The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act was introduced in the House by Rep. Chris Gibson (D-NY) along with the signatures of 131 strongly bipartisan original co-sponsors on February 13, 2015. This legislation will return the presumption of exposure to herbicide to Navy and Marine veterans who served in the off shore waters of Vietnam. HR-969 now replaces HR-543, which was the number used in the previous 113th Congress. The wording is the same, but the new designating number is
HR-969.
A Senate Companion Bill is expected later in February.
HR-543 of the previous 113th Congress died in the House Veterans Affairs Committee, led by Congressman Jeff Miller (FL) with 258 co-sponsors. Only 218 co-sponsors represents 1/2 the voting member of the House. Miller would not release the Bill for a vote on the floor of the House.