Congress·Passed House·H.R. 586

Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act

Vietnam Veterans Bile Duct Cancer Study

Apr 8, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

This bill is one vehicle in a longer effort. See the full story across every version.View effort →

StalledNext up: The SenateNo action in 15 months

The House passed this bill in April 2025, and it is now waiting for the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to take action. The bill is stalled because no progress has been made since April 2025, which is a period of 15 months. It is unlikely to move forward unless the Senate decides to schedule it for a vote.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

Senate

No action since April 2025

President

Law

How we got here

This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.

Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 4424 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 4424 (118th) →

Key Points

This bill orders the Department of Veterans Affairs to study a rare bile duct cancer that may be linked to parasites found in Vietnam. Many veterans believe they were exposed to these 'liver flukes' while eating raw or undercooked fish during their service decades ago.
The VA will work with the CDC to see if Vietnam veterans are getting this cancer at higher rates than the general public. The study will look at the age, race, and location of veterans to find patterns in who is getting sick and where they are located.
Within a year of finishing the study, the VA must give Congress a report with recommendations. This could lead to new laws that make it easier for affected veterans to get healthcare and disability payments for this specific condition.
The bill also requires the VA to keep tracking this specific cancer in the future. This ensures that as more veterans are diagnosed, the government has the data needed to provide updated information and support to families.
To help manage the costs of these requirements, the bill makes a small technical change to extend certain limits on veteran pension payments by one month in the year 2031.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

4 milestones12 actions

Apr 8, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Apr 7, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Apr 7, 2025House

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 0 (Roll no. 89). (text: CR H1435-1436)

The House fast-tracked this bill — limited debate, no amendments allowed, but needs two-thirds support to pass.

Apr 7, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 0 (Roll no. 89). (text: CR H1435-1436: 1)

The House fast-tracked this bill — limited debate, no amendments allowed, but needs two-thirds support to pass.

Apr 7, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1441-1442)