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HR 2436 117th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Afghanistan Africa Air quality Asia Congressional oversight Disability assistance Djibouti Egypt Environmental health Fires Government information and archives Hazardous wastes and toxic substances Iraq Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Medical tests and diagnostic methods Middle East Military operations and strategy

Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021

Introduced: May 21, 2021 Introduced by: Slotkin, Elissa Democratic · Michigan See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 14, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Apr 8, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 8, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to concede, for the purposes of 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 (unless there is affirmative evidence to establish that the veteran was not exposed during such service). A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment.

Specifically, the bill covers the following locations and corresponding time periods:

  • 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;
  • Somalia and Southwest Asia (including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar) from August 2, 1990, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations; and
  • Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, and Djibouti from September 11, 2001, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations.

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 a medical opinion regarding a causal link between the disability and a toxin, chemical, or hazard.

What's happening now July 14, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 437 Related bill Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 43
All 43 Democratic 23 Republican 8
D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Mar 8, 2022
RUSH, BOBBY
· Dec 7, 2021
 D
Titus, Dina
Nevada · Nov 15, 2021
 D
Foster, Bill
Illinois · Nov 5, 2021
 D
Scanlon, Mary Gay
Pennsylvania · Oct 22, 2021
 D
Escobar, Veronica
Texas · Oct 15, 2021
 D
Thompson, Mike
California · Aug 10, 2021
 D
Moulton, Seth
Massachusetts · Jul 13, 2021
Burgess, Michael
· Jul 1, 2021
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Jul 1, 2021
 D
Aguilar, Pete
California · Jun 23, 2021
 D
Casten, Sean
Illinois · Jun 23, 2021
 D
Crow, Jason
Colorado · Jun 23, 2021
 R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Jun 23, 2021
Gonzalez, Anthony
· Jun 23, 2021
 D
Hayes, Jahana
Connecticut · Jun 23, 2021
 D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Jun 23, 2021
 D
Schneider, Bradley Scott
Illinois · Jun 23, 2021
 R
Van Drew, Jefferson
New Jersey · Jun 23, 2021
COOPER, JAMES
· May 28, 2021
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · May 28, 2021
Higgins, Brian
· May 28, 2021
 D
Neguse, Joe
Colorado · May 28, 2021
 R
Scott, Austin
Georgia · May 28, 2021
 R
Tenney, Claudia
New York · May 28, 2021
 R
Bacon, Don
Nebraska · May 21, 2021
 D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · May 21, 2021
Bustos, Cheri
· May 21, 2021
 D
Cuellar, Henry
Texas · May 21, 2021
Davis, Rodney
· May 21, 2021
Demings, Val
· May 21, 2021
 R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · May 21, 2021
 D
Houlahan, Chrissy
Pennsylvania · May 21, 2021
 D
Kim, Andy
New Jersey · May 21, 2021
Kirkpatrick, Ann
· May 21, 2021
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · May 21, 2021
 R
McClain, Lisa C.
Michigan · May 21, 2021
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · May 21, 2021
Newman, Marie
· May 21, 2021
 D
Omar, Ilhan
Minnesota · May 21, 2021
 D
Ross, Deborah K.
North Carolina · May 21, 2021
Zeldin, Lee
· May 21, 2021
Meijer, Peter
· Apr 8, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2436: Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2436/
MLA
"H.R. 2436: Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2436/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2436, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2436/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2436: Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2436/)
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