U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) urged the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee last week to approve his pending legislation that would ensure that Navy veterans suffering Agent Orange-related diseases receive the care and compensation that they deserve.
Testifying before the committee, Daines reiterated the importance of reversing a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decision that cut benefits for Vietnam-era Navy veterans, known as “Blue Water” vets, who were exposed to the powerful toxin Agent Orange.
“As the son of a Marine, I understand the importance of keeping the promises made to our veterans,” Daines said. “Our bill would simply reinstate medical benefits for Blue Water veterans who served on ships within the territorial waters of Vietnam.”
Along with fellow Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Daines authored and introduced the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015. The bill would ensure that thousands of Blue Water veterans will be eligible to receive disability and health care benefits they have earned for diseases linked to Agent Orange exposure.
“These Blue Water Navy veterans should have access to the best medical care, and not be ignored by the VA,” Daines concluded. “This sort of indifference to our veterans is unacceptable, especially when combined with the constant failure by the VA to do its job. Our nation should not hesitate to invest in the care of these veterans and correct this wrong.”