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Strikes each occurrence of an unspecified term and inserts the term "Vietnam veteran" and "Vietnam veterans" in Subchapter II; amends the heading of the subchapter.
Redesignates subsection (c) as subsection (d) and inserts a new subsection (c) requiring any health care provider with whom the Secretary contracts under this subsection to provide access to medical records to the Department of Veterans Affairs for research or support of research into the intergenerational effects of Agent Orange exposure; defines the term "Agent Orange."
Amends the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 by striking the item relating to Subchapter II and inserting a new item.
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services to research, coordinate, and provide services for the health effects of Agent Orange exposure — including possible effects across generations — and to set up community health centers and grant programs for Vietnamese Americans and descendants who may be affected. It also requires VA access to relevant medical records, directs VA to survey children of exposed veterans about care needs, and establishes timelines and quarterly reporting to Congress on implementation.
From 1961 to 1971, approximately 19,000,000 gallons of 15 different herbicides were sprayed over the southern region of Vietnam by the United States military.
The herbicides included 13,000,000 gallons of Agent Orange, 4,500,000 gallons of Agent White, 1,000,000 gallons of Agent Blue, 420,000 gallons of Agent Purple, and smaller quantities of others; many contained the toxic contaminant dioxin (TCDD), and Agent Blue contained high levels of arsenic. These 15 herbicides and the contaminant dioxin are usually collectively referred to as Agent Orange.
Between 1961 and 1971, nearly 20,000 spraying missions covered about 1,700,000 hectares (about 10 percent of South Vietnam and portions of Laos and Cambodia); these figures account for U.S. Air Force Operation Ranch Hand and do not include use by the Army Chemical Corps, CIA, or South Vietnamese Government.
Studies found between 2,100,000 and 4,800,000 Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian people and tens of thousands of Americans were exposed to Agent Orange; many others were or continue to be exposed through contaminated environment and food, and many offspring of those exposed have birth defects, developmental disabilities, and other diseases.
Agent Orange exposure continues to negatively affect U.S. veterans, Vietnamese people, Vietnamese Americans, and their children; many victims die early or live with untreated or unrecognized disease, disabilities, and pain.
Who is affected and how:
Veterans exposed to herbicides in Vietnam: Likely to benefit from expanded research coordination, better understanding of transgenerational health risks, and potential downstream improvements in care guidelines and outreach. VA will gain legal authority to access records from contracted providers to support research.
Children and descendants of exposed veterans: Targeted for a VA survey to assess access to care and treatment adequacy; findings could lead to recommended services, referrals, or program changes if gaps are identified.
Vietnamese Americans and their descendants (communities with potential exposure): Eligible for HHS-funded grants, local assessment/treatment centers, counseling, and outreach; community organizations may receive grants to conduct studies and deliver services.
Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Health and Human Services: Will assume new program management, research‑coordination, grant administration, record‑access oversight, reporting duties, and international research partnerships; this creates administrative workload and will likely require additional resources.
Contracted health care providers delivering VA care: Must provide VA access to relevant medical records for research purposes, which raises operational, privacy, and compliance considerations (HIPAA and consent processes will need attention).
Academic and research institutions (U.S. and international): Expected to participate in coordinated research projects, potentially receiving research funding and collaborating on studies of intergenerational effects.
Community and nongovernmental organizations in Vietnamese American population centers: Potential grant recipients to provide outreach, assessments, counseling, and treatment; may need capacity-building for service delivery and data collection.
Potential secondary effects and considerations:
Overall, the legislation advances research and service delivery targeted at Agent Orange exposure and its potential transgenerational effects, placing new operational duties on VA and HHS and expanding support for affected U.S. communities and descendants.
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced April 28, 2025 by Rashida Tlaib · Last progress April 28, 2025
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1764)
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House