Legislative Alert H.R. 299/S.422 the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017
Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:31 am
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.
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.