Title: A 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.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution encourages the President to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs list of presumptive medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and hypothyroidism.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 420 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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;
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 hypothyroidism to the list of diseases related 
        to exposure to Agent Orange: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate encourages 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 veterans 
        across the United States who are living with chronic health 
        conditions by expanding 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.
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