[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1444 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1444

   To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of 
    ``combat with the enemy'' for purposes of service-connection of 
                             disabilities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 13, 2009

   Mr. Kerry 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 clarify the meaning of 
    ``combat with the enemy'' for purposes of service-connection of 
                             disabilities.

    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 ``Compensation Owed for Mental Health 
Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act'' or 
the ``COMBAT PTSD Act''.

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF MEANING OF ``COMBAT WITH THE ENEMY'' FOR 
              PURPOSES OF SERVICE-CONNECTION OF DISABILITIES.

    (a) Clarification.--Section 1154(b) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``In the case'' and inserting ``(1) In the 
        case''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the term `combat with 
the enemy' includes service on active duty--
            ``(A) in a theater of combat operations (as determined by 
        the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) 
        during a period of war; or
            ``(B) in combat against a hostile force during a period of 
        hostilities.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of section 
1154 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall 
apply with respect to a claim for disability compensation under chapter 
11 of such title pending on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
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