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LEGISLATIVE NEWS To follow the progress of bills in Congress, click on the link to THOMAS, the official Web site of the LIBRARY of CONGRESS. Senate Bills S.90 Title: Military Family-Friendly Employer Award Act. Sponsor: Sen Crapo, Mike [ID] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. SUMMARY: Military Family-Friendly Employer Award Act - Establishes in the Department of Defense (DOD) an annual award to be known as the Military Family-Friendly Employer Award (Award) for non-federal employers who have developed and implemented workplace flexibility policies and practices: (1) to assist the working spouses and caregivers of members of the Armed Forces who are deployed away from home, and to assist such members upon their return from deployment; and (2) that reflect a deep awareness and commitment in response to the needs of the military family unit. Establishes in DOD a Military Family-Friendly Special Task Force to provide specified assistance in the making of such Awards. Text of Legislation S.146 Title: Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors Sen Burr, Richard [NC] Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] Sen Tester, Jon [MT] Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. SUMMARY: Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the definition of "qualified veteran" for purposes of the work opportunity tax credit to mean recently discharged veterans and any veteran receiving specified benefits. Defines "recently discharged veteran" to mean: (1) any individual who has served on active duty (other than active duty for training) in the Armed Forces for more than 180 consecutive days, (2) any individual who has been discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability, and (3) any member of the National Guard who has served for more than 180 consecutive days in active duty, full-time National Guard duty, or duty in state status. Defines "veteran receiving specified benefits" as any veteran who is certified as being a member of a family receiving assistance under a supplemental nutrition assistance program and is entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability. Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Guard to inform military personnel who are discharged or released from active duty of the work opportunity tax credit and provide them with documentation relating to eligibility for and use of such credit. Text of Legislation S. 387 Title: A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide flexible spending arrangements for members of uniformed services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors Sen Begich, Mark [AK] Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] Sen Burr, Richard [NC] Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] Related Bills: H.R.791 Latest Major Action: 2/17/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Text of Legislation S.542 Title: National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents. Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 3/10/2011) Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Text of Legislation House Bills H.R.120 Title: Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans Act Considers situations where a surviving spouse can qualify for continuing disability house loans after the death of the spouse's death. Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1], Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] Rep Rogers, Harold [KY-5] Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] Latest Major Action: 1/5/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Text of Legislation H.R.178 Title: Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] Latest Major Action: 1/5/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. Text of Legislation H.R.186 Title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of the members' disability rating percentage. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] Rep Nugent, Richard [FL-5] Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] Rep West, Allen B. [FL-22] Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] Latest Major Action: 1/5/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and 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. Text of Legislation H.R.303 Title: Retired Pay Restoration Act. 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-9] Cosponsors Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] Rep Brooks, Mo [AL-5] Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] Rep Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] Rep Wu, David [OR-1] Rep Young, C.W. Bill [FL-10] Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. Text of Legislation H.R.333 Title: Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act. 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] Cosponsors Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] Rep Castor, Kathy [FL-11] Rep Cicilline, David N. [RI-1] Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] Rep Critz, Mark S. [PA-12] Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] Rep Deutch, Theodore E. [FL-19] Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] Rep Garamendi, John [CA-10] Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] Rep Green, Al [TX-9] Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] Rep Hanabusa, Colleen W. [HI-1] Rep Heck, Joseph J. [NV-3] Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] Rep Long, Billy [MO-7] Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] Rep Miller, George [CA-7] Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] Rep Nugent, Richard [FL-5] Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] Rep Peters, Gary C. [MI-9] Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] Rep Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [MP] Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] Rep Scott, David [GA-13] Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] Rep Wu, David [OR-1] Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] Rep Young, Don [AK] Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. Text of Legislation H.R.396 Title: TBI Treatment Act. To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Requires the Secretaries to jointly: (1) develop and maintain a database containing data from each patient case involving the use of such treatments; and (2) report annually to Congress on the implementation of this Act. Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 1/24/2011) Cosponsors Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. Text of Legislation H.R.687 Title: Military Spouses Employment Act. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make employers of spouses of military personnel eligible for the work opportunity credit. Sponsor: Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] (introduced 2/14/2011) Cosponsors Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] Rep Young, C.W. Bill [FL-10] Latest Major Action: 2/14/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Text of Legislation H.R.791 Title: To amend title 37, United States Code, to provide flexible spending arrangements for members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] Related Bills: S.387 Latest Major Action: 2/17/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. Text of Legislation H.R.865 Title: Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 3/1/2011) Cosponsors: Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] Latest Major Action: 3/1/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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. Text of Legislation H.R.961 Title: Safe Haven for Heros Act of 2011. To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to the prohibition on disrupting military funerals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] (introduced 3/8/2011) Latest Major Action: 3/8/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Text of Legislation H.R.1003 Title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for reserve members, former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving spouses and dependents of such members and former members. Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 3/10/2011) Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. Text of Legislation H.R.1110 Title: Combat Act. To amend title 37, United States Code, to increase the maximum monthly rate for the military special pay known as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or hazardous duty pay, to increase the maximum monthly rate for the family separation allowance paid to deployed members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] (introduced 3/16/2011) Cosponsors Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] Latest Major Action: 3/16/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. Text of Legislation