PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL TO VETERANS HELD AS PRISONERS OF WAR BEFORE APRIL 25, 1962.

SEC. 544. PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL TO VETERANS HELD AS PRISONERS OF WAR BEFORE APRIL 25, 1962. Section 521 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (Public Law 104–106; 110 Stat. 309; 10 U.S.C. 1129 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(d) Procedures for Award.—In determining whether a former prisoner of war who submits an application for the award of the Purple Heart under subsection (a) is eligible for that award, the Secretary concerned shall apply the following procedures:117 STAT. 1479“(1) Failure of the applicant to provide any documentation as required by the Secretary shall not in itself disqualify the application from being considered.“(2) In evaluating the application, the Secretary shall consider (A) historical information as to the prison camp or other circumstances in which the applicant was held captive, and (B) the length of time that the applicant was held captive.“(3) To the extent that information is readily available, the Secretary shall assist the applicant in obtaining information or identifying the sources of information referred to in paragraph (2).“(4) The Secretary shall review a completed application under this section based upon the totality of the information presented, taking into account the length of time between the period during which the applicant was held as a prisoner of war and the date of the application.”.