I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 879
To restore veterans tobacco-related illness benefits as in effect before the
enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 6, 2001
Mr. FRANK (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr.
SANDERS, Mrs. KELLY, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. OLVER, Mr.
PRICE of North Carolina, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. TIERNEY, Mrs. MALONEY of
New York, Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. PAUL, Ms. MCKINNEY,
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. WAXMAN, and Ms. JACKSON-
LEE of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the
Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To restore veterans tobacco-related illness benefits as in ef-
fect before the enactment of the Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century.
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 ‘‘Veterans Tobacco-Re-
lated Illness Benefits Restoration Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Until the 1980’s, use of tobacco products
was an acceptable element of the military culture.
(2) From the beginning of United States mili-
tary history through the present, the Federal Gov-
ernment has made tobacco products readily available
for military personnel.
(3) The Federal Government, until 1998, pro-
vided tobacco products for military personnel at
below market value in military commissaries, ex-
changes, and clubs around the world.
(4) The Federal Government, through the pe-
riod of the Vietnam War, provided free tobacco
products to military personnel in C-rations and
squad packs.
(5) In the 1960’s, before official notification of
the health hazards associated with the use of tobacco
products, over half of the inpatients in Veterans’ Ad-
ministration medical centers suffered from tobacco-
related illnesses.
(6) Warning labels began appearing on tobacco
products sold in the private sector in 1965, but did
not appear on tobacco products sold in military com-
missaries, exchanges, and clubs until 1970.
SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF VETERANS TOBACCO-RELATED
BENEFITS.
(a) REPEAL OF LAW LIMITING ESTABLISHMENT OF
SERVICE-CONNECTION FOR VETERANS’ DISABILITIES RE-
LATING TO USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.—(1) Section
1103 of title 38, United States Code, is repealed.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter
11 of such title is amended by striking the item relating
to section 1103.
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this
section shall apply to any claim for compensation received
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs before, on, or after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. FUNDS NOT REQUIRED TO BE OFFSET FROM OTHER
PROGRAMS.
The Director of the Office of Management and Budg-
et may not make any estimate of changes in direct spend-
ing outlays under section 252(d) of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C.
902(d)) for any fiscal year resulting from the enactment
of this Act.
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