(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is co-sponsoring a bill that would extend V-A benefits to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and later diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. The bill is named in honor of Keith Smith, an Iowan who served in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam in the early 1970s. “This was inspired by a letter from his widow, Linda Smith,” Hinson says. “…She is now a passionate advocate for this cause and was absolutely instrumental in helping us to introduce this effort.”

Hinson says Smith, a farmer from Independence, was denied critical health care V-A benefits after being diagnosed with glioblastoma. He died in 2021 at the age of 73.

Keith A. Smith (vvmf.org)

Glioblastoma is not among the 23 conditions listed for coverage for veterans exposed to Agent Orange or burn pits. “We want to expand access to care for those who are exposed to toxic substances during their service and naming this bill in Specialist Fourth Class Smith’s honor is, I think, a deserving tribute to his life and service, Linda’s advocacy as well,” Hinson says.

Keith Alan Smith, Sr. (Photo via vvmf.org)

The bill is co-sponsored by a Florida Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee member who received the same letter from Smith’s widow that Hinson did. According to an online tribute by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Smith helped develop the baseball and basketball programs in Independence and was a founding member of the Mustang Foundation that supports extracurricular activities in the school district.