Rep. Roy lauds passage of bipartisan legislation to get justice for forgotten Vietnam vets

Statement

Rep. Chip Roy released the following statement on Wednesday's passage of H.R. 6082, the Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act, as part of H.R. 7105, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veteran's Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020:

"When we send someone to risk everything and fight for our freedom and our way of life, they deserve to be taken care of when they come home. Their country owes them that without question," said Rep. Roy. "Right now there are Vietnam veterans who are not eligible for some of the benefits they have earned. This bipartisan legislation is a much-needed measure to rectify that error, so that those who have sacrificed for us get what they are due. I am proud to have worked with my friend TJ Cox to introduce this bill and help support veterans all over the country."

H.R. 6082 -- the Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act -- extends wartime veterans benefits, including the Veterans Pension and health care, to the US Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG). This was a group of nearly more than 3,000 officers, and enlisted people who served our nation during the Vietnam War but are currently ineligible for many of these benefits.

The Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act seeks to rectify this error. By changing the time period recognized as the Vietnam War era to cover the US Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) as Vietnam War Veterans, they can receive the benefits they deserve.

The Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act is supported by Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.

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