Veterans Agent Orange Exposure Equity Act
Bill: H.R.2569 | Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt (D-PA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veterans Agent Orange Exposure Equity Act
This bill expands the presumption of service-connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents for veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions 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.
Specifically, the bill expands the presumption to cover veterans who served

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a presumption of 
  service connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain 
  herbicide agents for veterans who served in close proximity to the 
              Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Agent Orange Exposure 
Equity Act''.

SEC. 2. PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE CONNECTION FOR DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH 
              EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN HERBICIDE AGENTS FOR VETERANS WHO 
              SERVED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 1116 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``, during active military, naval, or air 
        service, served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 
        beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``performed covered service'';
            (2) by striking ``performed active military, naval, or air 
        service in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning 
        on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``performed covered service'';
            (3) by striking subsections (b) through (e) and 
        redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (b); and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) In this section, the term `covered service' means active 
military, naval, or air service--
            ``(1) performed in the Republic of Vietnam during the 
        period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975;
            ``(2) performed in Thailand--
                    ``(A) at a United States Army base or Royal Thai 
                Air Force base during the period beginning on January 
                9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; or
                    ``(B) at the Royal Thai Army Replacement Training 
                Center, Pranburi Military Reservation during the period 
                beginning January 1, 1964, and ending on April 30, 
                1964;
            ``(3) performed in Laos during the period beginning on 
        December 1, 1965, and ending on September 30, 1969; or
            ``(4) performed in Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kompon Cham 
        Province during the period beginning on April 16, 1969, and 
        ending on April 30, 1969.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) Section heading.--The heading for section 1116 is 
        amended by inserting ``, or in close proximity to,'' before 
        ``the Republic of Vietnam''.
            (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended by striking 
        the item relating to section 1116 and inserting the following 
        new item:

``1116. Presumptions of service connection for diseases associated with 
                            exposure to certain herbicide agents; 
                            presumption of exposure for veterans who 
                            served in, or in close proximity to, the 
                            Republic of Vietnam''.
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