More than a dozen veterans advocacy groups will join forces
to track and highlight toxic exposure illnesses among former military members
in an attempt to push for quicker action on what they see as a looming health
crisis.
The Toxic Exposures in the American Military coalition,
announced this week, will coordinate efforts from groups like Wounded Warrior
Project, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America,
Veteran Warriors Inc., and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
The focus will be on issues related to exposures in the
recent wars, although the groups have also advocated on illnesses related to
chemical poisoning in the ranks from earlier periods.
“We must do more to address the illnesses we are seeing in
America's service members and veterans as a result of toxic exposures,” said
WWP CEO Mike Linnington said in a statement. “We must honor the service and
sacrifice of our nation's warriors by working with Congress to provide the
necessary care and resources to help those suffering.”
The move comes the same week Department of Justice officials
announced they will not appeal a federal court ruling which awarded presumptive
disability benefit status to about 90,000 “blue water” Vietnam veterans who
served in ships at sea during the war there.
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