WASHINGTON — Agent Orange, an herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, has been linked to health issues ranging from rashes to heart conditions and certain types of cancer.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, is cosponsoring legislation to expand health care benefits to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange who served aboard deep-water naval vessels.
"Agent Orange has affected the health of thousands of service members who fought in the Vietnam War, and it is unacceptable that some are being denied health care and disability benefits for diseases resulting from their military service," Peters said.
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015 would enable the so-called "Blue Water" veterans to receive disability and health care benefits for diseases linked to exposure to Agent Orange.
Under current law, only veterans who served on Vietnamese soil or aboard a craft in its rivers receive presumptive coverage of illnesses linked directly to Agent Orange exposure.
"My office has heard from Michigan veterans affected by this issue, and I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan, common-sense bill that will ensure Navy veterans who have fallen victim to Agent Orange-related conditions receive the long overdue care they have earned through their service," Peters said.
The U.S. military sprayed millions of gallons of Agent Orange, which contained dioxin, and other herbicides on trees and vegetation during the Vietnam War.