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Bill

SJR 150

Recognizes Orange Heart Medal in NJ.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Testa

NJ to formally recognize the Orange Heart Medal and Vietnam War veterans affected by Agent Orange; a symbolic commendation with no new rights or funding, effective immediately.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
#commemoratio
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Bill Summary · SJR 150

Summary of Bill: SJR 150 — Recognizes Orange Heart Medal in New Jersey

Status: Introduced in the Senate; referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
Introduced: January 30, 2025
Classification: Joint Resolution (SJR)
Subject: Commemoration

Companion: AJR 212

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes formal recognition by the State of New Jersey of the Orange Heart Medal, honoring and recognizing veterans who served in the Vietnam War and were affected by exposure to Agent Orange.
  • Declares it fitting and proper for New Jersey to acknowledge the Orange Heart Medal and its recipients for their sacrifices in preserving liberties.

Key Provisions

  1. Recognition

    • Section 1: The State of New Jersey recognizes the Orange Heart Medal to honor veterans who served in Vietnam War and were affected by Agent Orange exposure.
    • Acknowledges the courage and sacrifices of medal recipients and their role in preserving liberties for current and future generations.

  2. Transmission of Resolution

    • Section 2: Requires copies of the resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, to be transmitted to the Orange Heart Medal Foundation.

  3. Effective Date

    • Section 3: The joint resolution takes effect immediately upon enactment.

  4. Effective Form

    • The resolution is a formal commendation and does not create new law or funding obligations.

Background and Context Provided in the Introduced Text

  • Agent Orange and Vietnam War context
    • More than eight million Americans served during the Vietnam War.
    • Agent Orange was widely used (approximately 20 million gallons sprayed) as part of an herbicidal warfare program (Operation Ranch Hand, 1961–1971).
    • Approximately 2.6 million U.S. soldiers were exposed to Agent Orange.
    • Agent Orange is described as a dioxin and cancer-causing chemical linked to various illnesses (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, ischemic heart disease, multiple cancers) and potential genetic effects, including birth defects in children and grandchildren.
    • Projections include roughly 800,000 exposed veterans still alive and about 390 related deaths per day.
    • Veteran memorials exist for fallen soldiers on The Wall, but agents of Agent Orange have not been separately memorialized as Vietnam War fatalities.
  • Orange Heart Medal Project
    • Founded in 2018 as a private 501(c)(3) to recognize veterans affected by Agent Orange exposure.
    • By 2024, approximately 4,000 Orange Heart Medals had been awarded to veterans or surviving spouses.
    • Federal efforts and state-level recognition have occurred in other jurisdictions (e.g., Tennessee’s HJR0108 in 2019).

Who and What Is Affected

  • Primary effect: Symbolic recognition by New Jersey of the Orange Heart Medal and its recipients.
  • Beneficiaries: Vietnam War veterans and their families affected by Agent Orange exposure; organizations supporting veterans and Agent Orange-related causes (e.g., Orange Heart Medal Foundation) as a recipient of the resolution’s copies.
  • No new rights, benefits, or funding are created by this joint resolution.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative action: Introduced in the New Jersey Senate on January 30, 2025; referred to the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
  • Status indicates ongoing committee consideration; no passage date or enactment date provided in the introduced version.
  • If enacted, the resolution takes immediate effect and would be transmitted to the Orange Heart Medal Foundation.

Notes

  • This is a commemorative, non-fiscal measure mirroring similar recognitions in other states and aligned with federal and private efforts to honor Agent Orange–affected veterans.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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