Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-9081
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
Introduced: 2022-09-29
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2022-10-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-09-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2022</b></p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9081 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 29, 2022 Ms. Speier (for herself, Mr. Case , Mr. San Nicolas , Mr. Khanna , Ms. Schakowsky , Ms. Norton , Mr. Connolly , Mr. Levin of Michigan , and Ms. Titus ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2022 . 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.