I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3852 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a presumption of 
toxic exposure for certain veterans who, while serving in the Armed 
Forces, were consistently exposed to jet fuel, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 11, 2021 
Ms. SPANBERGER (for herself and Mr. BACON) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a 
presumption of toxic exposure for certain veterans who, 
while serving in the Armed Forces, were consistently 
exposed to jet fuel, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘William Collins Jet 
Fuel Exposure Recognition Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PRESUMPTIONS OF TOXIC EXPOSURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 11 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1119. Presumptions of toxic exposure 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, for pur-
poses of section 1110 and chapter 17 of this title, presume 
that any covered veteran was exposed to toxic substances, 
chemicals, and airborne hazards during the service of the 
covered veteran, unless there is affirmative evidence to es-
tablish that the covered veteran was not exposed to any 
such substances, chemicals, or hazards in connection with 
such service. 
‘‘(b) ADJUDICATION OF CLAIMS.—If a covered vet-
eran submits to the Secretary a claim for compensation 
for a service-connected disability related to jet fuel expo-
sure under section 1110 of this title with evidence of a 
disability and a presumption of toxic exposure under sub-
section (a) that occurred during active military, naval, or 
air service, the Secretary shall, in adjudicating such 
claim— 
‘‘(1) provide a medical examination and request 
a medical opinion for service connection; and 
‘‘(2) direct a medical provider providing such a 
medical examination to consider— 
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‘‘(A) the exposure of the veteran to toxic 
substances during all military deployments; and 
‘‘(B) the synergistic effect of all combined 
toxic substances through inhalation, dermal ex-
posure, and ingestion. 
‘‘(c) COVERED VETERAN.—The term ‘covered vet-
eran’ means any veteran who, while serving in the active 
military, naval, or air service, worked for a cumulative pe-
riod of at least two years in a military occupational spe-
cialty that involved consistent exposure to jet fuel.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 11 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1118 the following new 
item: 
‘‘1119. Presumptions of toxic exposure.’’. 
(c) BIENNIAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and bi-
ennially thereafter during the subsequent eight-year 
period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives, and make 
publicly available, a report that includes— 
(A) a discussion of the effect of various 
different types of jet fuels used by the Armed 
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Forces on the health of individuals by length of 
exposure; 
(B) an identification of the immediate 
symptoms of jet fuel exposure that may indicate 
future health risks; 
(C) a chronology of health safeguards im-
plemented by the Armed Forces intended to re-
duce the exposure of members of the Armed 
Foces to jet fuel; and 
(D) an identification of any areas relating 
to jet fuel exposure about which new research 
needs to be done. 
(2) USE OF FINDINGS.—In evaluating claims 
for compensation for service-connected disabilities 
submitted by veterans who were exposed to jet fuel, 
the Secretary shall take into consideration the find-
ings of the reports under this subsection. 
Æ 
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