WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman
Mark Takano and Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe issued the following statement
after the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, H.R. 299, was
officially signed into law:
"Today, we are proud to say that the tens of thousands of Blue Water Navy
veterans can rest easy tonight knowing that the benefits that they earned while
serving off the coasts of Vietnam will be guaranteed. The Blue Water Navy
Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 is finally law and is the culmination of a
decades-long bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill to properly recognize these
veterans' claims and grant them the justice they have waited for. This day
would not be possible without the leadership and unwavering commitment of our
House and Senate colleagues, countless veteran voices, and the Veterans Service
Organizations behind them including the Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled
American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, The
American Legion, AMVETS, Fleet Reserve Association, Military Officers Association
of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Paralyzed Veterans of
America. We are so grateful to each of them and look forward to continuing our
work together to ensure that every one of those who have bravely fought for our
country is afforded the care, benefits, and services that they deserve."
Background:
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 will extend benefits to
servicemembers that served in the territorial waters off the coast of Vietnam
and were exposed to Agent Orange. This was the first bill Chairman Takano
introduced this Congress after a similar bill was passed unanimously in the
House of Representatives last Congress but stalled in the Senate. This
legislation will ensure tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans finally get the
benefits they've earned and deserve.
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