IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 729 
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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 21, 2019 
Mr. HARDER of California submitted the following resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Encouraging the President to expand the list of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs of presumptive medical condi-
tions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to in-
clude Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and 
hypothyroidism. 
Whereas veterans have sacrificed so much for the United 
States and have proudly served the United States to se-
cure and preserve the freedoms inherent in the Constitu-
tion of the United States; 
Whereas veterans and their families deserve the benefits that 
they have earned; 
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•HRES 729 IH 
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 com-
bat 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 evi-
dence 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 sec-
tion 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Freedom of Information Act’’), deter-
mined 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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•HRES 729 IH 
hypothyroidism to the list of diseases related to exposure 
to Agent Orange: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives encour-
ages the President— 
(1) to take care of members of the Armed 
Forces, veterans, and their family members who 
have given so much, including the ultimate sacrifice, 
in defense of the United States; and 
(2) to take action on behalf of thousands of vet-
erans across the United States who are living with 
chronic health conditions by expanding the list of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs of presumptive med-
ical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Or-
ange to include Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hy-
pertension, and hypothyroidism. 
Æ 
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