A bill to amend section 1116 of title 38, United States Code, to modify and extend authorities on the presumption of service-connection for herbicide-related disabilities of Vietnam era veterans, and for other purposes.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 107-489.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 22, 2001

Repeals the requirement that, in order to be presumed service-connected and therefore compensable through the Department of Veterans Affairs, respiratory cancers of individuals who served in the Vietnam era must become manifest to a degree of ten percent or more within 30 years following such service. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reconsider each claim that was denied by reason of such requirement. Provides a retroactive effective date for the award of an otherwise valid claim.Extends from ten to 20 years the effectiveness of a determination by the Secretary of a presumption of service-connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam era.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV] · D–WV

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 28, 2001
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 107-489.
Jun 22, 2001
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6669)
Jun 22, 2001
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6668-6669)
Jun 22, 2001
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jun 22, 2001 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: May 29, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1091 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1091, 107th Congress: A bill to amend section 1116 of title 38, United States Code, to modify and extend authorities on the presumption of service-connection for herbicide-related disabilities of Vietnam era veterans, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1091

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-06-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1091/BILLS-107s1091is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-05-29T10:56:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1091 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1091 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1091, 107th Congress: A bill to amend section 1116 of title 38, United States Code, to modify and extend authorities on the presumption of service-connection for herbicide-related disabilities of Vietnam era veterans, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1091

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-06-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1091/BILLS-107s1091is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-05-29T10:56:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1091 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1091 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1091, 107th Congress: A bill to amend section 1116 of title 38, United States Code, to modify and extend authorities on the presumption of service-connection for herbicide-related disabilities of Vietnam era veterans, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1091

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-06-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1091/BILLS-107s1091is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-05-29T10:56:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1091 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1091 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1091, 107th Congress: A bill to amend section 1116 of title 38, United States Code, to modify and extend authorities on the presumption of service-connection for herbicide-related disabilities of Vietnam era veterans, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1091

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-06-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1091/BILLS-107s1091is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-05-29T10:56:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1091 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.