[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON (for herself and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 409. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the 
standards for compensation of Persian Gulf veterans suffering from 
certain undiagnosed illnesses, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senator 
Durbin of Illinois to offer legislation on a very important issue for 
those men and women who served during the Persian Gulf War. A companion 
bill was introduced in the House by Congressman Manzullo from Illinois. 
This bill will amend the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Benefits Act, title 
I of Public Law 103-446. That law provides for the payment of 
compensation to Persian Gulf veterans suffering from a chronic 
disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or a combination of 
undiagnosed illnesses. This bill will extend the presumptive period 
from December 31, 2001 to ``from December 31, 2011 or such a later date 
as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.'' Additionally, the bill 
further expands the definition of an undiagnosed illness and gives a 
comprehensive list of signs or symptoms that may be manifestation of an 
undiagnosed illness such as fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, 
gastrointestinal signs and symptoms to name a few. Today, 10 years 
after the end of the Persian Gulf War many of our veterans are 
suffering from undiagnosed illnesses.
  President Bush in a speech titled ``Our Debt of Honor'' on November 
10, 1999, Veterans Day, said of our Persian Gulf War Veterans, ``They 
should not have to go to elaborate lengths to prove that they are ill, 
just because their malady has yet to be fully explained. A 1994 law was 
passed to grant them the presumption of disability. Yet even now they 
are met with skeptical looks and paper-shuffling excuses for 
withholding coverage. If I have anything to say about it, all that is 
going to end. In the military, when you are called to account for a 
mistake, you are expected to give one simple answer: ``No excuse, 
sir.'' And that should be the attitude of any government official who 
fails to make good on our public responsibilities to veterans. There 
are no excuses for it.
  Of the nearly 700,000 U.S. military personnel who served in the 
Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991, more than 100,000 have complained of an 
array of symptoms that have become known as the Gulf War Syndrome. 
These symptoms include chronic fatigue, muscle and joint pain, memory 
loss, sleep disorders, depression and concentration problems among 
others. Approximately 9,000 of those were denied claims under the 1994 
law.
  There are some who question whether or not such a syndrome actually 
exists and many continue to theorize that these symptoms are largely 
psychological and brought about by post-traumatic stress. I believe the 
evidence is increasingly clear that this is not stress related. We have 
an obligation to ensure Gulf War veterans are properly diagnosed and 
treated effectively and compensated for any service connected 
disabilities.
  What we do know is that our veterans were exposed to a host of 
pharmaceuticals, chemicals and environmental toxins. Indeed those who 
served were apparently exposed to some veritable witch's brew of known 
and potential hazards to health including blowing dust and sand 
particles, smoke from oil well fires, petroleum fuels and their 
combustion products, possible exposure to chemical warfare nerve agents 
and biological warfare agents, pyridostigmine bromide pills to protect 
against organophosphate nerve agents, insecticides, vaccinations, 
infectious diseases, depleted uranium, and psychological and 
physiological stress.
  This bill will be a step in the right direction and is the way to 
help repay our debt to these veterans. Not only is it the right thing 
and fair thing to do, but during these times of increased deployments 
and personnel shortages, it is in our national interest to continue to 
show our dedicated service members that we appreciate their sacrifice 
and commitment.
  I commend the Senator from Illinois for his support on this issue and 
urge other Senators to join us in this effort.
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