Correcting Guam’s History in the PACT Act

Correcting Guam's History in the PACT Act

This bill expands eligibility for a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.

Under the bill, service performed in Guam or its territorial waters between August 15, 1958, and July 31, 1980, provides a veteran who has a specified disease that is associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents with eligibility for a presumption of service-connection. (Under current law, the eligible time frame for service in Guam is between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980.)

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1191 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1191

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for a 
presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure 
  to certain herbicide agents for certain veterans who served in Guam.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 24, 2023

  Mr. Moylan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for a 
presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure 
  to certain herbicide agents for certain veterans who served in Guam.

    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 ``Correcting Guam's History in the 
PACT Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR A PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE 
              CONNECTION FOR DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO 
              CERTAIN HERBICIDE AGENTS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WHO SERVED 
              IN GUAM.

    Section 1116(d)(5) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters 
thereof,'' and inserting ``Guam (or in the territorial waters thereof) 
during the period beginning on August 15, 1958, and ending on July 31, 
1980, or American Samoa (or in the territorial waters thereof)''.
                                 <all>