[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
[May 28, 1996]
[Pages 821-823]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Announcing Agent Orange-Related Disability Benefits for
Vietnam Veterans and an Exchange With Reporters
May 28, 1996

    Mr. Vice President, thank you very much for your very moving remarks 
and your support of this endeavor. Secretary Brown, thank you for your 
service to our country in so many ways and especially for your work at 
the Veterans Administration, along with Deputy Secretary Hershel Gober 
and the others who are here. Senator Robb, Congressman Evans, and to 
Members of Congress who are not here, including Senator Daschle who 
worked so hard on this issue; to the Vietnam veterans who are here and 
all others who are concerned about this matter:
    This is an important day for the United States to take further steps 
to ease the suffering our Nation unintentionally caused its own sons and 
daughters by exposing them to Agent Orange in Vietnam. For over two 
decades Vietnam veterans made the case that exposure to Agent Orange was 
injuring and killing them long before they left the field of battle, 
even damaging their children.
    For years, the Government did not listen. With steps taken since 
1993, and the important step we are taking today, we are showing that 
America can listen and act. I'm announcing that Vietnam veterans with 
prostate cancer and the neurological disorder peripheral neuropathy are 
entitled to disability payments based upon their exposure to Agent 
Orange. Our administration will also propose legislation to meet the 
needs of veterans' children afflicted with the birth defect spina 
bifida--the first time the offspring of American soldiers will receive 
benefits for combat-related health problems.
    From the outset, we have pressed hard for answers about the effects 
of Agent Orange and other chemicals used to kill vegetation during the 
war in Vietnam. Once we had those answers, we've looked for practical 
ways to ease the pain of Americans who have already sacrificed so much 
for their country.
    Soon after I took office, the National Academy of Sciences completed 
a study on the long-

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term health effects of Agent Orange. The Veterans Administration, under 
Secretary Brown's leadership, moved immediately to compensate and treat 
veterans with illnesses that the National Academy found were associated 
with Agent Orange.
    First we added two diseases, Hodgkin's disease and a liver disorder, 
to the list of ailments recognized as being associated with exposure to 
Agent Orange. Then Secretary Brown created a full task force to look 
into the National Academy of Sciences report in more detail. Acting on 
its recommendations, I approved disability payments to Vietnam veterans 
suffering from respiratory cancers and multiple myeloma. Finally, we 
asked the National Academy of Sciences to focus on the link between 
Agent Orange and other conditions, including prostate cancer, peripheral 
neuropathy, and spina bifida in the children of Vietnam veterans. 
Today's actions reflect the National Academy's most recent findings.
    I want to commend the National Academy of Sciences and its Institute 
of Medicine for their extraordinary service to our Vietnam veterans. 
They reached out to the best doctors and scientists in America for the 
answers to the hard questions about Agent Orange. Just as important, 
they reached out to our Vietnam veterans to give them full voice in 
their work.
    I want to praise the determination of Secretary Brown, who time and 
time again has turned reports into actions. And there is no better 
example than his work on Agent Orange.
    Finally, I want to thank my longtime friend Admiral Zumwalt. 
America's Vietnam veterans have had no greater champion. You heard him 
outline--in ways that reflected well on the President, but should have 
reflected well on the proselytizing of Admiral Zumwalt--[laughter]--over 
10 years of effort to make sure that someone he never imagined would be 
President at least knew about the issue of Agent Orange. No one has done 
more to keep the spotlight on Agent Orange. No one has done more to 
demand that all of us do better by our veterans. No one knows more and 
has shown more what it means to take personal responsibility for our 
actions.
    Admiral, every single American with a heart and a soul to love this 
country is in your debt today, and we thank you.
    I also want to thank the Members of Congress, two of whom are here, 
especially those who served in Vietnam, who are strong and healthy but 
who have not forgotten those with whom they served, for never letting 
this issue go.
    These actions show that our country can face up to the consequences 
of our actions; that we will bear responsibility for the harm we do, 
even when the harm is unintended; that we will continue to honor those 
who served our country and gave so much.
    Nothing we can do will ever fully repay the Vietnam veterans for all 
they gave and all they lost, particularly those who have been damaged by 
Agent Orange. But we must never stop trying. The veterans never stopped 
taking every step they could for America; now it is our turn to do what 
we should do. We can and will go the extra step for them.
    And again I say today, every person involved in this decision has 
served our country well and honored our veterans and their sacrifice. I 
thank them all. And I thank you for coming. Thank you very much.
    Thank you all very much. What did you say?

Israeli Elections

    Q. Are you pulling for Prime Minister Peres and the Labor Party 
tomorrow?
    The President. I knew I shouldn't have come back. [Laughter] I think 
we all recognize--very briefly--I think we all recognize that that 
election tomorrow is a very important election for the future of Israel 
and the future of the Middle East. Israel is a great democracy and the 
people are fully capable of making their own judgments.
    The United States supports the peace process, and we have made it 
clear that if further steps are taken that entail risks for peace, we 
will stand with the Government and the people of Israel, the leaders of 
Israel in minimizing those risks. We will do everything we possibly can 
to do it. But that is the important thing that I want the people of 
Israel to know.
    They have to make the decision of whether they want to pursue the 
peace process or not; that is their decision. We believe, ultimately, 
it's the only way to bring peace and security, and we want both peace 
and security. I think that's what they all want. I think that's why the 
race is so close.
    But I can tell you this: If they decide to stay on the path of 
peace, we will share the risk; we will do what we can to minimize the 
risk. They can make the decision. Whatever de-


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cision they make, we obviously--all countries--will accept and respect. 
But if they decide to stay with peace, we will do what we can to make 
sure they can have security as well.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 1:22 p.m. in Room 450 of the Old Executive 
Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, 
Jr., USN (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations.