<div class="xtend"><a id="pl.1.1"></a><var>1.1</var>A resolution<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>memorializing Congress; requesting Congress to acknowledge that the neurological <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>disorder known as Parkinson's disease can be caused by exposure to Agent Orange <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>and to require that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs offer assistance <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>to United States military members who, while serving their country, have acquired <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>Parkinson's disease through their exposure to Agent Orange.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>WHEREAS, Agent Orange was an herbicide used in Vietnam to kill unwanted plants and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>to remove leaves from trees that otherwise provided cover for the enemy. After its use, it was <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>realized that Agent Orange contained dioxin, which is related to a number of diseases, cancers, <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>and other disorders. Many United States veterans are known to have been exposed to significant <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>amounts of Agent Orange while fulfilling their military obligations; and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>WHEREAS, as required by law, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>recognizes many diseases as being associated with Agent Orange, including chloracne, acute <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>peripheral neuropathy, and numerous cancers such as Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>prostate cancer. Veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>who acquire one of the recognized diseases are entitled to VA-furnished hospital care, medical <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>services, and possibly nursing home care; and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>WHEREAS, several studies performed at internationally recognized research institutions, <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, have linked Parkinson's disease to Agent Orange <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>and other pesticides. Research work at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital linked genetic <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>alterations associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease to pesticide exposures; and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>WHEREAS, the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Winston-Salem, North <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>Carolina, has determined in two cases that the Parkinson's disease of veterans could have been <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>caused by their contact with Agent Orange while on active military duty; NOW, THEREFORE, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that Congress should <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>speedily enact legislation to acknowledge that the neurological disorder known as Parkinson's <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>disease can be caused by exposure to Agent Orange and to require that the United States <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>Department of Veterans Affairs offer assistance to United States military members who, while <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>serving their country, have acquired Parkinson's disease through their exposure to Agent Orange; <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President and the Secretary of <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>the members of the Minnesota congressional delegation, and the Secretary of the United States <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>Department of Veterans Affairs.<br />
         		
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