MN SF2605

Calls on Minnesota's congressional delegation to support the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009, which would restore presumption of service connection for Agent Orange exposure to Navy and Air Force veterans.

Addresses the 2002 Department of Veterans Affairs policy that denied herbicide-related illness benefits to Vietnam veterans who could not provide written documentation of "boots on the ground" in-country.

Notes that Navy and Air Force personnel serving on ships in Vietnamese territorial waters and airspace were exposed to dioxin-contaminated airborne toxins and water, which became concentrated during seawater distillation processes used on warships.

References a 2002 Australian study and CDC research showing higher mortality and cancer rates among Navy veterans exposed to Agent Orange compared to other military branches.

Directs the Minnesota Secretary of State to transmit this memorial to federal officials and request its entry into the Congressional Record.