38 USC 1101 prec. 

38 USC 1116B note. 

Reports. 

Time period. 

Time period. 

38 USC 1116B note. 

38 USC 1822. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin- ning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1116A, as added by section 2, the following new item: 

## ‘‘1116B. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea.’’. 

(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 

(1) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to imple- ment section 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under such section. 

(2) UPDATES.—(A) Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the Secretary to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding claims for disability compensation under section 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section. 

(B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 1116B, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet- erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate updates on the status of such regulations. 

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 

## SEC. 4. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN THAILAND SERVICE VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

## ‘‘§ 1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service vet- erans born with spina bifida 

‘‘(a) BENEFITS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may provide to any child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand who is suffering from spina bifida the health care, vocational training and rehabilita- tion, and monetary allowance required to be paid to a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida under sub- chapter I of this chapter as if such child of a veteran of covered 

(3) PENDING CASES.— 

(A) AUTHORITY TO STAY.—The Secretary may stay a claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on which the Secretary commences the implementation of sec- tion 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 

(B) CLAIMS DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this subparagraph is a claim for disability compensation— 

(i) relating to the service and diseases covered by such section 1116B; and 

(ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on or after the date of the enactment of this Act and before the date on which the Secretary commences the implementation of such section 1116B. 

