[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 122 (Thursday, August 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 248--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2009 AS ``AGENT 
                        ORANGE AWARENESS MONTH''

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

                              S. Res. 248

       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.

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