Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2372
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2021-04-05 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Afghanistan
Air quality
Asia
Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disability assistance
Environmental health
Fires
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Iraq
Medical research
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Neurological disorders
Sex and reproductive health
Solid waste and recycling
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: 

Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to burn pits (an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) and other toxins by veterans who were awarded specified medals on or after August 2, 1990. 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.
 
Under the bill, if the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives a written petition to add a disease to the list, the VA must request a determination by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with respect to whether there is a positive association between the exposure of humans to a covered toxin and the occurrence of the disease in humans. 
 
The bill makes disability or death of certain employees from specified diseases compensable as a work injury. Specifically, such employees are those who were employees of the Department of State, the Department of Defense, or an element of the intelligence community on or after August 2, 1990, and carried out job responsibilities for at least 30 days during a contingency operation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-05
text: Introduced in House