Senate Resolution by Senator Burgess honors and recognizes the victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, acknowledging the sacrifices made by over eight million Americans who served in the conflict. The resolution highlights the extensive use of Agent Orange, a harmful herbicide, by U.S. Armed Forces from 1962 to 1971, which exposed approximately 2.6 million soldiers to its toxic effects. It notes the serious health issues caused by Agent Orange, including various cancers and genetic damage affecting the children and grandchildren of veterans.
The resolution emphasizes the importance of recognizing these veterans, many of whom are now deceased, as casualties of the Vietnam War, despite their lack of acknowledgment on memorials like The Wall in Washington, D.C. It calls for honoring their service and sacrifices, and it directs that copies of the resolution be presented to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a testament to the sentiments expressed.