,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cbf  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #h1 #bjai,ms4 
,lee ( ,cali=nia 7= h]self1 ,mr4        
,langev91 ,mrs4 ,d+ell1 ,mr4 ,soto1 &   
,mr4 ,?ompson ( ,cali=nia7 introduc$ !  
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committees on ,en]gy &   
,comm]ce1 & ,=eign ,affairs1 = a p]iod  
to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 
9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*         
provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! 
committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to direct
 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 ! ,secret>y (     
,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1 & ! ,secret>y 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs to provide assi/ance
 = individuals affect$ by exposure to   
,ag5t ,orange1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4   
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,victims ( ,ag5t ,orange ,relief ,act ( 
#bjai4  #b4 ,f9d+s & purpose  7a7 ,f9d+s
 ,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3  7#a7  
,f #aifa to #aiga1 approximately        
#ai1jjj1jjj gallons ( #ae diff]5t       

h]bicides 7 spray$ ov] ! s\!rn region ( 
,vietnam4 ,! ag5ts includ$ #ac1jjj1jjj  
gallons ( ,ag5t ,orange1 #d1ejj1jjj     
gallons ( ,ag5t ,:ite1 #a1jjj1jjj       
gallons ( ,ag5t ,blue1 #dbj1jjj gallons 
( ,ag5t ,purple1 & relatively small]    
quantities ( ! o!r h]bicides4 ,_m ( !   
h]bicides1 includ+ ,ag5ts ,orange1      
,purple1 ,gre51 ,p9k1 ,d9oxol1 &        
,tr9oxol conta9$ ! toxic contam9ant     
diox9 7,,tcdd74 ,ag5t ,blue conta9$ high
 levels ( ars5ic4 ,! a=em5tion$ #ae     
h]bicides1 includ+ ! contam9ant diox91  
are usually collectively ref]r$ to z    
,ag5t ,orange4  7#b7 ,betwe5 #aifh &    
#aiga1 a total ( #f1ejj spray+ missions 
7 c>ri$ out 9 an area ( ab\t #a1ejj1jjj 
hect>es1 :i* repres5t$ ab\t #aj p]c5t ( 
,s\? ,vietnam4  7#c7 ,/udies %[ t betwe5
 #b1ajj1jjj & #d1hjj1jjj ,vietnamese &  
t5s ( ?\s&s ( ,am]icans 7 expos$ to     
,ag5t ,orange dur+ ! spray+4 ,_m o!r    
,vietnamese 7 or cont9ue to be expos$ to
 ,ag5t ,orange ?r\gh contact ) !        
environm5t & food t 0 contam9at$ or z   

(fspr+ ( ^? expos$ :o n[ suff] f        
illnesses & disabilities4  7#d7 ,today1 
!re are /ill doz5s ( environm5tal hot   
spots t cont9ue to contam9ate ! food1   
soil1 s$im5t1 live/ock1 & wildlife )    
,ag5t ,orange4 ,9 fact1 conc5trations ( 
,,tcdd z high z #a1jjj mg_/kg 7 f\nd 9  
soil & s$im5t samples m ?an #cj ye>s    
aft] ,ag5t ,orange 0 spray$ 9 ,vietnam4 
7#e7 ,ag5t ,orange exposure cont9ues to 
negatively affect ! lives ( vet]ans ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates ,arm$ ,=ces1 ,vietnamese  
p1 ,vietnamese-,am]icans1 & _! *ildr54  
,! lives ( _m victims are cut %ort &    
o!rs live ) disease1 disabilities1 &    
pa91 (t5 untreat$ or unrecogniz$4  7#f7 
,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs        
recognizes c]ta9 illnesses & diseases1  
includ+ ,,al amyloidosis1 *ronic ,b-cell
 leukemia1 *loracne1 diabetes mellitus  
type #b1 ,hodgk9's disease1 is*emic he>t
 disease1 multiple myeloma1             
non-,hodgk9's lymphoma1 ,p>k9son's      
disease1 acute & sub-acute p]iph]al     
neuropa?y1 porphyria cutanea t>da1      

