Here is some information that you might find important from the VFW Magazine-News from VFW's Washington Office

1.  AGENT ORANGE BENEFITS FOR SAILORS

Navy personnel who patrolled off Vietnam during the war, but never set foot on land, are eligible for VA disability compensation related to Agent Orange exposure.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims decision in August could affect thousands of Vietnam War sailors.

2. COLD WAR MEDAL PROPOSED AGAIN

A bill pending in the House would bestow a Cold War Victory Medal on GIs who served in the armed forces between Sept 2, 1945 and Dec 26, 1991.  The bill-HR2568-is included as a section of the 2007 Defense authorization bill (HR5122).  THe VFW is officially on reocrd supporting a Cold War medal for veterans who served overseas during that time period.  The last action reported on HR5122 shoed that as fo June 22 the Senate and House were reconciling their separate versions of the bill.

3.  $60 MILLION SHOUGHT FOR WWII POWs

Two bills pending in Congres would pay $20,000 each to the 3,000 surviving WWII vets who were held as POWs and used as slave laborers by the Japanese.  The total cost would be some $60 million.  HR5972 requires the Pentago to compensate the POWs but also calls on some 52 Japanese companies, such as Kawasaki, Hitachi and Mitsubishi to contribute.  S3811 also calls for $20,00 compensation for each POW but does not ask for help from the Japanese coampanies.  As of Aug. 3, both bills had been referred to their respective Armed Services committees.