Senate Joint Resolution 15-008 Summary

• Colorado's General Assembly supports enactment of the federal "Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act" to research effects of toxic substance exposure on armed forces members, veterans, and their descendants

• U.S. Senate Bill 1602 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national medical center, advisory board, and Office of Extramural Research to study health conditions in descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances

• The resolution specifically urges Colorado's U.S. Senators (Bennet, Gardner) and Representatives (DeGette, Lamborn, Perlmutter, Coffman, Polis, Tipton, Buck) to reintroduce and support the legislation in 2015

• Descendants of exposed veterans experience disproportionate health problems including diabetes, leukemia, autism, various cancers, and approximately 700 additional documented illnesses

• Directs distribution of the resolution to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Pueblo chapter of the American GI Forum, and Colorado's congressional delegation