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

1 recorded action192 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Mark Takano [D-CA-41]
Cosponsors: 333 · 154 Democrats · 96 Republicans
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Committee: Veterans' Affairs Committee
Latest action: Jun 25, 2019 · Became Public Law No: 116-23.

IntroducedJan 8, 2019
Passed the HouseMay 14, 2019
Passed the SenateJun 12, 2019
Sent to the PresidentJun 19, 2019
Became lawJun 25, 2019

What the measure doesCRS 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.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 299 as public Law on Jun 25, 2019. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 203

House May 14, 2019

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act

Passed · Two-thirds required

410 Yea 0 Nay 21 not voting

Crossed both parties No voting member broke with their own party.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members431 members

Democratic234 members

Republican197 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors333 · 154 Democrats · 96 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 299 and vote against it. 82 signed when it was filed.

Who lobbied on H.R. 29916 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 299 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSIts PAC: National Association of Realtors Congressional Fund

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Transportation · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Disaster Planning/Emergencies +13 more10 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

RETIRED ENLISTED ASSOCIATION

Veterans · Defense · Health Issues · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +4 more9 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

Veterans8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

Defense · Minting/Money/Gold Standard · Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties +11 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY

Defense · Veterans · Homeland Security7 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2020Filing

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSIts PAC: California Real Estate PAC/federal - California Association of Realtors

Housing · Computer Industry · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Consumer Issues/Safety/Products +3 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: Mortgage Bankers Association PAC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Insurance · Banking · Housing6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2019Filing

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MORTGAGE BROKERSfiled by DC STRATEGIES GROUP, LLCIts PAC: National Association of Mortgage Brokers PAC

Housing · Banking · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities5 filings · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2020Filing

SEA SERVICE FAMILY, CONSULTING

Defense · Veterans · Homeland Security5 filings · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2020Filing

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF VETERANS' ADVOCATES, INC.

Veterans4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2019Filing

80 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.