To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 19, 2009

Requires the Secretary of Defense: (1) in the case of a member of the Armed Forces who is exposed to a potentially harmful material or contaminant, to notify the member of such exposure and any associated health risks; and (2) in the case of a member of a reserve component, to also notify the state military department of that member.

Directs the Secretary, if such a determination is made while a member is deployed, to notify the member while the member is so deployed.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5] · D–OR

Committees

Armed Services Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Apr 27, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Mar 19, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Mar 19, 2009
Introduced in House
Mar 19, 2009
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Mar 19, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.1657 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1657, 111th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1657

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-03-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr1657/BILLS-111hr1657ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:38Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.1657 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1657 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1657, 111th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1657

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-03-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr1657/BILLS-111hr1657ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:38Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1657 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1657 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1657, 111th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1657

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-03-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr1657/BILLS-111hr1657ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:38Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1657 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1657 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1657, 111th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1657

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-03-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr1657/BILLS-111hr1657ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:38Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1657 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.