Paul Lawrence, Undersecretary for VA Benefits,
recently unleashed a blistering attack against the Blue Water Navy Vietnam
Veterans Act (HR 229), which would extend disability benefits to at least
70,000 Vietnam vets suffering from dioxin-related ailments.
Agent Orange, commonly used as a defoliant in the
thick jungles of Vietnam, causes these ailments, and there is clear and
convincing scientific evidence that these 70,000 veterans were also exposed to
this chemical.
These soldiers were shipboard personnel who
generally patrolled about 12 miles off the coastline, but precedent does
suggest that this distance does not preclude Agent Orange exposure. Also,
Congress does not differentiate between levels of exposure among land-based
Vietnam vets, only whether they were exposed or not.
And yet…
VA is raring to go, citing “lack of sufficient
scientific evidence” to grant these benefits, urging Senators to worry about
“uncontrolled demands” for future VA benefits.
He specifically urged the Senate because this bill
has already passed the House. UNANIMOUSLY. How rare must it be, in this age of
polarized parties, that the House passes a bill unanimously?
As the former, doomed VA Secretary David Shulkin
said of this legislation, “these veterans have waited too long and this is a
responsibility that this country has.
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