S 2550
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2550
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 23, 2008
Mrs. HUTCHISON (for herself, Mr. JOHNSON, and Mr. CORNYN) 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 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
