H.R. 481 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 481 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 4, 2013 Mr. Heck of Nevada introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to accept certain documents as proof of service in determining the eligibility of an individual to receive amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, and for other purposes. 1. Proof of eligibility for Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund (a) Proof Section 1002 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (division A of Public Law 111–5; 38 U.S.C. 107 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: (m) Proof of service (1) In general The Secretary shall accept as proof of the service described in subsection (d) or (n)— (A) the name of the eligible person included on the Approved Revised Reconstructed Guerilla Roster (commonly known as the Missouri List); (B) documents included in the claims folder of the eligible person that prove such service, including an affidavit from the government of the Philippines certifying such service (AGO Form 23); or (C) any other documents that are issued or accepted by the government of the Philippines as proof of such service. (2) Source of documents The Secretary may not reject a document under paragraph (1) solely because the document is issued by the government of the Philippines. (3) Government of the Philippines In this subsection, the term government of the Philippines includes the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, and the Republic of the Philippines. (n) Civilian guerilla forces Service as a civilian guerilla in the Philippines during the period described in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) shall be treated as service described under such subsection for purposes of a person being eligible for benefits under this section. (o) Cooperation The Secretary of the Army shall cooperate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in carrying out this section. . (b) Extended application period Section 1002(c) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (division A of Public Law 111–5; 38 U.S.C. 107 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Extended application period Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may make a payment from the compensation fund to an eligible person who, during the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this section, submits to the Secretary— (A) a claim for benefits under this section; or (B) with respect to a person who filed a claim for benefits under this section during the period described in paragraph (1), a new claim or an appeal to such previously filed claim. .