Cong. Honda Introduces Toxic Exposure Research Act...

[boardman]

Today Congressman Mike Honda introduces the Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act of 2014 companion bill to S.1602 Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act of 2013 introduced by Senator Blumenthal-CT

CONGRESSMAN MIKE HONDA CA-17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2014
Contact: Ken Scudder
Phone: (202) 308-4005
Email: ken.scudder@mail.house.gov


**MEDIA ADVISORY**

PRESS CONFERENCE 6/10 @ 3:45 P.M.
HOUSE TRIANGLE

CONGRESSMAN HONDA, VETERANS CALL FOR INCREASED SUPPORT FOR SOLDIERS, FAMILIES EXPOSED TO TOXINS

Washington, DC – Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA17) will join representatives of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, AMVETS, and Vietnam veterans and their family members suffering the effects of exposure to toxins like Agent Orange, to announce the introduction of his bill, the Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act of 2014.

The bill instructs the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund treatment for descendants of veterans who were exposed to toxins while in combat or during their tour of duty. Toxins such as Agent Orange have been shown to cause birth defects in the children of military personnel who came in to contact with them either during the Vietnam War, in the storage and transportation of them, or by virture of being in aircraft that had previous used to transport the toxins. The bill would also require the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the National Birth Defects Registry and create a central research facility dedicated to studying and chronicling the incidence of birth defects caused by toxins like Agent Orange.

“Our veterans deserve our highest level of medical care,” Congressman Honda said. “This includes treating the long-term effects that their service had on them, and their families.”
Many veteran service organizations support this legislation, including the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, and AMVETS.