Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 65.djvu/208

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174

PUBLIC LAW 108—AUG. 4, 1951

[65 STAT.

families who, as a result of such major disaster, require temporary housing or other emergency shelter,". Approved August 3, 1951.

Public Law 108 August 4, 1951 (H. R. 315]

Veterans, War with Spain, Philippine Insurrection, or B o x e r Rebellion. Service pensions.

Delimiting dates.

Active service.

Monthly rates.

Payment.

CHAPTER

294

AN ACT To liberalize the service pensions laws relating to veterans of the war with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection, or the Boxer Rebellion, and their dependents.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assewMed^ That in determining eligibility to service pension for veterans of the war with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection, or the Boxer Rebellion, and dependents of such veterans, which are payable under the laws reenacted by the Act of August 13, 1935 (49 Stat. 614; 38 U.S.C. 368, 369), or under Acts amendatory or supplemental to such laws, the following additional rules shall obtain: (a) The delimiting dates of the war with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection, or the Boxer Rebellion shall be from April 21, 1898, to July 4, 1902, inclusive: Provided, That if the person was serving with the United States military forces engaged in the hostilities in the Moro Province the period herein stated shall extend to July 15, 1903. (b) In computing active service there shall be counted continuous active service which commenced prior to and extended into the applicable period specified in (a) hereof or Vvhich commenced within such applicable period. (c) A discharge or release from active service under conditions other than dishonorable shall be a prerequisite to entitlement to service pension. SEC. 2. The minimum monthly rates of pension payable to veterans by virtue of the laws referred to in section 1 as modified by this Act shall be $90 in cases where the veteran served ninety days or more or was discharged for disability incurred in service in line of duty unless such veteran is now or hereafter becomes on account of age or physical or mental disabilities, helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person, the monthly rate shall be $120; and $60 in cases where the veteran served seventy days or more unless such veteran is now or hereafter becomes on account of age or physical or mental disabilities, helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person, the monthly rate shall be $78. SEC. 3. Except as provided in section 4 hereof, where eligibility for pension or increase of pension is established by virtue of this Act, pension shall be paid from date of receipt of application therefor in the Veterans' Administration, but in no event prior to the first day of the second calendar month following the enactment of this Act: Provided, That payment of death pension may be made from date of death of a veteran where claim therefor is filed within one year after date of death of the veteran, but no payment shall cover a period prior to the first day of the second calendar month following the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. All persons receiving pensions on the day prior to the effective date of this Act under the laws referred to in sections 1 and 5 of this Act shall, effective the first day of the second calendar month following the enactment of this Act, receive the benefits of this Act without the necessity of filing a claim therefor.