BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Democratic Senator Richard Marcellais has been donning his orange blazer and matching loafers to bring attention to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.
Marcellais is a Vietnam veteran from Belcourt. He says there are about 15,000 other Vietnam veterans living in North Dakota, and many of them may have been exposed to the jungle defoliant.
Marcellais is the prime sponsor of a bill that would provide funding to help identify and provide services 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 wants $75,000.
The final amount is slated to be negotiated by both chambers this week.