Keeping Our Promises Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2268 To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that certain diseases are covered by the presumption of service connection relating to the exposure to herbicides by certain veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 26, 2021 Mr. WESTERMAN (for himself, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mrs. HARSHBARGER, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. BERGMAN, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. MORELLE, Mr. DELGADO, Ms. OMAR, Mr. COHEN, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Mr. RUTHERFORD, Mr. GRIFFITH, Mr. KIM of New Jersey, Mrs. AXNE, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Ms. PORTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that cer- tain diseases are covered by the presumption of service connection relating to the exposure to herbicides by cer- tain veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Keeping Our Promises 4 Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:29 May 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2268.IH H2268 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2268 IH SEC. 2. ADDITION OF DISEASES TO PRESUMPTION OF 1 SERVICE CONNECTION FOR VETERANS EX- 2 POSED TO CERTAIN HERBICIDES WHILE 3 SERVING IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. 4 (a) SPECIFIED DISEASES.—Subsection (a)(2) of sec- 5 tion 1116 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 6 adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: 7 ‘‘(L) Prostate cancer becoming manifest to a 8 degree of disability of 10 percent or more. 9 ‘‘(M) AL amyloidosis becoming manifest to a 10 degree of disability of 10 percent or more. 11 ‘‘(N) Early-onset peripheral neuropathy becom- 12 ing manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more with- 13 in one year after the last date on which the veteran 14 was exposed to an herbicide agent during active mili- 15 tary, naval, or air service. 16 ‘‘(O) Ischemic heart disease becoming manifest 17 to a degree of disability of 10 percent or more. 18 ‘‘(P) Stroke becoming manifest to a degree of 19 disability of 10 percent or more. 20 ‘‘(Q) Hypertension becoming manifest to a de- 21 gree of disability of 10 percent or more.’’. 22 (b) ADDITIONAL DISEASES.— 23 (1) EXTENSION OF SUNSET.—Subsection (e) of 24 such section 1116 is amended by striking ‘‘2015’’ 25 and inserting ‘‘2030’’. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:29 May 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2268.IH H2268 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2268 IH (2) PROHIBITION OF COST AS FACTOR.—Sub- 1 section (b) of such section 1116 is amended by add- 2 ing at the end the following new paragraph: 3 ‘‘(4) In making determinations for the purpose of this 4 subsection, the Secretary may not take into account the 5 costs to the United States relating to paying compensation 6 under this section pursuant to such determination.’’. 7 (3) TIMING AND SUBMISSION OF DETERMINA- 8 TIONS.—Subsection (c)(1) of such section 1116 is 9 amended— 10 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘60 11 days’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘120 12 days’’; and 13 (B) in subparagraph (B)— 14 (i) by inserting ‘‘and submit to the 15 Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 16 House of Representatives and the Senate’’ 17 after ‘‘publish in the Federal Register’’; 18 and 19 (ii) by inserting ‘‘, and any other fac- 20 tor that contributed to,’’ after ‘‘scientific 21 basis for’’. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:29 May 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2268.IH H2268 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS