Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-6121
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
Introduced: 2023-10-30
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Military personnel and dependents

Philippines

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6121 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 30, 2023 Mr. Mullin (for himself, Mr. Case , Mr. Moylan , Mr. Carter of Louisiana , Ms. Barragán , Mr. Bera , Mr. Carson , Ms. Chu , Mr. Cleaver , Mr. Cohen , Mr. Connolly , Mr. Costa , Mr. Davis of Illinois , Mr. Davis of North Carolina , Ms. Eshoo , Mr. Garamendi , Mr. García of Illinois , Mr. Gomez , Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Jackson of Illinois , Ms. Jacobs , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Khanna , Ms. Lee of California , Mr. Lieu , Ms. Lofgren , Ms. Matsui , Ms. Meng , Ms. Norton , Mr. Pascrell , Mr. Ruppersberger , Mr. Sablan , Ms. Sánchez , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Schiff , Mr. Sherman , Mr. Swalwell , Ms. Titus , Ms. Tokuda , Mr. Vargas , and Ms. Waters ) 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 2023 . 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. ; and (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.