K2 Veterans Advocacy Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4384
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2020-07-30
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia

Cancer

Congressional oversight

Environmental health

Fires

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Health information and medical records

Medical research

Military facilities and property

Military medicine

Military personnel and dependents

Solid waste and recycling

Uzbekistan

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 546.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-07-30
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>K2 Veterans Advocacy Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into an agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to complete a study to identify and assess any causation or correlation between exposure to toxicants at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan between October 7, 2001, and November 21, 2005, and incidents of cancer or other diseases in members of the Armed Forces.</p> <p>The bill also expands the definition of an open burn pit, for purposes of the VA's open burn pit registry, to include burn pits located on land in Uzbekistan. A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment.</p>

action_date: 2020-09-15
action_desc: Reported to Senate
text: <p><b>K2 Veterans Advocacy Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into an agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to complete a study to identify and assess any causation or correlation between exposure to toxicants at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan between October 7, 2001, and November 21, 2005, and incidents of cancer or other diseases in members of the Armed Forces.</p> <p>The bill also expands the definition of an open burn pit, for purposes of the VA's open burn pit registry, to include burn pits located on land in Uzbekistan. A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4384 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 30, 2020 Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to address exposure by members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the K2 Veterans Advocacy Act of 2020 . 2. Study on exposure by members of the Armed Forces to toxicants at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan (a) Agreement and study Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into an agreement with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for the Administrator to complete, not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, a study to identify and assess any causation or correlation between— (1) exposure to toxicants at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan during the period beginning on October 7, 2001, and ending on November 21, 2005; and (2) incidents of cancer and other diseases or illnesses experienced by individuals who were members of the Armed Forces during the period described in paragraph (1) and exposed to toxicants as described in such paragraph. (b) Elements The study conducted under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An assessment regarding the conditions of Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, during the period beginning on October 1, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2005, including an identification of toxic substances contaminating the Air Base during such period. (2) An epidemiological study of the health consequences of individuals who were members of the Armed Forces deployed to the Air Base during such period. (c) Support for study (1) In general The Secretary shall provide the Administrator with assistance in carrying out the study required by subsection (a), including by gathering such information as the Administrator may consider useful in carrying out the study, including environmental sampling data relative to any location included in the study. (2) Obtaining information concerning exposure Assistance under paragraph (1) provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include compiling information on exposure described in subsection (a)(1) and any head of a Federal department or agency with information concerning such exposure, including the Secretary of Defense, shall provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with such information concerning such exposure as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate for purposes of the study required by subsection (a). (d) Report (1) In general Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the matters covered by the study completed under subsection (a). (2) Contents The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The findings of the Administrator with respect to the study completed under subsection (a). (B) A description of— (i) the benefits administered by the Secretary that a veteran may be eligible to receive by reason of being exposed to toxic substances at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, while serving in the Armed Forces; and (ii) the outreach conducted by the Secretary to inform such veterans of such benefits. (3) Appropriate committees of Congress defined In this subsection, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. (e) Inclusion of Uzbekistan in certain registries and programs Section 201(c)(2) of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–260 ; 38 U.S.C. 527 note) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Afghanistan or Iraq and inserting Afghanistan, Iraq, or Uzbekistan .

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 546 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4384 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 30, 2020 Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs September 15, 2020 Reported by Mr. Moran , without amendment A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to address exposure by members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the K2 Veterans Advocacy Act of 2020 . 2. Study on exposure by members of the Armed Forces to toxicants at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan (a) Agreement and study Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into an agreement with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for the Administrator to complete, not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, a study to identify and assess any causation or correlation between— (1) exposure to toxicants at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan during the period beginning on October 7, 2001, and ending on November 21, 2005; and (2) incidents of cancer and other diseases or illnesses experienced by individuals who were members of the Armed Forces during the period described in paragraph (1) and exposed to toxicants as described in such paragraph. (b) Elements The study conducted under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An assessment regarding the conditions of Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, during the period beginning on October 1, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2005, including an identification of toxic substances contaminating the Air Base during such period. (2) An epidemiological study of the health consequences of individuals who were members of the Armed Forces deployed to the Air Base during such period. (c) Support for study (1) In general The Secretary shall provide the Administrator with assistance in carrying out the study required by subsection (a), including by gathering such information as the Administrator may consider useful in carrying out the study, including environmental sampling data relative to any location included in the study. (2) Obtaining information concerning exposure Assistance under paragraph (1) provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include compiling information on exposure described in subsection (a)(1) and any head of a Federal department or agency with information concerning such exposure, including the Secretary of Defense, shall provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with such information concerning such exposure as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate for purposes of the study required by subsection (a). (d) Report (1) In general Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the matters covered by the study completed under subsection (a). (2) Contents The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The findings of the Administrator with respect to the study completed under subsection (a). (B) A description of— (i) the benefits administered by the Secretary that a veteran may be eligible to receive by reason of being exposed to toxic substances at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, while serving in the Armed Forces; and (ii) the outreach conducted by the Secretary to inform such veterans of such benefits. (3) Appropriate committees of Congress defined In this subsection, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. (e) Inclusion of Uzbekistan in certain registries and programs Section 201(c)(2) of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–260 ; 38 U.S.C. 527 note) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Afghanistan or Iraq and inserting Afghanistan, Iraq, or Uzbekistan .

September 15, 2020 Reported without amendment