Legislative Alert – H.R. 299/S.422 the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017

[boardman]

Legislative Alert – H.R. 299/S.422 the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017

May 1, 2017

For over a decade, Vietnam Veterans of America has sought legislation to restore presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to members of the Armed Forces, who served in the territorial waters of Vietnam, Representative David Valadao, (CA-R-21) has introduced H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017 and Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) has introduced companion bill S.422, in the Senate. When enacted into law this legislation would reverse the Department of Veterans Affairs decision preventing “Blue Water Navy” veterans from claiming presumptive status for the diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure.

Presumption of service connection exists for Vietnam veterans who served in country, on land and inland waterways. Enactment of H.R. 299 and S.422 will bring a modicum of justice to several thousand Navy personnel who have been denied service connection by the VA since 2002. They no longer will have to prove direct exposure to Agent Orange, and they will receive expedited consideration for VA benefits if they are afflicted with any of the health conditions associated with exposure to this defoliant.

VVA fully endorses the sentiments expressed by Congressman Tim Walz (MN-1): ‘When Congress allowed the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to expire, the need for this legislation became absolutely critical. Our nation must exhaust every effort to identify, prevent, and heal the injuries, illnesses, and wounds our military service personnel received during their service.’ and Congressman Dennis Ross (FL-15), that ‘there is absolutely no reason those veterans who served in the waters off the coast of Vietnam and currently suffer from diseases related to Agent Orange exposure should not qualify for current VA care,’ stated National President John Rowan in VVA National Press release on January 11, 2017.

VVA strongly supports H.R. 299 and S.422 and will work with Congress to ensure passage of this bi-partisan legislation to restore equity to all Vietnam Veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange.

VVA urges you to take action now! Go to our Legislative Action site at http://capwiz.com/vva/home/, enter your Zip Code, and send the prepared letters requesting your Member of Congress co-sponsor H.R. 299 and S.422, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, also send the thank you letter to your members who have signed onto the bills.

[boardman]

Congress heard your voices, 357 Members Of Congress now support The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. 314 in the House and 43 in the Senate

Vietnam Veterans of America
Legislative Update
October 27, 2017

Thank you for contacting your Member of Congress in support of passage of H.R. 299 and S.422, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, introduced in the House by Congressman David Valado (CA-R-21) and in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

As a result of your advocacy on behalf of our Navy veterans, 314 members of the House have cosponsored H.R. 299 and 43 Senators have cosponsored the companion bill S. 422.

We ask that you continue to join our Call to Action every month on behalf of our Blue Water Navy veterans, especially to members of Congress who have not cosponsored the bills. With your support, we will get this bill passed into law.

Call-in scripts H.R. 299/S.422
Congressional visit Talking Points H.R. 299/S.422
Cosponsors H.R. 299
Noncosponsors H.R. 299
Cosponsors S.422
Noncosponsors S.422

Congress can never get enough of hearing from their constituents. Go to the VVA Capwiz site at http://www.capwiz.com/vva/home/, and send the prepared message in support of H.R. 299 and S.422, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, and please follow up on your letter with a call to your representatives’ district/state offices, using the talking points for the bills.

Thank you very much.

VVA Government Relations Department