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H.R. 6798, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain herbicide agents, and for other purposes (145 comments ↓)
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
H.R. 6798 would amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain herbicide agents.
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Visitor Comments 
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October 21, 2008, 12:11am (report abuse)With a grand total of 10 sponsors, three of whom were the originators, your legislative chances for success fall somewhere between the life expectancy of a snowball in hell and the possibility that any of us will see a pig fly before the new year.
Poor old tom, still hanging out with the losers. Seems like the rest of you would recognize an albatross when you saw one.
NNelson
October 21, 2008, 9:15am (report abuse)Dot or whomever you are..I suppect you are several in this group.
I am going to report you for harrassing this group.
Just passing through
October 21, 2008, 10:51am (report abuse)I read the blog post linked below and thought you all might want to take a look at it. Scroll down. Click. Read. Learn.
NNelson
October 21, 2008, 12:07pm (report abuse)To Just passing through
Thank you for the link to Tony Sifford.
If I may quote you: "This would be a nice lesson for the people debating H.R. 6798 to remember. It’s a bill dealing with whether certain cancer diagnoses should be attributed to Agent Orange, and the people debating it right now are being needlessly cruel to one another."
"Take a moment out, people, to remember your common bond with one another and the importance we have to one another - in ways you might not realize until it’s too late."
Thank you for your contribution to this site.
tom
October 21, 2008, 10:18pm (report abuse)mr.nelson;
Unfortunately you now see what I was talking about.
May they rot in hell.They hate me because I stand up to them for what is right.They are Bill Ayers wannabes.
as always;
all my best,
Tom
TOM
October 21, 2008, 10:30pm (report abuse)THE CRUELTY IS ONLY ON ONE SIDE.
PLEASE LEAVE THE WIDOWS ALONE.
BOTHER ME ,I CAN TAKE IT.
THANK YOU MR.SMITH,.,MR.ANDREWS AND ALL THE OTHER ALIASES.
PLEASE STOP.
for all to read
October 22, 2008, 1:31am (report abuse)george andrews post from hr6562:
George Andrews
Hazegrey or Jolting Joe or any of your other many aliases,
Someday, perhaps you will finally figure out who you are mad at. But then again, maybe not.
You can't seem to get your head around the fact that no one gives a healthy crap about you and your bulls..t ideas.
And for the rest of you whiners - get over it. Nobody cares about a bunch of losers who can't do anything but whine about how they are mistreated by the world.
Patriots? Nope, just crybabies.
ALL,HE IS A VET HATER;DONT LET HIM UPSET YOU,WE UPSET HIM MORE,BELIEVE
ME,
TOM RYAN,TM3 DDG-16 USS JOSEPH STRAUSS.
TOM
October 22, 2008, 1:38am (report abuse)ANOTHER GEORGE ANDREWS ;
George Andrews
Hazegrey or Jolting Joe or any of your other many aliases,
Someday, perhaps you will finally figure out who you are mad at. But then again, maybe not.
You can't seem to get your head around the fact that no one gives a healthy crap about you and your bulls..t ideas.
And for the rest of you whiners - get over it. Nobody cares about a bunch of losers who can't do anything but whine about how they are mistreated by the world.
Patriots? Nope, just crybabies.PTL
TOM
October 22, 2008, 1:44am (report abuse)ANOTHER GEORGE ANDREWS GEM
And here you sit at the end of the 110th Congressional session with nothing. And that is fitting and right, since nothing you have done is deserving of anything.
Next year will be more of the same - "Oh woe is us, poor bluewaternavy. No one gives us anything."
Poor thing - you and your "friends" are so deluded as to think anyone gives a crap about you. Wake up man - no one cares.
TOM
October 22, 2008, 1:53am (report abuse)ANOTHER GEORGE ANDREWS POST FROM HR6562:
George Andrews
ALL OF YOU ARE JUST BABYKILLERS AND ARE NOW GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE.
long live Abby Hoffman
TOM
October 22, 2008, 1:58am (report abuse)ANOTHER GEORGE ANDREWS POST FROM HR6562.AND I QUOTE,
By the way, all you so-called volunteer patriots - how many of you joined the Navy to beat the draft? If the truth were known you would have to hide your faces.
I still say you are losers - you lost your "war" then and you are losing your battle now. Get over it and go away.
