WHEREAS, Many children and grandchildren of veterans were
born with both structural and nonstructural defects and some
have been accepted into treatment programs by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of exposure to toxins
from a parent's military service; and
WHEREAS, Birth anomalies in the children of veterans are not
tracked, mostly going unexplained and unreported; and
WHEREAS, While these anomalies have some similarities, more
research is needed on their causes; and
WHEREAS, Most states that have birth registries do not report
to a national registry and even infant deaths and birth defects
at military hospitals relating to the children of veterans are
not put into a Federal registry; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs and
the United States Department of Defense have been tracking toxic
exposures and possible toxic exposures without follow-up
research on the veterans and their offspring; and
WHEREAS, The Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 would
require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of
Defense to share data regarding toxic exposures; and
WHEREAS, Parents of children with birth defects carry a heavy
emotional and financial burden; and
WHEREAS, Veterans exposed to Agent Orange and its dioxin
contaminants have reported a variety of serious health problems
and symptoms, including cancers and birth defects in their
children; and
WHEREAS, The number of Vietnam veterans who have children and
grandchildren with birth defects related to exposure to Agent
Orange are significant and the planned research seeks to provide
diagnosis, treatment and care and focus on dependents; and
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