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Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-437| Senate 
| Updated: 4/28/2021
Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan

Republican Senator

Alaska

Cosponsors (38)
Rick Scott (Republican)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Roger Marshall (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)James E. Risch (Republican)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)John Boozman (Republican)Roy Blunt (Republican)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)Mike Rounds (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Bill Hagerty (Republican)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Rob Portman (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mike Crapo (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to concede, for the purposes of health care benefits and wartime disability compensation, that a veteran was exposed to certain toxic substances, chemicals, and hazards from burn pits if such veteran served on active duty in a covered location during a specified time frame (unless there is affirmative evidence to establish that the veteran was not exposed during such service). A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment. Specifically, the bill covers the following locations and corresponding time periods: Iraq between August 2, 1990, and February 28, 1991, as well as from March 19, 2003, until burn pits are no longer used in this location; Southwest Asia (including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar) from August 2, 1990, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations; and Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, and Djibouti from September 11, 2001, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations. Under the bill, if an exposed veteran submits insufficient evidence to establish a service-connection for purposes of disability compensation, the VA shall provide a medical examination and request a medical opinion regarding a causal link between the disability and a toxin, chemical, or hazard.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2950
Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020
Feb 24, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Feb 24, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr 28, 2021
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Jul 14, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2436
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2950
    Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020


  • February 24, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 24, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • April 28, 2021
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.


  • July 14, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2436
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2436: Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021
AfghanistanAfricaAir qualityAsiaCongressional oversightDisability assistanceDjiboutiEgyptEnvironmental healthFiresGovernment information and archivesHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIraqJordanKuwaitLebanonMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMiddle EastMilitary operations and strategyOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaSolid waste and recyclingSyriaVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensationYemen

Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-437| Senate 
| Updated: 4/28/2021
Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to concede, for the purposes of health care benefits and wartime disability compensation, that a veteran was exposed to certain toxic substances, chemicals, and hazards from burn pits if such veteran served on active duty in a covered location during a specified time frame (unless there is affirmative evidence to establish that the veteran was not exposed during such service). A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment. Specifically, the bill covers the following locations and corresponding time periods: Iraq between August 2, 1990, and February 28, 1991, as well as from March 19, 2003, until burn pits are no longer used in this location; Southwest Asia (including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar) from August 2, 1990, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations; and Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, and Djibouti from September 11, 2001, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations. Under the bill, if an exposed veteran submits insufficient evidence to establish a service-connection for purposes of disability compensation, the VA shall provide a medical examination and request a medical opinion regarding a causal link between the disability and a toxin, chemical, or hazard.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2950
Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020
Feb 24, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Feb 24, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr 28, 2021
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Jul 14, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2436
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2950
    Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020


  • February 24, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 24, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • April 28, 2021
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.


  • July 14, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2436
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan

Republican Senator

Alaska

Cosponsors (38)
Rick Scott (Republican)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Roger Marshall (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)James E. Risch (Republican)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)John Boozman (Republican)Roy Blunt (Republican)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)Mike Rounds (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Bill Hagerty (Republican)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Rob Portman (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mike Crapo (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2436: Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AfghanistanAfricaAir qualityAsiaCongressional oversightDisability assistanceDjiboutiEgyptEnvironmental healthFiresGovernment information and archivesHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIraqJordanKuwaitLebanonMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMiddle EastMilitary operations and strategyOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaSolid waste and recyclingSyriaVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensationYemen