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H. R. 1538, H. R. 1539, and H. R. 2005

TO AMEND CERTAIN LAWS AND VETERANS'
REGULATIONS AFFECTING WORLD

WAR VETERANS AND THEIR

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TO AMEND CERTAIN LAWS AND VETERANS' REGULATIONS AFFECTING WORLD WAR VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1937
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON WORLD WAR VETERANS' LEGISLATION,
Washington, D. C.

The committee met at 10 a. m., Hon. John E. Rankin (chairman) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order, please. In order that we may have something before the committee, I am going to lay before you H. R. 1538, a bill to repeal the so-called misconduct clause in those cases where it did not affect the military service. (H. R. 1538 is as follows:)

[H. R. 1538, 75th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To amend certain laws and veterans' regulations affecting World War veterans and their depend. ents, and for other purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That on and after the enactment of this Act and notwithstanding any provision of law or veterans' regulation, in no event shall any person by reason of willful misconduct be denied any of the service connected, including presumptively service connected, benefits under the laws providing relief for veterans of the World War and their dependents; Provided, That such misconduct did not interfere during service with the full performance of military or naval duty: Provided further, That all reasonable doubts shall be resolved in favor of the claimant, the burden of proof being on the Government. SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. The CHAIRMAN. We have with us this morning the representatives of the veterans' organizations, and their commanders. We are going to have to have some additional hearings, and we are going to have to have a subcommittee on this extension of the 5-year term-insurance law. I am going to divide the time up and ask each veterans' organization not to use over 15 or 20 minutes at the present time, because I want to go into executive session and vote on the bill, the misconduct bill, before we adjourn.

Everyone on the committee knows what that means, because we have had it discussed here for 15 or 16 years; and I want to get it before the Congress of the United States.

So I am going to ask the veterans' organizations, if their representatives will arise and present their commanders, if here, or make such a statement as they may care to make on the veterans' legislation, outlining what measures they would like to discuss, but not to take over 15 or 20 minutes.

I will ask Colonel Taylor, of the American Legion, if his commander is here, or if he cares to make a statement at this time, or if his commander will be here later on.

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