Agent Orange:FILNER PLEDGES "ALL VETERANS" WILL BE COVERED

FILNER PLEDGES "ALL VETERANS" WILL BE COVERED

BY NEW AGENT ORANGE EQUITY ACT -- House Vets'

Chair says reintroduced bill will cover "all veterans"

exposed to Agent Orange "anywhere" and "at any time."

He said, "The issue is exposure. Exposure to Agent Orange. Not where it happened or when it happened."

This afternoon (Thursday, August 21, 2008) I spoke on the phone with Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

I wanted him to clarify his Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008. For more about the Act (with backlinks), click here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAUG08/nf081108-7.htm


As introduced, Filner's original Act would do away with the VA's rule of "boots on the ground" in Vietnam to receive presumptive status for exposure to Agent Orange, and include the "Blue Water Navy" and a few others. But, it would leave out those exposed to Agent Orange outside Vietnam. For more on the "Blue Water Navy" ruling and Court case, click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=haas&op=and


Now, Filner has clarified his intent.

Filner plans to reintroduce the legislation and have it be absolutely inclusive.

As mentioned above, Filner said, "The issue is exposure."

Filner says his New Agent Orange Equity Act will be sure to include specifics such as: Exposure to Agent Orange in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand (known as the three "nearby" countries), and will also include Guam and the United States of America.

Filner told me, "All veterans exposed to Agent Orange, anywhere, at any time, should be compensated." "And that includes non-combat veterans," Filner added.

This is exceedingly good news for all veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
go here for more
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAUG08/nf082208-6.htm