Walz Introduces Bill to Ensure Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Continue to get Care

Press Release

Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) recently introduced the Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015, which extends the original deadline issued by the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to ensure that Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange receive just compensation and care.

"We must ensure veterans exposed to Agent Orange continue to receive the compensation and care they have earned and deserve," Walz said.

The Agent Orange Act of 1991 (AOA) established a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure, relieving Vietnam veterans from the burden of providing evidence that their illness was a result of military service. This bill directed the VA to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to periodically research and review diseases that might be associated with Agent Orange exposure. The VA is required to add diseases the NAS finds to have a positive association to Agent Orange exposure to the VA's list of presumptive service connected diseases. Since the enactment of the AOA, the NAS has issued reports that have led to the presumption of service connection for diseases such as Parkinson's, B-cell leukemia and early onset peripheral neuropathy. Without these studies, thousands of Vietnam era veterans would have gone without the benefits they greatly deserve.

The NAS is expected to publish their final report on Agent Orange exposure in March 2016, but the AOA expires on September 30, 2015. If the AOA expires before the final report is issued, the VA would no longer be obligated to review the NAS report or add any new diseases to the presumption of service list, in the process denying thousands of veterans their right to compensation. In order to fulfil the intent of the original law, the Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015 extends AOA by two years, thus allowing for the VA to add any new diseases released in the next NAS report.

"We have a responsibility to these veterans. They completed their mission in Vietnam, now we must complete ours. By passing this extension, we will make certain that when National Academy of Science's final report is published, the VA is obligated to review it and follow their recommendations. We owe these heroes nothing less," Walz continued.

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