Fairness for Korean DMZ Veterans Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-576
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2019-02-27
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia

Cancer

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Digestive and metabolic diseases

Disability and paralysis

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Musculoskeletal and skin diseases

South Korea

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Fairness for Korean DMZ Veterans Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill extends the presumption of service-connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide (e.g., Agent Orange) exposure to veterans who served in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific disabilities or 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. 576 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 27, 2019 Mr. Moran (for himself, Mr. Tester , Mr. Blunt , Ms. Warren , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Brown , Ms. Collins , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Merkley , Mr. King , Ms. Baldwin , and Mr. Wyden ) 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 a presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fairness for Korean DMZ Veterans Act of 2019 . 2. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea (a) In general Chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1116 the following new section: 1116A. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea (a) Presumption of service-Connection (1) For the purposes of section 1110 of this title, and subject to section 1113 of this title, a disease specified in subsection (b) that becomes manifest as specified in that subsection in a veteran described in paragraph (2) shall be considered to have been incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease during the period of such service. (2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ), during the period beginning on September 1, 1967, and ending on August 31, 1971. (b) Diseases A disease specified in this subsection is— (1) a disease specified in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of section 1116 of this title that becomes manifest as specified in that paragraph; or (2) any additional disease that— (A) the Secretary determines in regulations warrants a presumption of service-connection by reason of having positive association with exposure to an herbicide agent; and (B) becomes manifest within any period prescribed in such regulations. (c) Herbicide agent For purposes of this section, the term herbicide agent has the meaning given such term in section 1821(d) of this title. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1116 the following new item: 1116A. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea. .