An Act to amend section 4004 of title 38, United States Code, to require that the Board of Veterans Appeals render findings of fact and conclusions of law in the opinions setting forth its decisions on appeals
PL 87-97 (H.R.866), enacted 07/20/1961

75 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-97-JULY 20, 1961 
215 
substantially above that legally permitted by State law on July 1, 
1956, was enacted and approved without full knowledge of the con-
flict of such amendment with the provisions of section 127 of title 
23, United States Code; and 
Whereas section 127 of title 23, United States Code, provides that no 
funds authorized to be appropriated for the Interstate System for 
any fiscal year shall be apportioned to any State within the bound-
aries of which the Interstate System may lawfully be used by 
vehicles in excess of certain specified weights and dimensions, unless 
such vehicles could be so lawfully operated within such State on 
Julv 1, 1956, and that any funds withheld under these provisions 
shall lapse; and 
Whereas the amendment to the Massachusetts laws approved May 25, 
1961, has the effect of exceeding the maximum weight limitations of 
section 127 of title 23, United States Code; and 
Whereas the withholding from apportionment and consequent lapsing 
of funds for the Interstate System for the fiscal year 1963 would 
cause undue hardship to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 
inasmuch as its legislature, having adjourned, does not have reason-
able opportunity to enact corrective legislation in sufficient time to 
prevent such lapse of funds since the apportionment for the fiscal 
year 1963 is expected to be made by the Secretary of Commerce in 
the near future: Therefore be it 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled^ That notwithstanding sec- 
swe^of'high^ay 
tion 127 of title 23 of the United States Code, the Secretary of Com- funds. 
' 
merce shall apportion to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts its 
^^ ^*^' ^°^* 
share of funds authorized to be appropriated for the National System 
of Interstate and Defense Highways for the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1963. Such apportionment shall be made in accordance with sec-
tion 104(b)(5) of title 23 of the United States Code and shall be stll^il'. 
'*^°' ^'^ 
subject to the condition that the funds so apportioned shall not be 
obligated or otherwise expended by such Commonwealth so long as 
the vehicle weight and width limitations established by the law of 
such Commonwealth exceed such limitations contained in section 127 
of title 23 of the United States Code. If on March 15, 1962, the 
vehicle weight and width limitations established by the law of such 
Commonwealth exceed such limitations contained in section 127 of 
title 23 of the United States Code, then funds apportioned to such 
Commonwealth under this joint resolution shall lapse. 
Approved July 20^ 1961. 
Public Law 87-97 
AN ACT 
jyiy 20, 1961 
To amend section 4004 of title 38, United States Code, to require that the Board 
[H. R. 866] 
of Veterans' Appeals render findings of fact and conclusions of law in the 
opinions setting forth its decisions on appeals. 
Board 
of 
Vet-
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Anmrica in Congress assembled^ That section 4004 erans"*" "aais 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof ^'plAdii^gs.^^ ^" 
the following: 
^2 stat. 1241. 
" (d) The decisions of the Board shall be in writing and shall contain 
findings of fact and conclusions of law separately stated." 
SEC. 2. The amendment made by this Act shall take effect as of 
Effective date. 
January 1, 1962. 
Approved July 20, 1961.