Pass Agent Orange Act

By Tribune-Review 

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 8:53 p.m.Updated: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 

With the elections over, the new House and Senate will have their first session in early 2013. They will be faced with many issues — old and new. It is time for the new Congress to put aside politics and become legislators.

There are still two major bills in committee of interest to Vietnam veterans, HR 3612 and SB 1629. These bills would restore Veterans Affairs benefits for Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War.

The current House and Senate still have time to act upon these bills before January. These bills must come out of committee and go to the floor of both houses.

I ask the American people to urge our legislators to act on these bills. The Vietnam veterans who are sick from Agent Orange dioxin exposure need these bills to be passed into law before the new Congress convenes.

A new legislative session will require us advocates for Vietnam veterans to start again. This means longer delays for veterans’ VA approval and thousands won’t be approved because they did not have boots on ground, even though they were awarded the Vietnam Service Medal.

Many sailors, airmen and Fleet Marines who served during that war are sick from exposure to the deadly herbicide. The passage of these bills means these members of the armed forces will receive equality for VA benefits.

John J. Bury

Media, Delaware County

The writer is retired from the U.S. Navy and is a Vietnam veteran.

Read more: http://triblive.com/opinion/2942595-74/bills-vietnam-veterans-exposure-act-agent-orange-sick-war-airmen#ixzz2CPZOaffD 
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Deadly rainbow: Veterans suffer from Agent Orange exposure

We're thankful that the VA has assumed 100% responsibility for Dom's Multiple Myeloma.  Sadly, other vets are not so lucky.

“That’s how it works,” he said. “In other words, you don’t have to prove that it came from that exposure. It is presumed it came from that exposure, which, from a veteran’s standpoint, makes it easy to receive treatment.”

Massey said he is glad Congress made provisions that made it easier for Vietnam veterans to receive treatment for some of the side effects associated with Agent Orange exposure.
“ ... a lot of veterans had real problems getting the treatment that they needed, and they set out to make it easier for people who had sacrificed to receive treatment,” he said.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20121112/NEWS01/311120020/Deadly-rainbow-Veterans-suffer-from-Agent-Orange-exposure?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s 

Monsanto and Genetically Engineered Food: Playing Roulette With Our Health

Monsanto and Genetically Engineered Food: Playing Roulette With Our Health

MK: Your organization distributed a documentary, The World According to Monsanto, which was a huge reader hit on Truthout - and earlier on BuzzFlash. Is Monsanto the most pernicious global corporation when it comes to GMOs, or is it just one among many?

JS: Monsanto has been voted the most hated or most evil company on earth for years and years - with stiff competition. Their stated goal is to genetically engineer 100 percent of all commercial seeds with their patented GMOs. They lied to us about the safety of PCB's, DDT and Agent Orange, and we've caught them lying all over the world about GMO safety and performance.

"Safe Pesticides" ???? Monsanto Kills

Did you know that the "safe" pesticide genetically modified into these crops leaks into our water? Did you also know that roundup runoff leaks into our water and causes green algae or the lovely blue in cali? Or as they try to say the natural "red tide" that people who have swam in have died after health issues since swimming in it? Look at our country. Monsanto has all but destroyed everything in it. . .

Tell me this isn't scary! Just check out the percentage of Genetically Modified crops across the world. Guess who has the highest percent?!?

Air Force Vietnam veteran wants other vets to learn about Agent Orange Registry

LUTZ, Fla. - "It floored me!  It floored me when I found out about it that day.  It did, it floored me," recalled Bob Wood.

When Wood suffered a heart attack two years ago, doctors at the Haley VA Hospital told him his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam contributed to his heart disease.

"This is unbelievable," Wood thought at the time.

Wood served at Air Force bases in Thailand during the war and said that agent orange, an herbicide and defoliant was used around the perimeter of the base for security.

"I felt like for decades that we were exposed to agent orange," said Wood.

It was after the heart attack that he learned of the Agent Orange Registry.

"The message I would like to get out there today, is to get all veterans of the Vietnam War, signed up and do the Agent Orange Registry exam," Wood explained.

Available through the VA, the exam is not tied to current benefits; and is an opportunity for vets who have not shown signs of exposure to Agent Orange.

"Their benefits, their health is at stake," said Wood.

Wood was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and wants to use his time to bring awareness.  He says all you have to do to find out more is contact Veterans affairs.

"The earlier the detection, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease and the other ailments, they'll be able to meet these medical situations sooner; and can be cured in a lot of cases," Wood said.
 
One veteran looking out for others on a day when we honor them all. 

Read more: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_north_hillsborough/lutz/air-force-vietnam-veteran-wants-other-vets-to-learn-about-agent-orange-registry#ixzz2C4CdZ8dI