Agent Orange Service Medal Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8194
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-19T08:07:06Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Agent Orange Service Medal Act (H.R. 8194) aims to create a new military service medal to recognize and honor U.S. veterans exposed to Agent Orange (a herbicide used during the Vietnam War) who suffer related health issues or receive disability compensation for them.
Key Provisions
- Design and Production: The Secretary of Defense must design and produce a commemorative medal called the "Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal."
- Eligibility:
- Veterans receiving compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under specific laws (sections 1116, 1116A, or 1116B of title 38, U.S. Code) for disabilities presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure.
- "Vietnam-era herbicide-exposed veterans," as defined in VA law (section 1710(e) of title 38), meaning those who served in Vietnam or certain other areas and were likely exposed.
- Issuance:
- Issued to eligible living veterans upon request, after VA certification.
- May be issued to the next-of-kin (e.g., family members) of deceased eligible veterans.
- Secretary of Defense must create and distribute an application process for requests.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Establishes an entirely new medal and issuance program; no prior equivalent "Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal" exists in U.S. military honors.
- Builds on existing VA compensation and exposure definitions but adds a DoD-led recognition mechanism.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies:
- Department of Defense (DoD): Handles design, production, applications, and distribution (administrative and minor cost burden).
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Certifies eligibility (leverages existing records).
- Citizens: Provides symbolic recognition to affected veterans and families, potentially improving morale and sense of acknowledgment without direct financial benefits.
- International Relations: None apparent; focuses on domestic veteran honors.
Main Stakeholders
- Primary: Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange and their next-of-kin.
- Secondary: DoD and VA personnel involved in medal production and certification.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Straightforward administrative expansion; relies on established VA definitions, minimizing disputes. No new funding authorized, so implementation depends on existing budgets.
- Constitutional: No issues; Congress has clear authority over military honors (Article I, Section 8).
- Political: Symbolic gesture of support for veterans, introduced bipartisanship (Reps. Van Drew and Courtney); could encourage similar recognitions for other exposures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Agent Orange Service Medal Act — issued 2026-04-02 — PDF (2 pages)