HR 5155
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5155
To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain debts to the United States
in the case of veterans who die as a result of a service-connected disability
incurred or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 29, 2008
Ms. SHEA-PORTER 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 to the United States
in the case of veterans who die as a result of a service-connected disability
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 VETERANS
WHO DIE OF SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES ARISING FROM 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 veterans who die of service-connected disability 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 veteran described in subsection
(b) under any program under the laws administered by the Secretary (other
than a program referred to in subsection (c)) if the Secretary determines,
in the Secretary's discretion, that the termination of collection is in
the best interest of the United States.
`(b) Covered Veterans- A veteran described in this subsection is any veteran
who dies as a result of a service-connected disability 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 after
the Persian Gulf 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
authority 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
veterans who die of service-connected disability 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 veterans who die on or after September
11, 2001.
END
