The Veterans for Change (VFC) supports legislation to include veterans under the VA presumptive disability category who were exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in the military and are seriously ill from diseases linked to these chemicals.

The VFC was founded in 2006 by Jim Davis, son of retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) Lesley Davis who died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” from exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

Davis said that the VFC supported a successful national effort to include ALS under the VA Presumptive Disability category in 2008.

Davis, President of the VFC, also said that the VFC recently prepared a draft TCE/PCE Reduction bill modeled after a previous bill (2008 TCE Reduction Act), which did not make it out of committee for a Congressional vote.

Davis indicated that he met with California Congressional staffers, and is now circulating a petition for support among veterans and others.

Copies of the petition can be obtained from the VFC by sending an email to Jim Davis at jdavis92840@sbcglobal.net.

According to Davis: “If the VFC legislation is signed into law with the TCE/PCE presumptive disability provision intact, veterans with illnesses linked to TCE/PCE exposure and stationed on military bases where there’s evidence of exposure to these contaminants would be eligible for VA compensation disability payments and medical care from the VA. This is not like winning the lottery, but for many disabled veterans, this would definitely help pay the bills.”

TCE is a widespread contaminant among many water systems in the U.S. A 2003 Air Force Pentagon report estimated that there were 1,400 TCE-contaminated military sites.

Military Bases Contaminated

The Marine Corps Times reported 22 military bases with TCE contaminated water in June 2007:Air Force Plant #4 (General Dynamics) – Fort Worth, TexasAndersen Air Force Base – Yigo, GuamMarine Corps Logistics Base Barstow – Barstow, Calif.Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant – Hall County, Neb.Fairchild Air Force Base (4 waste areas) – Spokane, Wash.Lake City Army Ammunition Plant – Independence, Mo.March Air Force Base – Riverside, Calif.Mather Air Force Base – Mather, Calif.McChord Air Force Base – Tacoma, Wash.McClellan Air Force Base – McClellan AFB, Calif.Middletown Air Field – Middletown, Pa.Naval Air Development Center – Warminster Township, Pa.Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant – Bedford, Mass.Nebraska Ordnance Plant – Mead, Neb.Norton Air Force Base – San Bernardino, Calif.Old Roosevelt Field – Garden City, N.Y.Otis Air National Guard Base/Camp Edward – Falmouth, Mass.Picatinny Arsenal (U.S. Army) – Rockaway Township, N.J.Pease Air Force Base – Portsmouth/ Newington, N.H.Whiting Field Naval Air Station – Milton, Fla.Wurtsmith Air Force Base – Oscoda, Mich.New Brighton/ Arden Hills (Army) – New Brighton, Minn. (read more)

As Americans we must support this bill and support our vets.  They are entitled to proper disability coverage and compenation so that they can live a decent life.  Not to mention, these bases need to be cleaned up and hazard free.  Our vets and their families deserve better.  Please look into this initiative, get involved and lend your support.

Stay on Obama’s ass and Congress.  Do not allow them to water this down.