110 STAT. 3342 PUBLIC LAW 104-275—OCT. 9, 1996 to medical disability of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary that are carried out through the Under Secretary for Benefits may be made by persons other than employ- ees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Any such examination shall be performed pursuant to contracts entered into by the Under Secretary for Benefits with those persons. (b) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may carry out the pilot program under this section through not more than 10 regional offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (c) SOURCE OF FUNDS. —Payments for contracts under the pilot program under this section shall be made from amounts available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for payment of compensation and pensions. (d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the effect of the use of the authority provided by subsection (a) on the cost, timeliness, and thoroughness of medical disability examinations. SEC. 505. EXPANSION OF PERIOD OF VIETNAM ERA FOR CERTAIN VET- ERANS. (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 PUR- POSES.—(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 PUR- POSES.—(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. 38 USC 101 note. (d) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 1997. No benefit may be paid
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