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106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1594

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits for Filipino

veterans of World War II, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 28, 1999

Mr. GILMAN (for himself and Mr. FILNER) 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 for other

purposes.

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Filipino Veterans’ Ben5 efits Improvements Act of 1999’’.

6 SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATE OF PAYMENT OF CERTAIN BEN7 EFITS TO VETERANS OF THE PHILIPPINE

8 COMMONWEALTH ARMY.

9 (a) INCREASE.—Section 107 of title 38, United

10 States Code, is amended—
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1 (1) by striking ‘‘Payment’’ in the second sen2 tence of subsection (a) and inserting ‘‘Except as pro3 vided in subsection (c), payment’’; and

4 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub5 section:

6 ‘‘(c) In the case of benefits under subchapters II and

7 IV of chapter 11 of this title by reason of service described

8 in subsection (a)—

9 ‘‘(1) notwithstanding the second sentence of

10 subsection (a), payment of such benefit shall be

11 made in dollars at the rate of $1.00 for each dollar

12 authorized; and

13 ‘‘(2) such benefits shall be paid only to an indi14 vidual residing in the United States who is a citizen

15 of, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent resi16 dence in, the United States.’’.

17 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

18 subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact19 ment of this Act, and shall apply to benefits paid for

20 months beginning on or after that date.

21 SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE OF CERTAIN ADDI22 TIONAL FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

23 Section 1734 of title 38, United States Code, is

24 amended to read as follows:
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1 ‘‘The Secretary, within the limits of Department fa2 cilities, shall furnish hospital and nursing home care and

3 medical services to Commonwealth Army veterans and

4 new Philippine Scouts in the same manner as provided

5 for under section 1710 of this title.’’.

6 SEC. 4. MANDATE TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR WORLD

7 WAR II VETERANS RESIDING IN THE PHIL8 IPPINES.

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter IV of chapter 17 of

10 title 38, United States Code, is amended—

11 (1) by redesignating section 1735 as section

12 1736; and

13 (2) by inserting after section 1734 the following

14 new section:

15 ‘‘§ 1735. Outpatient care and services for World War

16 II veterans residing in the Philippines

17 ‘‘(a) OUTPATIENT HEALTH CARE.—The Secretary

18 shall furnish care and services to veterans, Commonwealth

19 Army veterans, and new Philippine Scouts for the treat20 ment of the service-connected disabilities and non-service21 connected disabilities of such veterans and scouts residing

22 in the Republic of the Philippines on an outpatient basis

23 at the Manila VA Outpatient Clinic.
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1 ‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS.—(1) The amount expended by

2 the Secretary for the purpose of subsection (a) in any fis3 cal year may not exceed $500,000.

4 ‘‘(2) The authority of the Secretary to furnish care

5 and services under subsection (a) is effective in any fiscal

6 year only to the extent that appropriations are available

7 for that purpose.’’.

8 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections

9 at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended

10 by striking the item relating to section 1735 and inserting

11 after the item relating to section 1734 the following new

12 items:

‘‘1735. Outpatient care and services for World War II veterans residing in the

Philippines.

‘‘1736. Definitions.’’.

13 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

14 subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact15 ment of this Act.

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