Washington, D.C. —Congresswoman Aumua Amata announced she has co-sponsored two separate bipartisan legislative efforts supporting Pacific veterans who were exposed to chemicals and toxic materials including Agent Orange.

Congresswoman Amata is one of four original co-sponsors, as one of two Republicans and two Democrats, of the bipartisan Lonnie Kilpatrick Pacific Relief Act, H.R. 1713, which continues to gather support since its March introduction by Rep. Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam), along with Rep. Amata (American Samoa), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).

This bill expands the list of territories where veterans served who could have been exposed to Agent Orange, to specifically include American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

Under this bill, veterans who served in any of these territories or Johnston Atoll from early 1962-July 1980 would become covered under the longstanding Agent Orange Act of 1991 for exposure to toxic herbicides.

Congresswoman Amata has also co-sponsored the bipartisan Keeping Our Promises Act, H.R. 2200, introduced just this month by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR). This bill likewise would amend and expand the Agent Orange Act of 1991 by broadening the list of presumptive medical conditions, as recognized by the National Academy of Medicine, that would be covered by the law.

“Vietnam-era veterans in the Pacific region faced exposure to Agent Orange and we know that exposure could cause lifelong medical consequences,” said Aumua Amata. “The results of Agent Orange should be covered thoroughly by the law. These bills would help cover veterans who are not yet getting these services, but it’s time they did.”

A U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has confirmed exposure to these chemicals in the island regions during that time frame.

“A great many U.S. veterans live in the Pacific islands and in American Samoa, where we’re proud of our people’s high enlistment rate,” continued Congresswoman Amata. “Through these efforts, our country can keep the national commitment to veterans, and recognize the dangers and long-term health risks they faced through their service.”