Bill > S1195

Introduced Session

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumption relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes. This bill extends the presumption of service-connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide (e.g., Agent Orange) exposure to veterans who served (1) offshore of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or (2) in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific disabilities or diseases diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. The bill extends eligibility for health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance to children with spina bifida who have at least one veteran parent who may have been exposed to an herbicide agent while serving in Thailand between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. The Department of Veterans Affairs must report on the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort of Gulf War and Gulf War Era Veterans.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Kirsten Gillibrand (D)*,  Tammy Baldwin (D),  Michael Bennet (D),  Richard Blumenthal (D),  Roy Blunt (R),  Cory Booker (D),  John Boozman (R),  Sherrod Brown (D),  Maria Cantwell (D),  Ben Cardin (D),  Bob Casey (D),  Chris Coons (D),  Catherine Cortez Masto (D),  Kevin Cramer (R),  Mike Crapo (R),  Steve Daines (R),  Tammy Duckworth (D),  Dick Durbin (D),  Dianne Feinstein (D),  Cory Gardner (R),  Kamala Harris (D),  Maggie Hassan (D),  Mazie Hirono (D),  John Hoeven (R),  Doug Jones (D),  Tim Kaine (D),  John Neely Kennedy (R),  Amy Klobuchar (D),  Patrick Leahy (D),  Joe Manchin (I),  Ed Markey (D),  Martha McSally (R),  Bob Menendez (D),  Jeff Merkley (D),  Lisa Murkowski (R),  Gary Peters (D),  Rob Portman (R),  Jacky Rosen (D),  Mike Rounds (R),  Marco Rubio (R),  Bernie Sanders (I),  Brian Schatz (D),  Chuck Schumer (D),  Rick Scott (R),  Jeanne Shaheen (D),  Kyrsten Sinema (I),  Tina Smith (D),  Debbie Stabenow (D),  Dan Sullivan (R),  Jon Tester (D),  Tom Udall (D),  Chris Van Hollen (D),  Mark Warner (D),  Elizabeth Warren (D),  Sheldon Whitehouse (D),  Roger Wicker (R),  Ron Wyden (D),  Todd Young (R), 

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (on 04/11/2019)

Official Document