Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008

An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans' insurance and housing benefits, to improve benefits and services for transitioning servicemembers, and for other purposes.

4/24/2008--Passed Senate amended. Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 - Title I: Insurance Matters -
(Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to grant level-premium, term life insurance to each veteran less than 65 years old who has a service-connected disability and who seeks such insurance, with a maximum coverage amount of $50,000. Reduces the coverage amount by 80% once the veteran turns 70 and prohibits charging a premium in such a case.
(Sec. 102) Allows administrative costs of the Service-Disabled Veterans' Insurance program to be paid through premiums.
(Sec. 103) Includes all (currently, only certain active-duty) members of the Individual Ready Reserve under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program.
(Sec. 104) Increases from $20,000 to $30,000 the maximum amount of supplemental service disabled veterans' insurance for totally disabled veterans.
(Sec. 105) Amends the Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006 to provide retroactive traumatic injury coverage under SGLI for members of the Armed Forces who, between October 7, 2001, and December 1, 2005, incurred a traumatic injury in the line of duty. (Current law allows retroactive coverage, during the same period, for members who incurred a traumatic injury in Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom.)
(Sec. 106) Allows the schedule of payments under SGLI for a traumatic injury to distinguish between the severity of a loss of a dominant hand and a non-dominant hand.
(Sec. 107) Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a form for the designation of a recipient of funds for traumatic injury coverage under SGLI in cases where the member is mentally incapacitated or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness.
(Sec. 108) Increases from $90,000 to $150,000, then to $200,000 after January 1, 2012, the maximum loan guarantee amount under the veterans' mortgage life insurance program. Title II: Housing Matters -
(Sec. 201) Authorizes the Secretary, in the case of a member determined to have a total and permanent disability incurred or aggravated in the line of active duty, to furnish home improvements and structural alterations for the member for such disability while the member is hospitalized or receiving outpatient care, medical services, or treatment, if the Secretary determines that the member is likely to be discharged or released from the Armed Forces due to the disability.
(Sec. 202) Makes eligible for specially adapted housing benefits and assistance:
(1) members of the Armed Forces with certain severe service-connected disabilities; and
(2) veterans with such disabilities who are residing outside the United States.
(Sec. 203) Authorizes the provision of specially adapted housing assistance for a disabled veteran whose disability is due to a severe burn injury.
(Sec. 204) Authorizes the provision through 2011 of specially adapted housing assistance for disabled members residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member.
(Sec. 205) Authorizes the Secretary, whenever a payment for specially adapted housing benefits for a disabled veteran is made, to pay such individual supplemental assistance, within limits depending on the severity of the disability, for such acquisition or adaptation. Provides for an annual inflation adjustment of the maximum available amount of such supplemental funds. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans' committees on the:
(1) adequacy of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) authorities for providing specially adapted housing assistance for disabled veterans; and
(2) advisability of providing such assistance for individuals who reside on a permanent basis in housing owned by a family member. Title III: Labor and Education Matters -
(Sec. 301) Directs the Secretary to ensure the coordination of educational course approval activities by state approving agencies with approval activities performed by the Departments of Labor and Education and other appropriate entities. Requires a report from the Secretary to the veterans' committees on actions taken to establish outcome-oriented performance standards and a tracking and reporting system for resources for approving agencies.
(Sec. 302) Sets $19 million as the maximum amount per fiscal year, after FY2008, for reimbursement to state and local agencies administering veterans' education benefits.
(Sec. 303) Authorizes the Secretary to waive, for public interest purposes on a case-by-case basis, the residency requirement for a Director for Veterans' Employment and Training.
(Sec. 304) Includes veterans of the Post 9/11 Global War on Terror within an annual (currently, biennial) veterans' unemployment study.
(Sec. 305) Amends the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 to extend through 2009 an increase in benefits for veterans pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training. Title IV: Filipino World War II Veterans Matters -
(Sec. 401) Deems certain service performed before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts as active military service for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits through the VA. Makes such amendment effective with respect to the payment or provision of benefits on or after April 1, 2009.
(Sec. 402) Entitles children of Filipino veterans to the same rate (currently, 50%) of educational assistance entitlement as children of other veterans. Title V: Court Matters -
