To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve benefits for Filipino veterans of World War II and survivors of such veterans, and for other purposes.

June 9, 2003

Mr. SPECTER (by request) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve benefits for Filipino veterans of World War II and survivors of such veterans, 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; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Filipino Veterans' Benefits Act of 2003'.

(b) REFERENCES- Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment or repeal to a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF FILIPINO VETERANS FOR HEALTH CARE IN THE UNITED STATES.

(a) HEALTH CARE- Section 1734 is amended to read as follows:

`(a) The Secretary, within the limits of Department facilities, shall furnish hospital and nursing home care and medical services to an individual identified in subsection (b) in the same manner as provided for under section 1710 of this title.

`(b) An individual covered under subsection (a) of this section includes--

`(1) a Commonwealth Army veteran; and

`(2) a new Philippine Scout;

who is residing in the United States and is a citizen of, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in, the United States.'.

SEC. 3. RATE OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS AND THEIR SURVIVORS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES.

(a) RATE OF PAYMENT- Section 107 is amended--

(1) in the second sentence of subsection (b), by striking `Payments' and inserting `Except as provided in subsection (c), payments'; and

(2) in subsection (c)--

(A) by inserting `and subchapter II of chapter 13 (except section 1312(a)) of this title' after `chapter 11 of this title';

(B) by striking `in subsection (a)' and inserting `in subsection (a) or (b)'; and

(C) by striking `of subsection (a)' and inserting `of the applicable subsection'.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to benefits paid for months beginning after that date.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO OPERATE REGIONAL OFFICE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Subsection (b) of section 315 is amended by striking `2003' and inserting `2008'.

SEC. 5. BURIAL BENEFITS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE SCOUTS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES.

(a) BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY- Section 107 is amended--

(1) in subsection (b)(2)--

(A) by striking `and' and inserting a comma; and

(B) by inserting `, 23, and 24 (to the extent provided for in section 2402(8))' after `(except section 1312(a))';

(2) in the second sentence of subsection (b), as amended by section 3 of this Act, by inserting `or (d)' after `subsection (c)';

(3) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting `or (b), as otherwise applicable,' after `subsection (a)'; and

(4) in section (d)(2), by inserting `or whose service is described in subsection (b) and who dies after the date of enactment of the Filipino Veterans Benefits Act of 2003,' after `November 1, 2000,'.

(b) NATIONAL CEMETERY INTERMENT- Section 2402(8) is amended by inserting `or (b)' after `section 107(a)'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to deaths occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act.

END