Representative Watro Named To House Agent Orange Task Force

HARRISBURG – Rep. Dane Watro (R-Luzerne) yesterday announced he has been appointed by Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) to serve on the Pennsylvania Task Force on Agent Orange and Other Toxins. The task force was created earlier this year with the unanimous adoption of a bipartisan House resolution of which Watro was a co-sponsor. 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.