AMENDED IN SENIOR SENATE OCTOBER 30, 2012

SENIOR SENATE FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 2

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR ALDERSON

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SFP 2: U. S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVIDES OUTREACH AND READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICES FOR VETERANS TO ADDRESS MILITARY RELATED PROBLEMS SUCH AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, EDUCATION, AND HOMELESSNESS, AMONG OTHERS, WHICH AFFECT FUNCTIONING WITHIN THE FAMILY, WORK, OR OTHER AREAS OF EVERYDAY LIFE THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED CENTERS LOCATED IN ALL 50 STATES. THESE CENTERS ARE KNOWN AS VET CENTERS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO IDENTIFY AND ACKNOWLEDGE VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN WEAPONS TESTING PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS, AND REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ADMINISTER MEDICAL AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE VETERANS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SFP 2: RELATING TO MILITARY AND VETERANS

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THE EXISTENCE OF VARIOUS WEAPONS TESTING PROGRAMS OR SPECIAL OPERATIONS NOR IDENTIFIED THE VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THEM; AND

WHEREAS, THE VA DOES NOT HAVE A PROGRAM OR SERVICE THAT PROVIDES BENEFITS SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN WEAPONS TESTING PROGRAMS OR SPECIAL OPERATIONS. THIS WEAPONS TESTING AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS INCLUDED THE TESTING OF NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PHARMACEUTICAL WEAPONS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN WEAPONS TESTING OR SPECIAL OPERATIONS WERE ORDERED TO PARTICIPATE BY THEIR SUPERIORS BUT WERE UNAWARE THAT THEY WERE PARTICIPATING IN WEAPONS TESTING; AND

WHEREAS, MANY OF THESE TESTS WERE HIGHLY CLASSIFIED AND THE PARTICIPANTS WHO KNEW ABOUT THE TESTING WERE SWORN TO SECRECY, UNDER THE PENALTY OF PROSECUTION; AND

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS NOT FULFILLED ITS OBLIGATION TO HELP THESE VETERANS IDENTIFY THE CAUSES OF THEIR PERSISTENT PHYSICAL AND HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT CONTINUE TO AFFECT THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE; AND

WHEREAS, THESE VETERANS NEED MEDICAL CARE, COUNSELING, AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT HAVE NO ONE WHO CAN ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR UNIQUE PLIGHT; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ACKNOWLEDGE, AND DEDICATE SERVICES SPECIFICALLY TO ASSIST, VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN WEAPONS TESTING PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

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RN 12 16471