TOM
October 22, 2008, 2:07am (report abuse)ANOTHER GEORGE ANDREWS GEM FROM HR6562;GEORGE.GO AWAY,THESE PEOPLE HAVE YOUR NUMBER NOW,I CAN PUT YOUR POSTS HERE ALL DAY,ALL THEY HAVE TO DO AND GO LOOK FOR THEM SELF.BEGONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
George Andrews
Do you people really think you made any contribution to this country or to the world? You were losers, you lost the war, the communists took over the whole country of Vietnam. What good resulted from your so-called "service"? Nada, Nothing, Zilch. Your efforts were of absolutely no value and yet you want to be rewarded for those very worthless efforts. Get real folks - you don't deserve anything.
TOM
October 22, 2008, 2:26am (report abuse)LEAVE THE WIDOWS ALONE!!!
ARE YOU MEN?
I DOUBT IT.
TAKE ME ON,NOT THEM.
DIDN'T YOUR MOTHERS TEACH YOU ANY MANNERS?
OH,I FORGOT,YOUR SONS OF BITCHES.
TOM
October 22, 2008, 3:02am (report abuse)to all the ladies and supporters of viet-nam vets;I hate to talk religion or politics but MCAIN-PALIN must win or we are sunk.Obama could care less about vets.
tom
October 22, 2008, 4:36am (report abuse)mr.Nelson;
If you wish to complain about the vulgar posts,everyone has an IP address that is attached to each post.That would expose the duplicate people posting under different names such as "."
e.g.my ip address is 67.241.249.163,everyone has one that will lead directly to their home address.
I would love to make some house calls but I believe in the right to free speech,but that has limits,
like you can't yell fire in a movie house.
The webmaster can block the smithfools,that are bothering the widows,and as far as I care they can block me to.The maggots don't bother me at all.they are sad.
I'm a retired data network engineer
with BELL labs and one day i might say hello in person to someone.
My email address is posted and my ip address is to.Comments from all are welcome,BUT LEAVE THE WIDOWS ALONE.
PEACE,
TOM
.
October 22, 2008, 12:38pm (report abuse)It is not surprising that the ip address tom gave is blacklisted by several isp systems. That might be because of his propensity to rant and make physical threats against others. Such is the life of small people.
NNelson
October 22, 2008, 1:14pm (report abuse)Dot,
Can you not see that Tom is a veteran that is hurting. The rest of us can. Did you ever serve your country? If you have, then you should be able to relate.
Lets just stop this badgering of our fellow man, ok? It's not fair to the rest of our commentors to have the stress of these uncalled for negatives comments on this site. We are all entitled to our opinions but lets be mature enough to put them across in an adult manner. If you were a veteran with cancer from dioxins you, too, would want this bill passed. Luckily, you are not and have every right to vote against this bill but don't slam those of us who have different beliefs and different situations to deal with..
Take care,
Nick
.
October 22, 2008, 1:56pm (report abuse)Tom is whatever he is. Regardless of his veteran status, or lack thereof, he makes statements that are abusive and threatening. Too bad you all don't follow your own advice.
tom
October 22, 2008, 2:36pm (report abuse)I am blacklisted NOWHERE.
Name one place.
DONT LIKE SEEING YOUR OWN HATE POSTINGS AGAINST VETS MR."dot"ANDREWS"?
NNelson
October 22, 2008, 2:55pm (report abuse)Tom,
Ignore them. This bashing is not what this comment site is intended for. The less you say to them, the more likely they will just fade off into the night. They are hecklers, found on many sites, not unusual at all for the ones out there with nothing else going on for them.
Lets just stick to the bill at hand. Contact your congressmen and senators and ask them to support this bill. As it states in the bill:
Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are recognized by the Institute of Medicine to exceed the statutory threshold for a presumption of service connection.
The VA can now add these cancers if they chose to without this bill ever even being passed.
Best Wishes,
Nick
.
October 22, 2008, 5:41pm (report abuse)Tom,
According to whois.arin.net 67.241.249.163 IS BLACKLISTED AT:
sa-hil.habeaus.com 69.28.252.35
flowgoaway.com 68.178.232.143
spammers.v6net.org 64.27.5.243
block.blars.org 208.43.232.224
Anyone who wishes can look it up.
It is listed as a Road Runner IP.
tom
October 22, 2008, 7:14pm (report abuse)nick,
you are 100% right.
