Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/519

 PUBLIC LAW 105-178-^JUNE 9, 1998 112 STAT. 493 and inserting ", abuse of alcohol or drugs, or use of tobacco products". (c) APPLICABILITY. —(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall apply to any claims for compensation received by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act. (2) The amendments made by this section shall not apply in the case of any such claims adjudicated by the Secretary before such date of enactment for which a service-connection was established for a disability on the basis of the use of tobacco products. SEC. 8203. TWENTY PERCENT INCREASE IN RATES OF BASIC EDU- CATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL. (a) ACTIVE DUTY EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.— (1) INCREASE IN RATES.—Section 3015 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking "$400" and inserting "$528 (as increased from time to time under subsection (g))"; and (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking "$325" and inserting "$429 (as increased from time to time under subsection (g))". (2) CPI ADJUSTMENT. —Subsection (g) of such section is amended by striking "beginning on or after October 1, 1994" and all that follows through "such rates" and inserting ", the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rates payable under subsections (a)(1) and (b)(1)". (3) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Such section is further amended— (A) in subsection (a), by striking "subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of in the matter preceding paragraph (1); and (B) in subsection (b)— (i) by striking "Except as provided in subsections (c), (d), (e), (D, and (g), in" and inserting "In"; and (ii) by inserting "(except as provided in the succeeding subsections of this section)" after "under this chapter shall". (4) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendments made by this sub- 38 USC 3015 section shall take effect on October 1, 1998, and shall apply "o^. with respect to educationed assistance allowances paid for months after September 1998. However, no adjustment in rates of educational assist£ince shall be made under subsection (g) of section 3015 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (2), for fiscal year 1999. (b) SELECTED RESERVE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. — (1) INCREASE IN RATES. — Paragraph (1) of section 16131(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking "$190" and inserting "$251 (as increased from time to time under paragraph (2))"; (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking "$143" and inserting "$188 (as increased from time to time under paragraph (2))"; and

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