Assistance for individuals affected by health issues related to exposure to Agent Orange

(a) For covered individuals The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, or its successor, in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations, shall provide assistance to address the health care needs of covered individuals. Such assistance may include the provision of medical and chronic care services, nursing services, vocational employment training, and medical equipment. (b) For caregivers The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, or its successor, in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations, shall provide assistance to institutions in Vietnam that provide health care for covered individuals. Such assistance may include— (1) medicines and medical equipment; (2) custodial care, home care, respite care, and daycare programs; (3) training programs for caregivers; (4) medical and physical rehabilitation, and counseling services and equipment for illnesses and deformities associated with exposure to Agent Orange; and (5) reconstructive surgical programs. (c) For housing and poverty reduction The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, or its successor, in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations shall provide— (1) assistance to institutions in Vietnam that repair and rebuild substandard homes in Vietnam for covered individuals and the families of covered individuals; and (2) micro grants and loans to facilitate subsistence payments and poverty reduction for covered individuals and families of covered individuals. (d) For environmental remediation (1) In general The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, or its successor, in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations shall provide assistance to remediate those geographic areas of Vietnam that the Secretary determines contain high levels of Agent Orange. (2) Priority In providing assistance under this subsection, the Administrator shall give priority to heavily sprayed areas, including areas that served as military bases where Agent Orange was handled, and areas where heavy spraying, spills, or air crashes resulted in harmful deposits of Agent Orange. (e) Administrative authorities The Administrator shall— (1) provide assistance under this section (other than assistance under subsection (d)) through appropriate Vietnamese community and nongovernmental organizations and Vietnamese public agencies; (2) provide assistance under this section to affected persons in all areas of Vietnam, including rural, mountainous, and urban areas; and (3) seek out and actively encourage other bilateral donors as well as United States and foreign business enterprises in Vietnam to support the goals of this section through development assistance and corporate philanthropy programs. (f) Covered individual defined In this section, the term covered individual means an individual who— (1) is a resident of Vietnam; and (2) (A) is affected by health issues related to exposure to Agent Orange which took place during the period beginning on January 1, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, or who lives or has lived in or near those geographic areas in Vietnam that continue to contain high levels of Agent Orange as described in subsection (d); or (B) is the child or descendant of an individual described in subparagraph (A), and is affected by health issues described in subparagraph (A).