[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1594 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1594

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits for Filipino 
           veterans of World War II, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 28, 1999

Mr. Gilman (for himself and Mr. Filner) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits for Filipino 
           veterans of World War II, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Filipino Veterans' Benefits 
Improvements Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATE OF PAYMENT OF CERTAIN BENEFITS TO VETERANS OF 
              THE PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH ARMY.

    (a) Increase.--Section 107 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Payment'' in the second sentence of 
        subsection (a) and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection 
        (c), payment''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) In the case of benefits under subchapters II and IV of 
chapter 11 of this title by reason of service described in subsection 
(a)--
            ``(1) notwithstanding the second sentence of subsection 
        (a), payment of such benefit shall be made in dollars at the 
        rate of $1.00 for each dollar authorized; and
            ``(2) such benefits shall be paid only to an individual 
        residing in the United States who is a citizen of, or an alien 
        lawfully admitted for permanent residence in, the United 
        States.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply 
to benefits paid for months beginning on or after that date.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL FILIPINO 
              WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

    Section 1734 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``The Secretary, within the limits of Department facilities, shall 
furnish hospital and nursing home care and medical services to 
Commonwealth Army veterans and new Philippine Scouts in the same manner 
as provided for under section 1710 of this title.''.

SEC. 4. MANDATE TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR WORLD WAR II VETERANS 
              RESIDING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 1735 as section 1736; and
            (2) by inserting after section 1734 the following new 
        section:
``Sec. 1735. Outpatient care and services for World War II veterans 
              residing in the Philippines
    ``(a) Outpatient Health Care.--The Secretary shall furnish care and 
services to veterans, Commonwealth Army veterans, and new Philippine 
Scouts for the treatment of the service-connected disabilities and non-
service-connected disabilities of such veterans and scouts residing in 
the Republic of the Philippines on an outpatient basis at the Manila VA 
Outpatient Clinic.
    ``(b) Limitations.--(1) The amount expended by the Secretary for 
the purpose of subsection (a) in any fiscal year may not exceed 
$500,000.
    ``(2) The authority of the Secretary to furnish care and services 
under subsection (a) is effective in any fiscal year only to the extent 
that appropriations are available for that purpose.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 1735 and inserting after the item relating to section 1734 the 
following new items:

``1735. Outpatient care and services for World War II veterans residing 
                            in the Philippines.
``1736. Definitions.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
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