THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY GABLER, ADOLPH, BAKER, BARRAR, BEAR, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BROOKS, R. BROWN, CAUSER, CLYMER, CUTLER, DAVIS, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HARHART, HARKINS, HEFFLEY, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, KILLION, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MATZIE, METZGAR, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MILNE, MIRABITO, O'NEILL, PEIFER, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, ROAE, ROCK, ROSS, SABATINA, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHMOTZER, SONNEY, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, VEREB, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD, SACCONE AND MAHONEY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of October 2012 as "Agent Orange

Recognition Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, From 1962 to 1975, American military personnel were

subject to deadly exposure by the Federal Government's use of

more than 19 million gallons of various herbicide combinations,

the most common being Agent Orange; and

WHEREAS, Agent Orange was sprayed throughout South Vietnam,

Laos and Cambodia in efforts to combat the enemy and has had

horrible consequences for United States servicemen who came into

contact with the herbicide; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of Vietnam War veterans have died from

being exposed to the dangerous dioxin, and thousands more have

suffered from health disorders since their time served in the

Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, Veterans living with these health problems from

Agent Orange also live with the fact that there is genetic

damage caused by Agent Orange, which may be handed down through

generations; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 498,000 men and women served from this

Commonwealth during the Vietnam War era, with an estimated

172,000 of whom served directly in the war; and

WHEREAS, The Agent Orange Act of 1991 recognized the toxic

effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam veterans and has provided

complete medical coverage for those veterans who served in the

Vietnam War and for the children of veterans who were impacted

from these harmful herbicides; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of October 2012 as "Agent Orange Recognition Month" in

Pennsylvania in order to honor the veterans who served and to

bring awareness to the issue so that our government can better

serve these heroic veterans.