An Act to redefine the terms ""stepchild"" and ""stepparent"" for the purposes of the Servicemens Indemnity Act of 1951, as amended
PL 84-172 (H.R.6419), enacted 07/26/1955

374 
PUBLIC LAW 171-JULY 26, 1955 
[69 ST A T . 
Effective date. 
or under the auspices of benevolent or fraternal societies or orders 
or trades unions, or by strictly professional, literary, historical, 
or scientific societies,"; 
(3) by inserting "churches and church orj>;anizations,'" imme-
diately after "whether such matter pertains to such benevolent or 
fraternal societies or orders, trades unions, strictly professional, 
literary, historical, or scientific societies,"; 
(4) by inserting "churches and church organizations," imme-
diately after "to further the objects and purposes of such benevo-
lent or fraternal societies or orders, trades unions,"; and 
(5) by inserting "or by churches and church organizations" 
immediately after "circulation through the mails of periodical 
])ublications issued by, or under the auspices of, benevolent or 
fraternal societies or orders, or trades unions, or by strictly pro-
fessional, literary, historical, or scientific societies,". 
SEC. 2. The amendments made by the first section of this Act shall 
take effect on the first day of the second calendar month following 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
Approved July 26, 1955. 
July 26, 1955 
[S. 1464] 
Public Law 171 
CHAPTER 379 
AN ACT 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire certain rights-of-way and 
timber access roads. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Secretary 
of the Interior may acquire rights-of-way and existing connecting 
roads adjacent to public lands whenever he determines that such 
acquisition is needed to provide a suitable and adequate system of 
timber access roads to public lands under his jurisdiction. 
SEC. 2. For the purpose of this Act, the term "public lands" includes 
the Revested Oregon and California Railroad and the Reconveyed 
Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant Lands in Oregon. 
Approved July 26, 1955. 
July 26, 1955 
TH. R. 6419] 
Public Law 172 
CHAPTER 380 
AN ACT 
To redefine the terms "stepchild" and "stepparent" for the purposes of tlie 
Servicemen's Indemnity Act of 1951, as amended. 
Servicemen's in-
demnity. 
65 Stat. 34. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress a.'^sembled^ That the first sen-
tence of section '^ of the Servicemen's Indemnity Act of 1951 (B8 
U. S. C. 852) is hereby amended (1) by deleting therefrom the words 
"including a stepchild, adopted child, or an illegitimate child if the 
latter was designated as beneficiary by the insured" and inserting in 
lieu thereof the words "including a stepchild if designated as benefici-
ary by the insured or if a member of the insured's household, adopted 
child, or an illegitimate child if the latter was designated as beneficiary 
by the insured", and (2) by deleting therefrom the words "including a 
stepparent, parent by adoption, or person who stood in loco parentis 
69 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 175-JULY 26, 1955 
375 
to tlie insured at any time prior to entry into the active service for a 
period of not less than one year" and inserting in lieu thereof the words 
"including a parent by adoption, or person who stood in loco parentis 
to the insured prior to attainment of twenty-one years of age and for 
a period of not less than one year prior to entry into the active service, 
or a stepparent who does not meet the loco parentis requirement if 
designated as beneficiary". 
SEC. 2. The amendment made by section 1 of this Act shall be effec-
tive April 25, 1951, but shall not be construed (1) to require the dis-
continuance, for any period prior to the first day of the third calendar 
month following approval of this enactment, of any servicemen's 
indemnity award made prior to the date of this Act, or (2) to require 
duplicate payments of benefits in any case. 
Approved July 26, 1955. 
Effective date. 
Public Law 173 
CHAPTER 381 
AN ACT 
To amend subsection (e) (1) of section 13A of the Subversive Activities Con-
trol Act of 1950 to change from two years to three years the standard 
contained therein with respect to the past affiliations of individuals conducting 
the management of certain organizations. 
Be it enacted T)y the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That paragraph (1) 
of subsection (e) of section 13A of the Subversive Activities Control 
Act of 1950 is amended by striking out "two years" and inserting "three 
years" in lieu thereof. 
Approved July 26, 1956. 
July 26, 1955 
[H. R. 4753] 
68 Stat. 778. 
50 u s e 792a. 
Public Law 174 
CHAPTER 382 
AN ACT 
To amend the Commodity Exchange Act. 
July 26, 1955 
[rtR. 122] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled, That section 2 (a) 
of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (7 U. S. C. 2), is 
amended by inserting "onions," after the word "eggs," in the third 
sentence thereof, so that onions are added to the definition of the 
word "commodity" for the purposes of said Act. 
SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect sixty days after the date of its 
enactment. 
Approved July 26, 1955. 
Commodity 
ts x-
changes. 
Onions. 
42 Stat. 998. 
Public Law 175 
CHAPTER 383 
AN ACT 
To redefine eligibility for membership in AM^'ETS (American Veterans of 
WorldAVarll). 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 6 of 
Act approved July 23, 1947, Public Law 216, Eightieth Congress (61 eligibility.' 
Stat. 407: ?
>
6 T". S. V. 67e), as amended, is further amended to read 
as follows: 
"SfX". (>. Any person who served in the Armed Forces of the United 
States of America or any American citizen who served in the armed 
forces of an allied nation of the Ignited States on or after September 
July 26, 1955 
TH. R. 4754] 
AMVETS. 
M e m b e r s h i . p