LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional Deleg-
ation to pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013, H.R. 543

WHEREAS, The federal legislation, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans
Act of 2013, would allow blue water veterans who served up to 12 miles
off-shore in Vietnam presumptive coverage for Agent Orange exposure;
this would enable them to receive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
benefits if they suffer from any of the diseases linked to Agent Orange;
and
WHEREAS, Dioxin is a chemical contaminant that was contained in Agent
Orange, a herbicide used for defoliation in Vietnam from 1962 until
1971; and
WHEREAS, Agent Orange received its name from orange painted on barrels
containing the herbicide; and
WHEREAS, Herbicide-spraying operations were conducted to clear vege-
tation, denying the enemy camouflage or cover for ambush; herbicides
were also used to destroy enemy food crops and to clear base perimeters,
landing zones, waterways, and communication lines; an estimated 11
million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed; and
WHEREAS, Diseases and/or conditions were recognized by the federal
Department of Veterans Affairs to be associated with Agent Orange; among
those cited include, but are not limited to: adult-onset diabetes melli-
tus (Type 11), Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma,
respiratory cancers, and soft-tissue sarcoma; and
WHEREAS, In 1991, federal legislation was enacted to allow the Secre-
tary of Veterans Affairs to declare certain illnesses "presumptive" to
exposure to Agent Orange and enabled these veterans to receive disabili-
ty compensation for these related conditions; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, the VA limited the scope of the law to only those
veterans who could provide orders for "boots on the ground" in Vietnam;
boots on the ground encompassed infantry and the riverine navy; as a
result, veterans who served in the waters off Vietnam, commonly known as
"blue water veterans," were forced to file individual claims with the VA
to restore their benefits, which are then decided on a case-by-case
basis; the VA has denied over 32,000 through 2009; and
WHEREAS, In May 2011, a report issued by the Institute of Medicine
concluded that plausible routes of exposure of Agent Orange exist for
blue water veterans; presumptive coverage lifts the burden of proof from
the individual veteran to prove direct exposure of Agent Orange; and
WHEREAS, This legislation is endorsed by approximately 35 military and
veterans organizations including the Vietnam Veterans of America, the
Vietnam Veterans of America New York State Council, the Agent Orange
Legacy, Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance, and the Blue Water
Sailors of the Vietnam War; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to pass
legislation to provide presumptive coverage of Agent Orange exposure to
those veterans known as "blue water veterans", H.R. 543; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitable engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York; John Rowan, President, Vietnam Veterans of America; and Ned D.
Foote, President, Vietnam Veterans of America New York State Council.