vided for former military prisoners of war under section
1112(b) of title 38, United States Code, shall be extended
to former civilian prisoners of war and shall be considered
to have been incurred in or aggravated by such period of
internment or hiding without regard to the absence of any
record of such injury.
(b) PAYMENT OF BENEFITS.—Prompt monetary pay-
ment or reimbursement shall be facilitated for reasonable
and necessary expenditures for all medical treatment, in-
cluding rehabilitation, mental health services, and dental
care, provided for under this section for which a claim and
any documentation determined necessary by the Secretary
of Labor has been filed with the Secretary of Labor.
(c) WAIVER OF LIMITATIONS.—There shall be no lim-
itation on the total medical or disability benefits which a
person may receive for any injury or disability resulting
from the period of internment or hiding.
(d) RATE
OF COMPENSATION.—Compensation for
disability shall be equal to the weekly equivalent of the
minimum monthly rate of compensation payable for a total
disability covered by chapter 81 of title 5, United States
Code, as computed under section 8112(a) of such title.
(e) CREDITING BENEFITS UNDER THE SOCIAL SE-
CURITY ACT.—The benefits provided by this section to any
individual shall be reduced to the extent such benefits are
provided under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, or
any private insurance, for the same medical condition or
disability.
SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Labor shall
establish an advisory committee to be known as the
Former Civilian Prisoner of War Committee (hereafter in
this section referred to as the ‘‘advisory committee’’). The
members of the advisory committee shall be appointed by
the Secretary of Labor from the general public and shall
include appropriate representatives of former civilian pris-
oners of war and individuals who are recognized authori-
ties in fields pertinent to the injuries and disabilities prev-
alent among former civilian prisoners of war.
(b) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF LABOR.—
The Secretary of Labor shall determine the number, terms
of service, and pay and allowances of members of the advi-
sory committee. The Secretary of Labor shall consult with
and seek the advice of the advisory committee with respect
to the administration of benefits under this Act.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 1996, the
Secretary of Labor shall submit to Congress a report on
the programs and activities of the Department of Labor
that pertain to those former civilian prisoners of war. The
Secretary of Labor shall include in the report—
(A) an assessment of the needs of such civilian
prisoners of war with respect to health and disability
benefits;
(B) a review of the programs and activities of
the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program de-
signed to meet such needs; and
(C) such recommendations as the advisory com-
mittee considers to be appropriate.
(d) INFORMATION ON BENEFITS.—Not later than 90
days after the date of enactment of this Act, and at appro-
priate times thereafter, the Secretary of Labor shall seek
out former civilian prisoners of war and provide them with
information regarding applicable changes in law, regula-
tions, and services to which such citizens are entitled by
virtue of this Act.
SEC. 4. REGULATIONS.
The Secretary of Labor shall prescribe regulations as
may be necessary to ensure that benefits provided to
former civilian prisoners of war under this Act are coordi-
nated with and do not duplicate any benefits provided such
persons under the War Claims Act.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘former civilian prisoner of war’’
means a person determined by the Department of
Labor, in consultation with the Department of State
and the Department of Defense, as being someone
who, being then a citizen of the United States was
forcibly interned by an enemy government or its
agents, or a hostile force, or who went into hiding
in order to avoid capture by such government, its
agents, or hostile force, during a period of war, or
other period for at least 30 days, including those in-
terned or who went into hiding during the Asian-Pa-
cific Theater or in the European Theater of World
War II during the period beginning September 1,
1939, and ending December 31, 1946, in Korea dur-
ing the period beginning June 25, 1950, and ending
July 1, 1955, or in Vietnam during the period begin-
ning February 28, 1961, and ending on the date
designated by the President by Executive order as
the date of termination of the Vietnam conflict, ex-
cept—
(A) a person who at any time voluntarily
gave aid to, collaborated with, or in any manner
served such government, or
(B) a person who at the time of his cap-
ture or entrance into hiding was—
(i) a person within the purview of the
Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide compensa-
tion for employees of the United States
suffering injuries while in the performance
of their duties, and for other purposes’’,
approved September 7, 1916, as amended,
and as extended;
(ii) a person within the purview of the
Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide benefits
for the injury, disability, death, or enemy
detention of employees of contractors with
the United States, and for other pur-
poses’’, approved December 2, 1942, as
amended; or
(iii) a regularly appointed, enrolled,
enlisted, or inducted member of any mili-
tary or naval force; and
(2) the term ‘‘hostile force’’ means any nation,
or any national thereof, or any other person serving
a foreign nation—
(A) engaged in war against the United
States or any of its allies; or
(B) engaged in armed conflict, whether or
not war has been declared, against the United
States or any of its allies.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this Act, such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 1995 through 2000.
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