[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 248 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 248

   Designating the month of August 2009 as ``Agent Orange Awareness 
                                Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 6, 2009

Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Begich, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. 
 Rockefeller) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating the month of August 2009 as ``Agent Orange Awareness 
                                Month''.

Whereas between 1964 and 1973, 8,744,000 men and women bravely served our Nation 
        in the Vietnam War;
Whereas an estimated 2,600,000 service men and women may have been exposed to 
        Agent Orange in Vietnam;
Whereas Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used during the Vietnam War to 
        kill unwanted plant life and remove leaves from trees that provided 
        cover for the enemy;
Whereas the United States military sprayed more than 19,000,000 gallons of 
        herbicide throughout South Vietnam, with Agent Orange accounting for 
        approximately 11,000,000 gallons of this amount;
Whereas Agent Orange is an extremely toxic substance that contains dioxin;
Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs has recognized that certain cancers 
        and other health problems are associated with exposure to Agent Orange;
Whereas John Baldacci, the Governor of the State of Maine, has proclaimed August 
        2009 as ``Agent Orange Awareness Month'' for that State;
Whereas the State of Alaska has 76,000 veterans, the highest population of 
        veterans per capita, with 26,000 of these being veterans of the Vietnam 
        War; and
Whereas, as a Nation, we are deeply grateful and thankful for those men and 
        women who bravely served during the Vietnam War: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the month of August 2009 as ``Agent Orange 
        Awareness Month'';
            (2) calls attention to those veterans who were exposed to 
        Agent Orange and the adverse effects that such exposure has had 
        on their health;
            (3) recognizes the sacrifices that our veterans and 
        servicemembers have made and continue to make on behalf of our 
        great Nation, especially those veterans who were exposed to 
        Agent Orange;
            (4) reaffirms its commitment to our Nation's veterans; and
            (5) does not, by this resolution, authorize, support, or 
        settle any claim against the United States.
                                 <all>