Summary of bills considered in subcommittee hearings Bill number and author Explanation H. R. 65: Mr. Teague of Grants to VA employees in Philippines similar H. R. 69: Mr. Teague of H. R. 330: Mr. McDonough- H. R. 405: Mrs. Rogers-Jan. 3, 1957. H. R. 411: Mrs. Rogers (by request)-Jan. 3, 1957. H. R. 413: Mrs. Rogers (by H. R. 415: Mrs. Rogers (by H. R. 929: Mrs. Rogers (by H. R. 1143: Mr. Henderson- H. R. 2770: Mr. Adair-Jan. 14, 1957. H. R. 3630: Mr. Holt-Jan. 24, 1957. H. R. 3786: Mrs. Rogers of Massachusetts (by request)-Jan. 28, 1957. H. R. 3822: Mr. Christopher- H. R. 3867: Mr. Siler-Jan. 28, 1957. H. R. 3971: Mr. Dorn of South Carolina (by request)-Jan. 29, 1957. H. R. 3973: Mr. Dorn of South Carolina (by request)-Jan. 29, 1957. H. R. 4214: Mr. Michel-Jan. 31, 1957. H. R. 5322: Mr. Cramer-Feb. 26, 1957. H. R. 6421: Mr. Holland- Provides automatic payment of compensation Prohibits severance of compensation, pension Grants $180 annually for clothing allowance to Provides 3-year presumption for chronic and Provides 3-year presumption for arthritis (now Provides automatic payment of compensation Presumes injury or disease to be incurred in Provides 10-percent disability rating for any An injury 30 percent or more disabling in- Provides 3-year presumptive period of multi- Provides statutory award of $47 monthly for Defines the terms "wife" and "dependent" as including a dependent husband and the term "widow" to include a widower for the purposes of VA laws. Presumes service connection for hospitalization and outpatient care for World War II and Korean veterans who develop at any time an active psychosis provided the veteran actually participated in combat. H. R. 6716: Mrs. Kee-Apr. 8, Prohibits severance of service connection 1957. H. R. 6984: Mrs. Granahan Apr. 17, 1957. H. R. 7088: Mr. Apr. 30, 1957. which has been in effect for 10 or more years. Provides conclusive presumption of service Christopher-Authorizes Administrator to fix special rate of B. R. 7448: Mr. Cramer-May 13, 1957. Provides compensation parity for female H. R. 7673: Mr. Teague of Provides 1-year presumption of service con- nection for meningitis. Summary of bills considered in subcommittee hearings-Continued Bill number and author H. R. 9671: Mrs. Kee-Jan. 7, 1958. H. R. 9710: Mr. Robsion- H. R. 9726: Mr. Smith of H. R. 9730: Mr. Teague of H. R. 9896: Mr. Aspinall (by H. R. 10029: Mr. Teague of H. R. 10134: Mr. Winstead- H. R. 10461: Mr. Teague of Texas (by request)-Feb. 3, 1958. H. R. 10462: Mr. Teague of Texas (by request)-Feb. 3, 1958. Explanation Increases burial allowance from $150 to $250.. Increases burial allowance from $150 to $250.... Prohibits severance of service connection when Provides 3-year presumption for multiple Provides 2-year presumption for organic heart Prohibits severance of service connection for Broadens class of beneficiaries under Survivors H. R. 10748: Mr. Beckworth-Prohibits severance of service connection H. R. 10797: Mr. Teague of H. R. 10798: Mr. Teague of H. R. 11343: Mr. Cramer (by H. R. 11528: Mr. Holland- H. R. 11801: Mr. Fino-Apr. H. R. 11837: Mr. Saylor-Apr. 2, 1958. H. R. 12056: Mr. Siler-Apr. H. R. 12096: Mr. Abernethy- which has been in effect for 10 or more years. Provides that any disability incurred after 90 Grants death compensation to certain widows Freezes as of Jan. 1, 1958 the VA schedule for Gives usual presumptions to World War I vet- Prohibits severance of service connection Prohibits reduction in disability ratings which H. R. 12383: Mr. Addonizio Provides 7-year presumption of service con- H. R. 12636: Mr. Moulder- H. R. 12651: Mr. Gubser (by H. R. 12874: Mr. Moulder- H. R. 12927: Mr. Teague of nection instead of present 2 year period. Presumes to be service connected the death of (1) was rated totally disabled for 12 con- (2) was rated totally disabled for 10 or (3) has been rated after his 62d birthday Furnishes or replaces clothing damaged by Cost and administrative position $14,070,000 1st year, rising No estimate of cost. Opposed. No cost estimate. Opposed. Committee Print 203. No cost estimate. Opposed. Committee Print 203. No cost estimate. Opposed. Committee Print 166. No cost estimate. Opposed. Committee Print 166. Unknown. Opposed. No cost estimate. Opposed. Committee Print 166. Do. No cost estimate. Op. posed. Committee Print 203. No cost estimate. Opposed. Committee Print 203. 413, 415, 420, 330, 411, 2770, 3630, 3867, 3971, 4214, 5322, 7088, 7448, 10461, 10462, Presumptions of service connection_ 924, 929, 1143, 3822, 3973, 6421, 6984, 7573, 9896, 10029, 10797, 11528 9726, 10134, 10748, 11837, 12056, 12096, 12383, 12636, 12873, 12874 Mr. DORN. Also, without objection, I will order inserted, several statements which have been received from the sponsors of bills pending before us. (Statements referred to follow :) Mr. DORN. We are happy to have the distinguished lady from West Virginia here this morning to present her views on the bill, H. R. 9671 which she has introduced. Mrs. Kee. STATEMENT OF CONGRESSWOMAN ELIZABETH KEE, ON H. R. 9671 Mrs. KEE. