[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 15, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BLUE WATER NAVY VETERANS

  (Ms. SCANLON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, yesterday the House passed H.R. 299, the 
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. This long overdue 
legislation would finally provide disability benefits to veterans who 
served in the territorial seas surrounding Vietnam during the Vietnam 
war and were exposed to Agent Orange.
  This change is long overdue but, sadly, thousands of brave Vietnam 
veterans have already suffered the consequences of Agent Orange-related 
illnesses.
  A longtime resident of Media, Pennsylvania, John Bury, was a 22-year 
veteran of the Navy and a legendary advocate for sailors sickened by 
Agent Orange. He, himself, survived cancer six times related to Agent 
Orange, and knew firsthand the challenges of navigating the VA due to 
his service being on ships, rather than land.
  John passed away in late 2016, but his memory and service will live 
on. Sailors like John are heroes and deserve to be treated as such by 
the VA.
  I urge the Senate to quickly take up this legislation and send it to 
the President's desk so that thousands of others like John can get the 
care they deserve.

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