# 116-hr-5471: To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida for benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

116-hr-5471, To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida for benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs., is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5471
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-5471
- Congress: 116
- Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida for benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- Introduced: 2019-12-18
- Sponsor: Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

This bill states that the effective date for an award of Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida is the date of the child's birth. Under current law, the effective date for the provision of such benefits is January, 1, 1997 (but not before receipt of the application for benefits). This bill thus provides benefit eligibility for children born before January 1, 1997.

## Related bills

- 116-hr-8994: Restoring Students’ Right to Appeal Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8898: Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8856: To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, collectively, in recognition of their unique contribution to Civil Rights, which inspired a revoluti…
- 116-hr-8782: Keeping All Students Safe Act
- 116-hr-8702: Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID–19 Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8664: PPE for Safe Schools Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-5471 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5471)

## Related
- [116-hr-8994: Restoring Students’ Right to Appeal Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8994)
- [116-hr-8898: Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8898)
- [116-hr-8856: To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, collectively, in rec…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8856)
- [116-hr-8782: Keeping All Students Safe Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8782)
- [116-hr-8702: Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID–19 Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8702)
- [116-hr-8664: PPE for Safe Schools Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8664)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5471 (as of 2025-11-18).