Sponsors (9)
The bill creates a formal, standardized way for qualifying veterans and their families to obtain a commemorative herbicide-exposure medal, improving recognition while imposing modest taxpayer costs and some risk of administrative delays.
Qualifying veterans (those with Agent Orange–related compensation or defined herbicide exposure) can request and receive an official medal recognizing their service and exposure.
Next-of-kin of deceased qualifying veterans can receive the medal, giving families a tangible recognition of a relative's service and sacrifice.
Establishes a clear administrative process (application form and VA certification) to standardize how eligible people obtain the medal instead of relying on ad hoc methods.
Some veterans may face administrative delays or hurdles if VA certification or application processing is slow, delaying receipt of the medal.
Designing, producing, and distributing the medal will incur costs for the Department of Defense and ultimately taxpayers, though those costs are likely modest.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DoD to create and issue an "Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal" to certified herbicide-exposed veterans or their next-of-kin upon request.
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 a commemorative "Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal" for qualifying veterans. The medal is available to veterans who receive VA compensation under specified Agent Orange–related statutes or who are certified as Vietnam-era herbicide-exposed veterans, and may be provided to next-of-kin of qualifying deceased veterans.