Federal Recognition of Veteran Agent Orange Exposure on Guam Advances

Press Release

H.R. 3967, the "Honoring Our Pact" Act, co-sponsored by Congressman San Nicolas, has advanced into the Senate for consideration.

An expansive Bill that covers many veteran exposure concerns including burn pits, H.R. 3967 is a particularly critical breakthrough for Guam as it federally recognizes Agent Orange exposure on Guam and creates eligibility for Veterans present from 1962 to 1980 to pursue claims.

"We are very pleased that the Senate version of this Bill maintained the Guam language for our Veterans, and we are cautiously optimistic that a positive outcome is forthcoming as the Senate has agreed to advance the Bill in its proceedings," said Congressman San Nicolas.

"This initial recognition and claims eligibility is so significant because it formally acknowledges the harmful presence of dioxin on Guam as a result of military activities, it gives our exposed veterans an opportunity to receive badly needed related support, and it establishes a foundation for us to further advance dioxin related illness concerns on this basis," Congressman San Nicolas added.

"We would like to thank our friend Veterans Committee Chairman Mark Takano, who we came to Guam with along with other members of the Committee during the CODEL he led a few years ago, as well as the late Lonnie Kilpatrick and his family and advocates who never gave up the fight to see this through; thank you all for helping more of our veterans get a little more justice," Congressman San Nicolas concludes.

Among many priorities, the bill:
- Expands VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
- Creates a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
- Adds 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA's list of service presumptions, including hypertension;
- Expands presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure; Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
- Strengthens federal research on toxic exposure; and
- Improves VA's resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans,

Further updates on the status of H.R. 3967 will be forthcoming as they occur.

Source