TO '.',I CHECKED MY IP ADDRESS AT WWW.WHATISMYIP.COM.AND I WAS WRONG,ITS
67.241.253.60
BEGONE DOT.
tom
October 22, 2008, 7:43pm (report abuse)p.s.dot,
i looked at all your sites for my incorrect ip address and all i can say is that you are an idiot.
no futher responses to you DOT.
..
October 22, 2008, 8:30pm (report abuse)So Tom,
Your real IP address, 67.241.253.60 is also blacklisted by the following:
sa-hil.habeaus.com 69.28.252.35
flowgoaway.com 68.178.232.143
block.blars.org 208.43.232.224
Since you are such an experienced network guru, I'm sure you also checked the Blackhole listings as well. But then if you had you would have found the above.
Susan
October 22, 2008, 8:36pm (report abuse)Hope you can open this site..if not, try to key it in separately.
http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/1022/front_page/020.html
Encouraging info!
Susan
October 22, 2008, 8:44pm (report abuse)Try this instead:
newstranscript.gmnew.com
then under search key in 6798
Susan
October 22, 2008, 8:47pm (report abuse)one more time guys
newstanscript.gmnews.com
search using 6798
good article!
Dorothy W (VA)
October 22, 2008, 11:57pm (report abuse)My husband was a Vietnam veteran who died of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) at the age of 49. An increasing number of veterans have been diagnosed with this cancer and we are losing many of them way before their time. I urge the passage of this bill to honor all who are suffering or have already died as a result of serving their country. Agent Orange was the weapon of mass destruction for our generation.
My thanks to Congressman Dr. Steve Kagen for introducing this bill.
Jean Kellogg
October 23, 2008, 11:48am (report abuse)A former shipmate of my husband just gave me this link. My husband died at the age of 49 of cancer that started at the junction of the esphogus and the stomach. At the time there was no way a sailor could claim agent orange problems. I do hope these two bill can be passed for the Vietnam vets. My husband died in 1996 and served on the Newman K. Perry as a sonarman. But now they say the water they drank was processed from off shore and could have been contaminated with agent orange. Please help!
Bill S.
October 23, 2008, 1:25pm (report abuse)PLEASE REMEMBER TO GO TO THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THIS SITE AND VOTE FOR THIS BILL.
THANKS!
TOM
October 27, 2008, 2:31pm (report abuse)MR. NELSON,
I HOPE TO FIND YOU IN GOOD SPIRITS,IF NOT IN GOOD HEALTH.
WITH CONGRESSMEN AND SENATE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS BILL AND HR6562,ALL, PLEASE VOTE ON ELECTION DAY AND REFLECT THEIR POSITIONS.
AS ALWAYS,ALL MY BEST,
TOM
TOM
October 27, 2008, 10:26pm (report abuse)A POST FROM HR6562:
Leonard
FYI
George Andrews is a veteran and a member of Veterans Benefit Network: http://vets.yuku.com/
He gave himself away in some of his comments.
Sad, but true that a fellow veteran would denigrate the service of hundreds of thousands of other veterans. Even sadder, he has the support of a few other veterans. Although few in number, they are relentless in their opposition to Agent Orange related benefits. They have succumbed/are leaders of the VA's incideous efforts to pit veterans against veterans.
Susan Hill
October 28, 2008, 11:39am (report abuse)FYI...
diseases in H.R. 6798 have been determined by the IOM to meet the statutory threshold for presumptive status. The way the law works, if the IOM cannot determine that there is NOT a connection before a disease and Agent Orange, then it can be considered associated. The law gives the benefit of the doubt to veterans. The final decision is then left up to the VA. It’s not science holding it up – it’s a choice by the VA.
J.C.
October 28, 2008, 2:00pm (report abuse)Susan,
Could you give us a specific reference to the IOM findings. I still see many of the cancers listed in the Inadequate or Insufficient Evidence category.
Thanks.
Susan Hill
October 28, 2008, 4:22pm (report abuse)There is a difference between "Inadequate or Insufficient Evidence to determine an association" and "No association". Inadequate or Insufficient evidence to determine an association means the IOM does not know whether dioxin causes it or not. That raises reasonable doubt which gives the veteran the benefit of the doubt. The "Benefit of the doubt rule" always goes to the veteran so the VA has to rule in his or her favor. I shouldn't say "has to" because we all know that the VA does exactly what it choses to do regardless.
You asked me for a specific reference...are you asking me to site a certain cancer or are you asking me to site where where my prior post information came from?
J.C.
October 28, 2008, 4:41pm (report abuse)Susan,
In the past when there is "Inadequate or Insufficient Evidence to determine an association" the VA usually takes the tack that the evidence does not support making the association. I understand the "benefit of the doubt" but I am not sure we can ever make it work if IOM does not give us a better tie-in.
I would appreciate any references that cite a direct connection between the cancers in question and direct exposure to dioxin. I have found some information but feel that in any claim to VA it is better to have as much ammunition as possible.
Thanks.
Susan H
October 28, 2008, 4:41pm (report abuse)Tom,
It does not surprise me that there are veterans, even Vietnam veterans, that do not support any diseases associated with dioxins.
My late husband (USMC) and my brother (AirForce)used to debate agent orange all the time before my husband got sick. My husband was always a firm believer that dioxins caused cancer and my brother felt they did not. They really used to have some interesting discussions about it. Six months after my husband died from esophageal cancer, my brother died from leukemia. He had only been diagnosed with it for two months. No one in my family has ever had any cancer. His wife has applied for DIC...so, you just never know when someone elses situation might end up being yours.
Susan H
October 28, 2008, 4:46pm (report abuse)J.C.
Which gastrointestional cancer are you referring to? Sadly, some are still in the "no association" catagory.
TOM
October 28, 2008, 6:16pm (report abuse)SUSAN,
LIKE THE OLD SAYING,WHAT GOES AROUND,COMES AROUND.
BUT AS FAR AS THE VA GOES,THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE.
PRESUMPTION IS PRESUMPTION PERIOD.
I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSSES,
TOM.
Greg Murphy
October 29, 2008, 12:32pm (report abuse)I was in Nam 67-68 I had colon rectal cancer and had both removed now they say it has spread to my lung and I have only 2-5 years to live PLEASE PASS this BILL
Susan
October 31, 2008, 1:26pm (report abuse)Greg,
Very sorry to hear of what you are going through. We all hope this bill passes and it's for veterans like you that make this bill so very important. Thank you for your service to our country!
Regards,
Susan
TOM
November 11, 2008, 3:57am (report abuse)HAPPY VETS DAY TO YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MAY IT NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
Tonia S
November 18, 2008, 6:29pm (report abuse)I am the child of a Vietnam Veteran that passed away 2 years ago at the age of 58 from A/O related diseases. I also have health issues from A/O. From the post I have read here, that opens another topic. This is the first time that I have actually read negative comments about VV's. I don't have it in me to be angry, I feel sorry for you that are so cruel. It's no wonder that Dad never had much to say about Vietnam and coming home. For the cruel people, the blame should be correctly placed, on the government. These veterans only did as they were told. Their government didn't care about them and for the most part still doesn't. Any of these men and women could be my dad or mom, I thank you all, and I continue to pray that your service will not have been for naught.
Tonia
naynay9769@yahoo.com
Sharon Perry
November 19, 2008, 12:09am (report abuse)Bill Smith~Bob Vargo,What makes you think you have any such "right"? There is no such right. WRONG....BECAUSE IT'S THE LAW.....U.S.CODE TITLE 38—VETERANS BENEFITS http://www2.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode38/usc_sup_01_38.html
THE LAW SAYS VETERANS HAVE THESE RIGHTS UNLESS THEY WAIVE THEM. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines A right by category....to to launch a nuclear first strike, to be left alone, to go to hell. Why the rightholder (allegedly) has the right;legal rights derive from the laws. asserted rightaffected by the rightholder's actions;the waivable right that a promise be kept.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rights/
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED by Sharon Perry representing Agent Orange Legacy...divided by war, united by love....working to IMPROVE the lives of the Children of Vietnam Veterans www.myspace.com/agentorangelegacy www.agentorangelegacy.ning.com
Sharon Perry
November 19, 2008, 12:16am (report abuse)Agent Orange Legacy supports the passage HR 6798...as I do.
.
November 19, 2008, 12:49am (report abuse)Agent Orange Legacy - another group of uninformed idiots. Actually it is one person but wants to be a group.
Sharon Perry
November 19, 2008, 7:24am (report abuse)The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy (2nd Edition) by Jay Stevenson ...
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Definition-of-philosophy
Susan
November 19, 2008, 2:30pm (report abuse)Sharon,
It does not surprise me that you have been attacked on this site. As you will find, there are several who sit in wait for the next poster to make a positive comment. It's a sad day when all one has to do with their life is hang out at the WashingtonWatch. If this poster is against bill H.R. 6798 would you not think that they would simply state their opinion and be on their way? Why on earth do they keep coming back to check on comments?
It's certainly a strange world, huh?
TOM
November 20, 2008, 8:15am (report abuse)SHARON,
DON'T LET THE IDIOTS BOTHER YOU,BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
THEY ARE A MINUTE MINORITY.
JUST IGNORE THEM,THEY HAVE NO LIFE.
THE BEST THEY CAN DO IS HANG OUT ON THIS SITE TO BOTHER VETS AND THEIR LOVED ONES.
TOM.
TOM
November 20, 2008, 8:44am (report abuse)THEY SHOULD PUT ALL THIS TIME AND EFFORT INTO SOMETHING USEFUL,LIKE WORLD PEACE.THEN WE WOULD NOT NEED OR HAVE VETS.
DON'T TAKE THEIR BAIT AND RESPOND TO THEM,THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT.
WITH NO RESPONCE TO THEM,NO ARGUMENT FOR THEM TO GET OFF ON AND NO STRESS FOR YOU,YOU HAVE ENOUGH STRESS ALREADY.
ALL MY BEST,
TOM.
.
November 20, 2008, 9:10am (report abuse)Why hello there TOM. I thought perhaps you had crawled of into your hole and died. Oh well.
For Susan and Sharon - we don't wait for anyone but when you show up we just have to respond to your stupidity.
Lauren
November 20, 2008, 9:32am (report abuse)Please support HR 6798. The vietnam veterans fought and died for our country. They are still dying today from illnesses caused by agent orange.
Don't listen to the negative comments...those people were probably in Canada to avoid being drafted.
This bill will be reintroduced in January...please support it.
''
November 20, 2008, 6:12pm (report abuse)DOT,
you said WE don't wait for anyone?
What do you have,a MOUSE IN YOUR POCKET????????????????
.
November 21, 2008, 12:02pm (report abuse)No, not a mouse, just a great many citizens in my area who are tired of the complaining and boo-hooing from people who have no reason to be crying.
For Lauren
November 21, 2008, 12:07pm (report abuse)There are verified diseases linked to the various defoliants used in Vietnam. Unfortunately for some of those here, there is no acceptable proof that their particular problems should be on the list. A congressional directive to connect specific diseases without this type of evidence is wrong. Working to provide the proof is the answer.
Sandy
November 24, 2008, 8:31am (report abuse)I believe that if the IOM cannot determine that there is NO association to a disease than the benefit of the doubt rule applies to the veteran. In the case of gastrointestinal cancers the latest IOM reports states "inadequate or insufficient evidence to determine an association". That means they don't know either way...doubt.
I favor this bill and think congress should be involved because the IOM and the VA have dinked around too long in making an adequate decision and they will continue to dink around unless someone starts a fire under them.
Lets face it, vietnam vets are rapidly dying from these cancers. They can't wait while the IOM sits on their butts trying to delay a firm decision.
What about those vets who are long gone without any compensation? Should we just wait around until the IOM finally, and they will one day, state it's a go for gastro cancers?
I say "support this bill" because there is a benefit of doubt and benefit of doubt goes to the veteran!
Margaret
December 3, 2008, 1:59am (report abuse)Please support this bill for all of the Viet Nam Vets. My husband of 46 years was diagnosed with gastric carcinoma and esophageal cancer on September 10th and told he had about a month to live. He passed away november 4th at age 63. He told me that he had been wanting to die since his feet left the soil and boarded the plane from viet nam to the US, and that it has been nothing but a living hell on earth since he returned. This is how our Viet Nam Veterans were treated. They saw things and had to do things they never forgot, and had NO support at all when they came home. He was my partner, team mate, my childhood sweetheart and the father of our 4 sons and I miss him so badly it hurts.
Marjorie Zimmer
December 8, 2008, 10:42am (report abuse)I am the widow of a Vietnam Veteran who passed away due to cancer of the duodenum, and even though we have doctor's statements and records confirming his exposure to agent orange during his three year tour being the cause of same, we were denied. On behalf of countless fathers, mothers, wives, sons and daughters, and above all, our veterans selfless service to their country, please, finally, do the right thing, acknowledge their service.
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