[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H6319-H6323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      EXTENSION OF HEALTH CARE TO VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1565) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend through 
December 31, 1997, the period during which the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs is authorized to provide priority health care 

[[Page H 6320]]
to certain veterans exposed to agent orange, ionizing radiation, or 
environmental hazards, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1565

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY OF PROVIDE PRIORITY HEALTH CARE.

       (a) Authorized Inpatient Care.--Section 1710(e) of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking out subparagraphs (A) and 
     (B) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
       ``(e)(1)(A) A herbicide-exposed veteran is eligible for 
     hospital care and nursing home care under subsection 
     (a)(1)(G) for any disease suffered by the veteran that is-- 
     I21``(i) among those diseases for which the National Academy 
     of Sciences, in a report issued in accordance with section 2 
     of the Agent Orange Act of 1991, has determined--
       ``(I) that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that 
     there is a positive association between occurrence of the 
     disease in humans and exposure to a herbicide agent;
       ``(II) that there is evidence which is suggestive of an 
     association between occurrence of the disease in humans and 
     exposure to a herbicide agent, but such evidence is limited 
     in nature; or
       ``(III) that available studies are insufficient to permit a 
     conclusion about the presence or absence of an association 
     between occurrence of the disease in humans and exposure to a 
     herbicide agent; or
       ``(ii) a disease for which the Secretary, pursuant to a 
     recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health on the basis 
     of a peer-reviewed research study or studies published within 
     20 months after the most recent report of the National 
     Academy under section 2 of the Agent Orange Act of 1991, 
     determines there is credible evidence suggestive of an 
     association between occurrence of the disease in humans and 
     exposure to a herbicide agent.
       ``(B) A radiation-exposed veteran is eligible for hospital 
     care and nursing home care under subsection (a)(1)(G) for any 
     disease suffered by the veteran that is--
       ``(i) a disease listed in section 1112(c)(2) of this title; 
     or
       ``(ii) any other disease for which the Secretary, based on 
     the advice of the Advisory Committee on Environmental 
     Hazards, determines that there is credible evidence of a 
     positive association between occurrence of the disease in 
     humans and exposure to ionizing radiation.'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking out ``Hospital'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``In the case of a veteran described in paragraph 
     (1)(C), hospital''; and
       (B) by striking out ``subparagraph'' and all that follows 
     through ``subsection'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``paragraph (1)(C)'';
       (3) in paragraph (3), by striking out ``of this section 
     after June 30, 1995,'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``, in 
     the case of care for a veteran described in paragraph (1)(A), 
     after December 31, 1997,''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) For purposes of this subsection and section 1712 of 
     this title:
       ``(A) The term `herbicide-exposed veteran' means a veteran 
     (i) who served on active duty in the Republic of Vietnam 
     during the Vietnam era, and (ii) who the Secretary finds may 
     have been exposed during such service to a herbicide agent.
       ``(B) The term `herbicide agent' has the meaning given that 
     term in section 1116(a)(4) of this title.
       ``(C) The term `radiation-exposed veteran' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 1112(c)(4) of this title.''.
       (b) Authorized Outpatient Care.--Section 1712 of such title 
     is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (A) by striking out ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C);
       (B) by striking out the period at the end of subparagraph 
     (D) and inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon;
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(E) during the period before January 1, 1998, to any 
     herbicide-exposed veteran (as defined in section 
     1710(e)(4)(A) of this title) for any disease specified in 
     section 1710(e)(1)(A) of this title; and
       ``(F) to any radiation-exposed veteran (as defined in 
     section 1112(c)(4) of this title) for any disease covered 
     under section 1710(e)(1)(B) of this title.''; and
       (2) in subsection (i)(3)--
       (A) by striking out ``(A)''; and
       (B) by striking out ``, or (B)'' and all that follows 
     through ``title''.

     SEC. 2. SAVINGS PROVISION.

