K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4429
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2020-08-04
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia

Congressional oversight

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

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

Solid waste and recycling

Uzbekistan

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2020-08-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-08-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill addresses the exposure of members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances at Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan between October 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to study and report on the exposure of members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances at K2 Air Base during the specified period.</p> <p>The bill also expands the definition of an open burn pit, for purposes of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 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> <p>DOD and the VA must ensure that individuals deployed to K2 Air Base during the specified time period are covered by the Depleted Uranium Follow-Up Programs of the departments. Such programs study the health effects of depleted uranium exposure and provide treatment.</p> <p>Upon request by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, DOD and the VA must provide information for the performance of a study on the exposure of humans to toxic substances at K2 Air Base during the specified period.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4429 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 4, 2020 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Ms. Baldwin , and Mrs. Feinstein ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study regarding toxic exposure by members of the Armed Forces deployed to Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, to include such members in the open burn pit registry, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act of 2020 . 2. Study on toxic exposure at Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan (a) Study (1) In general The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study on toxic exposure by members of the Armed Forces deployed to Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, at any time during the period beginning October 1, 2001, and ending December 31, 2005. (2) Matters included The study under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) An assessment regarding the conditions of Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, during the period beginning October 1, 2001, and ending December 31, 2005, including an identification of toxic substances contaminating the Air Base during such period. (B) An epidemiological study of the health consequences of a member of the Armed Forces deployed to the Air Base during such period. (C) An assessment of any association between exposure to toxic substances identified under subparagraph (A) and the health consequences studied under subparagraph (B). (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, submit to Congress a report containing— (1) the study under subsection (a); and (2) a description of— (A) the benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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 (B) the outreach conducted by the Secretary to inform such veterans of such benefits. 3. Inclusion of Uzbekistan in certain registries and programs (a) Open burn pit registry 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 by striking Afghanistan or Iraq and inserting Afghanistan, Iraq, or Uzbekistan . (b) Depleted uranium follow-Up programs The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that any individual who deployed as a member of the Armed Forces to Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, at any time during the period beginning October 1, 2001, and ending December 31, 2005, is covered by the Depleted Uranium Follow-Up Programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 4. Access of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to information from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Upon request by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (in this section referred to as the Academies ), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Academies such information in the possession of the Department of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to the Academies such information in the possession of the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Academies determine useful in performing a covered study. Such information includes, at a minimum, all environmental sampling data relative to any location included in the study. (b) Covered study defined In this section, the term covered study includes— (1) the study conducted under section 2; and (2) any subsequent study or any study conducted by the Academies regarding the effects of exposure of humans to toxic substances at Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, at any time during the period beginning October 1, 2001, and ending December 31, 2005.