Press Releases

Today, Ranking Member Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement on Vietnam Veterans Day: 

"This Vietnam Veterans day we honor our Nation's heroes who fought for liberty and against the spread of communism. As a Vietnam-era veteran myself, it pains me to remember how Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned from war. Today serves as a reminder not just to honor them, but also to never again let the disapproval of a war impede the respect that all servicemembers deserve for answering the call of duty.

“But as we commemorate the service of our Vietnam veterans, we must also deliver on the promises we made to them. One of my priorities this Congress, as it was last Congress, is to finally ensure that our Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans receive the benefits they earned. Last Congress, the House unanimously passed legislation, which would have extended the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to Vietnam veterans who served off the shores of Vietnam. While the bill never made it out of the Senate last Congress, I made sure that my first act of the 116^th Congress was to introduce the bill again. It is my hope that this bill would quickly move through the Committee, pass the House and Senate, and be signed into law. Our Vietnam veterans are running out of time and Congress should not rest until they receive justice."