[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PERSIAN GULF SYNDROME HEALTH BENEFITS EXTENSION ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation which 
extends priority healthcare to Persian Gulf war veterans who served in 
Israel and Turkey. My bill is entitled the ``Persian Gulf Syndrome 
Health Benefits Extension Act of 1997.'' The bill has received 
bipartisan support and passed the House of Representatives by voice 
vote in 1996.
  Men and women who served during the Persian Gulf war in Israel and 
Turkey were originally excluded from the definition of in-theatre 
operations. Many of these soldiers suffer from similar undiagnosed 
medical problems that may be related to service during the Persian Gulf 
war.
  Throughout my service on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I 
have emphasized the need to alleviate the suffering of those 
individuals afflicted with Persian Gulf war illnesses. It is time to 
simply care for our veterans who so bravely fought for our country.

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