HR 5148
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5148
To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain debts owed to the United States
by members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die as a result of an
injury incurred or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 28, 2008
Mr. NEUGEBAUER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain debts owed to the United States
by members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die as a result of an
injury incurred or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act of
2008'.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS OF MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS WHO DIE OF INJURY INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED
IN SERVICE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN A COMBAT ZONE.
(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 53 of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by inserting after section 5302 the following new section:
`Sec. 5302A. Prohibition on collection of indebtedness: certain debts
of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die of injury incurred
or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone
`(a) Prohibition- The Secretary may not collect all or any part of an
amount owed to the United States by a member of the Armed Forces or veteran
described in subsection (b) under any program under the laws administered
by the Secretary, other than a program referred to in subsection (c).
`(b) Covered Individuals- A member of the Armed Forces or veteran described
in this subsection is any member or veteran who dies as a result of an
injury incurred or aggravated while serving in a theater of combat operations
(as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense) in a war or in combat against a hostile force during a period
of hostilities (as that term is defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this
title) after September 11, 2001.
`(c) Inapplicability to Housing and Small Business Benefit Programs- The
prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to any amounts owed the
United States under any program carried out under chapter 37 of this title.'.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter
53 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 5302 the following new item:
`5302A. Prohibition on collection of indebtedness: certain debts of
members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die of injury incurred
or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone.'.
(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall take effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect
to collections of indebtedness of members of the Armed Forces and veterans
who die on or after September 11, 2001.
END
