Bill > HR5339

This bill, named the "Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act," establishes a presumption of service connection for veterans who were stationed at the Pentagon Reservation between September 11 and November 19, 2001, and subsequently develop certain diseases. The bill creates a legal presumption that specific health conditions are directly related to military service, even without documented evidence during the service period. These conditions include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, tracheomalacia, various types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases, respiratory diseases, and any other illnesses the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines are associated with exposure to specific substances or hazards at the Pentagon during that timeframe. This means that veterans who were assigned to the Pentagon during this period and develop any of these listed conditions would automatically be considered to have a service-connected disability, which typically makes them eligible for medical treatment and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill aims to support veterans who may have been exposed to toxins or hazardous substances during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5339/all-info