III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 420 

Encouraging the President to expand the list of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs of presumptive medical conditions associated with exposure to 

Agent Orange to include Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, 

and hypothyroidism. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2019 

Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. TESTER, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. PETERS, 

and Mr. SCHUMER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the President to expand the list of the Department of Veterans Affairs of presumptive medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and 

hypothyroidism. 

Whereas veterans have sacrificed so much for the United 

States and have proudly served the United States to secure and preserve the freedoms inherent in the Constitution of the United States; 

Whereas veterans and their families deserve the benefits that 

they have earned; 


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•SRES 420 IS 

Whereas members of the Armed Forces sprayed millions of 

gallons of Agent Orange, a tactical herbicide, and other 

tactical herbicides on trees and vegetation during the 

Vietnam War, from 1962 to 1975; 

Whereas 58,220 members of the Armed Forces died in combat during the Vietnam War, and veterans are still dying 

from diseases related to exposure to Agent Orange; 

Whereas approximately 83,000 veterans are currently living 

with at least one of the presumptive medical conditions 

associated with exposure to Agent Orange; 

Whereas the report set forth by the National Academy of 

Medicine in 2018 entitled ‘‘Veterans and Agent Orange 

Exposure: Update 11’’ recognized— 

(1) hypothyroidism and bladder cancer to have a 

limited or suggestive evidence of association to exposure 

to Agent Orange; and 

(2) Parkinson-like symptoms, also known as 

Parkinsonism, and hypertension to have sufficient evidence of association to exposure to Agent Orange; 

Whereas, due to exposure to Agent Orange, veterans and 

their families are facing monumental hurdles with respect 

to financial stress, mental health, substance addiction, 

and physical health issues; and 

Whereas internal documents obtained by a veteran under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Freedom of Information Act’’), determined that the Director of the Office of Management and 

Budget and other White House officials objected to the 

recommendation by former Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

David Shulkin to add bladder cancer, Parkinsonism, and 


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•SRES 420 IS 

hypothyroidism to the list of diseases related to exposure 

to Agent Orange: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate encourages the Presi2 dent— 

3 (1) to take care of members of the Armed 

4 Forces, veterans, and their family members who 

5 have given so much, including the ultimate sacrifice, 

6 in defense of the United States; and 

7 (2) to take action on behalf of thousands of vet8 erans across the United States who are living with 

9 chronic health conditions by expanding the list of the 

10 Department of Veterans Affairs of presumptive med11 ical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Or12 ange to include Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hy13 pertension, and hypothyroidism. 

Æ 


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