Does Congress care about Vietnam-era vets?

Letter to the Editor,

A congressional bill known as the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013, introduced by Rep. Christopher P. Gibson, is stuck in committee.  

To date, only 148 members of Congress have co-sponsored this bill. The bill, if passed, would recognize Navy and Marines who served at sea as eligible to receive U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits including compensation. What is wrong with Congress when it comes to our veterans? Is Congress broken or do they just not care?

As it stands now, the government recognizes only one disease for Blue Water Navy: Lymphoma non-Hodgkin, of the approximately 12 non-cancerous and 38  cancerous diseases. The Agent Orange Act of 1991 afforded benefits including compensation to 534,000 Navy and Marine veterans. In 2002 the government stopped awarding benefits to this group of veterans. There are  approximately 170,000 of these veterans known to still be living.

Vietnam veterans need help, many suffer today with no resolve. The voice of the American people can help. Call, write or e-mail your members of Congress.

— John Bury

U.S. Navy retired