Fellow Illinoisan,

For far too long, the Trump Administration has stonewalled efforts to extend critical health benefits to veterans whose service in Vietnam exposed them to Agent Orange.  These veterans are suffering from bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s, and hypertension due to their exposure to this dangerous herbicide. 

The VA has already recognized the connection between Agent Orange and these conditions.  But the Trump Administration has argued that it would be too costly to add them to the list of service-connected presumptive diseases, thereby denying relief to those who are suffering.

This stonewalling affects more than 190,000 veterans across the country, including John Bott - a Chicago resident, longtime Chicago Public Schools teacher, and Vietnam veteran who has suffered from both bladder cancer and hypertension as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange.

Durbin Meets With Vietnam Vet, Calls on Trump Admin. to Stop Blocking Coverage for Agent Orange Diseases

Luckily, John has beaten bladder cancer twice.  But in the time since, he has been diagnosed with hypertension, another of the four illnesses blocked from the presumptive disease list.  John is able to manage his hypertension with the support of his wife of almost 50 years, Jerry, and their daughter, Kathryn.  But there are too many veterans like John who have been denied benefits they earned and deserve. 

That’s why I joined my Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter to President Trump, urging him to immediately expand the Agent Orange presumptive diseases list to include these four additional illnesses.  There is no excuse for denying veterans their urgently-needed, and frankly well-earned, health care benefits and disability compensation. 

I hope the President will take our advice.  For someone who claims to respect veterans more than anyone else, he has repeatedly fallen short when it comes to ensuring they have proper health care. 

Sincerely, 

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)