Federal

Korean American VALOR Act

Source: Congress.gov · 346 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill changes federal law to recognize certain people who served in the Vietnam War as members of the South Korean military as veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. These individuals become eligible for health care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is the federal agency that serves military veterans.

Who It Affects

People who served in Vietnam as members of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) during the specified time period and receive a determination from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that they meet this requirement.

Key Provisions

- Individuals who served in Vietnam as members of the South Korean armed forces become eligible for the same health care benefits and under the same conditions as discharged members of the U.S. armed forces (Sec. 2) - The Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines who qualifies based on whether they served in Vietnam as a South Korean armed forces member during January 9, 1962 through May 7, 1975, or another period the Secretary finds appropriate (Sec. 2)

What Changes

People who served in the South Korean military during the Vietnam War period now qualify for Department of Veterans Affairs health care benefits if the Secretary determines they meet the eligibility requirements.

Important Definitions

The bill does not explicitly define any terms.

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

137 STAT. 108 PUBLIC LAW 118–20—NOV. 13, 2023 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 366: HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118–64 (Comm. on Veterans’ Affairs). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 169 (2023): May 22, considered and passed House. Oct. 19, considered and passed Senate. Æ Public Law 118–20 118th Congress An Act To amend title 38, United States Code, to treat certain individuals who served in Vietnam as a member of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea as a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes of the provision of health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Korean American Vietnam Allies Long Overdue for Relief Act’’ or the ‘‘Korean American VALOR Act’’. SEC. 2. PROVISION OF CERTAIN BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA. Section 109 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(d)(1) Any person described in paragraph (2) is eligible for the benefits specified in subsection (a) to the same extent and under the same conditions (including with respect to applicable reciprocity requirements) as a discharged member of the armed forces of a government specified in such subsection who is eligible for such benefits under such subsection. ‘‘(2) A person described in this paragraph is a person whom the Secretary determines served in Vietnam as a member of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea at any time during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, or such other period as determined appropriate by the Secretary for purposes of this subsection.’’. Approved November 13, 2023. Determination. Time period. 38 USC 101 note. Korean American Vietnam Allies Long Overdue for Relief Act. Nov. 13, 2023 [H.R. 366] VerDate Sep 11 2014 15:45 Nov 14, 2023 Jkt 049139 PO 00020 Frm 00001 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6580 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL020.118 PUBL020 jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with PUBLAW

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