**Summary of H.R. 760**

**Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007**

**Title:** To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain
service in the organized military forces of the Government of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been
active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

**Mr. Filner** introduced H.R. 760 on January 31, 2007.

**H.R. 760, as amended, would:**

Expand eligibility for benefits administered by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for certain service in the organized military forces of
the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine scouts during
World War II. And, clarify eligibility of veterans over 65 for service
pension for a period of war.

-   Restores full veterans' status to Filipino veterans of World War II
    who had this taken away under the Rescission Acts of 1946. This ends
    a long-standing injustice, and fulfills our nation's promises to
    those who served.  

-   Permits Filipino veterans of World War II who suffer from
    disabilities incurred or aggravated by military service with
    service-connection to receive compensation at the same rate as other
    U.S. veterans, regardless of where they live.  

-   Permits those eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
    (DIC) to receive those benefits at the same rate as other U.S.
    veterans, regardless of where they live.

-   Permits Filipino veterans of World War II and survivors residing in
    the United States to receive pensions and death pensions paid at the
    same rate and under the same conditions as U.S. veterans.  

-   Permits non-U.S. citizen Filipino veterans of World War II residing
    outside of the United States to be eligible for a pension and death
    pension paid at a lower flat rate.  

> \$8,400 if married\
> \$6,000 if not married\
> \$3,600 for low-income widow

-   If an individual is receiving Social Security overseas, he or she is
    not eligible for the above mentioned program. Additionally, an
    individual may not receive benefits under this chapter if receipt of
    such benefits would reduce monetary benefits from a foreign
    government.

-   This Amendment, which involves mandatory spending, is offset by
    clarifying the rules on low-income pensions for those over 65 years
    of age.

Extend authorization of appropriations for reimbursement of state and
local agencies administering veterans education benefits.

-   State Approving Agencies have partnered with the U.S. Department of
    Veterans Affairs to provide assistance in reducing the opportunities
    for fraud, waste and abuse throughout the veterans education system.

-   From 2004 thru 2005, the cap was raised to 18 million dollars and
    for 2006 thru 2007 it was raised to 19 million dollars. If no action
    is taken, in 2008 the cap will revert back to 13 million dollars.

-   This section would keep the current fiscal year cap of \$19,000,000
    for fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

Improve the veterans beneficiary travel program.

-   Places mileage reimbursement rates for the veterans' beneficiary
    program at the same level as the rate for government employees on
    official business.

Increase the amount of supplemental insurance for totally disabled
veterans.

-   Increases maximum amount of insurance coverage for disabled veterans
    from \$20,000 to \$30,000.

Expand the programs of education eligibility for accelerated payments of
educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill.

-   Accelerated education benefits program is geared to help veterans
    pay for short-term high-cost education programs that require them to
    pay a large up-front payment.

-   This section would specifically expand the existing accelerated
    education benefit list to include commercial drivers license
    training.

Exclude educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill from income
for purposes of eligibility for Federal education loans.

-   This section would exclude benefits under the MGIB from being
    considered as income for purposes of determining eligibility for
    education grants or student loans under any other provision of
    federal law. Current eligibility rules for receiving certain student
    federal financial aid programs include MGIB payments in the
    calculation of resources.

Add osteoporosis to disabilities presumed to be service-connected in
former prisoners of war with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Provide cost-of-living increase for temporary dependency and indemnity
compensation payable for surviving spouses with dependent children under
the age of 18.

**Effective Date:** 90 days after the date of the enactment

**Cost:** H.R. 760 would expand benefits for Filipino veterans who
served during World War II and modify a range of other benefits for
eligible veterans. The bill contains provisions that would increase and
decrease spending for veterans' benefits. On balance, CBO estimates that
enacting H.R. 760 would decrease direct spending by less than \$500,000
over the 2008-2012 period and by \$77 million over the 2008-2017 period.
In addition, implementing H.R. 760 would have discretionary costs of
about \$315 million in 2008 and \$1.8 billion over the 2008-2012 period,
assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts. Enacting the bill would
have no effect on receipts.

**Legislative History:**

> Jul. 17, 2007: Ordered reported, amended, by the Committee on
> Veterans' Affairs.