[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AGENT ORANGE DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR BLUE WATER NAVY VIETNAM VETERANS

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my colleagues in 
this House for passing H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans 
Act. The legislation makes 90,000 Vietnam sea-service veterans eligible 
for disability pay for health issues that could possibly have been 
caused by Agent Orange exposure.
  The truth is, we don't know for sure how many have been exposed to 
Agent Orange, but we owe them the benefit of the doubt that we give to 
Vietnam servicemembers who have served on land as well.
  It is a long time coming. They pleaded with us for years to pay 
attention to Agent Orange, and it has been obscured for a long time. It 
is well-documented that some of these soldiers weren't treated very 
well when they returned home to this country. They finally are going to 
receive the respect and the care they deserve.
  I want to thank our chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Dr. 
Phil Roe, as well as the author of this legislation, my California 
colleague,  David Valadao, for their tireless work on making this 
happen.
  Countless veterans have developed health issues as a result of Agent 
Orange exposure, and it is about time we set this right for our blue 
water Navy vets who are eligible for these benefits that they need and 
their families pleaded for.
  Mr. Speaker, I am glad we finally got this done for them.

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