I

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2813

To ensure that payments during fiscal year 1996 of compensation for veterans

with service-connected disabilities, of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of such veterans, and of other veterans benefits,

and payments to Department of Veterans Affairs contractors providing

services directly related to patient health and safety, are made regardless

of Government financial shortfalls.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DECEMBER 20, 1995

Mr. HUTCHINSON (for himself, Mr. STUMP, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr.

BILIRAKIS, Mr. BUYER, Mr. QUINN, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. STEARNS, Mr.

NEY, Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania, Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mr. HAYWORTH,

Mr. COOLEY, Mr. SCHAEFER, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr.

THORNBERRY, Mr. COBURN, Mr. MONTGOMERY, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr.

SPENCE, Mr. MASCARA, Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts, Mr. DOYLE,

Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. TEJEDA, Mr. EVERETT, Mr. WELLER, Mr.

FLANAGAN, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. NEUMANN, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr.

RIGGS, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. DAVIS, Mr.

DEAL of Georgia, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. DICKS, Mr. EHRLICH, Mr. DICKEY,

Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. PACKARD,

Mr. MICA, Mr. BUNN of Oregon, Mr. PARKER, Mr. LAHOOD, Ms.

DANNER, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Ms. DUNN of Washington, Mr. EHLERS,

Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. EWING, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr.

LATOURETTE, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. DORNAN, Mr. EMERSON, Mr. LARGENT,

Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mr. HEINEMAN, Mr. HANCOCK, Mrs. LINCOLN, Mr.

LAUGHLIN, Mr. TANNER, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. NORWOOD,

Mr. NETHERCUTT, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr. LINDER, Mr. MCINTOSH, Mr.

METCALF, Mr. MARTINI, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. HAYES, Mr. MCKEON,

Mr. MCDADE, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. BAKER of California, Mr. LAZIO of

New York, and Mr. HORN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, 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

•HR 2813 IH

A BILL

To ensure that payments during fiscal year 1996 of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities,

of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors

of such veterans, and of other veterans benefits, and

payments to Department of Veterans Affairs contractors

providing services directly related to patient health and

safety, are made regardless of Government financial

shortfalls.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996

4 OF VETERANS’ BENEFITS IN EVENT OF LACK

5 OF APPROPRIATIONS.

6 (a) PAYMENTS REQUIRED.—In any case during fiscal

7 year 1996 in which appropriations are not otherwise avail8 able for programs, projects, and activities of the Depart9 ment of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Af10 fairs shall nevertheless ensure that—

11 (1) payments of existing veterans’ benefits are

12 made in accordance with regular procedures and

13 schedules and in accordance with eligibility require14 ments for such benefits; and

15 (2) payments to contractors of the Veterans

16 Health Administration of the Department of Veter17 ans Affairs are made when due in the case of serv-
3

•HR 2813 IH

1 ices provided that directly relate to patient health

2 and safety.

3 (b) FUNDING.—There is hereby appropriated such

4 sums as may be necessary for the payments pursuant to

5 subsection (a), including such amounts as may be nec6 essary for the costs of administration of such payments.

7 (c) CHARGING OF ACCOUNTS WHEN APPROPRIA8 TIONS MADE.—In any case in which the Secretary uses

9 the authority of subsection (a) to make payments, applica10 ble accounts shall be charged for amounts so paid, and

11 for the costs of administration of such payments, when

12 regular appropriations become available for those pur13 poses.

14 (d) EXISTING BENEFITS SPECIFIED.—For purposes

15 of this section, existing veterans’ benefits are benefits

16 under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Af17 fairs that have been adjudicated and authorized for pay18 ment as of—

19 (1) December 15, 1995; or

20 (2) if appropriations for such benefits are avail21 able (other than pursuant to subsection (b)) after

22 December 15, 1995, the last day on which appro23 priations for payment of such benefits are available

24 (other than pursuant to subsection (b)).
4

•HR 2813 IH

1 SEC. 2. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996 OF

2 VETERANS’ BENEFITS IN EVENT DEBT CEIL3 ING LIMIT IS REACHED.

4 (a) PAYMENTS REQUIRED.—In any case during fiscal

5 year 1996 in which certain functions of the Government

6 are delayed, deferred, or canceled due to a limitation on

7 the ability of the Government to borrow funds, the Sec8 retary of Veterans Affairs shall nevertheless ensure that

9 payments of existing veterans’ benefits are made in ac10 cordance with regular procedures and schedules and in ac11 cordance with eligibility requirements for such benefits,

12 and receipts and disbursements of the Government shall

13 be managed so as to ensure that the requirement imposed

14 by this section on the Secretary is complied with.

15 (b) EXISTING BENEFITS SPECIFIED.—For purposes

16 of this section, existing veterans’ benefits are benefits

17 under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Af18 fairs that have been adjudicated and authorized for pay19 ment as of the day on which it becomes necessary for cer20 tain functions of the Government to be delayed, deferred,

21 or canceled due to a limitation on the ability of the Gov22 ernment to borrow funds.

Æ