Agent Orange Research Ends

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© 2014 ‎(COVVHA) Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance INC
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Legislative Mandate Set to Expire, Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance, Supports H.R. 3423, The Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015

The Agent Orange Act of 1991 is the only legislative pathway to add ailments to the presumptive list of service connected illnesses for Vietnam Veterans. It is set to expire on September 30th, 2015 if the Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015 is not passed. If this Act is allowed to expire comprehensive research reviews will end. Without continued research reviews, some Vietnam Veterans will never be covered for the ailments caused by their exposure. If this legislation is not extended, there will be no new ailments added to the service connected presumptive list for Vietnam Veterans (after the 2014 report is released this December).Vietnam Veterans have suffered years with the unknown long term effects of exposure to (2,4-D) and (2,4,5-T), and Dioxin (TCDD). Many are still suffering.

The first comprehensive review was published in 1994, due to passage of, The Agent Orange Act of 1991. The original mandate of biennial reporting on the effects of herbicide exposure was to last ten years. However, the date was later extended until October 1, 2014. It was again extended for one additional year with the passing of H.R. 5404 last year. That extension is set to expire September 30th, 2015.
Male Vietnam Veterans and their families believe AO exposure has caused birth defects and certain ailments in their children. There has never been an acknowledgement of AO caused birth defects by the Veterans Affairs, except for specific types of Spina Bifida. The last “Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2012,” quoted this research statement:

“Dioxin exposure has the potential to disrupt male reproductive function by altering gene expression that is pertinent to spermatogenesis and by altering steroidgenesis (Wong and Cheng, 2011) and to disrupt female reproductive function by altering gene expression pertinent to ovarian follicle growth and maturation, uterine function, placental development, and fetal morphogenesis and growth.”

Science is catching up. We cannot allow the Agent Orange Act to expire when there is an explosion of research in the science of Epigenetics. Currently because of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 the Academy of Science and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) are mandated to review research from top universities all over the world.

Too many Children of male Vietnam Veterans are suffering with uncommon ailments for their age, ailments and birth defects that seem to be common in high numbers with other Children of Vietnam Veterans. Things like; Chiari Malformation, Auto Immune Disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Rare Cancers, Spinal Malformations, Spinal Degeneration, Multiple or Deformed Kidneys, Heart Shaped Uterus, Missing Limbs, and many more conditions. These issues do not have prior family histories and are believed by families to be caused by mutated genetics caused by paternal exposure to AO.

We cannot give up with the finish line in sight. Forty plus years the children of Vietnam Veterans have waited for the science, and now it is here. When the information becomes available, the legislation is already in place to care for the severely suffering.

Please support H.R. 3423 Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015 by clicking this link.

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© 2014 ‎(COVVHA) Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance INC
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(COVVHA) Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance INC. AO2GEN