(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking
Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the
following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
rejected calls to expand a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange and
other herbicides to veterans who served offshore and in the harbors of
Vietnam.
“Rather than siding with veterans, VA is doubling down on an
irrational and inconsistent policy. Young sailors risked their lives
during the Vietnam War, unaware that decades later, they and their
children and grandchildren would still feel the toxic effects of
exposure. Veterans who served offshore and in the harbors of Vietnam
were exposed and deserve the presumption of service connection for Agent
Orange-related diseases. Since VA either will not or cannot right this
wrong on its own, I urge my colleagues to support S.681, the Blue Water
Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015, which would ensure all veterans
exposed to Agent Orange are compensated.”
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