III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 932 

Designating the month of October 2024 as ‘‘National Military Toxic 

Exposures Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 17 (legislative day, DECEMBER 16), 2024 

Mr. MORAN (for himself and Ms. ROSEN) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the month of October 2024 as ‘‘National 

Military Toxic Exposures Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas the profound impacts of military toxic exposures on 

generations of veterans and military families have created 

the persistent and urgent need for enhanced public 

awareness and preventative health measures; 

Whereas the history of military toxic exposures dates back 

more than a century, particularly with the use of chemical warfare in World War I; 

Whereas, despite reductions in certain chemical agents during 

World War II, members of the Armed Forces continued 

to face significant toxic exposures, including hazardous 

substances from naval vessels and herbicides during the 

Korean War and Agent Orange and other tactical herbicides during the Vietnam War; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•SRES 932 ATS 

Whereas the impact of toxic exposure is not limited to veterans alone, but can also affect their families, including 

their children with medical conditions potentially related 

to their parents’ service, including children born with 

health issues following the Vietnam War; 

Whereas the legacy of toxic exposure extends to veterans 

known as ‘‘Atomic Veterans’’, who experienced hazardous 

radiation exposure, further compounding the health risks 

associated with service in the Armed Forces; 

Whereas generations of veterans have faced toxic exposures 

while serving abroad; 

Whereas veterans have encountered other toxic exposures and 

environmental hazards during service in the Armed 

Forces, including contaminated drinking water, asbestos, 

polychlorinated biphenyl, lead, and radiation; 

Whereas, in 1991, the Vietnam Veterans of America achieved 

a significant legislative victory, when Congress passed the 

Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–4), leading 

to the recognition of Agent Orange as a presumptive hazard and paving the way for benefits for affected veterans; 

Whereas subsequent conflicts, including the Persian Gulf 

War, have seen soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines facing similar debilitating health issues due to toxic exposures, reinforcing the need for continued advocacy and 

research; 

Whereas multiple veterans service organizations, including 

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the 

American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Vietnam Veterans of 

America, and others have worked tirelessly to secure legislative improvements, including studies on the effects of 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•SRES 932 ATS 

toxic exposure and the passage of the Sergeant First 

Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address 

Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (Public Law 117– 

168), also known as the PACT Act; 

Whereas the PACT Act expanded eligibility for benefits and 

health care to veterans of all eras who were exposed to 

toxic substances; 

Whereas the PACT Act established a new, responsive framework so that the Department of Veterans Affairs could 

more rapidly and transparently make decisions on the 

presumption of connection to service in the Armed Forces 

for illnesses and other conditions associated with toxic exposure; 

Whereas burn pits, hazardous particulate matter, Agent Orange, oil well fires, fuel leaks, and other toxic events 

present in various conflicts have emerged as significant 

health concerns, necessitating research into their longterm effects on veterans and their families; 

Whereas the lessons from toxic exposures guide the work and 

research of the Department of Defense, the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, and Congress; 

Whereas the effects of toxic exposure are not confined to 

members of the Armed Forces and their family members, 

but also can impact civilian workers and residents of military installations exposed to hazardous materials; 

Whereas continued vigilance is necessary to prevent future incidents of toxic exposure; and 

Whereas the designation of October 2024 as ‘‘National Military Toxic Exposures Awareness Month’’ serves to highlight the historical significance of toxic exposure during 

service in the Armed Forces, raise awareness of toxic exVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:53 Dec 19, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR932.ATS SR932

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•SRES 932 ATS 

posure, and commend the work of veterans and veterans’ 

advocates who labor to meet the needs of former members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to toxic substances while in service of the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates October 2024 as ‘‘National Mili3 tary Toxic Exposures Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the profound impact toxic expo5 sures have had on veterans, members of the Armed 

6 Forces, their families, and their survivors; 

7 (3) honors the sacrifices of individuals impacted 

8 by toxic exposure in the Armed Forces; 

9 (4) calls upon the Department of Defense to re10 inforce the commitment by the Federal Government 

11 to prevent future incidents of toxic exposure among 

12 members of the Armed Forces; 

13 (5) will continue to explore legislative initiatives 

14 aimed at improving health outcomes and preventive 

15 measures for current and future generations of 

16 members of the Armed Forces and veterans; 

17 (6) commends the Department of Defense for 

18 striving to meet or exceed industry standards while 

19 working within status of forces agreements with host 

20 partner nations overseas in various international loVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:53 Dec 19, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR932.ATS SR932

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•SRES 932 ATS 

1 cations and urges continued efforts to meet or ex2 ceed such standards; 

3 (7) encourages the people of the United States 

4 to observe National Military Toxic Exposures 

5 Awareness Month by— 

6 (A) honoring the sacrifices of individuals 

7 impacted by toxic exposure in the Armed 

8 Forces; 

9 (B) promoting awareness of the ongoing 

10 challenges and of the resources available to vet11 erans and their families, caregivers, and sur12 vivors from the Department of Veterans Af13 fairs; and 

14 (C) supporting affected veterans and their 

15 families; and 

16 (8) encourages the Department of Veterans Af17 fairs to continue educating the public and advo18 cating for veterans and their families and survivors 

19 affected by toxic exposure by— 

20 (A) promoting awareness of the impact of 

21 toxic exposure on veterans, members of the 

22 Armed Forces, and their families; 

23 (B) encouraging veterans to utilize avail24 able resources from the Department of VetVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:53 Dec 19, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR932.ATS SR932

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
6 

•SRES 932 ATS 

1 erans Affairs, veterans service organizations, 

2 and other entities; 

3 (C) providing opportunities for research to 

4 understand the impacts of toxic exposure and to 

5 prevent future incidents of toxic exposure; 

6 (D) reaching all veterans who may have 

7 encountered toxic exposures during service in 

8 the Armed Forces and offering screenings and 

9 relevant information; 

10 (E) improving clinical practice guidelines 

11 for veterans exposed to toxic substances that 

12 best meet the unique medical needs of those 

13 veterans; and 

14 (F) working with civic-minded groups and 

15 the people of the United States to thank mem16 bers of the Armed Forces and veterans for their 

17 service and sacrifice. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB