1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2023 HR 1006
4
5 By: Representatives Richmond, Maddox
6
7 HOUSE RESOLUTION
8 TO COMMEND MR. BILL RHODES ON HIS EFFORTS ON THE
9 PASSAGE OF THE PROMISE TO ADDRESS COMPREHENSIVE
10 TOXICS ACT.
11
12
13 Subtitle
14 TO COMMEND MR. BILL RHODES ON HIS EFFORTS
15 ON THE PASSAGE OF THE PROMISE TO ADDRESS
16 COMPREHENSIVE TOXICS ACT.
17
18
19 WHEREAS, Mr. Bill Rhodes, from Mena, Arkansas, was instrumental in the
20 passage of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics “PACT” Act; and
21
22 WHEREAS, Mr. Rhodes, who joined the military in 1968, was stationed at
23 Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong in Nam Phong, Thailand, where tactical
24 herbicides were used; and
25
26 WHEREAS, after more than a decade of service, Mr. Rhodes exited
27 military service with the rank of staff sergeant and subsequently developed
28 heart disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes, which he attributed to exposure
29 to tactical herbicides used while on the military base; and
30
31 WHEREAS, Mr. Rhodes was denied services by the United States Department
32 of Veterans Affairs stating that Mr. Rhodes did not qualify under the Agent
33 Orange Act of 1991 or any subsequent laws; and
34
35 WHEREAS, in 2017 and 2019, Mr. Rhodes worked with United States Senator
36 John Boozman who introduced legislation expanding eligibility of military
*MAG007* 1/24/2023 3:05:22 PM MAG007
 HR1006
1 service members harmed by exposure to chemicals and herbicides while serving
2 in the military; and
3
4 WHEREAS, in 2021, Senator Boozman again introduced legislation and
5 working in a bi-partisan manner and with the tireless efforts of Mr. Rhodes,
6 his proposed legislation was enacted and signed into law by President Joe
7 Biden in August of 2022 with Mr. Rhodes present for the signing; and
8
9 WHEREAS, in championing this bill before the United States Congress,
10 Mr. Rhodes spent countless hours in Washington D.C. and during the summer of
11 2022, spent two (2) weeks in Washington D.C. and had fifty-seven (57)
12 meetings in nine (9) days with members of the House of Representatives and
13 the Senate or their staffs.
14
15 NOW THEREFORE,
16 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
17 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
18
19 THAT the House of Representatives commend Mr. Bill Rhodes for his
20 service and dedication to the members of the military service in his efforts
21 to support the needs of veterans by championing the passage of the Promise to
22 Address Comprehensive Toxics Act.
23
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution be
25 provided to Mr. Bill Rhodes by the Chief Clerk of the House of
26 Representatives.
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
2 1/24/2023 3:05:22 PM MAG007