       The provisions of sections 1710(e) and 1712(a) of title 38, 
     United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, shall continue to apply on and 
     after such date with respect to the furnishing of hospital 
     care, nursing home care, and medical services for any veteran 
     who was furnished such care or services before such date of 
     enactment on the basis of presumed exposure to a substance or 
     radiation under the authority of those provisions, but only 
     for treatment for a disability for which such care or 
     services were furnished before such date.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona [Mr. Stump] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump].
  (Mr. STUMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)


                             general leave

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 1565.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the leadership for 
allowing us to bring H.R. 1565 to the floor as it extends authority 
which expires at the end of this month.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1565, extends VA's authority to provide health care 
to veterans exposed to agent orange.
  It also makes permanent VA's authority to provide health care to 
veterans exposed to ionizing radiation.
  The provisions incorporate the findings of the National Academy of 
Sciences while still giving the benefit of the doubt to veterans 
already being treated.
  Where the National Academy of Sciences has found evidence suggesting 
certain conditions have no association with exposure, H.R. 1565 does 
not extend authority for future health care.
  However, those veterans previously or currently receiving care would 
be grandfathered for treatment under the bill.
  I want to thank my good friend from Mississippi, Sonny Montgomery, 
the distinguished ranking
 member of the committee for his assistance on this measure.

  Before yielding to him, I also want to express my appreciation to Tim 
Hutchinson, chairman of the Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care, 
as well as Chet Edwards, the subcommittee's ranking member for their 
work on the bill.
  They have maintained the committee's bipartisan approach to matters 
affecting veterans.
  Concerns were raised at the subcommittee markup about some provisions 
by Mr. Fox, who had drafted an amendment, as well as Mr. Gutierrez and 
Mr. Kennedy.
  Mr. Evans also raised some concern.
  I believe Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Edwards responded very well to those 
concerns and have done an excellent job working with other members on 
the bill.
  The cooperation of all Members on these matters is greatly 
appreciated, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson], chairman of our Subcommittee on 
Hospitals and Health Care.
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
1565, bipartisan legislation to extend the priority health care program 
for veterans exposed to agent orange and ionizing radiation through 
December 31, 1997.
  I would like to thank Chairman Stump, along with full committee 
ranking member Montgomery and my subcommittee colleague, ranking member 
Chet Edwards, for their tireless efforts to ensure that this bill 
receives full consideration in an expeditious fashion.
  Furthermore, I wish to recognize Lane Evans, Joe Kennedy, Luis 
Gutierrez, and Jon Fox for their bipartisan work in fashioning 
compromise language when concerns were raised about the bill at the 
subcommittee level. Without the work of these veterans' advocates, this 
bill might have never come to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1565 would incorporate for a 2-year extension 
period the findings of the National Academy of Sciences, which provide 
rational scientific evidence on which determinations of eligibility for 
health care can be based. The bill is supportive of veterans and 
continues to give them every benefit of the doubt. It would authorize 
the VA to provide treatment for three broad categories of conditions 
identified by the NAS and would grandfather 

[[Page H 6321]]
for continued care those veterans who have been previously treated at 
the VA but for which the NAS has found no association to exist between 
certain diseases and exposure to herbicides.
  Additionally, the bill would provide special eligibility in the case 
of radiation-exposed veterans for care of a long list of cancers as 
well as for any disease for which the VA determines there is credible 
evidence of a positive association between disease occurrence and 
radiation exposure. This bill also contains a generous grandfather 
clause for those veterans who have previously been treated at the VA 
for which no positive association between the disease occurrence and 
radiation exposure has been found. Under this bill both groups of 
veterans would receive substantially expanded outpatient services on a 
priority basis.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation also takes into consideration the 
possibility of a lag time between NAS reports and the discovery of new 
credible evidence on agent orange. It would provide a mechanism to add 
additional diseases based on new research findings.
  H.R. 1565 would authorize the Secretary, based on recommendations of 
the Under Secretary for Health, to add to the list of covered 
conditions. A disease could be added based on peer-reviewed research 
published within 20 months of the most recent NAS report regarding 
agent orange. The addition of new diseases must meet the test of 
providing credible evidence suggestive of an association between that 
disease and exposure to agent orange.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1565 enjoys unanimous support from the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee. The bill passed at markup 29 to 0.
  Again, I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
for their support and assistance in writing this legislation, and I 
urge Members to support the bill.
                              {time}  1240

  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of this measure and commend the chairman of 
the committee, the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump], for bringing the 
measure to the floor; also to the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. 
Hutchinson], the chairman of the subcommittee, for his quick action as 
well as the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Edwards] on the minority side.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the first veterans bill to be considered by the 
House in this Congress. It is very fitting that this measure is one 
that reforms and expands the health care services which veterans can 
obtain from the Veterans' Administration. Health care eligibility 
reform is one of the most important veterans issues that will face this 
Congress. Although this measure only affects a small number of 
veterans, it is important, Mr. Speaker, and it is a step in the right 
direction.
  The bill comes at a time when the VA health care system is undergoing 
very significant changes. At many VA facilities throughout the country, 
efforts are under way to treat more veterans on an outpatient basis 
rather than putting them in the hospitals. That saves a lot of money. 
That is a big change.
  There is an emphasis on making VA services more convenient and 
delivering them in a more cost-effective manner, and to do that on 
outpatient clinics. The new Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Kenneth 
Kizer, is moving the VA system into the 21st century. His leadership 
and vision for the state-of-the-art health care for veterans have 
turned the VA toward a goal of making all VA health care the first 
choice for the service-connected and low-income veterans. His 
understanding of what VA needs to do is very, very encouraging. But 
there are some problems, Mr. Speaker, that will be facing Dr. Kizer.
  Dr. Kizer does not have some of the basic tools he needs to make the 
VA health care system more efficient. One of the things he needs most 
from the Congress is a modest capital investment so that the VA can 
shift from that is still a hospital-based system to provide more 
outpatient care.
  We have had these great 171 veterans hospitals, but we are trying to 
move into more outpatient clinic care. That is what the General 
Accounting Office has recommended. Such an investment will make VA care 
more convenient and cost-effective, moving toward more outpatient 
clinic care.
  I am advised that the VA currently has over $940 million in planned 
projects to improve outpatient facilities. If these projects are 
delayed and are not a priority in the appropriations process, the VA 
will be unable to become the efficient health care system veterans 
expect and deserve.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, it has been well explained by the chairman of 
the subcommittee, it is appropriate that the first veterans bill taken 
up by the House in the 104th Congress deals with health care problems 
of veterans exposed to agent orange and ionizing radiation. The 
Congress originally authorized health care services for these veterans 
in 1981, when we had little knowledge about the long-term effects of 
the exposure of these agents. Over time, as a result of objective 
scientific review, the Congress and the executive branch have tried to 
treat and compensate those veterans whose lives and health have been 
affected by their exposure. Today, Mr. Speaker, we take a step that 
honors our commitment to these veterans.
  I would certainly ask my colleagues to give us a unanimous vote on 
H.R. 1565.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Smith], the vice chairman of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 1565, legislation to extend the priority health care program for 
veterans who were exposed to agent orange or ionizing radiation.
  As vice chair of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I would look to 
recognize the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson] and the 
gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] for their unyielding dedication to 
these veterans who have suffered a wide range of illnesses because of 
their service to their country.
  Mr. Speaker, as you know, H.R. 1565 would take into consideration the 
findings of the National Academy of Sciences, which has done extensive 
and exhaustive studies on agent orange linkage. This legislation would 
authorize the VA to continue priority health care treatment for the 
first three categories identified by NAS. Additionally, it would 
grandfather those veterans who have been previously treated by the VA 
for illnesses which now the NAS finds evidence of no linkage to agent 
orange exposure. So they are protected and they are grandfathered.
  This bipartisan bill--and the minority side has been very, very 
helpful and very strong in their views which has helped to craft this 
important bill--also takes into account the fact that NAS is not the 
only reputable scientific agency doing research on this matter.
  An amendment offered by Chairman Hutchinson and supported by the 
entire committee allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to add 
diseases to the list of covered conditions based on peer reviewed 
research which provides credible evidence of association between that 
disease and agent orange exposure.
  Once more, Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation. I urge 
my colleagues to give it unanimous support.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas [Mr. Edwards], the ranking member of the Subcommittee on 
Hospitals and Health Care.
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I want to rise in support of H.R. 1565, as 
amended. I want to pay my respects to the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. 
Hutchinson] for his fine work on this. I want to express a personal 
thanks to the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] and to the gentleman 
from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] for the way in which they have not 
only helped craft this legislation in a fair bipartisan manner but the 
way in which the gentleman from Arizona has run the committee on a 
bipartisan basis that I think is a role model that the people of this 
country would have high respect for. I appreciate the gentleman's 
leadership on this and other legislation and the way he runs the 
committee.
  My colleagues, H.R. 1565 would maintain our commitment to provide 
medical care to veterans who suffer disease as a result of exposure in 
service to 

[[Page H 6322]]
certain toxic substances. The authority under which the VA provides 
such care, first established in 1981, will expire at the end of this 
month. H.R. 1565, as amended, would extend the VA's treatment 
authority. Current law, however, reflects the limited knowledge we had 
in 1981 regarding the relationship between exposure to agent orange and 
an occurrence of specific diseases.
  This bill would incorporate the findings of the National Academy of 
Sciences to identify the diseases for which treatment is available. At 
the same time, the bill extends veterans every benefit of the doubt, as 
we should, and expands the scope of treatment which the VA may provide.
  Mr. Speaker, Members on both sides of the aisle have worked hard to 
produce an excellent bill. I think this legislation is a statement that 
even in tough budget times, we do ask the American people to tighten 
our belts, this Congress and our Nation owe a deep debt of gratitude to 
those who have fought and been willing to put their lives on the line 
for our country and its freedoms. I enthusiastically support this bill 
and thank those who have played such an important role in its 
development.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman], chairman of the Committee on International 
Relations.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 
1565, legislation to extend through December 31, 1997, health care 
benefits for military veterans suffering from the possible long-term 
side-effects of agent orange, ionizing radiation, and other 
environmental hazards. This legislation, demonstrates our continuing 
efforts to provide our veterans with the benefits and the medical care 
that they have valiantly earned. Furthermore, I commend the 
distinguished chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Mr. Stump, 
for his diligent efforts on behalf of our service men and women.
  I strongly support this legislation, as we must provide treatment to 
our veterans whose health has been affected by their service. The 
National Academy of Sciences has conducted a comprehensive review of 
scientific and medical literature to determine the specific health 
affects of certain chemicals that may have been used during armed 
conflicts. Based upon their research, the NAS has developed four 
categories to classify diseases and their association to agent orange 
exposure.
  These categories include: sufficient evidence of association, 
limited/suggestive evidence of association, inadequate/insufficient 
evidence to determine whether an association exists, and limited/
suggestive evidence of no association.
  H.R. 1565 authorizes the VA to offer treatment for illnesses that 
fall under the first three of these categories. Thus allowing veterans 
to claim treatment for any disease that is conceivably related to 
wartime herbicide exposure unless scientific evidence has clearly shown 
that the condition is not linked.
  The measure we are discussing today is significant legislation that 
provides a framework for continued health service to our Nation's 
veterans who may have been exposed to hazardous substances during their 
military service. With this in mind, I am proud to vote in strong 
support of H.R. 1565, and I urge my colleagues to join in adopting this 
measure.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Filner] who is a member of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1565, legislation to 
renew our obligation to provide medical treatment for veterans 
suffering from exposure to agent orange.
  Between 1962 and 1971, the military forces of the United States used 
11.2 million gallons of agent orange and 8 million gallons of other 
herbicides in Vietnam, in order to strip the thick jungle that 
concealed the opposition forces. Most of these spraying operations were 
completed using airplanes and helicopters, but herbicides were also 
sprayed from the ground by soldiers with back-mounted equipment.
  After a scientific report in 1969 concluded that one of the primary 
chemicals used in agent orange could cause birth defects in laboratory 
animals, U.S. forces suspended use of this herbicide--and stopped all 
herbicide spraying the following year.
