[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 7 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S323-S324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 63. A bill for the relief of Donald C. Pence; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.


                   for the relief of donald c. pence

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I am introducing a private relief 
bill on behalf of Donald C. Pence of Stanford, North Carolina, for 
compensation for the failure of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
pay dependency and indemnity compensation to Kathryn E. Box, the now-
deceased mother of Donald C. Pence. It is rare that a federal agency 
admits a mistake. In this case, the Department of Veterans Affairs has 
admitted that a mistake was made and explored ways to permit payment 
under the law, including equitable relief, but has found no provisions 
authorizing the Department to release the remaining benefits that were 
unpaid to Mrs. Box at the time of her death. My bill would correct this 
injustice, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 63

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

     SECTION 1. RELIEF OF DONALD C. PENCE.

       (a) Relief.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall pay, out 
     of any moneys in the Treasury

[[Page S324]]

     not otherwise appropriated, to Donald C. Pence, of Sanford, 
     North Carolina, the sum of $31,128 in compensation for the 
     failure of the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay 
     dependency and indemnity compensation to Kathryn E. Box, the 
     now-deceased mother of Donald C. Pence, for the period 
     beginning on July 1, 1990, and ending on March 31, 1993.
       (b) Limitation on Fees.--Not more than a total of 10 
     percent of the payment authorized by subsection (a) may be 
     paid to or received by agents or attorneys for services 
     rendered in connection with obtaining such payment, any 
     contract to the contrary notwithstanding. Any person who 
     violates this subsection shall be fined not more than $1,000.
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