[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
[November 8, 1997]
[Page 1515]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the Special Report of the Presidential Advisory Committee 
on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
November 8, 1997

    Our administration has made it a priority to care for and compensate 
Gulf war veterans who have fallen ill. The First Lady and I were both 
troubled by the pain and frustration these veterans felt. We have been 
determined to find out why they are sick, to make public the facts as we 
learned them, and to apply the lessons of the Gulf war for the future. 
In May 1995, I asked some of America's best doctors and scientists, as 
well as Gulf war veterans, to undertake an independent and open review 
of the Government's response to our veterans' health care concerns. Now, 
the Presidential Advisory Committee I established has delivered its 
special report. I thank its Chairman, Dr. Joyce Lashof, and the other 
members for their outstanding work and for extending their efforts 10 
months beyond their original mandate. Based on their recommendations, I 
am taking the following actions:
    First, to better care for and compensate our veterans, we will work 
to establish a new benefits system that will ensure that Gulf war 
veterans receive treatment and compensation for all illnesses linked to 
service in the Gulf even if we cannot identify the direct cause. We will 
ask the National Academy of Sciences to review the ongoing scientific 
research regarding the connections between all reported illnesses and 
Gulf war service so we have the fullest understanding of the health 
consequences of that service. In addition, we will work with Congress on 
legislation to guarantee that this system of benefits is maintained in 
all administrations to come.
    Second, to deepen our understanding of why Gulf war veterans might 
have gotten sick, we will dedicate $13.2 million for new research on 
low-level exposure to chemical agents and other possible causes of 
illness.
    Third, to make sure our veterans and the public know all the facts 
and have full confidence in DOD's fact finders, former Senator Warren 
Rudman has agreed to lead an oversight board to ensure that the Defense 
Department's ongoing investigations into events in the Gulf meet the 
highest standards.
    Fourth, to apply the lessons we have learned for the future, I am 
directing the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to create a 
new force health protection program. Every soldier, sailor, airman, and 
marine will have a comprehensive, lifelong medical record of all 
illnesses and injuries they suffer, the care and inoculations they 
receive, and their exposure to different hazards. These records will 
help us prevent illness and identify and cure those that occur.
    From the beginning, I vowed that we would not rest until we 
uncovered all the facts about Gulf war illnesses and used that knowledge 
to improve the health of our veterans, their families, and all who serve 
our Nation, now and in the future. As Veterans Day approaches, we are 
continuing work to fulfill that pledge. The men and women of our Armed 
Forces put everything on the line for us. I am determined that we show 
the same resolve for them.