[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1414 Introduced in Senate (IS)]


104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1414

  To ensure that payments during fiscal year 1996 of compensation for 
    veterans with service-connected disabilities, of dependency and 
  indemnity compensation for survivors of such veterans, and of other 
     veterans benefits are made regardless of Government financial 
                              shortfalls.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 15, 1995

Mrs. Hutchison (for herself, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Helms, Mr. McConnell, and 
  Mr. Gramm) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To ensure that payments during fiscal year 1996 of compensation for 
    veterans with service-connected disabilities, of dependency and 
  indemnity compensation for survivors of such veterans, and of other 
     veterans benefits are made regardless of Government financial 
                              shortfalls.

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

SECTION 1. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996 OF VETERANS' 
              BENEFITS IN EVENT OF LACK OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Payments Required.--In any case during fiscal year 1996 in 
which appropriations are not otherwise available for payment of 
benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall nevertheless ensure that 
payments of existing veterans benefits are made in accordance with 
regular procedures and schedules and in accordance with eligibility 
requirements for such benefits.
    (b) Funding.--There is hereby appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary for the payment of benefits pursuant to subsection (a), 
including such amounts as may be necessary for the costs of 
administration of payment of such benefits.
    (c) Charging of Accounts When Appropriations Made.--In any case in 
which the Secretary uses the authority of subsection (a) to make 
payments of veterans benefits, applicable accounts shall be charged for 
amounts so paid, and for the costs of administration of payment of such 
benefits, when regular appropriations become available for those 
purposes.
    (d) Existing Benefits Specified.--For purposes of this section, 
existing veterans benefits are benefits under laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs that have been adjudicated and authorized 
for payment as of the last day on which appropriations for payment of 
such benefits are available (other than pursuant to subsection (b)).

SEC. 2. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996 OF VETERANS' BENEFITS 
              IN EVENT DEBT CEILING LIMIT IS REACHED.

    (a) Payments Required.--In any case during fiscal year 1996 in 
which certain functions of the Government are delayed, deferred, or 
canceled due to a limitation on the ability of the Government to borrow 
funds, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall nevertheless ensure that 
payments of existing veterans benefits are made in accordance with 
regular procedures and schedules and in accordance with eligibility 
requirements for such benefits, and receipts and disbursements of the 
Government shall be managed so as to ensure that the requirement 
imposed by this section on the Secretary is complied with.
    (b) Existing Benefits Specified.--For purposes of this section, 
existing veterans benefits are benefits under laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs that have been adjudicated and authorized 
for payment as of the day on which it becomes necessary for certain 
functions of the Government to be delayed, deferred, or canceled due to 
a limitation on the ability of the Government to borrow funds.
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