Senate version-Hep C-If your senator aint on it CALL
Time is short
Just reminding everyone to contact your Representatives and let them know
you are thinking about them.......
Doc Melson
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of
service-connection for certain veterans with Hepatitis C, and for other
purposes. (Introduced in the Senate)
S 71 IS
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 71
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of
service-connection for certain veterans with Hepatitis C, and for other
purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 19, 1999
Ms. SNOWE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of
service-connection for certain veterans with Hepatitis C, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States
of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE-CONNECTION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH
HEPATITIS C.
(a) PRESUMPTION- Section 1112 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
`(d)(1) For the purposes of section 1110 of this title, and subject to the
provisions of section 1113 of this title, the disease Hepatitis C becoming
manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more in any veteran described in
paragraph (2) after active military, naval, or air service covered by that
paragraph shall be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by such
service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of that disease
during such service.
`(2) Paragraph (1) applies in the case of the following:
`(A) Veterans who received during a period of service before December 31,
1992, a transfusion of blood or blood products.
`(B) Veterans who were exposed to blood on or through the skin or a mucous
membrane during a period of service.
`(C) Veterans who underwent hemodyalisis during a period of service.
`(D) Veterans who underwent tattooing, body piercing, or acupuncture during
a
period of service.
`(E) Veterans diagnosed with unexplained liver disease during a period of
service.
`(F) Veterans who experienced an unexplained liver dysfunction value or test
during a period of service.
`(G) Veterans who served in a health-care position or specialty during a
period of service under such circumstances as the Secretary shall prescribe
for purposes of this subsection.'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect
on
the date of the enactment of this Act. No benefit may be paid or provided by
reason of that amendment for any period before such date.
S.71
Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. (introduced 1/19/1999)
Latest Major Action: 1/19/1999 Referred to Senate committee
Title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a
presumption of service-connection for certain veterans with Hepatitis C, and
for other purposes.
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Jump to: Titles, Status, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments,
Cosponsors, Summary
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TITLE(S): (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of
service-connection for certain veterans with Hepatitis C, and for other
purposes.
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STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions) (Floor Actions/Congressional Record
Page References)
1/19/1999:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
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COMMITTEE(S):
Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
Senate Veterans' Affairs Referral
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RELATED BILL DETAILS:
***NONE***
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AMENDMENT(S):
***NONE***
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COSPONSORS(12), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:
(Sort:
by date)
Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. - 2/22/2000 Sen Bingaman, Jeff - 7/22/1999
Sen Collins, Susan M. - 7/26/1999 Sen Frist, Bill - 7/27/1999
Sen Hutchinson, Y. Tim - 7/26/1999 Sen Jeffords, James M. - 6/24/1999
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. - 3/2/2000 Sen Leahy, Patrick J. - 7/12/1999
Sen Lincoln, Blanche - 6/21/1999 Sen Reid, Harry M. - 3/22/2000
Sen Roth, William V., Jr. - 11/5/1999 Sen Sessions, Jeff - 9/21/1999
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SUMMARY AS OF:
1/19/1999--Introduced.
Considers hepatitis C becoming manifest in a veteran to a degree of ten
percent or more to be service-connected, and therefore compensable under
veterans' disability provisions, notwithstanding that there is no record of
evidence of such illness during the period of such service, as long as it is
shown that during such service the veteran experienced: (1) a blood
transfusion before December 31, 1992; (2) blood exposure on or through skin
or mucous membrane; (3) hemodialysis; (4) a tattoo, body piercing, or
acupuncture; (5) unexplained liver disease; (6) an unexplained liver
dysfunction value or test; or (7) working in a health-care position or
specialty.
[Bruce K. Melson]