A resolution encouraging the President to expand the list of the Department of Veterans Affairs of presumptive medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and hypothyroidism.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 420 Encouraging the President to expand the list of the Department of Veterans Affairs of presumptive medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES NOVEMBER 13, 2019 Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. TESTER, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. MUR- RAY, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. PETERS, and Mr. SCHUMER) submitted the following resolution; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs RESOLUTION Encouraging the President to expand the list of the Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs of presumptive medical condi- tions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to in- clude Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. Whereas veterans have sacrificed so much for the United States and have proudly served the United States to se- cure and preserve the freedoms inherent in the Constitu- tion of the United States; Whereas veterans and their families deserve the benefits that they have earned; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Nov 13, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR420.IS SR420 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 420 IS Whereas members of the Armed Forces sprayed millions of gallons of Agent Orange, a tactical herbicide, and other tactical herbicides on trees and vegetation during the Vietnam War, from 1962 to 1975; Whereas 58,220 members of the Armed Forces died in com- bat during the Vietnam War, and veterans are still dying from diseases related to exposure to Agent Orange; Whereas approximately 83,000 veterans are currently living with at least one of the presumptive medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange; Whereas the report set forth by the National Academy of Medicine in 2018 entitled ‘‘Veterans and Agent Orange Exposure: Update 11’’ recognized— (1) hypothyroidism and bladder cancer to have a limited or suggestive evidence of association to exposure to Agent Orange; and (2) Parkinson-like symptoms, also known as Parkinsonism, and hypertension to have sufficient evi- dence of association to exposure to Agent Orange; Whereas, due to exposure to Agent Orange, veterans and their families are facing monumental hurdles with respect to financial stress, mental health, substance addiction, and physical health issues; and Whereas internal documents obtained by a veteran under sec- tion 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly re- ferred to as the ‘‘Freedom of Information Act’’), deter- mined that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and other White House officials objected to the recommendation by former Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin to add bladder cancer, Parkinsonism, and VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Nov 13, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR420.IS SR420 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 420 IS hypothyroidism to the list of diseases related to exposure to Agent Orange: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate encourages the Presi- 1 dent— 2 (1) to take care of members of the Armed 3 Forces, veterans, and their family members who 4 have given so much, including the ultimate sacrifice, 5 in defense of the United States; and 6 (2) to take action on behalf of thousands of vet- 7 erans across the United States who are living with 8 chronic health conditions by expanding the list of the 9 Department of Veterans Affairs of presumptive med- 10 ical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Or- 11 ange to include Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hy- 12 pertension, and hypothyroidism. 13 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Nov 13, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR420.IS SR420 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS