EXPANSION OF PERIOD OF VIETNAM ERA FOR CERTAIN VETERANS

SEC. 505. EXPANSION OF PERIOD OF VIETNAM ERA FOR CERTAIN VETERANS (a) In General.— Paragraph (29) of section 101 is amended to read as follows: “(29) The term ‘Vietnam era’ means the following: “(A) The period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. “(B) The period beginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975, in all other cases. ”. (b) Limited Expansion for Specific Compensation Purposes.— (1) Paragraphs (1)(B) and (3) of section 1116(a) are each amended by striking out “during the Vietnam era” and inserting in lieu thereof “during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975,”. (2) Paragraphs (1)(A), (2)(C), (2)(E), (2)(F), and (4) of such section are amended by striking out “during the Vietnam era” and inserting in lieu thereof “during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975”. (c) Limited Expansion for Specific Health Care Purposes.— (1) The provision stipulated in paragraph (2) is amended— (A) in clause (i), by striking out “during the Vietnam era,” and inserting in lieu thereof “during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975,”; and (B) in clause (ii), by striking out “such era” and inserting in lieu thereof “such period”. (2) The provision referred to in paragraph (1)— (A) if the Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 is enacted as a measure of the One Hundred Fourth Congress, is paragraph (4)(A) of section 1710(e) of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 102 of such Act; and (B) if such Act is not enacted as a measure of the One Hundred Fourth Congress, is paragraph (1)(A) of section 1710(e) of such title. (d) Effective Date.— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 1997. No benefit may be paid 110 STAT. 3343or provided by reason of such amendments for any period before such date.