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June 23, 2026
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. HILLARY J. SCHOLTEN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and support the thousands of Americans whose lives have been shaped by the cost of war: our Nation's toxic-exposed veterans and their children and grandchildren.
Michigan, answered our Nation's call for service. They served in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and most of their members have proudly called West Michigan home. Their families carry the weight of that service long after they return, including the lasting impact of exposure to toxic chemicals during their service. It is their stories, and the stories of families like them across the country, that bring me to the floor today. We have the unique and important opportunity this Congress to stand by these veterans and their families in passing Congresswoman Debbie Dingell's H.R. 1769, the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, and I am calling on my colleagues to join me.
human face to an issue that has gone unaddressed for far too long. Molly is the daughter of a U.S. Navy veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange during his service aboard the USS Ogden. Unfortunately, her father passed away from cancer related to this toxic exposure. Molly developed a spinal cord illness known as Spina Bifida, which was also caused by exposure to Agent Orange. She was unable to receive aid from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for this condition because she herself was not a veteran. A previous bill, H.R. 1769, the Toxic Exposure Research Act, became law in 2016 and authorized research into birth defects associated with chemical exposures during military service. Yet the VA did not act on it, determining the research was not feasible because it would focus on descendants rather than veterans themselves. The sons and daughters of our veterans were deemed, in effect, outside the scope of this pressing issue. That must change today.
Molly's story is not unique. Countless families in my own district share this story as well. Across the country, the children and grandchildren of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, and other toxic chemicals are living with conditions that medicine is only just beginning to treat. Research has identified birth defects and health conditions in the offspring of exposed veterans, including spina bifida, heart deformities, autoimmune disorders, and many other rare conditions.
These families have waited decades for answers. The hidden cost of war is real; it goes beyond generational divides and deserves our full attention. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to amplify the voices of our veterans and their families. I want to recognize the bravery of our Nation's toxic-exposed veterans and honor the strength and resilience of their descendants. Their lives remind us that a true commitment to service members and veterans must also extend to their families, who, in their meaningful and heartbreaking stories, have also made brave sacrifices for our Nation.