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H.R. 299: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019

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H.R. 299: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-08 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Became Public Law No: 116-23.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-08 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 203 (2019): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR299 (2019-05-14), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 116-23. (final step reached)
  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 2019

Plain summary

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 This bill addresses certain health benefit and home loan programs for veterans. Specifically, the bill extends the presumption of service-connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide (e.g., Agent Orange) exposure to veterans who served (1) offshore 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 or diseases 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 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must report on the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort of Gulf War and Gulf War Era Veterans. Additionally, the bill revises the VA home loan guaranty program to adjust loan fee rates and eliminate the limit on the amount of a loan for which the VA may provide a guaranty of 25%. Under current law, these loan guarantees are subject to a limit on loan size determined by Freddie Mac. The bill removes the cap on a direct housing loan amount that may be made to a Native American veteran purchasing a home located on tribal land held in federal trust. The bill also waives loan fees for active duty Purple Heart recipients. 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 (Public Law), 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 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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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. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] · 333 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 299, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (2019-05-13)

Cosponsors on this site

Joe Courtney (D-CT), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Dina Titus (D-NV), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL) and 273 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] reported raising $1.1 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-cong116-hr299 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116