Krause calls for Agent Orange screenings

FAIRFIELD – Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Bob Krause is calling for voluntary screening of children of Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.

He learned of the connection from a fellow member of the Iowa Democratic Veterans Caucus, who revealed a close family member has a severe auto-immune deficiency that was transmitted from him genetically.

“In this case, the attending physician identified the probable cause of the mutation as Agent Orange,” said Krause, the chair of the Veterans Caucus. “I understand that there have been a number of other similar cases.”

Krause, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, pledged to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a national outreach program for the screening and provide medical support to people with the war-induced mutation.

He said the Vietnamese government “pretty good science in this area, but we seem to be in denial here in the U.S.”

“I have lost friends to the effects of Agent Orange,” Krause said. “Now, it appears we are again in denial about the potential consequences of this potential Agent Orange mutation on countless future generations.  I hate to use the word 'cheap,' but that is how it appears to those who have served.”

He called for America to “do some crash science on this matter.”

If there is a true genetic connection it raises the question whether the children and grandchildren of Vietnam era veterans should be eligible for veteran's medical benefits?