Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.9081 | Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie (D-CA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2022
This bill expands eligibility for certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits to the surviving spouse and children of individuals who served in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts.
In determining eligibility under this bill, the VA must take into account any alternative documentation regarding such service, other than the recognized guerilla rosters stored at the National Personnel Records Center.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the benefits 
 furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals 
 who served in the forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF VETERANS BENEFITS FURNISHED TO CERTAIN 
              INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED IN THE FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES 
              AND THE PHILIPPINE SCOUTS.

    (a) Expansion of Benefits.--Section 107 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(4) sections 1541 and 1542 of this title.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(3) sections 1541 and 1542 of this title.''.
    (b) Eligibility.--Such section is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsections:
    ``(e) Determination of Eligibility.--(1) In determining the 
eligibility of the service of an individual under this section, the 
Secretary shall take into account any alternative documentation 
regarding such service, including documentation other than the 
recognized guerrilla rosters stored at the National Personnel Records 
Center, that the Secretary determines relevant.
    ``(2) Not later than March 1 of each year, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report that includes--
            ``(A) the number of individuals applying for benefits 
        pursuant to this section during the previous year; and
            ``(B) the number of such individuals that the Secretary 
        approved for benefits.
    ``(f) Relation to Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.--
Section 1002(h) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
(title X of division A of Public Law 111-5; 123 Stat. 200; 38 U.S.C. 
107 note) shall not apply to an individual described in subsection (a) 
or (b) of this section.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on the date that is 270 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Applicability.--No benefits shall accrue to any person 
        for any period before the effective date of this Act by reason 
        of the amendments made by this section.
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