S.1939 / 111th Congress

Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-623.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 27, 2009

Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 - Includes as part of the Republic of Vietnam, for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam, such Republic's inland waterways, ports, and harbors, waters offshore, and airspace above.

Includes as veterans eligible for such presumption those who: (1) served on Johnston Island during the period beginning on April 1, 1972, and ending on September 30, 1977; or (2) received the Vietnam Service Medal or the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] · D–NY

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

19 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.

May 19, 2010
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-623.
Oct 27, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Oct 27, 2009
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 · Oct 27, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2254 · Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1939 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.

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Discuss S.1939, 111th Congress: Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1939

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-10-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1939/BILLS-111s1939is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T21:11:46Z. 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.1939 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.1939 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.

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Discuss S.1939, 111th Congress: Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1939

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-10-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1939/BILLS-111s1939is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T21:11:46Z. 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.1939 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.1939 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.

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Discuss S.1939, 111th Congress: Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1939

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-10-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1939/BILLS-111s1939is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T21:11:46Z. 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.1939 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.1939 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.1939, 111th Congress: Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1939

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-10-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1939/BILLS-111s1939is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T21:11:46Z. 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.1939 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.