Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Relief Act

Bill: 116-hr-1713
Sponsor: full_name: Del. San Nicolas, Michael F. Q. [D-GU-At Large]
Introduced: 2019-03-13
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: American Samoa

Cancer

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Digestive and metabolic diseases

Disability and paralysis

Guam

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Musculoskeletal and skin diseases

U.S. territories and protectorates

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2019-03-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-03-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Relief Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides a presumption of service-connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents to veterans who served on (1) Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters thereof between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980; or (2) Johnston Atoll or a ship that went to Johnston Atoll between January 1, 1972, and September 30, 1977. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific diseases 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.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill expands eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans with a disability associated with exposure to certain herbicides during specified times of military service on Guam, American Samoa, or Johnston Atoll.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1713 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 13, 2019 Mr. San Nicolas (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis , Mrs. Radewagen , and Mr. Pallone ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a presumption of service-connection for certain veterans exposed to certain herbicides while serving in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Relief Act . 2. Presumptions of service-connection for certain veterans exposed to certain herbicides while serving in the Armed Forces (a) Expansion of presumptions Section 1116(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after 1975 the following: , served on Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters thereof, during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on July 31, 1980, or served on Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll during the period beginning on January 1, 1972, and ending on September 30, 1977 ; and (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting after 1975 the following: , served on Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters thereof, during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on July 31, 1980, or served on Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll during the period beginning on January 1, 1972, and ending on September 30, 1977, . (b) Eligibility for hospital care and medical services Section 1710(e)(4) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following new subparagraph (A): (A) The term Vietnam-era herbicide-exposed veteran means a veteran who— (i) served on active duty— (I) in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; (II) on Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters thereof, the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on July 31, 1980; or (III) on Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll during the period beginning on January 1, 1972, and ending on September 30, 1977; and (ii) the Secretary finds may have been exposed during such service to dioxin or was exposed during such service to a toxic substance found in a herbicide or defoliant used for military purposes during such period. .