WASHINGTON — A group of lawmakers introduced legislation
that would add nine more diseases to a list of conditions presumed to be caused
by the chemical herbicide Agent Orange, giving veterans who suffer from them a
fast-track to
The Keeping Our Promises Act, introduced last week, adds
prostate cancer, bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, hypertension, stroke,
early-onset peripheral neuropathy, AL amyoloidosis, ischemic heart disease and
Parkinson-like syndromes to a list of diseases presumed to be caused by Agent
Orange exposure during the Vietnam War.
Researchers with the National Academy of Medicine released
findings in November that there was “suggestive” evidence that eight of the diseases
could be caused by Agent Orange. For hypertension, researchers found that
“sufficient” evidence exists.
“American heroes
affected by Agent Orange deserve the peace of mind knowing that the federal
government recognizes the existing link between their exposure and illness,”
said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., one of eight lawmakers who banded
together to introduce the legislation.
VA experts have begun a “formal, deliberative review” of the
National Academy of Medicine’s latest report, VA Press Secretary Curt Cashour
said Tuesday. The review is expected to be complete in the summer, at which
time the agency will make recommendations about presumptive conditions, he
said.
During a Senate hearing March 26, Richard Stone, the
executive in charge of the Veterans Health Administration, guessed the review
would be complete within 90 days.
“We’re working our
way through that right now,” Stone said of the national academy report.
No comments:
Post a Comment