Georgia CommonsHR 17: Veterans who were victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War; commend
Last action January 14, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution honors Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, recognizing their service and the health toll the chemical has taken on them.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. It cites statistics about Georgia's Vietnam veterans, describes how Agent Orange was used during Operation Ranch Hand between 1961 and 1971, and details the serious illnesses and genetic harm the chemical has caused to veterans and their descendants. The resolution does not create any new law, funding, or program. It formally states that the House of Representatives honors and recognizes these veterans for their service and directs the Clerk of the House to make copies of the resolution available to the public.
What the bill does
- Formally states that the Georgia House of Representatives honors and recognizes Vietnam veterans who were victims of Agent Orange exposure.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for public distribution.
- Does not establish any new benefit, funding, agency action, or change to Georgia law.
Who it affects
Vietnam War veterans living in Georgia who were exposed to Agent Orange, an estimated 800,000 nationally, along with their families, since the resolution notes the chemical has also caused health effects in veterans' children and grandchildren.
Why it matters
The resolution carries symbolic weight rather than legal or financial effect. It offers formal state recognition to a group of veterans the text says has not been counted among Vietnam War fatalities despite ongoing deaths linked to Agent Orange exposure.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses describe the history of Agent Orange use during Operation Ranch Hand from 1961 to 1971 and its health effects on veterans and their descendants.
- The resolved clause states the House of Representatives honors and recognizes veterans who were victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies of the resolution available to the public.
From the bill
“the veterans who are victims of Agent Orange are not recognized as fatalities of the Vietnam War”
“approximately 800,000 Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange are alive, and approximately 300 deaths occur among them every day”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Shaw Blackmon (R, HD-146)
- Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
- Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)
- Al Williams (D, HD-168)
- Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
- Anissa Jones (D, HD-143)
Topics
- veterans
- Agent Orange
- Vietnam War
- military honors