Vietnam Veterans Hold Meeting On Agent Orange

AP

U.S. Air Force planes spray the defoliant chemical Agent Orange over dense vegetation in South Vietnam in this 1966 photo.

Earlier this week a joint U.S. - Vietnam panel released a report saying it would cost $300 million to clean up the health and environmental problems related to the use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War.

The U.S. government has given $9 million to the cause since 2007. Another $12 million would go to Vietnam as part of a bill still being debated in Congress.

That debate is very much on the minds of the Vietnam Veterans of America's Vermont Chapter, of which John Miner is a member. They're holding a town hall meeting at the statehouse tomorrow to look at the lasting effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam veterans, and to inform current soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan that they'll need to make sure government officials don't forget about their post-combat health problems.

Vermont's congressional delegation has been invited to attend the meeting, and Miner tells VPR's Mitch Wertlieb  if any of them choose to attend, they'll hear one request.

Click listen to hear the interview.