Sponsors (7)
The bill creates a formal, administratively-backed medal to recognize veterans (and their next-of-kin) with qualifying herbicide exposure, trading modest taxpayer costs and some risk of processing delays for consistent, tangible recognition of service and sacrifice.
Veterans with qualifying Agent Orange/herbicide exposure — and eligible next-of-kin of deceased qualifying veterans — can request and receive a formal medal recognizing their service and exposure, giving tangible acknowledgment to affected veterans and families.
Establishes a clear administrative process (standard application form and VA certification) to obtain the medal, reducing ad hoc procedures and making the award process more consistent and navigable.
Designing, producing, and distributing the medal will incur costs paid by the Department of Defense and ultimately taxpayers, producing a modest fiscal impact.
Veterans and families may encounter administrative delays or hurdles if VA certification or application processing is slow, delaying receipt of the medal and recognition.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DoD to design, produce, and issue an Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal to qualifying herbicide-exposed veterans or their next-of-kin.
Official title: To establish the Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal.
Introduced April 2, 2026 by Jefferson Van Drew · Last progress April 2, 2026
Creates and directs the Department of Defense to design, produce, and issue an "Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal" to honor veterans who meet certain statutory eligibility for herbicide exposure benefits. The medal must be issued on request to living qualifying veterans certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs, may be provided to next-of-kin of qualifying deceased veterans, and an application form must be prepared and distributed. The law focuses on a commemorative recognition: it sets eligibility tied to existing VA compensation or statutory definitions of Vietnam-era herbicide exposure, describes who may receive the medal, permits next-of-kin receipt for deceased veterans, and requires a DoD application process for veterans and families to request the medal.