Senate Joint Resolution No. 12, presented by the Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs, seeks to formally recognize and honor the veterans of the Vietnam War who were exposed to Agent Orange. The resolution acknowledges the sacrifices made by these veterans and the serious health issues they have faced as a result of their exposure to the toxic herbicide. Agent Orange was used extensively during Operation Ranch Hand to destroy vegetation and crops, inadvertently exposing approximately 2.6 million U.S. servicemembers. The chemical has been linked to a range of serious illnesses, genetic damage, and has affected the offspring of those exposed.

The resolution also notes that while the names of those who died in combat are memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., the veterans who succumbed to the effects of Agent Orange are not recognized as fatalities of the Vietnam War. The Connecticut General Assembly expresses its recognition of these veterans' service and sacrifice. The resolution carries no fiscal impact on the state or municipal budgets, as it is a formal recognition without associated costs. The Office of Legislative Research does not analyze resolutions, but the Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee has given a joint favorable recommendation for the resolution's adoption.