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Updated 07 September 2010
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Martians
SK2-Stew68-70
7 posts
Dec 25, 2009
12:54 PM
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Gillibrand Introduces AO Equity Act in Senate! "S 1939"
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 in the Senate today. The bill will, when enacted, restore presumptive eligibility for exposure to herbicides to Veterans of the Vietnam War who served in the Blue Water Navy, the Blue Sky Air Force, and those who served in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, all of whom were included in the original Agent Orange Act of 1991, but were later removed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Senate bill joins its companion, HR 2254, introduced in the US House of Representatives in May of this year by Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. We do not have a bill number yet, but will post that as soon as it becomes available.
Ostensibly, the introduction of the same bill in the Senate as in the House will shorten its path to enactment, making very real the possibility of a signed bill by the end of this year, certainly by the end of February.
Now is the time to concentrate on contacting your US Senator to support, and fund the bill in the Senate, and to co-sponsor it. There are already some co-sponsors [the list isn't up quite yet], but we are shooting for 67, a veto proof majority.
Please contact your Senators [both!] and ask them to co-sponsor the bill today! Phone is good, in person is best, fax is also good. Letters will not work as they sit in a warehouse waiting to be checked for anthrax for at least a month.
We have never been closer that this in the last few years.
Keep the momentum going! Get your Senators to co-sponsor the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009!
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SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart
Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5
Dec 68-May 70
Last Edited on 25-Dec-2009 12:59 PM
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SK2-Stew68-70
21 posts
Mar 29, 2010
1:35 PM
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Copied from VNVets news
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Big News from Chairman Bob Filner!
A recent effort by members of VASVW and BWNVVA has resulted in agreement with Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to hold hearings on the Agent Orange Equity Act [HR 2254] in early May. A visit by John Wells and Michael Teany on Friday was successful in obtaining this movement.
Here is John Wells' thank you letter to Chairman Filner:
Hon. Bob Filner
Member of Congress
2428 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Filner:
I wanted to thank you again for seeing Mike Teaney and I last Friday concerning HR 2254. As you know, I have been active with both groups supporting this legislation, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans and the Veterans Association of Sailors of the Vietnam War. I have advised both groups of your decision to hold hearings on the bill in early May and as you can imagine they are overjoyed. I will work on behalf of both organizations with Talib Karim to make these hearings a reality.
Words are inadequate to describe our appreciation for your efforts on behalf of the Navy veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. You have been untiring in your support. Too often our veterans, many of them ill or disabled, are allowed to become lost in the bureaucracy. With your support, however, we stand at the cusp of being able to rescue a substantial portion of these veterans and provide them with necessary health care and benefits.
Navy veterans everywhere salute your efforts and will keep you in our prayers as we move forward with this life saving legislation. We certainly could not ask for a better friend in Congress. I look forward to seeing you again at the hearings in May.
Sincerely,
John B. Wells
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SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart
Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5
Dec 68-May 70
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Darryl W
6 posts
Mar 30, 2010
6:34 AM
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This is great news Stew. I thank you for keeping other shipmates informed of what's going on. It seams like news like this is always kept low-key.
Darryl Wetzell BM2
Side Cleaner/Boat Deck
Dec 65-Dec 67
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