Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act

Bill: 118-s-2078
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
Introduced: 2023-06-21
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2023-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-06-21
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes specified individuals to update the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry with the cause of death of a registered individual. The Department of Veterans Affairs established the burn pit registry to allow certain veterans and service members to document their exposures and report health concerns. The registry is for individuals who may have been exposed to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits (areas used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) while deployed in certain locations (e.g., Afghanistan or Iraq).</p> <p>Specifically, the bill authorizes a designee of a registered individual or an immediate family member to update the registry with the cause of death of the individual.

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2078 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 21, 2023 Mr. Welch (for himself and Mrs. Capito ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take actions necessary to ensure that certain individuals may update the burn pit registry with the cause of death of a registered individual, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act . 2. Burn pit registry updates (a) Individuals eligible To update (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take actions necessary to ensure that the burn pit registry may be updated with the cause of death of a deceased registered individual by— (A) an individual designated by such deceased registered individual; or (B) if no such individual is designated, an immediate family member of such deceased registered individual. (2) Designation The Secretary shall provide, with respect to the burn pit registry, a process by which a registered individual may make a designation for purposes of paragraph (1)(A). (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Burn pit registry The term burn pit registry means the registry established under section 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–260 ; 38 U.S.C. 527 note). (2) Immediate family member The term immediate family member , with respect to a deceased individual, means— (A) the spouse, parent, brother, sister, or adult child of the individual; (B) an adult person to whom the individual stands in loco parentis; or (C) any other adult person— (i) living in the household of the individual at the time of the death of the individual; and (ii) related to the individual by blood or marriage. (3) Registered individual The term registered individual means an individual registered with the burn pit registry.