Summary of H.R. 334 - Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2017

This bill is intended to help people affected by Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide used during the Vietnam War that caused serious health problems for many Vietnamese, U.S. veterans, and their families. Below is an easy-to-understand explanation of what the bill does:

Background

• Between 1961 and 1971, about 19 million gallons of herbicides, including 13 million gallons of Agent Orange, were sprayed over southern Vietnam.
• Agent Orange contained dangerous chemicals, including dioxin, which caused long-lasting health problems.
• Millions of Vietnamese people, tens of thousands of U.S. veterans, and their children have been affected by this exposure.
• Even today, some areas in Vietnam remain contaminated, affecting the environment and people's health.
• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes many diseases linked to Agent Orange for American veterans but has not provided similar support for Vietnamese victims or Vietnamese-Americans.

What this bill aims to do

The bill directs several U.S. government agencies (the State Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs) to take actions to support individuals impacted by Agent Orange exposure. Key goals include:

1. Help for Vietnamese People Affected by Agent Orange

• Medical Care: Provide medical services, nursing, rehabilitation, and equipment to those suffering from health problems caused by Agent Orange.
• Care for Caregivers: Support hospitals and caregivers in Vietnam with medicines, training, and other resources.
• Housing & Poverty Relief: Help repair homes and give small grants or loans to help families affected by Agent Orange to reduce poverty.
• Environmental Cleanup: Focus on cleaning heavily contaminated areas in Vietnam to reduce ongoing risks from Agent Orange residues.

2. Research Support

The bill encourages research on the health effects of Agent Orange exposure, especially studies that involve experts from the U.S., Vietnam, and other countries. This helps better understand the problems and find ways to improve care.

3. Support for Vietnamese-Americans

The Department of Health and Human Services will fund health studies and create centers in the U.S. to provide assessment, counseling, and treatment for Vietnamese-Americans and their descendants who might have been exposed to Agent Orange.

4. Benefits for Children of Male Veterans

The bill expands health benefits and birth defect recognition to children of male Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, addressing a previous gap where only children of female veterans were covered for many conditions.

5. Implementation and Reporting

• The three secretaries (State, Health, and Veterans Affairs) must develop and start plans for these programs within 180 days and fully implement them within 18 months.
• They also must provide quarterly reports to Congress on their progress.

Why this is important

Agent Orange caused harm not only to veterans but also to millions of Vietnamese people including children born with birth defects. This bill recognizes the ongoing needs of those affected and commits the U.S. government to supporting healing, research, and cleanup efforts, building goodwill, and addressing a historical injury.

In short: this law is about helping people in Vietnam and Vietnamese-Americans affected by Agent Orange with medical care, housing, cleanup of contaminated sites, research, and benefits for the children of veterans.