FOREWORD

In preparing this statement, I have two principal purposes in mind. The first is to meet the demands placed upon the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation for information concerning the acts of Congress during the time the Economy Act of March 20, 1933, was in effect and, in addition, a statement concerning each important subsequent enactment pertaining to veterans, in chronological sequence, including current enactments. The second is to furnish a brief summary of accomplishments in the field of veterans' benefits, with which the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation has always been deeply concerned. This statement covers the period following the enactment of the Economy Act of March 20, 1933, but with reference to hospital and domiciliary construction gives a complete history regarding expenditures relating thereto. This latter information has also been in great demand and I believe that the statement is in such form that it will serve a valuable purpose. The report has been modified to include veterans' legislation generally and the material has been coordinated with the Veterans' Administration. No Nation on earth has provided for the veterans of its various wars as we have provided for ours. While there may be some inequalities yet to be straightened out, and some legislation which we still hope to see enacted into law, the fact remains that, taken for all in all, our system of caring for our disabled veterans and their dependents, has not an equal in any other country in the world. JOHN E. RANKIN, Chairman, Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation.

[No. 1]

HISTORICAL STATEMENT OF VETERANS'

LEGISLATION

LEGISLATION RELATING TO WORLD WAR AND OTHER VETERANS ENACTED ON AND AFTER MARCH 20, 1933

In considering the general scope of veterans' legislation, it is the general opinion of those persons experienced in the veterans' problems that the greatest benefit afforded to veterans by the Federal Government is that of hospitalization in modern scientific hospitals where the highest type of medical care is afforded. The Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation has maintained continuous study of hospitalization and domiciliary care administered by the Veterans' Administration. Surveys have been made by the committee at a minimum of expense. For example, in accordance with House Resolutions Nos. 325 and 408, Seventy-sixth Congress, first and second sessions, the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation made a survey of 72 Veterans' Administration facilities by having individual members of the committee make a survey and report. On this particular survey, it was possible to obtain the desired results with an expenditure of but $2,187.31 out of $5,000 appropriated for that purpose. These surveys indicated the continuation of improvements in administration and a maintenance of high standards in treatment of patients and beneficiaries. It was also established that the Veterans' Administration conducts a continuous study of new diagnostic and treatment methods for the benefit of disabled veterans. In March 1933 there were 71 hospitals and facilities containing 60,707 hospital and domiciliary beds. In addition, the Government was utilizing 8,972 beds in the Army, Navy, and other Government hospitals and maintaining 2,097 beds in State and civil hospitals.

Today there are 87 facilities containing 78,372 hospital and domiciliary beds. In addition, the Government is utilizing 2,784 beds in Army, Navy, and other Government hospitals and maintaining 1,036 beds in State and civil hospitals. New units and additions under construction or authorized at the present time will provide 3,600 more beds. Under the plan approved in principle by the President, it is expected that there will be a total of 100,000 hospital and domiciliary beds available within the next few years. Public, No. 668, Seventy-sixth Congress, approved June 27, 1940, appropriated $1,000,000 for preliminary work under this plan.

The policy of consolidating field activities has been consistently followed whenever possible without impairment of service to the beneficiaries. These consolidations make possible the rendering of equal or better service with a minimum of administrative expense because of the more extensive activities which are immediately available to the veteran, especially in connection with physical examinations. Since March 4, 1933, 25 consolidations have been effected.

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Continuous study has been given by the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation to the subject of monetary benefits payable to World War Veterans and their dependents. Far-reaching changes have been made in the laws and regulations generally governing the granting of such benefits, the principal objectives being to provide the greatest relief to those veterans who are disabled as a result of active service in the armed forces in time of war and to their dependents and eliminating inequalities.

LEGISLATION

CHRONOLOGICAL RÉSUMÉ OF LAWS ENACTED AND VETERANS' REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE PRESIDENT ON AND AFTER MARCH 20, 1933

Section 1 of title I of the act of March 20, 1933 (Public, No. 2, 73d Cong.) authorized the payment of pensions, subject to such requirements and limitations as the President by regulation might prescribe, and within the limitations of appropriations made by the Congress, to the following classes of persons:

(a) Any person who served in the active military or naval service and who is disabled as a result of disease or injury or aggravation of a preexisting disease or injury incurred in line of duty in such service.

