[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 72 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 72

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to restore the eligibility of 
veterans for benefits resulting from injury or disease attributable to 
 the use of tobacco products during a period of military service, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 19, 1999

   Ms. Snowe introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to restore the eligibility of 
veterans for benefits resulting from injury or disease attributable to 
 the use of tobacco products during a period of military service, 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. RESTORATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS FOR INJURY OR 
              DISEASE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE USE OF TOBACCO DURING A 
              PERIOD OF MILITARY SERVICE.

    (a) Restoration.--(1) Section 1103 of title 38, United States Code, 
as amended by section 9014 of the TEA 21 Restoration Act (title IX of 
Public Law 105-206; 112 Stat. 865), is repealed.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of such 
title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1103.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Review of Disallowed Claims.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall reopen and review any claim for benefits under title 38, 
United States Code, that was disallowed on the basis of the provisions 
of section 1103 of that title during the period beginning on July 22, 
1998, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (2) In reviewing claims under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
determine the entitlement to or eligibility for benefits of the 
individual concerned as if such section 1103 had never been enacted.
    (3) No individual who is determined to be entitled to or eligible 
for benefits by reason of this subsection may be paid or furnished any 
benefits based upon such determination for the period referred to in 
paragraph (1).
                                 <all>