HF 241 – County Commissions of Veterans Affairs administration of duties
HF 584 – Federal jurisdiction of Agent Orange claims
FLOOR ACTION:
HF 241 prevents a county board of supervisors or county commission of veteran affairs from placing administration of the commission under any other agency. The stipulation was recommended by the Iowa State Association of Counties. The bill passed the House unanimously.
[4/6: 49-0 (Bertrand excused)]
HF 584 repeals obsolete sections of Iowa Code Chapter 36 relating to duties of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs in reporting Iowa veterans’ exposure to Agent Orange. The 1991 federal Agent Orange Act established a presumption of service connection. It authorized the Veterans Administration to contract with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to review and summarize the scientific evidence concerning the relationship between exposure to herbicides used in military operations in Vietnam and report diseases suspected to be associated with exposure. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs now receives and processes veterans’ claims for exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals defoliants and herbicides.
[4/6: 49-0 (Bertrand excused)]