[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 664 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 664
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits for Filipino
veterans of World War II and surviving spouses of such veterans, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 11, 2003
Mr. Filner (for himself, Mr. Simmons, Mr. Evans, Mr. Cunningham, Ms.
Pelosi, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Issa, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. Millender-McDonald,
Mr. Tiahrt, and Mr. Abercrombie) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits for Filipino
veterans of World War II and surviving spouses of such veterans, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Health Care for Filipino World War
II Veterans Act''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL FILIPINO
WORLD WAR II VETERANS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES.
The text of section 1734 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``(a) The Secretary shall furnish hospital and nursing home care
and medical services to any individual described in subsection (b) in
the same manner, and subject to the same terms and conditions, as apply
to the furnishing of such care and services to individuals who are
veterans as defined in section 101(2) of this title. Any disability of
an individual described in subsection (b) that is a service-connected
disability for purposes of this subchapter (as provided for under
section 1735(2) of this title) shall be considered to be a service-
connected disability for purposes of furnishing care and services under
the preceding sentence.
``(b) Subsection (a) applies to any individual who is a
Commonwealth Army veteran or new Philippine Scout and who--
``(1) is residing in the United States; and
``(2) is a citizen of the United States or an alien
lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent
residence.''.
SEC. 3. RATE OF PAYMENT OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR
SURVIVING SPOUSES OF CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS.
(a) Rate of Payment.--Subsection (c) of section 107 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting ``, and under chapter 13 of
this title,'' after ``chapter 11 of this title''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to
benefits paid for months beginning on or after that date.
SEC. 4. RATE OF PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE
SCOUTS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES.
(a) Rate of Payment.--Section 107 of title 38, United States Code,
as amended by section 3(a), is further amended--
(1) in the second sentence of subsection (b), by striking
``Payments'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection
(c) or (d), payments''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by inserting ``or (b)'' after ``subsection
(a)'' the first place it appears; and
(B) by striking ``subsection (a)'' the second place
it appears and inserting ``the applicable subsection''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to
benefits paid for months beginning on or after that date.
SEC. 5. BURIAL BENEFITS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE SCOUTS.
(a) Benefit Eligibility.--Subsection (b)(2) of section 107 of title
38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``and''; and
(2) by inserting ``, 23, and 24 (to the extent provided for
in section 2402(8) of this title)'' after ``1312(a))''.
(b) Benefit Rate for Certain Persons in the United States.--
Subsection (d) of such section is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or subsection (b), as
the case may be,'' after ``subsection (a)''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or whose service is
described in subsection (b) and who dies on or after the date
of the enactment of the Health Care for Filipino World War II
Veterans Act'' in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) after
``this subsection''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2402(8) of such title is amended
by inserting ``or 107(b)'' after ``107(a)''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
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