pro/ate canc]1 respiratory canc]s1 &    
s(t-tissue s>comas z associat$ ) !      
spray+ & use ( ,ag5t ,orange by ! ,unit$
 ,/ates ,arm$ ,=ces dur+ ! ,vietnam era4
  7#g7 ,no simil> consid]ation has be5  
giv5 to affect$ ,vietnamese or          
,vietnamese-,am]icans4  7#h7 ,!         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs provides  
comp5sation = _m sev]e bir? defects     
among ! *ildr5 ( ,am]ican wom5 vet]ans  
:o s]v$ 9 ,vietnam4 ,! li/ ( bir?       
defects cov]$ includes b is n limit$ to3
 ,a*ondroplasia1 cleft lip1 cleft       
palate1 cong5ital he>t disease1         
cong5ital talipes equ9ov>us 7clubfoot71 
esophageal & inte/9al atresia1          
,hall]man-,/reiff syndrome1 hip         
dysplasia1 ,hirs*sprung's disease       
7cong5ital megacolon71 hydrocephalus due
 to aqu$uctal /5osis1 hypospadias1      
imp]=ate anus1 neural tube defects1     
,pol& syndrome1 pyloric /5osis1         
syndactyly 7fus$ digits71               
tra*eoesophageal fi/ula1 undesc5d$      
te/es1 & ,williams syndrome4 ,affect$   

*ildr5 ( ^! wom5 vet]ans receive m$ical 
c>e & o!r b5efits4  7#i7 ,! only bir?   
defect recogniz$ = ! *ildr5 ( male      
,am]ican vet]ans is sp9a bifida 7b n    
occulta71 result+ 9 mo/ affect$ *ildr5  
receiv+ no b5efits4  7#aj7 ,no assi/ance
 has be5 giv5 to ! *ildr5 ( male or     
female ,vietnamese or                   
,vietnamese-,am]icans connect$ ) _!     
exposure1 or _! p>5t's or gr&p>5t's     
exposure4  7#aa7 ,! ,in/itute ( ,m$ic9e 
= ! pa/ sev]al ye>s has not$ t x is     
consid]ably m plausible ?an previ\sly   
believ$ t exposure to ! h]bicides spray$
 9 ,vietnam might h caus$ pat]nally     
m$iat$ transg5]ational effects '''      
attributable to ! ,,tccd contam9ant 9   
,ag5t ,orange44 ,9 rec5t ye>s1 sci5tific
 /udies h id5tifi$ likely epig5etic l9ks
 betwe5 exposure to tox9s & bir? defects
 & developm5tal disord]s 9 subsequ5t    
g5]ations4 ,"s ( ! *ildr5 & gr&*ildr5 ( 
expos$ p]sons 7,am]icans1 ,vietnamese1 &
 ,vietnamese-,am]icans7 :o 7 9 s\!rn    
,vietnam dur+ ! ,vietnam era likely     

suff] f disord]s1 bir? defects1 &       
illnesses relat$ to ,ag5t ,orange4      
7#ab7 ,dat+ back to #bjjg1 ! ,unit$     
,/ates has engag$ 9 environm5tal        
rem$iation ( contam9ation at ! ,da ,nang
 & ,bi5 ,hoa airports1 & provid$ funds =
 public heal? & disabilities activities 
= individuals resid+ 9 "s affect$ areas4
  7#ac7 ,april #cj1 #bjai1 is ! #dd?    
anniv]s>y ( ! end ( ! ,vietnam ,w>4  7b7
 ,purpose ,x is ! purpose ( ?is ,act to 
address & rem$iate ! ongo+ problems &   
conc]ns t arose or w arise f ! use (    
,ag5t ,orange dur+ ! ,vietnam era4  #c4 
,assi/ance = individuals affect$ by     
heal? issues relat$ to exposure to ,ag5t
 ,orange  7a7 ,= cov]$ individuals ,!   
,secret>y ( ,/ate %all provide assi/ance
 to address ! heal? c>e ne$s ( cov]$    
individuals4 ,su* assi/ance %all include
 ! provision ( m$ical & *ronic c>e      
s]vices1 nurs+ s]vices1 vocational      
employm5t tra9+1 & m$ical equipm5t4  7b7
 ,= c>egiv]s ,! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all  
provide assi/ance to in/itutions 9      

,vietnam t provide heal? c>e = cov]$    
individuals4 ,su* assi/ance %all        
include--  7#a7 m$ic9es & m$ical        
equipm5t2  7#b7 cu/odial c>e1 home c>e1 
respite c>e1 & dayc>e programs2  7#c7   
tra9+ programs = c>egiv]s2  7#d7 m$ical1
 physical rehabilitation1 & c\nsel+     
s]vices & equipm5t = illnesses &        
de=mities associat$ ) exposure to ,ag5t 
,orange2 &  7#e7 recon/ructive surgical 
programs4  7c7 ,= h\s+ & pov]ty r$uction
 ,! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all provide      
assi/ance to repair & rebuild sub/&>d   
homes 9 ,vietnam = cov]$ individuals & !
 families ( cov]$ individuals4 ,!       
,secret>y ( ,/ate %all provide micro    
grants & loans to facilitate subsi/5ce  
paym5ts & pov]ty r$uction = cov]$       
individuals & families ( cov]$          
individuals4  7d7 ,= environm5tal       
rem$iation  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y (
 ,/ate %all provide assi/ance to        
rem$iate ^? geographic areas ( ,vietnam 
t ! ,secret>y det]m9es conta9 high      
levels ( ,ag5t ,orange4  7#b7 ,priority 

,9 provid+ assi/ance "u ?is subsection1 
! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all give priority  
to heavily spray$ areas1 p>ticul>ly     
areas t s]v$ z milit>y bases :]e ,ag5t  
,orange 0 h&l$1 & areas :]e heavy spray+
 & air cra%es result$ 9 h>mful deposits 
( ,ag5t ,orange4  7e7 ,adm9i/rative     
au?orities ,! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all--  
7#a7 provide assi/ance "u ?is section   
7o!r ?an assi/ance "u subsection 7d77   
?r\gh appropriate ,vietnamese community 
& nongov]nm5tal organizations &1 :]e    
necess>y1 public ag5cies2  7#b7 provide 
assi/ance "u ?is section to affect$     
p]sons 9 all areas ( ,vietnam1 includ+  
rural1 m\nta9\s1 & urban areas2  7#c7   
enc\rage /rategic alliances betwe5      
private & public sector p>tn]s z a      
bus9ess model = a*iev+ ! goals ( ?is    
section2 &  7#d7 seek out & actively    
enc\rage o!r bilat]al donors z well z   
,unit$ ,/ates & =eign bus9ess ent]prises
 9 ,vietnam to support ! goals ( ?is    
section ?r\gh developm5t assi/ance &    
corporate philan?ropy programs4  7f7    

,cov]$ individual def9$ ,9 ?is section1 
! t]m cov]$ individual means an         
individual :o-- 7#a7 is a resid5t (     
,vietnam2 &  7#b7  7,a7 is affect$ by   
heal? issues relat$ to exposure to ,ag5t
 ,orange :i* took place dur+ ! p]iod    
beg9n+ on ,janu>y #a1 #aifa1 & end+ on  
,may #g1 #aige1 or :o lives or has liv$ 
9 or ne> ^? geographic areas 9 ,vietnam 
t cont9ue to conta9 high levels ( ,ag5t 
,orange z describ$ 9 subsection 7d72 or 
7,b7 is ! *ild or desc5dant ( an        
individual describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 
& is affect$ by heal? issues describ$ 9 
subp>agraph 7,a74  #d4 ,public rese>* ,!
 ,secret>y ( ,/ate & ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all id5tify & provide
 assi/ance to support rese>* relat+ to  
heal? issues ( individuals affect$ by   
,ag5t ,orange4 ,su* rese>* %\ld include 
recomm5d$ focus provid$ by ! ,unit$     
,/ates ,in/itute ( ,m$ic9e z id5tifi$ 9 
_! bi5nial ,vet]ans & ,ag5t ,orange     
,update1 & support$ by ! active         
involvem5t ( s*ools ( public heal? &    

