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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 21, 2024 10:36 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Paul Takac and Rep. Mike Cabell, Rep. Brian Munroe, Rep. Dane Watro, Rep. Tarik Khan, Rep. Zachary Mako, Rep. Chris Pielli, Rep. Abby Major |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Supporting Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange |
| From 1962 until 1971, the United States military used a blend of herbicides known as Agent Orange to remove foliage that provided cover to enemies during the Vietnam War. The herbicide was banned when evidence of the harmful and sometimes deadly results of exposure began to emerge. Those who were exposed to Agent Orange are at risk of developing cancers, neurological and psychological conditions, and other long-term effects to the skin and heart. Agent Orange exposure can also cause reproductive health problems and birth defects in the children of veterans, including spina bifida, hip dysplasia, and congenital heart disease. As many as three million United States military personnel served in regions and years when the chemical was being used and more than 300,000 veterans have died from exposure to Agent Orange as of 2023. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several benefits to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. Further, the VA has made policy changes over the last several years which have made more veterans eligible for benefits, including the additions of Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans. However, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs estimates that there are a number of veterans in Pennsylvania who qualify but are not yet receiving VA benefits. Our veterans should have every opportunity to receive the benefits they are eligible for to treat their diseases caused by exposure to Agent Orange. For these reasons, we will be introducing a resolution to create a Pennsylvania Task Force on Agent Orange. The task force will be comprised of several members of military organizations and members of the House and Senate who will study and form recommendations on how best to communicate with veterans affected by Agent Orange to connect them with the benefits for which they are eligible and the treatment options available to them. This is the very least we can do to help the men and women who were made sick in the line of duty. Please join us in co-sponsoring this resolution to ensure that Pennsylvania veterans are adequately notified of which conditions may have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange, as well as their eligibility for federal benefits and treatments. |
Introduced as HR335