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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

New Agent Orange Bill Introduced http://www.fra.org/AM/template.cfm?template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=15265&section=news Rep. Chris Gibson (N.Y.) recently introduced the €œ"Blue Water Navy Ship Accountability Act€" (H.R. 1494) that requires the United States Army and DoD's Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) to do a comprehensive search to determine which ships operated on the inland waterways of Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. Service members serving on those ships would be eligible for a presumption of Agent Orange exposure when filing a disability claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Earlier this year, Gibson also introduced the "€œBlue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act"€ (H.R. 543) that clarifies a presumption for ailments associated with exposure to Agent Orange herbicide during the Vietnam War. The bill would authorize those who served off the coast of Vietnam, so-called "€œblue water vets"€ to claim disability benefits from the VA.

FRA (Fleet Reserve Association) believes Congress should recognize that these veterans were exposed to Agent Orange and authorize VA presumption associated with this exposure. Shipmates are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center to ask their representative to support these important proposals. Click here to support H.R.1494. Click here to support H.R. 543.