U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., is doubling down in his effort to change how the VA handles veterans impacted by Agent Orange.
Last year, Crist paired with U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Dean Heller, R-Nev., and U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to bring out the “Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act.”According to Crist’s office, the bill “requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to adhere to an expedited process to expand Agent Orange coverage for new illnesses linked to exposure by the National Academy of Sciences, automatically providing benefits to veterans exposed to Agent Orange suffering from designated conditions.” The Tampa Bay Democrat noted that some veterans impacted by Agent Orange are seeing as long as three years delay in the VA handling their cases. Crist unveiled the bill in October and it did not cross the finish line in the last weeks of the 115th Congress.
Crist and Mullin brought the proposal back this week as they hope to expedite the process for veterans hurt by Agent Orange.
"When a veteran’s medical condition is determined to be linked to their exposure to Agent Orange, their benefits shouldn’t be tied up in bureaucratic red tape," Crist said this week. "I urge Congress to take swift action on this bipartisan, bicameral bill to help our Vietnam veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve and have earned, which for too many have been delayed or denied."
"When it comes to taking care of our veterans, we owe it to them to be proactive rather than reactive," said Mullin. "The Agent Orange Act of 1991 required the Secretary of the VA recommend new illnesses associated with Agent Orange until the requirement lapsed in 2015. The Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act simply puts back in place the same recommendation requirements that were in place for 25 years. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan, bicameral legislation alongside Congressman Crist so that our Vietnam veterans continue to receive the highest level of care we can provide."
"This is a much-needed extension of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 that will require the VA to continue to take seriously the unmet health problems of Vietnam veterans and their families," said John Rowan, the national president of Vietnam Veterans of America. "We strongly support the Expedite Agent Orange Coverage Act."
Crist’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee. So far, there is no counterpart over in the U.S. Senate.
