[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 355 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 355

To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide that persons retiring 
  from the Armed Forces shall be entitled to all benefits which were 
           promised them when they entered the Armed Forces.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 19, 1999

  Mr. Condit (for himself, Mr. Pombo, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Goode, Mr. 
Peterson of Minnesota, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Stump, Mr. McIntyre, 
 Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Norwood, Mr. Stupak, Mrs. Thurman, Mrs. 
Fowler, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Taylor of Mississippi, Mr. Collins, Mr. 
   Lucas of Oklahoma, Mr. Mascara, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr. 
   Hefley, Mr. Jones of North Carolina, Mr. Clement, Mr. Turner, Mr. 
   English, and Mr. Towns) introduced the following bill; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide that persons retiring 
  from the Armed Forces shall be entitled to all benefits which were 
           promised them when they entered the Armed Forces.

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

SECTION 1. ENTITLEMENT OF MILITARY RETIREES TO BENEFITS PROMISED UPON 
              ACCESSION.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 34 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1031 the following new section:
``Sec. 1031a. Entitlement to retirement benefits: persons first 
              becoming members of the armed forces on or after date of 
              enactment of section
    ``(a) Explanation of Retirement Benefits.--In the case of any 
person who first becomes a member of the armed forces on or after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary concerned shall 
ensure that the person, upon first becoming a member of the armed 
forces, is provided a written statement describing the benefits that, 
under then-current laws and regulations, will be provided to that 
person if that person is subsequently retired from the armed forces. 
Such statement shall be in clear and concise language and shall explain 
any limitation or qualification on the receipt of those benefits (such 
as, in the case of medical and dental care, the availability of staff 
and facilities). However, any such limitation or qualification may not 
include a statement of reservation of the right to change any such 
benefit (either by law or regulation).
    ``(b) Entitlement to Retirement Benefits.--Any person who receives 
a statement of retirement benefits under subsection (a) and who 
subsequently retires from the armed forces shall be entitled, upon that 
retirement, to the benefits as described in that statement.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1031 the following new item:

``1031a. Entitlement to retirement benefits: persons first becoming 
                            members of the armed forces on or after 
                            date of enactment of section.''.
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