(b) Any person who served in the active military or naval service during the Spanish-American War, including the Boxer Rebellion and the Philippine Insurrection, or the World War, and who is permanently disabled as a result of injury or disease: Provided, That nothing contained in this title shall deny a pension to a Spanish-American War veteran past the age of 62 years entitled to a pension under existing law, but the President may reduce the rate of pension as he may deem proper.

(c) The widow, child or children, dependent mother or father of any person who dies as a result of disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military or naval service.

(d) The widow and/or child of any deceased person who served in the active military or naval service during the Spanish-American War, including the Boxer Rebellion and the Philippine Insurrection.

(e) For the purpose of subparagraph (b) of this section, the World War shall be deemed to have ended November 11, 1918.

Section 2 established the minimum and maximum monthly rates of pension: For disability, $6 to $275; for death, $12 to $75.

Section 3 of title I granted authority to the President to prescribe the minimum degrees of disability and such higher degrees of disability, if any, as in his judgment should be recognized, and authorized him to prescribe the rate of pension payable for each such degree of disability. It further authorized the President, in fixing rates of pensions for disability or death to make such differentiation as he might deem just and equitable in the rates to be paid to veterans of different wars and/or their dependents for

(a) Disabilities and deaths resulting from disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty in wartime service;

(b) Disabilities and deaths resulting from disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty in peacetime service;

(c) Disabilities and deaths not incurred in service. Section 4 of title I authorized the President to prescribe by regulation-subject to the provisions of section 1 (e) heretofore quotedthe date of the beginning and of the termination of the period in each war subsequent to the Civil War service which, for the purposes of the act, would be deemed wartime service. This section further authorized the President by regulation to specify the required number of days of war or peacetime service for each class of veterans, to prescribe the time limit on filing of claims for each class of veterans and their dependents, the nature and extent of proofs and presumptions for each class, and any other requirements as to entitlement to pension as he might deem equitable and just. The President in establishing conditions precedent was authorized to prescribe different requirements or conditions for the veterans of different wars and their dependents and to further subdivide the classes of persons and apply different requirements or conditions to such subdivisions.

Section 5 of title I provided that all decisions rendered by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs under title I, or the regulations issued pursuant thereto, would be final and conclusive on all questions of law and fact and not reviewable by any other official or court of the United States.

Section 6 of title I granted the Administrator authority under such limitations as may be prescribed by the President and within the limits of existing Veterans' Administration facilities to furnish to veterans of any war, including the Boxer Rebellion and Philippine Insurrection, domiciliary care if suffering with permanent disabilities, tuberculosis, or neuropsychiatric ailments, and medical and hospital treatment for diseases or injuries.

Section 7 of title I authorized the Administrator, subject to the general direction of the President and in accordance with regulations to be issued by the President, to administer, execute, and enforce the provisions of this title, and for such purposes was granted the same authority and powers as provided in specified sections of the World War Veterans' Act, 1924, as amended, and such other sections of title 38, United States Code, as relate to the administration of the laws granting pensions.

Section 8 of title I authorized the Administrator in carrying out the provisions of title I, or any other pension act, to delegate authority to render decisions to such persons as he might find necessary and within the limitations of such delegations any decisions rendered by such persons to have the same force and effect as though rendered by the Administrator. It was also provided by this section that the President would personally approve all regulations issued under this title.

Section 9 of title I provided for the filing of claims under title I with the Veterans' Administration under such regulations, including provisions for hearing, determination, and administrative review, as the President might approve, and limited the commencement of payments to the date of application. It further provided that a claim finally disallowed under this title and the regulations issued thereunder might not thereafter be reopened or allowed.

It was also provided that no person entitled to benefits under title I could participate in any determination or decision with respect to any claim for benefits under this title.