The Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 sent to President for signature

[boardman]

The Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 sent to President for signature

Vietnam Veterans of America -Legislative Update

December 12, 2016

United States Senate passes Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015

On Saturday, December 10, 2016, H.R. 6416, the Miller-Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act of 2016, unanimously passed the Senate and is now on the way to the President's Desk for signature into law. Among the 76 separate provisions of the bill are measures aimed at improving veterans' access to care, benefits, education, and homeless assistance.

Also included in the legislation are the provisions of the Toxic Exposure Research Act, Vietnam Veterans of America top legislative priority.

My heartfelt congratulations go to all of you who answered the call and took action, organizing over 250 Agent Orange town hall meetings throughout our nation; activating your communities; and working with your representatives on Capitol Hill. Through your relentless perseverance, your voices have been heard.

This legislation, a necessary first step, will lay the groundwork for the research we need on the health of our children and grandchildren, whom we believe have been impacted by exposures during our military service---and in keeping with our founding principle, this legislation will ensure that our newer veterans will not have to wait 50 years for answers.

VVA also thank Senators Moran-KS and Blumenthal-CT for introducing the bill in the Senate S.901 and Representatives Benishek (MI-1) and Honda (CA-17) for introducing the bill in the House H.R. 1769 and their colleagues on both sides for ensuring that this bipartisan legislation was enacted into law.

This is a milestone. Stand by. Our work is not done.

Yours,

John Rowan, National President/CEO

[boardman]

Thank you - The Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 becomes law

Vietnam Veterans of America

Legislative Update

December 23, 2016

The 114th Congress has recessed for the year.

On behalf of John Rowan, VVA National President and the Board of Directors we would like to thank you for all of your grassroots advocacy support over the past year.

With that said, on December 16, 2016, the President of the United States provides VVA with a tremendous victory when he signed into law H.R. 6416, the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016.

The new law in Subtitle C-Toxic Exposure, includes S.901 the Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 an issue that VVA has been working on for the past eight years. Go to Congress.gov and type in H.R. 6416 to view the new law.

The bill would not have passed into law without your grassroots support and VVA shares this victory with you.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday and VVA look forward to working with you in the upcoming 115th Congress on legislative issues that will enhance the lives of veterans and their families.

The Government Affairs Team
Rick, Bernie, Sharon, Kris, Tom, Carl, Jim, and Joe