I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2813
To ensure that payments during fiscal year 1996 of compensation for veterans
with service-connected disabilities, of dependency and indemnity com-
pensation for survivors of such veterans, and of other veterans benefits,
and payments to Department of Veterans Affairs contractors providing
services directly related to patient health and safety, are made regardless
of Government financial shortfalls.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 20, 1995
Mr. HUTCHINSON (for himself, Mr. STUMP, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr.
BILIRAKIS, Mr. BUYER, Mr. QUINN, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. STEARNS, Mr.
NEY, Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania, Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mr. HAYWORTH,
Mr. COOLEY, Mr. SCHAEFER, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr.
THORNBERRY, Mr. COBURN, Mr. MONTGOMERY, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr.
SPENCE, Mr. MASCARA, Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts, Mr. DOYLE,
Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. TEJEDA, Mr. EVERETT, Mr. WELLER, Mr.
FLANAGAN, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. NEUMANN, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr.
RIGGS, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. DAVIS, Mr.
DEAL of Georgia, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. DICKS, Mr. EHRLICH, Mr. DICKEY,
Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. PACKARD,
Mr. MICA, Mr. BUNN of Oregon, Mr. PARKER, Mr. LAHOOD, Ms.
DANNER, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Ms. DUNN of Washington, Mr. EHLERS,
Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. EWING, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr.
LATOURETTE, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. DORNAN, Mr. EMERSON, Mr. LARGENT,
Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mr. HEINEMAN, Mr. HANCOCK, Mrs. LINCOLN, Mr.
LAUGHLIN, Mr. TANNER, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. NORWOOD,
Mr. NETHERCUTT, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr. LINDER, Mr. MCINTOSH, Mr.
METCALF, Mr. MARTINI, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. HAYES, Mr. MCKEON,
Mr. MCDADE, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. BAKER of California, Mr. LAZIO of
New York, and Mr. HORN) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To ensure that payments during fiscal year 1996 of com-
pensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities,
of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors
of such veterans, and of other veterans benefits, and
payments to Department of Veterans Affairs contractors
providing services directly related to patient health and
safety, are made regardless of Government financial
shortfalls.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996
OF VETERANS’ BENEFITS IN EVENT OF LACK
OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) PAYMENTS REQUIRED.—In any case during fiscal
year 1996 in which appropriations are not otherwise avail-
able for programs, projects, and activities of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall nevertheless ensure that—
(1) payments of existing veterans’ benefits are
made in accordance with regular procedures and
schedules and in accordance with eligibility require-
ments for such benefits; and
(2) payments to contractors of the Veterans
Health Administration of the Department of Veter-
ans Affairs are made when due in the case of serv-
ices provided that directly relate to patient health
and safety.
(b) FUNDING.—There is hereby appropriated such
sums as may be necessary for the payments pursuant to
subsection (a), including such amounts as may be nec-
essary for the costs of administration of such payments.
(c) CHARGING
OF ACCOUNTS WHEN APPROPRIA-
TIONS MADE.—In any case in which the Secretary uses
the authority of subsection (a) to make payments, applica-
ble accounts shall be charged for amounts so paid, and
for the costs of administration of such payments, when
regular appropriations become available for those pur-
poses.
(d) EXISTING BENEFITS SPECIFIED.—For purposes
of this section, existing veterans’ benefits are benefits
under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs that have been adjudicated and authorized for pay-
ment as of—
(1) December 15, 1995; or
(2) if appropriations for such benefits are avail-
able (other than pursuant to subsection (b)) after
December 15, 1995, the last day on which appro-
priations for payment of such benefits are available
(other than pursuant to subsection (b)).
SEC. 2. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996 OF
VETERANS’ BENEFITS IN EVENT DEBT CEIL-
ING LIMIT IS REACHED.
(a) PAYMENTS REQUIRED.—In any case during fiscal
year 1996 in which certain functions of the Government
are delayed, deferred, or canceled due to a limitation on
the ability of the Government to borrow funds, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall nevertheless ensure that
payments of existing veterans’ benefits are made in ac-
cordance with regular procedures and schedules and in ac-
cordance with eligibility requirements for such benefits,
and receipts and disbursements of the Government shall
be managed so as to ensure that the requirement imposed
by this section on the Secretary is complied with.
(b) EXISTING BENEFITS SPECIFIED.—For purposes
of this section, existing veterans’ benefits are benefits
under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs that have been adjudicated and authorized for pay-
ment as of the day on which it becomes necessary for cer-
tain functions of the Government to be delayed, deferred,
or canceled due to a limitation on the ability of the Gov-
ernment to borrow funds.
Æ