[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1619-E1620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCING H.R. 6127--``EXTENSION OF HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY FOR 
                VETERANS WHO SERVED AT QARMAT ALI ACT''

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                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 2010

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a bill, H.R. 6127, 
the Extension of Health Care Eligibility for Veterans who Served at 
Qarmat Ali Act, to extend the VA healthcare enrollment period for 
certain veterans who served in the Qarmat Ali region of Iraq.
  Soon after the conflict in Iraq began in 2003, Army National Guard 
units from my home state of Indiana as well as units from Oregon, West 
Virginia, and South Carolina and National Guardsmen mobilized as 
individual augmentees from across the nation were called up and tasked 
with guarding the Qarmat Ali water treatment facility.
  For 6 months--from April to September--these National Guardsmen from 
across the nation bravely guarded the plant, located just outside 
Basra. Their mission was to secure the facility and provide protective 
services for the independent contractors who were working throughout 
the region to restore Iraqi oil production.
  Recently, they have been notified of their possible exposure to a 
toxic chemical known as sodium dichromate and are being asked to come 
forward, be evaluated, and enroll in VA's Gulf War Registry. Health 
problems associated with such exposure include respiratory issues, skin 
lesions, and burns. Contact may cause increased rates of lung cancer 
and other ear, nose, throat, and skin disorders.
  The men and women of these National Guard units completed their 
mission--and served our country--well. It was hard for me to discover 
that despite their safe return, their service may continue to put them 
at risk. In particular, I am very sensitive to the Hoosiers who may 
have been injured.
  Under current law, combat veterans who served on active duty in a 
theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian 
Gulf War or in combat against a hostile force during a period of 
``hostilities'' after November 11, 1998 are eligible to enroll in the 
VA health care system, notwithstanding sufficient evidence of service-
connection, for five years following separation from service.
  This includes members of the National Guard and Reserve who were 
activated and served in combat support or direct operations as long as 
they meet certain requirements.
  When Congress established the 5 year period of open enrollment for VA 
health care it was with the understanding that some wounds of war may 
not manifest themselves until years after a veteran leaves military 
duty.
  But despite our best intentions, we are finding that some veterans 
are faced with combat-related health problems that were not apparent 
even 5 years after the veteran re-entered civilian life. This creates a 
gap in services that unfairly penalizes these men and women for 
conditions out of their control.

[[Page E1620]]

  I commend the VA for their efforts to contact these veterans and 
create the Qarmat Ali Registry to aggressively track and treat veterans 
exposed to this toxic chemical as part of the Gulf War Registry.
  However, it is also important for them to have immediate access to 
VA's high quality health care system. The use of VA health care will 
help to identify potential medical conditions, and provide counseling, 
immunizations, and medications to prevent illness. Appropriate 
preventative care can substantially improve health outcomes and the 
quality of life for our honored heroes.
  But, some of the Qarmat Ali veterans who separated from service 
following their deployment in 2003 may no longer be eligible to enroll 
in VA health care under the 5-year open enrollment period. As a result, 
they must first file a claim and seek a service-connected disability 
rating before enrolling in the VA health care system and gaining access 
to the comprehensive medical care VA provides.
  Unfortunately, the claims process can be both time-consuming and 
daunting. It is unacceptable that the Qarmat Ali veterans, already 
subjected to harmful toxins during service to our country, must now 
await the outcome of a lengthy and sometimes adversarial claims 
processing system before they can enroll in VA health care.
  The VA was established expressly to care for veterans like these who 
willingly left their homes, families, and lives to protect and defend 
our nation and may find themselves sick or injured as a result of such 
selflessness.
  H.R. 6127 would correct this unintended gap in services by extending 
the enrollment eligibility period for Qarmat Ali veterans by 5 years 
from the date of notification. This would allow them to immediately 
begin receiving services at VA medical facilities for any and all of 
their health care needs.
  Breaking down barriers to needed care is the very least we, as a 
grateful nation, can do for the men and women who fight for our 
freedoms, in Qarmat Ali and around the world.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6127 and these 
brave American heroes.

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