To modify the presumption of service connection for veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents while serving in the Armed Forces in Thailand during the Vietnam era, and for other purposes.

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2201 To modify the presumption of service connection for veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents while serving in the Armed Forces in Thai- land during the Vietnam era, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 10, 2019 Mr. WESTERMAN (for himself, Mr. TIPTON, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. MCCLIN- TOCK, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. GIANFORTE, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. GALLA- GHER, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. KILMER, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. HILL of Arkan- sas, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. DEUTCH, and Mr. THOMPSON of California) in- troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Vet- erans’ Affairs A BILL To modify the presumption of service connection for veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents while serving in the Armed Forces in Thailand during the Vietnam era, 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Apr 18, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2201.IH H2201 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2201 IH SECTION 1. MODIFICATION OF PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE 1 CONNECTION FOR VETERANS WHO WERE EX- 2 POSED TO HERBICIDE AGENTS WHILE SERV- 3 ING IN THE ARMED FORCES IN THAILAND 4 DURING THE VIETNAM ERA. 5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 6 shall ensure that if the Secretary creates a presumption 7 of service connection between the occurrence of a disease 8 and exposure to a herbicide agent while serving in the 9 Armed Forces during the Vietnam era at a military base 10 in Thailand, such presumption also applies to exposure to 11 a herbicide agent while serving in the Armed Forces dur- 12 ing the Vietnam era at any military base located in Thai- 13 land without regard to where on the base the veteran was 14 located or what military job specialty the veteran per- 15 formed. 16 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 17 (1) HERBICIDE AGENT.—The term ‘‘herbicide 18 agent’’ has the meaning given such term in section 19 1116(a) of title 38, United States Code. 20 (2) VETERAN AND VIETNAM ERA.—The terms 21 ‘‘veteran’’ and ‘‘Vietnam era’’ have the meaning 22 given such terms in section 101 of title 38, United 23 States Code. 24 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Apr 18, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2201.IH H2201 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS