U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) on June 3 introduced bipartisan legislation that would direct the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to regularly notify Congress of reported cases of burn pit exposure by America’s military veterans.
“We owe our service members a great debt of gratitude for the safety and freedom we enjoy every day,” Sen. Portman said. “It is our duty to stand by them and ensure transparency in the tracking of illnesses connected to their service, specifically burn pit exposure.”
Sen. Portman cosponsored the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act, S. 3885, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), which also would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to document, track and report all cases of burn pit exposure reported by veterans to the VA. U.S. Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Brian Mast (R-FL) on June 1 introduced the same-named H.R. 7072 in their chamber.
“I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation requiring VA to submit regular reports on veterans exposed to burn pits,” said Sen. Portman. “The reports will provide valuable data on patterns of medical diagnoses and associated disability claims so we can better understand the impact of burn pits exposure and hold VA accountable for the medical treatment and benefits to which veterans may be entitled.”
The bill is named for Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson, 39, who died on May 8 from a rare form of cancer caused by his exposure to burn pits during a 13-month assignment in Iraq, where he served as a medic with the Ohio Army National Guard. Doctors diagnosed Robinson with a rare autoimmune disorder called mucous membrane pemphigoid, which may have been caused by his exposure to toxic smoke from burn pits. Upon retirement, Robins was denied family caregiver benefits, according to Sen. Portman’s office.
If enacted, the measure would require the VA to document any veteran who may have been exposed to burn pits and to quarterly notify Congress of such cases; require the VA to submit a biannual report to Congress identifying how many veterans report burn pit exposure, how many make disability claims, the outcome of those claims, a comprehensive list of conditions, and the location of burn pits, according to the bill summary.
The bill also would require healthcare providers to inform a veteran who mentions “burn pits” about the existing Burn Pit Registry so they may register themselves.
The proposal, which is supported by Burn Pits 360, has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.