[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4220 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4220

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the recently enacted 
    provisions of law that limit the authority of the Department of 
  Veterans Affairs to provide compensation and treatment for smoking-
      related illnesses suffered by veterans of the Armed Forces.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 15, 1998

 Mrs. Linda Smith of Washington (for herself, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Edwards, 
 and Ms. Rivers) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the recently enacted 
    provisions of law that limit the authority of the Department of 
  Veterans Affairs to provide compensation and treatment for smoking-
      related illnesses suffered by veterans of the Armed Forces.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Benefits Restoration Act of 
1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Department of Defense contributed to the smoking 
        habits of military personnel. For example, cigarettes were 
        included in standard food and hygiene kits during World War II 
        and the Korean Conflict. In many cases, the United States 
        provided a soldier's first cigarette.
            (2) Cigarettes were distributed to troops during the 
        Vietnam War.
            (3) The United States, through the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs, should provide compensation and health care to 
        veterans for service-connected smoking-related illnesses.

SEC. 3. REPEAL OF LAW LIMITING ESTABLISHMENT OF SERVICE-CONNECTION FOR 
              DISABILITIES RELATING TO THE USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 1103 of title 38, United States Code, is 
repealed.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 11 of such title is amended by striking out the item relating 
to section 1103.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to any claim for compensation received by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 4. FUNDS NOT REQUIRED TO BE OFFSET FROM OTHER PROGRAMS.

    The Director of the Office of Management and Budget may not make 
any estimate of changes in direct spending outlays under section 252(d) 
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 
U.S.C. 902(d)) for any fiscal year resulting from the enactment of this 
Act.
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