Sponsors (2)
The bill provides formal recognition to veterans and their families via a new herbicide-exposure medal and a standardized VA award process, at modest taxpayer/DoD expense and with a risk of administrative delays for some recipients.
Veterans with qualifying Agent Orange–related compensation or defined herbicide exposure—and next-of-kin of deceased qualifying veterans—can request and receive a formal medal recognizing their service and exposure.
Creates a formal VA application and certification process for obtaining the medal, reducing ad hoc procedures and making award distribution clearer and more consistent.
Veterans may face administrative delays or hurdles if VA certification or application processing is slow, which can delay receipt of the medal.
Designing, producing, and distributing the medal will incur modest costs paid by the Department of Defense and ultimately taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Defense Secretary to design, produce, and issue a commemorative medal for veterans exposed to herbicides or receiving specified VA compensation, with VA certification and an application process.
Introduced April 2, 2026 by Jefferson Van Drew · Last progress April 2, 2026
Creates a commemorative military service medal to honor veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange ("Vietnam-era herbicide-exposed veterans") or who receive specified VA compensation for herbicide-related conditions. The Secretary of Defense must design, produce, and issue the medal on request to individuals certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as meeting the eligibility criteria, and may provide the medal to the next-of-kin of qualifying deceased veterans. The Secretary must also prepare and publish an application form for veterans and next-of-kin. The measure directs federal agencies to handle design, production, certification, and distribution but does not itself appropriate funds or change veterans' benefits or entitlements; it creates a commemorative recognition and an application process using agency authorities and resources.