Washignton – Congress is set to approve a proposal by Rep. Brad Ellsworth and Senators Evan Bayh and Dick Lugar to provide comprehensive health care to disabled children of Vietnam and Korean War veterans exposed to Agent Orange during their service.

Agent Orange was a chemical used by the United States military to defoliate dense jungles in Vietnam and along the Korean demilitarized zone from 1962 to 1971. Children of Vietnam and Korean War veterans faced an increased risk of being born with spina bifida, which can lead to severe physical and mental disabilities. Ellsworth introduced legislation after hearing the story of Honey Sue Newby, an 8th District constituent whose family contacted the Congressman’s office for help getting her health care benefits from the Veterans’ Administration (VA).

Honey Sue’s biological father served eight years in the Marine Corps and completed three combat tours in Vietnam. She lives with a complicated neurological disorder rooted in spina bifida, a congenital condition in which the vertebrae do not form properly around the spinal cord. The VA has determined Honey Sue’s condition is a direct result of her father’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and have classified her as a Level III child, making her eligible to receive the same full health care coverage as a veteran with 100% Service Connected Disability.

Despite this designation, her family is currently required to provide a letter from a doctor to the VA stating that Honey Sue’s treatment is directly related to her spina bifida every time she seeks care. The Spina Bifida Health Care Program Expansion Act eliminates this administrative burden on families by providing the beneficiaries of the Spina Bifida Health Care Program with comprehensive care. There are an estimated 1,200 beneficiaries who would be impacted by the legislation. And because the VA currently provides around 90% of the comprehensive health care needs of these beneficiaries, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the program will only cost around $2,500 per person to implement. Senators Bayh and Lugar introduced similar legislation in July. Provisions of the legislation were then included as part of the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act, S. 2162, which the House is scheduled to consider today.

“Honey Sue’s story is heart wrenching. She and her family face daily obstacles that most of us could not even imagine of as a result of her father’s brave service to our country,” said Congressman Ellsworth. “We owe her and all the children living with this condition better. This bill will ensure they get the health care they deserve.”

“Increased risk of Spina Bifida was a tragic, unintended consequence of our use of Agent Orange during military campaigns in Vietnam and Korea,” Senator Bayh said. “We have an obligation to provide full and comprehensive care to these American children who we never intended to hurt. This legislation will help families overcome unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles in order to obtain the full coverage they deserve.”

“I am hopeful this bill will assist those families that have been touched by Spina Bifida due to service in our nation’s Armed Forces by expanding their access to the important care offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Spina Bifida Health Care Program,” Senator Lugar said.

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