HR0060 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0060 LRB101 07689 ALS 53168 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Many veterans in Illinois and across the United States have committed their lives to protecting our nation and its interest; and

WHEREAS, In pursuit of that service, veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam and Thailand from January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975 and in the Korean demilitarized zone from September 1, 1967 to August 31, 1971 were exposed to a chemical known as "Agent Orange"; and

WHEREAS, Agent Orange is an herbicide that is known for its use by the United States military as part of its warfare program; and

WHEREAS, Agent Orange was sprayed on more than 12,000 square miles of Vietnam, nearly ten percent of the country; and

WHEREAS, The chemical found its way into inland and offshore water, and to this day the most heavily contaminated areas are the 28 remaining U.S. air bases where the chemicals were stored; and

WHEREAS, Up to four million people were exposed to the chemical and as many as three million of those exposed have reported health problems, including birth defects, mental disabilities, and cancers; and

WHEREAS, In 1978, the United States Army buried 250 drums of Agent Orange in the Korean demilitarized zone; and

WHEREAS, Veterans who served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone have also received treatment for a disease associated with Agent Orange exposure during their service in Korea; and

WHEREAS, In January 2017, H.R. 299 was introduced in the United States Congress to expand the presumption of service connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide exposure related to veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and the Korean demilitarized zone for treatment purposes; and

WHEREAS, H.R. 299 passed the house, but it stalled in the Senate; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congress to pass legislation in support of the expansion of the presumptions for Agent Orange exposure for veteran treatment purposes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, the U.S. Senate Minority Leader, the U.S. Speaker of the House, the U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader, and all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.