WASHINGTON (July 20, 2011) – The American
Legion has voiced its strong opposition to a
cost cutting proposal by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn
of Oklahoma that would, in the words of the
Legion’s national commander, “undo the good work
of two decades,” in establishing
service-connection benefits regarding “Agent
Orange.”
Sen. Coburn has introduced a proposed amendment
to the fiscal year 2012 Military Construction
Appropriations (MilCon/VA) Bill that would, in
the Legion’s opinion, possibly deny benefits to
many deserving veterans who have been exposed to
the notorious Vietnam-era “Agent Orange” and
other toxins. The MilCon/VA bill is the
legislation that funds not only military
construction but the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) as well.
As it stands, the VA has the responsibility to
establish a “positive association” between a
veteran’s compromised health condition or
disease and exposure to the toxins. Sen.
Coburn’s amendment would instead require proof
of a “causal relationship” between the two.
“The language change sounds subtle and harmless
enough,” said the Legion’s national commander
Jimmie L. Foster, “but the effect of it is
anything but. What this means is that veteran
would have to absolutely prove that a current
health condition – such as diabetes or heart
disease or cancer – was caused directly by
exposure to a toxin while he or she was in
service. That is an unrealistic standard and, in
my opinion, changes the ‘presumption’ of
service-connected harm to a requirement of proof
beyond doubt. This means that, in a quest to
save the payment of benefits to some, many other
veterans who fully deserve compensation for
their sacrifices could be denied.
“If adopted, Senator Coburn’s amendment would
essentially undo the good work of two decades,”
continued Foster. “It flies in the face of
years and years of careful scientific research
and passionate advocacy.”
Foster was referring to the work, initiated in
part by The American Legion, that led to the
adoption of the Agent Orange Act of 1991, the
legislation that dictated the payment of health
benefits to veterans suffering the dire effects
of exposure to toxic chemicals while in military
service. Last year, after intensive lobbying by
the Legion and others, as well as exhaustive
medical research, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Eric Shinseki authorized the addition of
three new disorders to the list of conditions
presumed caused by service-connected toxin
exposure.
“It’s not just the older generation of Vietnam
veterans who could be denied benefits they are
due,” said Foster, “but younger warriors, too –
those from more immediate, current and future
conflicts. I cannot state enough our opposition
to this perhaps well-intentioned but greatly
flawed idea.”
Sen. Coburn’s proposed amendment follows closely
his proposed “Back in Black” plan to reduce the
national deficit by, in part, increasing medical
fees paid by certain veterans in the VA health
care system and more than doubling prescription
co-payments paid by VA health care recipients.
These proposals are also opposed by The American
Legion as are “Back in Black” plans to deny
TRICARE (military health care) Prime eligibility
to some military career retirees, thus forcing
them into more expensive plans.
“We must remind Sen. Coburn and others who favor
his approach of George Washington’s words,” said
Commander Foster. “The Father or Our Country
said, ‘The willingness with which our young
people are likely to serve in any war, no matter
how justified, shall be directly proportional to
how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars
were treated and appreciated by their nation.’
“The American Legion will never forget the
veterans of any war,” concluded Foster. “I hope
Congress feels the same way and will act
accordingly, especially with respect to this
flawed amendment.”
