Bennet, Blumenthal, Murray Celebrate Committee Passage of Bill to Jumpstart Groundbreaking Research for Children of Toxic-Exposed Veterans

Apr 21, 2026 | Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to celebrate unanimous committee passage of the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act - legislation to expand research on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans.

"After years of service and sacrifice, veterans and their families continue to suffer from the consequences of toxic exposures every day," said Bennet. "We must live up to the promises we made to the men and women who have sacrificed by serving in uniform and further understand the generational impacts of toxic exposures to their families. Committee passage of this bill brings us one step closer to doing so."

"Toxic exposures impact our veterans and their kids. By passing the Molly Loomis bill Congress can jumpstart groundbreaking research for them-providing military families with answers to the health challenges they may face as a result of battlefield toxins," said Blumenthal. "While we know that exposure to Agent Orange and other toxins have long lasting, generational impacts-we know almost nothing about the genetic effect of toxic exposure. Our bill will allow us to study these generational impacts so we can better treat veterans' loved ones and prevent these exposures."

"We have a responsibility as a nation to ensure that toxic-exposed veterans and their families can get the comprehensive health care they need-and to date there has not been nearly enough research on how toxic exposure can affect veterans' children throughout their lives," said Murray. "This legislation will take a critical step forward by requiring research on the health conditions prevalent in the descendants of veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their service. We owe it to the men and women who serve to care for the health and safety of their loved ones, and I will never stop fighting to make sure veterans and their families receive the support and care they deserve."

Veterans exposed to toxins during their military service, such as Agent Orange and other dioxins, are more likely to develop certain medical conditions, such as rare cancers, heart conditions, and chronic lung ailments. Descendants of toxic-exposed veterans are also likely to experience health challenges related to their parents' or grandparents' exposure to toxic chemicals. But there has yet to be comprehensive, government-led studies into the effects of toxic exposure on these countless descendants.

The Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act would commission a first-of-its-kind, landmark research program on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans, enabled by the PACT Act. The Senators' legislation is named after Molly Loomis, a graduate of Colorado College, who has spina bifida related to her father's exposure to Agent Orange through his service in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

Veterans Service Organizations across the country support the Senators' legislative effort, including the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH).

Bennet has worked tirelessly with Colorado's veteran community to ensure access to the benefits and healthcare they earned for themselves and their families. In March 2025, Bennet cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act to provide combat-injured veteran retirees their full benefits. In May 2024, Bennet called on U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee leaders to address planned job cuts within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Health Administration that could increase wait times and make it harder for veterans and their families to access care. In August 2022, Bennet introduced the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act to eliminate copayments for contraception covered by the VA. In June 2022, Bennet celebrated passage of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, bipartisan legislation to expand VA health care eligibility to over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans.

In addition to Bennet, Blumenthal, and Murray, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) cosponsored the bill.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

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