Jennifer Kepner HOPE Act

Bill: 117-hr-2432
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2021-04-08
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Air quality

Fires

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Hospital care

Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Military operations and strategy

Nursing

Solid waste and recycling

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2021-07-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-04-08
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Jennifer Kepner Healthcare for Open air burn Pit Exposure Act or the Jennifer Kepner HOPE Act</b></p> <p>This bill extends eligibility for hospital, nursing home, and medical services from the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans who were exposed to burn pits on or after January 1, 1990, while serving in support of a contingency operation. Burn pits are areas used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2432 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 8, 2021 Mr. Ruiz (for himself, Mr. Castro of Texas , and Mr. Bilirakis ) 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 the eligibility of certain individuals exposed to burn pits for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Jennifer Kepner Healthcare for Open air burn Pit Exposure Act or the Jennifer Kepner HOPE Act . 2. Eligibility of individuals exposed to burn pits for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 1710 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2)(F), by inserting burn pit, after radiation, ; and (2) in subsection (e)— (A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) (i) Subject to paragraph (2), an individual described in clause (ii) is eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care under subsection (a)(2)(F) notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that a disease or disability of the individual is or is not associated with exposure to an open air burn pit. (ii) An individual described in this clause is an individual who, on or after January 1, 1990, served as a member of the Armed Forces in support of a contingency operation and was based or stationed at a location where an open air burn pit was in use. (iii) In this subparagraph, the term open air burn pit means a place where— (I) solid waste is disposed of by burning in the outdoor air; and (II) a commercially manufactured incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and manufactured for the burning of solid waste is not in use. ; and (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking or (F) and inserting (F), or (G) . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care furnished on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.