Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to develop guidelines for the use by the Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) of unofficial sources of information, including eyewitness statements, to determine the eligibility of a member or former member of the Armed Forces for benefits and decorations when the member's service records are incomplete because of damage to the records as a result of the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, or any subsequent incident while the records were in DOD's possession.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3397 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3397
To require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, to develop guidelines regarding the use by the
Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs of unofficial sources of information to determine the
eligibility of a member or former member of the Armed Forces for
benefits and decorations when the member's service records are
incomplete because of damage to the records, including records damaged
by a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis,
Missouri.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 30, 2013
Mrs. Capps introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, to develop guidelines regarding the use by the
Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs of unofficial sources of information to determine the
eligibility of a member or former member of the Armed Forces for
benefits and decorations when the member's service records are
incomplete because of damage to the records, including records damaged
by a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis,
Missouri.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES FOR USE OF UNOFFICIAL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS AND
FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR BENEFITS AND
DECORATIONS WHEN THE SERVICE RECORDS ARE INCOMPLETE
BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO THE OFFICIAL RECORD.
(a) Guidelines Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall develop
guidelines regarding the use by the Secretaries of the military
departments and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of unofficial sources
of information, including eyewitness statements, to determine the
eligibility of a member or former member of the Armed Forces for
benefits and decorations when the service records of the member are
incomplete because of damage to the records as a result of the 1973
fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri,
or any subsequent incident while the records were in the possession of
the Department of Defense.
(b) Consultation.--The Secretary of Defense shall prepare the
guidelines in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with
respect to veterans benefits under title 38, United States Code, whose
eligibility determinations depend on the use of service records
maintained by the Department of Defense.
(c) Time for Completion.--The Secretary of Defense shall complete
development of the guidelines not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line