Bill Details
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View cosponsors (20)
- Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-New York-11]
- Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-California-1]
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-New York-1]
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-Massachusetts-6]
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-Nevada-1]
- Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-District of Columbia]
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-Nevada-3]
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-Michigan-12]
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-California-28]
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-New York-25]
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-New York-6]
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-North Carolina-1]
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-Wisconsin-2]
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-California-14]
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-Florida-22]
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-Oregon-4]
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-Texas-7]
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-North Carolina-2]
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-New York-13]
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-New Jersey-4]
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would make it easier for some veterans who served in Guam to get VA benefits for certain illnesses linked to exposure to herbicide agents, such as Agent Orange. It changes federal law so that Guam service during a specific time period is clearly covered by the presumption that some diseases were caused by military service. This means eligible veterans would not have to prove the exposure and illness connection on their own in the same way they would under current rules.
- It applies to veterans who served in Guam, including the territorial waters around Guam, from August 15, 1958, through July 31, 1980.
- It updates the law that lists places where herbicide exposure is presumed, so Guam is described more clearly and the covered time period is spelled out.
- The bill keeps American Samoa in the same part of the law, but the change focuses on fixing and expanding the Guam language.
Official Summaries
Correcting Guam's History in the PACT Act
This bill expands eligibility for a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
Under the bill, service performed in Guam or its territorial waters between August 15, 1958, and July 31, 1980, provides a veteran who has a specified disease that is associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents with eligibility for a presumption of service-connection. (Under current law, the eligible time frame for service in Guam is between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980.)
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2149 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2149
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for a
presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure
to certain herbicide agents for certain veterans who served in Guam.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 14, 2025
Mr. Moylan (for himself, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. LaLota, Mr.
Moulton, Ms. Titus, Ms. Norton, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Chu,
Mr. Morelle, Ms. Meng, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Pocan, Mr.
Swalwell, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, and Ms. Hoyle of Oregon)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for a
presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure
to certain herbicide agents for certain veterans who served in Guam.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Correcting Guam's History in the
PACT Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR A PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE
CONNECTION FOR DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO
CERTAIN HERBICIDE AGENTS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WHO SERVED
IN GUAM.
Section 1116(d)(5) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters
thereof,'' and inserting ``Guam (or in the territorial waters thereof)
during the period beginning on August 15, 1958, and ending on July 31,
1980, or American Samoa (or in the territorial waters thereof)''.
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