2015 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 15-008 BY SENATOR(S) Crowder, Aguilar, Baumgardner, Carroll, Cooke, Donovan, Garcia, Grantham, Heath, Hill, Hodge, Holbert, Jahn, Johnston, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr, Lambert, Marble, Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Neville T., Newell, Roberts, Scheffel, Scott, Sonnenberg, Steadman, Todd, Ulibarri, Woods, Cadman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Navarro, Arndt, Becker K., Brown, Buckner, Carver, Conti, Court, DelGrosso, Dore, Duran, Esgar, Foote, Garnett, Ginal, Hamner, Humphrey, Kagan, Keyser, Landgraf, Lawrence, Lebsock, Lee, Lontine, Lundeen, McCann, Mitsch Bush, Moreno, Neville P., Nordberg, Pabon, Pettersen, Primavera, Priola, Rankin, Ransom, Rosenthal, Roupe, Ryden, Salazar, Sias, Singer, Tate, Thurlow, Van Winkle, Vigil, Williams, Wilson, Windholz, Winter, Young, Hullinghorst. CONCERNING THE SUPPORT OF U.S. SENATE BILL 1602. WHEREAS, U.S. Senate Bill 1602, "Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act of 2013", was introduced on October 29, 2013; and WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Forces and veterans from all of our wars and conflicts, including non-wartime veterans, were exposed to toxic substances while serving our country; and WHEREAS, No government agency has addressed the full effects of toxic substances exposure these veterans passed on to their descendants, including biological children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and WHEREAS, These descendants are experiencing disproportionate numbers of health problems such as diabetes, leukemia, autism, various cancers, and about 700 additional illnesses, as documented on the Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance web site; and WHEREAS, U.S. Senate Bill 1602, as introduced, directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: Select a medical center in the Department of Veteran Affairs to serve as the national center for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of health conditions of descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces, which conditions are or may be related to that exposure; Establish an advisory board to advise the center to determine which health conditions result from exposure to toxic substances and to study and evaluate cases of exposure of current and former members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances; and Establish an Office of Extramural Research to conduct research on wounds, illnesses, injuries, and other conditions suffered by active members of the Armed Forces resulting from exposure to toxic substances and to assist the advisory board in considering claims of exposure to toxic substances; and WHEREAS, U.S. Senate Bill 1602, as introduced, would have: Extended eligibility for medical care and caregiver assistance to descendants of veterans who were exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces if the descendant has a health condition resulting from exposure to toxic substances and is homebound due to the condition, and the veteran has or had the same health condition; Authorized the Secretary of Defense to declassify documents, other than documents that would materially and immediately threaten national security, related to any known incident in which no fewer than 100 members of the Armed Forces were exposed to a toxic substance that resulted in at least one case of disability; and Directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Defense to jointly conduct a national outreach and education campaign directed at members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their family members to communicate information on incidents of exposure to toxic substances, health conditions resulting from the exposure, and the potential long-term effects of the exposure; and WHEREAS, The American GI Forum supports members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families; and WHEREAS, The Pueblo chapter of the American GI Forum as well as veterans nationwide asked for the support of Colorado's American GI Forum members to encourage the United States Senators and Congressional Representatives to actively support the passage of U.S. Senate Bill 1602; and WHEREAS, The Pueblo chapter of the American GI Forum is resolved to continue advocating for the descendants of members of the Armed Forces and veterans exposed to toxic substances while serving our country; and WHEREAS, U.S. Senate Bill 1602, as introduced, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on October 29, 2013; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventieth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: (1) That we, the General Assembly, support the enactment of the "Toxic Exposure Research and Military Support Act" for research regarding the effects of toxic substances exposure and support for affected members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and their descendants; and (2) We strongly urge Senator Michael Bennet, Senator Cory Gardner, Representative Diana DeGette, Representative Doug Lamborn, Representative Ed Perlmutter, Representative Mike Coffman, Representative Jared Polis, Representative Scott Tipton, and Representative Ken Buck to reintroduce the "Toxic Exposure Research and Military Support Act" in 2015, and we urge the United States Congress to adopt the legislation. Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be distributed to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Pueblo Chapter of the American GI Forum, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the members of Colorado's congressional delegation. ____________________________ ____________________________ Bill L. Cadman Dickey Lee Hullinghorst PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Cindi L. Markwell Marilyn Eddins SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES