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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 4036 (105th)

Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Act of 1998

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

11 June 1998

Last action

11 June 1998 · Introduced

Status

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Sponsors

Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-11], Rep. Snowbarger, Vince [R-KS-3], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Rep. Gilman, Benjamin A. [R-NY-26], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Burton, Dan [R-IN-6], Rep. Metcalf, Jack [R-WA-2], Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23], Rep. Allen, Thomas H. [D-ME-1], Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-11], Rep. Barrett, Thomas M. [D-WI-5], Rep. McIntosh, David M. [R-IN-2], Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI], James McGovern, Rep. Pappas, Michael [R-NJ-12], Rep. Souder, Mark E. [R-IN-3], Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-24], Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10], Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., II [D-MA-8], Rep. Davis, Tom [R-VA-11], Rep. Johnson, Nancy L. [R-CT-6], FRED UPTON, Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6], Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51], Rep. Hall, Tony P. [D-OH-3], Rep. Danner, Pat [D-MO-6], Rep. Morella, Constance A. [R-MD-8], LUIS GUTIERREZ, Rep. Etheridge, Bob [D-NC-2], Rep. Kleczka, Gerald D. [D-WI-4], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Stupak, Bart [D-MI-1], Rep. Maloney, James H. [D-CT-5], Rep. Boswell, Leonard L. [D-IA-3], Rep. Oxley, Michael G. [R-OH-4], Rep. Traficant, James A., Jr. [D-OH-17], Rescom. Romero-Barcelo, Carlos A. [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5], Sanford Bishop, Rep. Norwood, Charles W. [R-GA-10], Rep. Meek, Carrie P. [D-FL-17], Richard Neal, Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1], Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Rep. Rivers, Lynn N. [D-MI-13]

Subjects

Defence, Environment

Source updated

21 August 2025

Defence · Environment

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Act of 1998 - Presumes to be service-connected (and therefore compensable or treatable under Federal veterans' benefits provisions) an illness that: (1) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to have a positive association with a biological, chemical, or other toxic agent or environmental or wartime hazard (agent or hazard) associated with service in the southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War; and (2) becomes manifest in a veteran who was exposed to such agent or hazard by reason of such service. Presumes such exposure unless there is conclusive evidence otherwise. Directs the Secretary to contract with an independent scientific body to establish a panel for reviewing medical and scientific literature to identify those diseases and illnesses associated with exposure of humans or animals to specified pesticides, agents, compounds, particulates, radiation, and pollutants. Requires each disease or illness identified that becomes manifest in a Gulf veteran to be presumed to be service-connected. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the updating of presumed exposures. Enumerates the pesticides, agents, compounds, particulates, radiation, and pollutants to which Gulf veterans shall be presumed to have been exposed. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress a plan for establishing a panel to review the statistical occurrence of both diagnosed and undiagnosed illnesses and symptoms among Gulf War veterans and their families. Directs the President to submit to the Congress a plan for the establishment of a permanent expert advisory group to advise the President and the congressional defense and intelligence committees on the adequacy of current U.S. chemical, biological, and radiological defense technologies, procurement practices, and doctrine for defending U.S. forces against both the immediate and chronic consequences of acute and subacute exposures to chemical, biological, radiological, or other genotoxic battlefield materials.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 11 June 1998

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 11 June 1998

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 11 June 1998

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Sponsors

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Related records

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Sources

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