I 
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 fol-
lowing 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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Health Care for Fili-
pino World War II Veterans Act’’.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE OF CERTAIN ADDI-
TIONAL 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 sen-
tence. 
‘‘(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 per-
manent residence.’’.
SEC. 3. RATE OF PAYMENT OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEM-
NITY 
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 insert-
ing ‘‘, 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 enact-
ment 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 pro-
vided 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 enact-
ment 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 sec-
tion 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 sub-
section (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 sub-
section’’.