Bill Text: NJ AR196 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to adopt "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-10-22 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR196 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR196-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman JOHN ARMATO
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to adopt "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging United States Congress to adopt the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018."
Whereas, During the official Vietnam conflict duration (August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975), more than 2.7 million Americans served in uniform in Vietnam, including more than 58,000 Americans killed in action and more than 150,000 Americans wounded; and
Whereas, Among those who were killed in action and wounded, 1,631 and 4,178, respectively, were navy personnel; and
Whereas, The United States developed Agent Orange, dioxin-laden herbicide, to assist ground, air, and naval personnel in warfare; and
Whereas, During the Vietnam conflict, the United States military sprayed approximately 20 gallons of the dioxin-laden herbicide Agent Orange to defoliate the forest areas the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese used as cover and to destroy vegetation and food; and
Whereas, Agent Orange is a chemical with devastating effects and a strong association with negative health outcomes, including but not limited to, severe forms of cancer and numerous neurological diseases; and
Whereas, While the "Agent Orange Act of 1991" requires the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide disability and health benefits to all veterans who served in active military, air, or naval service in Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict and who have illnesses directly related to Agent Orange exposure, in 2002 the VA decided to provide benefits only to individuals with "boots on the ground" service in Vietnam; and
Whereas, Under the regulatory change, ground troops are assumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange, while naval personnel have to prove they were physically present in Vietnam to show their illness is related to Vietnam service; and
Whereas, Currently, certain Navy veterans who served in Vietnam are unable to receive the VA disability or health benefits for medical issues related to the effects of Agent Orange due to federal law; and
Whereas, Agent Orange has been verified, through various studies and reports, as a wide-spreading chemical that was able to reach Navy ships through air and waterborne distribution routes; and
Whereas, "Blue Water" Navy veterans are servicemen who contend they were exposed to Agent Orange though the water systems aboard aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and other ships utilized during the Vietnam conflict; and
Whereas, The "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018" provides eligibility for disability compensation to "blue water" Navy veterans; and
Whereas, The "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018" would restore disability and health benefits to more than 90,000 Vietnam Navy veterans, who had their disability eligibility taken away in 2002 after regulatory changes; and
Whereas, The benefits include expanding the inclusive dates to those who served along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, expanding benefits to include children born with spina bifida due to a parent's exposure to Agent Orange-related herbicides in Thailand, providing retroactive benefits to "blue water" veterans who filed claims that were later denied if they are eligible, and granting Navy veterans who served in Vietnam presumptive illness status; and
Whereas, On June 25, 2018, the United States House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018," which is currently awaiting final approval in the United States Senate; and
Whereas, Failure to adopt the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018" would dishonor our Vietnam veterans who valiantly served our country in what was a difficult and unconventional conflict; thousands made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives, and thousands of others were wounded and injured in battle, including those that carry the health effects of the Vietnam conflict with them today; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper that the United States Congress support Vietnam Navy veterans and adopt the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018" to provide needed health and disability benefits to those Navy veterans who became ill as a result of their bravery and courageous service to our country; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to adopt the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018."
2. Copies of this resolution,
as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the
General Assembly to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
the Minority leader of the United State House of Representatives, the Chairman
of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Majority leader of the United
States Senate, the Minority leader of the United States Senate, the Chairman of
the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Secretary of the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, and each member of the Congressional delegation
from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to adopt the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018," which provides eligibility for disability compensation to Navy veterans who served during the Vietnam conflict.
Currently, certain naval personnel who served in Vietnam are excluded from receiving disability and health benefits for medical issues related to the effects of Agent Orange because they do not have presumptive illness status. Unlike ground troops who served during the Vietnam conflict, naval personnel have to prove that their illnesses are related to Agent Orange and their Vietnam service. Agent Orange is a chemical with devastating effects and a strong association with negative health outcomes, including but not limited to, respiratory cancers, Parkinson's disease, and heart disease.
The United States Congress is respectfully urged to adopt the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018" and support Navy veterans who served the United States admirably during the Vietnam conflict. Vietnam Navy veterans who became ill due to their service now carry the wounds of war and must be granted presumptive illness status and receive the same benefits as ground troops. Agent Orange did not distinguish between ground and naval personnel and neither should federal law.
