Compensation of Certain Former Operatives Incarcerated by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam

This rule adopts as final an interim rule implementing section 657 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997, which authorizes the Secretary of Defense to make payments to persons captured and incarcerated by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The rule established policy and procedures concerning the payments to these persons. The rule amended regulations to reflect changes necessary as a result of new language in section 658 of the FY99 National Defense Authorization Act. Section 658 expands the field of beneficiaries of the Vietnamese Commandos Compensation Commission to parents and siblings of deceased Commandos. It also added words "notwithstanding any agreement (including a power of attorney) to the contrary, the actual disbursement" must be made directly to the person who is eligible for the payment. The rule also amended regulations to reflect necessary technical changes to accommodate the new language. The Department of Defense is adopting the Interim Final Rule as a Final Rule without change.