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H.R. 299: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018

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H.R. 299: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-05 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-616.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-05 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-21] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 289 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR299 (2018-06-25), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-616. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018

Plain summary

This bill extends the presumption of service connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide exposure to veterans who served: (1) in the territorial seas of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or (2) in or near the Korean demilitarized zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. The bill extends eligibility for health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance to children with spina bifida who have at least one veteran parent who may have been exposed to an herbicide agent while serving in Thailand between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. The bill revises the VA's home loan guaranty program to adjust loan fee rates and eliminate the limit on guaranty amount that is based on the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) conforming loan limit. The VA shall permit a VA-approved appraiser to make a housing loan appraisal based solely on information gathered by a person with whom the appraiser has entered into an agreement for such services.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s))

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-21] · 330 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 299, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes (2018-05-15); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 299, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes (2018-11-30); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 299, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018, as passed by the House of Representatives on June 25, 2018 (2018-12-18)

Cosponsors on this site

Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), James A. Himes (D-CT), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), David P. Joyce (R-OH), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), John Garamendi (D-CA) and 270 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-21] reported raising $6.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Appraisal
An estimate of what property is worth. In Texas, county appraisal districts set the value that property taxes are based on.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr299 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115