[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1381 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1381
To modify the presumption of service connection for veterans who were
exposed to herbicide agents while serving in the Armed Forces in
Thailand during the Vietnam era, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 9, 2019
Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modify the presumption of service connection for veterans who were
exposed to herbicide agents while serving in the Armed Forces in
Thailand during the Vietnam era, 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. MODIFICATION OF PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE CONNECTION FOR
VETERANS WHO WERE EXPOSED TO HERBICIDE AGENTS WHILE
SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES IN THAILAND DURING THE
VIETNAM ERA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure
that if the Secretary creates a presumption of service connection
between the occurrence of a disease and exposure to a herbicide agent
while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era at a military
base in Thailand, such presumption also applies to exposure to a
herbicide agent while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam
era at any military base located in Thailand without regard to where on
the base the veteran was located or what military job specialty the
veteran performed.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Herbicide agent.--The term ``herbicide agent'' has the
meaning given such term in section 1116(a) of title 38, United
States Code.
(2) Veteran and vietnam era.--The terms ``veteran'' and
``Vietnam era'' have the meaning given such terms in section
101 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 2. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN THAILAND SERVICE VETERANS BORN
WITH SPINA BIFIDA.
(a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 18 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans
born with spina bifida
``(a) Benefits Authorized.--The Secretary may provide to any child
of a veteran of covered service in Thailand who is suffering from spina
bifida the health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and
monetary allowance required to be paid to a child of a Vietnam veteran
who is suffering from spina bifida under subchapter I of this chapter
as if such child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand were a
child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida under
such subchapter.
``(b) Spina Bifida Conditions Covered.--This section applies with
respect to all forms and manifestations of spina bifida, except spina
bifida occulta.
``(c) Veteran of Covered Service in Thailand.--For purposes of this
section, a veteran of covered service in Thailand is any individual,
without regard to the characterization of that individual's service,
who--
``(1) served in the active military, naval, or air service
in Thailand, as determined by the Secretary in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense, during the period beginning on
January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; and
``(2) is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with
the Secretary of Defense, to have been exposed to a herbicide
agent during such service in Thailand.
``(d) Herbicide Agent.--For purposes of this section, the term
`herbicide agent' means a chemical in a herbicide used in support of
United States and allied military operations in Thailand, as determined
by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, during
the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--
(1) Subchapter heading.--The heading for subchapter III of
chapter 18 of such title is amended by inserting ``AND
THAILAND'' after ``KOREA''.
(2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 18 of such title is amended--
(A) by striking the item relating to subchapter III
and inserting the following new item:
``subchapter iii--children of certain korea and thailand service
veterans born with spina bifida'';
and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section
1821 the following new item:
``1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born
with spina bifida.''.
<all>