Here is some of the current legislation that could use some positive energy sent to your elected representatives in the Congress and Senate.

H.R. 2254 Agent Orange Equity Act: Clarifies presumptions relating to the exposure of a population of veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.

You will note the word “vicinity.” Yes that means Navy ships and Air Force installations wherein personnel handled 55 gallon drums of Dioxin, known as Agent Orange.

The DOD acknowledged nearly 7 years ago that we dropped twice the amount of defoliant as was first reported.  This problem will dog the Vietnam Veteran to the grave.  Imagine the fact that ALS/ Lou Gehrig Disease was linked to service-connected claims  for World War ll veterans in 2008!  65 years later!

H.R. 1377/ S 404–Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act: To expand veterans eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veteran Affairs  for the emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility.

Pretty important stuff for rural areas. We often forget the folks that do not live in the cities.

H.R. 2573 Atomic Veterans Relief Act: To revise the eligibility for the presumption of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service.

I know two men here in Tucson who attended ABC School; Atomic, Biological, Chemical Warfare school, who have been fighting for their benefits for 15 years! It is clear that that the DOD does not want to create damaging case law.

H.R. 4045: To increase burial benefits for veterans.