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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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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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