  But thousands of soldiers had already been exposed to this chemical 
for months at a time. Today, many of these soldiers have a 
significantly higher rate of diseases and death than those who did not 
go to Vietnam. Since the end of the Vietnam war, a growing body of 
evidence has connected several diseases to agent orange.
  I join a truly bipartisan effort in urging support for this bill. We 
can do no less for the brave men and women who answered their country's 
call to fight in an unpopular war. They came home to find that jobs 
were hard to come by, as was emotional support for the terrors they had 
experienced. No hero's welcome for these veterans.
  Today, I would also like to recognize the work of my colleague, the 
gentleman from Illinois, Congressman Lane Evans. Without his 
perseverance, it is unlikely that we would be voting on this 
legislation today--and it is unlikely that thousands of Vietnam 
veterans would be receiving the health care that they need and deserve.
  I also want to acknowledge the work of Chairman Bob Stump and ranking 
member Sonny Montgomery of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, as well as 
the entire committee. This bill is the latest in a long line of bills 
crafted in a truly bipartisan manner for the good of our veterans.
  Whatever our views on the Vietnam war, we must all help to heal its 
wounds--and these are few wounds greater than those suffered from the 
effects of agent orange. These veterans had to wait for decades to 
receive recognition and medical care. We must not make them wait again.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman for mentioning the work of the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans]. He did have a lot of interest. He 
has put a lot of hard work in this legislation on the agent orange 
issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. 
Thurman], a strong supporter of veterans' programs.
  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation, H.R. 1565, the extension of health care to veterans 
exposed to agent orange. Both the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. 
Montgomery] and the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] know of the 
gentleman that I am going to speak of because they have been trying to 
help me with this particular man's case.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill concerns veterans who are sick today because 
they were exposed to a herbicide later found to be dangerous.
  John Nichols, a constituent of mine from Bayonet Point, FL, is one of 
the 2.7 million U.S. service men and women who had their lives 
interrupted and changed by the Vietnam war. Recipient of the Bronze 
Star and three Army Commendation medals, John Nichols left active duty 
after 10 years as a U.S. Army master sergeant.
  Sergeant Nichols suffers from severe osteoporosis, a gradual loss of 
bone tissue that makes his bones brittle. John has suffered a number of 
fractures of his spine since his condition was first diagnosed.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs concedes that Sergeant Nichols was 
exposed to agent orange based on his service in Vietnam. The VA claims, 
however, that there is no legal or medical basis to associate this 
exposure with his current medical condition.
  Distinguished specialists in bone diseases have recognized that Mr. 
Nichols' osteoporosis could be associated with his exposure to agent 
orange. He watched it sprayed regularly from helicopters outside his 
base camp.
  He has been examined by some of the best specialists in the country. 
Thy cannot find any other explanation for his condition except exposure 
to agent orange. However, the Veterans Administration has still not 
recognized his condition as one related to exposure of the herbicide.
  If we send young men and women into military combat in support of our 
national objectives, we had better be willing to follow through once 
the fighting ends. We must make good on our commitment to take care of 
those who were willing to fight for this country. A tight budget does 
not free us from this commitment. Mr. Nichols' disease will not take a 
rest while we struggle with the deficit.

