Bill Text: CA AJR46 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Birth anomalies: children of veterans.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-09-09 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 165, Statutes of 2014. [AJR46 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AJR46-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: AJR 46	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  165
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 9, 2014
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  AUGUST 25, 2014
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 26, 2014
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 20, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 30, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Frazier

                        MAY 1, 2014

   Relative to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 46, Frazier. Birth anomalies: children of veterans.
   This measure would urge the United States Congress to pass, and
the United States President to sign into law, Senate Bill 2738 and
would encourage the members of the California Congressional
Delegation to join as coauthors on the bill.



   WHEREAS, Over the years millions have served our great nation in
the Armed Forces of the United States. During their service many have
been exposed to toxins with unknown consequences. Most of these
veterans did not know they were exposed to harmful materials, with
many of these veterans suffering from the harmful effects of these
toxins; and
   WHEREAS, Many children and grandchildren of these veterans were
born with both structural and nonstructural defects. Some have been
accepted by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a
result of the exposures from their parent's service; and
   WHEREAS, Birth anomalies in the children of veterans are not
tracked as normal birth defects, so most go unreported, unexplained,
and not researched. These anomalies have some similarities but follow
mostly unreported and under researched paths; and
   WHEREAS, Most states that have birth defect registries do not
report to a national registry. Miscarriages and still births are
seldom researched for cause, these are not tracked on a national
registry. Even death and defects at military hospitals relating to
the children of dependents are not tracked or not put into a federal
registry; and
   WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the
Department of Defense have been tracking toxic exposures and possible
exposures without followup research on the veterans and their
offspring; and
   WHEREAS, Parents of children with birth defects carry a heavy
emotional and financial burden. Veterans that have been exposed to
toxins normally have a shorter lifespan than others of their
generation. Someone will need to cover costs and care for the
children left behind; and
   WHEREAS, Senate Bill 2738 would create a center of excellence to
test, study, and find solutions to the illnesses and anomalies
affecting the children of veterans from all eras and duty stations.
This center would be created within the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs and monitored by committees to ensure transparency.
Senate Bill 2738 would also create a database of birth defects and
anomalies both structural and nonstructural; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully urges the
United States Congress to pass, and the United States President to
sign into law, Senate Bill 2738 and encourages the members of the
California Congressional Delegation to join as coauthors on the bill;
and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States and to the members of the United States Congress.