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118th Congress Armed Forces and National Security

H.R. 2447: Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Mar 30, 2023
  2. Passed House (not reached)
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, Mar 30, 2023

This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified conditions associated with active duty service in or near the Panama Canal Zone (zone) from January 1, 1958, through the latter of December 31, 1999, or the date on which the last service member departed from duty in the zone. 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.

The presumption of service-connection applies to illnesses listed in the bill (e.g., Hodgkin's disease) or those that (1) have a positive association with exposure to an herbicide agent that is known or presumed to be associated with service in the zone during the specified time period, and (2) become manifest in a veteran who served in the zone during the specified time period and was exposed to an herbicide agent during such service.

The Department of Veterans Affairs must prescribe regulations providing for a presumption of service-connection whenever there is a determination that a positive association exists between the exposure to an herbicide agent known or presumed to be associated with service in or near the zone and the occurrence of an illness in humans.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

52

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

18 points earned
  1. 1Maria Salazar R-FL SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reached a cosponsor milestone4 events+18
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Maria Salazar

History

  1. Mar 30, 2023Introduced in the House by Maria Salazar.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
  1. Apr 14, 2023Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  2. Mar 30, 2023Introduced in House
  3. Mar 30, 2023Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.