Congressman Filner

[Berta]

http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAUG08/nf082208-6.htm

"House Vets'

Chair says reintroduced bill will cover "all veterans"

exposed to Agent Orange "anywhere" and "at any time."

[Berta]

Thanks Vet 4800 that is the new AO Equity bill-

lets hope it flies!!!!!

There has been much discussion on the wording in the AO community-

It seems very inclusive to me- then again so did 6562---

[allan]

Even if it's passed as law, hopefully the VA won't tie the vets hands so tight they will never be able to prove exposure.

[allan]

Text of H.R.2254 as Introduced in House

Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.

current 111st session of congress

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HR 2254 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

111th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 2254CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 5, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. FILNER (for himself, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. KAGEN, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. HALL of New York, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. REYES, Mr. PASTOR of Arizona, Mr. ORTIZ, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania, and Mr. PLATTS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the 'Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF PRESUMPTIONS OF EXPOSURE FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE VICINITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.

(a) Clarification- Section 1116 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

(1) in subsections (a)(1) and (f), by striking 'a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975' and inserting 'a veteran described in subsection (g)'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

'(g) A veteran described in this subsection is a veteran who--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

'(1) during active military, naval, or air service--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

'(A) served in the Republic of Vietnam (including the inland waterways, ports, and harbors of such Republic, the waters offshore of such Republic, and the airspace above such Republic) during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

'(B) served in Johnston Island during the period beginning on April 1, 1972, and ending on September 30, 1977; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

'(2) received the Vietnam Service Medal or the Vietnam Campaign Medal.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect as of September 25, 1985.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2254

Edited May 14, 2009 by allan

[allan]

(Chair says reintroduced bill will cover "all veterans"

exposed to Agent Orange "anywhere" and "at any time.")

It's not in HR 2254.

[Latergator]

Actually Filner's new bills will be split up. The HR 2254 actually restores what the original Agent Orange Act of 1991 granted, presumption of exposure for award of the Vietnam Service Ribbon. It also covers those who served on Johnson's Island for certain periods of time.

There are additional bills to be introduced that will cover other veterans for chemical exposure, including Gulf War.

[allan]

When it comes to Agent Orange, it shouldn't matter where or when you served.

If you have the illnesses associated with it & served where it was used(Vietnam & vicinity, all US military bases/ foreign or domestic, Gulf war, etc) you should be covered.

If these bills are not written that way, then many, many vets will be cheated out of it. One island here, one vet there, one unit over here, one base over there, doesn't cut it.

I've seen "NOTHING" that convinces me "ALL" vets will be covered when it comes to exposure to dioxins. And if their not covered in these bills now, they won't be alive when congress thinks about doing the right thing the next time around.

For goodness sakes look at how many vets with claims that died & never had their claims approved since Vietnam. Look at how many Gulf war vets have died from exposures.

Can't it be done right & finished once and for all?