m$ic9e locat$ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1        
,vietnam1 & o!r int]e/$ c\ntries4  #e4  
,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices    
,heal? ,assessm5t & ,assi/ance =        
,vietnamese-,am]icans  7a7 ,heal?       
assessm5t ,! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human
 ,s]vices %all make grants to           
appropriate public heal? organizations &
 ,vietnamese-,am]ican organizations = ! 
purpose ( conduct+ a broad heal?        
assessm5t ( ,vietnamese-,am]icans :o may
 h be5 expos$ to ,ag5t ,orange & _!     
*ildr5 or desc5dants to det]m9e !       
effects to _! heal? ( su* exposure4  7b7
 ,assi/ance ,! ,secret>y ( ,heal? &     
,human ,s]vices %all e/abli% c5t]s 9    
locations 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates :]e l>ge    
populations ( ,vietnamese-,am]icans     
reside = ! purpose ( provid+ assessm5t1 
c\nsel+1 & treatm5t = conditions relat$ 
to exposure to ,ag5t ,orange4 ,!        
,secret>y may c>ry out ?is subsection   
?r\gh appropriate community &           
nongov]nm5tal organizations or o!r      
suitable organizations1 z det]m9$ by !  

,secret>y4  #f4 ,provision ( b5efits =  
*ildr5 ( male vet]ans :o s]v$ 9 ,vietnam
 :o are affect$ by c]ta9 bir? defects   
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,sub*apt] ,,ii ( *apt] #ah 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is    
am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ woman ,vietnam    
vet]an ea* place x appe>s & ins]t+      
,vietnam vet]an2  7#b7 by /rik+ wom5    
,vietnam vet]ans ea* place x appe>s &   
ins]t+ ,vietnam vet]ans2 &  7#c7 9 !    
head+ ( su* sub*apt]1 by /rik+ ,wom54   
7b7 ,access to records = rese>* purposes
 ,section #ahac7;b7 ( su* title is      
am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ ,! ,secret>y &    
ins]t+ 7#a7 ,! ,secret>y2 &  7#b7 by    
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3    
7#b7 ,! ,secret>y %all require any heal?
 c>e provid] ) :om ! ,secret>y ent]s    
into a contract "u ?is subsection to    
provide access to ! m$ical records (    
individuals :o receive heal? c>e "u ?is 
section to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs = ! purpose ( conduct+ rese>*  
or provid+ support = rese>* into !      
int]g5]ational effects ( ,ag5t ,orange  

exposure4  4  7c7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!   
table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt]
 is am5d$ by /rik+ ! item relat+ to     
sub*apt] ,,ii & ins]t+ ! foll[+ new     
item3  ,sub*apt] ,,ii4 ,*ildr5 (        
,vietnam ,vet]ans ,born ,) ,c]ta9 ,bir? 
,defects  4  7d7 ,effective date ,!     
am5dm5ts made by ?is section %all take  
effect on ! date t is #cj days aft] !   
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #g4      
,deadl9e = implem5tation ,n lat] ?an    
#ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 ! ,secret>y 
( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1 & !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all ea*  
complete a plan = ! implem5tation ( !   
provisions ( ?is ,act1 & ! am5dm5ts made
 by ?is ,act1 applicable to su*         
,secret>y & %all issue a reque/ =       
proposals1 if applicable4 ,! ,secret>y (
 ,/ate1 ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human   
,s]vices1 & ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs %all ea* implem5t ! provisions 
( ?is ,act applicable to su* ,secret>y  
by n lat] ?an #ah mon?s aft] ! date ( ! 

enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #h4 ,qu>t]ly      
reports ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! la/ 
day ( ea* fiscal qu>t] beg9n+ on or aft]
 #ah mon?s aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 !        
,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1 & 
! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all ea*
 submit to ,congress a report on !      
implem5tation ( ! provisions ( ?is ,act 
applicable to su* ,secret>y dur+ !      
imm$iately prec$+ fiscal qu>t]4  #i4    
,def9ition ,= purposes ( ?is ,act1 ! t]m
 ,ag5t ,orange includes any *emical     
comp\nd :i* became "p1 ei!r by design or
 ?r\gh impurities1 ( an h]bicide ag5t   
us$ 9 support ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & alli$ 
milit>y op]ations 9 ! ,republic (       
,vietnam4