To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

February 11, 2003

Mr. CUNNINGHAM (for himself, Mr. FILNER, Mr. EVANS, Mr. ISSA, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. WYNN, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. CASE, Ms. HARMAN, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. LEE, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. FROST, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. LOFGREN, and Mr. LANTOS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

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 `Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. CERTAIN SERVICE IN THE ORGANIZED MILITARY FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PHILIPPINE SCOUTS DEEMED TO BE ACTIVE SERVICE.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 107 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subsection (a)--

(A) by striking `not' after `Army of the United States, shall'; and

(B) by striking `, except benefits under--' and all that follows in that subsection and inserting a period;

(2) in subsection (b)--

(A) by striking `not' after `Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945 shall'; and

(B) by striking `except--' and all that follows in that subsection and inserting a period; and

(3) by striking subsections (c) and (d).

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- (1) The heading of such section is amended to read as follows:

`Sec. 107. Certain service deemed to be active service: service in organized military forces of the Philippines and in the Philippine Scouts'.

(2) The item relating to such section in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1 of such title is amended to read as follows:

`107. Certain service deemed to be active service: service in organized military forces of the Philippines and in the Philippine Scouts.'.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a) IN GENERAL- The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2004.

(b) APPLICABILITY- No benefits shall accrue to any person for any period before the effective date of this Act by reason of the amendments made by this Act.

END