April 28, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENews from the office of Congresswoman Rashida TlaibMonday, April 28, 2025Contact: Rashida.Press@mail.house.govTlaib Marks 50th Anniversary of End of Vietnam War with Legislative Package to Bring Justice for Victims of Agent OrangeWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) introduced the Victims of Agent Orange Act and the Agent Orange Relief Act for the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, a legislative package to address the ongoing harms and legacy of the United States’ spraying of approximately 19 million gallons of Agent Orange and other deadly herbicides throughout Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
“Together, these two bills serve as an act of repair for the profound harms caused by the United States’ use of Agent Orange and other herbicides. Agent Orange exposure continues to negatively affect the lives of American veterans, Vietnamese people, Vietnamese Americans, and their children,” said Congresswoman Tlaib. “The lives of many victims are cut short, and others live with disease, disabilities, and pain, which are often untreated or unrecognized. As we mark 50 years after the United States’ withdrawal from Vietnam, it is time to meet our moral and legal obligations to heal the wounds inflicted by these atrocities.”Studies have found that between 2.1 million and 4.8 million Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian people and tens of thousands of Americans were exposed to Agent Orange during these spraying operations. Many other Vietnamese people were or continue to be exposed to Agent Orange through contact with the environment and food that was contaminated. Many descendants of those who were exposed have birth defects, developmental disabilities, and deadly diseases.The Agent Orange Relief Act provides benefits for children of male U.S. veterans who served in Vietnam affected by birth defects, a group left behind under current law which only covers birth defects for children of women veterans; supports greater research into Agent Orange-related health issues; and directs a health assessment and provision of assistance for affected Vietnamese American communities.The full text of the legislation is available here.
The Victims of Agent Orange Act supports medical care and related assistance for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange; provides environmental remediation for areas in Vietnam exposed to Agent Orange; and directs a health assessment and provision of assistance for affected Vietnamese American communities.The full text of the legislation is available here.This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. André Carson (IN-07), Sarah McBride (DE), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Shri Thanedar (MI-13).“Thank you to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib for sponsoring these two important pieces of legislation aimed at healing the victims of the American War in Vietnam: the children of American male Vietnam veterans born with birth defects from Agent Orange/dioxin and the harmed people and land of Vietnam,” said Susan Schnall, President of Veterans For Peace and a co-coordinator of the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign. “The United States government used Agent Orange as an instrument of war from 1961-1971 on Vietnam, its people, and American soldiers on the ground. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam, we celebrate these two pieces of legislation that promote healing for the American people and the Vietnamese people harmed and cleanup of the contaminated land in Vietnam.”“Thank you, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, for sponsoring the two Agent Orange Acts of 2025,” said Ngo Thanh Nhan, a co-coordinator of Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign.“The Southeast Asian communities have victims of Agent Orange and were invisible to the public so far. These are very important acts for our communities in the U.S. to support and it takes great courage for Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib to show this example of solidarity.”This legislation is endorsed by the Quincy Institute, Veterans For Peace, Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign, CommonDefense.us, Minnesota Peace Project, and Action Corps.