Lawrence J. Hackett Jr. Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Fairness Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a task force to assess and make recommendations about the care and compensation that should be provided to veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange, their spouses, and multiple generations of their offspring.
Requires the task force to make recommendations: (1) to establish the Agent Orange Illness Compensation Program to provide an exposed veteran or eligible survivor a lump sum payment for the veteran's injury, illness, or death; (2) for the establishment of a national outreach and education campaign to communicate information about Agent Orange exposures and health conditions to veterans who are affected by incidents of toxic exposures and their families; (3) for compensation and health care for individuals with Spina Bifida, birth defects, or other illnesses who are the children or descendants of members of the Armed Forces who served in Vietnam or in or near the demilitarized zone in Korea during certain time periods determined by the task force; and (4) for the establishment of a unified policy to deal with the consequences of exposure to hazardous materials in the military.
Terminates the task force not later than two years after its establishment.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4408 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4408
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a task force
on Agent Orange exposure.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 4, 2014
Mr. Maffei introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a task force
on Agent Orange exposure.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lawrence J. Hackett Jr. Vietnam
Veterans Agent Orange Fairness Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TASK FORCE ON AGENT ORANGE
EXPOSURE.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a task force to assess and make recommendations about the
care and compensation that should be provided to veterans who have been
exposed to Agent Orange, their spouses, and multiple generations of
their offspring.
(b) Composition.--The task force shall be composed of the
following:
(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(2) The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits.
(3) The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health.
(4) At least one representative from the Institute of
Medicine.
(5) Individuals selected by the Secretary who represent
veterans' service organizations recognized by the Secretary for
the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38,
United States Code.
(6) Such other individuals selected by the Secretary who
represent such other organizations and institutions as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the task force are as follows:
(1) To make recommendations to establish a program to be
known as the ``Agent Orange Illness Compensation Program'' to
provide an exposed veteran, or eligible survivor of that
veteran if the veteran is deceased, a lump sum payment for the
injury, illness, or death of that veteran.
(2) To make recommendations for the establishment of a
coordinated, ongoing, national outreach and education campaign
using such means as direct mail, on-line media, social media,
and traditional media to communicate information about Agent
Orange exposures and health conditions to veterans who are
affected by incidents of toxic exposures and their families.
(3) To make recommendations for compensation and health
care for individuals with Spina Bifida, birth defects, or other
illnesses who are the children or descendants of members of the
Armed Forces who served in the Republic of Vietnam or in or
near the demilitarization zone in Korea during certain time
periods determined by the task force.
(4) To make recommendations for the establishment of a
unified policy to deal with the consequences of exposure to
hazardous materials in the military.
(d) Duration.--The task force established under subsection (a)
shall terminate not later than two years after the date on which the
task force is established under such subsection.
(e) Reports.--
(1) Submittal of report.--Not later than one year after the
date of the establishment of the task force, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the
findings of the task force this section.
(2) Assessment of implementation.--Not later than 120 days
after the termination of the task force, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report containing the assessment of the
Secretary regarding the implementation of the findings of the
task force.
(f) Definition of Agent Orange.--In this section, the term ``Agent
Orange'' means a chemical in an herbicide used in support of the United
States and allied military operations in the Republic of Vietnam during
the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
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