Subject: Sign-On Request — Panama Canal Zone Toxic Exposure Letter to VA & DoD

Dear Veterans Advocates, Family Members, Legislative Leaders and dedicated Public Representatives,

Thank you again for your time during our public and personal discussions and office visits seeking your support for the revisions made to the prior congressional letter to the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs (SECVA), in 2024.

Please join us in urging the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of War to recognize the toxic exposures faced by veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone (PCZ) and establish a presumption of service connection for these veterans.

Between January 1, 1958, and December 31, 1999, veterans stationed in the PCZ were exposed to toxic chemicals, including Agent Orange and aerosolized Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), . Many have since developed cancers, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses associated with these exposures, yet the government does not recognize that their service in the PCZ directly led to their illnesses.

Our bipartisan letter calls on the VA to utilize its authority under the PACT Act to establish a presumption of service connection for PCZ veterans. It also urges the Department of Defense to work with the VA to ensure that the list of locations where tactical herbicides were tested, used, and stored accurately reflects the use of tactical herbicides in the PCZ. This request is consistent with congressional direction included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act Joint Explanatory Statement

As you know, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 established a new framework under 38 U.S.C. §§ 1171–1176 to empower the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create presumptions of service connection for veterans exposed to toxic substances. We hope you will join us in this effort to ensure that Panama Canal Zone veterans receive the care and recognition they have earned through their service.

Administrative Note: The attached revision includes the Secretary of Defense (SECDOW), along with the accompanying historical archival photographs documenting the use of Toxic Chemicals and spraying of DDT mixed with diesel oil, which when heated and aerosolized as shown in the attached Archival photographs in the Panama Canal Zone Review in 1954, creates Benzene a Group I Carcinogen.

To further emphasize the urgency of passing this resolution:

1) A Research Study conducted by renowned scientists Kenneth Ray Olsen, Professor Emeritus of Soil Science in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, developed along with my dear friend and colleague Donna Tornoe, the Author of the book "The Travels of Orange" has shown elevated levels of dioxin in soil samples taken from areas within the former Panama Canal Zone, confirming the long-term environmental impacts of pesticide and the herbicide used in the Panama Canal Zone. 

2) The Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged the potential health risks associated with dioxin exposure and has recognized certain diseases as presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to to DDT and Agent Orange,  Both used as herbicide and pesticides, resulting in direct exposure to Dioxin and Benzene.

3) Let us NOT Forget; “The Silent Spring” - By: Rachel Carlson

4) "The People vs. Agent Orange" movement have been dedicated to seeking justice for those affected by dioxin exposure, supports our cause and highlights the need for comprehensive action to address this issue.

We urge you to sign this petition and join us in demanding justice for our Panama Canal Zone Veterans and Zonians.

Together, we can ensure that their sacrifices are not forgotten and that they receive the support they rightfully deserve. Let us stand united in advocating for their well-being and securing a brighter future for these brave men and women who have served our nation selflessly.

Sign now to support The Panama Canal Zone Veterans!

For Reference & Purposes ONLY - PanamaVeterans.org

Thank you!

SAMPLE LETTER: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YNl6r6XGKOSKGph_T40mwbvRq6eaDeiWpq8tNF7I7hw/edit?usp=drivesdk