Bill Text: NJ ACR175 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes New Jersey congressional delegation to support the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act 2013."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-07-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [ACR175 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-ACR175-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 175
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JULY 11, 2014
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes New Jersey congressional delegation to support the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution memorializing the New Jersey congressional delegation to support the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013" or similar legislation.
Whereas, Currently, Navy veterans who served in Vietnam are unable to receive Veteran's Administration (VA) disability or health benefits for medical issues related to the effects of Agent Orange due to federal law; and
Whereas, During the Vietnam War, the United States military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of the herbicide Agent Orange, a toxic chemical with devastating effects and strong links to several forms of cancer and numerous neurological diseases; and
Whereas, While the "Agent Orange Act of 1991" (Pub.L.102-4) requires the VA to provide health and disability benefits to all veterans who served in active military, air, or naval service in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War and who have illnesses directly related to Agent Orange exposure, in 2002 the VA decided to provide benefits only to "boots on the ground" service members; and
Whereas, Agent Orange has been verified, through various studies and reports, as a wide-spreading chemical that was able to reach Navy ships through the air and waterborne distribution routes; and
Whereas, The "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013," introduced in the United States House of Representatives as H.R.543, would restore VA benefits to approximately 250,000 Navy veterans exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the Vietnam War; and
Whereas, Failure to pass the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013" or similar legislation could set a precedent to selectively provide certain groups with injury related medical care while denying other groups the same care; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper that the congressional delegation from the State of New Jersey support the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013" or similar legislation in order to provide needed benefits to those Navy veterans who became ill as a result of their service to our country; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey respectfully memorializes all members of the New Jersey congressional delegation to support the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013" or similar legislation to provide Navy veterans who served in the Vietnam War with health and disability benefits for medical issues related to the effects of Agent Orange.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this concurrent resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and President of the Senate and attested to by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution memorializes the congressional delegation from the State of New Jersey to support the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013" or similar legislation to provide Navy veterans who served in the Vietnam War with health and disability benefits for medical issues related to the effects of Agent Orange. In previous sessions of Congress, similar legislation has been designated as the "Agent Orange Equity Act."
A rule set by the Veteran's Administration (VA) in 2002 limits VA health and disability benefits for medical issues related to exposure to Agent Orange to veterans who served with "boots on the ground" in the Vietnam War. Navy veterans are excluded from benefits, even through scientific evidence indicates that Agent Orange was able to reach Navy ships near the country through the water and air. Enactment of the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013" or similar legislation would reverse this policy and offer the appropriate benefits to all veterans who served in the Vietnam War.
