News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Crossville the first of several town halls in a statewide tour by the Vietnam Veterans of America to disseminate information about Agent Orange and other potential toxic exposures.
Tennessee State Council President Barry Rice said the town hall will feature a presentation of the list of contaminants veterans may have been exposed to during their service. Rice said the goal is to help educate veterans and their family members about the risk of illness from these exposures.
“They deserve to know this information that some of these diseases can present later in life and the more information that we can get out to the public about these diseases, they then can pass this information on to a family member,” Rice said. “It’s just critical that this information gets out.”
Rice said some of those exposures include smoke from open-air burn pits found throughout Afghanistan and Iraq, working near Agent Orange residue in Vietnam, and drinking contaminated water at Camp LeJeune.
Rice said the town hall will also discuss the new PACT Act of 2022. He said the PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. He said there will be a veterans service officer present to help veterans explore what their options and benefits are.
