HR 2149119th CongressIn Committee

Correcting Guam’s History in the PACT Act

Introduced: Mar 14, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the Correcting Guam's History in the PACT Act, amends current law to adjust how the presumption of service connection for diseases linked to herbicide exposure applies to veterans who served in Guam. Specifically, it changes the geographic and temporal scope in 38 U.S.C. §1116(d)(5): Guam (and its territorial waters) would be eligible only for service during August 15, 1958, through July 31, 1980, while American Samoa (and its territorial waters) remains covered. In essence, the bill narrows Guam’s eligible period for the herbicide-exposure presumption to a defined window, and it preserves the existing wording for American Samoa. The intent conveyed by the title is to “correct Guam’s history” within the program that provides presumptive service connection for herbicide-related diseases.

Key Points

1Short title: The bill is named the “Correcting Guam’s History in the PACT Act.”
2Core change: Section 1116(d)(5) is amended to specify Guam service eligibility only for August 15, 1958, to July 31, 1980, or in Guam’s territorial waters, and separately retain eligibility for American Samoa (or its territorial waters).
3Geographic/temporal scope: Guam coverage is limited to a defined time window; American Samoa coverage remains (as before) but is explicitly part of the same presumption framework.
4Presumption mechanism: The bill continues to use the established presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure to herbicide agents, making it easier for eligible veterans to receive VA benefits without proving a direct causal link.
5Legislative status: Introduced in the House on March 14, 2025 by Rep. Moylan and multiple co-sponsors; referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. No Senate action described.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Veterans who served in Guam during the period August 15, 1958, to July 31, 1980 (and in Guam’s territorial waters) who have diseases associated with herbicide exposure. These veterans would be eligible for the presumption of service connection, simplifying access to VA disability benefits.Secondary group/area affected: Veterans who served in American Samoa (or its territorial waters) remain covered by the presumption; the change clarifies this eligibility as part of the same framework, though Guam’s coverage is time-limited.Additional impacts:- Administrative: VA would need to apply the new Guam-specific time window when processing claims under the herbicide exposure presumption, potentially requiring adjudicative guidance and records review for that date range.- Fiscal: Possible changes in the number of veterans qualifying for presumptive benefits could affect VA disability compensation costs; the effect would depend on claim volumes within the Guam window.- Legal/interpretive: The bill clarifies geographic and temporal boundaries of the presumption, reducing ambiguity about Guam eligibility and aligning it with the stated history in the act’s title.

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