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PUBLIC LAW 104-204—SEPT. 26, 1996
110 STAT. 2923
SEC. 420. Corporations and agencies of the Department of Housing and Urban Development which are subject to the Government
Corporation Control Act, as amended, are hereby authorized to
make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing
authority available to each such corporation or agency and in accord
with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without
regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of
the Act as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set
forth in the budget for 1997 for such corporation or agency except
as hereinafter provided: Provided, That collections of these corporations and agencies may be used for new loan or mortgage purchase
commitments only to the extent expressly provided for in this
Act (unless such loans are in support of other forms of assistance
provided for in this or prior appropriations Acts), except that this
proviso shall not apply to the mortgage insurance or guaranty
operations of these corporations, or where loans or mortgage purchases are necessary to protect the financial interest of the United
States Government.
SEC. 421. (a) The purpose of this section is to provide for 38 USC 1801
the special needs of certain children of Vietnam veterans who note.
were born with the birth defect spina bifida, possibly as the result
of the exposure of one or both parents to herbicides during active
service in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era, through
the provision of health care and monetary benefits.
(b)(1) Part II of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after chapter 17 the following new chapter:
" CHAPTER 18—BENEFITS FOR CfflLDREN OF VIETNAM
VETERANS WHO ARE BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA
"Sec.
"1801. Definitions.
"1802. Spina bifida conditions covered.
"1803. Health care.
"1804. Vocational training and rehabilitation.
"1805. Monetary allowance.
"1806. Effective date of awards.
"§ 1801. Definitions
"For the purposes of this chapter—
"(1) The term 'child', with respect to a Vietnam veteran,
means a natural child of the Vietnam veteran, regardless of
age or marital status, who was conceived after the date on
which the veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam during
the Vietnam era.
"(2) The term 'Vietnam veteran' means a veteran who
performed active military, naval, or air service in the Republic
of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.
"§ 1802. Spina biHda conditions covered
'This chapter applies with respect to all forms and manifestations of spina bifida except spina bifida occulta.
"§ 1803. Health care
"(a) In accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall Regulations.
prescribe, the Secretary shall provide a child of a Vietnam veteran
who is suffering from spina bifida with such health care as the
Secretary determines is needed by the child for the spina bifida
or any disability that is associated with such condition.
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