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, as sponsor of H. R. 9671, I welcome this opportunity to testify in support of its early enactment. It is needed legislation. With respect to deaths occurring after date of its approval, my bill would increase the Veterans' Administration allowance for burial of eligible veterans from $150 to $250. Costs of commodities and services have soared since the burial allowance was last increased from $100 to $150 by act of July 24, 1946. The costs of burial services have increased so considerably that at most places only a very modest burial will be possible for the $250 payment proposed. The allowance, except where death occurs in a Veterans' Administration facility to which the deceased was properly admitted for hospital or domiciliary care, is granted for burial and funeral expenses and the expense of preparing the body and transporting it to the place of burial. The Veterans' Administration is authorized to pay for transporting the body to place of burial, within certain prescribed limitations, where death occurs in a Veterans' Administration facility. The Veterans' Administration is authorized to contract with burial firms for the burial and funeral services for eligible veterans. I am informed that for some years the agency has found many firms will not enter into contracts because of inability to render the services for the authorized allowance. Increase in the burial allowance to the amount I propose may improve this situation. In large numbers of cases, the bereaved members of the veteran's family will undoubtedly want to show their respect and affection by providing a costlier service than can be obtained for $250. Reimbursement by the Government up to this amount will, I believe, reflect the concern of the American people that war veterans who have served honorably, and peacetime ex-servicemen who are eligible, will be buried with the dignity which their service to the Nation has earned for them. Mr. DORN. Thanks Mrs. Kee. We are also fortunate in having with us this morning the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Siler, a former member of this committee, who has two bills which he wishes to present. Mr. Siler, we are glad to have you with us. STATEMENT OF EUGENE SILER, MEMBER OF CONGRESS, EIGHTH DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY Mr. SILER. Mr. Chairman, with gratitude I accept this privilege of appearing before the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives in support of my bill, H. R. 3867, which seeks to amend Veterans Regulation Numbered 1 so as to provide Purple Heart war veterans with an outright 10 percent service-connected disability. That is all my bill does. It is simple. It is forthright. It is straight to the point. It helps just one, select, limited group of citizens who are withal the country's finest and who stand out as the elite of all the millions who wore the uniform in time of war. The Military Order of the Purple Heart was founded by Gen. George Washington on August 7, 1782, and it was reactivated by President Herbert Hoover and Gen. Douglas MacArthur on February 22, 1932, on Washington's Birthday and just about 150 years after the order had been originally founded. So, it will be observed that the organization, known as the Purple Heart, has a long and glorious history and was sponsored by some of the greatest Americans who ever lived. The basic significance of the order is that of a recognition of honor to our country's defenders who were wounded in time of war. Paul Revere was a great American and an outstanding patriot but could not wear the Purple Heart. Patrick Henry was a great American and an outstanding patriot but could not wear the Purple Heart. Sergeant York was a great hero but could not wear the Purple Heart. But there are several thousands, both living and dead, from all over the country who had their bodies broken in combat that their beloved country might remain unbroken after combat who are entitled to wear Purple Heart decorations. Very few people would be willing to risk their lives or limbs by offering themselves as targets before hostile and bitter foes even if they had prior and positive assurance that any wounds they might receive would be compensable by their Government at the rate of 10 percent or $19 monthly. Yet all Purple Heart patriots were human targets and all were wounded, some of them with great agony, in time of war. It seems a rather small thing for us to do at this peacetime period we now enjoy, just to give these patriots the 10 percent service-connected disability they have so well earned by facing the cold steel of our foes and our wartime enemies. There are quite a few humble and poverty stricken Americans all over the land who bear distinct and discernible battle scars on their bodies and yet receive nothing whatever in compensation benefits. Suppose we should tell some faithful employee who had borne the heat and burden of the day that his service was good and that he was to be given an honor for completing of the task. Would not he and his neighbors and friends and the whole community in general smolder with considerable resentment because of this kind of treatment? Well we are generous Americans and a proud people and a great country. Therefore, let us act now to give our Purple Heart defenders, wounded in wartime, a small 10-percent service-connected compensation by acting favorably on this bill now before us for our decision. Mr. Chairman, I also want to speak on my bill, H. R. 12056, seeking to amend the 1957 Veterans' Benefits Act so as to prohibit the reduction of disability ratings which have been in effect for 10 years or more. My bill has two great and wonderful virtues, viz, (1) it would presumably save money for the Government by cutting down on Veterans' Administration employees and its hired personnel because there would be a reduced load of work to be required after passage of |