Tweet
Got this as a email today from one of our Senators.
Dear Mr. Burden:
Thank you for contacting me regarding disability compensation for Navy veterans suffering from the effects of Agent Orange and other herbicides. I appreciate the time you took to write, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
First, I would like to express my deep admiration and respect for members of the Armed Services who answered the call to duty and selflessly sacrificed for our nation. I recognize that military members and their families face many difficulties as result of their service, and I strongly support providing disabled veterans with the compensation and benefits that they deserve.
As you may know, nearly 19 million gallons of herbicide, at least 11 million of which was Agent Orange, were used by the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 in order to clear enemy infiltration routes. Exposure to these herbicides has since been found to cause a variety of health problems for service members stationed in Vietnam during that period. In an effort to provide disability benefits for the affected veterans, the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-4) established presumption of service connection for diseases associated with herbicide exposure for those veterans who served on the ground in Vietnam.
As you may know, the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015" (S. 681), which was introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on March 9, 2015, would extend to veterans who served on deep-water naval vessels in the seas surrounding Vietnam presumption of service connection for diseases associated with herbicide exposure.
Currently, S. 681 is awaiting consideration by the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, of which I am not a member. However, please be assured that I will keep your views on expanded presumption of service connection for health problems related to Agent Orange in mind should this or similar legislation be considered by the full Senate in the future.
Once again, thank you for writing. I hope that you will continue to keep me informed about issues of importance to you. Should you have any further comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C., office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
Dear Mr. Burden:
Thank you for contacting me regarding disability compensation for Navy veterans suffering from the effects of Agent Orange and other herbicides. I appreciate the time you took to write, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
First, I would like to express my deep admiration and respect for members of the Armed Services who answered the call to duty and selflessly sacrificed for our nation. I recognize that military members and their families face many difficulties as result of their service, and I strongly support providing disabled veterans with the compensation and benefits that they deserve.
As you may know, nearly 19 million gallons of herbicide, at least 11 million of which was Agent Orange, were used by the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 in order to clear enemy infiltration routes. Exposure to these herbicides has since been found to cause a variety of health problems for service members stationed in Vietnam during that period. In an effort to provide disability benefits for the affected veterans, the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-4) established presumption of service connection for diseases associated with herbicide exposure for those veterans who served on the ground in Vietnam.
As you may know, the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015" (S. 681), which was introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on March 9, 2015, would extend to veterans who served on deep-water naval vessels in the seas surrounding Vietnam presumption of service connection for diseases associated with herbicide exposure.
Currently, S. 681 is awaiting consideration by the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, of which I am not a member. However, please be assured that I will keep your views on expanded presumption of service connection for health problems related to Agent Orange in mind should this or similar legislation be considered by the full Senate in the future.
Once again, thank you for writing. I hope that you will continue to keep me informed about issues of importance to you. Should you have any further comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C., office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
Comment