(Sec. 501) Eliminates the 180-day per-year limit on service of retired judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) who voluntarily return to such service. Establishes a three-tiered retirement pay structure for Court judges appointed after the enactment of this Act. Requires recalled judges to receive the pay of current judges during the period of recall, less the amount of any applicable annuity. Prohibits recall service in excess of five years for judges recalled involuntarily.
(Sec. 502) Removes the $30 annual limit on practice and registration fees for those admitted to practice before the Court. Requires any fees charged to be reasonable.
(Sec. 503) Requires an annual report from the chief judge to the veterans' committees summarizing the Court's workload.
(Sec. 504) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Court should be provided with appropriate office space, without undue disruption, inconvenience, or cost. Requires a report from the Administrator of General Services to the veterans' committees on the feasibility of leasing additional space for the Court, and on using the entire building in which the Court is housed as a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center. Title VI: Compensation and Pension Matters -
(Sec. 601) Adds osteoporosis to the list of diseases presumed to be service-connected (and therefore compensable) with respect to former prisoners of war suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
(Sec. 602) Establishes an annual cost-of-living adjustment, by the same percentage as increases under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, for the temporary payment of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) to a veteran's surviving spouse with one or more children under age 18.
(Sec. 603) Provides that veterans who qualify for a service pension based upon age
(65) are not therefore automatically eligible to receive a special monthly pension based upon disability, but instead must qualify for the latter pension under the criteria of being totally and permanently disabled, housebound, or requiring aid and attendance. Title VII: Burial and Memorial Matters -
(Sec. 701) Authorizes and directs the Secretary to pay a supplemental benefit for the burial and funeral expenses of veterans. Makes such benefit an additional:
(1) $900, in the case of a non-service-connected death; or
(2) $2,100, in the case of a service-connected death. Prohibits any additional payment if funds appropriated for such purpose have been expended. Provides for an annual increase in such benefit, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Requires the Secretary to periodically estimate, and report to the veterans' and appropriations committees on, the funding needed to provide such benefit. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 702) Authorizes and directs the Secretary to pay a supplemental burial plot allowance for veterans eligible for the current allowance. Makes such benefit an additional $445, adjusted annually based on the CPI. Requires the Secretary to periodically estimate, and report to the veterans' and appropriations committees on, the funding needed to provide such benefit. Authorizes appropriations. Title VIII: Other Matters -
(Sec. 801) Authorizes the provision of specially adapted housing assistance for disabled veterans whose disability is due to a severe burn injury.
(Sec. 802) Authorizes the Secretary to pay a supplemental benefit, for assistance in the purchase of automobiles and other conveyances, for disabled veterans currently eligible for such assistance. Provides a cap of $22,484 per veteran for the total of the current and supplemental assistance, with an annual adjustment based on the average retail cost of new automobiles. Requires the Secretary to periodically estimate, and report to the veterans' and appropriations committees on, the funding needed to provide such benefit. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 803) Revises provisions concerning the VA's program of outreach to veterans to:
(1) include members of the National Guard and reserves; and
(2) define "outreach" as the proactive provision of information, services, and benefits counseling to veterans, and to the spouses, children, and parents of veterans who may be eligible to receive benefits through the VA.
(Sec. 804) Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow members of the Armed Forces who are called to active duty for a period of not less than 90 days to cancel or suspend their cell phone contracts without incurring early termination or reactivation fees if their ability to fulfill the service contract will be materially affected by such deployment.
(Sec. 805) Directs the Medical Follow-Up Agency of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies to maintain and manage the assets (including electronic data files and biological specimens of study participants) transferred to the Agency from the Air Force Health Study. Authorizes the Agency, during FY2008-FY2012, to conduct additional research on such assets toward the goal of understanding the determinants of health, and promoting wellness, in veterans. Requires an Agency report to Congress assessing the feasibility and advisability of conducting additional research on such assets after the end of FY2012. Provides funding.
(Sec. 806) Requires:
(1) the Secretary to contract with the Institute, above, to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological study to identify any increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis as a result of service in the Persian Gulf or in the Post 9/11 global operations theaters; and
(2) an interim and final results report from the Institute to the Secretary and the veterans' committees.
(Sec. 807) Directs the Comptroller General to report to the veterans' and appropriations committees on the adequacy of DIC for surviving spouses and dependents of veterans who die from service-connected disabilities.

