Ranking Member Walz Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman To Advance Bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018

Press Release

oday, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) led 45 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) urging him to bring H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018, to a vote in committee so that the legislation can be brought to the Senate floor as soon as possible.

The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act would finally grant presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to U.S. service members who served off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. This would enable eligible veterans to receive expedited consideration for Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits if they suffer from any of the diseases the U.S. government has linked to Agent Orange. This measure has received strong support from veterans' organizations.

"For over 40 years, our nation has failed to uphold its moral obligation to help Blue Water Navy veterans receive the benefits and respect they deserve," said Ranking Member Walz. "I was proud to see the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act pass the House in June, because it was the first time these veterans saw any real progress from their government. However, it's extremely disappointing to see the legislation lose traction in the Senate, presumably because the Trump Administration has come out in strong opposition to the bill, not based on policy, but because it simply does not want to invest the money it would take to do right by these veterans. The sad reality is that every day there are fewer and fewer Blue Water Navy veterans. If this bill is not signed into law before the end of the year, then the bipartisan pay-for that took years to find will disappear and Congress will be back to square one. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to bring this critical legislation to a vote."

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