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HR 850 108th Congress House

Former Prisoners of War Special Compensation Act of 2003

Official title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide special compensation for former prisoners of war, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 25, 2003 Introduced by: Simpson, Michael K. Republican · Idaho See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security AlcoholismAmbulatory careDental careDisabled
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Drug abuseEx-prisoners of warHealthLabor and EmploymentVeterans' benefitsVeterans' disability compensationVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 10, 2003
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Mar 14, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
Feb 13, 2003
Introduced in House
Feb 13, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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 Latest action April 10, 2003

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Former Prisoners of War Special Compensation Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay special monthly compensation to each veteran who is a former prisoner of war and was detained or interned for at least 30 days. Provides various rates of payment, ranging from $150 for those detained for between 30 and 120 days to a maximum of $450 for those detained more than 540 days. States that such special compensation shall: (1) be in addition to any other authorized payments; and (2) shall not be considered income for purposes of eligibility under any Federal or federally assisted program.

Prohibits the payment of veterans' disability compensation for any alcohol- or drug-related disability even if the abuse is secondary to a service-connected disability.

Removes the requirement that former prisoners of war must have been detained or interned for at least 90 days in order to be eligible for veterans' outpatient dental care.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1239 Identical bill Former Prisoners of War Special Compensation Act of 2003
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Republican 3
Vitter, David
· Apr 20, 2004
Burns, Max
· Jul 17, 2003
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Jun 18, 2003
Burr, Richard
· Mar 27, 2003
TAUZIN, W.
· Mar 27, 2003
 R
Issa, Darrell
California · Mar 25, 2003
CARSON, BRAD
· Mar 18, 2003
BOEHNER, JOHN
· Feb 13, 2003
DREIER, DAVID
· Feb 13, 2003
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Feb 13, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 850: Former Prisoners of War Special Compensation Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-850/
MLA
"H.R. 850: Former Prisoners of War Special Compensation Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-850/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 850, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-850/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 850: Former Prisoners of War Special Compensation Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-850/)
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