... morehide bill summarySee Full Bill Text

Sponsor

• Sen. Daniel Akaka [D, HI]
• and 1 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Ken Salazar [D, CO]
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Committees

• Senate Veterans' Affairs

Amendments

This bill has 16 amendments. See All AmendmentsHide All Amendments

Amendments to S.1315

Number	Status	Purpose
S.Amdt.4559	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4560	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4561	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4562	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4563	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4564	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4565	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4566	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4567	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4568	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4569	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4570	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4571	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4572	Fail	To increase benefits for disabled U.S. veterans and provide a fair benefit to World War II Filipino veterans for their service to the United States.
S.Amdt.4574	Offered	Amendment information not available.
S.Amdt.4576	Pass	Of a perfecting nature.

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
May 07, 2007		April 24, 2008		September 22, 2008

Latest Vote

April 24, 2008Roll call number 112 in the Senate
Question: On Passage of the Bill (S.1315 as Amended )
Required percentage of 'Aye' votes: 1/2 (50%)	Percentage of 'aye' votes: 96%	Result: Bill Passed

Democrats Voting 'Aye'

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Sen. Daniel Akaka [D, HI]
Sen. Max Baucus [D, MT]
Sen. B. Evan Bayh [D, IN]
Sen. Joseph Biden [D, DE]
Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D, NM]
Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA]
Sen. Sherrod Brown [D, OH]
Sen. Robert Byrd [D, WV]
Sen. Maria Cantwell [D, WA]
Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D, MD]
Sen. Thomas Carper [D, DE]
Sen. Robert Casey [D, PA]
Sen. Hillary Clinton [D, NY]
Sen. Kent Conrad [D, ND]
Sen. Christopher Dodd [D, CT]
Sen. Byron Dorgan [D, ND]
Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL]
Sen. Russell Feingold [D, WI]
Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
Sen. Thomas Harkin [D, IA]
Sen. Daniel Inouye [D, HI]
Sen. Tim Johnson [D, SD]
Sen. Edward Kennedy [D, MA]
Sen. John Kerry [D, MA]
Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D, MN]
Sen. Herbert Kohl [D, WI]
Sen. Mary Landrieu [D, LA]
Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D, NJ]
Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT]
Sen. Carl Levin [D, MI]
Sen. Blanche Lincoln [D, AR]
Sen. Claire McCaskill [D, MO]
Sen. Robert Menendez [D, NJ]
Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D, MD]
Sen. Patty Murray [D, WA]
Sen. Ben Nelson [D, NE]
Sen. Bill Nelson [D, FL]
Sen. Mark Pryor [D, AR]
Sen. John Reed [D, RI]
Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV]
Sen. John Rockefeller [D, WV]
Sen. Ken Salazar [D, CO]
Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY]
Sen. Debbie Ann Stabenow [D, MI]
Sen. Jon Tester [D, MT]
Sen. Jim Webb [D, VA]
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D, RI]
Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR]

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Republicans Voting 'Aye'

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Sen. Lamar Alexander [R, TN]
Sen. Wayne Allard [R, CO]
Sen. John Barrasso [R, WY]
Sen. Robert Bennett [R, UT]
Sen. Christopher Bond [R, MO]
Sen. Samuel Brownback [R, KS]
Sen. Jim Bunning [R, KY]
Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC]
Sen. C. Saxby Chambliss [R, GA]
Sen. Thomas Coburn [R, OK]
Sen. Thad Cochran [R, MS]
Sen. Norm Coleman [R, MN]
Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME]
Sen. Bob Corker [R, TN]
Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX]
Sen. Larry Craig [R, ID]
Sen. Michael Crapo [R, ID]
Sen. Elizabeth Dole [R, NC]
Sen. Pete Domenici [R, NM]
Sen. John Ensign [R, NV]
Sen. Michael Enzi [R, WY]
Sen. Lindsey Graham [R, SC]
Sen. Charles Grassley [R, IA]
Sen. Judd Gregg [R, NH]
Sen. Charles Hagel [R, NE]
Sen. Orrin Hatch [R, UT]
Sen. Kay Hutchison [R, TX]
Sen. James Inhofe [R, OK]
Sen. John Isakson [R, GA]
Sen. Jon Kyl [R, AZ]
Sen. Richard Lugar [R, IN]
Sen. Mel Martinez [R, FL]
Sen. Mitch McConnell [R, KY]
Sen. Lisa Murkowski [R, AK]
Sen. Pat Roberts [R, KS]
Sen. Jefferson Sessions [R, AL]
Sen. Richard Shelby [R, AL]
Sen. Gordon Smith [R, OR]
Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME]
Sen. Arlen Specter [R, PA]
Sen. Ted Stevens [R, AK]
Sen. John Sununu [R, NH]
Sen. John Thune [R, SD]
Sen. George Voinovich [R, OH]
Sen. John Warner [R, VA]
Rep. Roger Wicker [R, MS-1]

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Others Voting 'Aye'

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Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I, CT]
Sen. Bernard Sanders [I, VT]

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Democrats Voting 'Nay'

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Republicans Voting 'Nay'

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Sen. David Vitter [R, LA]

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Others Voting 'Nay'

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Close

Democrats Voting 'Abstain'

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Sen. Barack Obama [D, IL]

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Republicans Voting 'Abstain'

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Sen. Jim DeMint [R, SC]
Sen. John McCain [R, AZ]

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Others Voting 'Abstain'

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Close

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See Full Voting History (3 votes)Hide Voting History     Show All Actions (25 actions)Hide Actions

