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United States · Bill · S

S. 437 (117th)

Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

24 February 2021

Last action

28 April 2021 · Committee

Status

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-137.

Sponsors

Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [I-AZ], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

Subjects

Healthcare, Defence

Source updated

29 May 2026

Healthcare · Defence

Summary

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; 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, 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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 24 February 2021

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 24 February 2021

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 28 April 2021

    Committee

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-137.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in Senate (text)

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 24 February 2021

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 24 February 2021

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 24 February 2021

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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