I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1818 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 31, 2009 Mr. Burton of Indiana (for himself, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Latta, and Mrs. McMorris Rodgers) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act.

2.

Commissary and exchange store privileges for disabled veterans and their dependents

(a)

Extension of privileges

Chapter 54 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1065.

Use of commissary and exchange stores: disabled veterans and their dependents

(a)

Disabled veterans

A veteran with a compensable service-connected disability shall be permitted to use commissary and exchange stores on the same basis as a member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. (b)

Dependents

A dependent of a veteran described in subsection (a) shall be permitted to use commissary and exchange stores on the same basis as a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. (c)

Definitions

In this section, the terms veteran and service-connected have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 38.

. (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 1065. Use of commissary and exchange stores: disabled veterans and their dependents. . (c)

Effective date

Section 1065 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect at the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.