Voting History

Date	Chamber	Question	Aye	Nay	Result
April 24, 2008	Senate	S.1315 Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008 On Passage of the Bill (S.1315 as Amended )	96	1	Bill Passed	See Vote
April 24, 2008	Senate	S.1315 Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008 On the Amendment (Burr Amdt. No. 4572 )	41	56	Amendment Rejected	See Vote
April 22, 2008	Senate	S.1315 Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008 On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S.1315 )	94	0	Cloture Motion Agreed to	See Vote

All Bill Actions

• Sep 23, 2008: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
• Passed by voice vote in the House on Sep 22, 2008. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• Sep 22, 2008: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1315.
• Sep 22, 2008: Considered under suspension of the rules.
• Sep 22, 2008: Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• Apr 24, 2008: Held at the desk.
• Apr 24, 2008: Received in the House.
• Apr 24, 2008: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• Passed roll in the Senate on Apr 24, 2008. Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 96 - 1. Record Vote Number: 112. (text; CR S3355-3363)
• Apr 24, 2008: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
• Apr 24, 2008: Considered by Senate.
• Apr 23, 2008: Measure laid before Senate by motion.
• Apr 23, 2008: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
• Apr 22, 2008: Cloture on the motion to proceed invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 0. Record Vote Number: 109.
• Apr 22, 2008: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
• Apr 17, 2008: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate.
• Apr 17, 2008: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.
• Added to calendar on Aug 29, 2007: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 336..
• Aug 29, 2007: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Akaka under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/03/2007 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 110-148.
• Added to calendar on Jun 27, 2007: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably..
• Jun 27, 2007: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
• May 07, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
• May 07, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5657)
• Introduced on May 07, 2007.
• May 07, 2007: Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5657)

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Related Issue Areas:

• Veterans
• Administrative fees
• Afghanistan
• Appellate courts
• 73 more
• Apprenticeship
• Armed forces
• Armed forces abroad
• Armed forces reserves
• Brain diseases
• Budgets
• Burns
• Cancer
• Cellular telephone
• Congress
• Congressional investigations
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Cost of living adjustments
• Courthouses
• Defense policy
• Disabled
• Education
• Epidemiology
• Ex-prisoners of war
• Families
• Federal aid to research
• Federally-guaranteed loans
• Finance
• Government life insurance
• Governmental investigations
• Higher education
• History
• Home repair and improvement
• Housing
• Housing for the disabled
• Iraq
• Iraq compilation
• Job training
• Judges
• Judicial compensation
• Labor
• Law
• Medical research
• Middle East and North Africa
• Military cemeteries and funerals
• Military dependents
• Military operations
• Mortgages
• Multiple sclerosis
• National Guard
• Nervous system diseases
• Neurology
• Osteoporosis
• Parkinson's disease
• Pensions
• Persian Gulf War
• Philippines
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Residence requirements
• Science policy
• Self-help devices for the disabled
• South Asia
• Survivors' benefits
• Telecommunication
• Transportation
• Transportation and the disabled
• Trauma care
• Trusts and trustees
• Unemployment
• Veterans' benefits
• Veterans' disability compensation
• Veterans' education
• Veterans' employment
• Veterans' medical care
• Veterans' pensions
• War casualties
• Wireless communication
• World War II

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In the News

May 02, 2008 I am determined to bring about change for Guam

I strongly support swift action on getting this package, the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act (S.1315), sent to the President for signature. ...

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Source: Pacific Daily News, GU

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May 01, 2008 Obama's open letter to the people of Guam

I strongly support swift action on getting this package, the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act (S.1315), sent to the president for signature. ...

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Source: Marianas Variety, Micronesia

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April 30, 2008 Saxby Chambliss Update April 30

Also last week, the Senate passed the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act, S. 1315, as well as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, HR 493. ...

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Source: Dawson Times, GA

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Blog Coverage

October 01, 2008 JFAV Community Forum This SUNDAY, October 5!

Dear fellow student leaders of today and community leaders of tomorrow, Due to imminent circumstances in Congress and the current status of S.1315 being stuck before conference committee, we are forced to push our JFAV Community Forum ...

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Source: Samahang Pilipino at UCLA

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September 29, 2008 Filipino War Vet Bill Stalled

The final days of the campaign to restore US veterans status to Filipino WWII veterans in the 110th Congress did not net the hoped for results. S. 1315, the "Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act" containing a provision to provide benefits ...

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Source: ImmigrationProf Blog

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September 25, 2008 S. 1315 - Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008

Vote Date: April 24, 2008. Joseph Biden - (D - DE) - Yes. John McCain - (R - AZ) - No Vote. Barack Obama - (D - IL) - No Vote. Summary:. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans’ insurance and housing benefits, ...

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