Pennsylvania legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Pennsylvania HR539: A Resolution designating the month of October 2026 as "Agent Orange Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
Status: Passed both chambers, October 21, 2026
What the bill says
A resolution Designating the month of October 2026 as "Agent Orange Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
From the introduced text, May 27, 2026:
A RESOLUTION Designating the month of October 2026 as "Agent Orange Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, The Vietnam War was the longest conflict in American history in which the government of South Vietnam and its primary ally, the United States, fought against the communist government of North Vietnam and a South Vietnamese guerrilla force, commonly known as the Viet Cong; and WHEREAS, During the Vietnam War, American servicepersons displayed heroic courage and determination under some of the most difficult circumstances ever encountered in United States military history; and WHEREAS, Approximately 498,000 men and women from this Commonwealth served during the Vietnam War era, an estimated 172,000 of whom directly participated in the war; and WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States military developed Agent Orange and other herbicide combinations for use in combat operations to remove trees and dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover; and WHEREAS, The name Agent Orange comes from the orange identifying stripes that were used on the 55-gallon drums in which the herbicide was stored; and WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 19 million gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides were used during the Vietnam War; and WHEREAS, Thousands of Vietnam War veterans have died due to the use of Agent Orange; and …
Sponsors
- Robert Matzie (D, 16) · primary sponsor
- T. Davis (D, 141)
- Christopher Pielli (D, 156)
- Carol Hill-Evans (D, 95)
- Ed Neilson (D, HD-174)
- Robert FREEMAN (D, 136)
- Kristine Howard (D, 167)
- David Delloso (D, 162)
- Manuel Guzman (D, 127)
- Jeanne McNeill (D, 133)
- Benjamin Sanchez (D, 153)
- Nikki Rivera (D, 96)
Latest actions
- : Adopted, Oct. 21, 2026 (203-0)
- : Reported as committed, Sept. 30, 2026
- : Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, May 27, 2026
Votes
- House Floor: HR539, RC 1605 (October 21, 2026): 203 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness: Report Bill As Committed (September 30, 2026): 26 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HR539?
- HR539 is a bill in the Pennsylvania Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): A Resolution designating the month of October 2026 as "Agent Orange Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
- What does HR539 do?
- In its own words: A resolution Designating the month of October 2026 as "Agent Orange Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
- What is the status of HR539?
- Passed both chambers as of October 21, 2026. Latest action: Adopted, Oct. 21, 2026 (203-0) (October 21, 2026).
- Who sponsored HR539?
- Robert Matzie (D, 16), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HR539?
- On the Pennsylvania Legislature website: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hr539
Source: official Pennsylvania record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.