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Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-952| Senate 
| Updated: 4/28/2021
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (3)
Roger Marshall (Republican)Jack Reed (Democratic)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021 This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to burn pits (an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) and other toxins by veterans who were awarded specified medals on or after August 2, 1990. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Under the bill, if the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives a written petition to add a disease to the list, the VA must request a determination by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with respect to whether there is a positive association between the exposure of humans to a covered toxin and the occurrence of the disease in humans. The bill makes disability or death of certain employees from specified diseases compensable as a work injury. Specifically, such employees are those who were employees of the Department of State, the Department of Defense, or an element of the intelligence community on or after August 2, 1990, and carried out job responsibilities for at least 30 days during a contingency operation.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4572
Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020
Mar 24, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Mar 24, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr 28, 2021
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Jun 22, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2372
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4572
    Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020


  • March 24, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


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


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


  • June 22, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2372
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2372: Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAfghanistanAir qualityAsiaCancerCardiovascular and respiratory healthConflicts and warsCongressional oversightDepartment of Veterans AffairsDigestive and metabolic diseasesDisability assistanceEnvironmental healthFiresGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIraqMedical researchMiddle EastMilitary operations and strategyMilitary personnel and dependentsMusculoskeletal and skin diseasesNeurological disordersSex and reproductive healthSolid waste and recyclingVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensation

Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-952| Senate 
| Updated: 4/28/2021
Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021 This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to burn pits (an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) and other toxins by veterans who were awarded specified medals on or after August 2, 1990. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Under the bill, if the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives a written petition to add a disease to the list, the VA must request a determination by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with respect to whether there is a positive association between the exposure of humans to a covered toxin and the occurrence of the disease in humans. The bill makes disability or death of certain employees from specified diseases compensable as a work injury. Specifically, such employees are those who were employees of the Department of State, the Department of Defense, or an element of the intelligence community on or after August 2, 1990, and carried out job responsibilities for at least 30 days during a contingency operation.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4572
Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020
Mar 24, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Mar 24, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr 28, 2021
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Jun 22, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2372
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4572
    Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020


  • March 24, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


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


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


  • June 22, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2372
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (3)
Roger Marshall (Republican)Jack Reed (Democratic)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2372: Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAfghanistanAir qualityAsiaCancerCardiovascular and respiratory healthConflicts and warsCongressional oversightDepartment of Veterans AffairsDigestive and metabolic diseasesDisability assistanceEnvironmental healthFiresGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIraqMedical researchMiddle EastMilitary operations and strategyMilitary personnel and dependentsMusculoskeletal and skin diseasesNeurological disordersSex and reproductive healthSolid waste and recyclingVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensation