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From: "Bruce K. Melson" <doc32751@cookeville.com>
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Sent:
Wednesday, October 11, 2000 5:18 PM
Subject: Fw: Embargoed until 5:00 p.m., October 11: Evans hails Agent
Orange - diabetes link findings, introduces legislation to compensate
veterans
Subject: Embargoed until 5:00 p.m., October 11: Evans hails Agent
Orange - diabetes link findings, introduces legislation to
compensate
veterans Importance: High
NEWS FROM....
CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS
RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Room 333 Cannon HOB For more information contact:
Washington, DC 20515 Bill Crandell @ 202-225-9756
<http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/welcome.htm
FOR RELEASE: Embargoed until 5:00pm, October 11, 2000
Evans hails Agent Orange - diabetes link findings,
Introduces legislation to compensate veterans
Calls for VA to make swift decision on new report
Washington, DC - "The possible connection veterans have
suspected
between Agent Orange and diabetes has been acknowledged by a committee
of the prestigious Institute of Medicine," said Congressman Lane Evans,
the Ranking Democratic Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
"The scientific experts have recognized that Vietnam veterans are at an
increased risk for diabetes. Today I have introduced legislation,
H.R. 5438, to compensate diabetic Vietnam veterans. But I am also calling on
the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] to issue new regulations as quickly as
possible."
Evans applauded the report released today by the Institute of
Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences indicating that a review of
the available scientific evidence on diabetes and Agent Orange concludes
"there is limited/suggested evidence of an association between exposure
to the herbicides used in Vietnam or the contaminant dioxin and Type 2
[adult-onset] diabetes."
"Vietnam
veterans have had their cause heard by the scientific
community. They have won another tragic victory," Evans said. "Now
the road to compensation for this serious illness is open. This significant
step should put disabled Vietnam veterans closer to care and compensation for
another medical condition associated with the use of herbicides during the
Vietnam War.
"I have pressed for swift action," Evans said.
"Now that IOM
acknowledges diabetes as a condition associated with exposure to Agent Orange,
VA has 60 days to determine whether a presumption of service connection is
warranted. I hope that prompt action by the VA will make legislation
unnecessary. If needed, H.R. 5438 would add adult-onset diabetes to the list
of conditions VA must compensate. The presumption of service connection allows
both health care and compensation for disabled veterans.
Evans has also written to Acting Secretary Hershel Gober that VA
should issue interim final regulations to compensate affected Vietnam
veterans.
"VA has both the authority and the evidence it needs to take
action,
and Secretary Gober is a man who makes decisions," he said. "I have
asked him to resolve this quickly."
The Illinois congressman has forced the tempo for action on the
Agent Orange-diabetes connection. Last year, Evans prodded VA to request that
the IOM conduct an expedited review of scientific literature on diabetes.
That review was to be completed in May. Then on March 29, the Air
Force Ranch Hand study reported on additional evidence of links between
exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and diabetes. Evans called Ranch
Hand's findings "very significant." In response, the VA wrote IOM
asking that the Ranch Hand report be included in the expedited review reported
today.
Some 18 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed in Vietnam,
beginning in 1962, to destroy jungle hiding places and enemy crops.
Having served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, Evans has led
the struggle for health care and compensation of Vietnam veterans affected by
Agent Orange.
Due to Evans' persistent pressure, Congress enacted the Agent
Orange
Act of 1991, giving the Department of Veterans Affairs authority to
provide service-connected disability compensation to veterans based on
research findings.
-text of letter to VA follows-
October 11, 2000
The Honorable Hershel Gober
Acting Secretary
Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Gober:
With the release today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of its
report linking Agent Orange exposure and diabetes, the connection veterans
have suspected has been acknowledged. The scientific experts have recognized
that Vietnam veterans are at an increased risk for diabetes. I urge the
Department of Veterans Affairs to move as quickly as possible to
establish a presumption of service-connection to compensate disabled diabetic
Vietnam veterans.
Today's IOM report concludes "there is limited/suggestive
evidence of an association between exposure to the herbicides used in Vietnam
or the contaminant dioxin and Type 2 diabetes." This IOM conclusion
requires VA to decide whether to compensate diabetic Vietnam veterans on a
presumptive basis, in keeping with the Agent Orange Act of 1991.
As you know, VA has determined that the
"limited/suggestive" standard meets the test for presumptive
compensation for other conditions of disabled veterans who served in Southeast
Asia during the Vietnam War.
I have greatly appreciated VA's responsiveness this year in pressing for
swift action prompting IOM to conduct an expedited review of
scientific literature on diabetes, and to include the Ranch Hand report in the
review published today.
Now VA has 60 days to determine whether a presumption of
service-connection is warranted. Consistent with previous VA
decisions on conditions with the "limited/suggested evidence of an
association," I believe VA should issue interim final regulations to
compensate affected Vietnam veterans as quickly as possible.
Sincerely,
LANE EVANS
Ranking Democratic Member
_____________________
Willie G. Dougherty
National VSO
NVOA Operations Director
http://vvoa.com
http://www.nvo.org