  The American Veteran's On-Line News Magazine Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 08-11-2008 |
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The American Veteran's On-Line News Magazine Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 08-11-2008 |
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EQUITY ACT OF 2008" TO INCLUDE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES -- House Vets' Chair: "I also intend to include veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange in neighboring countries as well as this bill moves forward."
I sure wish Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, would make up his mind! On July 22, 2008, Filner introduced H.R. 6562, "The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008." This bill would correct the "Blue Water Navy"
fiasco where off-shore vets have had their presumptive exposure status to
Agent Orange removed by the VA. For more on this, use the VA
Watchdog search engine...click here... When the VA changed the Agent Orange presumptive rules, they also cut out those who served in "neighboring countries" such as Laos, Cambodia and Thailand...determining that service in Vietnam was limited to those who were "boots on the ground" instead of anyone who received a Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). Filner's bill, as introduced, is entirely
inadequate as it would only pertain to those veterans who served in
Vietnam "including the inland waterways of such Republic, the waters
offshore of such Republic, and the airspace above such Republic."
That story and a look at the bill here... Now, Filner has sent a letter to a vet who served in Thailand assuring him that the bill will be modified: "I also intend to include veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange in neighboring countries as well as this bill moves forward. If this bill passes through Congress and the President signs it into law, it would ultimately allow all combat veterans exposed to Agent Orange to get their just and equitable compensation," wrote Filner. Thanks to a "friend" of VA Watchdog dot Org for providing the letter. Let's hope Filner
jumps on this and the bill gets passed. There are too many vets hung
up in the system waiting for benefits as the VA keeps appealing Court
decisions. For more on this (the Haas case) use the VA
Watchdog search engine...click here... For more about veterans and Agent Orange, use the
VA Watchdog search engine...click here... Text of letter posted below:
------------------------- Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals in Thailand. I am always working to improve the VA system and I understand that this is an important issue to you.
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