Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-555
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-02-26
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cancer

Marshall Islands

Nuclear weapons

Radiation

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-26
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act</strong> <b>of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill includes veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands between January 1, 1977, and December 31, 1980, as radiation-exposed veterans for purposes of the Department of Veterans Affairs presumption of service-connection for specified cancers.</p> <p>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>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 555 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 26, 2019 Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Tillis , Ms. Warren , Mr. Merkley , Ms. Collins , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Leahy , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Tester , Mr. Coons , Ms. Harris , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Markey , and Mr. King ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll as radiation-exposed veterans for purposes of the presumption of service-connection of certain disabilities by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act of 2019 . 2. Treatment of veterans who participated in cleanup of Enewetak Atoll as radiation-exposed veterans for purposes of presumption of service-connection of certain disabilities by Department of Veterans Affairs Section 1112(c)(3)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new clause: (v) Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll during the period beginning on January 1, 1977, and ending on December 31, 1980. .