North Dakota Funds Program for Vets Exposed to Agent Orange

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Legislature will keep funding at $50,000 over the next two years for a program to help identify and provide services to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.

The bill originally asked for $100,000 in funding over the next two years. The House cut the sum to $50,000, while the Senate wanted $75,000.

House and Senate negotiators settled on $50,000 and both chambers approved the funding Tuesday.

Democratic Sen. Richard Marcellais says there are about 15,000 Vietnam veterans living in North Dakota, and many of them may have been exposed to the jungle defoliant.