In
Washington, some lawmakers are calling for research into whether Agent
Orange and other toxic substances are responsible for the health
problems of veterans’ children and grandchildren.
The Toxic
Exposure Research Act is the latest incarnation of a bill that would
establish a research center within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget
Office has estimated the cost of establishing the center at $74 million
over the next four years.
Supporters come from both parties and
include about half of the members of Congress. In the House, all
Nebraska and Iowa representatives are co-sponsors except for Adrian
Smith, R-Neb. In the Senate, Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is the only one
from Nebraska or Iowa who has signed on.
The Vietnam Veterans of America is one veterans group that is pushing hard to pass the bill to spur Agent Orange research.
“Without the scientific proof,” said Mokie Pratt Porter, the group’s communications director, “we can’t get off ground zero.”
VA officials say they support more
research but don’t agree that their agency is the right one to study
next-generation health impacts, because the VA lacks experience with
children’s health issues.
“We don’t have a lot of pediatricians
on our staff,” said Dr. Ralph Erickson, the VA’s post-deployment health
consultant. “The National Institutes of Health probably should have the
lead in this type of research.”
That’s the reason U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., hasn’t signed on.
“She remains committed to ensuring our
veterans receive the care they need,” said Tom Doheny, Fischer’s
communications director, but he said she would like lawmakers to explore
the details further.
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., supports the bill’s goals and is reviewing it, a spokesman said.
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