and training provided members of the Armed Forces and veterans better assists members and veterans in obtaining civilian certifications and licenses, and for other purposes
Sponsor: Rep Duckworth, Tammy [IL-8] (introduced 4/26/2013 cosponsors: 99
Related Bills: S.700
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/8/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. 6/26/2013 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
S.1602: A bill to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a national center for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of health conditions of the descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during service in the Armed Forces, to provide certain services to those descendants, to establish an advisory board on exposure to toxic substances, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Blumenthal, Richard [CT] (introduced 10/29/2013) Cosponsors: 1
Latest Major Action: 10/29/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee