Memorializes President and Congress to expand certain benefits to grandchildren of veterans impacted by Agent Orange.

ACR146

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 146

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� AURA K. DUNN

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Fantasia

SYNOPSIS

���� Memorializes President and Congress to expand certain
benefits to grandchildren of veterans impacted by Agent Orange.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution
memorializing the
President and Congress of the United States to expand certain benefits to the
grandchildren of veterans impacted by Agent Orange.

Whereas,

Spina Bifida is a spinal cord defect often requiring extensive life-long
medical care and may cause health issues leading to disability such as
paralysis, walking and mobility problems, nerve damage, bowel and bladder
issues, and hydrocephalus, among others; and

Whereas,

Evidence indicates that exposure to �Agent Orange�, a herbicide extensively
used during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, may lead to Spina Bifida in the
children of veterans who were exposed to the toxin and the United States
Congress has acknowledged the connection through the enactment of the �Agent
Orange Benefits Act of 1996�; and

Whereas,

Benefits provided by the �Agent Orange Benefits Act of 1996� include a monthly
monetary allowance, a vocational program, counseling and rehabilitative
services, employment services, and health care benefits which have improved the
lives of the children of veterans who were born with Spina Bifida; and

Whereas,

Recent evidence indicates that the grandchildren of veterans who were exposed
to Agent Orange also suffer from elevated incidences of Spina Bifida, but these
children are not eligible for the benefits provided in the �Agent Orange
Benefits Act of 1996�; and

Whereas,

Expanding benefits to the grandchildren of eligible veterans who suffer from
Spina Bifida would greatly alleviate the financial burden caused by medical
costs associated with treatment of the condition and enable them to further
their careers through the additional educational and employment services
afforded to them; and

Whereas,

Spina Bifida is a life-long debilitating disease affecting both the children
and grandchildren of Korean and Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange
and the benefits provided to veterans� children by the �Agent Orange Benefits
Act of 1996� should be expanded to include the grandchildren of these veterans;
now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

���� 1.��� The President and
Congress of the United States are respectfully memorialized to expand the scope
of the �Agent Orange Benefits Act of 1996� to include individuals diagnosed
with Spina Bifida who are grandchildren of certain veterans of the United
States Armed Forces.

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President
and Vice President of the United States; the Majority and Minority Leaders of
the United States Senate; the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States
House of Representatives; and every member of the New Jersey Congressional
delegation.

STATEMENT

���� This concurrent resolution
memorializes the President and Congress to provide the grandchildren with Spina
Bifida of� veterans exposed to Agent Orange the same benefits as the children
with Spina Bifida of veterans exposed to Agent Orange as provided by the �Agent
Orange Benefits Act of 1996�.

���� Grandchildren of Vietnam and
Korean War veterans who are negatively affected by their grandparent�s service
through the acquiring of diseases caused by Agent Orange such as Spinia Bifida
will have limited support in managing the consequences of their illness unless
provided the same benefits as the children of veterans with the same
affliction. Spina Bifida is a life-long debilitating disease that can cause
numerous serious health issues. The expansion of benefits to include
grandchildren of these veterans will alleviate the financial burden of the
disease and provide valuable services such as counseling, education, and
employment services. The United States of America has greatly benefitted from
the service of all veterans and owes its support to the grandchildren of
veterans afflicted by diseases linked to military service.