Watro appointed to state Agent Orange task force

HARRISBURG – Rep. Dane Watro (R-Schuylkill) has been appointed to a state task force focused on how to connect veterans affected by Agent Orange with benefits and treatment.

Watro, a U.S. Army veteran, was appointed this week to the Pennsylvania Task Force on Agent Orange and Other Toxins in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

The task force was created by a bipartisan bill which Watro co-sponsored.

“I would like to thank [Republican] Leader [Bryan] Cutler for this appointment to serve on a task force that is going to have a positive impact on the lives of veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other dangerous chemicals during their service to the nation in Vietnam,” said Watro. “This issue is a personal one for me, as I have an uncle who is one of those veterans. He is now blind and struggles with his daily activities. We need to do all we can to help him and his fellow veterans whose lives have been forever changed by Agent Orange.”

The task force will be comprised of several members of military organizations and members of the House and Senate who will study and form recommendations on how best to communicate with Pennsylvania veterans affected by Agent Orange to connect them with the benefits for which they are eligible and available treatment options.

From 1962-1971, the U.S. military used a blend of herbicides known as Agent Orange to remove foliage that provided cover to enemies during the Vietnam War. The herbicide was banned when evidence of the harmful and sometimes deadly results of exposure began to emerge. Those who were exposed to Agent Orange are at risk of developing cancers, neurological and psychological conditions, and other long-term effects to the skin and heart.

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