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NY K00064

Resolution

Status

Introduced

1/30/2019

Primary Sponsor

Didi Barrett

Click for details

Origin

Assembly

2019-2020 General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Urges New York's Congressional delegation to pass H.R. 299 to provide presumptive coverage for Agent Orange exposure to "blue water" veterans who served up to 12 miles offshore in Vietnam

  • Extends Department of Veterans Affairs benefits to blue water veterans for diseases linked to Agent Orange, including diabetes, Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancers, and soft-tissue sarcoma

  • Addresses 2002 VA policy that limited Agent Orange presumptive coverage to "boots on the ground" veterans, forcing blue water veterans to file individual claims that have been denied over 32,000 times through 2009

  • Cites a 2011 Institute of Medicine report confirming plausible exposure routes for blue water veterans and Congressional Budget Office estimate that 90,000 sailors could benefit from this legislation

  • Endorsed by approximately 35 military and veterans organizations including Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, and others

Legislative Description

Urging the New York State Congressional delegation to pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, H.R.299

Last Action

reported to calendar for consideration

2/5/2019

Committee Referrals

Veterans' Affairs1/30/2019

Full Bill Text

No bill text available