(but not occulta). However, many children of male 
Vietnam war veterans have the same range of birth 
defects and diseases as seen in the children of fe-
male Vietnam war veterans. This discrepancy results 
in most Agent Orange affected children of United 
States veterans receiving no care or benefits. 
(12) No assistance has been given to the chil-
dren of male or female Vietnamese or Vietnamese 
Americans connected with their exposure, or their 
parents’ or grandparents’ exposure. 
(13) The Institute of Medicine for the past sev-
eral years has noted that ‘‘it is considerably more 
plausible than previously believed that exposure to 
the herbicides sprayed in Vietnam might have 
caused paternally mediated transgenerational effects 
attributable to the TCCD contaminant in Agent Or-
ange’’. In recent years, scientific studies have identi-
fied likely epigenetic links between exposure to tox-
ins and birth defects and developmental disorders in 
subsequent generations. Some of the children and 
grandchildren of exposed persons (Americans, Viet-
namese, and Vietnamese Americans) who were in 
southern Vietnam during the Vietnam war era likely 
suffer from disorders, birth defects, and illnesses re-
lated to Agent Orange. 
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(14) The assistance that the United States has 
provided for environmental remediation of contami-
nation at the Da Nang and Bien Hoa airports has, 
in recent years, included funds for public health and 
disabilities activities for individuals residing in some 
affected areas. 
(15) Laos and Cambodia were also sprayed 
with Agent Orange during the Vietnam war era. At 
least 527,000 gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed 
in Laos and significant amounts were also sprayed 
in Cambodia. Affected Lao and Cambodian people 
over several generations suffer from medical condi-
tions, birth defects, and disabilities similar to those 
seen in Vietnam and the United States. The United 
States has the responsibility to take action to miti-
gate and provide compensation for those effects. 
Further action will be needed to ascertain and effec-
tively address this legacy of the Vietnam war. 
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to ad-
dress and remediate the ongoing damage that arose or will 
continue to arise from the use of Agent Orange during 
the Vietnam war. 
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SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY 
HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO EXPOSURE TO 
AGENT ORANGE. 
(a) FOR COVERED INDIVIDUALS.—The Adminis-
trator of the United States Agency for International De-
velopment, in coordination with the heads of other appro-
priate Federal agencies and nongovernmental organiza-
tions, shall provide assistance to address the health care 
needs of covered individuals. Such assistance may include 
the provision of medical and chronic care services, nursing 
services, vocational employment training, and medical 
equipment. 
(b) FOR CAREGIVERS.—The Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development, in 
coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal 
agencies and nongovernmental organizations, shall provide 
assistance to institutions in Vietnam that provide health 
care for covered individuals. Such assistance may in-
clude— 
(1) medicines and medical equipment; 
(2) custodial care, home care, respite care, and 
daycare programs; 
(3) training programs for caregivers; 
(4) medical and physical rehabilitation, and 
counseling services and equipment for illnesses and 
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deformities associated with exposure to Agent Or-
ange; and 
(5) reconstructive surgical programs. 
(c) FOR HOUSING AND POVERTY REDUCTION.—The 
Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, in coordination with the heads of 
other appropriate Federal agencies and nongovernmental 
organizations shall provide— 
(1) assistance to institutions in Vietnam that 
repair and rebuild substandard homes in Vietnam 
for covered individuals and the families of covered 
individuals; and 
(2) micro grants and loans to facilitate subsist-
ence payments and poverty reduction for covered in-
dividuals and families of covered individuals. 
(d) FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—, The Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Develop-
ment, in coordination with the heads of other appro-
priate Federal agencies and nongovernmental orga-
nizations shall provide assistance to remediate those 
geographic areas of Vietnam that the Secretary de-
termines contain high levels of Agent Orange. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In providing assistance under 
this subsection, the Administrator shall give priority 
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to heavily sprayed areas, including areas that served 
as military bases where Agent Orange was handled, 
and areas where heavy spraying, spills, or air crash-
es resulted in harmful deposits of Agent Orange. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES.—The Adminis-
trator shall— 
(1) provide assistance under this section (other 
than assistance under subsection (d)) through ap-
propriate Vietnamese community and nongovern-
mental organizations and Vietnamese public agen-
cies; 
(2) provide assistance under this section to af-
fected persons in all areas of Vietnam, including 
rural, mountainous, and urban areas; 
(3) encourage strategic alliances between pri-
vate and public sector partners as a business model 
for achieving the goals of this section; and 
(4) seek out and actively encourage other bilat-
eral donors as well as United States and foreign 
business enterprises in Vietnam to support the goals 
of this section through development assistance and 
corporate philanthropy programs. 
(f) COVERED INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered individual’’ means an individual 
who— 
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(1) is a resident of Vietnam; and 
(2)(A) is affected by health issues related to ex-
posure to Agent Orange which took place during the 
period beginning on January 1, 1961, and ending on 
May 7, 1975, or who lives or has lived in or near 
those geographic areas in Vietnam that continue to 
contain high levels of Agent Orange as described in 
subsection (d); or 
(B) is the child or descendant of an individual 
described in subparagraph (A), and is affected by 
health issues described in subparagraph (A). 
SEC. 4. PUBLIC RESEARCH. 
(a) SUPPORT
FOR RESEARCH.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the heads of other 
appropriate Federal agencies and nongovernmental orga-
nizations, shall identify and provide assistance to support 
research relating to health issues of individuals affected 
by Agent Orange. Such research should include rec-
ommended focus provided by the United States Institute 
of Medicine as identified in their biennial Veterans and 
Agent Orange Update and supported by the active involve-
ment of schools of public health and medicine located in 
the United States, Vietnam, and other interested coun-
tries. 
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(b) SURVEY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall conduct a survey of children of veterans who were 
exposed to Agent Orange and have received health care 
under subchapter II of chapter 18 of title 38, United 
States Code. The survey shall be designed to determine 
the extent to which such children are receiving adequate 
treatment for their medical conditions and disabilities. 
The Secretary shall make recommendations based on the 
survey as to any actions necessary to remedy any defi-
ciencies identified pursuant to the survey. 
SEC. 5. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 
HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND ASSISTANCE FOR 
VIETNAMESE AMERICANS. 
(a) HEALTH ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of Health 
and Human Services shall make grants to appropriate 
public health organizations and Vietnamese American or-
ganizations for the purpose of conducting a broad health 
assessment of Vietnamese Americans who may have been 
exposed to Agent Orange and their children or descend-
ants to determine the effects to their health of such expo-
sure. 
(b) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall establish centers in locations in the 
United States where large populations of Vietnamese 
Americans reside for the purpose of providing assessment, 
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counseling, and treatment for conditions related to expo-
sure to Agent Orange. The Secretary may carry out this 
subsection through appropriate community and non-
governmental organizations or other suitable organiza-
tions, as determined by the Secretary. 
SEC. 6. PROVISION OF BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF MALE 
VETERANS WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM WHO 
ARE AFFECTED BY CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 18 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘woman Vietnam veteran’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Vietnam veteran’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘women Vietnam veterans’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Vietnam veterans’’; 
and 
(3) in the heading of such subchapter, by strik-
ing ‘‘Woman’’. 
(b) ACCESS
TO RECORDS
FOR RESEARCH PUR-
POSES.—Section 1813 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by resesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(c) ACCESS
TO RECORDS
FOR RESEARCH PUR-
POSES.—(1) The Secretary shall require any health care 
provider with whom the Secretary enters into a contract 
under this subsection to provide access to the medical 
records of individuals who receive health care under this 
section to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the pur-
pose of conducting research or providing support for re-
search into the intergenerational effects of Agent Orange 
exposure. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘Agent Orange’ in-
cludes any chemical compound which became part, either 
by design or through impurities, of an herbicide agent 
used in support of the United States and allied military 
operations in the Republic of Vietnam.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by striking 
the item relating to subchapter II and inserting the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH CERTAIN 
BIRTH DEFECTS’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date that is 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 7. DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency 
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for International Development, the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, and the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall each complete a plan for the implementation 
of the provisions of this Act, and the amendments made 
by this Act, that are applicable to such Secretary and shall 
issue a request for proposals, if applicable. The Adminis-
trator of the United States Agency for International De-
velopment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each imple-
ment the applicable provisions of this Act by not later than 
18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 8. QUARTERLY REPORTS. 
Not later than 30 days after the last day of each fis-
cal quarter beginning on or after 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall each submit to Congress a report 
on the implementation of the provisions of this Act appli-
cable to such Secretary during the immediately preceding 
fiscal quarter. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITION. 
For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘Agent Orange’’ 
includes any chemical compound which became part, ei-
ther by design or through impurities, of an herbicide agent 
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used in support of the United States and allied military 
operations in the Republic of Vietnam. 
Æ 
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