[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3444 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3444

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of 
past-due benefits awarded an individual pursuant to a proceeding before 
   the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, any payment of attorneys fees 
   allowed with respect to such award shall be paid directly to the 
                       attorney by the Secretary.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 12, 1998

 Mr. Evans (for himself, Mr. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Mr. Filner, Ms. 
 Brown of Florida, Mr. Mascara, Mr. Peterson of Minnesota, Ms. Carson, 
Mr. Reyes, and Mr. Rodriguez) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of 
past-due benefits awarded an individual pursuant to a proceeding before 
   the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, any payment of attorneys fees 
   allowed with respect to such award shall be paid directly to the 
                       attorney by the Secretary.

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

SECTION 1. DIRECT PAYMENT OF ATTORNEYS FEES BY THE SECRETARY IN PAST-
              DUE BENEFIT AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5904(d)(3) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended in the first sentence by striking ``may direct'' and 
inserting ``shall direct''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to past-due benefits awarded under title 38, United 
States Code, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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