Forward Observer
Forward Observer: “Honoring Our PACT” Finally on Its Way to President
Senate Reverses Itself Under Pressure Senator Schumer, Majority Leader of the Senate, with the help of other key senators, such as Tester and Moran, delivered on his goal in getting S. 3373 passed late Tuesday evening. It took the concerted actions of the true believers to get beyond the quibbles Read more…
Forward Observer
Forward Observer: Senate Rejects “Honoring Our PACT”
24 Senators Turn Tail As reported July 17, we found the doings of the House strange when it sent the H.R. 3967 back to the Senate as S. 3373. Worse, on Wednesday, the Senate voted 55-42 ( U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress – 2nd Session) — Read more…
Forward Observer
Forward Observer: HR 3967 (Honoring Our PACT) Dies and Resurrects
Strange Doings — Reappears as S. 3373 Under a New Name Strange doings occurred in the House last week. The “Honoring Our PACT Act” (H.R. 3967) has undergone a metamorphosis behind the scenes since the Senate returned it to the House in mid-June. The bill reappeared in modified form as Read more…
Tidbits
LVMAC Tidbit: Agent Orange: What You Need to Know
From a VHA Update: Join VA’s virtual class, Agent Orange: What You Need to Know, and learn about Agent Orange exposure, related health conditions, benefits, and information for Blue Water Navy Veterans. This free class takes place on Thursday, September 30, from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET. You can Read more…
Tidbits
Forward Observer — Nehmer Decision Comes to Any Vietnam Veteran Exposed to Herbicides
VA to readjudicate past claims for possible herbicide exposure
On 14 May, the VA formally announced that military veterans who were previously denied service connection for an herbicide related presumptive condition due to lack of in-country Vietnam service will have their claims automatically readjudicated by VA. “Readjudication means VA will review the evidence of record and provide replacement decisions in the cases of those who were previously denied service connection benefits,” said Acting VA Under Secretary for Benefits Thomas Murphy. The review also applies to eligible survivors of deceased Vietnam-era veterans, an issue of significance nowadays due to past VA delays. (more…)
Forward Observer
Forward Observer: VA Drops Fight Against Blue Water Navy Veterans
Finally, some good news on this matter! The Secretary of the VA, Mr. Robert Wilkie, has just announced the VA will not appeal a January court ruling that ordered it to provide health care and disability benefits to our Vietnam War, “Blue Water Navy” veterans. (more…)
Forward Observer
Forward Observer: Blue Water Navy Bill Is About Sunk for This Year
To add to the sorry saga of inaction by our senators, here is the latest as reported in the Stars and Stripes: ### As of 14 December 2018
Forward Observer
Forward Observer: Having the Courage to Do the “Write” Thing for the Blue Water Navy Act
As has been reported, the Blue Water Navy’s Agent Orange bill continues to be stalled in the Senate despite years of effort to correct a poor decision made by the the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2002 (a reversal of policy) and its obfuscating subsequently. This year, the House finally got the the gumption to act and unanimously passed H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018, in July to end the injustice of denying Vietnam, Korean DMZ, and Thailand veterans who suffer from life-threatening health conditions related to exposure to Agent Orange the care and benefits they deserve.
Our senators have yet to prove themselves equally concerned and courageous. (more…)
Forward Observer
Forward Observer: Senate Continues to Stall on Blue Water Navy Act Passage
As an update, the Senate continues to stall since we have last written on the bill. From the VFW, which emphasizes the importance of acting now in whatever way you can:
“During the Vietnam War, veterans who served in the offshore waters of Vietnam drank, bathed in, and cooked with water contaminated by Agent Orange. They are now arbitrarily and unjustly denied benefits for illnesses associated (more…)