I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 607
To change the date of the beginning of the Vietnam era to provide certain
benefits available to veterans of a period of war to veterans who served
in Southeast Asia during the period beginning on March 1, 1961, and
ending on August 4, 1964.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 26, 1993
Mr. KANJORSKI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To change the date of the beginning of the Vietnam era
to provide certain benefits available to veterans of a
period of war to veterans who served in Southeast Asia
during the period beginning on March 1, 1961, and
ending on August 4, 1964.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION OF VIETNAM ERA FOR PUR-
POSES OF VETERANS’ BENEFITS.
(a) GENERAL DEFINITION.—Section 101(29) of title
38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(29) The term ‘Vietnam era’ means the period be-
ginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975.
The term includes, in the case of a veteran who served
on active duty in the Armed Forces in Cambodia, Laos,
Thailand, the former Democratic Republic of Vietnam
(known as North Vietnam), the former Republic of Viet-
nam (known as South Vietnam), or the waters adjacent
to the countries, the period beginning on March 1, 1961,
and ending on August 4, 1964.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1818(a) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the
matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the follow-
ing:
‘‘(a) Each veteran who served on active duty in the
Armed Forces, any part of which occurred after the Ko-
rean conflict and prior to the Vietnam era, or after the
Vietnam era, and who—’’.
SEC. 2. EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE.
Section 515(c)(1) of the Airport and Airway Improve-
ment Act of 1982 (49 U.S.C. App. 2214(c)(1)) is amended
by striking ‘‘the period beginning August 5, 1964, and
ending May 7, 1975’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘the
Vietnam era as defined in section 101(29) of title 38,
United States Code’’.
SEC. 3. OTHER REFERENCES TO VIETNAM ERA.
(a) REFERENCE TO VIETNAM ERA.—Any reference
to the Vietnam era that relates to veterans’ benefits in
any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruction,
or other official paper in force on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act is deemed to refer also, in the case or
a veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces
in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the former Democratic Re-
public of Vietnam (known as North Vietnam), the Repub-
lic of Vietnam (known as South Vietnam), or the waters
adjacent to the countries, to the period beginning on
March 1, 1961, and ending on August 4, 1964.
(b) REFERENCE TO CALENDAR PERIOD.—Any ref-
erence to the period beginning on August 5, 1964, and
ending on May 7, 1975, that relates to veterans’ benefits
in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruc-
tion, or other official paper in force on the date of the
enactment of this Act is deemed to refer also to the period
beginning on March 1, 1961, and ending on August 4,
1964, for the purpose of providing the benefits to veterans
who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during
the period in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the former
Democratic Republic of Vietnam (known as North Viet-
nam), the Republic of Vietnam (known as South Viet-
nam), or the waters adjacent to the countries.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall
take effect on the first day of the first month that begins
more than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
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