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.166012.1
SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 14
48
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
Leonard Lee Rawson
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
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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
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.166012.1
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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