summary
Introduced
05/05/2015
05/05/2015
In Committee
08/13/2015
08/13/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions relating to exposure to open burn pits and other environmental exposures in Afghanistan or Iraq. The VA shall, in selecting the site, consider entities that: are equipped with the specialized equipment needed to study, diagnose, and treat health conditions relating to such exposure; have a publication track record of post-deployment health exposures among veterans who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; have collaborated with a geosciences department that has a medical geology division; have developed animal models and in vitro models of dust immunology and lung injury consistent with the injuries of members of the Armed Forces who served in support of such Operations; and have expertise in allergy and immunology, pulmonary diseases, and industrial and management engineering. The VA shall ensure that the center collaborates with the Department of Defense (DOD), institutions of higher education, and other appropriate public and private entities to: provide for dissemination within the VA of best practices for the treatment of such conditions and the training of health professionals; provide guidance for the VA and DOD health systems in determining the personnel required to provide quality health care for members of the Armed Forces and veterans with such conditions; establish, implement, and oversee a comprehensive program to train VA and DOD health professionals in the treatment of such conditions; facilitate advancements in the study of the short-term and long-term effects of such exposure; conduct basic science and translational research on such conditions for the purposes of understanding the etiology of such conditions and developing preventive interventions and new treatments; and provide medical treatment to all veterans identified as part of the burn pits registry established under the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012. The center shall have access to and make use of the data accumulated by such registry.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the "Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act," directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a specialized center of excellence focused on preventing, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating health conditions linked to exposure to burn pits and other environmental hazards encountered by service members in Afghanistan or Iraq. When selecting a location for this center, the VA must consider entities with specific capabilities, including specialized equipment for studying and treating these conditions, a history of publishing research on post-deployment health issues for veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, collaboration with geosciences departments that include a medical geology division, experience developing animal and in-vitro models of dust immunology and lung injury relevant to service members' injuries, and expertise in allergy and immunology, pulmonary diseases, and industrial and management engineering. The center will collaborate with the Department of Defense (DOD), universities, and other relevant organizations to share best practices for treatment and train healthcare professionals within both the VA and DOD. It will also provide guidance on staffing needs for quality care, advance research into the short-term and long-term effects of such exposures, conduct basic and translational research to understand the causes of these conditions and develop new treatments, and provide medical care to all veterans listed in the burn pits registry, which is a list of individuals identified as potentially exposed to burn pits, established under a previous law. The center will have access to and utilize data from this registry. A "burn pit" is defined as an outdoor area in Afghanistan or Iraq designated for burning solid waste without specialized incineration equipment, and "other environmental exposures" encompass hazards like dust, sand, and smoke from fires or explosions in these operational areas. The bill authorizes $30 million annually for fiscal years 2016 through 2021 to carry out these provisions.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (25)
Elizabeth Esty (D)*,
Madeleine Bordallo (D),
Cheri Bustos (D),
Mike Coffman (R),
Steve Cohen (D),
Henry Cuellar (D),
Mark DeSaulnier (D),
Debbie Dingell (D),
Alcee Hastings (D),
Michael Honda (D),
Walter Jones (R),
Peter King (R),
Alan Lowenthal (D),
Betty McCollum (D),
Jim McDermott (D),
Jim McGovern (D),
Seth Moulton (D),
Richard Nolan (D),
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),
Beto O'Rourke (D),
Scott Peters (D),
Amata Radewagen (R),
Charles Rangel (D),
Keith Rothfus (R),
Kyrsten Sinema (I),
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. (on 08/13/2015)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...