Bill Text: NJ SCR100 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes New Jersey congressional delegation to support the "Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-15 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [SCR100 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-SCR100-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 100
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED MARCH 15, 2012
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes New Jersey congressional delegation to support the "Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution memorializing the New Jersey congressional delegation to support the "Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011" 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 "Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011," introduced in the United States Senate as S.1629, would restore VA benefits to approximately 250,000 Navy veterans exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the Vietnam War, and similar bills in the House of Representatives, H.R.812 and H.R.3612, would have the same effect; and
Whereas, Failure to pass the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011 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 Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011 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 Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey respectfully memorializes all members of the New Jersey congressional delegation to support the "Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011" 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 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly, 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 "Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011" 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.
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 "Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011" or similar legislation would reverse this policy and offer the appropriate benefits to all veterans who served in the Vietnam War.
