Bill Summary
The Palomares Veterans Act of 2021 is a proposed bill that seeks to amend title 38 of the United States Code in order to provide certain veterans with a presumption of service connected disability. This means that veterans who served in Palomares, Spain during a specific period of time and were involved in the response effort following a collision between a B-52 bomber and a refueling plane that caused the release of four thermonuclear weapons, will be automatically considered to have a service connected disability. This amendment would take effect on the date of the enactment of the Act and would apply to any deaths that occurred before, on, or after that date for the purpose of determining dependency and indemnity compensation. This bill is known as the "Palomares Veterans Act of 2021".
Possible Impacts
1. The Palomares Veterans Act of 2021 could provide disability compensation to veterans who served in Palomares, Spain during a specific period of time. This could positively affect those veterans who may have developed health conditions as a result of their service and were previously denied benefits.
2. The Act could also potentially provide dependency and indemnity compensation for the families of veterans who died as a result of their service in Palomares, Spain, regardless of when the death occurred. This could financially benefit the families who may have been struggling without the support of the veteran.
3. The Act could also impact the military personnel involved in the response effort following the collision in Palomares, Spain. They may receive additional recognition and support for their service and potentially access to resources to help with any health issues that may have arisen as a result of their involvement.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2580 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2580
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a presumption of
service connected disability for certain veterans who served in
Palomares, Spain, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 15, 2021
Mrs. Hayes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a presumption of
service connected disability for certain veterans who served in
Palomares, Spain, and for other purposes.
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 ``Palomares Veterans Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY FOR CERTAIN
VETERANS WHO SERVED IN PALOMARES, SPAIN.
(a) Disability Compensation.--Section 1112(c)(3)(B) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
clause:
``(v) Onsite participation in the response effort
following the collision of a United States Air Force B-
52 bomber and refueling plane that caused the release
of four thermonuclear weapons in the vicinity of
Palomares, Spain, during the period beginning January
17, 1966, and ending March 31, 1967.''.
(b) Effective Date and Applicability.--
(1) Effective date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Applicability concerning dependency and indemnity
compensation.--For purposes of section 1310 of title 38, United
States Code, the amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply
with respect to a death notwithstanding whether such death
occurred before, on, or after such date.
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