Roughly one million of the 3.5 million post-9/11 United States combat veterans who may have experienced some level of exposure to burn pits during their service are currently unable to access health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who on Tuesday unveiled a bipartisan bill to rectify the situation.
“Post-9/11 veterans are the newest generation of American heroes to suffer from toxic exposures encountered during military service,” said Sen. Moran, who called his proposed bill “an important first step to make certain our veterans receive the care they need as a result of their service.”
The Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act, S. 3541, which Sen. Moran is introducing with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, respectively, would offer access to VA health care for every combat veteran who served after November 1998 with a discharge date after Sept. 11, 2001, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“I appreciate the entire Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for working together to craft this consequential legislation to care for our service members who put their life and health on the line for their country,” Sen. Moran said.
The proposed legislation would bolster the VA’s ability to link toxic exposure conditions by, for instance, providing every veteran with a toxic exposure screening during VA medical visits, the summary says.
Among numerous provisions, the bill also would increase the period of eligibility for VA health care for post-9/11 combat veterans from five to 10 years following discharge; would require the VA to conduct more research on toxic exposure; and would mandate toxic exposure related education and training for health care and benefits personnel at the VA.
“This landmark bill will allow us to connect a generation of burn pit veterans with the care they’ve earned, while moving the ball forward on addressing toxic exposure in the comprehensive way our veterans deserve,” said Sen. Tester. “Our work here is just beginning.”
The Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act has garnered support from several veterans service organizations, including Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Wounded Warrior Project, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, The American Legion, and the Military Officers Association of America.