HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 5

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Nathan P. Cote

A JOINT MEMORIAL

URGING CONGRESS TO FULLY FUND MEDICAL CARE AND AID AND ATTENDANT CARE SERVICES FOR HONEY SUE NEWBY AND THE OTHER LEVEL THREE SPINA BIFIDA CHILDREN OF PARENTS WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM AND WHO ARE TOTALLY DISABLED.

     WHEREAS, the federal department of veterans affairs acknowledges that one thousand two hundred children of Vietnam war veterans have some degree of disability resulting from their birth parents' exposure to agent orange during military service in the Vietnam war; and

     WHEREAS, approximately two hundred of these children of war veterans are designated as level three spina bifida children, who are considered to be totally disabled; and

     WHEREAS, these children, designated as totally disabled as a result of their birth parents' exposure to agent orange during military service in Vietnam, are in a situation that is indistinguishable from that of any one hundred percent service-connected disabled veteran who is totally disabled as the result of military service; and

     WHEREAS, these two hundred level three spina bifida children of Vietnam war veterans are not treated equally with the disabled military veterans as regards compensatory medical care and aid and attendant care; and

     WHEREAS, the financial cost for families of these children can be crippling, and many proud American military veterans and their families must depend on welfare or charity to provide the vital medical care and attendant care their children need; and

     WHEREAS, at least one of these children, Honey Sue Newby, whose birth father served three tours as a marine infantryman in Vietnam, resides in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature seeks to honor and encourage fair treatment of all persons who have made personal sacrifices in the military defense of our nation;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it urge the United States congress to provide full medical care and attendant care to Honey Sue Newby and the other level three spina bifida children who are totally disabled as a result of their birth parents' military service in Vietnam; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to work vigorously for adequate funding to provide full medical care and aid and attendant care to all level three spina bifida children who are totally disabled because of the effects of agent orange used in Vietnam; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to each member of the congressional delegation, the chief clerks of the United States house of representatives and the United States senate and the United States department of veterans affairs.

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