PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 542.
Congressional Research Service
Version 25 · Reported to Senate · Sep 15, 2020
Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020
This bill establishes a presumption, for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 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. A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air.
Specifically, the bill covers the following covered locations and corresponding time periods
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
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;
Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Yemen from September 11, 2001, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations; and
other locations and time periods set forth by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry or determined by the VA.
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 medical opinions regarding a causal link between the disability and a toxic substance, chemical, or hazard.
People & committees
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] · R–AK
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 542.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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