U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., unveiled new legislation Monday designed to protect military men and women from deployment-related illnesses.
Health problems experienced by servicemen and women include post-traumatic stress disorder, Agent Orange exposure, radiation exposure, Gulf War-related illness and side effects of experimental drugs and vaccines. Recently increased knowledge of these health problems has not proved helpful in their treatment, however, and Baldwin said more research is necessary.
“Often, [veterans] have been told that their health problems are not service-connected, or worse yet, non-existent,” Baldwin said. “We don’t know enough about the long-term health effects of exposure to chemical and biological warfare agents. It’s imperative that we learn how to better protect the health of the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform and their families.”
Baldwin introduced the legislation to coordinate efforts to help affected veterans and increase confidence in the federal government’s treatment of these ailments. Treatment programs are currently scattered throughout the government, and no comprehensive strategy for dealing with the issue exists.
“One of the things that has had very strong feelings is the importance of having the federal government have an objective where those affected have confidence in results,” said Marv Freedman, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Vietnam Veterans of America.
Baldwin said it was necessary to introduce this legislation to protect those who were or will be sent to fight in “Operation Enduring Freedom.”
“We are again sending our young men and women into harm’s way, where they are facing possible exposure to chemical, biological and radiological agents and other toxins,” Baldwin said. “Already, many of our former and current service members suffer from Agent Orange exposure, radiation exposure, Gulf War-related illnesses, possible side effects of experimental drugs and vaccines and post-traumatic-stress disorder.”
Increases in technology also have the potential to result in more ill effects.
“Facing new weapons and war-time conditions, we owe our veterans and active servicemen and women and their families the best medical care available,” Baldwin said. “That must include accurate research into, and effective treatment for, any deployment-related medical problems.”
The first section of the bill, Title One, will create a national health center for those who suffer from various war-related illnesses. The second section, Title Two, would create 22 regional offices.
The bill is in the preliminary stage and will first have to pass committee and then be recommended to the floor of the House prior to enactment. Despite the steps necessary to ensure the passage of this bill, Freedman said he is hopeful at least part of the bill will pass.
“I am not sure it will get through with both Title One and Title Two intact,” Freedman said. “At an absolute minimum we should get a national health center out of this.”