[[Page H 6323]]

  Mr. Speaker, this bill is a step in the right direction and I believe 
that it is a positive step for John Nichols and veterans with similar 
ailments throughout our country.
  Again, I want to thank the two gentlemen who have helped me so much 
with this constituent.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, we have some blue sheets that further 
explain this bill. If Members would come by the stands here, they could 
pick up these sheets.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again thank the distinguished 
gentleman and ranking member of the full committee for all his efforts, 
and also to the gentleman from Texas, [Mr. Edwards], the ranking member 
of the subcommittee, for all his hard work, and to the gentleman from 
Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson], who is chairman of the subcommittee.
  But we also owe a lot of thanks to the staff who have put in many 
hours in putting this bill together. I thank Members on both sides of 
the aisle. I urge, once again, passage of H.R. 1565.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
[Mr. Fox].
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as you know, I expressed the 
concerns of many of our veterans with the original version of H.R. 
1565, which reauthorizes care for agent orange and radiation exposed 
veterans.
  I am pleased that the House will now consider a compromise version 
which addresses this situation. It is important that we ensure that no 
agent orange-affected veterans are overlooked in the period between 
National Academy of Sciences reports.
  I firmly believe that we must honor our commitment to care for our 
veterans, particularly those who have borne the sacrifices of battle 
for our country. I would like to express my appreciation to the men and 
women of the Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion, as 
well as to many of my colleagues on the House Veterans' Affairs 
Committee, for their hard work on this issue.
  I look forward to continuing our work together to address the needs 
of our Nation's veterans.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Alabama [Mr. Everett].
  (Mr. EVERETT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to congratulate the 
committee chairman, the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump], the 
gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery], the gentleman from 
Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson], the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Edwards], the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox], the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. 
Evans], the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Gutierrez], and the gentleman 
from Massachusetts [Mr. Kennedy].
  This truly, Mr. Speaker, has been an outstanding effort of 
bipartisanship, and I want to congratulate all those involved.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have been a part of the bipartisan effort 
that has unanimously brought H.R. 1565 to the floor out of the Veterans 
Committee. This is a necessary and important bill, and I am glad to 
speak in support of it today.
  H.R. 1565 clarifies and simplifies the conditions for coverage for 
victims of agent orange exposure. Veterans who exhibit characteristics 
of the exposure will be covered, as will those whose condition 
demonstrates an association with the disease. Even when available 
medical data merits no conclusion on the source of their condition, the 
veteran will be covered. This bill gives veterans every benefit of the 
doubt.
  In addition, veterans exposed to radiation during their time on 
active duty will be eligible for hospital and nursing home care where 
credible evidence exists of a positive association with the disease and 
the defoliant. As an extension of the Agent Orange Act of 1991, this 
bill will also require the Department of Veterans Affairs to work with 
the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate and review all issues 
pertaining to agent orange. This is a positive step that will allow 
veterans access to the best available information on their ailments.
  In short, Mr. Speaker, this is a good day for our veterans and those 
who have suffered from agent orange. We must work together to protect 
the interests of our Nation's veterans, and this legislation marks a 
positive step in that direction.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1565, the 
extension of health care to veterans exposed to agent orange. The 
evidence continues to accumulate how horribly our Vietnam veterans are 
suffering due to this defoliant agent, which saturated their lungs, 
their food, and their skin.
  During the war, millions of gallons of dioxin-contaminated agent 
orange and other herbicides were sprayed over Vietnam. Two decades 
later, we are seeing more and more health effects of that exposure 
among our 3 million service men and women who served there. The 
National Academy of Sciences is investigating reports of cancer, 
metabolic dysfunction, and a multitude of other disorders of the 
reproductive, respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and immune systems. 
We have no way of knowing what additional illnesses may develop. This 
bill very wisely leaves the option open for new illnesses and disorders 
to be treated.
  This bill also makes VA benefits permanent for those military men and 
women exposed to radiation during the post-World War II occupation of 
Japan and during cold war nuclear testing in the Pacific. Diseases 
triggered by radiation-exposure continue to plague veterans, half a 
century later. While we remember our victory 50 years ago, we must not 
forget the suffering of those who helped bring that war to a close.
  FInally, this bill ensures top treatment priority for veterans 
exposed to either radiation or agent orange. This is fitting, as these 
veterans have struggled to cope with their illnesses have experienced 
much frustration and uncertainty over the years in their dealings with 
the Government. Today, it is the least we can do to respond to their 
illnesses without further delay.
  Mr. Speaker, the Congress is talking a great deal about patriotism 
these days, during our debate over flag burning. But protecting the 
American flag is completely meaningless unless we take care of our 
surviving veterans who have sacrificed their health for this country. 
We must help them heal. We should decisively pass H.R. 1565.
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H.R. 1565, which 
provides for priority health care to veterans exposed to agent orange, 
ionizing radiation, or other environmental hazards.
  In 1992, this body required the National Academy of Science to 
conduct a comprehensive study of the health effects of exposure to 
agent orange and other herbicides. The NAS findings serve as the basis 
of H.R. 1565 which requires certain specific diseases to be considered 
related to exposure for treatment purposes--including those where there 
is insufficient evidence to prove a connection.
  Often, many of our veterans, who served this country with distinction 
during their tour in Vietnam, have felt let down. They have felt that 
the Government has not recognized that some of their problems stem from 
exposure to agent orange and other herbicides. It is my hope that this 
legislation will help drive home the fact that we are aware of their 
tremendous sacrifices and give our support.
  H.R. 1565 also provides for treatment for veterans subjected to 
ionizing radiation. These veterans also deserve our assistance.
  I wish to compliment my colleagues, Representatives Hutchinson and 
Edwards, for their leadership on this legislation. I am pleased to 
offer my support.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1565, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to extend through December 31, 1997, the 
period during which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to 
provide priority health care to certain veterans exposed to Agent 
Orange and to make such authority permanent in the case of certain 
veterans exposed to ionizing radiation, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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