Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Palomares Veterans Act of 2019”.
Palomares Veterans Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a presumption of service connected disability for certain veterans who served in Palomares, Spain, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Presumption of service connected disability for certain veterans who served in Palomares, Spain
Disability compensation— Section 1112(c)(3)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
“(v) Onsite participation in the response effort following the collision of a United States Air Force B–52 bomber and refueling plane that caused the release of four thermonuclear weapons in the vicinity of Palomares, Spain, during the period beginning January 17, 1966, and ending March 31, 1967.”
Effective date and applicability—
Effective date— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Applicability concerning dependency and indemnity compensation— For purposes of section 1310 of title 38, United States Code, the amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a death notwithstanding whether such death occurred before, on, or after such date.