K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021
Bill: S.454 | Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard (D-CT)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021
This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for certain diseases becoming manifest in a veteran who served on active duty at Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005. Specifically, there must be a presumption of service-connection for veterans who manifest illnesses that have a positive association with exposure to jet fuel, volatile organic compounds, high levels of particulate matter, depleted uranium, asbestos, or lead-based paint, as determined by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
Veterans who served at K2 Air Base during the specified period are eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for an illness that has been determined by NASEM to have a positive association with exposure to jet fuel, volatile organic compounds, high levels of particulate matter, depleted uranium, asbestos, or lead-based paint.

To provide health care and benefits to veterans who were exposed to 
toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces at Karshi 
         Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE CONNECTION FOR CERTAIN DISEASES 
              ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN TOXIC SUBSTANCES BY 
              MEMBERS OF ARMED FORCES SERVING AT KARSHI KHANABAD AIR 
              BASE, UZBEKISTAN.

    (a) In General.--For purposes of section 1110 of title 38, United 
States Code, and subject to section 1113 of such title, a disease 
specified in subsection (b) becoming manifest in a veteran who served 
on active duty in the Armed Forces at Karshi Khanabad Air Base, 
Uzbekistan, at any time during the period beginning on January 1, 2001, 
and ending on December 31, 2005, shall be considered to have been 
incurred in or aggravated by such service, notwithstanding that there 
is no record of evidence of such disease during the period of such 
service.
    (b) Diseases Specified.--The diseases specified in this subsection 
are the illnesses and diseases that the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine determine have a positive association, 
including a sufficient, limited, or suggestive association, with 
exposure to any of the following substances:
            (1) Jet fuel.
            (2) Volatile organic compounds.
            (3) High levels of particulate matter and dust resulting 
        from open burn pits, as defined in section 201(c) of the 
        Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act 
        of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).
            (4) Depleted uranium.
            (5) Asbestos.
            (6) Lead-based paint.

SEC. 3. HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS EXPOSED TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES WHILE 
              SERVING AS MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AT KARSHI KHANABAD 
              AIR BASE, UZBEKISTAN.

    Section 1710(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following 
        new subparagraph:
    ``(G) A veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces at 
Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, during the period beginning on 
January 1, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2005, is eligible for 
hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care under subsection 
(a)(2)(F) for any illness or disease for which the National Academies 
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determine has a positive 
association, including a sufficient, limited, or suggestive 
association, with exposure to any of the following substances, 
notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude 
that such illness or disease is attributable to such service:
            ``(i) Jet fuel.
            ``(ii) Volatile organic compounds.
            ``(iii) High levels of particulate matter and dust 
        resulting from open burn pits, as defined in section 201(c) of 
        the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement 
        Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).
            ``(iv) Depleted uranium.
            ``(v) Asbestos.
            ``(vi) Lead-based paint.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``or (F)'' and 
        inserting ``(F), or (G)''.
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