[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1584-S1585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Agent Orange

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, we can be proud of the bipartisan work 
the Senate has accomplished in recent years to expand veterans' 
benefits. Last Congress, we made significant progress with passage of 
legislation to enhance education, pensions, burial compensation, and 
landmark improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs care and 
services for women veterans, in addition to a groundbreaking initiative 
to prevent veteran suicides.
  I am hopeful we can use this momentum to continue turning legislation 
into law to ensure we fill the promise our country made to the men and 
women who served in uniform, as well as their families. We know that 
too many veterans are being left behind because of current VA policies 
that prohibit them from accessing benefits and healthcare services they 
have earned.
  Veterans like Bill Rhodes of Mena, AR, a marine who served in 
Thailand during the Vietnam war era, are pleading with Congress to help 
them get needed medical care and support. After developing illnesses 
linked to herbicide exposure, Mr. Rhodes turned to the VA for help. His 
claim was denied. He did his homework. He spent time looking for 
documentation to support his claim and realized this is a problem that 
needs a legislative fix because the Department's policies limit 
benefits for Vietnam war era for Thailand service.
  I am proud to join with my colleague and chairman of the Senate 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senator Tester, to introduce 
legislation to help Mr. Rhodes and veterans like him who were exposed 
to Agent Orange and other herbicides while serving in Thailand during 
the Vietnam war.
  The VA accepts that herbicides were used on fenced-in perimeters of 
military bases in Thailand, but its current policy is too restrictive. 
Among other things, it prohibits veterans who worked in security-
related specialties. It is reasonable to believe that veterans on Thai 
bases were exposed to Agent Orange no matter what their jobs were or 
where their duty stations were.

[[Page S1585]]

  In an article published in the Dayton Daily News, one veteran who 
served in Thailand said his barracks were along the perimeter, and at 
the time of the interview, he still hadn't received benefits for his VA 
claim.
  The arbitrary limits on consideration of a veteran's claim to toxic 
exposure are simply wrong. These misguided technicalities and 
bureaucratic hurdles need to be addressed. Our bill would eliminate the 
unreasonable burden placed on veterans to prove toxic exposure.
  No veteran should be denied benefits due to redtape. These Americans 
who served our country, and to this day are paying a high price as a 
result, have been carelessly hindered by the current limitations on the 
presumption of toxic exposure to Agent Orange, but they aren't 
forgotten. We have an obligation to ensure they get the benefits they 
are due, and I am committed to supporting their cause
  I appreciate the determination and tireless efforts of Mr. Rhodes. He 
said this legislation gives him some hope, but he won't be proud of his 
work until the bill is passed.
  I encourage my colleagues to support our legislation. I look forward 
to working with members of the Senate VA Committee to eliminate the 
barriers that prevent veterans from getting the care and resources they 
have earned.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Ossoff). The Senator from Oregon.