PUBLIC LAWS-CHS. 266, 268 -JUNE 20, 22 , 1944 53 Stat. 429. 26 U. S. C., Supp. III, 3508. Philippine Islands. 50 Stat. 915; 55 Stat. 873. 7 U. S. C., Supp. III, i 1173. June 22, 1944 [S. 1767] [Public Law 346] Servicemen's Read- justment Act of 1944. Veterans' Adminis- tration declared an es- sential war agency. Priorities. Additional hospital facilities. Post-war use of Army and Navy hos- pitals. Additional offices. Appropriation au- thorized. Interchange offacili- ties, etc. SEC. 2. Section 3508 of the Internal Revenue Code (relating to termination of taxes with respect to sugar) is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 3508. TERMINATION OF TAXES. "No tax shall be imposed under this chapter on the manufacture, use or importation of sugar after June 30 1947." SEC. 3 . Section 503 of the Sugar Act of 1937, as amended (relating to payments to the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands), is amended by striking out "June 30, 1945" and inserting in lieu thereof "June 30, 1947". Approved June 20, 1944. [CHAPTER 268] AN ACT To provide Federal Government aid for the readjustment in civilian life of returning World War II veterans. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944". TITLE I CHAPTER I-HOSPrrALIZATION, CLAIMS, AND PROCEDURES SEC. 100. The Veterans' Administration is hereby declared to be an essential war agency and entitled, second only to the War and Navy Departments, to priorities in personnel, equipment, supplies, and material under any laws, Executive orders, and regulations per- taining to priorities, and in appointments of personnel from civil- service registers the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs is hereby granted the same authority and discretion as the War and Navy Departments and the United States Public Health Service: Provided That the provisions of this section as to priorities for materials shall apply to any State institution to be built for the care or hospitali- zation of veterans. SEC. 101. The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs and the Federal Board of Hospitalization are hereby authorized and directed to expedite and complete the construction of additional hospital facili- ties for war veterans, and to enter into agreements and contracts for the use by or transfer to the Veterans' Administration of suitable Army and Navy hospitals after termination of hostilities in the present war or after such institutions are no longer needed by the armed services; and the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs is hereby authorized and directed to establish necessary regional offices, sub- offices, branch offices, contact units, or other subordinate offices in centers of population where there is no Veterans' Administration facility, or where such a facility is not readily available or accessible: Provided,That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $500,000,000 for the construction of additional hospital facilities. SEC. 102. The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs and the Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy are hereby granted authority to enter into agreements and contracts for the mutual use or exchange of use of hospital and domiciliary facilities, and such supplies, equip- ment, and material as may be needed to operate properly such facilities, or for the transfer, without reimbursement of appropri- ations, of facilities, supplies, equipment, or material necessary and [58 STAT.
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