Pub. L. 94-432, tit. IV, sec. 404

Sec. 404. (a) The, Congress finds and declares that the pension program for nonservice-connected disability or death, authorized in chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, and administered by the Veterans’ Administration— (1) does not provide sufficient assistance to meet the needs of some eligible veterans and survivors; (2) has developed some inconsistencies, inequities, and anomalies which prevent it from operating in the most efficient and equitable manner; and (3) subjects many pensioners annually to reductions in their pensions. The Congress further finds and declares that it lacks sufficient long-range information as to actual and anticipated financial characteristics of potential pensioners (and their families) upon which to estimate costs of existing alternative pension programs. (b) No later than October 1, 1977, the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs shall submit, a report to Congress and the President. The report shall contain the findings and recommendations of a comprehensive investigation, analysis, and evaluation of existing and alternative nonservice-connected pension programs, and shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Income characteristics of veterans and survivors currently in receipt of nonservice-connected pension. 90 STAT. 1373 (2) Actual and anticipated longterm financial characteristics of pensioners including those veterans and survivor’s (and their families) who may be potentially eligible for benefits under the nonservice-connected pension program during the next 25 years. (3) Identification and analysis of existing inequities, anomalies, and inconsistencies contained in the current nonservice-connected pension program. (4) Current, and proposed income exclusions. (5) Particular problems and needs of catastrophically disabled nonservice-connected pensioners. (6) Alternative proposals which— (A) assure a level of income for eligible veterans at or above the national minimum standard of need; (B) treat similarly circumstanced pensioner alike; and (C) provide the greatest amount of assistance to those with the greatest amount of need. (c) On the basis of the investigation, analysis, and evaluation required to be made in subsection (b), the report shall identify alternative courses of legislative or administrative action (including proposed legislation) and long-range cost estimates therefor which, in the judgment of the Administrator, would result in a more equitable non-service-connected pension program.