**MEDIA ADVISORY** PRESS CONFERENCE 6/10 @ 3:45 P.M. HOUSE TRIANGLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 9, 2014

Contact:  Ken Scudder

Phone:  (202) 308-4005

Email:  ken.scudder@mail.house.gov

 **MEDIA ADVISORY**

PRESS CONFERENCE 6/10 @ 3:45 P.M.

HOUSE TRIANGLE

CONGRESSMAN HONDA, VETERANS CALL FOR INCREASED SUPPORT FOR SOLDIERS, FAMILIES EXPOSED TO TOXINS

Washington, DC – Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA17) will join representatives of the  Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, AMVETS, and Vietnam veterans and their family members suffering the effects of exposure to toxins like Agent Orange, to announce the introduction of his bill, the Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act of 2014.

The bill instructs the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund treatment for descendants of veterans who were exposed to toxins while in combat or during their tour of duty. Toxins such as Agent Orange have been shown to cause birth defects in the children of military personnel who came in to contact with them either during the Vietnam War, in the storage and transportation of them, or by virture of being in aircraft that had previous used to transport the toxins. The bill would also require the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the National Birth Defects Registry and create a central research facility dedicated to studying and chronicling the incidence of birth defects caused by toxins like Agent Orange.

“Our veterans deserve our highest level of medical care,” Congressman Honda said. “This includes treating the long-term effects that their service had on them, and their families.”

Many veteran service organizations support this legislation, including the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, and AMVETS.

 

WHAT:          Press Conference on the Toxic Exposure Research and Family Support Act of 2014

                                                                                   

WHEN:          Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 3:45 p.m.

WHERE:       House Triangle (SE of the U.S. Capitol)

WHO:            Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA17)

Rick Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America

Ian C. DePlanque, American Legion

Diane M. Zumatto, AMVETS

Herb Worthington, a Vietnam era veteran exposed to Agent Orange, and his daughter Karen Worthington

Richard Switzer, a Vietnam era veteran exposed to Agent Orange, and his daughter Stephanie Tompkins